December 17, 2009 5:42 PM

Obama Hopes for Better Result in Copenhagen

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
White House
(AP)
If President Obama comes home empty-handed from the U.N. conference on climate change, it'll be the second time in three months he's been cut down in Copenhagen.

It was there on October 6th that he suffered a humiliating defeat when his appeal to the International Olympic Committee fell on deaf ears and Chicago's bid to host the Summer Games in 2016 was decidedly rejected.

"I urge you to choose Chicago," the president said that day in Copenhagen. "I urge you to choose America."

The appeal was ignored and Chicago was the first of the final four would-be host cities to be eliminated.

Eleven weeks later he'll be in Copenhagen again in search of an international agreement to counter advances in global warming.

"It's essential that all countries do what is necessary to reach a strong operational agreement that will confront the threat of climate change while serving as a stepping-stone to a legally binding treaty," Mr. Obama said about the conference.

But no one expects a legally binding treaty - and a "strong operational agreement" may be beyond reach as well.

Nevertheless, Mr. Obama still thinks it's worth his time and effort to travel 8,100 miles to spend 10 hours in the Danish capital.

He'll get a chance to address the scores of other world leaders attending the end of the conference. It'll be another high-stakes moment for him on the world stage - one where he can make his case about confronting the threats posed by global warming.

If nothing else, the leaders will pose for a class photo they can take home as a souvenir instead of a treaty.

A senior administration official calls the Copenhagen conference the "most complex negotiation" Mr. Obama has faced since taking office. And if he comes home without a deal, he'll keep trying, says the official.

Just like his approach to health care legislation.

(CBS)
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by ObamaSupporter December 18, 2009 6:59 AM EST
Are you serious? In what way do you people want this man to work. PRESIDENT Obama is working with the scraps he was left with, I don't see anybody talking about that. Furthermore, I feel as though this trip is beneficial to what he's proposing and hey, if he has to throw around a few tax dollars do it, im pretty sure someone out there pays MORE taxes than you whose not complaining. Yes, some of the money should be going towards green research and solutions instead of trips but you also need to take into account that politics is a PROCESS that doesnt happen overnight, or 10-11 months for that matter. In conclusion, I feel that this trip is a stepping stone towards one less thing we have to worry about.

P.S.-I didnt see any of you good people who are criticizing donate millions towards anything so shut it =p. Why dont you run for office next time. I'll wait.....
Reply to this comment
by fedupwithlies2 December 18, 2009 3:57 AM EST
Hussien Obama II, here you are running off again away form the US. Doesn't these people know that you are not even popular with your own Country? You just don't stop for a breath, you are so busy running up the bill for the citizens of the United States so you can make it go bankrupt from all the debt you have heaped on in a short time.
You are trying to bankrupt our country so the people will be left penniless and without so you can take over the gov. with your Communism and Marxist government. Obama is a deceitful man and manipulator of the people's mind. He is NOT a friend of the poor, black or any United States citizen.Obama only looks after Obama.
This visit to Copenhagen is just another way to run up more millions of dollars for the taxpayers. He is running our country into the ground; it was his INTENTION all along.Are we going to let him?NO
Reply to this comment
by MADDAT52 December 18, 2009 12:05 AM EST
"France 24 TV" Copenhagen gathering=46,000 tons of carbon= city of 150,000 for one full year. Double standards for the elite?? I think so, we are being set up to get stuck with the check!!
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by talltimber41 December 17, 2009 10:20 PM EST
BO's agenda is in disarray what with Copenhagen, health care, stimulus fiasco and now ear marks that he vowed to veto. This guy is in over his head. Howard Dean has more credibility/predictability and that is scary.
Reply to this comment
by wfw3536 December 17, 2009 9:30 PM EST
I am sure Obama will agree to standards that only the US and a few other countries have to follow. This is a joke unless China and India make written commitments that can be verified. Between the two of them they are the biggest contributors. And then it is like we can afford to come up with another 100 billion when we are talking about being in debt over 12 billion in the next few years. This administration is really out of touch.
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by jschmidt27 December 17, 2009 9:22 PM EST
President Chavez brought the house down.

When he said the process in Copenhagen was ?not democratic, it is not inclusive, but isn?t that the reality of our world, the world is really and imperial dictatorship?down with imperial dictatorships? he got a rousing round of applause.

When he said there was a ?silent and terrible ghost in the room? and that ghost was called capitalism, the applause was deafening.

But then he wound up to his grand conclusion ? 20 minutes after his 5 minute speaking time was supposed to have ended and after quoting everyone from Karl Marx to Jesus Christ - ?our revolution seeks to help all people?socialism, the other ghost that is probably wandering around this room, that?s the way to save the planet, capitalism is the road to hell....let?s fight against capitalism and make it obey us.? He won a standing ovation. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/putting_our_economy_in_the_hands_of_chavez_fans

So it is all about sticking it to the devloped world and less about the climate.
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji December 17, 2009 9:13 PM EST
I'm a nickel and dime investor. I am on the look=out for promising green tech companies. So far several of my investments are turning out very nicely. I want "mo'money" and green tech investments will be the next Google.
Obama's pledge $ 100 billion dollars is chump change compared to green tech, an industry with a multi-trillion dollar pay-off. I wish Obama Godspeed. Only a fool would want Obama to fail.
Reply to this comment
by Mokkie57 December 17, 2009 7:04 PM EST
The world wants the US to lead the way. Then lets lead the way. Lets start putting research dollars into industrial hemp. Lets start talking about bio mass energy. Lets talk about using hemp for paper instead of trees. Lets talk using hemp for clothing, food, building materials, fuel yes diesel and ethanol. If we dont look at this issue How will we know if the world is being scammed or not?
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji December 17, 2009 9:06 PM EST
Thank you Mokkie57 for saying what I wanted to say. Besides I am a nickel and dime investor looking for promising green tech stocks. Several of the companies and funds I've invested in are doing quite well and I want "mo'money." Green technology is an emerging multi-trillion dollar market. Only a fool would want Obama to fail.
by ubrew12 December 17, 2009 6:24 PM EST
Glad to hear he's 'hoping' for a better outcome. 'Hope' seems to be his only attribute.
Reply to this comment
by sunday42 December 18, 2009 10:49 AM EST
Right on! The truly sad thing is the American People fell for his hope/change bull crap. On the other hand there are many, many of who see the lie for what it is. Clarity from the fog of hope and change. We can now not only smell the dung, we can see it.
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