I'll give you a hint: he just chose Biden as his President. I mean, Running Mate.

Somehow it just feels like it goes against the geek credo to have an athletic event (or chain of events) be rated ahead of an entertainment presentation.

By the way... greatest name of a town in world history... Lillehammer... it has an austere sound to it; but it could also be the name of a porno acctress...

"Everybody's watching what's going on in Beijing right now the Olympics. Think about the amount of money that China has spent on infrastructure. Their ports, their train systems, their airports are all vastly superior to us now, which means if you're a corporation deciding where to do business, you're starting to think, Beijing looks like a pretty good option."

http://tinyurl.com/4lf5yw

Did feel good to have some semblance of Zeppelin on the Olympics though...just, raised it's "cool" level.

Start off with a cheap-o high school style stage and then have it explode! Then Led Zeppelin rise up slowly (cuz, they're old) and start rockin' that shit! With slow-motion fireballs in the background! Damn I would watch that.

This was a once in a lifetime Olympics, since I doubt any other country in my time will be able to spend even a fraction of the money or the manpower the Chinese did.

"Think about how much money China has spent on infrastructure."

-At the expense of their people.

What gets me is when he asks, "why aren't we doing the same thing?"

In no way should we EVER try to emulate China. How is it that bleeding heart liberals are blind to the human rights violations of the ChiComs? But it probably only happens when it goes against what their Messiah is saying.

Sure, it would be great if we could put more money into our infrastructure. But not to the extent that the Chinese have done. Everything that Obama knows about China, he watched on the Olympics. He has a lovely little image that the Chinese government controlled media has placed in his head.

1. All the sports will be changed to match this title scheme: AWESOME Swimming, AWESOME Gymnastics, AWESOME Rowing, AWESOME Beach Volleyball, and AWESOME Equestrian.

2. Simple things will be replaced with HUGE explosions. The starting blocks will explode after the swimmers dive off them. The gymnastics bars will flame and spark. The river on which the rowers race will be ON FIRE. The volleyball in Beach Volleyball will be a ticking time bomb. The horses will EXPLODE in the Equestrian events.

It will be AWESOME.

Plain and simple.

Meanwhile, all exterior shots of the city were 100% CGI because the smog and pollution was so thick over the Olympics, that all the shots would look like cut action scenes from Backdraft.

China managed to reduce its pollution by sending military troops to every factory and industrial site in the city and barracading the doors shut for the duration of the Olympic Games. And even STILL, you couldn't see 50 feet in any direction because the city is buried under its own cloud of pollutants.

Obama: because the biggest change we need is to change the facts in order to win an election. Oh and yeah, Biden is what - the 3rd longest sitting representative in Washington? That's some crazy kind of change going on with that ticket right there.

Man I miss it already. Usain Bolt and Jamaica in general - Holy Fuck that was unbelievable. Plus I liked getting up early every day to catch up on all kinds of mad shit. I mean, dressage, what the fuck is that all about? Horses hopping about, fuck me I thought I was tripping watching that

Dunno about in the states but the BBC coverage was excellent, Michael Johnson, best pundit on TV. Everyone bangs on about Phelps but goddamn that Michael Johnson held onto that 200m record for like 12 years. And he has to come over to the UK to work, you Americans need to nsort yourselves out, the guy's a fucking legend

You know what would have been a better thing to put their money into than infrastructure? Sturdy housing... such that when an earthquake comes along 70,000 people don't die. You know how many people died from the Bridge collapse? 13. I feel very sorry for their family's loss, but I'd take 13 over 70,000 any day.

"You are a tired as Republican, and there's no place for your thinking in the 21st century."

Wow... you really should try China. They share your outlook on debate and differing opinions.

Seriously, go back and read through redshirt's posts. He's brilliant and explains this stuff much better than I ever can. Which possibly explains why there are more posts ripping me than him: because you can't possibly discount anything he brings up.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to cook something on my AWESOME barbecue. AWESOME!

It's fucking ridiculous that these are the two best candidates.

