Obama won Nobel Peace Prize..

[Rev_D21]

Jimmy Carter won it once too. . . it seems like only idiots ever win it.

Bush should have 100's of them then going by that logic.

[rjdmmfl1]

I see there's not a lot of intelligent comments in here, but i will try and respond...

President Obama himself said that he didn't deserve this yet, and I think its clear that he has not done anything to be offered this... clearly came out of the blue...

however, if you read the 5 panelists statements on why they chose him, i do understand where they are coming from....

the world sees the USA in a much better light due to Obama's diplomacy efforts, and his efforts to deter nuclear proliferation, and improve US relations with the muslim world... i know many of you could probably care less that America was so vilified within the muslim world, but how soon you forget that we invaded a country, killed their citizens, overthrew their government, and left the country in a mess simply becuase Bush wanted to repay an old debt for hussain "trying to kill his dad", and to try and control the oil in that region... but I digress...

clearly, the prize can be viewed as premature, however there have been three other Americans off the top of my head that have won the Nobel Peace Prize simply for the peaceful talks aorund the world without any real changes having yet been made...

Linus Pauling (2 x Nobel proze winner)Al GoreDr. Martin Luther king, Jr.

its about the potential and momentum to change the world sometimes with that committee, not the actual achievement of those goals...

also, I did part of my thesis studies under Nobel Laureatte Dr. Peter Agre at Johns Hopkins and I can assure you, while the science prizes are more factually and achievemnt based, they are still VERY, VERY political as well!

[Rev_D21]

Someone had to have nominated him before February before he even had a chance to hang pictures on the office walls. What achievements did he have for fixing the world back in FEB??? Just being Obama isn't good enough to win for me.

http://nobelprize.org/nominati....html



Nominations due in by Feb, read it. I'm a liberal and even I think this is just Obama bandwagon BS.

[heliochrome85]

i have to agree with Dr. Feelgood. The nobels are very very political. What Obama did, was he gave the world confidence in the US again. In just a few weeks, he restored the prestige in the position of the Presidency. Say what you want about his personal poltics, or his ideas for policy, what remains true under all criticism is that the guy carrys himself in a manner that is befitting an American president and is able to speak in a way to inspire billions.

Im proud to be an American. I just wish more people who call them selves patriots, were.

[UpStar]

Congrats to our President (Mr.Obama) for winning such an award.

[RCA]

I see there's not a lot of intelligent comments in here, but i will try and respond...

President Obama himself .....

This is why I feel the general consensus of those who have been posting on this thread is that the Peace Prize doesn't have as much merit as the others. I don't think people on here were blaming Obama.

[WDRacing]

The man hasn't restored anyones feelings for the US...

He has done ZERO to earn it.

All it proves is, like everything else these days, its all corrupt lies and propaganda. It's actually embarrasing IMO. It screams "hey look at me, I have golden lips and speak well, so I got this HUGE award". If anything the rest of the world is most likely thinking the same thing I am. Peace Prize? What did he do to get that? If anything, he's a floundering dumba$$ and he's getting my brothers killed by the dozens while he sits on his decision to act in Afganistan.

This arrogant prick needs to take the "Prize" over and show the soldiers dying on a daily basis that yes...this is what they sacrificed themselves for.

Impeachment is the only fittting end for this POTUS.

[telcoman]

I see there's not a lot of intelligent comments in here, but i will try and respond...

Thats because most of us have left and some others have been banned.

Excellent post and I agree 100 % with you.

Telcoman

[heliochrome85]

and yet another enlightening post from WDR.

i like apt your ron paul quote is.

Truth is treason in a kingdom of lies. Wasnt that what we were called when we tried to tell the truth back during the bush admin? Bush wasnt impeached. No, he was heralded as having kept our country safe for 8 years. well, 7, but who is counting 9/11.

there are people in this world who will hate obama for reasons passing understanding, and will never give the guy a chance. you sir are one of them.

what would it take, short of resigning from office, for you to warm up to him?

what would it take for you to give the man the respect he deserves? i suspect i already know the answer to both those questions.

[dusred]

What Obama did, was he gave the world confidence in the US again.

Indeed going around the world and apologizing for how arrogant we are restores confidence.

Im proud to be an American. I just wish more people who call them selves patriots, were.

I'm a patriot and THAT is why I don't support Obama.

