Style and Substance: The Chicago Olympic Video Has Neither and It's Dreadful

The First Couple is home, looking more fabulous than ever. Mrs. O writes: The president and first lady have returned home to the White House, and while the Olympic bid was perhaps not a success, the first couple is certainly looking more stylish than ever! First Lady Mrs. O wears a graphic black and white dress, cinched at the waist with her longtime favorite Alaia belt and topped by a cropped black cardigan.

"Perhaps not a success" is an understatement, given Chicago's elimination in the first round.

I will ignore Republican comments on the wisdom of the president's decision to go to Copenhagen. I'm not a Republican.

I don't know the details of the Chicago bid, but it seemed totally logical to me that Brazil should get the Olympics. Every global trend that I study put the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The most unsettling questions coming out of the President's trip to Copenhagen, underscored here by Mrs.O's "comforting" news "not to worry, the O's still look great", is the question of style over substance in the Obama presidency.

Say what you wish, the president of the US should not be getting on Air Force One right now, launching the Team Obama offensive if the win isn't "in the bag, so to speak".

True, Tony Blair won the gold for London. But President Obama has far more on the line right now, including his competency.

Ignoring Conservative and Republican critiques, one wonders if the Chicago triumverate that's closest to President Obama -- Jarrett, Axelrod, and Emanuel truly understand the concerns going on in the minds of moderate Dems around his efficacy.

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Congratulations Rio de Janeiro Brazil

We'll be there in 2016 -- to a great Smart Sensuality city! Anne

The Rio de Janeiro win is a clear statement about Smart Sensuality values. He who has the most toys doesn't always win, isn't always happier. I'll be writing about the Rio lifestyle this weekend. Anne

Here's Hoping: POTUS and FLOTUS in Copenhagen

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama during the Chicago 2016 bid presentation at the 121st International Olympic Committee session at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are competing for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday in Copenhagen. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham - AP) More news from Copenhagen:

US would do world proud with Olympics Washington Post

President Obama Pitches the Olympic Committee

President Obama addressing the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen. President Obama put the spirit of his election win in Chicago into the international, together-we-can mindset of the International Olympic Committee, attempting to channel the spirit of November 4, 2008 into America's bid to host the 2016 games.

“Nearly one year ago, on a clear November night, people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch the results of the U.S. presidential election,” Mr. Obama told the committee. “Their interest wasn’t about me as an individual. Rather, it was rooted in the belief that America’s experiment in democracy still speaks to a set of universal aspirations and ideals.”

Stressing the ethnically diverse roots of Chicago was another priority of his speech. In this respect, it is the most "international" of all the competing cities. It's generally considered that the "win" will come down to Chicago and Rio de Janerio.

President and Mrs. Obama added a dose of international glamour to Chicago, a city lacking the youth and sexy vitality glamour of Rio de Janerio.

POTUS and FLOTUS left the meeting ahead of the other city presentations. After private meetings in Copenhagen, they will be out over the Atlantic when the voting commences. The winning city should be known about 1pm EST today. Anne

More reading: Star gazing: Chicago puts celebrities to work AP

Counting on the mathematics of celebrity in Copenhagen The Irish times

Poll: 43% say Olympics trip was 'bad idea' Politico

Oprah and Michelle Obama in Copenhagen: Simply Dazzling!

We have some truly fabulous photos of America's First Lady Michelle Obama in Copenhagen. And I must say that Oprah is looking mighty fine, too.

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama stands with television talk show host Oprah Winfrey, second right, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, right, as the Danish royal family enters at the opening ceremonies of the the 121st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session and XIII Olympic Congress at the Copenhagen Opera House, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Copenhagen. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are competing to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and the IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday, Oct. 2, in Copenhagen. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool

Michelle Obama, aka 'The Closer', Arrives in Copenhagen

The First Lady has landed in Copenhagen, ready to "go for the gold", in bringing the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago, competing against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo to host the games.

Mrs. Obama's plane landed a little before 11:30 a.m. local time, and she was greeted by a contingency that included Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, his wife, Maggie, Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Chicago 2016 president Lori Healey.

Michelle Obama Arrives in Copenhagen

The NY Times writes that the arrival of President Obama early Fri. morning in Copenhagen, to make a final pitch for Chicago, carries a lot of risk, especially if the games are awarded to another city. Just two weeks ago, POTUS said he was too committed to health care to go to Copenhagen. Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee voted down a public option.

First Lady Michelle Obama arrives in Copenhagen to promote Chicago's 2016 Olympic games bidSimply stated, the POTUS move -- a parochial maneuver for Chicago and only marginally for America (especially when experts are questioning the long-term benefit to Chicago of hosting the games) -- could easily come back to haunt him. See NYTimes: In Pitch for Games, a Gamble for Obama.

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