ICYMI: Michelle Obama's passioned speech in Chicago about youth violence (video)

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DNC Convention Highlights: Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago, IL

Rahm Emanuel eyes the job of Mayor of Chicago; Gov. Charlie Crist eyes running independent in Florida (Video)

Nothing new. The City of Chicago is another story and not a good one, Republican Charlie Crist possibly running independent upsets all the apple carts in Florida.



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The real story is unraveling about the Chicago Olympic bid....

For President Obama to go to Copenhagen at the last minute, something must have been said for him to make the decision to go. After reading this article, it is all about throwing Chicago and its intel under the bus, from the White House.

I knew that Chicago getting dumped in the very first round smelled like fingerprints of Chicago politics all over it. I was not for Chicago getting the bid because I am from a city that is broken on just about every city political level with corruption. Many Chicagoans were one eye "ok" and the other eye "hell no" when it comes to Mayor Daley and crew orchestrating the Olympics. All you have to do is look at the city and its major problems to be skeptical. Finally, the killing of Derrion Albert, an honor student beaten to death going home from school and the shocking video went viral, just did it for me. Chicago's problems with teens getting killed at school, going to school, coming back from school has escalated the past three years. Did that help Chicago? I don't think it mattered with the IOC, but this killing is bothering many in the Chicagoland area. So....

Why did Obama who resisted getting involved with the Olympics go?

"The intelligence that we had from the U.S. Olympic Committee and Chicago bid team was that it was very close and therefore well worth our efforts," said Valerie Jarrett, a senior White House advisor. "The message was that . . . a personal appeal from the president would make a huge difference."

In the end, Obama's whirlwind appearance before the IOC proved a disappointment. Chicago lost out to Rio de Janeiro, finishing last among the four finalists. Since the defeat, the White House has defended the trip as a worthy investment of the president's time.

But Obama and his advisors were not sold on the idea until just a few days before Air Force One took off for Copenhagen.

[snip]

Throughout, the Chicago team was pushing for the president to make the trip. Daley and Patrick Ryan, chairman of Chicago 2016, were among those who told the White House that the nose count showed a presidential visit might close the sale, Jarrett said.

Let me be clear, if Chicago had gotten the Olympics it would have been Go U.S.A., all the way, with one eye on who is scammin' who, on the Daley Crew. Sorry, that is how it is here. President Obama was within his right to root for Chicago, his home town, using the excuse of the other countries sent in their top leaders is warranted. But in the end you do not let your man, the President; go out on the limb for a loss. It was a loss, temporary, but a loss. You don't set him up like that. And on Meet the Press, Mike Murphy, one of the more centrist Republicans said, "...you know Valerie Jarrett is running the White House...it was amateur staff week... you know who is running the White House...you never send the President of the United States around the world and you don't know the outcome...."

I don't know who is running the White House, that is debatable and the wording of amateur staff is a tad bit strong, but I agree that you don't send the President of the United States abroad and don't know the outcome. It is a loss, a minor one in the end, but one that President Obama will not do again.

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Rio de Janeiro's and Chicago's Master Plan Pitch for 2016 Olympics (Video)

Makes me want to get on a plane right now to Rio!!!!



Chicago's Master Plan



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Chicago's bid for 2016 Olympics a "NO GO" (Video)

I kinda knew that Rio had the inside track, being that the Olympics Games never were in South America. Next, the IOC knew before FLOTUS, Michelle Obama even appeared in Copenhagen for the pitch. And now, Chicago knocked out in the first round.

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.

Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago’s name was announced.

Tokyo was the next city eliminated, leaving Madrid and Rio de Janeiro as the remaining cities eligible as IOC voting continued.

Earlier, Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid made final pitches to the International Olympic Committee, with President Barack Obama and Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pitting their star power against each other in emotional pushes for their cities. read more here.....

And President Obama? He stood up to lobby for his country. Loser, Mayor Daley, who put the pressure on the White House to get involved in this and now look at it. Personally, I wrote earlier that I wished the President would not get involved and that FLOTUS was enough, well just look what happened. In the end, a lesson learned for President Obama, the Obama White House and Chicago politics.

FLOTUS address to the IOC for 2016 Olympic bid



POTUS address to the IOC for 2016 Olympic bid



POTUS & FLOTUS pitch to the IOC in Copenhagen, Denmark, transcript

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FLOTUS, Michelle Obama pitching Chicago for the 2016 Olympics in Copenhagen, Denmark, Day Two (pictures)

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama meets with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at a hotel in Copenhagen, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Michelle Obama has joined the Chicago 2016 bid team who are competing with Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday, Oct. 2, in Copenhagen.









