Conservatives, Critics Blast Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize
Probably the main political impact of the news that the Nobel Committee has pronounced Barack Obama “the one” is that it will enhance his international standing, giving a major boost to his foreign policy agenda, so opponents of that agenda are already hard at work to de-legitimize the Nobel win.
Domestically, it will force a debate over what, precisely, Obama has accomplished. Indeed, the early line from conservatives and other critics on the news, which will have major international reverberations today, is that it proves once again that he’s a showboat who continues to float along on words, not accomplishments, with some calling on him to turn it down. Here’s a quick roundup of early opinion:
John Miller, National Review:
Obama isn’t the first American president to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but he’s the first to win it without having accomplished anything…Obama’s award is simply the projection of wishful thinking.
Mickey Kaus, Slate:
Turn it down! Politely decline. Say he’s honored but he hasn’t had the time yet to accomplish what he wants to accomplish. Result: He gets at least the same amount of glory–and helps solve his narcissism problem and his Fred Armisen (’What’s he done?’) problem, demonstrating that he’s uncomfortable with his reputation as a man overcelebrated for his potential long before he’s started to realize it.
Michael Binyon, the Times of London:
Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.
Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.
Rachel Abrams, The Weekly Standard:
Not A Parody…This is too perfect. Obama could turn it down on the grounds that not all his peace plans have come to fruition yet, but why should he?
Gideon Rachman, the Financial Times:
I am a genuine admirer of Obama. And I am very pleased that George W Bush is no longer president. But I doubt that I am alone in wondering whether this award is slightly premature. It is hard to point to a single place where Obama’s efforts have actually brought about peace — Gaza, Iran, Sri Lanka? The peace prize committee say that he is being rewarded for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy”. But while it is OK to give school children prizes for “effort” — my kids get them all the time — I think international statesmen should probably be held to a higher standard.
And, last but not least, the Taliban:
“We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan.”
It’s gonna be a long day.
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As an Obama supporter I agree it is premature, but if it pisses off the right, especially after the antics of last Friday, I can live with it.
I am a liberal but even I am astounded. What achievement exactly has he ever done to have earned this award? To be perfectly candid, I am speechless.
Nyet Greg. The “lefties” got on the bash-obama wagon long before the wing-nuts. Always trust the left to shoot itself in the foot.
“…Obama’s award is simply the projection of wishful thinking.”
I can’t believe I agree with someone from the National Review, but this is spot on. HOWEVER, this is not Obama’s doing, and he (and we) should view this as a down payment. The president has even more to live up to now, and while the GOPers and the Broders and the NROs of the world are going to continue to harp on this, it has the potential to be a huge bargaining chip on the world stage. The stakes are even higher now. Good luck, sir.
Sheesh
I for one am happy, happy, happy. We have a president who is intelligent, pragmatic and willing to engage not only here at home but on the world stage. Did anyone really expect him to establish world peace already? Please, it is the promise of what is coming and the effort he is willing to put into it for the sake of all of is that is being celebrated.
Can’t everyone be happy for a while and just ignore all the naysayers for a day.
Jeb Bush praises Obama’s efforts on education.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/10/jeb-bush-on-obama-the-guy-is-on-the-right-track.html
all, pls let me know if you come across noteworthy criticism…
Greg:
Probably the main political impact of the news that the Nobel Committee has pronounced Barack Obama “the one” is that it will enhance his international standing and clout, giving a major boost to his foreign policy agenda…
You must be joking. It is not going to “enhance” his international standing. He won simply because of his international standing.
What player on the international stage is going to suddenly give Obama’s words more credence than he did yesterday as a result of this award? Name one.
Oh, and John Dillinger: Co-sign. The right will harp on this, and at first a lot of the country will be on their side, but you can count on them to continue harping on this beyond its shelf life to the point where people who used to agree with them are turned off by their childish vitriol (town halls, tea parties, etc.)
Peter Bienart from the Daily Beast:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-09/obamas-nobel-farce/?cid=hp:mainpromo1
h/t dkos poster
“Much better than the days when news of
some unexpected international recognition for our president meant that somebody threw a shoe at him.”
lmsinca:
Please, it is the promise of what is coming and the effort he is willing to put into it for the sake of all of is that is being celebrated.
But that is not what the prize is supposed to be for. According to Alfred Nobel, the prize should go to “”the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”.
This was awarded for patently political purposes, just as was the Al Gore award.
Obama should be embarrassed. Anyone who cares about the integrity of the award should be embarrassed. The award continues to be devalued by the very committee whose job it is to promote it.
Last week the right said that Obama lost his international prestige because Chicago lost its Olympic bid.
Fast forward a week later and Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
This has been a rollercoaster.
I’m thoroughly enjoying the show, of conservative right so upset at the idea of a sitting American President winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
And it’s Democrats that hate America? LOL!
@Greg:
I’m loving your list of people who’s attacking Obama for this…Conservatives and the Taliban. HAHA! Good start to the day…
I am all for the Right having their noses out of joint, but this only adds more fuel to their side when someone is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having done nothing so far to earn it.
Asked why the prize had been awarded to Mr Obama less than a year after he took office, Nobel committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said: “It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve”.
“It is a clear signal that we want to advocate the same as he has done,” he said
With the world and the country in such turmoil and economic uncertainty, why not celebrate and join the efforts to change not only the rhetoric but the actual dialogue?
Arguing over who is worthy of an award is almost as dumb as giving an award in the first place.
OF COURSE the award is political. All awards are political, including the ones your bratty kids got for participating in karate league or whatever. Even if your kid sucks at karate you better believe some parent was lobbying the Karate Committee to give everybody an award for participation or best gi or some such nonsense.
None of this is Obama’s fault. He’ll show up and eat his rubber chicken just like PTA parent of the year or whatever dumb thing people give away and pretend to care about.The people who debate this stuff on the merits are the true idiots. See Beinart, Peter.
Actually, it’s more dumb to argue over the award than to give it. I give myself the Nobel Prize for muddled commentary.
Gotta agree with Dillinger…
Anything that provokes more apoplectic rage in the morons on the right is a good thing. The more time they spend sputtering, pounding tables, and ranting over the symbolic — the less time they have to get in the way of progress in the real.
If only we could convince the Nobel committee to award Obama a prize on a weekly basis, we could keep Fox occupied with outrage, and let the Democrats focus on cracking blue dog heads — getting good health reform, a good cap and trade bill, new wall street oversight, and a whole host of other initiatives passed.
amk and lmsinca I am so with you.
I am pretty grossed out by the reaction of some who are on the left yelling that Obama does not deserve this. Do people not see that this is about recognizing his activism which is what the prize in for? I also want to point out how weird it is that the US is now a country where nothing good the President does is celebrated or appreciated. Very very sad. It seems to me both bases (left and right) have jumped the shark.
Hilarious.
“Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play,” it said. “Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.”
This comment by the committee magnifies one of the issues conservatives have with Obama. For him to be recognized for an attitude that is against their DNA of “shoot first and ask questions later” will make them extremely nervous.
On the world stage Obama is seen as a leader, in the United States according to conservatives, Obama is divisive and weak. Their perceptions have been beaten down by Obama and they are not willing or able to recognize or admit it.
As I noted on the earlier thread, Gerson’s head is exploding (which won’t be terribly loud or leave much of a mess)… http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/obamas_nobel_for_good_intentio.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Common misconceptions about the Nobel Peace Prize – via AP:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091009/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_nobel_peace_myths
• Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.
• Fact: More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.
I wish people would do their research before they comment so blithely. Whether he “deserves” it or not, they awarded it to him. As I recall, the lovely people at The Corner had some lovely things to say about Al Gore’s win, not to mention Paul Krugman’s win in Economics last year. It’s rather telling.
I understand the award followed on a long debate as to whether it ought to go to Obama or to Dick Cheney.
@lmsinca:
“With the world and the country in such turmoil and economic uncertainty, why not celebrate and join the efforts to change not only the rhetoric but the actual dialogue?”
