Times UK: Obama’s Olympic failure will only add to doubts about his presidency

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6859031.ece


There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama’s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.

Chicago’s dismal showing yesterday, after Mr Obama’s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasised enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good — but carries no heft.

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.

Read more at link.

I'm more interested in what the Guardian has to say.

:popcorn:

as much as I hate to say so. The USA's "no fly list" etc probably didn't help their cause.

of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the financial mess?
Putrid analysis.

No, not really. :eyes:

especially in the US. Instant gratification and all that. So he took a risk and it failed. That's okay. The risk he took wasn't life threatening. Can't win 'em all, huh?

held any Prez accountable about the location of the Olympic Games? What a load...............

n/t

yesterday

Seriously!

Too too silly.

The Olympic Committee was probably reminded of the last two times the Olympics were on American soil and what grand clusters of FAIL they were.

how are you defining "grand clusters of FAIL" in this context? No snark - just would like you to clarify your statement.

:shrug:

...is similar to my response here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8682753&mesg_id=8683145

I don't believ there has ever been this kind of dicussion over Olympic picks ever!!

By then, Olympalooza will be dead.

on DU until the end of time...

Fuck the "humilation" meme and fuck those who are pushing it.

Stupid jealous wags. Fucking Fail Pushers.

Let's see. Where would the most sexiest place be to hold the olympics, RIO, MADRID, TOKYO, chicago. I'll blame it on rio baby.

This is no big deal. P ah leeeeeze.

Obama did not fail here. He, and the rest of the US team, gave it their best effort. We lost. It happens. Time to move on. This is not a story. It has nothing to do with how Obama governs.

:thumbsdown:

so consider the source.