My Thoughts on Obama's Olympic Adventure

8 September 2009

It was just last Friday, October 2nd, that the dreams of so many Americans were dashed by the IOC decision to award the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro. It has been a long time since I have witness so much pain on the faces of a group of people, specifically since the last time I attended the funeral of an American soldier that had been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

I have been listening to the radio talk shows and read the comments of countless Americans on various blogs, and having been more interested in the situation in Afghanistan, I have not formulated any personal thoughts about the whole thing, until now.

Initially, I was fairly amused by the whole Obama Copenhagen mission, incredulously observing the President actually fly his whole entourage, the one that follows him everywhere for his security, across the Atlantic to go make a pitch for the games. I asked myself what the thought process must have been to induce him to make such a decision, considering the much greater issues our country is facing, that one would think should be higher in priority for the current President. Sure, I realize that Air Force One is set up so that the President can conduct business as if in the White House, but he cannot have an in-person meeting with Robert Gates or Admiral Mullen while flying. And then there is always the ‘perception’ factor in regard to how the American people see their president behave.
I consider perception important, as it increases or defeats confidence in the President. My personal level of confidence in the man’s ability to do nothing other than damage my country not withstanding, I feel that choosing to go to on the Letterman’s show, the excursion at the UN the trip to the G-20 and definitely the trip to Denmark do not inspire the belief that this man has his priorities in the correct order.
But then again, as I wrote previously in another rant, the push Obama made for the Olympic Games in Chicago was, in my opinion, aimed at appeasing the pressure that the Chicago political machine must have placed on their puppet, sort of like a loan shark calling some of his loans or time to call in some of the favors due.

On the other hand, I also found amusing the amount of giddiness on the part of the radio talk show personalities for the exclusion of Chicago as the host city for the Games. I really felt no personal satisfaction for the way the event turned out. I felt no vindication for the humiliating defeat Obama suffered. Anyone with an ego the size of Obama sooner or later will meet their match, someone, like in the case of the corrupted IOC members, who have a bigger ego and do not take lightly the arrogance of someone like Obama.

Regarding the City of Chicago itself, it appears to me that the failure to be the host of the Games is actually a positive thing. Besides the legendary corruption rampant in the city, having to prepare for the event is an undertaking that always results extremely taxing for the host city. At a moments in city history when crime is out of control, unemployment is sky rocketing and corruption is crippling, engaging in such a gargantuan operation was going to bring the place further deep in the gutter, both financially and socially.

Fingers have been pointed at several sources in the attempt to identify who was responsible for the virtual slap in the face of Obama from the IOC. The Left blamed the IOC (what else? Racism), and even former President Bush (the always convenient point of blame). The Right blamed Obama and appeared to be rejoicing in the defeat.

I personally see the adoring Media as one of the main culprits.
It started with Michelle Obama and Oprah planning their triumphal trip to the Danish capital for the announcement. The Media went into a frenzy, behaving as if the only missing component to an all royal entourage was the presence of a Kennedy. Personal involvement by such new iconic American personalities, gave the Media the impression that the award was a sure thing. The assumption was even further cemented by the announcement that Obama himself was going to attend the ceremony and pitch for Chicago.
For the Media, the issue was a no-brainer: Obama, wife and Oprah were going to charm the rings out of the Olympic Committee. It was inconceivable to believe that those European elitist would not be transported by the captivating story telling and ceremonious gum-flapping from the American king and his queen.
To prove this point, I only need to bring up the name of Tony Harris, of CNN. The video of his reaction to the rejection news is destined to become a classical comedy moment in the infamous history of the Obamedia. Upon hearing that Chicago had been eliminated in the first round, Tony could not mask his disappointment, continuously stating “Chicago is out!” and “What!?”
I actually felt sorry for the dude, as I thought for a moment his bold head was going to explode.

And then there is the always entertaining mental patient Ed Schultz of MSNBC. In an obvious lack-of-chemical-mental-balance-medication induced moment, compared those rejoicing at Obama’s failure to the infamous Hanoi Jane, the lovely Jane Fonda, sitting on the NVA antiaircraft battery in Vietnam. I sure hope Ed Schultz’s family keeps all sharps objects away from the man when he refuses to take his meds.

If there is one aspect of those European elitist, specifically the IOC members, that has been proven over the years is that they do not take lightly even a hint of strong harming on the part of anyone, including heads of states. The arrogance demonstrated by the American media was probably enough, together with who knows what other reasons, to tip the scale against Chicago.

All things considered, I am glad of the outcome, because the last thing our country needs at this moment is the expenditure of that magnitude, because I am certain that the unions and political corruption would have eventually meant that the whole country would end up having to pay for the charade.
And who knows, maybe instead of endless media coverage of Obama personally supervising the construction of the badminton stadium (properly named Obadminton Stadium), the President will have more time to dedicate to establish a winning policy for our Military in Afghanistan.
These days and this leadership, one can only hope.


And these are my thoughts!
Frank “Semperpapa”