Who do you want to win the Olympic bid?

[Jackeens]

President Barack Obama gives a 'thumbs-up' as he walks to Marine One helicopter before his departure on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Obama is traveling to Copenhagen to help in Chicago's effort for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote tomorrow.

[KatyaR]

1. We need another category--

"anyone but us."

[Jackeens]

2. At your request!

[jenmito]

3. The only reason I want Chicago to get it is so Obama can claim success and the Repubs. can

whine about it.

[Kdillard]

7. lol. If Chicago does get it the whining will be deafening. Then again

that seems to be the case no matter what President Obama does .

[jenmito]

10. Of course it will...

no matter WHAT. But if he GETS the Olympics, it'll be a lot easier to take.

[Jackeens]

8. I'm torn: I want Chicago for the same reasons as you; I want Madrid for the time zone!

If it's Chicago I'll be watching the 100m final at two in the morning :shrug:

I think I'll abstain. :-)

[Clio the Leo]

11. lol ......... I'll send you some coffee. NT

[jenmito]

15. Can you record the Olympics?

That would solve your problem. (But I'm sure you thought of that.)

[Jackeens]

23. That's a mortal sin, jenmito - they HAVE to be watched live. This was me after the Sydney Games....

[jenmito]

29. I understand...

but I do NOT understand how that dog's legs can be so long!!

[pink-o]

33. Cuz it's from the country where Obama's heading to campaign for the Olympics n/t

[Jackeens]

34. LOL, that's true!

The very Great Dane:

[jenmito]

39. Still, the dogs in the pics above look like their main bodies are longer or the same length

as their legs, while the one on the couch looked like it had legs double the length of its body! FREAKISHLY long!

[Clio the Leo]

52. Spoken like a girl who's never dated a basketball player. :-) NT

[PSzymeczek]

54. I'm 4'10"

and dated a guy that is 6'9".

[Clio the Leo]

55. lol, are you my cousin's high school sweetheart?

Because he's 6'9" and his g'friend was pretty close to your height! lol

[jenmito]

57. I HAVE dated basketball players-6'8" and 6'9"!

And I'm 5'8"-or was. :) One of them was friends with Dream Team member Chris Mullen and we went to his house once and I met him. Good times.

[bigwillq]

14. Is Obama a failure

if Chicago doesn't get it? :shrug:

[jenmito]

18. Did I SAY that? Of course not, but it would be a good thing for him politically to

come back with the Olympics being held here. Common sense.

[bigwillq]

20. Well if Chicago wins it

you say he can claim success. If Chicago does not win it, will he claim failure? :shrug: Seems like the logical thing to do.

[jenmito]

30. He won't literally claim success...

but he'll get to be seen as having the pull to take it from the former odds-on favorite-Rio.

And of COURSE he wouldn't claim failure. But his critics will probably call him a failure, say he "lost his 'star power,' etc. Are you playing dumb?

[bigwillq]

38. It just makes it sound like

you only want Chicago to get it for political reasons, which, imo, is very selfish. And if he gets to "claim success", according to your logic, he must claim failure. That's the way it works. Can't have it just one way.

It's silly to want Chicago to get it so we can claim some kind of political points. I hope we get it only if there's a sensible, cost-effective plan, and that the city and state can benefit from it. If not, I hope we don't get it.

[jenmito]

40. Then tell it to those who agreed with me...

and again, I didn't say he'll literally "claim success."

And the reason HE wants it is because it will HELP Chicago, by bringing in about $20 billion and 300,000 jobs from what I heard on the news. :eyes:

[bigwillq]

42. Let's hope it helps.

If they do get it, that is. I like the Olympics. Not sure if I am rooting for a US city to get it or not yet. If I lived in Chicago, I don't think I would want it. Glad I don't live there. Traffic is congested enough where I live, I could only imagine what it would be like hosting an international event!

[Clio the Leo]

48. My alma matre.......

.... PUBLIC high school that is, got a SIGNIFICANTLY improved facility for it's crew (you know, the row boats?) to practice in because of the Olympics ... again, I'm not even Atlanta, I'm TWO HOURS away.

