02 October 2009

Blame it on Rio! And Some in the US are Loving This

SURE, I WAS pulling for Chicago, mainly because I love when the Olympics are held in the US. But I'm also pretty excited about an Olympic Games in Brazil -- indeed, in the South America period. You can bet they'll put on a great show.

You might be thinking that Americans are pretty disappointed by today's selection -- but you'd be wrong if you were talking about some of the leading members of the hard-Right. I'm talking about the right-wing Republicans who are already frothing at the mouth because they see Chicago's loss as a huge embarrassment -- even failure -- for Chicago's own Barack Obama. Yes, even something like trying to land the Olympic games has turned into a partisan party for those at the extreme end of the GOP. Don't believe me? Take a look at some of these quotes from some of American's leading Republican voices when they heard the today's news:
  • "Hahahahaha," wrote Red State's Erick Erickson. " So much for improving America's standing in the world, Barry O."
  • "Please, please let me break this news to you. It's so sweet," said Glenn Beck on his radio show.
  • The Drudge Report announced the news like this: "WORLD REJECTS OBAMA: CHICAGO OUT IN FIRST ROUND. THE EGO HAS LANDED."
  • "The worst day of Obama's presidency, folks," echoed Rush Limbaugh.
  • "Chicago and Tokyo eliminated. No Obamalypics," Michelle Malkin tweeted,
  • "Cheers erupt at Weekly Standard world headquarters," wrote editor John McCormack in a post titled "Chicago Loses! Chicago Loses!"
  • The National Review Online called it an embarrassment for Obama, adding: "If he can't work his personal magic with the Olympians, why does he expect it to work with the Iranians?"
Now I know that both ends of the political spectrum have their share of mind-numbing blowhards (a Democratic congressman said something pretty stupid about Republicans just two days ago) and I have called-out both sides for engaging in this kind of boorish political point-grabbing, but these reactions were even more sophomoric than I would have thought. Cheering an American failure just to stick-it to Obama? Really? That's the strategy they're going with?

Boy, they're going to become downright giddy if unemployment keeps going up or the economic crisis gets worse. How will they contain themselves?

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America. -- Alexis de Tocqueville.

Good luck Rio!!
CJS

Late Update:
Here's a link from a political conference for a group called Americans for Prosperity -- a conservative political group . This is their reaction upon hearing that America lost it's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.


14 comments :

Gaspard said...

Paris has 'failed' twice in the last 12 years and I can't imagine any of my countrymen cheering the news when Beijing (08) and London (12) were announced instead of Paris.

Dianne is for Paris said...

Wow. I had no idea there was that kind of feelings. I just assumed the whole country was rooting for Chicago.

French for a While said...

Dianne...many Americans had luke-warm thoughts because of the current economic crisis, etc. (especially in Chicago). My point is that I was surprised at the level some talking heads will go to pin a 'failure' on Obama. I mean, cheering when Chicago lost? I don't get that.

Anonymous said...

Party before Country! Talk about Fascist.

Anonymous said...

This goes to the heart of the American pathology of the moment: partisanship trumping the common good; partisanship as an excuse for gloating, if not hatred.

Other heads of state took the same risk Obama did, except that Obama was hyping the city least well known among the competitors.

Each head of state was facing possible defeat. And just because you lose doesn't mean you're a loser.

Chuck / Dad

Anonymous said...

How sad for all of us that the leading republican voices are the likes of Limbaugh, Beck and Malkin.

Harold of Scaggsville said...

Well said Chuck/Dad.

Just because you lose does not mean you are a loser.

I think President Obama had to show just because he would've been haggled by all the same people worse if he had not gone and the US lost the bid.

Barack: "Well, I did my best George, but the Brazilians won."

George W: "Sorry to hear that Barack, How many is a Brazilian again?"

deedee said...

I cringe when I read those reactions to the Olympics going to Brazil.
I too, was excited to hear that a South American country was going to be a host...for the first time ever.
Were those Republicans really ready to pay out of their precious pockets for the huge cost of hosting an Olympics? Probably as about as ready as they are to provide health care to poor people (and the not so poor).

Anonymous said...

It's not about Chicago, it's about Obama thinking he can just show up and get his way. We're happy that he finally has to deal with the fact that he is not bigger than everyone else. Plus, this is no time to be spending money on Olympic games -- with all the added taxes and cost that Chicago residents would have to pay. Getting the Olympics would have been bad for America!!

Rui from Boston said...

where was your outrage , when the left wished for me and my brothers to fail against the terrorist , so you could stick it to Bush

French for a While said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
French for a While said...

Rui in Boston. It was there -- for some on the extreme left -- and I found it disgusting. It's the Party Before Country mentality that I'm railing against. If you want my take on those years you'll have to visit www.justinsidethebeltway.com. For now, in the case of the Olympics, my arrows are aimed squarely at the far Right.

bhshrode said...

Almost as fair and balanced as a Fox News report. 7 direct quotes of the right wing wackos, and a casual mention (in parens) that a democrat once said something bad as well. Good to know you find it disgusting on both ends.

French for a while said...

But on THIS issue it's the Right Wing that is giggling and reveling in American's losing bid. I wonder why?