Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize???
 

What has he done to win this award? It's insanity. Perhaps he really is the Antichrist.

But last week the right-wing media blamed him for Chicago losing the Olympics bid and said he no longer had the ability to charm or influence the international community :confused:

Seriously though I am surprised by this but I can't say I pay enough attention to be able to name anyone that was obviously snubbed in Obama's favor.

Some quotes from an AP article on yahoo.com:

LMAO

If the Nobel committee's intent was to diminish any level of confidence that they're handing out this award for the correct reasons.......mission accomplished.

I'd love to know what Obama did during his first two weeks in office that justified this award.

Wow, that's fucking ridiculous.

His post-presidency speaking fee just went up even more. I'm sure he's happy about that.

Oh man ... sure, he's "captured the world's attention" and has already made some progress in improving international cooperation, but for crying out loud, look who his predecessor was. Regardless of one's personal feelings about Bush, the bar of international opinion was already pretty low when Obama came to office.

Maybe when some progress has been made on Afghanistan, Russia, or the West Bank, maybe then this won't seem so out of the blue. But to give it now, this just devalues the prize itself.

I like Obama as much as the next liberal.

But yeah, this. WTF.

Those were a pretty great two weeks.

We'll have to pull out the executive orders signed in those first two weeks. Evidently, they were pretty impactful. :)

Maybe it's all a set up deal, so he can decline the award & get the positive p.r. for setting a higher standard than those sparkling two weeks.

And just wait til they find out he bombed the moon this morning, boy will they look silly then.

I think the prize clearly relates to promoting peace on EARTH.

I was actually just thinking about this. At first, I thought 'Boy, I'd actually be impressed if he turned down the award'. But then I started thinking about all the scenarios.

1. If this committee is dumb enough to hand out this award in this manner, they're just as likely to snub legitimate future candidates from our country if Obama does turn down the award. That would be a shame.

2. If he keeps the award, he can accept the award with a 'glorious' speech noting all of the other candidates that were overlooked because he received the award. He can note the accomplishments of all his 'competitors' for this award and how much more they deserve it them him, thereby making himself look selfless while receiving an award he doesn't deserve in the slightest.

Yeah, he'll accept it. FWIW, I never thought I'd see an event that made Al Gore's Nobel prize seem somewhat justified. That day has come quite unexpectedly. Congrats, Al Gore.

For the record, that moon bomb was funded under the Bush administration budget. Definitely another situation where Bush is to blame.

Those Nobel folks sure are a crazy lot.

I'm surprised too, but who else should they have given it to?

I laughed.

The Nobel Prize for Literature has made some questionable picks as well over the years, principally the number of Swedes they've given it to. And a lot of fantastic writers with a large body of work never received it, like Nabokov.

you and nabokov...

Heh...

2001: Terrorist kill 3,000 Americans
2001: US Invades Afghanistan
2003: US Invades Iraq
2003-end of Bush Presidency: Oppenents argue that America forever damaged by "unilateral" GWOT.
2009: US President receives Nobel Peace Prize.

Bush's plan continues to be a huge success. Seriously.

I dunno, maybe Bill Clinton for turning into Jimmy Carter and heading over to North Korea to free the two arrested journalists? MC Hammer for getting Michael Crabtree to sign? Michael Jackson for bringing the whole world together by dying? The guys who head Harmonix for getting a licensing agreement out of the Beatles? Subby for single-handedly brining peace to Monopoly City Streets by ruthlessly destroying all cheaters?

From the Yahoo article on common myths about the Nobel Peace Prize:

• Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.

More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.

So, it seems like encouragement for Obama rather than recognition of already achieved tasks. Still feels odd, though.

FWIW......the 'myth' was more similar to the original intent of the awards by Mr. Nobel. The criteria used by the committee has changed over time away from his original intent.

Well, this is the same group that gave the award to Arafat.

Maybe this was the Committee's way of trying to get the US out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, plus tie Obama's hands regarding Iran?

In reality, they should have given it to the 60-odd million people who decided not to replace one warmonger with another in the White House.

