An expert said that The USA losing the summer 2016 Olympic Games is “the biggest shock in International Olympic Committee history,” and it drew immediate questions about the worth of President Obama’s influence.
While I won’t jump on the bandwagon pointing fingers at the president, or the team representing the city of Chicago, for losing the Olympic bid to Rio, I cannot believe the comment from CEO Pat Ryan who despite the loss of the Summer Games emphasized that the “2016 Olympic bid put Chicago on the map” adding “Chicago is so much better known today, and appreciated and respected all around the world,” He added. “So Chicagoans can hold their heads high. We’re sorry we didn’t bring home a victory, but there’s only one gold medal winner.”
Perhaps. But what has placed the “windy city” of Chicago on the world stage this week is the killing of 16 year old Fenger HS honor student Derrion Albert who was beaten to death by a gang that was witnessed and videotaped. That video of the murder has been broadcast on the FOX Network and is added to the bottom of this post. Don’t think for a minute that violence in the USA is not broadcast around the globe
In 2007 “Criminologist and author John Hagedorn went on to comparing the city of Chicago to the city of New York, which had one-third the homicide rate of Chicago last year. The reason for this, he said, is because the gangs are more entrenched here and therefore it is harder to fight
Woven though there has been a sharp decrease in homicides and other gun-related violence from 10 years ago, the fact remains Chicago last year (2007) had 443 homicides, New York had 496, but New York has three times the population, which effectively means Chicago has three times the murder rate.” Update: In 2008 the number of Chicago murders jumped from 443 to 508. Houston..weve have a problem!
So while the “windy city” just lost their bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games perhaps the mayor and the president might devote similar time and resources to their bigger picture. Shut down their gangs and reduce the high incident of murder in this city..
Larry:
Perhaps Obama could hold competing games in 2016. OHHHHHHHHH I forgot he won’t be in office then–who cares !! After nine months of Obama the world has had enough of his act !!Mile wide and 1/8 inch thick!!!
Can you imagine the GOP’s outrage if Obama hadn’t gone to Copenhagen to make the pitch for the US and we still hadn’t gotten the games? Obama CAN NOT WIN with these evil people.
Every other head of state went to pitch for their respective country’s but ONLY the US has an entire political party ROOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN COUNTRY! The Republicans in this country are SHAMELESS, they have NO MORAL COMPASS, they HATE AMERICA if their guy isn’t in office.
Yes, Democrats hated George W. Bush, but we hated him for a reason, he started and messed up TWO WARS, he took SURPLUSES and turned them into DEFICITS, he peopled the government with INCOMPETENT CRONIES, he brought our entire ECONOMY TO THE BRINK OF DISASTER through his LAX POLICIES and then he SHOVED A HUGE BAILOUT FOR HIS CORPORATE BUDDIES DOWN OUR THROATS. That doesn’t EVEN address 9-11, can you imagine the GOP HISTRIONICS if 9-11 had happened on Obama’s watch, DO YOU THINK THE GOP WOULD HAVE STOOD BEHIND OBAMA THE WAY DEMOCRATS STOOD BEHIND BUSH????????????????? NOT A CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greed Over Patriotism!!!!!!!!!!!
You ANTI-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN’S MAKE ME SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sore losers and shallow human beings make up the Republican party now, this country needs two-parties but the republicans have lost any and all credibility and are now a liability. Good riddance to the GOP and their members!
“I cannot believe the comment from CEO Pat Ryan”
What did you expect him to say, Larry. God Lord, Larry, I’m disappointed in you. I know you’re a conservative and you don’t like Obama, but dang, are you really going to join the bandwagon and bash Obama and Chicago for this? Yesterday was suppose to be a sad day for the people of this country, and yet Republicans laughed and cheered. Like anonster, you GOP make me sick.
So Chicago/The US lost, THAT’S GREAT NEWS, LETS CELEBRATE. Such great Americans you people are.
To my good friend anonster.
I knew you would fire back.
However I am disappointed not seeing a single word coming from your keyboard regarding the senseless murder of a young black honor student that we saw on TV?
And yet while I never mention former president Bush you spew your venum against him when he is miles away from this post.
Yup. You are truly a class act!
Lam.
Having attended the 1984 Olympics when it was held in LA I am a fan of the summer games. We watched the opening cycling event won by Americans that went right by our Mission Viejo home.
My post shifted the focus form the Olympic site selection to what is not being covered by the media.
The senseless murder as stated above. I am disappointed that you did not respond to my comment that someone is murdered every day in that American city.
I did not laugh and cheer the IOC Committee selection.
“I am disappointed that you did not respond to my comment that someone is murdered every day in that American city.”
Larry, crime anywhere in the States is a serious issue. I for one, feel strongly about crime and punishment (some say TOO strong). Most criminals belong in jail for a very long time, and we can make room for them by executing the hardcore murderers and rapists… quickly. Do that on a daily basis and despite what people claim, it will no doubt be a crime deterrent.
We can discuss or debate the above issue, BUT… there is a right place and time for everything. What happened yesterday was sickening. Republicans immediately took the Chicago rejection as an opportunity to attack Obama. Like you, many linked the rejection to an “Obama Failure” and what a POS place Chicago is. Are you so sure Brazil or Rio is such a wonderful place to live?
I tell ya, I voted for Bill Clinton the second time, and George Bush twice. I know politics is a contact sport. In no way am I in love with the Democrats, but what I’ve seen from the Republicans the last couple years make me sick.
Lam.
This registered Republican is not 100% supportive of my own party.
