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Not really. It would be very good for this country's economy to get the olympics because the country that holds the olympics every four years ends up with billions of dollars in its pocket. This is actually a good idea. Very few people think this is a risk, except those that are trying to cause trouble.

I am happy for you and I m let you finish...but Afghanistan, Iran, and Health Care should be priorities....

Where were these critics when Bush spent weeks at the ranch in the middle of two wars? Hypocrites.....

All this political risk talk is so stupid. Why can't the President (ANY president) go to Copenhagen to support the United States' bid for the Olympics, a wonderful event for our country, and still keep his eye on the many isuses facing us today?? One does NOT preclude the other! The President, again, ANY president, works 24/7; it's not like he won't be working the whole time on the airplane ride over there and on the way back. It will merely take a few hours at the most out of his day to promote the United States for the Olympics, which is a worthy goal, so this "issue" is a NON-issue! No one is reasonable these days–always looking for trouble where there isn't any!

What? He's just doing what he always done, kind of like voting "present". This man does NOT understand the job of the president and he is so under qualified it isn't funny. The people he has chosen to surround himself with are proof of that. What a fool to leave town when there is so much going on that needs to be addressed. Have a nice vacation Obama, we'll still be unemployed when you get back.

OMG – President Obama can CHEW GUM and WALK at the same time!!! Taking ONE DAY off to go bid for the Olympics is not going to start a WAR!

If America is ATTACKED while he is away, I am sure he will not SIT THERE AND CONTINUE TO READ A BOOK to school children for 5 minutes before reacting!!!! Jeez!

It is just amazing what a cool operator our President is. Just when you think the pressure must be getting to him; from birthers, to the economy, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the Nuke threat from Iran, and all the political doom and gloom cable chatter; he goes out and tackles yet another issue which you thought was way out there off his radar screen. To me, that's a very calming effect. It shows that no situation is ever going to get to him. Not to mention he can walk and chew, not just one, but multiple gum sticks at the same time.

Olympic in Chicago? Attendees MUST wear bullet proof vest and have bodyguards with them, Gang war in Chicago, killings 24/7 is enough to scare anyone to attend the Olympic game. I hope the IOC will reject Chicago right away; Japan is much better or Spain.

I am a lifelong Democrat but think this is another example of bad judgment. How many times does Obama need to excersize questionable judgment before we've all had enough? This is not an issue that the President of the United Stated States should be involved with.

What do you expect.. this clown has never even run a candy store.. What would make anyone with a brain think he could run a country?
Experience counts.. Shame you idiots watch too many movies and live in fantasy land. You should have paid attention to your History classes or at least understood the Constitution and would realize we live in a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy.

it certainly helps the nation....

I suppose if he walks the dog, he will be criticized for taking unnecessary time away from his Presidential responsibilities. He has shown he can multitask. Where were all of the concerns when Bush was down in Texas all of the time clearing brush? In these times of video conferencing, etc., Obama does not have to be in the White House to effectively manage the Executive Branch.

The US has a perfectly capable Olympic Committee which, in fact, has been very successful in getting the Olympics for many US cities over the years without any help from Obama or any other President. I resent the fact that once again we are paying for a trip that the President does not need to make and many Americans do not think is appropriate. The added expense to have the President attend is enormous when you add in the cost of Air Force One and all the security and other things necessary when a President travels – especially overseas – this is wasteful.

Once Israel nukes Iran, we won't have to worry about which country get the olympics! The mob-run town of Chigao surely doesn't need it! All the crooks and ethnics groups are rubbing their hands together thinking up ways to scam people who attend.

Political risks? Why? President & Mrs. Obama are from Chicago, they lived there, their daughters were born there. Since he is president why not use his popularity to gain the Chicago area the Olympics?

The Olympics will bring jobs, visitors and plenty of money to Chicago, and the United States since many foreign visitors will stay and tour other parts of our beautiful nation.

I say, go for it President Obama! Bring the Olympics to Chicago!

Given the inordinate number of days his predecessor spent on vacation, I don't think there's much room for criticism by the GOP. That being said, he shouldn't be promoting the games for Chicago for several other reasons. I live in Chicago and I can assure you that taxpayers and citizens are already paying for the games through slashed budgets, reduced and eliminated services, staffing cuts and layoffs, fewer police, and the tax money that is being used to build the Olympic Village. Not to mention the Mayor is selling off just about every source of city revenue to pay for it. We have a massive budget deficit. This is a city living far beyond its means and not for the benefit of the people who live here. Obama should be going to Copenhagen to support Rio's bid!

What political risks? The president, like the other three leaders of the countries who are in the running for the '16 Olympics, is going to help present Chicago's bid. Only one country will be chosen and it won't necessarily be America.

Kudos for the President for going to the Committee and presenting his case and not taking the most politically safe route of perhaps not being one of the THREE countries not selecred.

No it doesnt. We are proud that he is doing this. Its good for America, its good for Chicago, and its good for every business owner in Ill that needs help. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY that is bidding for this will be there, so he should be there. Its ONE MORNING! TWO HOURS!!! All these repukes in the senate running around on news shows running thier hateful mouths are the ones dragging this out and wasting time. They are ANTI AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, come to Chicago, have a few laughs, watch an honor student get beaten to death by a violent mob in the street. He is wasting his time, there is no way the Olympic Committee will pick the most corrupt and violent city in the U.S. (next to New Orleans). Hold the Olympics in Kabul, let them foot the bill for Nation Building instead of the U.S.

