A fine illustration of the answer she's given to critics of her book: No, it's not that Obama and his inner circle are any more corrupt than other political chieftains, merely that they're not any less corrupt, contrary to what the Hopenchange mythos would have you believe. That said, I politely disagree with my beloved boss's assessment of The One's "warped priorities" in making the trip tomorrow. As I said before, if the IOC cornered him on this, he has no choice politically. And it's not as if he's neglecting any duties on Afghanistan; he held a three-hour national-security meeting on the war just this afternoon. Plus, the left used to forever complain about Bush heading off to Crawford, as if to imply that he wouldn't have a phone or a video teleconference hook-up just in case something somewhere went to hell; The One will be similarly appropriately outfitted on Air Force One, I'm sure. He's getting on a plane, making a speech, then coming home — unless, per Bill Kristol's prediction, he heads off for an impromptu Afghanistan visit first. What's the big deal, really?
I almost wish Obama lost just so i wouldn't have to see/hear all the crying whining nitpicking and bitching. Screw the issues right? Lets complain more about Mrs Obama's outfits, thats really productive.
Why shouldn't Chicago have a chance at the Olympics? If not the President and wife, who should go to represent us? The rest of the world is impressed when a President supports his country like that. After all the Olympics is a world event. Other Presidents, Kings and Queens are going, why not ours?
Who would you rather have to go to represent the United States? Who do you think would be more effective? Why shouldn't our country be just as well represented as other countries are?
Warph, I love reading your posts and absorb a lot of information from them. However, you stated that the LA Olympics was a money losing proposition,----------------alas not true. Peter Uberoth was in charge of the Olympics in LA and did an outstanding job. LA has a crime problem similar to any big city, but I don't remember there being a problem during the Olympics. In fact, the spirit of the games brought the city together for a brief period of time.
From Wikipedia: Despite the stigma that the Olympics required going into significant debt, Los Angeles successfully hosted the Olympics without any debt. In fact, its Olympic committee ended up with a profit that was in part used to establish and endow the Amateur Athletic Foundation to promote youth sports in Southern California and maintain a Sports Library. The 1984 Summer Olympics are often considered the most financially successful modern Olympics.
Keep on keeping on, tho, because I love to read your posts.
Larryj
Thanks Larry. I remember the '84 La. Olympics very well. A lot was made of the fact they had sponsors for everything and did not lose money. They were very proud of that.
In my memory of that time, the olympic torch passed through West Covina, a few miles to the south of us, around 8 or 9 PM one night on its way to the Colliseum. My kids were 10 and 7 at the time and even they realized the significance of the event.
The whole thing was handled beautifully. As there were many venues, traffic was rerouted around them and moved smoothly. In fact, traffic moved better than normal. There were some inconveniences, but it was only for a week or so.
Larryj
Why Chicago? Were there other US cities in the running? Has a city in Canada ever hosted the Olympics?
I think it does say a lot that our President is supporting the US bid for the Olympics. What would it say if he didn't? Yes, hard financial times should weigh on the trip plans (maybe not the most expensive hotel, or cut out additional wining and dining while he's there), but I think there would be more distress if we saw him NOT supporting the US (again).
The Olympics are a time-honored tradition of pulling countries together in peace. It doesn't matter who hosts it; just as long as the tradition is continued.
P.S. If I was younger, I'd book my $99-each-way ticket to Chicago now and stand in line for tickets to the Olympics! What a neat experience that would be!
Yes, Canada has hosted the Olympics. I remember when it was in Montreal. We have had the torch come right through here and I got to cheer it past us. Had some friends who ran a distance with it.
I believe Calgary hosted the 1988 winter olympics, also.
Larryj
I think you are exactly right!
The US had it's own selection process for different cities before bids had to be submitted at the international level. Think of it as a primary election. I remember reading in the paper that San Francisco was one of the finalists.
