Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

[bush_cheney2004]

.....Guess we'll see. It is a pretty sorry record of Republican and Democratic presidents who have gone down in assassination or who were the subject of serious attempts on their life. Some are bigger lightening rods than others. I'd say Obama fits in that category even more than Clinton did.

President Bush was safe because the next person in line was Dick Cheney. But seriously, all US presidents and most heads of state face such threats as part of the job. It's a ticket to immortality in the history books.

As for the Nobel, I agree that Obama is probably just as surprised as anyone else, and does not welcome the distraction. Last weekend, even the SNL crew took potshots at just how much Obama has not done to date. IIRC, Teddy Roosevelt received a Nobel for working with Japan and Russia, Wilson for the League of Nations, and Carter for a very expensive peace deal between Egypt and Israel.

I'll bet Clinton wishes he had one......

[myata]

The committee (whoever it's made of) did a great disservice to Obama and his projects. I wonder if some kind of epidemics hit the entire committe right at this crucial moment? Or has it been a plot (to destroy credibity of Obama and Nobel peace prize, both in one shot)??

Edited October 9, 2009 by myata

[Argus]

Dumb. Obama got it for being a US President that most people in Europe don't hate.

Someone described it as being given an A for effort before he'd even finished taking the test.

[Guest American Woman]

This isn't the first time the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to someone for attempting to make peace, and it seems as in the past awards, the award to Obama was to help ensure he stays on the path to peace.

It apparently helped in the first instance:

The 1996 award of the peace prize to Cardinal Carlos Belo and politician Jose Ramos Horta — both prominent campaigners for East Timorese independence from Indonesia — put a spotlight on their cause and helped create the conditions that led to Indonesia’s pullout from the country in 1999. Mr. Horta, at the time, was serving as the spokesman for Fretilin, an armed group that waged a 20-year insurgency for independence.

Not so much in the second:

The controversial awarding of the 1994 prize to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzahk Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat was less successful. Though the three men eventually signed the Oslo Accords that seemed to have the two nations on a path toward peace, that effort eventually broke down. All three men could be said to have blood on their hands from that conflict, and Mr. Arafat died without achieving his dream of an independent Palestinian state. Mr. Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by an Israeli furious that he was negotiating land concessions.

But evidently there is a hope that this award will help bring results:

So what is the Nobel committee after in this case? Gro Holm, the senior commentator on foreign affairs at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp., says that the prize committee was probably trying both to ratify Obama’s immense international popularity and put pressure on him to deliver on the promise of greater international peace and stability.

The international politics behind Obama’s Nobel Peace prize/ The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Barack Obama appears to be an effort to spur on, rather than reward, peacemaking.

[August1991]

As for the Nobel, I agree that Obama is probably just as surprised as anyone else, and does not welcome the distraction. Last weekend, even the SNL crew took potshots at just how much Obama has not done to date. IIRC, Teddy Roosevelt received a Nobel for working with Japan and Russia, Wilson for the League of Nations, and Carter for a very expensive peace deal between Egypt and Israel.

I agree that this is an unwanted distraction for Obama. Europeans can't vote in US elections.

Look how Obama spinned this:

"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," he said in the White House Rose Garden.

Europeans don't seem to understand that Obama is president of the US, not the president of the world - and moreover, in the US, Obama is just another politician.

Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland rejected suggestions from journalists that Obama was getting the prize too early. "We hope this can contribute a little bit to enhance what he is trying to do," he told a news conference.

Reuters

I am reminded of The Guardian newspaper inviting Europeans to write to American voters in a county in Pennsylvania in 2004 to convince them to vote against Bush. On election day, Bush's total in the county was higher in 2004 than 2000.

At this stage, this prize is not politically helpful to Obama.

-----

I'm also still surprised that a committee of Norwegians has the audacity to promote international cooperation when Norway is the largest country in Europe that is not a member of the European Union. While they joyfully preach the benefits of cooperation to others in the world, it seems to me that Norwegians have a pragmatic view of cooperation when it comes to their own affairs.

Edited October 10, 2009 by August1991

[Guest American Woman]

- and moreover, in the US, Obama is just another politician.

Can't wait to see bush_cheney's response to this.

No, he's not "just another politician." He's the President. The Commander in Chief.

Edited October 10, 2009 by American Woman

[xul]

This isn't the first time the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to someone for attempting to make peace.

If I was a Russian in 1990s, I would wish the communist oaf boss had 10% of the perspicacity you possess....

