Thanks to the previous administration....EVERYTHING IS A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW!

The economy is still a priority, and this would bring millions of dollars in revenue to the US. Americans that aren't working will be working and building for the event, and people will be spending money. What the flip does this have to do with campaigning, Nancy? Anything that puts people to work and gets money flowing is good for the economy.

With Millions out of work, bringing the Olympics to Chicago would be a great thing. The Olympics bring in millions and millions of dollars to the city and country that hosts it. Hosting the Olympics would create jobs almost immediately preparing for the big event.

To Two Cents Worth: Before Chicago can see any money, the country will have to spend a ton preparing for Olympics. Do we have this money to build and change everything NOW? I don't think so.

NaTa...thank God the president and his financial advisors are not so small-minded. Jobs must be created. The return on the investment will be worth it.

NaTa..............Finally somebody with some thinking........ ask any other City what it cost with all the security and roads etc.!! Look back to Atlanta.

What the heck? Has everyone here forgeton that President Obama has real time access to all the technologies in the world and can do his job from anywhere? Everyone is freaking out as if he has to be at one place or another to get things done when it has nothing to do with that. He can video conference from anywhere, his blackberry still works and even if he stayed home what do you think he could accomplish there with his security all around him?

We are not living back in the past before the computer, wireless capabilities, phone, internet. We as Americans should be proud that we have such an advantage over our forefathers because we can be anywhere in the world and still make amazing things happen without physicaly being in one place.

The Chicago Olympic bid is for 2016. That's seven years from now. Hopefully, the economy (both nationally and in Chicago) pick up before then. Talk about deferred benefits-an event more than five years in the future an everyone is all excited from what appears to be an economic standpoint.

Cities spend millions preparing for the Olympics-and very few actually benefit from hosting the Games in the short term, or even in the long term to outweigh the initial <huge> outlay of funds to get the Games and build venues once the Games are won. Interesting article about the economic impact of sports venues and the Olympics on a city:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4127/is_200510/ai_n15705690/pg_2/?tag=content;col1

Chicago already hosted a mini-form of the Olympics in 2006....Gay Games VII. The 2016 bid is based on that experience. And yes, the host committee of GG VII was the first to end in the black in the last 5 such international sporting events. They did exactly what Chicago is proposing for 2016....they used EXISTING venues. There will be very little new construction for Chicago, unlike the other three bidders. It will mostly be in infrastructure, which Chicago has needed for decades anyway. And yes, the event is actually nearly SEVEN years away. Let us hope that we ALL do our part to turn the economy and job market around long before then.

As far as those who say the President should not be making this trip, read the story. He isn't going there JUST to promote Chicago's bid. He is also going to be holding conferences with the Queen and Prime Minister. There is a lot going on with diplomatic relations with Denmark that most people aren't aware of......namely the relationship between Denmark and the USA over the US Virgin Islands. We celebrate the 100th anniversary of the purchase of those islands from Denmark just ONE year after the 2016 Olympics.

Maybe they could just send their gay athletes. And more to the point, who gives a Rats A$$ about Denmark?

This guy is a joke, any way you slice it.

"Everything is a priority" is the same as saying "Nothing is a priority"! We need a leader who can SET priorities and act accordingly. If his actions have demonstrated how he has set HIS priorities, I am disappointed to say the least!

mdvan, were you on another planet for the last eight years? Hello. Obama is trying to clean up the previous administration's catastrophe, but he can multitask.

Fortunately, this president CAN multi-task...and use modern equipment to get his job done from anywhere on the globe...and this would be a great boost to the economy of not just Chicago, but to that whole region...

So what, you just want him twiddling his thumbs in the WH while he waits on Congress sends him something to sign?...what a waste of time and money. While he can do his job of positively promoting the US in other countries...That was one of the reasons why people voted for him you know...

But, you know I wouldn't be surprised if the Olympic committee decided not to use the US for any future games, at least not while there is such negative 'anti-foreigner' attitudes around, and such violence promoting blogs going on...the other countries should be and would be fearful of the safety of their athletes say the least.