I know I have some room on my mantel. :D

Seriously, though, as the award clearly references his actions prior to Inauguration as part of the rationale, I wonder how many of the people saying "WTF did he do in his first two weeks?!?!" are also the same people who complained that a) Obama was already acting like the President on the campaign trail and b) he was too involved with domestic and international affairs during the transition (or even before).

Not that I'm defending the award, it's just that I'm sure some people have short memories.

For instance....

Lighten up, guys. It's Friday, and the Peace Prize is easily the most political of the prizes given out by the Nobel Committee each year.

FOFC is truly blessed to have someone who knew the mind of Mr. Nobel. On a related note I had no idea you were as old as Bucc.

I already laughed about it, how much lighter can I really get?

I mean, yeah, I've giggled a little too afterwards but the initial laughter was probably more mirthy.

I wonder if, when she heard the news, Hillary went into her office and laughed or cried. Or trashed some of her furniture.

Hmm, let me check, nope that wasn't me.

I'm not taking this too seriously and find it pretty funny, especially a few days after SNL lampooned him for not doing fuck-all so far as President, that the world gives him one of its highest honors.

It's because Nakobov always falls apart in the playoffs.

I never really pictured you as someone who would giggle. Chortle, yes. Guffaw, certainly. But not giggle.

You've changed my entire perception, and on a Friday no less.

She's actually holding a staff meeting now to discuss a response.

Wow. This is baffling.

How about a group award to every Iranian that peacefully protested.

I voted for Obama, I was glad to see him win the presidency, but when I heard that he won the Nobel Prize for Peace... my first reaction was: "for what?"

I'm a liberal who voted for Obama, but I agree this is pretty ridiculous. It's only going to hurt his cause, causing more polarization. It's like some of Bushs's stunts that only added to the liberal rage. It certainly doesn't make the Nobel committee look too bright too. There are people who have been toiling their whole life at things to bring peace, come on.

I won't pretend to know what others in the world are doing to promote peace, but yeah, Bill Clinton is one that comes to mind quickly from America who is probably more deserving. I am an Obama supporter, but this is just a head scratcher.

To be awarded the Nobel prize for speeches about what you are going to do or would like to do early in your presidency, really make the prestige of the award ring hollow.

Lighten up? Personally, I just think it's sad.

Someone here asked who else should have won the award. I dunno. How about someone who has done something, not just said something. If Obama reaches his goal or even gets 80% of the way to nuclear disarmament, I'd be thrilled at him getting it. But now? It's ridiculous.

Here are a few potential people who could have won the award:
------------------------------------------------------------
Egeland, for example, said he nominated Denis Mukwege, a physician in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo who opened a clinic to help rape victims.

Hu Jia, a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for "inciting subversion of state power." Another could be Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China's communist system. He now lives in the United States.
-------------------------------------------------------------

People who have actually done something. Sacrificed. (exactly what "sacrifice" has Obama made?)

After my initial shock, I did laugh. Not the laugh you are thinking of though. I laughed at the absurdity of the expectations placed on Obama now. He could be the single best president of all time and I think he'd have no better than a 60/40 chance to win the next election now. Let's face it, the odds he actually gets nukes out of North Korea and Iran is about the same odds that I'm going to win the next Nobel award. It's one thing to make it a campaign promise or hope. It's another thing to actually get it done. Good luck pal. Glad I'm not in your shoes.

The committee doesn't really have the power to revoke Obama's hands, so I don't think that's happening.

As for the first point, the committee chair pretty much said that's what they were trying to do.

I believe the British bookies now have you listed as even money to win a Nobel Prize after today's announcement. Don't sell yourself short.

I went back and read the article about this story again, only to laugh once again at the absurdity of the whole thing. I have to keep telling myself that the site listed in the address bar is not The Onion.

As stupid as this all is, I really don't see this having any effect on his chances of winning the next election.

I checked the Web pretty thoroughly to make sure I wasn't being pranked before I replied, myself, lol

I think yo are sadly mistaken. He approval rating was already sliding, mainly due to expectations that aren't being fulfilled. This adds to those expectations. Keep in mind, not every American spends time actually analyzing the election. A lot of people are going to roll their eyes at yet another award for a guy who they feel hasn't done anything yet.

I think this might be a slight overreaction.