I guess the Obamas have a lot of people in the Chicago area to pay back. Maybe Rezko is calling in some favors, or perhaps his buddy Nahdim Auchi. Any money generated by this event were it to be held in Chicago(bang bang) will be syphoned off by union bosses, and corrupt politicians and businessmen. Imagine the Big Dig, but on a larger scale.

i think it's great that the president can look at the big picture, and lend his support and a little bit of his time to something positive for a major american city and the whole nation. this olympic bid, if successful, will contribute to job growth, infrastructure improvements, and civic pride – whats not to like about all that? and, the games wont occur until 2016, so this is a good example of giving up a little in the present for huge benefits in the future – a lesson others should learn.

It's not like the man is vacationing there. He is stopping by (a quick day trip) to get the games in Chicago. Big Deal!!!

I would think having the games here would be a pretty good economic boost....

The push is payback only , dinner with Oprah and the likes.

I do not think it is appropriate for the President to become involved in this matter. If it is truly about improving the economy (which I don't believe it will) then why does not the Secretary of Commerce go?

There are many high level government officials that can go in the President's place.

LA has been the only American city that was able to successfully host the olympics from a financial standpoint. I do not believe that Chicago is the best city for the olympics. It will end up costing the state and the nation a lot of money.

Why not let some other country host it instead?

This is a mistake. The President can't be perceived (or characterized) as weighing in on relatively trivial things, despite the economic boost to the metropolitan area under consideration.

When the going gets tough, Obama jets out of town. Not a good move, but he already knows he is a one term president anyway. Obama is in way over his head and doesn't make any of the tough decisions, always leaving someone else to blame. That's what you get when you elect a community organizer/Junior senator who votes "present" instead of having an opinion. Well Mr. Obama, no more voting present.

I find it very inappropriate that the first lady would make that comment. Not that I would want to tangle with her even if she had gloves on but I find it very crasp of her to make that comment. I gues it is what we should expect from the wife of the Fuhrer. She obviously has the same mindset as him and that is that they can do no wrong. Well, wake up MS obmaa, nobody elected you or gave you the go ahead to be the spokeswoman for the US in obtaining the olympics. Maybe you better spend more time in your garden and less time taking extravagent trips at our expense.

First he's doing too much. Then he's not doing enough. Then he's doing too much again..

Shows where this mans priorities are........NOT here. He has some tough decisions to make on the war, the economy is in the toilet, ACORN has wasted millions of our dollars, Health care needs to be dealt with and off he goes campaigning for the Olympics.

Obama...get back to work....we did not hire you to get us the olympics, we hired you to run the country (well I didn't...thank GOD). is your ego so big that this cannot be delegated to someone else while you tend to Iran, Korea, the economy.....you know the stuff you said you were going to handle....

With all the real problems this country faces, mostly caused by nobama, here he is trying to get the olympics in that "septic tank of a city" called chicago. Must be some money for the under the table crowd who support nobama who want more payback.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri: "I think it's baffling that the president has time to travel to Copenhagen," said Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri. "[Obama's] got a lot of responsibilities. His number one responsibility is to keep our country safe."

He's got a point. I hear that there are no phones or computers on Air Force One so the president will be totally out of touch with the rest of the world. Also, when he gets to Copenhagen, I hear that there are no phones or computers there either. You know Europe is kind of backward.

Lyndon Johnson said, "If I walked across the Potomac, the headlines the next day would be 'President Can't Swim.'"

And who's paying the costs of Obama's little sales trip? I expect the cost of a round trip by Air Force One to Denmark, plus, I'm assuming, the costs of various auxiliary aircraft, plus the costs of all the advance work, and on and on, is upwards of a few million bucks.

So, is the US taxpayer expected to pick up the tab for all that?

As I understand it, the trip to Copenhagen will be a day trip: leave in the morning, return that night. Strictly a business trip, w/ the potential economic benefits to the Chicago area stagering. Well worth a few hours of his valuable time.

please give this smart, active president credit for being able to multi-task here. i am very proud of president obama being able to juggle so many issues and still be on top of his game. the republicans just can not stand the fact that we have a very young,strong, decision making leader here. to have the olimpics come to the US will bring much needed revenue and many jobs to chicago so please republicans just take off your nasty hats just this once and let our president do his job..........BEING OUR PRESIDENT!

Fear/hate and obstructionism must be a Republican speaking again.

Short of President Obama leaving office permanently the GOP will never be happy with what he does.

That is why we should just go directly to Single payer non-profit universal health care now. Then on to energy and immigration reform. Leave the GOP in the past because they seem happy there.

"His number one responsibility is to keep our country safe."

Says who? George Bush?

Republicans have to stop making things up.

"His number one responsibility is to keep our country safe." Seriously? Who is this guy, Superman? What, he leaves Metropolis for any length of time and Lex Luthor will swoop in and destroy everything? Gimme a break. This is the President of the United States. He is connected 24/7 to his advisers, to the military, to the so-called nuclear "football". He can lead the country every bit as efficiently from Copenhagen as he can from Air Force One or Dick Cheney's "undisclosed location". Let's not play the screaming patriot-wannabe here. Grow up.

Change has already happened. The American people have seen the true colors of the Republicans and Blue Dogs. Not pretty at all.

This is OUR country, and should be run by and for us, not the Insurance Companies.

you know the olympics bring profits as well...

The Olympics will make a huge economic increase for the United States. I am glad that the President and Mrs. Obama are making a bid for the Olympics, and for the prestige that they would lend the Olympics here in the U.S.

Keep the politians out of the Olympic Games... Chicago can't take care of their own problems, let alone the vast problems created by these games.

With the communication available to President Obama, what is the problem ? Oh yes, I remember now, he is a democrat.

Just imagine the opportunities for corruption by Chicago government, unions, contractors, maybe even "community organizers." A new stimulous plan - Chicago style.