And on that other thing: thanks. Kinda short on cash at the moment...

Also, it took place in B-E-I-J-I-N-G.

Congrats to Shawn Johnson. Nastia Liukin looks like a bitch.

So how come the two are being measured as far as viewership? If the M*A*S*H finale was a season long episode, then yeah I can see where you'd make that comparison, but otherwise, this is a little bit foolish, right?

You just pulled that shit on Obama. Here's a lesson: if he didn't SAY THE WORDS YOU SAY HE DID, that means he DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU SAY HE MEANS. Got it?

What I think Obama said: China is vastly superior to us with regards to infrastructure and we should do the same thing they are doing.

What Obama really said: "Everybody's watching what's going on in Beijing right now the Olympics. Think about the amount of money that China has spent on infrastructure. Their ports, their train systems, their airports are all vastly stuperior to us now, which means if you're a corporation deciding where to do business, you're starting to think, Beijing looks like a pretty good option. Why aren't we doing the same thing?"

There are two ways that we have been looking at this: Obama wants to do things exactly like China and starve his own people and restrict free speech and the media (unlikely), or he's an idiot (my personal choice).

Take your pick.

But you said earlier that his comment specifically means that he supporting everything China stood for, when he was just commenting that in certain ways (NOT ALL) they can in certain views have superior something or other than us.

He did not say we should pride ourselves "more on national image than feeding its people/slave labor." He did not say let's do it exactly as they do. Nowhere. Did. He. Say. That.

And I'm surprised at your "calling out" of "bleeding-heart liberals" and how they do not recognize the human rights violations perpetrated by China. OF COURSE WE DO! WE'RE THE ONES PROTESTING! WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ALWAYS PROTESTING! Shit! Usually the standard (or standard who posts on certain boards) right-winger will tell us liberals to STOP complaining about human rights violations (you know, like the ones the United States is perpetrating, ALTHOUGH NOT TO THE EXTENT OF CHINA). It sounds to me like you heard one liberal support China, and you thought we all do.

Wrong, sir. Wrong.

And to assume you know what's in anyone's brains without hearing their direct words is selfish, stupid and shortsighted. Get off your Obama hate-wagon. At least some of us liberals can admit that McCain and Obama BOTH have some good ideas.

What's a word folks on the left use a lot? Oh right... CAUSATION. If you look at what is caused by putting that big a percentage of your national budget into cleaning up ONE CITY, you'll see that other places are thrown into despair. If Obama wants to be on par with China in terms of their computer generated image, then be prepared for other programs to be cut. Or... taxes to spike.

I'm not saying that Obama wants to do everything like China, I'm just saying that he's a moron who says things before he thinks them through.

I called out "bleeding heart liberals" because they needed to be called out. Nowadays, the whole term is used by the left to describe how the right view the left. I have some very admirable friends who fight for human rights and are the first to criticize the governments involved in the latest atrocity. More power to them! What I'm criticizing is the fact that there would have been more of an outcry after these statements had ANY POLITICIAN ON THE RIGHT said it. I'm not saying that all liberals aren't decrying the human rights violations of China, I'm just saying that a lot of them are looking very hypocritical for not criticizing Obama.

But isn't that how the left operates? Hypocrisy is the way things are run! Do as I say, not as I do...

From 2000 to 2004, one presidential candidate gave 25% of what he earned to charity, whereas the other gave 1% to charity. One presidential candidate adopted a girl from Bangladesh after she came up to him asking for medical help, while the other has a brother who lives in a hut. I'm sure you can tell where I'm going with this...

On the other hand, I can believe the ratings since since even a person like me tuned in to watch the opening and closing ceremonies. I figured that for the first ever China Olympics that they'd go all out to put on one helluva dog & pony show and I was right. Those 2 ceremonies were spectacular to say the least. True visual masterpieces.

On the other hand, too bad they faked a bunch of it, and too bad our great "free speech" American media (and NBC in particular) took it up the ass and played along until they HAD to acknowledge things. And too bad the Chinese cheated at the games and the Olympic rules committee is too chicken shit to call them on that, too.

