Video: World’s biggest celebrity wonders where it all went wrong
posted at 4:15 pm on October 2, 2009 by Allahpundit
A gracious/politic statement, which was followed by a few minutes of spin (not seen here) about the new unemployment numbers and, er, no question-and-answer period. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next ObamaCare “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan” singalong primetime presser for his thoughts on what happened in Copenhagen.
The British press isn’t waiting around, though. Tough stuff:
It was only the Olympic Games, the White House will argue — not a high-stakes diplomatic gamble with North Korea. It is always worthwhile when Mr Obama sells America to the rest of the world, David Axelrod, his chief political adviser, said today. But that argument will fall on deaf ears in the US. Americans want their presidents to be winners.
Mr Obama was greeted — as usual — like a rock star by the IOC delegates in Copenhagen — then humiliated by them. Perception is reality. A narrow defeat for Chicago would have been acceptable — but the sheer scale of the defeat was a bombshell, and is a major blow for Mr Obama at a time when questions are being asked about his style of governance…
This has all added to the perception that Mr Obama’s soaring rhetoric — which captured the imagination during last year’s election — is simply not enough when it comes to confronting the myriad challenges of the presidency. His spectacular Olympic failure will only add to that.
Elsewhere, the boss has a little fun by jokingly playing the race card on Obama’s defenders. Exit quotation from former Olympian “Rowdy” Gaines: “Maybe there is some hangover from politics, from the last eight years.”
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Bill Buckner Moved to Tears as Obama Relieves Him of “Biggest Sports Fail” Title: http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/bill-buckner-moved-to-tears-as-obama.html
Mervis Winter on October 2, 2009 at 4:17 PM
He can’t even bring home the bacon for the frontrunner on a SPORTING EVENT…
HOW will he persuade IRAN?
HOW will he strongarm NORTH KOREA?
HOW will he stop the rise of the OCEANS?
10-2-09: The day Obama’s infalliability died
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Both people on the right and left acting like this is a big deal in regards to obama are retarded. The fact of the matter is that South America has never hosted the Olympics and I’m sure this was probably the deciding factor. God who cares…
Norvell on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Oh Rowdy Gaines….you’re giving Auburn University a bad name. Robert Gibbs just gives the town of Auburn a bad name. Heartache!
stldave on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
HUMPBOT! HUMPBOT! HUMPBOT!
Realist on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Schadenfreude on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
At least Buckner was let off the hook once the Red Sox eventually won a World Series. I don’t see a similar reprieve for The One.
Doughboy on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
When yer TOTUS has nothin’ to say
No Q ‘n A
Mhh, mhhh, mhhh
Schadenfreude on October 2, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Can hear O telling them now. Well we not let our players go to RIO. They have nude beaches there you know. Yep we will teach them a lesson.
10AC on October 2, 2009 at 4:20 PM
“…you can play a great game and still not win…”
I’ll also note that you can play a lousy game and not win…just saying.
AUINSC on October 2, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I must have counted wrong. Did Obama only use “I” eight times in two minutes?
jukin on October 2, 2009 at 4:20 PM
It’s not that Chicago did not win but Chicago came in dead last in the bid. That’s why this is embarassing.
nyx on October 2, 2009 at 4:21 PM
It’s time to spread the wealth around a little bit.
stldave on October 2, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Maybe, just maybe, you should use a whole lot less I’s and me’s and a bunch more we’s in your next ‘pitch’.
As much as people scorn ‘suck-ups’, they find people who suck-up to themselves a whole lot less appealing.
Just a friendly hint.
CPT. Charles on October 2, 2009 at 4:21 PM
The WH spin: “It’s always good to promote, boost, the USA.”
Interesting. I wonder if Michelle felt that way all those years of not being proud?
MaxMBJ on October 2, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Wow, I really hope that’s not their re-election strategy. The moral victory argument. They’re kind of already using that with porkulus. They claim things would’ve been worse had we done nothing.
Doughboy on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Here’s the video live from Daley Plaza (Chicago) as the result was read. CROWD STUNNED!
aquaviva on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
No spin press.
BacaDog on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Nah. What’s embarassing is that we have a kid in the WH.