Now that he has gotten the prize do you think he will support our commanders in Afghanistan by sending them more troops? Or do you think he will just leave our outnumbered army there to perish under the forces of Taliban?

[WDRacing]

and yet another enlightening post from WDR.

i like apt your ron paul quote is.

Truth is treason in a kingdom of lies. Wasn't that what we were called when we tried to tell the truth back during the bush admin? Bush wasnt impeached. No, he was heralded as having kept our country safe for 8 years. well, 7, but who is counting 9/11.

there are people in this world who will hate obama for reasons passing understanding, and will never give the guy a chance. you sir are one of them.

what would it take, short of resigning from office, for you to warm up to him?

what would it take for you to give the man the respect he deserves? i suspect i already know the answer to both those questions.

I openly admit I have made some obnoxious posts in the past. With that said...

I feel the way I do for very specific reasons. Non of which makes me prejudice or an anti Obamite. Please read the following before passing judgement on this particular topic.

As prior service I will always be biased towards making sure our troops are provided everything possible. On that line of thinking, why would you withhold forces and or equipment from the Soldiers/Sailors/Airman when you could just as easily provide them? Why would you ever hold back? Knowing full well that the "holding back" is costing lives and numerous tactical disadvantages. The "holding back" is also causing quit unnecessary loss of civilian life in the process. We made similar errors in the past under the Bush Admin and didn't learn from them.

Going all in also has it's problems. More loss of life and a cost I'm not sure we can afford.

My point is clear and simple, go or don't go. We can not continue without a serious increase and a tactical "troop surge". When elected he knew he was going to have to make this decision. When you are the leader, you make tough calls, but you have to MAKE the damn call. You do so in as quick a manner as possible. He's known about this from the day he got his initial in brief. This isn't something that just "sprang" up...oh hey, about that war in Afghanistan, we're gonna need a call on that. He's had months to decide. Instead he's worrying about the Olympics and UH and what the Mass Police are up to. By dragging his feet he has killed people...period.

I don't think this administration has the required backing to "go all in". So he's floundering and unable to make the call. He knows what everyone wants. He just has to be the first POTUS to listen to the people, make the call and tell the naysayers to STFU. THAT would be actual change.

But you know he won't...we're gonna mess around and do some of this and a little of that. Hold a few "talks" and see what NATO has to offer. All at the cost of lives.

People need to wake up. War is an awful hell. So when you choose to bring war to an enemy, you have got to have the resolve to finish the job or get the hell out of dodge. You can't tip toe around feelings and worry about pleasing people politically. You either go or don't go.

I'll support his decision so long as he makes one. But by decision I mean go all in, or draw back and move out.

Your Bush comment just shows that you know exactly nothing about me. I was definitely not a supporter of the Bush admin. You're talking to someone that spent the majority of a 13 year military career some place where the locals hated me. I've read parts of "The Bush Act" and know full well what it allows the Gov to do. Parts of it go directly against the Constitution.

I'm a Independent Helio. I just happen to be pro free market, pro small Gov and fiscally responsible. Three things that Obama and I do not agree on. I think that our Gov as a whole is and has been going in the wrong direction for a long time.

The fact that Obama got the Nobel just makes vomit rise into my throat.

WD

[szh]

Thats because most of us have left and some others have been banned.

You are still here, though, in spite of some seriously misguided posts.

People get banned for personal flame attacks and the like ... not for speaking their mind intelligently and coherently and with rational thinking in this forum.

Z

[szh]

clearly, the prize can be viewed as premature,

Yes, way premature. But, you are also presuming that it will eventually prove to have been appropriate. I am not in that camp right now. The act of his election - without having done anything really - does not make him deserving.

Others far more deserving: Ang San Suu Kyi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi) should get it again (she received it in 1991) or even Lady Diana Spencer for her work in attempting to ban land-mines - give it to Jody Williams again since Lady Di is not alive.

however there have been three other Americans off the top of my head that have won the Nobel Peace Prize simply for the peaceful talks aorund the world without any real changes having yet been made...

Linus Pauling (2 x Nobel proze winner)Al GoreDr. Martin Luther king, Jr.

On Al Gore, I agree ... particularly also because I think he will be proven wrong about one thing: yes, global warming is occurring, but to blame it all on humans - without adequate, scientific proof (and recently shown-to-be-outright falsehoods on the part of some people) - is incorrect.