This is my impression of you and Obama, with you being you and Obama being me:

I say, "I like cheddar cheese."

You say, "Oh noes! You like all dairy, you cow-killing motherfucker!"

And redshirt, not one motherfucking part of Obama's statement did he PRAISE THE FUCKING AIR! Let's look at his statement again. What? It's not there? He doesn't say it? Well blow me down!

And Pirate, once again I say there has been no outcry against Obama on his statement because HE DIDN'T SAY WHAT YOU SAID HE SAID!

Words mean things. Those little bits of info that you find underneath the words? That's called being delusional.

There is absolutely no way that your assessment of the situation resembles my stance on Obama's statements. He SAID that China's infrastructure is vastly stuperior to ours. He wondered why we weren't doing the same thing China was doing. It is not that far a step to criticize his choice of China being a "role model" when it comes to certain things. You seriously don't understand do you?

It's just like one of the TB-ers above who said that Bush was worse because he actually went over to China to watch the Olympics. Do you need to explain that going over and watching the Olympics is NOT the same as supporting China's human rights violations? Because I don't see you doing it!

And linguistically, swearing and capitalizing words shouldn't indicate any form of stupidity--or rage, for that matter--as much as it is a concern for emotional impact, conversational quality (which is MY way of writing) and memorability.

Point is, both of you are falling into a kind of logical fallacy, the name of which completely fucking escapes my mind right now.

China is where America does a great deal of business already. This is not a secret, nor is it anything remotely recent. For him to reflect that in a comment does not say that it is ignorant, simply because he didn't go over every point in the statement. If we all talked like that, having to deal with every angle for those looking for cannon fodder, we'd never go home and get to sleep. Just because he didn't say it doesn't mean ANYTHING.

And I have nothing to do with the comment about Bush's presence in China having anything to do with "supporting China's human rights violations," so if you were indeed asking me to discuss that--which is unclear to me considering your last two sentences--I have nothing to say on the matter.

And I still think my cheddar cheese argument makes sense, because it demonstrates the fallacy under which both of you have fallen. Now if I could only remember what the hell it was called.

Hey, instead of spinning off in another direction, how about replying to my comment about China already having begun weaponizing space? Look for the speech he gave where he mentions that he'll make "deep cuts into unproven weapon defense systems." It's rather easy to google the details. He gave the speech during the same week we shot down that malfunctioning weather satellite earlier this year. I'm sure you remember how we accomplished that end.

As for the space weaponization, I don't know enough about the topic, and merely using the info from your tiny tirades is hardly a way to discuss anything.

Thanks for confirming that you are indeed attempting to have it both ways. Not unlike Mrs. Obama with her speech last night.

Regarding space weaponization, please, do stay ignorant. Satisfying your white guilt is much more important than substance, integrity and character (I already know experience means squat to you). Wouldn't want to burden you with anything that may inform. Hell, perhaps you'll finally reach enlightenment once China is on top and you're helping(?) build that wonderful infrastructure right here in America!

Don't click! It's just another "tirade"! http://tinyurl.com/6a5czr

I wasn't accepting my own ignorance; I was merely doing something most AICN talkbackers don't do, which is do plenty of research on subjects BEFORE I discuss them. I'm sorry that I am not up to date on one simple issue that you're so nuts about. Great job.

I still haven't defended China, so your third paragraph is pretty much falling on dead ears. Thanks for wasting your own energy on something I never said.

And the "tirade" to which I refer was you, not the evidence. You can re-read what I said if you want to, but if you want to believe I was calling all links you send me "tirades," then by all means continue ignoring what I'm saying and putting other words in its place.

Talk about overreacting! Waaaah waaaah waaaaaaaah...

Amazing how Obama can say one think and you think he says another. That's a brilliant magic trick.

Of course not. You only cried foul against the eeeBUL conglomorants. You know, the folks that flow down lower costs at department stores and pad out our 401Ks.

