This is what we get after 8 years of bullying the rest of the world ! It came down to politics and the perception of America in the international community. I for one, am glad we lost our olympic bid. We now have a better idea of how America is seen by the rest of the world. Instead of being 9-1-1 to the international community,let's focus on re-building America instead of spending American money abroad. Let's re-build New Orleans, not Bagdad. While I sypathyze with the problems of the third world, our nation is crumbling from beneath us. Fix your own house before telling your neighbors how to fix theirs.

The IOC has voted and Chicago has lost. While the plans and failed strategy will be disssected, the jury has spoken and there is no appeal. Agree or disagree with whether a Chicago games was a good idea, it is clear that all involved woked tirelessly to make a Chicago Olympics happen. Thank you to the Mayor, Pat Ryan, Lori Healy and so many others that did their best to make Chicago an even more world class city than it already is. Lets take this same enthusuiasm and keep attacking the problems that plague Chicago-that will be an Olympian effort.

The IOC has voted and Chicago has lost. While the plans and failed strategy will be disssected, the jury has spoken and there is no appeal. Agree or disagree with whether a Chicago games was a good idea, it is clear that all involved woked tirelessly to make a Chicago Olympics happen. Thank you to the Mayor, Pat Ryan, Lori Healy and so many others that did their best to make Chicago an even more world class city than it already is. Lets take this same enthusuiasm and keep attacking the problems that plague Chicago-that will be an Olympian effort.

In this case, the just and equitable decision was made. Rio's victory did not bring shame to Chicago. Our city's effort was laudable and the people of this great city should be proud. It really just seemed to me that South America was deserving of an opportunity. This is especially true given how the IOC and the world has overlooked South American bids, so many times before. The economics and social conditions in these countries will only improve with investment and attention. The Olympics will help to bring these issues to the forefront much like Beijing brought focus to the issues in China.

If we want to start changing perceptions about our country, it needs to start right here in the States. We need to stop bickering about our political differences. Especially when neither side has anything constructive to offer or bring to the table. Leave political affiliations aside and the debate in this country will be better for it.

We should not make this about politics. It is just about equity. You want America to be viewed differently in the eyes of the rest of the world? Learn to be gracious in defeat.

I think it's okay for the "little guy" to get their time in the sun. Bravo Rio. Chicagoans wish you the best of Luck. See you in 2016.

I for one am glad we didn't get the Olympics. The reality was that we had a large grouping of well-to-do business owners who were salivating over the potential business boom of they Olympics. That and a Mayor -or rather "king" as he sometimes acts- determined to bring the games here for his own good, taxpayers be darned. I for one am glad someone had the guts to put our mayor in his place and say NO to his financial schemes.

But really, why didn't we win? I think it had more to do with the people's opinions and the lousy pipe-dream financial plan that was questionable at best, and a complete raiding of the taxpayers' wallets at worst.

Until the day comes that Daley or any of his relatives have no way to benefit financially from the Olympics, the corruption is gone not just from Chicago, but Illinois as a whole, and the overwhelming public opinion of numerous sources was for the games, we shouldn't have them here.

mrmick, I am assuming that you are young. The rest of the world has hated us for many, many decades. Bush 43 might have exacerbated the animosity, but it has always been there. We have what they all want. We need to make sure that we can help the world without diminishing our standard of living too much. If we submit and give all away, we can help no one including ourselves. Rio won fair and square, there are no unusual undertones to the decision. Deal with it.