President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Friday morning for what the committee called “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” especially his work to reach out to the Muslim world and to eliminate nuclear weapons around the globe.
The announcement, less than nine months after Obama took office, sparked immediate questions from reporters in Oslo about whether the Nobel committee was acting prematurely in rewarding a world leader who has outlined a lofty and ambitious agenda but has not yet made many concrete steps toward realizing it.
But Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the five-member Nobel committee, said “we have not given the prize for what may happen in the future. We are awarding Obama for what he has done in the past year. And we are hoping this may contribute a little bit for what he is trying to do.”
Well, this may be a tad controversial in some quarters.
3
Support the Blog — Buy This Book!
For Kindle and with free ePub version. Only $9.49 Great reading.
Here is what Gary Shapiro CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said: Dvorak's writing sings with insight and clarity. Whether or not you agree with John's views, he will get you thinking and is never boring. These essays are worth the read!
Put this ad on your blog!
Syndicate
Subscribe to Main Blog feed here:
Subscribe to Comments too (below):
Junk Email Filter
The world has seen through this man, Obama. They recognize that his vanity and ego supersedes all and they are using this to manipulate him in order to shape US foreign policy.
How can Obama accept this and then turn around and send more troops to Afghanistan? How can he be Mr. Nobel and send our armed forces anywhere? America and it’s interests, can now be attacked world wide with impunity.
One last note:
As I peruse the various blogs out there I continually come across a common theme. The supporters of “King O” are constantly making comments about how King “O” is out in the world cleaning up the mess GW left behind. Or they make reference to how the world see us now as opposed to when GW was in office.
First, let me make this statement:
Whereas before, the world may have seen us as cowboys, the now see us as cowgirls. And I’m not talking about Annie Oakley.
Second, I have to ask the question:
If King Obama is so great; why do people need to bash GW in order to prop him up?
#63–YOU are a right wing nut. I can tell that from what you say. Course, you could also be a lefty loon with a wicked sense of humor. Hard to tell.
Regarding the “done nothing yet” I am reminded of my surprise that Al Gore got the Nobel for climate change work. Pretty much the same thing? Rewarding words and not action?
Well, such is the nature of hope and the lingering effects of BushtheRetards time in office. Lots of “reaction” a lot of it not even recognized for what it is.
Right Wing Nut
If King Obama is so great; why do people need to bash GW in order to prop him up?
We don’t. He made the mess by himself. We just like to remind all you right wing nuts of who you voted for so we can have some metrics.
It feels so much better breathing the fresh air with Bush out of office. I’m sorry the right wing nuts hate America so much they wish and pray she fails. I guess they aren’t very loyal Americans then.
Since President Obama is simply continuing the policies of the Bush administration (Gitmo, Irag, Afghanistan, probably bombing Iran later) shouldn’t Obama share the prize with Bush?
#63 wingnut…There’s more than way to show power. Being a cowboy is fun and requires no brains, but history shows it’s ineffective and usually destructive. We can be powerful and influential without being idiots.
Second, who here says he great? You’re projecting bias. You’ll see the left and moderates give him some slack, but he won’t get an automatic free pass like the right gave GWB.
Obama gets an “A” for effort from the Nobel prize committee. I guess results don’t matter.
Is this how Obama got through Harvard?
I agree with this statement:
“The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize,” wrote DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. “Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize — an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride — unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim.”
Even when I hated Bush the most I always continued to want the best for America.
It’s a joke. He basically won it because he is not Bush…
#65 pedro (picapiedra)
Yeah I get that a lot. Let’s take it step by step.
1. Politicians have no power, yet since they must give the impression of power, they have some usable influence.
2. Politicians (or anyone else for that matter) that use their influence in a way that obstaculizes the true power wind up dead or disgraced.
3. Obama had no prior knowledge of 1 & 2 till he became president, that’s what made his speeches so convincing. He believed he could make a change.
4. Making him a Nobel Peace Prize winner may affect his self esteem and convince him that he can make a difference, and die as a result. They’ll make it look like a terrorist attack.
Can’t make it any clearer. Good luck in interpretation!
#71, Alix,
Thank you for posting that. And yes, internationally the only objections came from the Taliban leadership who were reached for comment in their caves.
An interesting turn of events.
He has done a lot to promote world peace and to combat global warming. I for one, am happy for news. Now if he would only end Bush’s wars.
#75 – he has talked a lot about world peace, and maybe that will lead to something.
But I don’t know what he has done about global warming – maybe you could cite the substantial reductions in CO2 emissions that are the direct result of any legislation he has signed.
Ok, the recession has actually resulted in reduced CO2 emissions – but we’re blaming Bush for that. So I don’t think Obama wants to take credit.
I support Obama in general, though his stand on presidential power is too much like Bush for my liking, and I think we should get out of Afghanistan. (Psst, little pedro, that’s how adults do it, shades of gray, no blind hatred or worshiping). But awarding him the Nobel prize so soon seems premature. I suspect the world is just happy that the country with the most bombs isn’t run by Darth Cheney any more. Dubya’s administration was so f*cked up, anyone else is going to look like a genius by comparison. 🙂
“To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize,” Barack Hussein Obama
Now who can argue with that?
Awesome!
Suck it, cons!
Barry — phone Jimmy.
#80
Maybe you’re right, but I still think it would do something to the ego just to be found on the same list as the NPP laureates.
#77, […]though his stand on presidential power is too much like Bush[…]
There were many of us telling everybody that last Fall. I respect you for admitting it.
#53 Vicente Passariello:
“President Obama is the Best!!!!!!!!”
How about:
“President Obama is the Beast!!!!!!!!”
They were already singing hymns and praying to the guy. Now he’s the “Prince of Peace”?
This disturbs my wa.
HA HA!
Maybe the Norwegians should have gave it to “W”
or Dick or Rummy?
I predict that Glen Beck will continue to spew tears of faked Ben Gay tears of false patriotism
and further confirm what the rest of the world already owns;The conservative movement has failed and all They have left is each other and crocodile,crybaby tears.
Uh-WAH!
I’m an Obama fan, more or less, but I agree with others that the award is too early.
Maybe it was awarded just because he’s much more competent than The Dubya.
Why would anyone give him an ataboy? He has not done shit for his country since he was elected or maybe since he was born. King Gustaf needs to correct this offense to the world.
So, the Commander in Chief of two wars (neither of which he has actively sought to end outright) is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize… Yeah, that just screams legit doesn’t it…
And the fish continues to swim in the muddy pond.
Blame your hero Dubya for being so bad that anyone in comparison looks like a friggin’ Nobel Peace Price winner. 🙂
#86 – SparkyOne – King Gustaf needs to correct this offense to the world.
Do you even know who gives out the Nobel peace prize?
#60 – CeramicGod – So a jr. senator and very short term US President now qualifies for the Nobel Prize…
From Wikipedia:
So, yes… he qualifies.
A quote from Obama’s statement, even he doesn’t think he deserves it:
I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize — men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build — a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action — a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.
But this won’t stop the wingnuts, no way. They’ll figure out some way to bash him about this. 🙂
Did anyone realize nominations ended Feb. 1st. Did he really do anything in those 11 days as President to warrant the Nobel Peace Prize?
From the Nobel Committee’s statement:
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.
Yup, looks like they gave it to him because he’s not Darth Cheney. 🙂