But...Obama won the election. How could this be?

***The liberal mantra continues to be: "We won."*** Chicago is the first to go in 2016 voting By NANCY ARMOUR, AP COPENHAGEN (AP)—Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama—nor a long list of celebrities—was enough to help the United States’ third-largest city...
***Gee, wasn't pandering for the love of the world sufficient even to the point of neglecting healthcare, decisions on Afghanistan, and the Iranian threat? Even Michelle "sacrificed...for the children" to no avail. Perhaps Chicago-style politics doesn't work outside of Chicago although it seemed to do so on the national American stage...for a while. It was widely believed that Obama must have gotten some sort of guarantee to justify his committing his reputation on this matter.Someone quipped that it was the first time Chicago (or, indeed, anyone) lost a rigged election.

Actually,Chicago citizens should be relieved. Most host cities either take a loss or have to be bailed out by some heroic business figure like Mitt Romney or Peter Uber(?)as disaster impends. Stuffing ballot boxes and the pockets of supporters doesn't equate to good management. Chicago's business acumen was recently demonstrated by Hizzoner the Mayor selling three quarters of a century of parking revenues for HALF of the projected present value of the cash flows ( with little to no protection for the citizens against rapacious parking fee increases--started instantly-- that will extend the discount --it's not even clear he understood what PV is until the facts came out. He wanted the upfront cash to quell current deficits.).

Combine that with the likelihood that Chicago and Illinois corruption would skim off at least 10% to crony developers and other beneficiaries (the real reason Chicago pols were so anxious to get the Olympics). The projected $20Billion talked about is "revenue" which the pols, probably including Obama, equate with "profits." Combine that with the likely traffic, congestion and distractions and it's a good thing that the Olympians blew off Obama's going "all in" with his charm and Jeremiah-Wright-style rhetoric. Chicago should devote more attention to crime in the streets, reducing deficits without raising taxes and making Illinois less laughable as a polity ( with numerous --and counting--jailed governors and others).

What the hell was the President of the UNITED STATES acting as shill for a city, anyway? This is especially the case when he spends too much time talking instead of thinking and analyzing the huge problems facing the country and the world.His actual thinking might well have solidified in his sophomore year at college. Resulting ideology, combined with political cleverness and ruthlessness, have carried him the rest of the way.***