Brazil Beats America And Wins Olympic Gold; Republicans Dance In The Streets

You know we're in trouble when a major political party openly roots for its country to lose.

Republican congressional leaders denounced President Obama's brief jaunt to Copenhagen (24 hours total) to press the case that the good 'ol USA should host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago. They claimed he should stay home and oversee the Great Recession and two wars handed him by George W. Bush.

Never mind that Bush spent four days in China during the last Olympics while those problems festered, cheering from the stands and holding the American flag backwards for all the world to see.

The conservative talk radio host William Bennett (himself a former "Czar" under a Republican president) revealed on CNN Thursday that he was actually against America and wanted Rio de Janeiro to win. He's not alone. Everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Fox News (Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck et al) has ridiculed the very notion of trying to land the games on our shore.

Never mind that hosting the competition meant pumping an estimated $22 billion (that's billion with a "b") into the economy, starting immediately. It meant, ultimately, 300,000 jobs in construction, infrastructure, sales and marketing. White collar jobs, blue collar jobs, a "jobs machine" as former Labor Secretary Robert Reich told Keith Olbermann Wednesday night on MSNBC.

Forget all of that. And forget that Rio was, in hindsight, probably the favorite since there has never been a South American Olympics. Also forget the fact that some grassroots organizations in Chicago were against the Olympics coming to the Windy City. There are "aginners" in every crowd.

The major takeaway from this Olympics affair -- politically -- is that elected Republicans, and those in the right wing media's echo chamber, really do consider setbacks for the nation and its people (think health care reform) to be good news for themselves.

This is un-American, frankly.

Comments

[Matt7]

"You know we're in trouble when a major political party open roots for its country to lose . . . This is un-American frankly."

Really? Just figuring that out?

Have you not been listening to the h8red and divisiveness that's been spewing from the radio, TV, internet over the last year from one wing or other of the Republican Party?

What? Did everyone just think that liberals were "whining" or something?

THIS IS SERIOUS.

But it's also why Republicans have been trying to strike a more conciliatory tone in recent days; anticipating the upcoming Election/Campaign Season, and trying to position the party as more "coherent" than has been recently shown.

[KinkyGirl]

All I know is I will enjoy the 2016 Olympics. I have 7 years to get myself in shape and have a ball on those gorgeous Brazilian beaches. I can picture myself strutting my stuff all over the place.

[trinidadgirl]

America is the new South Africa...one rule for the whites ...and deny the 'of colour' folks!

[newsmaker]

Why root for the failure of your own country? There is no way Republicans can call themselves patriotic or 'real' americans. I for one can't wait for 2010. I am going to vote against every one of them, and I am sure I'm not alone. Lindsey Grahm sees the handwriting on the wall, but it's too late. He sat back 8 years ago and did nothing, and this year he sat back and agreed with all the racist hate talk that was going on. He didn't see anything wrong with Joe Wilson calling the president a liar in front of the world, (you know other countries were watching). They want so bad for him to fail they didn't even want children to hear him speak. It was Okay for Bush to speak to children while he was killing their parents in the Iraq war, but by all means, don't let your children listen to this president. Who knew the coountry was in worser shape morally than financially.

[illinoisan]

Why do they hate America?

[mendelcrosses]

How could any one have expected the IOC to give Chicago the olympics any way knowing fully well that the USA is on the brink of another civil war. I mean when you have polls conducted on "Should we kill the president", mainstream media and radio talk host Pushing for a millitary coup, Pastors asking the followers to kill the president,lawmakers justifying such rhetorics. Its clear that the USA is UNSTABLE at the moment and the IOC was never going to send athletes here.

[Imokyrok]

This is beyond bizarre. Is there any other country in the world where people would celebrate their failure to be given the honour of hosting the Olympics? I'm not surprised at the decision as I think the IOC would see the US as a security risk given the increase in the risk of domestic terrorism but I'm amazed at the overt glee.

[dadw5boys]

Republicans are just holding their breath for the time when they can have INDENTURED SERVANTS.

What most of these wannabe rich do not understand is that anyone making less the $5 Million Dollars a year will be an Indentured Servant. Wages will fall even more !!!!!!!!

[bankhall2001]

Perhaps if there was not such uproar about the Pres going over there we would not have been so swiftly dismissed. One need not to be overly intelligent to see that such uproar sends the message that the event may not be a priority of The People. Naturally a snub would be in order, or at least within reason.

We still have serious issues in terms the intelligence of our populace and the media's utter failure to get the facts right. As global economic power shifts people are going to be experiencing emotional strife. Lack of good faith in the media could cause a boiling over of sentiment, potentially hateful. Hate is a killer.

Hate is not confined to our Nation. What is going on in Spain!? I love Europe, always have. Each time I go I see more deeply into their way of life. Overall people are nice and there is love in the air. But if an outsider tries to make some good money, fangs come out. Not unlike in southern California when immigrants started showing up on the 405 with nice cars, etc. That raised anger in many residents. Anger boiled over into debates about driver’s licenses, citizenship, etc. it was all very heated. I see both sides of the debate, but hateful anger in rhetoric is childlike, and angry children do irrational things. As adults shouldn’t we have some wisdom and be above organized, hateful, anger? Shouldn't we be able to think rationally when effecting policy?