When people report that all politics is local let me state that I helped all five of our current city council members get elected. Sadly the majority labeled themselves as Conservatives but their post election actions tell a much different tale. I only use that illustration in response to your presidential voting. I have had issues with the administration of both presidents Bush 41 and 43.
Back to the Olympic site selection. While the president only spent four hours or so attending the Denmark meeting there were several high level people engaged in the bidding process.
A lot of people were surprised by the outcome.
Normally the skids are greased before a national leader comes to the table with pen’s in hand to sign Agreements. Americans assumed this was a slam dunk. As the USA has been a host nation in the past, and whereas Chicago had some internal issues regarding paying for the venues, it is only fitting that another nation be given the same opportunity to become the host.
Folks. This was a serious post about youth crime in Chicago. While channel surfing tonight, just after 10 pm, I tuned in CNN News that opened with a black host interviewing two black guests in Chicago. The title of that opening news segment was “tackling youth violence.”
I guess they had the same valid concern as myself.
The guests were author Victor Woods who questioned black leadership missing in action when asking “where is the outrage.” He mentioned that 37 black boys were murdered in Chicago last year.
The other guest was Asa Powell, a former gang member, who has turned his life around after being in prison. Asa said he graduated from a Chicago high school in 1988 and that he is from 79th Street which must be in the heart of the hood. These men have direct personal knowledge of the issues.
While my post mentions the president and the Olympic games stands on solid ground. Start investing in our youth to save their lives instead of waiting until its too late and they either get killed in the streets where they hang out or go to prison at a cost of $35,000 per year.
Larry,
Do NOT pretend that you are concerned about Chicago’s black youth, the ONLY reason you bring them up is to USE THEM ( however obliquely) to SMEAR and CRITICIZE OBAMA. Puleeze, like INVESTING in inner city youth has always been a HUGE Republican priority.
This is the ONLY priority Republicans have;
“Oh, why is Obama trying to bring the Olympics to Chicago, when he should be focused on the day-to-day issues of policing Chicago’s streets and setting a good example….OR … Why oh why, didn’t Obama go to Copenhagen like EVERY other head-of-state? He left Chicago hanging out there, he should leave the policing of Chicago’s streets to local officials and focus on the big picture, just think of all the good bringing the Olympics to Chicago could’ve done.”
As to George W. Bush not being relevent, I have a cartoon for you;
http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2009/09/1-20-09_the_date_history_began.html
Anonster.
Sorry but I forgot to pray for you at church this morning.
Perhaps you can tell the Associated Press that this story is irrelevant as their comments were published on page 17 of today’s OC Register.
If as you say the president should leave the gang and murder problems of Chicago to local authorities why is he “sending US Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan” on Wed “to meet with school officials, students and residents in the windy city?
Perhaps you can respond as to why is he sending these high level staffers to Chicago on Wed and not having them make a stop in nearby Detroit. Let’s see their crime statistics.
“Crime in Detroit has increased in recent decades. In 2007, the city had the sixth highest number of violent crimes among the twenty-five largest cities.[1] FBI reports for 2009 show that the number of violent crimes has risen in the city of Detroit and the metropolitan area.[2]
According to a recent report, the Detroit Police Department routinely under-reports homicides through omissions and incorrect classification of crimes. The number of homicides was 368 for 2008, for a rate 40.7 per 100,000 residents. While this represents a significant decline in the murder rate from 2007, it still ranks Detroit as the Murder Capital of cities with more than 500,000 residents.”
Let me anticipate your rebuttal. Did president Bush take on a similar role?
Probably not.
Has the US war against drugs been a success. No!!!
We can have that discussion in another post.
Have a blessed day!
#11 Larry,
The heart of the matter is, is that NOTHING Obama does or can do will be enough for the Republicans, that’s why they were ROOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN COUNTRY in America’s Olympic bid. NO amount of rationalization can change the fact that the Republicans are willing to put POLITICS BEFORE COUNTRY, they threw their country under the bus in order to score cheap political points against the POTUS.
Save your prayers for your Republican brethren, anyone as morally bankrupt as they are can use all the help they can get.
anonster.
Help me out here. As you continue lobbing molotov cocktails against the GOP, can you provide the names of the millions of Republicans in America that voted against the USA getting the 2016 summer games?
Larry,
Do your OWN footwork, Republican GLEE at the US losing out on the 2016 Olympics is ALL OVER the news and the internet. I suggest you start with your favorite, Faux News ( I know you watch, I recognize the talking points, you really aren’t very original) and do a quick archive check.
“This registered Republican is not 100% supportive of my own party.”
Larry, you sound like Sean Hannity. Hannity claims that he’s a conservative and not necessary a Republican. Yet, he spends 99% of his time attacking the Dems and defending the Republicans. Who is he trying to kid?
Back to the Olympics, it’s fair to say that this was a disappointment if not a huge embarrassment to Obama. But I think on this issue, all of us as Americans can share the burden. At least Obama tried and we can thank him for that. For Republicans to exploit the situation to attack Obama and Chicago is way out of line.
Anonster.
Sorry to inform you but I don’t need FOX News to provide generic comments that appear in my posts.
In fact, spending all day on this keyboard researching a wide spectrum of current events around the globe limits my time on the tube.
I do watch some football, baseball and golf, time permitting.
Lam. It may come as a surprise but I rarely tune in to hear or watch Sean Hannity as he is too far off the reservation for this conservative Republican.
As to the Olympic Games. That was yesterdays headline so its time to move on. did I say “move on.”
Setting aside the gang and crime problems in our major inner cities I am curious to see how the commander-in-chief deals with our committment to the war against terrorists in Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan.
Many Americans voted for Obama based on his platform/pledge to bring all American troops home.
What recommendation do you have for our president on this major foreign policy issue?