In any case, I'm wondering how Obama will deal with the bait?

[Sir Bandelot]

Once everyone has calmed down a little we can look at this in a different light. I think the award was not given for his accomplishments so far (obviously) but more because of his inspiration. His fancy speeches in Europe and Cairo, especially where he is talking about a new beginning between muslims and the United States, and his clear statements that the US is committed to eliminating all nuclear weapons.

Ok, so its just a bunch of words. Point is, it's about the ideas it puts in other peoples heads. Since Obama has the attention of pretty much the whole world, does this inspire people to learn to put aside some of their differences, and treat each other with more love and respect? This would be at the grass roots level, not money collected on a stage by a superstar.

---

Next problem:

Obama has a big decision to make, in the next few days or weeks. "To surge, or not to surge". Will this award affect that decision? I think it could. Man is awarded the Nobel peace prize, then declares an escalation in the war in Afghanistan? Being in Obamas shoes right now, just became a tougher place to be.

I'm also still surprised that a committee of Norwegians has the audacity to promote international cooperation when Norway is the largest country in Europe that is not a member of the European Union. While they joyfully preach the benefits of cooperation to others in the world, it seems to me that Norwegians have a pragmatic view of cooperation when it comes to their own affairs.

They still have the right to self-determination. Cooperation does not mean having to give up self-determination. In this case, its about economics, whether they want to join the EU.

[Guest American Woman]

.... I'm wondering how Obama will deal with the bait?

I don't think it's going to result in his doing anything differently than he otherwise would.

[Moonlight Graham]

It must be noted that nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize ended only 10 days after Obama was inaugurated as President.

What a joke, really. Talk is cheap, actions speak much louder than words...no moreso than in politics. And no moreso in politics than during campaigns.

[bush_cheney2004]

Once everyone has calmed down a little we can look at this in a different light. I think the award was not given for his accomplishments so far (obviously) but more because of his inspiration. His fancy speeches in Europe and Cairo, especially where he is talking about a new beginning between muslims and the United States, and his clear statements that the US is committed to eliminating all nuclear weapons.

OK...but the former will always be in doubt and the latter (elimination of nukes) is the biggest crock of all. The United States of America is comitted to the elimination of other nation's nukes, not all of its own. Obama will come and go without that matter being realized...ever.

Ok, so its just a bunch of words. Point is, it's about the ideas it puts in other peoples heads. Since Obama has the attention of pretty much the whole world, does this inspire people to learn to put aside some of their differences, and treat each other with more love and respect? This would be at the grass roots level, not money collected on a stage by a superstar.

Not even close...YouTube does a better job of that than Obama ever will.

Obama has a big decision to make, in the next few days or weeks. "To surge, or not to surge". Will this award affect that decision? I think it could. Man is awarded the Nobel peace prize, then declares an escalation in the war in Afghanistan? Being in Obamas shoes right now, just became a tougher place to be.

I think Obama needs to adopt the tried and true propoganda used in Canada...as in "Peacekeeping" (with JDAMs, Predators, and Excalibur 155mm artillery rounds). That way he gets to keep the Nobel.

[August1991]

Best Obama-Nobel Jokes

Barack Obama’s Teleprompter: Big Guy says Bill Clinton called and was gracious in defeat; offered to fly Kanye West over 4 the Nobel awards ceremony.

Erick Erickson: Obama is becoming Jimmy Carter faster than Jimmy Carter became Jimmy Carter.

Ana Marie Cox: Apparently Nobel prizes now being awarded to anyone who is not George Bush.

Headline over AP analysis by White House correspondent Jennifer Loven: He Won, But For What?

Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review: I want to buy the world a coke.

Ezra Klein: Obama also awarded Nobel prize in chemistry. "He's just got great chemistry," says Nobel Committee.

Adam Bromberg, CRC: Nobel Prize Committee must be staffed by out of work comedy writers.

Kristina Hernandez, CRC: It was the Beer Summit that put Obama over the edge.

ABC News

[jbg]

It wouldn't change the fact that the man is trying to makes changes for the better. Read how the award wording reads.

www.nobel.org.

Wrong site. Here's the right one (link).

This is description site gives:

The Nobel Peace Prize

Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, shared the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 with Frédéric Passy, a leading international pacifist of the time. In addition to humanitarian efforts and peace movements, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control.

How were qualifications jimmied to get Barack Hussein Obama in the door?

[jbg]

I still worry that he won't survive his first term in office.

