Copenhagen, Now
The fact the President Obama's presence in Copenhagen did not sway the IOC to award the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago in the long run matters not one iota. While the President should not have gone largely because of the potential for a minor political embarrassment, now realized, he also met with General McChrystal, the ISAF commander in Afghanistan. It was the President's first meeting in person with General McChrystal since he assumed command in June. The fact that Mr. Obama had not talked with General McChrystal since his report, now leaked, was submitted at the end of August had generated criticism especially in conservative quarters. The President's visit with General McChrystal not only truncates that criticism but also allowed the President to presumely ask hard questions directly of the General. More from the New York Times.

Copenhagen, Then
The President will be returning to Copenhagen in December to attend the Global Conference on Climate. The urgency to act on this matter cannot be overstated. To this end, Carol Browner, the former chief of the EPA and now Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, has been making the case that the United States must act now to limit greenhouse-gas emissions; that sweeping change is necessary and piecemeal fixes are insufficient; and that enacting new regulations would establish the conditions for businesses to pioneer new technologies. The Atlantic has more including video clips of Carol Browner's call to action on climate. Elections have consequences, as they say. Thanks to the election of President Obama, we have competence and scientific rigor in the Administration.

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Despite his two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, you gotta say Obama looks good peacenik-wise in reference to Iran and Russia.

First, he pulls back on the offensive missile 'shield' whose intent was to threaten Russia. The intent, according to the Beltway pundits, was to get Russia to back crippling sanctions against Iran. But was it? I don't know. Maybe Obama is a peacenik on this issue. Anyway, the you scratch my back I scratch yours doesn't seem to be working, cuz,

Second, Obama and Iran seem to be working things out on their own. Peacenikky! Iran has apparently agreed to export some of its nuclear fuel enrichment to Russia, and, so, no crippling sanctions? Another wait and see, but things look good today on the peace front.

And who knows, mebbe Obama told story about Daley to the Olympic selection committee. Spectacular fail by the Mayor's city, but a definite win for Chicago. We're busted, and we gotta focus on getting rid of some crime and poverty, and fixing the many horrific schools (a screw you to one of Daley's flunkies, former Chicago schools chief and clueless do-nothing Daley stooge Arnie Duncan, Obama's Education Secretary).

And, is it "I told you so" time yet? Gotta say, this -- Sorry Israel, no Iran war or crippling sanctions 4U -- looks like some damn good predicting right now. Shout out to my man, M K Bhadrakumar, he pointed me in the right direction.   . . .

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A number of right-wing pundits and Republican leaders are criticizing the President for heading to Copehnagen tonight to make a push for holding the 2016 Olympics in Chicago. Even though the trip will take less than 24 hours, there are those who say he's taking his eye off the ball and not focusing on the most important issues. From Politico:

House Minority Leader John Boehner torched President Barack Obama Wednesday for his European trip to pitch the Chicago Olympics bid, criticizing the president for "going to go off to Copenhagen when we've got serious issues here at home that need to be debated."

Obama's trip has been maligned by most Republicans as the health care overhaul remains in a continued state of flux in Congress and the top general in Afghanistan awaits word on a troop increase....

"Listen I think it's a great idea to promote Chicago but he's the president of the United States, not the mayor of Chicago," Boehner said. "And the problems we have here at home affect all Americans and that's where his attention ought to be."

In his eight years as president, George W. Bush spent 490 days at his ranch in Crawford, Texas and 487 days at Camp David, Maryland. That's 977 to one.

Here's what I want to know: Where was John Boehner during the last administration? When Bush took off for Crawford with Katrina on the way, did Boehner point at the Gulf and say "That's where his attention ought to be"? When Bush hosted guests at Camp David with two wars on, did Michael Steele say that, "The first lady should have been the lead here"?

Of course not. The President of the United States doesn't leave his brain or even his staff at the White House when he travels. The Bushies were able to use computers, telephones, and airplanes from remote locations, and Obama can do the same. Boehner and Steele, putting politics before policy and partisanship before country.

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WARNING: graphic video

Where were the police when a gang of kids murdered 16-year-old Derrion Albert outside Chicago's Fenger High School?

A squad car was two blocks away. When what you see on the video happened, officers knew about the disturbance and decided not to respond, not to do anything at all.

The two cops were scared or didn't care. Probably the latter. The disturbance you see on the video or similar was a near-daily event, to be anticipated and prevented (see Fenger beating death: Violence, tension had been building over years). Get it, cops? Crime prevention. Where were you?

Why is no newspaper angry at the police? Why no editorials about this?

Where are the police this morning, two days later?

A TV reporter (the local Fox affiliate) at Fenger High School since 6 a.m. today reports at 8:30 that he hasn't seen a single cop car at the school.

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(cross posted at kickin it with cg and motley moose)

Last year I explored the International Olympic Committee's exclusion of women's ski jumping for the Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010. Not that there is anything new about sexism in the Olympics, but this case, and its recent conclusion demonstrates it in a way that is quite outrageous.

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