U.S. first lady Michelle Obama shakes hands with Denmark's Prince Henrik, the husband of Denmark's Queen Margrethe, center, outside the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, Thursday Oct. 1, 2009.

FLOTUS in Copenhagen, Demark, Day One

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FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Oprah and Chicago Elite in Copenhagen, Denmark to pitch the 2016 Olympics (pictures, video and transcript)

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama alights her plane as she arrives at Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Michelle Obama has joined the Chicago 2016 bid team who are competing with Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday Oct. 2 in Copenhagen.

Transcript

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Robert Gibbs puts the "BLAST" on Republicans and their "Patriotism" (Video)

This is all about the Republicans crying that Obama will make a day trip to pitch the 2016 Olympics for Chicago. Republicans, Chicago, Illinois is part of the United States of America (last I heard), but you would think differently with the GOP. Good job, Gibbs.



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We all knew he would go to Denmark....

....that is President Obama....

President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark this week to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president, told The Associated Press Monday morning that Obama will leave Thursday and join his wife, Michelle, in Copenhagen, where they'll make the pitch to the International Olympic Committee. Obama would be the first U.S. president to take on such a direct role in lobbying for an Olympics event.

The International Olympic Committee is meeting in Copenhagen to select a host city for the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago faces tough competition from Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo.

Obama, who represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate after serving in the Illinois Legislature, is a longtime supporter of Chicago's bid. He and Michelle consider it their adopted home town, and he recently sent letters to selected IOC members, promising a "spectacular Olympic experience for one and all."

"President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama symbolize the hope, opportunity and inspiration that makes Chicago great, and we are honored to have two of our city's most accomplished residents leading our delegation in Copenhagen," Mayor Richard M. Daley said in a statement. "Who better to share with members of the International Olympic Committee the commitment and enthusiasm Chicago has for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement than the President and First Lady." read more here....

The big question is how Chicago will pay for the Olympics? One of Cook County's taxes is already 10%. That is extremely high. Many in Chicago, including my mother, are not on the Olympic bandwagon, she as many others in the city and in Cook County are wondering how Chicago will pay for the Olympics. The displacement of many African-Americans on the South and West Sides is real. The displacement of the poor, is real. But not taking anything away from the city, logistically it is prime property for the Olympics with several colleges and university campuses ready, Washington Park is ready, Douglas Park, etc., so Chicago is ready but is the money ready? That is a question that many are asking Mayor Daley right now as he too, heads for Denmark.

Chicago will probably get the Olympics and I will be nowhere near it, with the exception of watching it on television.

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President Obama pushing Chicago, IL to hold 2016 Olympics (Video)

President Obama and The First Lady host Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the South Lawn of the White House. September, 16 2009. Michelle Obama will represent the United States bid in Copenhagen, October, 2009.



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Obama's Speech to American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago, IL (Video and Transcript)

Transcript

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Blago Indicted, that is former Governor Rod Blagojevich

Blago was corrupt, he is going down, but who is he taking down with him is my burning question.....

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his brother Rob and Christopher Kelly, a former top fundraiser for Blagojevich, were all indicted today on corruption charges, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago announced.

Also charged in the indictment were Lon Monk, a lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff; John Harris, also a former chief of staff to Blagojevich; and William Cellini, a Springfield insider for decades.

The indictment comes four months after Blagojevich was arrested and charged with engaging in pay-to-play politics in a sweeping federal complaint that accused him of trading state jobs, contracts and regulatory favors for campaign contributions.

The criminal complaint charged Blagojevich with attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and seeking the firing of Tribune editorial writers in return for state help on the sale of Wrigley Field. The ballpark and newspaper are owned by Tribune Co.

Blagojevich's brother, Rob, took over as head of the governor's campaign fund last August, just two months before federal authorities won court authorization to wiretap the then-governor's home phone and campaign office.

Monk was also caught on the recordings.

This marks the third time Kelly has been charged by federal authorities but the first time for alleged wrongdoing with the former governor. In January the wealthy roofing contractor pleaded guilty to tax fraud for concealing his use of corporate funds to cover gambling debts, but just weeks later, he was charged in connection with a kickback scheme at O'Hare International Airport.

Authorities have alleged that Harris tried to carry out the governor's plan to have Tribune editorial writers fired for critical editorials of Blagojevich.

Cellini was indicted last fall on charges he extorted a Hollywood producer to make a Blagojevich campaign donation.

Read the indictment here

Source

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Obamas went to Table 52 for Valentine's Day in Chicago (Video, Pictures)

Listen to the report towards the end of the tape, at 2:30, John Yang describes EVERYTHING. Owned by a former Oprah chef, Art Smith. Table fifty-two

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Obama to DC, Not Chicago when it comes to snow!

MSNBC

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