Yesterday, Ramesh wrote over on the Corner that President Obama is going to Copenhagen because he knows that Chicago has already won the right to host the 2016 summer Olympic games. That makes sense as a matter of political momentum, and let’s assume it to be the case (we shall soon see). If the case, that presents Obama less a political coup than a political headache.

Fast-forward to December: Obama has to go to the Kyoto II talks in Copenhagen. He might be able to claim victory in securing the Olympics for his hometown, having jetted over while the reasonable voter might have expected him to be distracted by threats from Iranian nuclear ambitions and his public agonizing on the Afghanistan troop request, but how will it then appear for him to disregard what Obama called a “critical,” must-have agreement necessary to save the planet for future generations?

Sure, he can mutter about how it has been agreed that the key steps have been moved into 2010 to ensure an even more splendid treaty. But that will come off as small beer while the enviros are wailing and gnashing their teeth during their annual Carnivale.

Of course, if he comes home empty-handed on his Olympics jaunt, his refusal to fly over to secure Kyoto II things will look even worse.