However, the other two had clearly had an effect on the world before they were given the Nobel Prize. Pauling is somewhat of an unusual situation ... he deserved it for science, but it is not clear to me that he should have been given a Nobel Peace prize.

Dr. King was working for the cause of blacks in the US for a long, long time before he became famous and he clearly showed the way to a better place for all of us.

Z

[bobotech]

Yassir Arafat also won the Peace Prize. Enuf said.

I mean if someone can give a horrible terrorlst like Arafat the peace prize, then why not Obama?

I look at it this way, Obama now equals Arafat.

[AZhitman]

I'm sure I'll be labeled everything but a rational, logical thinker, maybe a radical right-winger or even a racist, for this, but...

This is so completely absurd. 2 weeks into the presidency? Nobel Prize? GTFO. Unbelievable.

What had he done at that point to deserve such a prestigious honor? What?

Hell, what has he done SINCE then to deserve such?

I WANT our President to succeed. I WANT our country to flourish and straighten out.

But this cheapens the accomplishments of past recipients beyond belief.

Tariq said, "what would it take for you to give the man the respect he deserves?"

How about achieving just ONE of his campaign promises. How about not being an apologist. How about putting his nose to the grindstone and WORKING ON a healthcare reform bill, instead of throwing it at someone else to draft. How about not allowing STUPID government programs (CFC) to run rampant? How about speaking AGAINST idiots who claim all his critics are "racist"? How about taking a firm stand against the loons in Iran and NK? How about speaking out against the whackos at ACORN? How about taking care of SUPPOSED critical domestic issues (like healthcare) instead of jetting off to the IOC to lobby for Chicago to get the Olympics? How about not waffling on plans for fighting in Afghanistan?

Why should we sit idly by and have faith in promises, watch him run around for photo ops and not criticize?

Why should we accept that this was "Prize" was anything more than a political sham?

Shame on him for even getting on a plane to go accept this nonsense.

Go ahead and slap a label on me if it makes you feel better. I know my heart, and I know any such label is wrong.

[UpStar]

I see there's not a lot of intelligent comments in here, but i will try and respond...

President Obama himself said that he didn't deserve this yet, and I think its clear that he has not done anything to be offered this... clearly came out of the blue...

however, if you read the 5 panelists statements on why they chose him, i do understand where they are coming from....

the world sees the USA in a much better light due to Obama's diplomacy efforts, and his efforts to deter nuclear proliferation, and improve US relations with the muslim world... i know many of you could probably care less that America was so vilified within the muslim world, but how soon you forget that we invaded a country, killed their citizens, overthrew their government, and left the country in a mess simply becuase Bush wanted to repay an old debt for hussain "trying to kill his dad", and to try and control the oil in that region... but I digress...

clearly, the prize can be viewed as premature, however there have been three other Americans off the top of my head that have won the Nobel Peace Prize simply for the peaceful talks aorund the world without any real changes having yet been made...

Linus Pauling (2 x Nobel proze winner)Al GoreDr. Martin Luther king, Jr.

its about the potential and momentum to change the world sometimes with that committee, not the actual achievement of those goals...

also, I did part of my thesis studies under Nobel Laureatte Dr. Peter Agre at Johns Hopkins and I can assure you, while the science prizes are more factually and achievemnt based, they are still VERY, VERY political as well!

yep..... this pretty much sums it up!

[heliochrome85]

I openly admit I have made some obnoxious posts in the past. With that said...

I feel the way I do for very specific reasons. Non of which makes me prejudice or an anti Obamite. Please read the following before passing judgement on this particular topic.

As prior service I will always be biased towards making sure our troops are provided everything possible. On that line of thinking, why would you withhold forces and or equipment from the Soldiers/Sailors/Airman when you could just as easily provide them? Why would you ever hold back? Knowing full well that the "holding back" is costing lives and numerous tactical disadvantages. The "holding back" is also causing quit unnecessary loss of civilian life in the process. We made similar errors in the past under the Bush Admin and didn't learn from them.

Going all in also has it's problems. More loss of life and a cost I'm not sure we can afford.

My point is clear and simple, go or don't go. We can not continue without a serious increase and a tactical "troop surge". When elected he knew he was going to have to make this decision. When you are the leader, you make tough calls, but you have to MAKE the damn call. You do so in as quick a manner as possible. He's known about this from the day he got his initial in brief. This isn't something that just "sprang" up...oh hey, about that war in Afghanistan, we're gonna need a call on that. He's had months to decide. Instead he's worrying about the Olympics and UH and what the Mass Police are up to. By dragging his feet he has killed people...period.

