Obama Goes to Denmark
Read the following article and write your own critique similar to the format of the 4 contributors to the Post's article. Keep it brief. Must have response submitted before we pass a national health care bill or class starts on Monday Oct. 5th, which ever comes first. You can click on the title above (Obama Goes to Denmark) to access the article.
Mr. Thompson
posted by erdecker @ 4:35 PM
26 comments
26 Comments:
If the 2016 Olympics were to be held in Chicago I think it would be great not only for Chicago but for the US as a whole. Obama choosing to go to Copenhagen to persuade IOC members was a good idea. The entire trip only took 18 hours (not even a whole day). So as far as other matters that the President must deal with, like health care, global warming, budget deficits, and foreign affairs, that yes are more important, putting them back one day won’t do any harm. Especially seeing that they haven’t gotten anywhere in 5 years.
I think President Obama’s choice to go to Denmark will help the US, if the Olympics come to the USA. As Joey Cheek says, when a country hosts the Olympics it is given the chance to promote peace, and to showcase itself. It is important that the United States catch up with the realities of the competitive world marketplace, said Ed Rogers. The Olympics provide a great deal of income with all the tourists and publicity. This is exactly what America needs in the current suffering economy. Hopefully by 2016 we will either be out or well on our way out of the recession, but if we are not the Olympics can help. And even if we are, the Olympics also give the country a chance to come together not only with the rest of the world but with itself. It is always a good thing for a country to be peaceful and united with itself and others.
The truth is that Obama’s small trip to Denmark, if anything will eventually result in a boost to the US economy and his 18 hour absence won’t have any effect on the dilemmas facing our nation today.
--Steph
The points the two supportive articles make are that political leaders from other countries promote their countries, so we must as well to avoid giving ourselves a competitive disadvantage (Ed Rogers). Joey Cheek says that the Olympics would give the U.S. an opportunity to garner global attention to promote peace and give people what the county is like.
The other two articles do not approve of Obama's trip. Tony Fratto brings up the point that there are other, more pressing issues at hand than the 2016 Olympics. Grover Norquist's comment calls out Obama for trying to support his home state at the expence of the nation and the global community.
I know a lot of thought and consideration go into deciding who will host the Olympic Games and from this decision comes a great deal of responsibility for the hosting city. On the other hand, much good comes out of having your city chosen: just remember how amazing the games (and shows) were when the Olympics were held in China. Quite an impression was made on the world.
I say Obama should travel to Denmark and try to use his power of persuasion to bring the Olympic Games to the United States (Chicago). What is the use of having such a phenomenal speaker as a president if we can never take advantage of it to get something (the Olympics in this case) that we want. President Obama, you go to Denmark, I will even pay for your plane ticket.
There were plenty of good points made in the article by the contributors Ed Rogers, Joey Cheek, Tony Fratto, and Grover Norquist. They point out that hosting the olympics would provide a needed economic boost by bringing in money and providing more jobs to prepare for the olympics, but the other arguements point out that there are more pressing issues to deal with and that President Obama is wasting time and tax payers money to fly to Denmark. No matter what President Obama does there will be people that scrutinize his actions, but in this case in my opinion i think he should go. As Steph said the whole trip only took 18 hours so he mind as well go and give it a try, i think if he gets it great we have an opportunity to be a part of something great.
If Chicago would have won the bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, then it would have been beneficial to the U.S. and President Obama. It would have proven him as an influential and powerful speaker. It would have also helped the U.S. economy when the year 2016 rolls in. However, Obama has many other issues he has to deal with such as the issues of heatlh care; climate change; economic recession; and foreign affairs with other countries. I believe that Obama should prioritize and put the issues we face today at the top of his agenda, instead of putting a large amount of time in campaigning Chicago to be the host city of the Summer Olympic games. If Chicago won the bid to be the host city for the 2016 Olmypic games, it would have been another major agenda that the U.S would have to deal with in these troubled times for the U.S. It would be a great idea in the future, but it is not necessary at these troubled times today when the U.S. are facing many issues that are going to take several years to solve. However, when the U.S. is back on its feet I suggest that Chicago should try again to be the host country for the Summer Olympic games. If not then the city of Rochester, MN should try and make a bid in winning to be the city host of the Sumnmer Olympic games.
Ramon F Banzon
I approve of President Obama's trip to Denmark. Bringing the 2016 Olympic games to Chicago would be great for our nations economy. The games would create jobs and better the deteriorating community of Chicago.