I don't think the "O-Man " should go to Denmark to plug for the olympics because I think it's a done deal already . With all that's on his platter already, why would he risk all the heat he's taking unless he's already been assured they are coming to Chicago. If he don't get it, he will come home with a black eye ( no pun intended ). He's only there for the fanfare and to be on the world stage where he is most popular. I'm willing to make a wager that Chi-Town gets it. If not I will address Diane as Lady Di for the next week on this forum ---but if he gets it Diane has to address me as King Edwards !!
Also with all the heat the "O -Man " is taking for not talking to his General in the last 70 days I look for him to make a little side trip when he leaves Denmark to Affie to visit with the troops---just to show his concern and try to act like a CiC.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on September 30, 2009, 04:52:50 PM
The rest of the world is impressed when a President supports his country like that. After all the Olympics is a world event. Other Presidents, Kings and Queens are going, why not ours?
Supports his country like that?...PLLEEASE! If obama wanted to support his country he should try picking up the phone and talking to the General that he put in charge of afghanistan, you know, that place where REAL represenatives of the U.S. that actually give a damn about their country and love it enough to fight and die for it. Unlike our president who is more worried about a bunch of games, that in the end don't mean a thing.
Tobina------------------much younger? How young do you have to be?
Larryj
Personally, I don't think Chicago is going to get it, so I'd be surprised too. I'm not nearly as negative and cynical as some of you who see commies under every bush. I'll enjoy it where ever it is held.
Bushes as in shrubs, ya know, the green leafy kind. After all, aren't the Olympics just another commie plot of some sort to distract us from the real business at hand, which is to discredit the POTUS by whatever means is necessary.
Maybe chicago deserves the olympics. In 1996, Atlanta hosted the olympics and Hundreds of people invested their life savings and homes and everything into buying into the olympic venue. Then when the olympics got there, they got stuck on a back alley with their booth and the streets to the alley blockaided so no traffic would come down it. They all lost everything they had while the olympic comittee sucked up every dollar it could get from these folks.
By the time they all realized what was happening it was too late.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 01, 2009, 09:43:02 PM
After all, aren't the Olympics just another commie plot of some sort to distract us from the real business at hand, which is to discredit the POTUS by whatever means is necessary.
Actually, no. The Olympics are just a bunch of games...thats it...thats all that happens, people play a game.
Discredit the POTUS by whatever means necessary??? He is doing a fine job of that all on his own. We have unemployment that is still rising (which by the way, Uncle Sambo promised that the stimuls would stop that), an economy that is in the crapper, greater terrorists threats, a dollar that is threatening to collapse, the situation in Afghanistan getting worse, not to mention the huge rift that is dividing the country. Instead of addressing these problems obama decides to spend even more tax payer money to fly to copenhagen to ask "Aww Gee fellas, can't we play games at my house instead?"
Like I said, I don't have to try and discredit the president, he does that all by himself.
Quote from: Varmit on October 02, 2009, 01:58:47 AM
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 01, 2009, 09:43:02 PM
After all, aren't the Olympics just another commie plot of some sort to distract us from the real business at hand, which is to discredit the POTUS by whatever means is necessary.
Actually, no. The Olympics are just a bunch of games...thats it...thats all that happens, people play a game.
Discredit the POTUS by whatever means necessary??? He is doing a fine job of that all on his own. We have unemployment that is still rising (which by the way, Uncle Sambo promised that the stimuls would stop that), an economy that is in the crapper, greater terrorists threats, a dollar that is threatening to collapse, the situation in Afghanistan getting worse, not to mention the huge rift that is dividing the country. Instead of addressing these problems obama decides to spend even more tax payer money to fly to copenhagen to ask "Aww Gee fellas, can't we play games at my house instead?"
Like I said, I don't have to try and discredit the president, he does that all by himself.
He's actually outdone himself. reading today that the real unemployment is at 17%. Thats higher unemployment than when carter almost drove us into oblivion.
For the life of me, I don't understand how ANYONE can support Obama.
I guess my point was that this isn't about supporting Obama, it's about supporting the US bid for the Olympics.