Schadenfreude on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Looking ahead to 2010… 2012…
mankai on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
When does Obama get to win again? This isn’t fair!
AsianGirlInTights on October 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
What?! Why did he come out and make a statement about it? He had already distanced himself from it. He could’ve, he SHOULD have had Gibbs out there saying “sure Obama made a speech… what President wouldn’t have done that for his wife but he was never invested in this.”
But noo.. he’s so ensconced in himself he’s got to come out and talk about how the Olympics are small potatoes in a larger world?!
Petty man… that’s just petty.
Skywise on October 2, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Don’t you love posters who care enough to post their thoughts about how they don’t care?
Religious_Zealot on October 2, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Remember,he does not like the word VICTORY so he should be pleased.
ohiobabe on October 2, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Barack Obama is the world’s most successful failure.
Elizabetty on October 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Meh. They’ll find a box (or boxes) of previously uncounted votes that will put Chicago over the top.
aquaviva on October 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM
It is just the Olympics… but THEY made a big deal out of him going… time to eat [expletive] democrats.
mankai on October 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM
He needs to be cut down to size. His hubris is preventing him from ever doing anything good. Maybe if the universe keeps knocking him about he will experience some humility and possibly a spiritual awakening.
ReneePA on October 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM
jbh45 on October 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Loooooserrrrrrrrr.
Bwahahahaha!!!
csdeven on October 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Question:
The rampaging young men who beat the honor student to death in Chicago — the ones in the video that’s been circling the globe — were they racist Tea Baggers out to destroy America and President Obama’s pitch for the Olympics?
They looked like basic low-life scum to me, but I was wondering if they were part of a cleverly disguised right-wing plot to thwart Sacred Leader.
IndieDogg on October 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM
“Both people on the right and left acting like this is a big deal in regards to obama are retarded.”
You have missed the point by such a large margin it is amazing.
He chose to stake his (and by extension our) reputation on this bid by flying in at the last moment when there are one or two other pressing
distractions from the campaignitems that need attention. You know, like a war or two, sickening unemployment numbers, stuff like that.WitchDoctor on October 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I counted 12 times in 2 minutes
CookeyD on October 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Yep, a recall minnesota would be proud of….
jbh45 on October 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM
That goes without saying…
nyx on October 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM
+1
That’s the biggest thing to take away from this. It’s the Olympics… who cares.
Except, you know, Grow Fins and the rest of our trolls, who apparently bind up their sense of Patriotic Americanism within Chicago getting to host this talent show.
Lehosh on October 2, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I wonder if the UK played a role in influencing this embarassment? For everyone Obama has done to them since he took over
jp on October 2, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I expect to see that theme a lot this weekend.
WashJeff on October 2, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I don’t care about the subject of discussion as much as I’m annoyed by people who think obama is such a saintly figure as far as oratory skills that they are acting like “OMG HOW COULD THEY NOT GIVE IT TO US” and those who act like its a sign of how obama is suddenly going to fail at foreign policy when most likely the decision made has nothing to do with Obama as more just the fact, again, that this will be the first time ever that a South American country will host the games. I’m annoyed by how everyone is reacting to it.
Good for Rio they deserve it. We had it back in ’96 already and a few times before that. We can stand to wait a bit longer.
Norvell on October 2, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I hope it’s a lesson for future presidents: Don’t prostrate yourself before corrupt international committees.
lorien1973 on October 2, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Chicago-Rio Tough choice
Grayzel on October 2, 2009 at 4:30 PM
He should have promised them that Sarah Palin would carry the Olympic Torch. :)
joedoe on October 2, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Patriotism when it meant something (from Salon.com via Ace):
mankai on October 2, 2009 at 4:30 PM
The world weary cynics post is the third door down the hall on the left, Norv.
This is shadenFriday, pal!
DrW on October 2, 2009 at 4:31 PM
New troll.
Let’s beat him up!
Sapwolf on October 2, 2009 at 4:32 PM
HEY OBAMA!!!!!!!!
MAYBE IT WASN’T THE SMARTEST THING IN THE WORLD TO DISS THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS MERE MONTHS AGO!!!!!!!!!!!
BWA HAHAHAHAHA
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SO, YOU PREJUDICED FOOL!!!!!!!!
