The Beginning of the End: Undoing the Mistake of 0-8

Olympics Defeat Will Hurt Obama [Peter Wehner]

I will, with some hesitation, dissent from Jonah’s political analysis. My instinct is that the Chicago Olympics fiasco will hurt President Obama a fair amount and that it’s not an “inside-the-Beltway” phenomenon (I usually think the “inside-the-Beltway” vs. “rest of America” mindset is overdone).

In my judgment, what happened Friday will begin to cement an image about Obama that is negative — that his supposed “golden touch” is very nearly the opposite; that his rhetorical talents and appeal are vastly overstated (he delivers a major health-care speech to a joint session of Congress and it does nothing to move the needle; he then makes a personal appeal to the IOC and Chicago is dropped from the list in the first round); and that he is a surprisingly weak figure who is easily rolled by Democrats on Capitol Hill, by adversaries around the world, and, now, by the IOC.

So much of politics has to do with when disparate issues metastasize, for good or ill. I don’t know if we’re at that point with Obama just yet — but we’re a good deal closer than we were. He hurt his prestige a great deal today, and he failed in an environment when things look bad and he is beginning to seem overmatched on almost every front. (The slapdown by the IOC, when combined with the unemployment rate reaching its highest point since 1983, is a tough combination for the White House.)

Things can, of course, change, and change quickly. But I suspect this moment will be remembered as one that adds to an increasingly negative “narrative” of the Obama presidency.

Few presidents have suffered this much loss of support in so short a period of time — and things will probably get worse before they get better. Friday didn’t help. Mr. Obama has sustained a political wound at a vulnerable moment for him.

Chicago Eliminated in the First Round

Question for Canadians

In order to better fund Canadian athletes for future Olympics, all public employees and politicians making over $75,000 per year will receive a permanent 1% cut in pay. The savings from this will be given directly to Canadian athletes.

Would you support or oppose such a move?

Socialist Comradery

This fellow, Ángel Valodia Matos from Cuba was disqualified by Chakir Chelbat, a referee from Sweden. And his response? Well, kick the ref in the face, of course. You can read more here.

What a disgrace! And such a contrast to how "wonderful" I keep hearing so many say Cuban society is.

Meet the Chinese "Women's" Gymnastics Team

These young women are all at least 16 years old? Give me a break! You can read more here.

Video of Free Tibet Protest

You may also be interested to watch these:

Tibet Protest Against China

This afternoon there was a protest against the totalitarian regime that currently rules China, as well as the people of Tibet. Unelected, undemocratic, and unaccountable, the leaders of China have successfully brainwashed a billion people. Hitler failed. Stalin failed. But so far, at least, the Chinese leaders have done very well for themselves.

I have no sympathy for the argument that Tibet is part of China and that Western views are "misguided" on this issue. The primary ones who are misguided are the young Chinese nationals, many of whom have come over here to Canada, and some of whom have threatened me for posting this simple video. Such young thugs disrespect my country, its people, and what it stands for. They should be thrown out but because of political correctness, that will never happen.

I very much admire everyone who came out to this protest march. It wasn't an especially pleasant day and it's so easy and convenient for most Vancouverites to forget about what China is doing to a wonderful and beautiful people. Thankfully some have not forgotten.

The Three 2010 Olympic Mascots

Meet Miga, Quatchi, and Sumi, the 3 mascots for the upcoming Olympics in Japan ... errrr in Vancouver I mean. Silly me for mistaking those names as being authentically Canadian! You can check them out in depth here.

Perhaps they agreed to the names in exchange for a discount from the Japanese Anime artists?! Further to these overly cute critters, I have an admission and a question.

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I will share with you that I once dated an Air Canada flight attendant named Sumi. She was half Japanese and half Caucasian. The mascot Sumi is cute but she was much cuter. I imagine her colleagues must be teasing the hell out of her!

And now the question: Do you think that Quatchi's hairy stomach was closely modeled after Charles Adler's beard? Think I'm kidding? Take a look at this:

Furthermore, his deep baritone voice is very reminiscent of Adler's!

2010 Olympics Countdown Clock

I came across this beautiful new monument on the north plaza of Vancouver's Art Gallery. It's quite impressive.

Sadly, this is one of the favoured hangout locations of the scoundrels associated with the so-called "Anti-Poverty Committee". I ironically wonder if we should start our own countdown until this monument is "mysteriously" vandalized by "unknown individuals". I can only hope that extremely hi-resolution cameras are trained on it.

What galls me the most about these thugs is the phony victim & oppressed talking points they constantly espouse. I doubt that any of them have spent any length of time amongst truly oppressed people in other countries around the world. Yet, in one of the most free countries in the world, with incredible opportunities for anyone who wants to lift a finger and work, these violent, mental midgets have declared war on everyone else in society.

New British Columbia License Plate

I walked by this car today and, at first glance, assumed it was from a U.S. State. I did a double-take when I discovered it was from BC!!! I must have been out of town when these new plates were announced. I think they look great!