Because that ‘talking’ stuff is for pu**ies! Start acting like a real American, and be outraged at our President cooling global tensions and winning a Nobel Peace Prize for it. Gosh, you’re such an America-hating librul.
lmsinca:
“Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play,” it said.>/b>
And this has manifested itself…how exactly?
barack obama one was of the best solutions for nobel of peace
some people wonder
where is the peace obama;;;;
we should ask george bush junior, cheney and their horrible team that caused a global chaos
http://www.arelis.gr
it contains the anticapitalistic erotonomicon that caused a serious reactions in greece
not suitable for ages under 18 years old
“It’s all about politics”.
Well, it’s not as if the word “peace” and the word “politics” are not somewhat related.
But more importantly or more accurately, it is the predictably reaction from the right which is “all about politics”. Had Bush been given it after standing on the rubble pile, there would have been enough swoon in place to float Manhattan all the way to Lubbock.
Soctt Cs comments above (and from others) re Gore, Carter and Krugman gaining awards are all about politics. The politically-incorrect people gain stature and this is undesirable.
@lfo: Add my ditto. The reaction from the left has been baffling.
My only interpretation is that this award is a prominent contradiction to the attack from the left that Obama has done “nothing.” That attack has always been a hyperbolic, not realistic one. But, instead of acknowledging what Obama has actually done (e.g., negotiations with Iran, N. Korea, accomplishing his goal of restoring our standing in the world, etc.), it’s easier to just avoid any intellectual or ideological flexibility and maintain an incalcitrant posture toward the President.
Greg et al
Here’s a whole host of comments from Politico. Something there for everyone. Take your pick.
http://www.politico.com/arena/
As an Obama supporter i was puzzled by the new. But i can certainly understand why he won. That said, if the news pisses off conservadicks then I am happy:)
bbq
I know I hate it when I get all librully, I must apologize.
Bernie:
Do you think the award is well deserved? Seriously?
And clearly: This is excellent news for John McCain.
This boggles the mind, there have been troop escalations in Afghanistan and although there has been a thawing of relations abroad and a call for nuclear non-proliferation he hasn’t DONE it yet. It makes sense in terms of holding him to these promises, but it does make the prize seem kind of like a joke.That being said it wasn’t his decision and I don’t think it should be used to criticize him. I don’t even know if I’m against him turning it down. I’m just miffed.
President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He signed the nuclear treaty at the United Nations, which to the international community was huge. He has reversed the presidential mentality that existed under George W. Bush, which was, “Attack first, find proof later, and it’s not important what the rest of the world thinks.”
Obama has changed the tone of diplomacy in the world. He is trying to talk to, not attack, countries like Iran and North Korea. Each time a president uses diplomacy to address people who are not friends of the United States it means that he is in fact preventing the deaths of men and women in our armed forces.
Obama has not only made huge achievements in undoing all the Bush damage, but in laying stones to building a more peaceful world. Some of his countrymen, who focus on what isn’t accomplished yet, may not understand. But the rest of the world understands very well why he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.
@Scott:
“And this has manifested itself…how exactly?”
(copied from Black Alia)
Common misconceptions about the Nobel Peace Prize – via AP:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091009/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_nobel_peace_myths
• Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.
• Fact: More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.
Given that the committee for the Peace Prize are all very experienced in the international scene, they are well aware that Obama has not had the time to accomplish anything yet. So why award the prize to him? BECAUSE HE IS NOT GEORGE W. BUSH! This award is a political slap-down of the Bush II Administration that was so extremely (some would say criminally) inept on the international scene.
Now, can Obama actually implement the substance?
Well, shoot, I was dawdling on the previous thread and made my comment there along with a couple of others dawdlers. One of the mistakes some of you liberals are making is to imagine conservatives are somehow angry or outraged by this. On the contrary, it is a huge embarrassment to Obama and the Nobel Euro-Socialists. We could never have made up something this absurd. It is a PR debacle for Obama. If he were smart, he would turn it down. I stand by my original comment:
“I don’t think any conservative is likely to whine or cry about Obama’s Nobel triumph. On the contrary, it is utterly hilarious and beyond parody.
It’s been evident for some years that the Peace Prize is now reliably awarded by the Euro-socialists as a rebuke to the United States. They give it to someone who embodies anti-Americanism and and more broadly anti-Westernism — to someone who represents the beliefs that America is the chief problem in the world, who rejects American leadership and exceptionalism, who is a champion of their cause of subjecting the U.S. more firmly to the control of their their international socialist and cultural relativist organs of power.
Obama the “World Citizen” indeed represents all these things to the world. He has been apologizing for America and blaming it on the world stage since he started campaigning. In his appalling UN address, he explicitly denounced American exceptionalism and leadership. He has done nothing so far except appease Russia in return for nothing, go weak-kneed on Iran, take a hostile stance toward Israel, and retreat from his campaign position on Afghanistan. As someone recently observed, he is the first “post-American” President. It can’t surprise anyone that anti-Americans like those on the Nobel committee are swooning and fawning over him. They despise American power and leadership and want us curbed and hobbled. He is doing exactly what they want.
I am quite pleased he was awarded the prize, although even I never thought the Euro-socialists would be so obtuse and overzealous as to award it to him now. To most of the American public, I suspect it will be seen as just as ridiculous and just as insulting to them as it is intended to be. I think this will only reinforce the growing sense of buyer’s remorse.
Don’t even liberals find it embarrassing and comical that he was nominated no less than two weeks after he took office and won it eight months into his term?”
@lmsinca:
It’s ok, I’ll let it slide. You should really keep it in check though, or soon you could find yourself beliving in all sorts of crazy nonsense…like global warming, evolution, the moon landing, and that the earth is round.
*shutters at the thought*
Mr. Sargent:
I would like to point out the fact that the cut-off date for nominations for the Peace Prize is February 1st, so the Alleged Hawaiian’s award is for the monumental amount of work in the effort of “Peace” that he accomplished from his Inauguration on January 20th, 2009 to February 1st, 2009.
This is therefore, by any sane and rational standard, a colossal joke of truly cosmic proportions.
I didn’t think it was possible for the Nobel Prize committee of Norwegian politicians to out-do themselves after the Algore debacle, but they have now posted their personal all-time best.
That sound you heard early this morning was St Ronnie’s skull exploding…..
This is an outrage. The Nobel Peace Prize committee should have split the award between President Obama and President George W. Bush.
After, all it was President Bush who laid the ground work for President Obama.
Before one can start to make peace, someone has to first start wars, and create many enemies.
Why can those peace aspiring Europeans never grasp that fundamental truth.
President Bush did an outstanding job of starting wars, and creating global hostility.
He should have been recognized for his work in laying the ground work for the Peace Makers.
Blessed Are The War Makers, for without them The Peace Makers Would Be Out Of Work.
Oh, and I’m by no stretch of the imagination part of the “liberal left” so I don’t think I need to apologize for not being outright grateful that our president won the award. I am honored and 100% agree that he is going in the right direction, but this is the first year of his first term. I believe he is more than capable of following through with or without the prize, and so would have liked to see it rewarded when we were further along in the process. And again, this prize wasn’t rewarded by Obama to Obama so being critical of the Nobel organization is not a criticism of Obama’s diplomatic agenda.
Scott C said:
“Bernie:
Do you think the award is well deserved? Seriously?”
How far do you think you and I could actually get on this conversation, Scott? Your opinions re Gore and Carter stand 179 degrees from mine.
I think this speaks mountains of the far right in this country how they stand alone in this world with their hatred and contempt of this President and cynicism of his message.
@quarterback:
So, lemme make sure I understand. The Mobel committee gave the sitting US President a Nobel Peace Prize because they hate America.
Man, they’re crafty!
And once again, the right takes a moment of what should be national pride and turns it into a hate fest.
How weird that I find myself in partial agreement with Bilgeman on the impact of the prize on Obama, though not the substance of why they awarded it to him. This is gonna be an odd day where I start drinking early.