I would never advocate a violent end, as incompetent and feckless as he may be. Some in the right-wing press are doing just that and it's very disturbing.

[xul]

I don't think it's going to result in his doing anything differently than he otherwise would.

I agree with you, because he is an American.

I feel most European doesn't understand American at all becasue they have never been trying to understand American. I guess they just think American culture is a duplication of their own culture so there is no need to do more study on it.

[xul]

It must be noted that nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize ended only 10 days after Obama was inaugurated as President.

Really?

Maybe the Nobel Peace Prize was originally for Bush. Maybe the old men of the committee locked themselves in the meeting room several months checking old newspapers and found out no one in the world could match Bush's exploit of forcing the value of democracy and freedom to whole world. They were so dedicate on their job that when they made the decision they even didn't realize the president had been changed.

The spokesman was called in and the committee told him they had chosen American president, then the spokesman went out and told reporters that the chosen one was Obama.....

[jbg]

I guess they just think American culture is a duplication of their own culture so there is no need to do more study on it.

Either that or they consider us to be a bunch of cowboy-hat wearing yahoos. But then again many Canadians think that of us.

[weareone]

"Did you know that today 27,000 children will die of preventable diseases such as diarrhea, measles, and malnutrition? That's the same as if an airplane full of children crashed every 16 minutes, killing everyone onboard." - Aug. 2005 edition of 'Warcry', official magazine of the Salvation Army"

I have a hard time with children dieing of as you say, "preventable" diseases. I also have a hard time dealing with people who have children indisriminately. We have been shoveling money into Africa for over 60 years and is not better for the Africans but it is better for their dictatorship regimes. We need to stop propping up these African dictatorships.

Edited October 18, 2009 by weareone

[jbg]

I also have a hard time dealing with people who have children indisriminately.

So true.

We have been shoveling money into Africa for over 60 years and is not better for the Africans but it is better for their dictatorship regimes. We need to stop propping up these African dictatorships.

Also true.

How do I reconcnile your sensible posts with some of your nonesense concerning Israel and Gaza?

[bleeding heart]

I don't normally bump threads...but in this case, many people were wondering if the prize would seem defensible in a few years or not. A few years is now up.

It's an illogical way to look at it, but ok, let's take it at face value:

.....Ummmm.....Nope. Fail.

[WWWTT]

I don't normally bump threads...but in this case, many people were wondering if the prize would seem defensible in a few years or not. A few years is now up.

It's an illogical way to look at it, but ok, let's take it at face value:

.....Ummmm.....Nope. Fail.

Bumping the old threads is a great read at who was way off and who had their eye on the ball!

The drone strike king doesn't deserve the prize!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

I predict Obama once being removed from the office of President in 2012 will assume duties as the Director-General of the United Nations and first global omnipotent plenipotentiary.

I still worry that he won't survive his first term in office.

Here's a couple examples with no support. No support, very little to stand on other than opinion. No surprise they were off.

Now, I'm not saying that you can predict the future, but c'mon! What's the opinion being based on?

WWWTT

[eyeball]

I don't normally bump threads...but in this case, many people were wondering if the prize would seem defensible in a few years or not. A few years is now up.

It's an illogical way to look at it, but ok, let's take it at face value:

.....Ummmm.....Nope. Fail.

The award only served to devalue the prize, to little more than what you'd expect from a box of Cracker Jacks.

[WWWTT]

Obama just inherited the wars. Regardless of that, I don't see how Obama deserves this prize.

It must be noted that nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize ended only 10 days after Obama was inaugurated as President.

What a joke, really. Talk is cheap, actions speak much louder than words...no moreso than in politics. And no moreso in politics than during campaigns.

Now here's the opposite.

More detail and specific reasoning. Maybe not the most, but at least something to support an opinion.

The opinions from these two posters can still be argued with, and I'm not saying if I do or not agree, but I can at least understand/respect their position.

WWWTT

[Moonlight Graham]

Now here's the opposite.

More detail and specific reasoning. Maybe not the most, but at least something to support an opinion.

The opinions from these two posters can still be argued with, and I'm not saying if I do or not agree, but I can at least understand/respect their position.

WWWTT

Ya it is interesting to look back on our old opinions.

I still stand by what I said. Actions speak louder than words, and Obama did nothing but talk (or even propagandize) his way to a Nobel Prize. He should have been judged on his actions in the years since first being inaugurated rather than his uplifting campaign speeches.

Would he still get the prize now? Probably not.