On top of this I agree with Ed Rogers when he says that the president should be an advocate of commercial intrests. I agree because increased recognition and popularity of our country's products increase our success in the rapidly changing business world. Obama should use his international popularity to make bids on such things as the Olympic games in the future to promote America. Not doing so would be wasting a great opportunity.
As president Obama and his wife travel to Denmark many opinions occur. Although Chicago would be a wonderful place for Olympics, there are bigger fish to fry. Obama should be focusing on the problems in America, involving health care, the economy, and the current war, not trying to pursue people to vote for the United States. As Mrs. Obama talks to reporters she tells them that she must go and talk to the voters as if she must convince them for the vote. In a way it represents all of America in our recent ways of trying to win and how we do it. To finish this statement the trip to Denmark was a waste anyway, Chicago was one of the first places taken out for the Olympics in 2012.
Kayla K
It's undeniable that the President has bigger fish to fry than traveling to Copenhagen to rally for the Olympics to be held in Chicago, but this could be very beneficial! Hosting an exciting international event is just what we need to bring America together again in these times of turmoil. Like Ed Rogers said, if Obama is popular abroad, why not use that popularity to promote American jobs, products or tourism? It wasn't a big time committment, so it's not like he had much to lose. Him campaigning for it also has the potential to gain him some popularity back home, so why not? Not to mention you can't blame him for wanting it to happen in his hometown, even though I'm sure he would do the same for any other city in America. (Rochester, Ramon?!)
Am I aloud to say I don't know?
It would be nice to have the Olympics in the US (although why Chicago?). Like mentioned in the article, it would bring jobs any money to the US (which mould be a much needed boost). But on the other hand Obama does have bigger and better things to do. Maybe now is not the time for our president to worry about the Olympics. I guess I can understand both sides, and I don’t know which one I agree with.
Obama should definitely have made the trip to Copenhagen. Sure, now that he didn't win people can go back and say that instead of traveling around trying to win the Olympic bid he should have been focusing on more pressing issues, but it was only a day. What could he have accomplished in a day? Now that other countries are catching up with us in terms of economy and power we should be acting as they do. Other political leaders have always tried to sell their nations' and their nations' products. Now that they are beginning to be our equals, we should be trying to advance ourselves just as much as they always have. We are in a recession just as much as everybody else is. Getting the Olympics here could have helped out the economy through revenue and job openings. This could have been a great economical stimulus as well as a boost in our global status. Good try Obama!
I strongly agree that the 2016 Olympics in Chicago will be a huge step for America. Chicago is one of the biggest centers of the U.S today. The Olympics would help with revitalization of the city, now more than ever. It would increase new housing and attract international visitors. Which would eventually bring in massive amounts of tourism dollars for the cities hotel, museums and restaurants as well. Our economy is in a tough time, and this is a opportunity to give us a boost that we need. So why not?
Mohamed Warsame
President Obama's trip to Denmark, while not crucial to the future of our nation, has the potiental to be incredibly benefical. Obama is a very persuasive speaker and if he is able to bring the Olympics to not only the United States, but to the Midwest, it could be very benefical to our dwindling economy.
As we all know, for many years now, our economy has been going downhill. Having the Olympics in the United States would bring in a lot of tourists and their money.
People aruge that this trip was a waste of the President's time but I disagree. He will only be in Denmark for about 18 hours and in all honesty there is not much he would be able to do in that time if still in the United States. I feel whether or not the Olympics come to Chicago, this trip to Denmark will do nothing to hurt our nation and may even help us out!
I think that Obama going over to Denmark was not a bad thing. I dont see the harm in going over there. But I do not think that he should make a big deal about the Olympics because there are bigger things to worry about. I think it would be good for the country to have something so large in the US, however if the Olympics start destracting Obama from more important things I think the US can live without hosting it.
Emily Browning :D :D :O) :) :D
What president in the history of the USA has not taken any risks during and been succesful? This is exactly what Obama is doing, taking risks and trying to succeed and help the US prosper. By bringing the olympics to Chicago (which just happens to be his home town), Obama will help revitalize the economy and positivly exspose the US to the rest of the world at a time when America's image is in truble.
I know that with every risk there is a chance of failure, but I belive that no matter what outcome, we have to support our President for trying his best to improve our country and modernize our view of the new, flat economic playing field.
