The Air Let Out Of The Windy City

Chicago in fact was the first city eliminated by the IOC in today's vote. No 2016 games here.

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.

Well, it's all a moot point now. Would have been nice, too.

Still, good luck to Madrid and Rio. My money's on the first South American Olympics. And yes, it's a direct snub to the United States. You think the world's still a little mad at us after the last eight years?

[UPDATE 11:52 PM] Why are Wingnuts so happy with America's failures, anyway? You'd think they were treating this as Obama's personal disaster in some sort of deranged projection scheme...

[UPDATE 1:04 PM] Politico's Ben Smith: "The White House staked, and lost, some prestige on that one."

If Obama had not gone to Copenhagen, we would instead be talking about how Obama's refusal to put in a personal appearance like the other world leaders was the reason why Chicago lost.

[UPDATE 1:39 PM] And Rio is the winner. Congrats to Brazil's delegation.

But the biggest asshole so far in this? Dan Riehl, who opines that if McCain/Palin would have won, America's delegation to Copenhagen would have been full of "advocates who truly are proud of America and like her just the way she's been."

Yep. Dirty F'ckin America-hating hippie Liberals like the Obamas cost Chicago the Olympics, apparently.

God, I hate Wingnuts.