And most of those people aren't going to vote for him no matter what he does.

Can somebody point out which day in late September/early October Obama went from moving way too fast to moving way to slowly?

So which one is Hillary? (I think I know :D )

keep in mind, this is the same committee that gave this award a few years ago to someone who went around africa planting trees, and that was their whole gimmick

I wondered about that myself for a minute until I realized it was a POV photo :)

That's a ridiculous reason. Does anyone believe this has actually worked?

Just some random comments in the article that I found intriguing. Make of them what you will.




What is even more absurd than Obama receiving this award is the Taliban saying he deserves it for killing civilians and such. I am pretty sure that they are the last organization with any say in the matter.

This was such a great flick....

Looks like the President is fashionably late to his news conference. You can hear the various reporters doing their reports in the background using words like 'stunned', 'pranked', and 'surprised' to describe the reactions of Obama's staff.

Good for Obama.

Which, if you read about her, was a million times more astute choice than this. There's more to peace than peace treaties.

Haha...I'm thinking they wanted to buff the award off and make it relevant again, so who better to give it to? I dunno what else they would've been thinking, though some strange people have been considered for it in recent years.

I would have chimed in earlier, but I was on the phone with Oslo. My 4-year old daughter has won the Nobel Prize in Economics for her exciting work with piggybanks. I'm so excited!

I wonder if SNL can do something good with this.

I can picture something with him giving a press conference, with it repeatedly being interupted by an aide informing/giving him awards like the 2009 AL Cy Young, a Grammy, an Olympic medal, etc.

I'm not sure that anything could be funnier than the actual event.

Auntie Farrah is so proud.

Insane...


"They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change."

So I guess they haven't been watching Iran? Sending more troops to the Middle East and never withdrawing from Iraq?

"Obama said he was surprised and deeply humbled by the honor, and planned to travel to Oslo to accept the prize, "

Another wasted taxpayer-funded trip to Scandinavia

Uh oh... we better stop laughing.

DNC official: GOP siding with terrorists - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com
Every time you laugh, the terrorists win.

So I'm too lazy to look this up, but did he nominate himself? If not, why is everyone so up in arms about it throwing insults at him (like Steele and his irrelevant ilk)? I mean, if he didn't nominate himself, didn't campaign for it, what's he supposed to do if they give it to him...turn it down? I guess we shouldn't think too much about it, but I just don't see the issue other than the committee that gave a peace award to a terrorist made another silly choice.

BTW, I wonder if Brad Woodhouse is going to be taken to the woodshed by his bosses for calling the Taliban terrorists a day after the NYTimes reported:


Afghan War Debate Now Leans to Focus on Al Qaeda - NYTimes.com

Turning it down actually would have been a pretty kick-ass act of statesmanship, and would have impressed the hell out of me.

I don't know that people are blaming him personally (well probably some silly Republicans are), I think it just really re-enforces the idea that this is a charming, smooth talking, rock star who the world has fell in love with, but who doesn't actually have substance. I think Swaggs hit on it well above - what's next, a grammy? Maybe the Nobel Prize for Chemistry? It just seems like a funny parody of Obama's celebrity.

I agree.

The presidency is shaping up to be a very lucrative gig for him, he's definitely an hugely and ridiculously successful human being.

Would you have agreed with Steve Yzerman getting nominated to the Hockey Hall of Fame based on two weeks of play in the NHL (and winning after nine months of NHL experience)?

Well that's appropriate, he's a parody of a President, so it kind of works.

He's already got two Grammys.

AFP: Obama beats Clinton -- this time at the Grammys

The funny thing about that is that yes, he must have received the reward for his unfullfiled campaign rhetoric. All the fancy speeches and slogans. That makes sense, because he was definitely more effective there than during his presidency thus far.

I'm so old I remember when many of these posters complained about Bush Derangement Syndrome.

At least they didn't give the award to Michael Phelps.
Then again, they'd probably have 8 different peace prizes that can be won by swimmers.

I mean, if Usain Bolt won the award, we'd all be wtf, but he probably deserves it more than Obama. I mean, you gotta figure for 9.6 seconds everyone chilled out, dropped their weapons, and watched the man run.