What has Obama accomplished? With nothing other than my memory…I recall 1) Getting Pakistan to help in the pursuit of Osama 2) Dialogue with North Korea 3) Getting American hostages released from North Korea 4) Somalian pirates 5) Dialogue with European leaders (and, in my view, that is a major accomplishment after the Bush administration). I am sure there are other accomplishments in the past 9 months that I have already forgotten.
It’s official I’m adding qb to my list of “hit me over the head with my keyboard” conservative, and I use the term loosely, friends.
“Don’t even liberals find it embarrassing and comical that he was nominated no less than two weeks after he took office and won it eight months into his term?”
No
@Bileman:
“And this has manifested itself…how exactly?”
(copied from Black Alia)
Common misconceptions about the Nobel Peace Prize – via AP:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091009/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_nobel_peace_myths
• Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.
• Fact: More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.
Paul W, at least it’s Friday so you have another excuse.
Quarterback:
“Don’t even liberals find it embarrassing and comical that he was nominated no less than two weeks after he took office and won it eight months into his term?”
Of course not. Look at them. They’re having joygasms.
Thesse tards will take a great measure of narcissistic satisfaction at somehow being “affirmed” in their ridiculous notions.
This is like crack cocaine to the Liberal mindset. It’s what they’re ALL ABOUT…being “popular” with the “correct” people.
Why do you think Norwegian socialist nanny-state politicians who comprise the committee made this decision?
So that they too could put on “Obama Girl” t-shirts and frolic about in the snow.
One great big self-congratulatory circle-jerk.
Bernie:
Soctt Cs comments above (and from others) re Gore, Carter and Krugman gaining awards are all about politics.
I said nothing about Carter or Krugman. Krugman won the award for economics, not peace. Carter’s award had at least a figleaf of cover, given his humanitarian work (although the chairman of the Nobel committee let the cat out of the bag when he said explicitly at the time that the award should be seen as a rebuke to Bush’s policies).
But Gore cannot be sensibly said to have contributed anything to world peace through his climate alarmism. That award was given on the basis of pure political advocacy, not on the basis of advancing peace in any way. And the committee has now followed suit with Obama, who also cannot be said to have achieved anything to date in the realm of advancing world peace. In what way is the world any more peaceful today than on January 1st, and how is it due to any effort on Obama’s part?
I find nothing wrong with the skepticism. Obama has had a charmed life, and while I admire him, I do think that many things have been given to him simply because of that charm. Regardless of my opinion, congrats to President Obama and let’s hope this encourages peace in the Middle East.
Honestly, it shocks me the depths the international reputation of this country sunk and the joy at FINALLY Americans electing to change course in 2008.
But this is too much. Better to have done this at the end of the term or in 2010 if they couldn’t wait; however given teh emotions after the election I can see how in the euphoria they were determined to promote diplomatic plank the president ran on in his campaign.
That is a major change with world wide reverberations and I think in his comments this morning the president will go a long way towards quieting his critics. He didn’t seek this honor and he can’t reject it; but he can reaffirm his commitment to the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mark Halperin is a jackass. I was watching Morning Joe and he actually pissed me off more than Joe, lol. And that takes some doing.
That’s okay, Imsinca,
I have no particular desire to converse with you, and I for sure don’t care what you think of me.
Hey look, sock puppets, qb & bilge, jerking off each other.
A Sad Sad Day For Aspiring War Makers. Without them, where would the Peace Makers find work. Shame on you Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
This is an outrage. The Nobel Peace Prize committee should have split the award between President Obama and President George W. Bush.
After, all it was President Bush who laid the ground work for President Obama.
Before one can start to make peace, someone has to first start wars, and create many enemies.
Why can those peace aspiring Europeans never grasp that fundamental truth.
President Bush did an outstanding job of starting wars, and creating global hostility.
He should have been recognized for his work in laying the ground work for the Peace Makers.
Blessed Are The War Makers, for without them The Peace Makers Would Be Out Of Work.
muh-muh-muh mike from uh-uh-uh-Arlington:
“And once again, the right takes a moment of what should be national pride and turns it into a hate fest.”
National pride? For what?
No seriously….for WHAT?
It’s a big fat joke, son…and you’re the only dullard who doesn’t get it.
My wife, who’s Irish and I were discussing this. There was always a belief Americans were completely arrogant and completely whacko when it came to religion by trying to go back a few centuries in their beliefs but now that she came here to the U.S., she realizes it was just the Republicans.
Modern day Republicans have become an embarrassment to the U.S. You no longer represent the greatness this country stands for.
Please leave.
Scott C said: “I said nothing about Carter or Krugman”
Thus the bracketed words in my post.
But otherwise, I’m not going to enter an argument with you on this. We’re fundamentally in disagreement on a host of related matters. Bridges won’t materialize.
The Nobel Prize is sometimes given as an incentive, as it was when it was given to David Trimble following the Good Friday Agreement negotiations.
Hopefully, receiving the Prize will nag President Obama’s conscience as he faces the military-industrial complex, and that he’ll embrace peace-making as a strategy, instead of using the war machine.
I love how the seminar callers are out in force today. It’s always “I’m a liberal, but…”.
Quick, name me ONE person other than Obama who has actively been trying to build new relationships with the rest of the world and fostering bonds of peace.
Yeah…that’s what I thought…
Modern day Republicans are an embarrassment bilgeman. You aren’t Christian like. You’re a disgrace to modern societies.
BBQ,
Yes, that’s right. Whether it is that they truly “hate” America or simply despise its leadership, blame it for the world’s troubles, and want it brought to heel by the “world community” (an aburd oxymoron), that is exactly what it means. Obama shares and has openly expressed all those sentiments, and has begun to put them into action.
As someone (approvingly) said above, this can also be seen as a rebuke of George Bush. It should be troubling to any American that this committee of international socialists uses its award to approve and disapprove of America’s electoral choices. At least, it shouldn’t be something you celebrate. If Obama had sense, he would decline the prize.
muh-muh-muh mike from uh-uh-uh Arlington:
“Please leave.”
No.
Come try evicting me.
@ Get Real:
I guess Hillary Clinton and Condi Rice don’t fit your bill of “fostering bonds of peace”? How sad.
Bilgeman, I don’t get the stutter thing. No really, I don’t.
Let me be honest for a minute here. What is already happening here (and throughout the political/news universe) in America is more than a little distasteful and worrisome. You guys are tearing yourselves apart.
These are some pretty scary words from the Committee. It’s the 21st. Century and we finally have a President who recognizes the need to move into it and embrace it. You can agree or disagree with policies, but a little appreciation of the recognition would be apropos.
“For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world’s leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama’s appeal that “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.”
If Obama was really smart, he would turn the prize down now, say he was honored to be considered, but would rather be judged in 10 or 20 years on the results he hopes to achieve over the next 7 years. Really bad leadership to take it now.
In fact, I think this actually makes life more difficult for him. Outside of euro-academic circles, I think he is increasingly perceived outside the US as weak. Trying to live up to this will not help.
Just consider Putin, Iran, the Chinese, Al Quaeda, Hamas, etc. etc. I’m sure they will be lining up to cooperate.
Peace in our time.
@mike from Arlington:
What does your hatred of religion have to do with this post? Can’t you just be happy and not gloat? I thought you were the bigger, more intelligent, more politically correct, more accepting, more culturally diverse party of understanding? Or does that only apply to things you like?
Are you suggesting I stutter because this web site doesn’t have an edit function and I had to rely on typing a sentence twice and make corrections in it?
Is this really what you’re on about?
Petty and pathetic. Just like the modern day Republican party.
Jackie, I’m Roman Catholic.
I don’t hate Religion nor do I hate God.
I have a respect for other religions also.
Americans unfortunately have perversed it into something sinister.
Love the wingnut trolls here blabbering away. This must have come as a brutal kick in the nuts for them.
Enjoy you MF’ers.
And once again, the
rightleft takes a moment of what should be national pride and turns it into a hate fest.Fixed it for ya.