[dadw5boys]

I know the wealthy who control the Media control the news and we are but sheep.

[stuckinredstate]

GOP-are we in second grade? Why would you root AGAINST your own country??
Everything that you do is diameterically opposed to the health and well being of Americans.
Are there any Republicans left who can think for themselves and act in way that supports their fellow countrymen?? I see no evidence of that.
We have home grown terrorists and they are the Rethuglican party.

[rflctammt]

Personally, I can't help but think that all the whinging and moaning re the president's trip to Copenhagen by the very "patriotic" GOP didn't create a bad vibe all by itself.

It's like getting involved in a domestic dispute - why would the Olympics even want to consider coming to Chicago when windbags like Rush, Beck and the gang were already complaining?

Americans will tire of this despicable behavior soon - you can see it beginning already.

Sadly the rest of world tired of it years ago.

[bankhall2001]

Perhaps if there was not such uproar about the Pres going over there we would not have been so swiftly dismissed. One need not to be overly intelligent to see that such uproar sends the message that the event may not be a priority of The People. Naturally a snub would be in order, or at least within reason.

We still have serious issues in terms the intelligence of our populace and the media's utter failure to get the facts right. As global economic power shifts people are going to be experiencing emotional strife. Lack of good faith in the media could cause a boiling over of sentiment, potentially hateful. Hate is a killer.

Hate is not confined to our Nation. What is going on in Spain!? I love Europe, always have. Each time I go I see more deeply into their way of life. Overall people are nice and there is love in the air. But if an outsider tries to make some good money, fangs come out. Not unlike in southern California when immigrants started showing up on the 405 with nice cars, etc. That raised anger in many residents. Anger boiled over into debates about driver’s licenses, citizenship, etc. it was all very heated. I see both sides of the debate, but hateful anger in rhetoric is childlike, and angry children do irrational things. As adults shouldn’t we have some wisdom and be above organized, hateful, anger? Shouldn't we be able to think rationally when effecting policy?

[atretrioeciii]

For a group of poeple who are constantly saying obama is trying to destroy america, the image of reps as they celebrate the loss of the olympics, leaves one speechless. Amazing.

[newsmaker]

Just remember 2010. Let's get the rest of them out of there.

[dessertsfirst]

The rethugs are treas_onists... every single one of them.
They have really done themselves proud... I'm surprised they don't throw themselves a victory party w/ the tax payers money. Absolutely amazing that this group of laymakers who are supposed to have the best interests of the American people at heart, behaving in this manner.... cheering because our President lost his bid to bring the Olympics to this country. And for this, we the people pay their salary, and buy their health care, so they can do their job by representing us in DC, and this is how they repay us... by dissing our POTUS. Good grief, charley brown. It is certainly un-American.

[dessertsfirst]

Oh, ha ha, I meant lawmaker.... freudian slip, that.

[mikefina]

What trope.

While indeed some Republican's rooted against Chicago for the express purpose of undermining President Obama, that was certainly not the motivation for plenty of Conservatives AND Liberals, Republicans and Democrats.

For many of us, the quadrennial sports festival is an opportunity for a city and country to 'show-off' (in the very good sense of that term) before the world.

Since 1980, the US has hosted 4 Olympiadsl; Lake Placid, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Atlanta. Enough is enough already. At least for a while.

Let someone else have their 'Barcelona' or 'Beijing' moment. Let another country introduce itself to the world.

Stop hogging the spotlight, America. The world knows who we are.

I suggest the author reconsider his hasty and ill-conceived posting. It does a disservice to the multitude of Americans who were rooting for the Olympics--the WORLD'S festival of sport.

[SixBlocksAway]

mikefina, you write that "Some Republican's rooted against Chicago for the express purpose of undermining President Obama."

Some Republicans? You've got to be kidding.

It's been the most orchestrated, concerted effort from top to bottom for a solid two weeks now, from the halls of Congress to rightwing talk radio and Fox News.

Where have you been?

[mikefina]

Nonsense. As recently as a week ago, President Obama said he was too busy to attend. It wasn't on the radar, except for a few of the usual suspects sniping at the First Lady and Oprah.

The President changed his mind, and for a week, the rhetoric heated up. Though, most everything predicted that Chicago was fait accompli--else why would President Obama go?

Some bad actors rejoiced in the perceived failure--as I indicated. And indeed, the perception that Mr. Obama is hubristic and messianic is a strong thread in much of the Conservative punditry. It is NOT the only, or even greatest reason, to oppose Chicago's bid.

I appreciate your reply, but am unpursuaded by your comment.

[MajorKong]

"The Republican philosophy might be summarized thus: To hell with principle; what matters is power; that we have it, and that they do not.”

- Pat Buchanan

[sting7]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/2/789154/-Oct.-18-March-for-the-Public-Option