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:32 PM
“I did great” – Hussein the Wonder Boy
fogw on October 2, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Funny, BUenos Aires was knocked out first round the year Beijing got it. Ditto Cape Town getting knocked out when SYdney got it (neither africa nor south america hosted)
SO, you mean the IOC didnt care about “firsts” in 2001, but now they DO in 2009?
Get over yourself.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I agree – seems like the host cities end up spending money they don’t have to endure traffic disasters for something that a lot of people can’t even bother to watch on TV.
Maybe if people hadn’t acted like him and Michelle going was such a big deal they wouldn’t be looking like idiots now. And did he really have to fault the US in his pitch for being bad? It really came across as “now that we’ve gotten rid of that mean evil Bush crowd – you can love me/the US again.“
katiejane on October 2, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Ego, meet brick wall, it’s name is Reality, and he lives in the real world….
Hog Wild on October 2, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Oh this failure on B.O.’s part was much much greater than most may think.
He failed to pay back his One True Master, Lord Mayor Shortshanks Daley, by not making sure the 2016 Olympic Games were handed over to Daley on a silver platter.
Instead, B.O. managed to humiliate himself on an international level, while paying back Daley for his part in making sure B.O. was elected to the White House.
You can bet you will not hear much about them, but politically, there will be repercussions by Daley against B.O., unless Daley manages to get himself thrown out of office himself come the next mayoral election in Chicago, which could very well happen based on Daley’s own problems right now with corruption and graft in Chicago.
pilamaye on October 2, 2009 at 4:34 PM
I don’t much care if other world leaders have done this. I don’t like our President looking like the Salesman-in-Chief. Comes across a little ShamWow. Next they will have him at a Saturn dealership running a going out of business sale.
joedoe on October 2, 2009 at 4:34 PM
The tears of unfathomable sadness. They sustain me.
lorien1973 on October 2, 2009 at 4:35 PM
considering obama only won his first election due to throwing out ballots of ladies that signed their name poorly or used maiden names, he’s an expert at handwriting analysis.
maybe daley will “provide proof” of a nairobi birth cert — which the O can debunk with his handwriting analysis skill set???
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM
PHILLY 2020!!!!!!!!!!
rockmom on October 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Try this out and tell me what you think:
“Member of the International Olympic Committee…. It is a distinct pleasure to be here. Please give the Olympics to Chicago because: (1) It’s a really cool city, and (2) It would be really cool to have the Olympics in my hometown, just truly neat, you know.”
Pretty inspiring.
I’m stunned that the Committee could resist such compelling arguments.
IndieDogg on October 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM
NO. WE. CAN’T. Not even with Oprah.
HornetSting on October 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Tsk tsk — didnt you know? Technically Saturn (as an arm of GM) is now part of the Treasury Department.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:37 PM
If it’s not a big deal, why did he even get on the plane?
Also, AsianGirlInTights should be banned; her handle is way too distracting.
exception on October 2, 2009 at 4:37 PM
He.
Said.
Chicago.
Deserves.
It.
Because.
Chicago.
Has.
GOod.
Shopping.
I KID YOU NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
battleoflepanto1571 on October 2, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Norvell on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Obama and his sycophants went massively over the top on this.
Result: epic fail.
If they hadn’t made such a big deal of this then it wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Live and learn.
mad scientist on October 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Some website had a story that the Chicago proposal was all gooshy and emotional and short on logistics (which is what the IOC wants). That’s why it failed. Forget where I read that now, but Rio/Madrid submitted proposals that dealt with, you know, real things. Which is why they went to the final round.
I mean, really. Michelle saying Chicago should get the olympics cuz her father would have wanted them to go there? Really? Really?
That’s not a serious argument in favor of anything.
lorien1973 on October 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I believe the point for those of us on the middle-right side of the political spectrum is that we all new that he was a paper tiger – all style no substance.
Yet our nation was swayed by a dog and pony show and bought into the notion that this man could by his will alone (remember Michelle’s quotes about this?) turn our country around (of course, we were already heading in the right direction).
Yes, 51% of our country bought into the thought that this man’s presence would cause the world to heal and the oceans to recede.