DcStone - They ought to use Antartica for the Summer Olympics. Warning: do not stick your cheeks out and touch a metal flag pole.

If we keep destroying the environment the way we are Par4, it won't be long before at least Greenland, if not Antartica, will be "green" enough to host a Summer Games, but definitely the Winter Games. Tyler, MJ is already definitely a strong push on the case, as are all of the Olympic Gold Medalists on the presentation team, the First Lady, etc. What I see as the main reason the President is now definitely going is because the leaders of the other three competing countries will also be there promoting THEIR host cities for the exact reason that the anti-Olympic people in this thread are using to fight his going......to PROMOTE their country to the rest of the world. I live in the US Virgin Islands, where we get to send our own Olympic competitors separate from the USA team. Those who have represented our islands feel it has been a great honor to participate in these quadrennial events. I hope that the USA will once again be a host country. Good luck Chicago on Friday.

I agree tyler. It's undistinguished and appears to be blatant concerning "bringing home the Chicago bacon," in other words, an early jump on the Obama Presidential Museum. And, if he loses, he'll look weak(er) and (more) ineffective. Bad call.

For the love of Jesus, will you stop asserting that we can't fight a war (an unnecessary one, sure) at the same time as our President makes a 1-day trip to Europe to help win the Olympics for the USA in 2016?

Just think about when you were at WalMart earlier and you farted AT THE SAME TIME you were shopping for guns. See? You can do two things at once. We all can.

Why would we want to lift up to the world the cesspool that is Chicago. Corrupt as the day is long and they just arrested three teenagers who beat to death an honor student. I will vote for ANY city other than Chicago to get the olympics.

Rhonda- like what city-- and then make sure you don't have any crime associated with it-- give it rest already, i mean an American was killed at the last Olympics from MN(bachmans)-- so crime and human tragedy happens every where, --

So really give it a rest already!!

Most of the time the hosting country ends up loosing money not making money. It will be a temporary boost for businesses but still temporary. His time and our money would be better spent finding a more permanent boost to the Chicago economy and by extention the national economy.

If Obama made this trip on his dime I wouldn't care, but he is flying not only himself, but dozens of others including his security detail with him on OUR DIME! He needs to be back at his desk doing the JOB he was elected for, not pouncing around across the pond in another country pitching for his home town. I don't care if it is only a day, it could have been only an hour...ITS A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES!

Why can't politicians get the concept of wasteful spending through their thick skulls???

I knew when I came here what kind of comments would be made but I checked regardless.

What is it that is so critical, that is sitting on Obama's desk waiting, that can't wait one day? And if it's that pressing, he either wouldn't go or he could use technology and deal with it from Denmark.

I don't recall any one, Republicans or Democrats, questioning every moment of Bush's time. The man who took more vacations than any president in history. Where is the voice of reason these days?

Maybe Obama should stay in the White House and work on this countries problems, that he has caused with his self serving speeches, starting the job killer Cap & Trade bill, health care bill, Green Jobs BS, not running over the world begging to host the 2016 Olympia games in Chicago so he can sit on a thrown "see who I am all must bow before me". What did you people vote in it sure wasn't a President. One thing about past Presidents they weren't running over hell when the country was in trouble that for sure. Obama pissed off France, for not bring up at the G20 meeting that Iran had another site, because Obama was still trying to kiss Iran's a$$. He will be kissing there a$$ when the first bomb is dropped on the Jews. I could do a better job running the country than this you voted in.

Get the facts straight. He's flying over night, making the pitch and returning immediately. What vacation?

As opposed to Bush who spent more time on vacation than any other President in history. This 24 hour trip could bring in millions to our country.

Billions.

Hey, Right now Obama could walk on water and the anti-everything people would find something to get outraged about.

In your dreams, have you thought of all the money that need to be spent ahead of time e.g roads parking etc....................