# Bilgeman | September 12th, 2009 at 11:52 am
End the illegal occupation of Confederate Land and begone from us. We are not of the same nation, and judging from the slurs posted and allowed here yesterday, nor should we be. They would then be free to sneer their contempt at us to their heart’s content from within the borders of whatever lands that remain to them.
…………………….
You have renounced your American Citizenship. By your own standards, that makes you a foreigner, and that means you have no right to make any comments about the United States of America.
In fact, you are now an Illegal Alien, so you better not try to use any of the USA social services, or show up at an emergency room for treatment. Turn in your social security card, because only legal residents are allowed to have them.
quarterback:
” It should be troubling to any American that this committee of international socialists uses its award to approve and disapprove of America’s electoral choices. At least, it shouldn’t be something you celebrate.”
Hah…fat chance.
Look at muh-muh-muh mike from uh-uh-uh Arlington’s stutterings.
There is no tyrant that won’t have his bboots licked by American Liberals, so long as he affirms them in their conceits against conservative Americans.
They have no loyalty to anything other than their own egos.
I’m not going to post further today. Frankly, I find what is going on so pathological that I just don’t have the desire. But I wanted to toss in Josh Marhall’s comment…
“This is an odd award. You’d expect it to come later in Obama’s presidency and tied to some particular event or accomplishment. But the unmistakable message of the award is one of the consequences of a period in which the most powerful country in the world, the ‘hyper-power’ as the French have it, became the focus of destabilization and in real if limited ways lawlessness. A harsh judgment, yes. But a dark period. And Obama has begun, if fitfully and very imperfectly to many of his supporters, to steer the ship of state in a different direction. If that seems like a meager accomplishment to many of the usual Washington types it’s a profound reflection of their own enablement of the Bush era and how compromised they are by it, how much they perpetuated the belief that it was ‘normal history’ rather than dark aberration.”
@msmolly
P.S. See FDL, for example
The American right fundamentalists and even the Catholics on the far right are turning religion into a hate fest.
It’s a turn off and is most definitely a reason for the exodus happening here in the U.S. from our churches.
It’s a shame. Religion could be something so much greater with its ability to build helping communities but instead its’ been evangelized into something sinister.
Liam:
Hi…I missed you, too.
@ Jackie Rose
Is that a freakin joke? What the hell have either of those people done aside from promulgate/vote for a disastrous invasion of Iraq and the murder of thousands of our troops?
If that means PEACE to you, then God help you.
Michael Steele weighs in, revives “celebrity” meme:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/michael-steele-on-nobel-what-has-president-obama-actually-accomplished/
g
This strikes a serious blow to the pretige of the Nobel prize. I bet the majority of past winners are turning in their graves at the absolute absurdity of awarding this prize to a man that has done so little, good or bad, to change anything thus far as president. Ridiculous.
Bernie:
But otherwise, I’m not going to enter an argument with you on this.
That’s fine. But, while you have taken your pot shots at conservative commentators over this, you have notably not explicitly endorsed the decision. Hence my question. Do you really think it was earned and deserved?
A simple yes or no will do, and I will not press you for further explanation.
Now back to reality.
The Prize is awarded each year. If it were not to go to President Obama, then who should it have been given to, and why?
The Peace Prize is often given as much to does who are aspiring to reduce conflict, as it is to those who have ended conflict.
Who stood out as having done something that fit either of those two conditions, and has not been fully honored for their work?
So, some of you are being pretty immature. It seems you thought you were electing a super hero who was going to make everything all right for you with one big “KAPOW!” But, he hasn’t done it already! What good is he? He doesn’t deserve the award!
Didn’t you see super heroes leave the stage with Santa?
Even though I don’t totally agree with everything he says and does, at least once a day I give thanks to my fellow voters for putting into the White House someone who is willing in the face of relentless, inane, even life-threatening hostility to set the most constructive and progressive agenda that in my half-century I have witnessed. It’s appalling how quickly those who purport to be on the left display amnesia of just how dangerous, corrupt and toxic the leadership of this country had become, and how monumental the pile of problems left behind are.
Getting Obama elected was not the hard part. There is plenty left to do for the rest of all of our lives combined, not just for the first nine months of one person’s Presidency.
I seem to recall candidate Obama maturely and realistically saying the same thing President Obama says over and over: “I need your help.” Did you miss that?
What have you done today to make something better? He is giving you and I the space and opportunity to do just that.
Constructive criticism is always in order. But this constant, lazy, self-preening hostility from the left that Obama has not moved mountains is not.
To paraphrase Joe Hill: “Don’t *****. Organize.
steele must be melting with envy. Love it when the wingnut repugs get their collective panties in a bunch.
edit:
Now back to reality.
The Prize is awarded each year. If it were not to go to President Obama, then who should it have been given to, and why?
The Peace Prize is often given as much to those who are aspiring to reduce conflict, as it is to those who have ended conflict.
Who stood out as having done something that fit either of those two conditions, and has not been fully honored for their work?
Who cares what the right thinks? This is awesome.
Obama won the Nobel – wow.
Lots of opinions, but none really count. What makes you think you can judge what the Nobel committee decided. As far as the Republicans go, STFU nobody cares what you ignorant redneck liars think! 8 years of ignorant idiots in control was enough, look what ya did to the economy!
Mike,
You and Gasbag are two of the most hateful and vicious commenters on this board, and you both claim religion is on your side. If there is a hate-fest, you are prime initiators.
Also, you are wildly out of touch with church demographics. Churches representing liberal theology and associated with liberal political outlooks have been in decline for years. Those representing conservative theology and generally associated with conservative political outlooks have grown and continue to grow. They aren’t declining at all.
I am shocked by all the comments saying ‘What has Obama done?’. I do not live in the USA and it is plain to me what he has done. Both tangible and intangible achievements. The statement by the Nobel committee gives you enough clues to the motivation for the awark – I will not repeat them. Perhaps one of the best examples is the way he appeals to our better nature. Someone with more time will probably put together a review of his impact. However it seems that every achievement will be ignored or considered something to degrade. Be proud.
So that they too could put on “Obama Girl” t-shirts and frolic about in the snow.
One great big self-congratulatory circle-jerk.
After all, real men only circle jerk over war criminal torturers like Cheney!
@Get Real:
They tried and continue to try in Hillary’s case. But I guess that doesn’t count.
qb, I take it gasbag is bilgepump right?
And, I’ve read numerous articles on the declines of those considering themselves church goers. There is a decline and it’s a shame as I said. Maybe if they were to focus on being Christ like and not hateful, then they wouldn’t continue to turn off the newer generations that aren’t interested in the political fights that often time overwhelm political discussions.
I am shocked by all the comments saying ‘What has Obama done?’
I am not. I also am puzzled by this award. I have read online that the committee was unanimous in its vote and that the decision came with ease, but I don’t understand why. When Wilson worked to create the League of Nations I can see why he was awarded the Peace Prize, and likewise when Roosevelt negotiated an end to the war between Russia and Japan, but from my perspective Obama has simply been himself.
He gives terrific speeches.
Other than that all he’s done is return the USA to its historic norm with regards to foreign policy.
You and Gasbag are two of the most hateful and vicious commenters on this board
And you pine to torture.
Regarding the complaints the award was “premature”:
Was the 2007 award “mature”? Climate change is still with us.
Was the 2004 award “mature”? Iran is still a human rights nightmare
Was the 2001 award for Kofi Annan “mature”?
Was the award for Kim Dae Jung “mature”? If it were, where’s the reconciliation between North and South Korea?
Was the reward for Hume and Trimble “mature” in 1998? (Thankfully, Northern Ireland has, indeed, come a long way since then).
Was the 1994 award “mature”? Arafa, Rabin, and Peres still haven’t brought peace to The Palestine and Israel.
Was the award to Mandela and de Klerk “mature” in 1993?
I could go on and on and on. A great number of the Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded to “works in progress”. 2009 was one of those.