I don't think this administration has the required backing to "go all in". So he's floundering and unable to make the call. He knows what everyone wants. He just has to be the first POTUS to listen to the people, make the call and tell the naysayers to STFU. THAT would be actual change.

But you know he won't...we're gonna mess around and do some of this and a little of that. Hold a few "talks" and see what NATO has to offer. All at the cost of lives.

People need to wake up. War is an awful hell. So when you choose to bring war to an enemy, you have got to have the resolve to finish the job or get the hell out of dodge. You can't tip toe around feelings and worry about pleasing people politically. You either go or don't go.

I'll support his decision so long as he makes one. But by decision I mean go all in, or draw back and move out.

Your Bush comment just shows that you know exactly nothing about me. I was definitely not a supporter of the Bush admin. You're talking to someone that spent the majority of a 13 year military career some place where the locals hated me. I've read parts of "The Bush Act" and know full well what it allows the Gov to do. Parts of it go directly against the Constitution.

I'm a Independent Helio. I just happen to be pro free market, pro small Gov and fiscally responsible. Three things that Obama and I do not agree on. I think that our Gov as a whole is and has been going in the wrong direction for a long time.

The fact that Obama got the Nobel just makes vomit rise into my throat.

WD

The Nobel peace prize is awarded to those who have made efforts to foster peace internationally. His domestic policies are NOT under review right now. Like it or not, the Afghanistan policy was not a part of their reasoning for choosing him. I have many friends who went to college with me who are currently stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I open up my facebook, i see their statuses are from time to time dedicated to the comrades they trained with who lost thier lives in the field. I have nothing but respect for the armed forces and the work they do.

The Right recently made a huge deal about why Obama had only made one phone call to McChrystal in the time he has been in office. As if letting the commander do his job free from the daily/weekly politik update was a bad thing. I agree with you that the decision is needed fast, and i think the decision is coming very soon. I hope that the forces are increased since i dont want to see any more lives lost to an understaffed operation. But i dont think that his stumping for Chicago USA (thats part of america for the members of the public and congress who were happy to see it lose the bid) as having cost him one second of time. Bush left a bankrupt country, an economy in shambles, and two wars in various states stagnation. The guy is doing his best with the hand he is dealt.

Just in case you all were wondering, yes the final date for submissions for Nobel prizes is Feb 1, but the actual prizes arent decided till much later. Obama did not win his prize Feb 1. He was nominated somepoint prior to Feb 1. Given how much time he has spent in the world community healing the rifts the previous administration has caused, i think he has done a great deal to inspire people and bring rogue countries back to the table. Last i checked, those are things one would consider PRO-PEACE.

I may not think that it was at the proper time, but I do think that he DID deserve it and im getting a little sick and tired of reading comment after comment about people wanting to IMPEACH/LYNCH/SHOOT the President.

He has committed no crimes, and has done no harm other than to try to fix the country in the best way he knows how.

[heliochrome85]

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

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."

Oslo, October 9, 2009

Show me where exactly they were off base in their reasoning for giving it to him?

[heliochrome85]

I'm sure I'll be labeled everything but a rational, logical thinker, maybe a radical right-winger or even a racist, for this, but...

This is so completely absurd. 2 weeks into the presidency? Nobel Prize? GTFO. Unbelievable.

What had he done at that point to deserve such a prestigious honor? What?

I dunno bout you, but in my tiny a** island, the entire island took a holiday so we could watch the inauguration of BHO. Why? because for the first time, the world cared about who we elected and the people around the world felt that there was a new hope in what America could acheive.

Hell, what has he done SINCE then to deserve such?

Speech in Cairo, Speech in Berlin, Speech at the UN, Bringing NK back to the table, Helping Iran's revolution, need I go on? He has done more for American foreign policy than any previous president since Reagan.

I see no problem in having the president of the US go to lobby for the US Bid for the olympics. A bid that would create spending and jobs for the US at a time where we need it. Had it not have gone, what would the criticism have been?