It stands to reason that a corrupt Chicago politition would want to support a corrupt Olympic commitee. I bet they get along just fine, especially when he promises them millions of our tax dollars. How much does it cost to send him and all the support people and equipment over there so here can lobby for his home town? No problem we can afford it, and Obama care, and cap and tax, etc., etc., etc.

Hey DL, got news for you. Obama doesn't walk on water and never will! This President and his administration don't have a clue about what to do. The issue is to create 'long-term, sustained JOBS'. This guy, or his 'so-called economic advisors' hasn't mentioned the issue of how to create jobs since the election. The issue to correct the economy is JOBS!! Giving the banks more money, giving the unions and car companies a bailout, increasing taxes both directly and indirectly is where this President's head is to repay people for votes. He can go advocate for Chicago to have the Olympic games, but he needs to focus on the issues facing the government. For example, our troops are at risk and he 'can't make a decision' to either fully support them or bring them home! This President shows his lack of concern about what the majority of American's think (polls) and is intent on doing what 'he wants'.

And "W" did? You are so full of crap.

It seems that the repugs need to raise their standards on what they expect a president to do. Being able to work on multiple issues and many forms of legislation is what I expect from a leader.

Spending weeks holed up on a Texas ranch while the country goes down the crapper doesn't sound like leadership to me. I say, pile it on, Obama. Make Congress work for their paycheck. They should be more worried about keeping up the pace.

And going on an overnighter to promote an American city for the Olympics is exactly what he should be doing as our leader.

And meeting with the heads of state (the Queen and the Prime Minister) for Denmark while in that country too.

dsmith: Who cares about the past..."W" is gone. This administration was to learn from "W"s mistakes. You honestly think that Obama is doing any better? All I am seeing is more of the same and this wasteful trip for the Olympics is concrete evidence that he will never change it.

Gone but not forgotten for a long, long time. If you can't see the obvious difference between this presidency and the last, you're not paying very close attention. Granted, Bush would have made any successor look good, but Obama looks like an absolute genius.

So true, So True. lol

Amen Steve. Finally good to see people on here that actually still use their brains instread of just listening to the fear tactics and lies.

I'm convinced that people, right and left, have this innate desire to bitch and complain. It amazes me how so many people are so quick to criticize (especially so called supporters adopting Stockholm syndrome). I will provide criticism where criticism is due for this or any administration, but there is nothing wrong with taking a few hours to lobby for an American city in the Olympics. We have big problems to solve, but the world does not stop turning in the meantime.

krock: why don't you seggest that to the troops in afghanistan that has no one watching their backs. either send them help or bring them all home! you're right about one thing, we have big problems to solve and it has nothing to do with the frigging olympics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve,

Just where did you get the impression that the Olimpics makes money?

Every host city has lost money and has to be supported by the government. Can he send the bill to you? I sure don't want it. Have you seen Chicago there are no facilities that meet Olimpic standards in that town.

New York city or LA or Atlanta would take the Olimpics and they all have some of the facilities that would be needed.

Get real just because B.O. owes Chicago and wants his two cents in everything dosen't hold water. I guess I am just a raciest.

Henry, as I posted below, have YOU read Chicago's bid proposal? Here it is.....and they DO have lots of facilities that meet Olympic specifications already existing. That is why they are still one of the four contending cities, and why they only have to build a limited number of venues:

...the following venues would be permanently constructed: an Aquatic Center, the Olympic Stadium (to a limited long-term degree), a Canoe/Flatwater/Rowing area at Monroe Harbor, a Canoe/Kayak-Slalom Course, a velodrome in Douglas Park, and Field Hockey Fields in Jackson Park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_bid_for_the_2016_Summer_Olympics

It was recently reported by the Sporting News that the City of Chicago has spent 72.8 million dollars so far on it’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Games. That is around 37% more than New York City spent on it's bid in 2005. London is also dealing with serious budget problems for the 2012 Olympics. The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, has been saddled by financing troubles. Utah Winter Olympics had substantial financial problems until Romney stepped in. There were 12,600 jobs created a year prior to the games in Utah and only 250 jobs remained after the games were over. The Federal Gov't spent $1.4 BILLION on the Games for transportation projects. Private donors put in $150 million. Utah earned $76 million in revenue from the time they bided on the games through the end of the games. Wouldn't say that's a real good return on your investment. It is nothing more than prestige, it puts absolutely nothing in citizen's pockets, just takes it away. We don't need to spend another dollar let along 1.4 billion. I say let Brazil have it, its someone elses turn who has never had it before. Obama, needs to not waste his time on something like this. If he feels it was that important, then maybe he should have stayed a community organizer!!

anti-trust - how dare you add facts and verifiable data? This argument is about arguing, not about facts. Some nerve.