I'm sure there's a whole other argument out there about supporting the Olympics and spending money on "games" when the country is in such disarray. But I would say the same thing for the NFL. Why not suspend the NFL during these hard times, too? I mean, people are just wasting their money paying for tickets to go to games or cable to watch them on TV when they could be out there getting off their "armchair quarterback butt" and actually WORKING for a living. (Devil's advocate question, there... don't really feel that way myself.)
I give up. Some of you are determined to take every thing I say personally. As a spectator I have always enjoyed the Olympics and have supported our people here who have gone. We have a world class skating rink right here in town. I've gotten so see Dorothy Hamel and many others skate. As far as the business end, that's how business is, there are sharks everywhere. Why in the world would someone sink their life savings into an inventory that becomes dated right after the Olympics are over? That's a very iffy, risky proposition at best. What has that got to do with today? Now I have to go to a school to help a teacher who is having a hard time figuring out ideas for her classes' fire prevention contest entries so I'm dropping off a bunch of brochures for her school. Later.
Moot point:
Chicago is out of the running for the Olympics.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=8732508
wahhh ! I was wrong. Lady Di was right and Chi-town didn't get the olympics. I was wrong about "The O -man " going to Afghanistan too. Too dangerous so he made Gen. McChrystal come to him in Denmark. I should get half credit on that one.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 02, 2009, 09:08:55 AM
I give up. Some of you are determined to take every thing I say personally.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 01, 2009, 09:25:55 PM
I'm not nearly as negative and cynical as some of you who see commies under every bush. I'll enjoy it where ever it is held.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 01, 2009, 09:43:02 PM
Bushes as in shrubs, ya know, the green leafy kind. After all, aren't the Olympics just another commie plot of some sort to distract us from the real business at hand, which is to discredit the POTUS by whatever means is necessary.
Take what you say personally?? Some of us get accused of being negative and cynical and trying to discredit the president just because we don't like him, when all we have done is express our opinion on the subject. So you tell me just how the hell are we supposed to take what you post?
Varmit, you act as if I accused you personally of trying to discredit the POTUS. There is nobody left who doesn't already know how much you despise the man. ( I expecting SS at your door anytime now ) ;D. We had been talking about the Olympics....Doesn't matter anyway, I won! ;D So where is all the conspiracy theory now?
I must have taken a little snooze somewhere along the line.....Conspiracy?? What conspiracy?
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 02, 2009, 12:41:19 PM
Varmit, you act as if I accused you personally of trying to discredit the POTUS.
By including me into the group that doesn't see things your way, you did.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 02, 2009, 12:41:19 PM
So where is all the conspiracy theory now?
( I expecting SS at your door anytime now ) ;D. [/quote]
Considering that the current adminstration is looking more and more like the Nazi party, you're not the only one.
Varmit,
I aint doing too good on my predictions here of late so I'll ask you---how long until the race card is played on why the olympics went south ? I have an idea but I don't want to be wrong twice in the same week !!!
Jarhead, you mean it hasn't already?? :o
Seriously though, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that this is the Politics section, therefore your "I don't want to be wrong..." way of thinking, is..well...misguided. You would not be wrong sir, you would just be uninformed as to all the facts. And if we can take a lesson from todays political leaders, making predictions and statements based on uninformed facts and information (see the presidents remarks on the Harvard professor vs. the Police issue, or the Geithner tax situtation) is perfectly legitimate. And no matter erroneous those statements or predictions may be, you are not "wrong", you merely misspoke. ;D
Why hells bells, I'm feeling better already. Gonna go out on a limb here but I bet Je$$ie Jack$on and Rev. $harpton will be all over this in the next 24 hours
Hmmm. Don't think I'll be able to get a $99 each way ticket to Rio.
Besides, having it in the US would be "cool", but I really like to see what other countries' traditions are and how they incorporate that into the Olympics (especially the opening ceremony).