Thousands of people came through my city on their way to Atlanta so they improved the area highways (made them LESS congested) to make ready for them.

You want more examples, I can give them to you.

[bigwillq]

49. That is good to hear.

:hi:

[Clio the Leo]

45. And he also wants bragging rights...

.... and there's not a thing wrong with it. He's a sportsman .... and people who like to play sports, also like to win.

This is not Sarah Palin talking about "winning" in a war ...... its a ball game ......... the biggest ball game in all of the world.

Nothing for you to be ashamed of Jen. ;)

[jenmito]

60. Exactly...

but according to that poster's logic, if he DOESN'T get them, he'll have to claim defeat.

Yup, he's a baller. He's competitive.

Thanks, Clio. :hi:

[Clio the Leo]

44. Braggin' rights........

.... one of the fringe benefits being the party in power.

As I have said before, I live two hours from Atlanta. I know, first hand, the benefits of having the Olympics come to your area. If Chicago gets it, EVERYONE will benefit .... the people of Chicago, and their home-town boy who's runnin' the show at the moment.

[Pirate Smile]

31. I want it for the same reason PLUS it is 4 hours away so I could go to something if I want to which

could be cool. :)

[jenmito]

37. That's cool...

would you need to buy tickets or anything?

[Pirate Smile]

53. Yes but I think there is plenty of time to figure all that out.

;)

[jenmito]

62. I guess you're right.

:)

[corkhead]

56. Obama should endorse Kenya to host. That would REALLY fuck with their heads.

[jenmito]

65. That would be SOOO funny!

:rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

4. he just needs to look more confident! lol NT

:sarcasm:

[jenmito]

5. Is he wearing some kind of boots? n/t

[Clio the Leo]

9. No, I think those are just regular office-man shoes. NT

[Jackeens]

12. ROFL: "Office man shoes"!

:rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

13. Isn't it funny........

..... we're all getting eye-strain trying to see Michelle's and yet we could give a flyin' flip about his. lol

[Jackeens]

17. As Michelle said.....

On May 20...he stood off-stage at the Des Moines Historical Society Museum in Iowa.... "That's an interesting belt buckle," he said to Michelle, mischievously. She feigned offense and said, "I am interesting, next to you. Surprise, surprise, a blue suit, a white shirt and a tie." Obama grinned and bent down until he was almost at eye level with her waist. He jabbed a playful finger toward her belt buckle, and let loose his inner nerd. "The lithium crystals! Beam me up, Scotty!" Obama squeaked, laughing at his own lame joke as Michelle rolled her eyes.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/167755/page/1

She could have added, "What?! Another pair of black shiny shoes!"

[jenmito]

19. I've never seen "regular office man shoes" without laces. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

22. I'm stickin' with "regular office-man" shoes, here's a bigger pic...

you know he only owns one pair! lol

[Jackeens]

26. He doesn't always wear them at the most sensible of times...

And sometimes he loses them:

[Clio the Leo]

27. lol, I remember that day......

.... he had to be in about five places over the span of three hours, but you're right ........ where's the mud boots Reggie!!!

[jenmito]

28. Hmmm...

you may be right. Maybe they're just too cool for me to recognize. But I LOVE how he has them so worn out on the bottom. He really is on the move all the time. :hi:

[Phx_Dem]

6. He's such a sad sack.

:sarcasm:

[Clio the Leo]

16. For those who missed Hardball.......

.... one of Tweety's guests made an interesting observation on the vote tomorrow. Said the African nations are essentially the independant, swing voters because they dont have a dog in the fight.


Or do they?

[Jackeens]

21. Hmm, Kenya...

The Talk of Kenya: What Does Obama Have Against Us?