:)

Hehe, MT......sometimes you have to show you have the facts to help win the argument, right? Thanks.

do you have any idea how many jobs having the olympics in chicago will create?

NO. How many? When is this going to happen? Can people out of work wait till it does?

The building of the venues would take years and would start immediately. Look what it did for China

JT-123
Maybe he should take the George Bush approach and fly in a Navy jet and say Mission Accomplished (Even if the mission isn't accomplished. Aren't we still fighting that war?). Believe it or not, he can work on Air Force One. And it isn't like if he didn't take this trip, the government was going to buy someone some groceries. It might be a ways off, but this is still about adding billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the economy. Did good old GW do that with his little publicity stunt?

Everybody wants everything to come first...............as amazing as it seems I guarantee that the President and his administration are working on a gazillion things all at the same time..................multitasking is kind of a must for the President of the United States and one of the reasons he has an administration, so he doesn't have to attend to each thing by himself...but he is at the helm and informed and in charge.

It is unpatriotic not to support your President and then to attack him on the premise that somehow ALL of the issues he must and is dealing with (thanks solely to the mess the last republican administration left our entire country in) should somehow take first place on his to do list.........................how childish. Is that what really bugs people.....the need to have a list and fight over which item gets the number one position? Since everything mush be a priority everything is being dealt with as number one...................what ever is in the headlines is just the headline for the day but in no way covers all that is truly going on.

And if all those who are unable or unwilling to support our President are disappointed in the speed with which things are getting done you should all be devastated by the in action and delays the the republicans continue to display.........let alone the lying.

I support out President and the possibility of having the Olympics in Illinois.....as we all should. This would not be a government hand out.....just good old fashioned work for people willing to do it and get paid. The American way.............people want jobs not hand outs and having the Olympics in Illinois would do that in a big way.

Why would anyone want to deny people this?

Seems to me that you need to look at the whole picture here. Olympic Games are a tremendous boost to any country's economics. As far as Obama needing to focus on our troops, I am certain that our president is very capable of dealing with more than one issue at a time. Let's get together and work WITH our leader that the majority elected to lead us!

slady then why isn't he dealing with the issue of afghanistan????????????? oh that's right, they're someone else's kids.

peggy...so why did Bush lie to the American people to send our troops off to a war that had nothing to do with 9/11? Oh that's right, they're someone else's kids.

I am thankful this president is getting information, the improved strategy and the re-vamped mission from military leaders before sending more of my and my fellow American's family members into harm's way. Gen McChrystal said they need the troops within the next year. I guess you'd rather Obama pull a "Bush" though and immediately send them off to their death without a clear mission.

let me tell you something truth lover i did not vote for bush nor obama, and guess what "truth lover" two wrongs do not make it right. well i am SOOOOOOOOO glad this president is getting information, and (improved strategy ?) well i already have family members in harms way and i and other families would like them to come home OUTSIDE the box.

"peggy"...Two wrongs do not exist in this dilemma. Obama is doing the right thing by gathering the facts before sending yet more troops to their possible death. He has already sent approx. 21,000 troops. Again, Gen. McChrystal asked for more troops within the next year. If the head military personnel present in that region is OK with that time frame, why your ridiculous demands for swifter, dangerous, uninformed action on part of our leaders? If Obama didn't care, he would just send them now in your irresponsible immediate time frame.