I think historically the Olympics have been strewn with political nuances, and will probably continue to be so for years to come. But for those of us who occasionally like to get our head out of the political dirt... the Games are FUN! ;D
Yes Tobina, the games are fun to watch but don't think for a minute that there is not corruption in the games. In the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games American boxer Roy Jones Jr beat the crap out of S. Korea's Park Si Hun for all three rounds, then to have the judges award Hun the Gold and Jones the Silver. In Hun's defense, after he was awarded the Gold Medal, he apalogized to Jones for the injustice done.
Kinda like Nancy Kerrigan winning the silver when she hardly deserved it.
Oh, I agree about the corruption. It's sad to think that there isn't much left in this world free of corruption.
But... I'm still gonna watch sand volleyball and enjoy every dig, hit, and dive! 8) Who knows... by the time Rio rolls around, we may even have one of our own local kids involved in the Olympics! Wouldn't that be cool!?
Tobina your offspring won't be very old to be in the olympics by Rio!! What are we shooting for gymnastics? I know a couple of volleyball players that look like they might have the right stuff....
Jo, many posts back one of us said Pres. O wouldn't be going to Denmark unless Chicago's getting the Olympics was already a done deal, therefore a conspiracy to capture the Olympics for Chicago had to have happened. It was just good natured banter, nothing serious. But I'll be Lady Diane this week, thank you very much. ;D ;D ;D Actually I think having it in Rio would be fantastic. Can you imagine the Carnival theme they could have?
One word....Thong.
No feathers? ;D
Jarhead--it is a conspiracy! Another way for the man to beat down a brotha! Where in the hell is the ACLU, the NAACP, where's the black panthers? This is a travesty in these times of our democracy, in our unified country, one nation under a dictatorship. Maybe Chicago did not throw enough money at the situation at hand. Maybe they didn't buy this Olympics in Chicago idea because he was not able to sell universal healthcare coverage to the United States. Maybe they didn't buy into going to Chicago because he didn't apologize for the times Americans had won medals at previous Olympics!
Well anyway, I will stop right there because my rants and raves are starting to sound like a Democrat!
MR. Kshillbillys
P.S. Jarhead I'm sorry for your loss as King to Diane (oops excuse me), Lady Di...not a good title to have considering what happened to the other one...
Lady Di,
If you would look at reply # 28 you will see I fulfilled my end of the deal and for the next week I will continue to do so if I address you---------but I will be off line for the next 6 days !!!! Sorry !! I'm going to Rio and help clean up those nude beaches down there. A real "trashy" place you know.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
It won't take you that long! When they see you they'll run like hell !!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
This is just for you Hillbilly-------- from Wiki
III Population
Print this section
The municipality of Rio, the city proper, had a population of 6,093,472 in 2007. The vast metropolitan region, however, was home to a population of 11.7 million (2007). Although population growth had been rapid during most of the 20th century, it slowed significantly between 1980 and 1990; during this period, the metropolitan region posted the lowest annual population growth rate, only 0.7 percent, since modern census taking began. That growth has been uneven, with the municipality of Rio posting only a 0.4 percent annual gain, while outlying suburban municipalities have averaged about 1.5 percent annually.
Rio's ethnic makeup mirrors its history, which has included people of African, European, and Native American origin. Nearly two-thirds of the population is of African descent, although this group reflects the widespread racial mixing and intermarriage that have characterized Brazilian society. While racial tolerance and acceptance are often heralded as characteristics of Brazilian society, whites typically enjoy more privileged social and economic positions than people of African or native descent.
Point? I was bitching about the idiots in the USA NOT Brazil...
Sigh---------- :P
They don't get it at all. By the way, my driver isn't a drunk, so I'm not worried.
LOL! ;)
No, them Hillbillies don't get it at all...those poor poor stupid people. I feel so sorry for them and how retardedly backassed they are! :'(
Guns, that little sarcastic remark will cost you next Thanksgiving dinner. Just because I have become pleasingly plump in my old age gives you no right to say somethink like that. It really hurts my feelers !!!
KS, now who is being a victim? What are you talking about? The conversation was about Rio.
Jarhead I'll pay up come Thanksgiving. It's just like taxes, I may complain a little but I will pay. :police: