Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see Chicago not getting the Olympics as a huge loss for America. Frankly, Charles, I don’t understand why you’re so indifferent to Obamas connections to so many corrupt actors in Chicago. Do you doubt that Chicago (and US taxpayers) would have ended up on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars, and that some of Obama’s friends would have profited? I recognize that political corruption is not solely a left-wing phenomenon (Abramoff and Sanford stand out as recent right-wing examples) and Chicago doesn’t have a monopoly on corrupt politicians, but I find Obamas past and continuing connection with shady characters more than a little disturbing.