Not since the days of President Daniel arap Moi, a classic African "Big Man," has the U.S. been so tough on Kenya. The latest salvo came on Sept. 24, when Washington threatened to ban 15 senior officials from the U.S. for their failure to push through reforms after bloody post-election violence in early 2008. Even worse for a cash-strapped Kenya, the U.S. promised to scrutinize the government's requests to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. This is not the close friendship that Kenya had in mind when Barack Obama, a man whose father was born in Kenya, won the U.S. presidency. Kenya declared it a national holiday when Obama's victory was announced, and his visage is ever present here — on gum wrappers, in airline magazines and, briefly, on a beer label.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1926898,00.html?iid=tsmodule

Guess they'll be voting for Rio, then? :shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

24. They gotta get rid of their government corruption first....

.... or at least make an attempt at it.

He's not getting anywhere NEAR that until then.

[Jackeens]

25. Absolutely - gotta love their assumption that he'd overlook their corruption and be best buddies.

[SidneyCarton]

32. No offense to Chicago, for I will be very happy if they win...

But Brazil is my "segunda patria" and South America has never had an Olympiad held there. It could be very good for Rio, and for Brazil as well.

[ellie]

35. I don't ever recall

a debate like this. Is it because Obama wants it? Can it be any more transparent? For fuck's sake, it is really getting ridiculous.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

36. Chicago because of Obama with Rio as a close second because of Lula

[BlooInBloo]

43. Lula?

[Jackeens]

47. They were best buddies....until now

:-)



U.S. President Barack Obama is presented with a soccer shirt by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, signed by the Brazilian national soccer team, during the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy Thursday July 9, 2009.

[BlooInBloo]

50. Oh - heh. I'm sure they'll go have a beer when the dust settles. :)

[Clio the Leo]

51. lol, yes, and now they're BLOOD ENEMIES!!!

Oh to be a fly on the wall to hear their good-natured ribbing of one another tomorrow.

Now the ONLY thing I'm worried about .... if they bring that Brizillian carnival chic ..... YOU know the one, lil' Miss Deforestation (ahem!) ...... we are SO screwed! lol

[Cha]

41. At least PO went..and tried.

If Chicago doesn't get it then it won't be for lack of making a first rate effort.

I've read of people on this board in and around Chicago who want it for the jobs so I'm going with Chicago.

[onehandle]

46. America. Critics of his trip are clearly Anti-America. nt

[mopinko]

58. we want it in chicago so

obama can lead the parade.

[tuvor]

59. Give it to Rio. South America has never hosted the event.

[Forkboy]

61. I'm torn. Chicago is a damn cool city, but I also have a soft spot for Tokyo.

I'm voting for Tokyo just to give it some love. :)

http://img.wallpaperstock.net:81/tokyo-by-night-wallpapers_4255_1440x900.jpg

[ovidsen]

64. I've always wanted to see Tokyo from the Eiffel Tower!

That's just a joke. Although I didn't know Tokyo had a structure that at least resembles the Eiffel Tower. And the first time I saw the picture, I thought, "Gee, the Las Vegas skyline has changed so much!" Umm, how many Eiffel Towers are there?

But seriously, I hope Chicago gets the nod. If it's Tokyo? Good for them.

[Omnibus]

63. I voted for Rio.

There are 3 continents that haven't hosted the Olympic games; Africa, Antarctica, and South America. The Games have only been in the Southern Hemisphere twice, both times in Australia ('56 and 2000)

Africa's not in the running this year, but a South American city, Southern Hemisphere city IS, so I've gotta root for them, because I believe the Olympics should represent the ENTIRE world.* Sorry, Chicago.

*Except Antarctica. Screw them. They'll never host the Summer Olympics.

[Gregorian]

66. At the risk of being a bring down

I vote no one gets the Olympics. I know...

Is there global warming? If not, then full steam ahead. If it's true, and it is, then the environment cannot tolerate more than is absolutely necessary. It's as if even the people who believe in the fact that global warming is true, just can't be responsible. It takes more than just acknowledgment. It takes action, or lack of action to be honest.

I'm surprised that with all of the talk of how advanced global warming is, that people haven't started changing.

Someone has to care. I think the Olympics is fantastic. But I think a future for the human race is more important.

Flame on. I have a permanent flame suit on now days.