I also see nothing wrong in "apologizing" for what the US has done in the past. How do you bring about a change in behavior when aggression and dismissal hasnt worked? You apologize for your past behaviors. The US has made some major mistakes in the past and im sorry to think that we are allowed the luxury or right to ignore those mistakes and the people they have hurt is just unreasonable. American dominance of the globe is on the wane. He has done more for the US in his 9 months than most presidents can hope to accomplish in their first term.

I welcome discussion and criticism of his policies, but in this case, like ive stated before, his domestic policies arent what are being rewarded. Its the clout and prestige he has used that is being rewarded. I for one, havent been this proud in a very long time.

[WDRacing]

You're as tired of hearing impeach as I am of YOU screaming drink the coolaide and wear the horse blinders.

[BusyBadger]

its about the potential and momentum to change the world sometimes with that committee, not the actual achievement of those goals...

The Motion Picture Academy is implementing a similar policy, Steven Spielberg is getting an Oscar in 2010 because he might make a film of quality in the next few years.

Now with the absurd comparison out of the way think about the plausible...

Imagine a new president or prime minister comes along that really turns a country around. He expands industrial production, slashes unemployment, makes great civil and infrastructure improvements in his country and instills a deep and genuine sense of pride in the nation. Additionally he emphasizes the importance of family, increases the standard of living for the middle and lower, sponsors architecture on a massive scale and has the Olympics hosted in his country.

Having actually demonstrated much more than mere potential, he has displayed results, would such a leader be deserving of an award like the Nobel Peace Prize? Odd thing, despite all those accomplishments Hitler never got one.

There's something to be said for patience and deliberation.

[heliochrome85]

last i checked, hitler never did anything to promote peace and international understanding except invade his neighbors to homogenize the population.

but sure, it is an obama thread after all, hitler had to be mentioned at some point in the argument.

[WDRacing]

but sure, it is an obama thread after all, hitler had to be mentioned at some point in the argument.

That gave me a nice LOL. No matter what leader our nation elects, that dude is going to come under serious fire. You can't please both sides, never gonna happen. But the side with opposing views is always gonna speak out.

My issue is with the Gov as a whole. Far to many rich and powerful in charge, to much money influencing to many things. To many lobbyist throwing around someone else's money. Obama just happens to be the current head of my problem.

For instance, I'm all for UH I just want it paid for differently. If we were truly responsible fiscally, we would already have UH. How much money did that explosion on the moon cost today? How much money for the pursuing research? Did we need that now? At this very moment, when we are walking the line of being bankrupt, did we need to spend money on the moon? How many lives in Africa could have been saved by the rocket fuel alone?

Peace prize worthy? No...just the leader of a Nation gone rogue.

[AZhitman]

As if letting the commander do his job free from the daily/weekly politik update was a bad thing.

Really?

Where were you when he OPENLY ARGUED with his commanders on the ground? Stating he wouldn't heed their advice? Or have we forgotten that?

Here, I'll give BO the benefit of the doubt: Maybe he learned a lesson - To STFU and let warriors do what they do: KILL BAD PEOPLE AND BREAK THEIR STUFF.

But i dont think that his stumping for Chicago USA as having cost him one second of time.

Unless he has a Delorean with a flux capacitor, you're wrong.

Given how much time he has spent in the world community healing the rifts the previous administration has caused, i think he has done a great deal to inspire people and bring rogue countries back to the table.

Really? When he was in office for two months, he "spent a lot of time in the world community"? Let me guess: Delorean again.

What "rogue countries" has he brought "back to the table"?

Are we talking about the same guy here?

How does one get credit for tasks not yet performed? Enlighten me, because I sure as hell need to comprehend this.

[AZhitman]

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

1) for his extraordinary efforts

2) to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples

3) The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons

4) Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position

5) Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.

6) The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations.

7) Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

8) 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."

1) Really? What's been accomplished? WHAT "efforts"? A few speeches? Acting like a rock star? Apologizing to counbtries whose A$$ES my father saved from aggressors? BULLS***. Effort? Whatever.

2) Saying you will meet and confer with our enemies is NOT "strengthening diplomacy". Besides, it hasn't HAPPENED. How do you get credit for an IDEA?

3) They should have stopped at "vision of". I have a vision of a world without nuclear weapons too. And I've done just as much as the POTUS in ridding the world of them. Fly me to Oslo, yo.

4) Diplomacy didn't work with Germany. It didn't work with Japan. And it's not working with those who seek to destroy us. Go ask Ahmedinijad, he'll tell you where to put your diplomacy.