In any case better than awarding the prize to one of the people responsible for the illegal bombing of a neutral Cambodia. Look up “Nobel Peace Prize 1973″.
Since its inception, the Nobel Prize has been as much an instrument by the governing body to encourage social, political and/or economic changes that benefit mankind as a grand way to honor those whose past achievements have benefited humanity in a significant way. By awarding this prize to President Obama just as he is about to undertake one of the the most ambitious and sweeping political, economic, and social agendas in American history, the Nobel Committee has essentially told the whole world that they like the direction in which Obama intends to take America and world, and have endorsed that direction in a Big Way.
If you have any other explanation that makes sense more sense, let’s hear it…
Once upon a time bankers were given goldenhand shakes for failure. That has all changed and now politicians who have not achieved anything are given nobel peace prizes. We can all live happily ever after. Not!
muh-muh-muh Mike:
“The American right fundamentalists and even the Catholics on the far right are turning religion into a hate fest.”
You claim to be a Catholic, but I wonder if you relly mean what you say when you recite the Nicene Creed.
(You DO know what the Nicene Creed IS, right?)
I bet that you would deny the Creed right here and now, in this very forum, because your fellow Lefties would think you a boob for claiming that you actually believe in it.
“It’s a turn off and is most definitely a reason for the exodus happening here in the U.S. from our churches.”
You obviously haven’t been to Mass much here in the Archdiocese of Arlington. We just established a new Parish, St. Veronica’s two or three years ago, not three miles from St. Joseph’s in Herndon, and St.Timothy’s in Greenbriar…and St. Paul Chung is not two miles down the road from St. Tim’s.
We’re packin’ ‘em in faster than we can build the churches to accommodate them.
The Archdiocese of Arlington has more seminarians than it can handle, since we take seminarians from other dioceses who have been rejected by their own Voctaions Committees.
Of course, the Arlington Archdiocese is one of the most conservative in the entire nation…and that’s what makes the difference. None of the touchie-feelie Liberation Theology here, thanks very much.
You want that, then I recommend attending Mass in the Baltimore or Richmond dioceses, where you will find plenty of empty pews.
“It’s a shame. Religion could be something so much greater with its ability to build helping communities but instead its’ been evangelized into something sinister.”
You’re not a Catholic, you’re not even a good old bad “cafeteria” Catholic…you’ve compromised yourself into being a Poser.
Recite the Nicene Creed and state that you believe it to be the literal truth right here, so that your Lefty buddies can mock you for your “superstitious ignorance”.
Double-dog dare you.
PCatine:
You have done a good job demonstrating why no one should really take Nobel Peace prize to be all that meaningful.
As I woke up to begin my typical day starting with reviewing the morning news, I learned of Obama’s winning the Nobel Prize for Peace. I was first amused by my findings only to realize it was true.
I have searched through my information sources in attempt to find any sources that indicate Lord Barry has done anything to deserve such a prize. Alas, I have found nothing!
I believe this will be hailed as one of the most embarrassing moments, and there will be many, for the Obama administration. His head is buried so deep in the sand it will take decades, hold it…hold it, my telepromptor has gone down, it’s back up again, where was I, oh yes, it will take decades for all the sand to drain out of his huge ears!!
Way to go Barry. I wish I could claim such a prize for doing absolutely nothing!
Not sure if all you cool-aid drinkers are aware of this but, the application to be considered for the prize was submitted 2 weeks after the past Presidential election…2 weeks. How could he have accomplished anything in 2 weeks. The prize, which by the way has been diminished because of this, was based on previous accomplishments for peace when Barry was a mere “community organizer”.
There are many more people more deserving this award than Barrack Hussein Obama.
@Bilgeman | October 9th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Yet another American who thinks Christianity is just a tribal identity.
This won’t end well. Ever heard of a jinx?? He really hasn’t done much, and while he has grand plans, he doesn’t particularly deserve this. If he doesn’t accomplish much he will always be looked down upon for accepting this award.
Folks,
I have asked on here , if not Obama, then who should have received it, and why?
So far, those who keep ranting on and on about Obama not deserving it, have not posted a single name, of who they think the award should have been given too.
That tells me, that this is just another Right Wing Hate Obama reaction. The Nobel Committee has to award the prize to someone.
If the objectors were really upset, because they think that Obama has not earned the award, then how come they are not naming those they think should have received it.
It is a great honor for America, for having elected the winner of The Nobel Peace Prize, so why do Republicans Hate America.
PCatine:
“Was the award to Mandela and de Klerk “mature” in 1993?”
Glad you brought that one up.
Nelson Mandela was locked up in prison for over twenty years for HIS cause.
Obama wasn’t president for twenty DAYS when they decided he deserved to stand in the company of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
This is one of God’s little jokes on prideful people.
I think many Americans might be confused by the award, even good progressive minds – because they simply can not grasp how sad and misdirected the whole of even mainstream America has begun. Obama has begun the process of trying to get a massive tanker from crashing into the intellectual rocks – to achieve this a tanker must turn 1 degree, miles before destination – hopefully he has achieved that one degree – and soon it may be possible to see intelligent debate in the USA. The tone is changing and humanity desparately hopes the American people can get a grip on reality. The Nobel peace prize is saying – yes we understand what you are trying to do and can already see it’s ramications.
hey, wingnut half-wits. freepersville is that way, you morans.
Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go “to the person who shall have DONE THE MOST or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.” I believe he was Not the right choice AS HE JUST HAD SPOKEN GOOD, NOT DONE ANYTHING SERIOUS look at problems 1 . ISRAEL Philistine dispute , he even didnt uttered a word when gaza was attacked. 2. AFGAN WAR STILL ON .. 3.where are exemptions if he really what to support islamic countries spcly poor ones in africa. 4. how he is preventing other countries from american genrtd recession 5 ABOVE HE STILL FUNDING TERROR BASE CAMP OF WORLD “PAKISTAN” knowing that fund would b used against indian peace. THIS is the second biggest mistake ever committed by noble committee, the BIGEST EVER WAS NOT Giving “PEACE” prize to GANDHJI. COMPARE PEOPLE LIKE NELSON MANDELA , MOTHER TERSA Contribution to mr.obamas who is a master orater, have empathy of being black… now this incident shows he has GREAT PR TOO…….
Again, They had to award it to someone.
The Prize is awarded each year. If it were not to go to President Obama, then who should it have been given to, and why?
The Peace Prize is often given as much to those who are aspiring to reduce conflict, as it is to those who have ended conflict.
Who stood out as having done something that fit either of those two conditions, and has not been fully honored for their work?
Hmm, our country has changed quite a bit. At one time, Americans would be jumping up and down for joy and pride, that the leader of our country won such a great prize.
Instead, we have some of our fellow Americans pulling a fellow American’s achievements down instead of beaming with pride to the world.
Have we devolved this far as a country. Wishing for failure and celebrating with glee when America doesn’t get the Olympics? Are we that petty a people?
Has the desire for political power loss become such an obsession that we wish now destruction, harm and failure on our fellow Americans?
You say him winning the Nobel prize is astounding, but for me it is the behavior of my fellow Americans that astounds me more.
muh-muh-muh Mike:
“The Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
As a Catholic, muh-muh-muh Mike believes this to be literally true.
Right, muh-muh-muh-Mike?
Affirm or Deny, Mike…is that a rooster crowing?
# Bilgeman | September 12th, 2009 at 11:52 am
End the illegal occupation of Confederate Land and begone from us. We are not of the same nation, and judging from the slurs posted and allowed here yesterday, nor should we be. They would then be free to sneer their contempt at us to their heart’s content from within the borders of whatever lands that remain to them.
…………………….
You have renounced your American Citizenship. By your own standards, that makes you a foreigner, and that means you have no right to make any comments about the United States of America.
In fact, you are now an Illegal Alien, so you better not try to use any of the USA social services, or show up at an emergency room for treatment. Turn in your social security card, because only legal residents are allowed to have them.
Begone you foreign hater of America.
