Obama: Nobel Peace Prize ‘a call to action’

[Bull]

I see a discussion has already started about this in the consevative rant room and of course they have nothing positive to say about it. I consider their discussion to be much like their cheering when Chicago lost the olympic bid. So I thought I would rather see the discussion out here in the open. What say you, what a differance he has made in the eyes of the world.

OSLO, Norway - President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

[blondie 11]

the nominations closed on 2=1=09===he had been president how long? do the math

[ZenDog]

you are a sore loser, I can tell. The voting took place very recently. Though nominated months ago, he could easily have been beaten by any one of a couple of hundred candidates.

He's the President. You should be asking why the international community is so happy to embrace him, and you should also ask yourself what is it we may gain from all this.

Lets say for example . . . he decides to increase the American military footprint in Afghanistan, and lets say further that he wants to increase international participation in that effort. Do you think this will increase, or decrease, the likelihood of a positive reception in European capitals?

[ZenDog]

He doesn't. But he is and he did. We should take a little pride in that. Seems to me to be an indication that the electorate chose wisely. One of many.

[Daniel Blattenbauer]

Obama should not get the Nobel Prize since he bombed the moon today! Signed: Mr. Right Winger

[Nick Danger]

What say you, what a differance he has made in the eyes of the world.

Since nominations for the Nobel were due no later than February 1 (in this case, 2009), Obama had been in office a grand total of ten (count 'em) days when nominated. Before that, he had been a US Senator (of no great accomplishment) for about three years. If the Nobel Prize was given for actual deeds, one wonders what the people who voted thought they actually were. If you're giving out an award for nothing but potential, then I call foul: I have potential, too.

By the way, some other Nobel Peace Prize winners:

2007: AL GORE - The award to Al Gore and the IPCC "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change has absolutely nothing to do with world peace.

2004:WANGARI MAATHAI - The Kenyan ecologist who peacefully teaches that the AIDS virus was deliberately created by Western scientists to decimate the African population

2002: JIMMY CARTER JR. - former President of the United States of America. A true cosmopolitan, he has undermined the foreign policy of his own country and vouched for the bona fides of tyrants and murderers all over the world. Commenting on the award, Nobel Committee Chairman Gunnar Berge emphasized that the award was meant as a denunciation of American policy toward Iraq. "It should be interpreted as a criticism of the line that the [Bush] administration has taken," Berge said. "It's a kick in the leg to all that follow the same line as the United States."

1994: YASSER ARAFAT - (joint winner), Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, President of the Palestinian National Authority. He was a cold-blooded murderer both before and after receiving the award.

1992: RIGOBERTA MENCHU TUM - erstwhile advocate of Guatamala natives, it turns out that she faked most of the biography upon which her reputation was based.

1988: THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES New York, NY, U.S.A. Notwithstanding rapes and sex abuse, committed by the team in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and the Congo, still doing fine work all over the world (not to mention a singular inability to actually maintain peace).

[HAVE_A_HEART]

Perhaps he won base on his speech he gave ingermany when he was running to be elected here in the US? Maybe somebody thought from the commision said "Hey! That guy just bought world together by running for Presidnt of the world!!"

Ok--Long shot--but it the best guess I got!!!

[Daniel Blattenbauer]

Hey Greatlady53, I think just hearing his speeches made people realize that this man would truly seek peace in the world. After the "gunboat diplomacy" and "cowboy tactics" of the past administration I am sure this was a real eye opener for them! The majority of the world's leader can see this so wonder why it is so difficult for some people in this country to see the same. Suppose it must be that some just don't want him to succeed at anything. They want Obama to fail at everything, even if it hurts the country.

[Jack Z]

I think it's obvious The Nobel Peace Prize committee has a certain political bent and agenda ... I don't think they are bad for this, but i do disagree with them.... If they award the prize to someone who has earned it, instead of to someone who has their similar "intentions", they can promote what actually works, as opposed to,,, well,,, good intentions.

Maybe President Obama, will use this notoriety to achieve a certain amount of peace..... Then again, maybe this will hinder him, from making tough choices as Commander an Chief, and put us and the world in even more jeopardy.

[funesthememorious]

I would liked to have seen Wanda Guthrie win it - she is one of the Organizers of the G 6Billion, the six billion or so people whose lives are are not represented by the group of G-20 leaders. Also active in the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice, which is an organization that works for a more just and peaceful world.

[Vernon Windsor]

Indeed.

[Bull]

What???