To all the conservatives who rooted against America (which, not too long ago, you once considered a bad thing), pat yourselves on the back: Mission accomplished.
Never mind that the event would have brought in 22.5 billion in economic activity (the equivalent of 315,000 permanent jobs in America), much less be a good place to exhibit American pride. It's more important to conservatives that Obama lose. Malkin's mocking the U.S. defeat; so is the Weekly Standard (the offices of the Weekly Standard, in its own words, "erupted" in "cheers" after the announcement). Fox News, which launched an aggressive effort against Chicago's bid, will no doubt follow.
Sad, really, that they're lust to see Obama "lose" trumps everything good. Let's have a flashback to January 2008:
President Bush Meets with Chicago 2016 Bid Committee and United States Olympic Committee Members
THE PRESIDENT: I want to thank the members of the 2016 Chicago bid to get the Olympics. Listen, Mr. Mayor, you and your committee have put together a great plan. It's a plan that will make America proud.
They say that the Olympics will come to Chicago if we're fortunate enough to be selected, but really it's coming to America, and I can't think of a better city to represent the United States than Chicago.
This is a well thought out venue. There will be — the athletes will be taken care of. People who will be coming from around the world will find this good city has got fantastic accommodations, great restaurants. It will be safe.
And so I — this country supports your bid, strongly. And our hope is that the judges will take a good look at Chicago and select Chicago for the 2016 Olympics.
Kevin Drum reminds us:
Remember, in 2005, when New York was eliminated as a host city for the 2012 Olympics, and liberals everywhere giggled like children and mocked the Bush administration?
Oh wait, that didn't happen.
UPDATE: One conservative columnist, at least, has some sense:
I don't think conservatives should be celebrating the U.S. losing out on the Olympic games. The Olympics is always a chance to put our national pride on display. However, this might be an instructive lesson on how Obama views the world and possibly the miscalculations of his political team.
Obama looks bad. Anyone disagreeing is being disingenuous. But conservatives should temper their excitement. Is losing the Olympics enough to really go nuts over an Obama loss?
Oh, and Rio won, by the way.
Blame it on Rio.