Russian city of Sochi will host the Games in 2014, I believe. It caused a lot of trouble and pain to local people: remodelling, building, repaving roads.... Sounds good, but in reality it is not that good. Everything costs money; Olympics costs billions to construct and to fill someone's pockets as people do steal. Moreover, those multiple sports grounds and lodging facilities cannot be utilized after the Games are over. There will not be enough people to use all this.

keep the corruption out and things should work out, but like other big cities in this country, there are those that will line their pockets first (just like the big banks and corps we bailed out)

NaTa, pay attention to Chicago's bid proposal. There are very few new facilities to be built, and every one of them (outside of the TEMPORARY stadium) are designed for proper conversion to city use afterwards (unlike in China and most other past host cities.) The gay community showed Chicago how to do a successful international sporting event in 2006 and ended in the BLACK, which no Olympic has done in decades.

I thought that we already had an Olympics Czar.

Yes, Obama has better things to do, he has been spending most of his time cleaning up the catastrophe left by Bush. 

Obama CAN multitask. 

How is he making this political? The right is making it political. If chicago wins should the president even show for the opening ceremonies or would that be political?

Andy, what do you think the choice for Beijing was if not entirely politics-driven? What do you think about the infamous decision to host it in Kosovo was? Two excellent examples of politics intruding upon the purportedly a-political IOC. What do you think Berlin 1936 was? I agree with you that it should NOT be, if that is your stance. =)

Sad that we have to spell it out, letter by letter, to the perpetual carpers aka Glen Beck's tin foil brigade.

pat hill you mean like the nations business when you complained about bush flying over new orleans in af 1? my how things "change".

If Bush had done more than just fly over, it would have been fine. Naw, he just left it up to "Brownie" who was doing such a fine job!

Only an idiot would expect the president to do one thing at a time. Oh you must be thinking of GW Bush. Another idiot.

No one expects him to do just one thing at a time, we just expect him to do something, anything that is to the benefit of the country. In this case, he's campaigning for his cronies in Chicago, you know the ones with the real estate connections that gave him the great deal. This way he can return the favor at the expense of more pressing issues,which he is too scared to handle. What a loser for a President!

As presidents go - President Obama is a good Multitasker.. unlike the last that couldn't walk and chew gum.. even opening a door was difficult. A President is expected to Multitask - it is his job to supervise everything that goes in and out of Congress... after all, the country is at stake, and we are in important times.. created by misuse and the lack of will to get things done for 8 years... many things that should of been taken care of many decades ago (Health Care). Think of the President no matter who he / she is - as a Clearing House. Everythng is going on at once and it is never ending.. rarely any time for oneself. It is like you or I getting hit with creditors on the phone... one call at a time, while solicitors at the door, while getting your child ready for school, while having to take your car to the garage, while trying to take a shower, then trying to get dressed, with screaming kids.. and so on.. Everything at the same time having to be done.. Almost seems impossible - but this is why he has the people under him to do most of the leg work for him which we do not have.. his job is an overseer and the responsibilty lies directly on his shoulders.. He is earning his keep.

And just how long would all these great jobs and all this revenue last? A few months at best. Oh, the construction jobs will be there for a few years but then the city/state/country is stuck with the huge cost of the constuction of all the venues needed. As others have said, he has more important things to take care of right here. Let the first lady do these as they orginally planned or does he need another vacation now? I for one am sick of his continual campaigning and wish he would get to work. How about he sit at his desk and come up with a concrete plan for anything he has proposed. All we hear from him are basic ideas with no details.

Again, Bev, have YOU read the proposal?

The Chicago 2016 Olympic bid committee announced the details of the Olympic bid application on January 15, 2008.^[10] 22 of the 27 Olympic venues will be in four clusters within 15 km of the Olympic Village. Five new venues and eleven temporary venues will be built for the games. The bid costs ($49.3 million) are being borne by the private sector as are the costs of the games. (Wikipedia.)

