The presidency of the United States isn’t easy. So, what does it say when a president takes a second job?
Our federal union’s chief executive, Barack Obama, has gone and done just that: He now serves as public relations flak for the city of Chicago. The Windy City wants to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, so he flew off to Copenhagen to lobby the International Olympic Committee.
Now, I wasn’t rooting for Chicago to get the Olympics. I have friends there, folks I’d rather not see fleeced with higher taxes to pay for it — nor forced to suffer the many inconveniences of such an event.
But here’s my real problem with Obama’s moonlighting: It shows that his priorities are way out of whack. Why is he being side-tracked with something so insignificant as where an athletic event will be held?
Oh, we’ve been told he can zoom there and back on Air Force One in no time, not to worry. But don’t be fooled. Time and focus on this Olympic bid business costs both Obama and his staff. Cost is opportunity foregone. The executive branch has enough to do without adding on the Olympics.
Could it be that Obama shares that ol’ special-interest class obsession with using a public position for the benefit of one’s own — as well as one’s buddies’ — private interests?
Next thing he’ll be running GM in his spare time.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
10 replies on “Moonlighting as President?”
[…] start with SES Chicago 2009, where there will be three keynote themes well worth hearing. Moonlighting as President? – thisiscommonsense.com 10/05/2009 The presidency of the United States isn’t easy. So, […]
The right wing is positively giddy that the United States will not be hosting the Olympics. Seriously, has it dawned on you yet how utterly despicable these people are? I was just wonderin’.
The main goal of the GOP these days is to insure that President Obama’s administration is a complete and utter failure. They want to see as many Americans as possible suffer in the next three years, thus, ensuring that they will be able to seize control of the executive branch in 2013. If the president succeeds in making life better for his countrymen and women, they fail. It’s as simple as that. Mitch McConnell, to his credit, always looks quite uncomfortable when he is forced to justify policies as atrocious as those being put forward these days by that hideous party. But Cantor always has a serene, angelic smile on his face whenever he is forced to defend the morally indefensible — sort of like last week, at a Town Hall meeting when he told a woman whose mortally ill relative had been left bankrupt by her medical bills that she should rely on charity. He seemed so content with himself. Quite strange really.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Gee whiz, Tom, thanks for providing your smiling mug. It’s nice to see the person making arguments that have nothing at all to do with my commentary. I’m not right-wing, not a Republican and not even giddy (at least, not giddy about Chicago failing to win the 2016 Olympics). I am concerned with Obama’s willingness to focus on small stuff to most Americans but big stuff to his personal political pals. But, I see you don’t care to address that substance. Maybe you can come up with another label that you can attempt to stick on me or others. I’d check out your blog, but unlike the president, I’m focused on putting citizens in charge, not hurling “right-wing” or “left-wing” smears to avoid a real discussion.
Personally, I AM HOPING that he will SPEND MORE TIME ON THIS USELESS STUFF. PERHAPS HE CAN GET PELOSI & REID TO JOIN HIM.
Then, perhaps they cannot continue to destroy this country, bankrupting us, and leading us to socialism.
Enough already on the Olympic crapola — - haven’t you got more important commentary? I am not a fan of the President but those that seem to find fault with EVERYTHING are looking very tiny and snarky. I would like to see a hole lot more said about TERM LIMITS for that is a very important issue!
Just being picky tonight. Flak is what bombers flew into during WWII. Flack is slang for press agent. I have no problem with the Prez pushing for Chicago as the Olympics venue. Cut him some slack, please?
In context, Obama leaves Gen McChrystal cooling his heels over a “strategy” that Obama claims to have come up with months earlier. My son served in Iraq and now he’s in Afghanistan. Optimally, Obama would have some experience in his duties as president (as does McChrystal in his military duties) as opposed to cruising on charisma, which seems to ebb away at an increasing rate. And the “necessity” of Obama and Michelle requiring separate jets for the trip to Copenhagen to lobby for the Olympics in Chicago, where it would financially benefit his (Chicago-based) White House cronies (slum lords, communists, etc)…there’s something wrong with this picture.
Perhaps it’s Obama being the #1 liberal in the Senate as reflected in his voting record (when he actually voted) during his stint there. Joe Wilson got it right when he told Obama: You lie. (Obama replied, “That’s not true,” a lie. There was no verification of citizenship in place, so yes, illegals will get free health care. Wilson knew this. So did Obama, barring willful ignorance.)
This is not to say the GOP is any better, but merely the lesser of two evils.
And he can stop with the Bush excuse. Dems took the House and Senate in ’06. It is as relevant to say that he inherited the FDR White House. He has used the same failed policies that FDR did, although FDR did not live to see the end of the Depression he prolonged.
Personally, Obama wasting time trying to get the Olympics in Chicago, seemed pathetic. However, its harmless, so let him try to use his charisma for something.
In truth, Chicago lost for no other logical reason than, Rio was the best choice. South America deserves a shot at the games. I bet they do them justice.
Now, world leftists want us to believe Obama has done something significant to justify a Nobel Prize. You have got to be kidding! Just exactly what has he done that comes anywhere close to that?
All te Nobel people have done, once again, is prove that prize committee has been corrupted by leftists who use it as a tool to pat themselves & their fellow cronies on the back. Lets face it, the Nobel people gave the prixe to Carter… who failed abysmally, to Arafat… who was a terrorist that killed people, & a number of other poor excuses for a human being. Now they award Obama who has absolutely NO experince & NO accomplishments to support the award of such a prize “IF” it actually meant anything any longer.
Its like Hollywood holding their own awards programs to pat each other on the back. The Academy Awards no longer mean anything.
[…] Around the world, governments vie to spend tax money like South Africa just did. In America, we have our city-funded/state-funded sports stadiums. And remember when our president flew across the globe to pitch for the Chicago Olympics? […]
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