But the rest of us knew that without a prepared speech in front of him, the guy was an idiot.
Worse, he was an idiot with no governing experience.
We already KNEW that he was going to fail in foreign policy because it takes actions, not words to succeed there.
Hence, our “glee” is in that that 51% who got “thrills up their leg” now, finally, get a little peek into what the rest of us knew all along –
-the guy’s a poser. A dangerously self-infatuated poser.
Religious_Zealot on October 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Yes We Créu
seven on October 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/03obama.html?_r=1&hp
The President went all out for these games…
and, yeah…
he isn’t self-centered or anything.
Asher on October 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Today is my birthday. Barry, you shouldn’t have. But thanks!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Patrick S on October 2, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Obama really needs to change his wardrobe to match his
winningsalesman personality.I recommend a polyester plaid jacket, to start with.
Daggett on October 2, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Waterlooo
Waterloo on Water Street chicago.
seven on October 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Let’s not forget. Tokyo advanced, and Chicago didn’t.
I said it this morning in another thread: the #16 seed manhandled the #1 seed. And the best the got is that it’s Michael Jordan’s fault.
It’s only a bunch of games and short term jobs with little lasting economic effect and a lot of debt. The question is why did Obama really weigh in? Simple–trying to pay back cronies. Glad they all failed.
BuckeyeSam on October 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Immediately after finishing up the press conference, President Obama went inside, kicked his dog a few times, then curled up under the desk in the Oval Office for a good snivel.
califcon on October 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM
“I had flubbed it. Or perhaps he wouldn’t have gone for it no matter what I had said, in which case it had been a flub to try. So no matter what, I had flubbed it.”–Rex Stout
Chris_Balsz on October 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM
No President has ever gone to the IOC, hat in hand, looking for favors. Barry did – and came home empty-handed. That makes him look weak, and ineffectual. And if you don’t think that Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jung Il aren’t doing their very-best Mr. Burns-style “Eeeeex-cellent!” right now, then you’re fooling yourself.
I’m sure I don’t have to remind you great sages on the left, as academically gifted as you are, but when we last had a young, inexperienced President who won office on his force of personality, he went to Reykjavik to negotiate with the Soviets – and gave them the impression he was a pushover. A few months later they were putting IRBMs in Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis was at best a strategic draw for the US – and framing it as a tactical setback would not be entirely out of line, given that we removed our nuclear-tipped missiles from Europe, only for the Soviets to maintain their own forces at status quo. More to the point, Barry Obama has not seen combat, unlike Jack Kennedy, and I don’t think Obama’s anywhere near as good at poker and brinksmanship as Kennedy was. While Obama’s neck might be on the line in a similar situation, he also has the say for America, in what happens. Our necks are on the line too – and we have no say. Given his track record on international affairs, it wouldn’t be too far to say that we have taxation in those matters, but no representation.
Blacksmith on October 2, 2009 at 4:42 PM
The way I see it, the world sees Obama as a weak, inexperienced leader who won’t retaliate if they dis him. So, they’re getting their jolllies by smacking him around at every opportunity. Something they haven’t been able to do for a looooooong time.
NavyMustang on October 2, 2009 at 4:42 PM
BBBBWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!
Seven Percent Solution on October 2, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Yeah, no kidding!!
Let me fix it for ya, Obama:
“Nearly one year ago, on a clear November night, people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to worship me,” Mr. Obama told the committee. “Their interest wasn’t about me as an individual. Rather, it was about me as the savior of the world.”
Daggett on October 2, 2009 at 4:43 PM
joedoe – I believe the expression is ‘All sham, no wow’.
Do I care whether Chicago got the Olympics? A little bit. I wouldn’t have minded so long as it was only Illinois’ taxpayers pockets getting picked. Hosting an Olympics is a little like being the happiest drunk at the party. Everyone loves you for a few hours. Then you wake up, find yourself handcuffed to the sofa and your wallet’s gone.
But insofar as the Obama family throwing themselves at the IOC and achieving less than nothing: this is Obama channeling McCain suspending his campaign and plunging his hands into the fecal bank-bailout. This is Obama chasing away the killer rabbit with his oar.
We’re back to ‘self-absorbed and utterly ineffective’ again.