One more thing I forgot was that he has actually sent more troops to afghanistan whereas person receiving such an award should have tried getting his army out of someone else’s nation(as nobel said “the abolition or reduction of standing armies”)
Fvcking illiterate and unlettered trolls.
I’m sure no one will acknowledge this post, but let’s make sure we all UNDERSTAND what the Nobel Peace Prize actually is.
Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which recognize completed scientific or literary accomplishment, the Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to persons or organizations that are in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace. As some such processes have failed to create lasting peace, some Peace Prizes appear questionable in hindsight. For example, the awards given to Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Lê Ðức Thọ, and Henry Kissinger were particularly controversial and criticized; the Kissinger-Thọ award prompted two dissenting Committee members to resign.[9]
What has Obama done to deserve the award? Ended torture as a tool used by the CIA and US military. Rolled back CIA secret prisons. Brought US intelligence and war efforts under the rule of law. And, Republican objections to the contrary, he has had success on the international diplomacy front.
Liam –
Obviously the mockers and skeptics are confused about the concept of diplomacy. It would appear that the conservative definition involves the notion that “we demand, others obey, or else, because America is Number One and don’t you all forget it! We have nuclear weapons! America deign to listen to anyone else? Pfffbt!”
But engaging in dialogue and actually listening to others – having a conversation, a debate, exchanging ideas – and being humble while simultaneously promoting one’s position. That is statesmanship, and that is diplomacy. It’s a novel approach after decades of “cowboy diplomacy”, and it’s why Obama was awarded the Nobel.
You won’t get a substantive answer from the peanut gallery.
Yes, he was nominated when he was only 10 days into his term, but they didn’t actually vote until recently.
The Taliban, Hamas, and The Republicans are all outraged that America has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
This is a Great Honor For America.
Why Do Republicans Hate America As Much As The Terrorists Do!
I want President Obama to coldly, calculatedly and classily handle this situation. Politely decline the award, because it’s very premature. Say we’ve got work to do, because we do. Slip in a very subtle dig at all the right wingers who are once again behaving unpatriotically and need to be taken down a notch.
President Obama, you do those things and it will be worth far more to you and the country than accepting the award.
What has Obama done to deserve the award? Ended torture as a tool used by the CIA and US military. Rolled back CIA secret prisons. Brought US intelligence and war efforts under the rule of law. And, Republican objections to the contrary, he has had success on the international diplomacy front.
That is, returned the US to its historic norms.
The detractors are talking nonsense. Done nothing concrete for world peace? Obama engineered the election of an American president who openly advocated listening, patience, dialog, respect, compromise, and hope, and an American president who is a black man. This achievement is not concrete? This achievement is not a devastating blow to the forces of ignorance, fear, and arrogance? Get real.
Notice that they have not come up with a single name, of who they think should have received it!
I have asked over and over, and they have not offered up one name. All they cant rant about is Obama should not have been given it. Well then who? Crickets!
The Taliban, Hamas, and The Republicans are all outraged that America has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
This is a Great Honor For America.
Why Do Republicans Hate America As Much As The Terrorists Do!
It’s simple. A year ago, then candidate Barack Obama asked “Got Hope?” and this year the world, via the Nobel committee, breathes a long needed sigh of relief and says to our President “YES!”. Hope is a great gift. So is gratitude. A simple “thank you” is all that’s required.
Even Kissinger won a Nobel Peace Prize, and you can’t be more of a war monger than he. Obama has been a war president, continuing the occupation in Iraq, accelerating the bombing and death in Afghanistan, rattling the sabers in Iran, and protecting US torturers from prosecution. This further diminishes the prize and elevates hypocrisy.
The smart move by President Obama would be to thank the Nobel Committee and decline the award–saying he wants to actually acheive progress before being honored. That would be gracious, humble and smart politics (both domestic and international).
My guess is he does not do that.
First award for rhetoric only! How low can they go? Even Jimmy Carter had actually done something before he got the award.
For a domestic audience, President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize is arguably awkward. Concern-troll Mickey Kaus is already editorializing that he should turn it down, in a concession that, as Morrissey once crooned, he just hasn’t earned it yet. And I don’t know.
But turning it down would be a slap in the face to an international community that is showing, in the most generous way possible, that it wants the U.S. back as a leading component of the global order. The issue is not Barack Obama. It’s what the president represents internationally: a symbol of an America that is willing, once again, to drive the international system forward, together, toward the humane positive-sum goals of peace and disarmament. The fact that Obama hasn’t gotten the planet there misses the point entirely. It’s that he’s beginning, slowly, to take the world again down the path.
Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, observes that the award is a “recognition of President Obama’s work to strengthen international cooperation. It validates the president’s approach to tough trans-national challenges such as global warming and the spread of nuclear arms. And it celebrates his steady efforts to improve America’s standing around the world.”
The criticism coming from right wing republicans is a clear reflection of how badly they want Obama to fail! The can’t bear to see him, or America under him, succeed in any way, which says a lot for their patriotism and perhaps in some cases even racism. There is no doubt that Obama deserves this honor even if it is in small part due to the huge relief that the whole world felt after Americans finally came to their senses and overwhelmingly voted for a sensible and pragmatic person like Obama to succeed the most hated warmongering President and Vice President in the history of America, who as you recall, were originally appointed (not elected) to the White House by the Supreme Court who overturned the wishes of the majority of Americans who voted for Gore.
Forgive me, I couldn’t make it through all the vitriol, but I have a question. What if all that President Obama actually eventually does for the cause of peace, despite the present world-wide perception of renewed world peace love and harmony under his watch, ends up making the world a less safe place? Yes, what if everyone around the world thinks we Americans aren’t the jackasses we were the last eight years, and they keep loving us more and more, but the bad guys still think we are the same jackassess we were the last eight years, and they keep blowing up their countrymen and adding to their arsenals. Will he then be deserving of the Peace Prize.
Can anyone help convince me that Obama’s admirable intentions and eventual actions will make the Taliban, al Qaeda, Mahmoud, and Kim Jong-il play nice (not to mention those pesky Russians, Hamas, etc…)
Does it ever occur to the right wingers that if everybody else dislikes your policies, those policies just might be wrong? No, of course not. They’re right and everyone else is a liberal, commie, socialist, appeaser who wants America to fail. No wonder self-identified Republicans only make up 20% of the electorate.
I love the arrogance of the American press and most of the commentators. My parents taught me, when someone gave me something, to say “thank you”. Not to question their judgment or argue that someone else deserved it more. What an arrogant people we are.
I’m pleased that the Nobel Peace Committee chose to honor our President in this way. Period.
What most Americans don’t realize is that as the only remaining superpower, we make the rest of the world very nervous. The previous administration caused our friends and allies a lot of sleepless nights worrying about us going overboard with our military. Never in our history have we had an administration openly promote the use of torture, disregard any semblance of rule of law when dealing with enemy combatants and some would say fabricate evidence as an excuse to invade a sovereign nation. It was the turnabout in these policies or the perceived turnabout that caused the rest of the world to breathe a sigh of relief and I believe that’s what led to Obama getting the peace prize. He has engaged friend and foe in a more open dialogue to explore resolution to conflicts using diplomacy as the primary tool and the military option as a last resort, as it should be. He won’t always be successful, but he’s traveling the right path and that, in the eyes of the prize committee, earned him the award.
Conservatives aren’t pissed off John. They are laughing their heads off. The joke is on Obama, and the partisan Norwegians who gave him the prize! LOL! It just shows how everyone kisses the guy’s butt. Media, ect. It is so obvious! He hasn’t done jack for this!
Angela…this prize is NOT a gift…it is a award. The fact that Obama was “awarded” the prize is a slap in the face of every single person who deserved it more than him. Which is pretty much everyone that was nominated…
President Obama’s diplomatic aspirations to bring the world together will ultimately save American lives and treasure while restoring our reputation on the world stage. It is an honor to be recognized for these efforts. The attempt of the “party of no” to belittle this honor only makes them seem juvenile and petty once again.
