Ten Million dollars wasted
By Fortunata
@Fortunata (1135)
United States
October 2, 2009 12:00pm CST
That giant flushing sound you hear is ten million dollars going into the sewer for the pathetic attempts by the Obamas and Oprah to 'bring it home' to Chicago in a bid to get the 2016 Olympics games. That's how much it cost for the planes, the fuel, and security for this lame trip. No telling how much the bribery was-we'll probably never know! By the way, did anybody catch that photo of Oprah and the six toes on one foot? EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!2 people like this
7 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Oh, but you have to appreciate what a sacrifice it was for the Obamas and Oprah to spend those few days traveling. Mrs. Obama said that.
That $10 million could have gone to families whose unemployment has run out and they're losing everything. It could have gone to the food banks. Hell, if you'd just thrown it down the toilet it would've done just at much good as that damned trip.
At least Obama met for 25 minutes (in his jet on the runway in Copenhagen) with his general, only the 2nd meeting in 9 months and the general has been begging for more troops.
1 person likes this
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Yeah, I just heard. Guess he wanted to save some face, lol.
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
2 Oct 09
How does that trip end up costing ten million??
Just wondering what the breakdown is on that.
She really has six toes?? I had no idea!
1 person likes this
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Yeah. Somebody blew up the picture, and you can see it. She was wearing white flip-flops. I think if it were me, I wouldn't wear sandals, lol!1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Oct 09
...not to mention the Carbon Footprint! :~D
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Not wasted. Chicago was in the Final Four...the city had to be promoted to the Olympic Committee...and Obama was not the only high ranking official representing his country there. Do you have any better suggestions? Like him or not, Obama is well thought of by the international community so he and Michele were good choices and that hometown thing was probably seen as an edge. Hosting the Olympics would have created thousands of jobs and brought in tens of millions in revenue.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Oct 09
So why did they have to travel separately? What was so important about them getting their on separate days, almost doubling the wasted fuel, resources and manpower required?
Guess what, most cities that host the Olympics complain about the losses they suffer from it. One of the things that Mitt Romney was praised for was the Salt Lake Olympics was the single exception. Merchants and vendors in Altanta lost their shirts because the IOC promised much more commerce than really occured. They told merchants that the people would go up to a half a mile from the venues to shop and eat. The reality was more like 2 blocks.
Yes, there are temporary construction jobs created, but almost everything they build is torn down... at the city's expense. By the time I got to Atlanta in 1997, the only remnants still standing were the torch and a Coca Cola museum that they built with their own funds.
But the sad reality of the Obama trip was, he actually expected his appearance to seal the deal. If he thought for a second that it wasn't in the bag, he wouldn't have brought so much extra press to cover the victory.
In fairness, if this was the only failure of the Obama name to carry the day, it wouldn't be such a hit for him... however, his name and influence hasn't carried anything for months. He can't even seem to get his own party to play ball.
1 person likes this
@trisha27 (3494)
• United States
9 Nov 09
wow, 10 million dollars. I think it was a waste no matter what anybody says. I just came across this and just heard about it now. He should be more concerned about what our country needs and stuff instead of spending 10 million dollars on a trip, that didn't really accomplish anything.
And ew ew ew, a 6th toe. Why was it out there like that. If that was me with a 6th toe, I would've hidden it. And you would think, that since Oprah has all that money, that she would get it fixed. I know I would've.
@afarrell1 (258)
• United States
6 Oct 09
it would have been nice if Oprah would have paid for the trip, not like she couldn't a ford it and Chicago is her home too.
And I thought Chicago was one of the top five voted out in the first round of consideration?
It would have been a tremendous shot in the economic arm with the travel, construction, extra police. But that would have only been a short term fix and in after 2016 where would we be? All those folks hired to get the city ready and staffed would be out of work and right back into a slump again.
I also think Obama is wasting money going all over the country making stump speeches. He's been elected already, when is he going to start working?
Did anyone catch the opening Saturday Night Live skit about Obama, I was on the floor crying it was so funny.
@belhaven14 (454)
• United States
2 Oct 09
I guess you don't understand the economic boost everyone would have got from hosting the Olympics. I would say that a $10 million expense is not much compared to the hundreds of millions and maybe even billions that would have come to America if Chicago would have won the bid. It didn't work out this time, but if it had, I don't think you would have been complaining.