"which is do plenty of research on subjects BEFORE I discuss them. I'm sorry that I am not up to date on one simple issue that you're so nuts about."

Okay, so "you do plenty of research" except for that one *major* blip.

And "simple issue" does nothing to describe the link I provided. The man is talking about weakening our defenses well below those of our rivals. Try and convince yourself otherwise, but it is not a mere "simple" issue that I alone am "nuts about."

"I still haven't defended China"

Except for that passive aggressive swipe at conglomerates.

"pretty much falling on dead ears."

Duh.

"Thanks for wasting your own energy on something I never said."

If it ain't a feeling, then it never existed (to a liberal). Of course. Just like all those cries of "we were hoodwinked into going to war with Iraq!"

"And the "tirade" to which I refer was you, not the evidence."

Me? The "flames on Phelps" guy?

"if you want to believe I was calling all links you send me "tirades,"

Which number, exactly, one.

"Talk about overreacting! Waaaah waaaah waaaaaaaah..."

This, from Captain Onomatopoeia.

"And who said I was white?"

I ain't neither. But don't believe me. Trust in ye olde AICN search box. Odd, how such an "important" issue (it's irrelevant) is relegated to a follow-up post. Need "street cred" much?

"By the way, China isn't our enemy."

Yet. Please do go ahead and give them an inch. See what they make of it. In your own words, "Only a moron would think that China is not an emerging economic superpower."

"Amazing how Obama can say one think and you think he says another. That's a brilliant magic trick."

It is common sense. From all this mish-mashing of words from others here above ours -- I am amazed at how the words the Obamessiah actually spoke can be apologized for. No matter how you slice it, yes, China has better infrastructure. Yet does the man not know how that end was acheived? And does he (or his true-believers) not understand what it would take to accomplish the same end here? Given his rhetoric on the stump?

Lenny, honestly, I hold no malice against you or others of your ilk. Yet you do sleep with your conscience. "Cheddar Cheese." Enjoy!

I never said anything passive-aggressive, but I guess I cannot control what you think I say, despite the words I used.

I am just as willing to defend people attacking McCain via a misunderstanding of his words as much as I am about Obama, because I will not accept willed stupidity. He never said that he didn't know "how that end was achieved." That is all you, boy-o. As aforementioned, just because he didn't say it doesn't mean squat.

We'll have to agree to disagree, but you cannot possibly tell me what's in my mind, because you honestly haven't asked and are applying your own ideas of what every American liberal is. Nothing is simply black and white...except for the election! Yuk yuk yuk...

Oh, and "waaah waaah waaaaah" isn't an onomatopoeia.

BTW, we're writing here, not "saying" anything. And everything I wrote doesn't equal anything you interpreted either. Nyah, nyah. So where does this get us? Nowhere.

Go ahead and vote for the guy that's going to sell our nation down the river. I'm sure you think it'll feel great. Put all that racism baggage in the rear view mirror, etc. Me? Not voting for either liberal (and, yes, they're both liberal -- your side wins either way). I'm voting Barrr. Now, what were you "saying" about pigeonholing?

Yet, when has anyone voted on their pure beliefs? Nah... they vote for the guy that has a giant D or R next to their name.

In the battle of a Super Left politician and a Moderately Left politician, I personally am going to choose the lesser of two evils.

Confused? I am... and I wrote this! But you libs wouldn't have it any other way.

BTW -- you never did pigeon hole me as a McCain voter. You simply pigeon holed me as a knee-jerk Republican with, well, just about everything you "said" yet mostly "We'll have to agree to disagree, but you cannot possibly tell me what's in my mind, because you honestly haven't asked and are applying your own ideas of what every American liberal is. Nothing is simply black and white...except for the election!"

Now, if you weren't pigeon-holing me as a neocon (not odd on AICN) you certainly were casting me the far-right conservative. And you are wrong.

And, again, where does this get us? Nowhere.

When anything one writes to the contrary is inadmissible, then anything written in response to them is admissible. And vice versa.

Only pigs can wear blue ribbons on their tails...