Bev…so…what efforts? What has he actually done for world peace? I doesnt matter if everyone hates bush, or loves obama…that has nothing to do with peace and does not mean obama deserves this prize…at all! The only people who are seeming juvenile and petty are the individuals who awarded Obama this prize just because they wanted to kiss his butt.
BTW…even Obama agrees he doesn’t deserve the award. He should have refused it.
The voting for this award took plays 11 days into Obama’s presidency…it speaks for itself.
I’d rather have a President who is so loved by the majority of Americans and people around the world, to the extent that they “kiss the guys butt”, rather than a President that make all Americans hated around the world to the extent that most Americans and the rest of humankind would love to see him undergo the same water boarding, that they (Bush & Dick) refused to categorize as Torture!!!! Come to think of it, they were named after very appropriate body parts.
“partisan Norwegians who gave him the prize! LOL!”
Alfred Nobel was from Sweden not Norway, and it is the Swedes that award the prize…….but then why does your ignorance not surprise me? ROTFLMAO
Liam, If you are still out there, per your request, here is just one name and there are many more, my friend.
This today from Nancy Gibbs of Time.com: “Compare this to Greg Mortenson, nominated for the prize by some members of Congress, who the bookies gave 20-to-1 odds of winning. Son of a missionary, a former army Medic and mountaineer, he has made it his mission to build schools for girls in places where opium dealers and tribal warlords kill people for trying. His Central Asia Institute has built more than 130 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan — a mission which has, along the way, inspired millions of people to view the protection and education of girls as a key to peace and prosperity and progress.”
Me | October 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
The voting for this award took plays 11 days into Obama’s presidency…it speaks for itself.
________________________
The nomination took place then, not the selection. So much disinformation, so little time.
Hooray Obama for bringing us peace! By the time he is through with this country, we will be so bankrupt from all of his spending, we’ll be just a little poor 3rd world nation that no one will waste their time on. War will be the least of our problems!
Would someone who accepted an award for Peace send 40000 more troops anywhere? With (secondarily) an extra $1.4 million in his pocket? Guess if the troops are sent they will be “peacekeepers”.
Big ******* deal,the NPP has been diminshed as an honor years ago.
Yassar Arafat won it as well, we should all be so proud.
Obama and the other [b]prized Jew hater[/b] Carter are all now part of a grest fraternity, congrats dolts, congrats.
People, the cutoff for this award was in February…12 whole days after Obama took office.
The only thing more laughable than Obama getting this award (which has become an absolute joke), are the socialists who are so steeped in their worship of this demigog that their only concern is thinking that they’re somehow getting back at conservatives.
This isn’t a left or right issue, you morons! Any semi-intelligent American should be outraged that this do-nothing, promise everything narcissist has accomplished NOTHING to earn this once prestigious award.
What did he do in those 12 days? Partied, attended meetings, released federal funding for abortions in other countries. ALL HAIL THE PEACEMAKER!
Need I mention that his approval rating nationwide is now 29%? Didn’t think so…
“partisan Norwegians who gave him the prize! LOL!”
Alfred Nobel was from Sweden not Norway, and it is the Swedes that award the prize…….but then why does your ignorance not surprise me? ROTFLMAO
Keep laughing moron, Norway and Sweden were united under singular rule at the time….they SHARE IT, of course a libtard is just another Libtard. LOL!
The question is: Does Obama deserves The Nobel Peace Prize more then Ghandi?
President Obama campaigned on, and is following through with, the pledge to end the occupation of Iraq begun by his predecessor.
_Dear_ little Karen, you totally forget that at least _75%_ of “Obama’s debt” was run up by _$hrubco_ for their off-the-books war spending. The Republicans burned down the house with a massive misfired fireworks display, and now they’re b!tching because their successor has to borrow to rebuild it.
Obama winning the nobel peace prize only stands to prove to me that drug use is more prevelant than ever. People responsible for making this
Obama didn’t award HIMSELF the Nobel Peace Prize so everyone can calm down.
Everyone should be able to agree to this: Whether or not Obama really deserves this prize, we will all see in the future. We don’t know what the future holds, so who are we to judge?
“partisan Norwegians who gave him the prize! LOL!”
Alfred Nobel was from Sweden not Norway, and it is the Swedes that award the prize…….but then why does your ignorance not surprise me? ROTFLMAO
When Nobel created his prize Norway was a part of Sweden. A few years later when they split the prize responsibilities were split between them as well.
Norway awards the Peace Prize; the remainder are awarded by Sweden.
Yassar Arafat won it as well, we should all be so proud.
Obama and the other [b]prized Jew hater[/b] Carter are all now part of a grest fraternity, congrats dolts, congrats.
Along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, who won simultaneously with Arafat.
Of course, mentioning that changes your soured perspective a bit.
The attempt of the “party of no” to belittle this honor only makes them seem juvenile and petty once again.
That’s because the majority of what’s left of the GOP is juvenile and petty.
I didn’t know people still read Mickey Kaus.
Congratulations President Obama!
And for the critics who’ve posted about Obama having not deserved the Nobel, well Obama has done much, much more in the 10 months he has been President than most people do in a lifetime.
He has given us Hope. He has made a lot of progress with the Muslim world. He has ended torture and is working on shutting down Gitmo. He will accomplish so much more in the rest of his term and after. He has begun talks with Iran. The list goes on and on. Just because the MSM doesn’t report on his accomplishments doesn’t mean that they didn’t or won’t happen.
Inspiring the Nation and the World is a huge accomplishment alone. Can you think of any other modern President who has done that (not counting JFK?) And don’t say Reagan. Iran-Contra. Arms smuggling. That list goes on and on too.
Wow, so many stupid, jealous people here…I am sure Obama had no idea he was even nominated…But what has he done? He has restored America’s standing in the world as a beacon of fairness and justice. In his brief tenure as president he has patched up simmering tensions with Russia by removing planned missiles from their border, diffused arguments between the French and Chinese at the world leaders summit, went to the Middle East and spoke in Egypt about peace, helped get North Korea to come to the table for talks,opened dialog with Iran, persuaded the world community (even China and Russia) to take a harder line against Iran (via sanctions), made the right decision in the Somali pirate affair…The only people criticizing this decision are Hamas, The Taliban and Conservative Republicans… Wow..Like minded people spew like minded comments…..
You guys & grils are nuts but it’s fun listening to the repug trying to get some credibility.
Did he deserve it no, but who did? Wanna know who did? people who put there own live’s on the line every day for other’s. Am i pissed that Obama won it yes but not because i dont support him im pissed because there 1,000’s of other people who deserve it far more then he does. Call me what you like but the truth is we all have our heads in the wrong place when a man gets something for nothing while others give there lives to protect people they never seen. You all talk about the UNITED states of america, i dont see that wanna know what i see a bunch of high school kids calling each other name’s because one dont aggree with the other. The left does it the right does it. In closing i dont support obama, i do not support bush, bush got us into something we didnt need to be in, and obama has yet to go though with campiagn promises to fix that, instead he worrys with health care and iran (that is none of our bussiness just another bush), and for this he get’s the nobel peace prize.
You have got to be kidding me. Give it to someone that deserves it. Not a man that has as of yet broken every promise he has made to the American people. Who hasn’t lived up to all his big plans of “CHANGE”. I have seen none of that and until I do I will never stand behind that man especially NOT for the Nobel Peace Prize. He should turn it down and then I may, MAY, have some respect for the man.
What a farce, he was in office what did they say, 11 days and received the nomination? He got the award for how he ran for office, not anything he did while he was in it. I am a man without a party right now so I am a neutral person, this is just plainidiocy!!!
Here’s my semi-kinda-moderate opinion. Barack Obama was not at all deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Between his Inauguration (Jan 20, 2009) and the nomination deadline for the NPP (Feb 1, 2009), Barack Obama accomplished ABSOLUTELY nothing that fostered peace or even the intention of peace.
