My favorite liberal blogger,
Joel Mathis makes a good observation today at his blog, Cup O' Joel. He notes that Barack Obama--in what may be the sincere pining of a serious sports fan, but is also a seriously dumb move for a President hoping to persuade voters in a swing state next go-around--has pronounced upon the great and nagging LeBron question. The President wants LeBron James in Chicago. I bet he does! But, as Mathis notes, Ohioans have yet another reason to wonder how much Obama wants their votes.
BTW: About Joel Mathis, I am serious. Take some time to listen to his joint podcasts with Ben Boychuk over at
Infinite Monkeys--Ben is always outstanding, but it is Joel's astute and informed questioning of the conservatives they interview that, in my opinion, always brings out the best in them . . . or not, as the case may be.)
I don't know, I figure everyone sort of knows that all NBA teams and the fans in other cities want Lebron. Maybe he will leave and maybe he won't. Obama is almost never hurt by a sincere sports answer, and while Cleveland is solid blue the folks there aren't likely to swing even if Lebron ends up in Chicago. At this point I think Cleveland fans have to embrace the power of diminished expectations. Hope for very little when it comes to the browns and the cavs, and things will be ok since suprises will come to the upside.
Cleveland will certainly vote blue in 2012, but perhaps they might provide Obama with a slogan: "No Hope, No Change."
Agree with John Lewis.
Now ... if Obama were to go beyond that one statement and actively work to get James to Chicago, that's a whole different matter.