Prove to me that the POTUS HASN"T been working, as you say. You don't have to sit at the desk in the Oval Office to get things done.....in actuality that desk is a formality desk....the presidents do most of their "office work" in the private chamber off of the Oval Office, or in the private family chambers, or aboard AF 1 or Marine 1 while traveling, or at Camp David (as a retreat away from the "noise" of the capital.) He sets the policies and his staff helps to finalize the details.....that has been true with every president for at least the past century, if not from the very beginning. That is what the Cabinet is there for, along with all of his other "advisors," etc. Then it is up to those idiots in Congress to formalize the final bills that set the President's policies into motion. THEY are the ones who actually finalize the details on everything.

The President IS reviewing ALL of the reports, as he ordered to be presented to him as Commander in Chief, from ALL aspects of the military component of this government.....from the field as well as from the brass in the Pentagon. He wants to make sure that whatever he decides PROTECTS our military in the field to the best ability we can, and achieve the "goals" of the mission. What he and his advisors ARE deciding right now is what that mission really is, or should be, and how we can best accomplish the goals of that mission. THAT is not something to be decided on a whim!!!! We had that done too often in the last administration.

And NO, I am not an Obama supporter, any more than I was a Bush (41 or 43) supporter or hater. I am a GDI who looks at the ISSUES and takes his/her stand based on the facts related to that issue.

John, do you, a Beck hatter, use a whole roll of foil for your hat? I was just wondering.

Actually the best thing he could do for the economy would be to stay in Denmark and never come back here.

That is what Bush should have done during one of his many trips overseas, or his endless vacations on the ranch clearing brush.

We put up with that incompetent for 8 years. For all he did to this country, you still back anyone with a R behind their name?

Arlene, stop spewing your hate. President Bush took less vacations than most presidents. Instead of going to Camp David he went to his ranch. Big deal.

President Bush is out of office. When are you going to start paying attention to the issues of today and blame the idiot YOU elected.

Hmmmm, bush took less vacations than most presidents?????1/3 of his 8 years in office as vacations? Not to mention 96 days in his first 203 days in office?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/18/bush-spent-487-days-at-ca_n_158902.html

And this is just ONE of many links referring to his many days of vacation in 8 years.

Not even close to being truthful or accurate. It's the Huffington Post which is total liberal BS. No one outside of the crazed liberal realm takes it serious. Nice try, but fail.

I agree! Also, what kind of message would that send if ALL of the other condender cities are sending their countries leaders to speak on their behalf, but the President of the United States couldn't bother a moment. Yeah, I'm sure that would improve America's image to the rest of the world!

Lasting effects on our economy is right, just who is going to pay for this? Don't tell me Chicago we are broke, you Mr and Mrs America are going to get stuck with the bill and King Richard, Mayor for Life will get his name on another plaque.

Few events as high profile as the Olympics? Step away from ESPN for a minute and set your remote down.

The olympics are not what they used to be, and thanks to liberals national pride is a thing of the past as well. Today you get strange looks when you love your country...especially from BO...the biggest national pride demoralizer going.

Maybe in your household. But my family has never been prouder of our president and our country. During the last 8 years we constantly had to explain to our friends from outside the country why we elected such a moron for president. Now we just have to explain why we put up with the morons in the repug party.

What you wingnuts need to get into your little peabrains is that most Americans don't want anything to do with your ideas for our country. You like to think that you speak for "most" Americans, but the sad fact is you are only a small minority. And getting smaller...

OUShark, then leave the country. The ideas for our country come from the founding fathers and the Constitution. If you don't like it go be with your friends outside the country as you put it.

President Bush kept your ass safe whether you choose to believe it or not. 9/11 was planned for years under Clinton's administration. President Bush did what he had to to prevent it from happening again. You and Hussein Obama should get a long great. You're both apologists for our country rather than being proud. You can leave anytime and don't let the door hit you.

Ok, peabrain #1, I'm not going anywhere. But the sorry likes of you are disappearing at an alarming rate. I say good riddance. Your ideas for America are repugnant and the voters are going to turn out even more of you in the midterms. I can't wait. I won't tell you to leave the country. I don't need to. You're just going to fade away into nothing, never to be heard from again.