I want whever runs the government of our country to succeed. As far as winning this international recognition I cannot find reason for it to go to Barack Obama. It was given based on potential vs. accomplishments. There are others he may even find more deserving. I think he was as surprised as the rest of us. Maybe in a few years after some experience under his belt, but not yet.
Wanting to invest in gold? Nobel Peace prizes are selling for $300 dollars and ounce.
Won’t Obama have to pay out of pocket to retain almost any small memento from this award? Won’t any cash award the become the property of the GAO or treasury? See “Code of Federal Regulations”. Because the award is directly related to his position it is especially discouraged. Weren’t the other presidential recipients out of office when they were recognized?
You’ve got to admit – a guy that has accomplished nothing in his life and getting the Nobel Peace Prize is pretty funny. It’s Just another political bubble about to burst. No substance – just hot air. Now they give him the Nobel prize. What was it the left said about Palin and lipstick and pigs? Read more at: http://conservativetm.blogspot.com/2009/10/32-bubble.html
Someone above asked for names more deserving to win the prize….check out any military cemetery and read the names on the tombstones.You will agree, they are more deserving!!
Arlington is full of more deserved souls!
Obama has great lip service. I didn’t know the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for this talent. He needs to quit trying to be a movie star idol, and act like a president.
Let’s be realistic. According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize should be awarded “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
Obviously the Peace Prize committee can do whatever they want, but of the 205 candidates, there were many who have actually “done” something to promote peace.
Being able to give a good speech does not equate to “doing” anything and words are quickly forgotten. Like many others, I believe it was severely premature and giving this prestigious award to someone on the mere hope that they’ll be able to deliver on their promises really diminishes what it stands for.
Obama has proven a very charismic speaker who talks of hopes of peace. It would appear that this God ordained man is all talk and done nothing. I believe the noble peace prize should be awarded to a person who has accomplish something for peace which Obama has not. It would appear that the committee choose him for pure political reasons because he ended Bushs administration and is the first black president of the USA.
When I first found out that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1909, my initial reaction was that it was inappropriate for him to receive the price while waging war in Afghanistan. Then I read a news report that said that Obama has created a “new climate” in the international arena and made “extraordinary efforts to strengthen democracy and cooperation among the peoples of the world.
After reading this, I concluded that the Nobel Committee wanted to praise Obama for, among other things, taking a measured stance in the removal of Zelaya from the presidency of Nicaragua.
They also wanted to demonstrate that the international community holds him in very high regard with the hope that the prestige of the award will strengthen his political position at home.
They also did this in awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Martin Luther King.
These were both good moves, while the moves to award the Peace Prize to Kissinger and Arafat turned out to be utterly stupid as history went on. (I guess this only proves that in trying to influence the course of history for the better, you win some and you lose some!)
I myself hold Obama in very high regard. He is obviously very intelligent and has a good grasp of domestic and foreign affairs and political processes both at home and abroad. With a little luck, he may eventually turn out to be one of our greatest presidents!
(I am also ecstatically happy that I have lived long enough to see an African American occupy the presidency! I really hope that eventually Obama reaches the rank of Franklin Roosevelt!)
At first I thought that the Nobel Committee was off their rocker. My first impulse was that he hadn’t done enough yet to deserve it. But, he defeated McCain/Palin and ended Republican rule. Forget re-ordering the foreign policy of the US back to sanity, the call for the elimination of nuclear weapons, sparking the uprisings in Iran by diminishing the specter of external threat that conservatives like Ahmadinejad and his cronies need to keep their sheep in line, reached out to the Muslim world to try and calm the waters so that we can all move forward etc. He kicked the Republicans out of the White house and everyone can breath easier, which when you can do that for a few billion people, deserves the Peace prize. The world now knows how bad it can be to have the Republicans in power, the guy who kicked them out does actually rank up there with Gandhi.
Who is the idiot to award such a sacred award to this idiot who had nothing done yet but just only talking a lot. Sir Nobel may come out and slash the neck of current Nobel committee due to the insult he receives because of this.
When I saw this in the news today, I thought it was a joke–something from saturday night live. I am rather disgusted that it is truth, and that Obama accepted the award. I just watched this video the other day: http://www.hulu.com/watch/99970/saturday-night-live-ryan-reynolds
I’m sure there is a lot of exaggeration here, but I am still very fed up with a president that only knows how to give good speeches without accomplishing anything of real worth even with domestic problems.
Perhaps the peace prize should have gone to the “American People” for finally establishing a foundation of civil rights by voting for a black president.
The Nobel Prize Committee set a new standard for groups like the Motion Picture Academy, in that an Oscar no longer requires the winner to give a great performance, but intend to give one. The Nobel Prize was once given to people who do something great; while today just saying one wants to do something great is enough to win. The Nobel Prize Committee is trying to shape future reality by recognizing intent to do something they admire, such as equalizing America with the third world. The Oscars could be awarded to actors who never perform, but tell others they would like to. Obama, then, should also be given an Oscar too. See also THE CHANGING FACE OF DEMOCRATS on Amazon and http://www.claysamerica.com.
my first thought was that maybe they’re making up for Chicago not getting the Olympics
Clay, I like the way you put that, I’m going to check out your site next!!!
President Obama should donate his Nobel Peace Prize funds to the U.S. government to pay for his two Scandanavian trips: 1. Copenhagen for his failing bid to push the Olympic games there and 2. To pick up Nobel Peace Prize funds. Each trip cost the U.S. taxpayer about $ 920,000 for Air Force One, security etc.
And there is the issue of how the Nobel foundation funds invested in Swedish armament industry and in weapons of mass destruction. Sweden is the worlds largest exporter of arms (per capita), followed by Israel.
1. Originally the directive from Alfred Nobel was to place the funds in real estate or similar safe investments, however since 1953 the foundation was allowed by the Swedish government to invest in shares, which stopped the hither to depletion of the funds.
2. The funds are at the moment approx US$ 500 million in total (it shrunk approx 20% last year).
3. The management is not done by the foundation itself, it is split across several (about ten) portfolios managed by different asset managers in Sweden and other countri es, the spread across countries and by asset type can be found here: http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/finan-manag.html
4. As late as 2005, there is an explicit admission from the foundation that there are NO ethical guidelines issued to the asset managers:
http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/article256458.ece?service=articlePrint – in Norwegian)
5.There have been several ’scandals’ surrounding the asset management, presumably deriving from the lack of ethical guidelines from the Nobel foundation
- In 1998, the Observer made an investigation into the investments and found that many of the world largest arms manufactureres (including Boeing, British Aerospace, GKN och Smiths Industries) were in the Nobel foundation portfolios
- in 2005, a Norwegian organization ‘Norwatch’ looked specifically into the portfolio handled by a US firm group called T Rowe Price who in their general portfolios have manufacturers of both cluster bombs and atomic bombs (Lockheed Martin). The Nobel foundation did not exclude the possibility that their funds were invested in such shares
6. it is probable that such investments are held in the the Bofor group, which has a high level chemical plant in Ifshahan, Iran, which manufactures TNT, and quite likely sophisticated chemical precursors used to help create nuclear enriched uranium.
However, dynamite and related products was the original invention and=2 0business which gave Alfred Nobel the means to set up the prize in the first place, and he was the owner of Bofors from 1894-96, during which he “had the key role in reshaping the iron manufacturer to a modern cannon manufacturer (…)” : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors
No doubt the prestige of the prize to a large degree derives from the large sums involved, but is therefore also stained by the way the money was and is procured.
But the prestige also derives from Alfred Nobels testamentary wish to promote peace and international understanding.
The paradox the funds for the Nobel Prize are invested and retained in funds related to armament productions and weapons of mass destruction and many people are unaware of this situation.
Remember this is the same bunch of idiots who gave this prize to a terrorist leader(Arafat)a failed president(carter)and habitiual liar(gore)so why should we be surprised they might soon consiter FIDEL CASTRO
I think he deserved this award so far, whole world became more optimistic after his election and couple of international visits…
..check notable tributes and quotes on Barack Obama from famous peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/quotes-on/barack-obama