5) See #4. Easy to say that when you're from a pissant little country that's never been the target of aggression. Ask the Emperor if he'd like to REWIND and try "negotiations".

6) It has? Really? Where? And it's aaaaallll because of the Messia... I mean, President Obama.

7) Wait. He's getting a prize for promoting Democracy? Doesn't the Left OPPOSE the US pushing DEMOCRACY on other countries? So, which is it? Is promoting democracy a good thing? The Nobel Committee seems to think so. But the Left is wringing its hands, saying we should stay home, and let these countries figure it out on their own... Can't have it both ways. You lefties should be PISSED that they're rewarding him for trying to promote democracy.

8) How quaint. No one's EVER said that before...

As Z said, there are MANY more who are more deserving.

The Nobel Peace Prize now means nothing to me.

[AZhitman]

because for the first time in my lifetime, the world cared about who we elected

Fixed that for you.

It's only "special" because you have a limited pool of inaugurations to compare to.

Speech in Cairo, Speech in Berlin, Speech at the UN, Bringing NK back to the table, Helping Iran's revolution, need I go on?

Speeches? Give the award to the speechwriter, then. MEANINGLESS.

NK is "at the table"? In what universe?

Iran was his idea? Really?

Yes, please continue, Tariq. Normally you wow me, and you've even changed my POV on several occasions.

This time, you've fallen far short.

[heliochrome85]

This time, you've fallen far short.

hey, cut me some slack. its exam week ( i have 5 on monday back to back) and ive been sick for damn near a month. dont you worry, ill be back with my A game fairly soon

[AZhitman]

hey, cut me some slack. its exam week ( i have 5 on monday back to back) and ive been sick for damn near a month. dont you worry, ill be back with my A game fairly soon

You're the ONLY lefty that gets any slack from me.

Peace Through Strength, y'know?

Besides, those exams should be a breeze... I mean, how hard can the test be to get a D.O. at some cut-rate Caribbean school, right?

[BusyBadger]

last i checked, hitler never did anything to promote peace and international understanding except invade his neighbors to homogenize the population.

but sure, it is an obama thread after all, hitler had to be mentioned at some point in the argument.

Well, Arafat was already mentioned, and AH was actually nominated in 1939. If we don't use someone as reviled as AH then how about someone as beloved as Gandhi? During his lifetime and example of peaceful protest during his quest for Indian independence he was never awarded (nominated four times and consecutively three years), though the committee did say that the Dalai Lama's award in 1989 was part in tribute to Gandhi. They didn't even award it posthumously as they did Dag Hammarskjöld, though there was no winner in 1948 and the committee went so far as to say there was "No suitable living candidate."

My point with my first post was that deliberation prevented a smudge (another smudge) on the Nobel's name and with this post that its hard to take Obama's awarding seriously with all of eleven days in office when someone with a lifetime of work didn't merit it.

Surely there is a long list of Noble controversies both in award (Kissinger wins for his part in the Vietnam Peace Accords despite his involvement in the "secret" bombings in Camodia?) and non-awards (Gandhi, Pope John Paul II) but this goes beyond that and straight into the WTF category.

Good luck with exams.

[AZhitman]

...its hard to take Obama's awarding seriously with all of eleven days in office when someone with a lifetime of work didn't merit it.

...this goes beyond that and straight into the WTF category.

Beautifully stated.

A Nobel Prize historian even stated, "This is a prize for good intentions".

NOTE: LOVE the clip of Slick Willie grinning and applauding Arafat's acceptance of the Prize (another WTF moment).

____________

Another couple thoughts... Someone mentioned BO's "international clout".

Wait, let me wipe my eyes, I'm laughing so hard I almost choked. International clout? Give me a freakin' break.

HERE is what that REALLY amounts to - What you're seeing is NOT clout. Do NOT be misled. What you're seeing from all these other heads of state is glee. Glee that they have found a POTUS that they can manipulate, they can sidestep, and they can bully.

They are ECSTATIC with the selection of an apologist President. They are overjoyed that there's someone who will legitimize their criminal regimes... someone who will let them sit at the grownups table... someone who can be drawn in, played and jerked around.

That's not clout, and the leaders of the so-called "rogue nations" are giggling into their sleeves, while half of the American public hangs on his every empty word.

Hear me well - I do NOT want our POTUS to fail. But I could give half-a-damn about him... it's my country I care about.