Is that the liberal version of "It's unpatriotic to criticize the president!"

If you're referring to me, I didn't have a problem with people correctly calling Bush a bad president. It went just a tad further than that though, even here.

More like, "you said this was unpatriotic and now you're doing it."

Here's what inquiring minds really want to know:

Does he get the AL MVP award representing the White Sox? Or the NL MVP award since he's in Washington?

And how will his certain Cy Young win affect the MVP race? I'm thinking the White Sox jacket makes him a shoo-in for the AL but he did throw that pitch in St.Louis in a National League ballpark.

Could he sweep them both?

Who? Not me.

Are you claiming that because someone else said that, all criticism of Obama is suspect?

You're old enough that your sarcasm is starting to just come off as grouchy. Or maybe it's more difficult defending the person in charge than it is in making snarky comments from the underdog position. :)

I think this is more Obama Amusement Syndrome than Obama Derangement Syndrome, at least for me. I've been chuckling all morning, not booking a flight to Oslo to protest. :)

He's also expected to win an AVN award for Best Threeway Sex Scene—Vid, for his performance in Fresh Meat 7.

There is a ton of conservative butt hurt in this thread. The whiplash from the gloating over Chicago not getting the Olympics to this is amazing to watch.

Didn't say you. I was simply correcting your interpretation of his statement.

He said "many of the posters in this thread", immediately after a post by me, so I assume he was referring to me.

I haven't been this outraged since BYU won the football championship in 1984.

I wonder if he continues to do what he's done so far for seven more years, will we consider him among the greatest presidents? Before or after Lincoln?

I'm thinking he'll end up with most of his Presidential/Nobel peer group. Somewhere between Woodrow Wilson & Jimmy Carter.

No, I didn't do a search, it's just from memory that BDS was discussed many times during the tenure of our last President. I'm perfectly willing to accept that you never mentioned it, but others in this thread certainly did.

Butt hurt? Like conservatives were really pulling for a Dick Cheney Nobel Peace Prize and now we're upset that Obama came in and pulled off the upset?

No, sorry Cartman. There's a great deal of mirth that the Nobel Committee picked a guy based on "hope" rather than actual achievements. Given that the global celebrity-hood of Obama has cooled down quite a bit since his inauguration, it's really amusing to see him named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Maybe there are conservatives frothing at the mouth over this, but I just think it's ridiculously amusing. :)

Nah, We all know Obama was saving his best pitch for his home country of Kenya for the 2020 games.

:)

And Obama is not even comparable to the Nazi's anyways. The Nazi's got the olympics.

Obama has had to deal with more crap in his first 9 months in office than MANY of the other presidents. Based on politics today, I can't believe anyone really thought he would be able to turn things around in that short of a period. It's gonna take some time to right that ship. To me, him winning this award shows the impart he is having on the international community with regard to our standing in it. Instead of bitching about it, I see it as a positive for ALL of us in that aspect. We should be proud that a US president is obtaining this level of respect !

That's how he was elected. Why should this be any different?

The second paragraph is better.

I'm not sure what BDS is, but I definitely discussed how I thought the Bush criticisms were completely over the top (as are some of Obama), but that certainly doesn't include "bad president" in either instance.

I never, ever said that it's not patriotic to criticize the government or the president. That's just silly.

Sorry, I guess I missed the subtle nuance obviously in play about being happy that the US missed out on something that would reflect well upon the country was the same as mocking an award that reflects well upon the country.

I'd laugh but that's too sad to be truly funny.

Of course other countries are happy to see him in office, he's the political equivalent of taxing the rich to death due to cash envy. I wouldn't mind seeing a lot of countries with a similar incompetent in office either, but it ain't with an eye toward their best interest.

I'd hoped we'd gotten the Olympics and think that those who like the fact that Obama failed at something that obviously was important to him are partisan hacks.

I think Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize for making a few speeches is ridiculous.

I also think equating them without thinking that maybe there's a difference there is very partisan as well.

Wait, you mean we have to vote again in November? Fuck! I'm assuming that Presidential terms are only 1 year now, because that's the only way it makes sense to criticize him for "unfulfilled campaign rhetoric" 8 months into his presidency.