It seems like the best thing to do here would be to compare Obama's actions to other countries. Unfortunately, I failed at finding this information. I did, however, find that no previous president has personally traveled to the selection, and so Obama has made himself vulnerable by being the first. Sometimes it's good to go where no man has gone before, but sometimes man has never gone there before for good reason.
The economic usefulness of this trip is definitely questionable, as Chicago was low on the list already and was unlikely to be chosen. Even if the trip was simply a publicity stunt, I still have no problem with it - after all, Obama's frequent speeches around the country are largely for publicity and consume similar quantities of time. If Obama has the time to boost morale and/or his image, let him go for it.
One last thought: the theories about bias for Chicago are relevant, but not selfish - Chicago is a large and economically important city, and certainly something worth investing.
- Thomas D
The Olympics originated in the eastern hemisphere; let them stay there. Obama has way too much to fret over already without having to worry about bringing home the Olympics - can't we give the guy a break? Here he is, in the midst of a global financial crises, foreign relations catastrophes, Health care reform problems, and myriads of other fish to fry.
Not to say that President Obama should abandon the trip to Denmark. It would be frivolous, almost rude, for the US to Not try to land the olympics for 2016. No, blowing the olympics off would be a bad move. It's expected of us to go big or go home. I favor a machiavellian approach here - appearing to be intensely interested in getting them here, but not privately caring about where they end up.
On a related note, I'd like to connect the dots from Orwell's english language complaints to this - How many people who posted used the 'worn out' idiom about frying fish?
President Barack Obama may think that he has nothing to lose by campaigning in Copenhagen for Chicago to get the 2016 summer olympics.
He would be wrong.
I think that his celebrity may have worked against him and his home city of Chicago in this case. Many people in other countries do not like Obama. It seems that his presence there decreased Chicago's chances of winning. It certainly couldnt have increased them much; Chicago was the first of the four final cities to be eliminated.
Furthermore, Obama has much more important things to be worrying about, such as the healthcare bill, the recession, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
-Jake H.
Just because President Obama is frying smaller fish by heading over to Copenhagen, it does not mean that he has completely abandoned the larger fish he was in the middle of frying. And though Obama may be viewed as the main-fish fryer, the one that all the fingers point to when the fish looks slightly off color or tastes slightly like mercury, he certainly isn't frying solo. America can survive for 18 hours with Obama championing the cause of bringing the Olympics to the United States.
The Olympics brings the world together. Obama can have a direct role in bringing the world together right here in the U.S. If he loses, we can't really give him a lot of flak for trying. So why not give it a try?
I think it was ok for Obama to go to Denmark. It was really only a day gone and if the Olympics were held in Chicago the country would definitely benefit our country. Even though everyone is clammoring about how the current problems need more attenention, it's one day. If that one day could set the path for six years of excitement and preparation I doubt people would complain in the long run. I think it was ok for Obama to go to Denmark. Especially if it was only an eighteen hour thing.
-TAYLOR BLY
the president going to denmark was odd i thught and even though it would be cool to have the games here at home i think maybe the president should focus on some of the other more major issues that we are facing. but i wouldnt mind watching world leaders compete in sports it would be hilarious i dont think many have seen a gym in years
I agree with everyone that said that Obama has larger problems he should be focusing on, but parts of the problems he is attempting to rectify stem from a poor image of the US overseas. By putting out his Olympic bid, Obama signifies that he is ready to rejoin the world community. This move could potentially strenghten the US's image elsewhere in the world and, if successfull, could bring extra revenue to Chicago. Not to mention the prestige and festivities of the Olympics. We could make quite an impression on the world.
So I've noticed that a lot of people keep saying over and over that the olympics would help our economy. But do we realize how much finance the olympics need? This isn't China, we don't have thousands of workers that will work for dirt (maybe perhaps a few now with the recession, but not enough to top China).
On a side note: I do agree that Obama didn't lose much in a day; we shouldn't critisize him for that. Sure he has a lot of things on his plate, but the little things count too (as long as they don't take away from the big issues, which i highly doubt 18 hours did).
But basically, hosting the Olympics is a lot harder than many of us realize, and personally I'm not sure if the benifits outway the disadvantages.
Marina Mossaad
I agree that the games being held in Chicago would help the economy and we all know the economy needs help. But last year at the summer games in China there were some incidents with riots and murders. Now Chicago isn't the safest place in the US so it might have been a safer idea to not have it in Chicago.
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