JEM on October 2, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Religious_Zealot on October 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
+10
mad scientist on October 2, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Played badly…and LOST! LOVE IT!
WhatsRight on October 2, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Both people on the right and left acting like this is a big deal in regards to obama are retarded. The fact of the matter is that South America has never hosted the Olympics and I’m sure this was probably the deciding factor. God who cares…
Norvell on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
It is a big deal, cause Obama acts like he thinks he can tackle just about anything and win. Which he hasn’t…at ANYTHING. You’re right that SA did win for that very reason, but Obama just keeps putting his big fat foot in his mouth at every opportunity.
Catherine Wilkinson on October 2, 2009 at 4:44 PM
“It’s not about how great I am, it’s about how great I make America.”
How fun must it have been to shoot that down. The only thing cooler than having a rock star come to your party is blowing him off when he gets there.
exception on October 2, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Did you hear Daley’s pitch last night in front of the IOC? He also did a great job of humiliating himself.
I don’t know what I’m happier about today, Barry’s epic fail or Richie Daley’s epic fail. Now that this over, it’s going to be interesting to watch how many jump off the sinking Daley machine.
Knucklehead on October 2, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Norvell on October 2, 2009 at 4:18 PM
The city of Chicago spent at least 50 mill lobbying for the games according to TalkLeft, people someplace are pixxed as hell, count on it
ginaswo on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Exactly!
gophergirl on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Chicago eliminated in the FIRST round?
My collie says:
CyberCipher on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Obama says “I believe it’s a worthwhile endeavor to promote, boost, the Unites States of America….”
Right, except when you’re speaking to the Muslim world. Or the secular European world. Or the Latin world. Or the…..
CarolynM on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
His car sales job also stunk last month. GM and Chrysler down over 40% and sale of Saturn backfired.
seven on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
:-(
AsianGirlInTights on October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM
I find it really funny that just yesterday people were saying that the only reason Obama would go was that he cut a deal with IOC. It was supposedly “in the bag” for Chicago if he’d show up.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Daggett on October 2, 2009 at 4:47 PM
“It wasn’t about me…”
Why would we think it was, Mbooba?
Whenever someone says it wasn’t about him, it;s like he’s saying, “It’s not the money, it’s the principle.” This translates as, “It’s about the money.”
You are about you, Mbooba. You.
Akzed on October 2, 2009 at 4:47 PM
My Domestic Shorthair feline says:
HornetSting on October 2, 2009 at 4:48 PM
He is at least keeping his Strike Out record in tacked. He needs to stay on this streak another 3 1/2 years and all will be well in this country.
Sanmon on October 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Read it and get your barf bag.
Only Michelle Obama came through in final pitch
Knucklehead on October 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
what if Barack decides now to really go for the Gold. If he expressed a desire to play on the US Basketball Team in Rio, who could say no? Mike Krzyseskiski (sp)? Rick Pitino, alright probably not Rick. He’s the first Affirmative Action President, he could be the first Affirmative Action Power Forward , what a story, I’m starting to choke up just thinking about it. Another black gloved fist raised on the podium, Wow!
JohnBissell on October 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Obama has finally thrown an entire city under the bus,
Guess what’s next.
RobCon on October 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
http://www.670thescore.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4063869
Listen to this…
LtE126 on October 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
And consider this…if he’s so sure we hog everything in the world, why didn’t he go out and promote, say, some Muslim country that he’s currently in love with. I mean, he’s hit the floor so many times on his knees apologizing for America, but now he goes and says, “nevermind what I said about America…give the Olympics to Chicago! It’s different there! Michelle and Oprah said so!”
Geezzzz…what a putz
Catherine Wilkinson on October 2, 2009 at 4:50 PM
One has to wonder. At what point, if ever, will Obama look at his advisors and say “you guy’s are giving me sh#tty advice and making me look like an idiot”.
Hog Wild on October 2, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Could’ve made it a productive trip and swung by Zurich to pick up Polanski.
aop on October 2, 2009 at 4:51 PM
I Love that Obama has fallen FLAT on his face.
I HATE that Obama is our troops Commander in Chief!!
PappaMac on October 2, 2009 at 4:51 PM
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