Nobel Peace Prize and credibility

**tidalwave** · October 9th, 2009, 09:12 AM

In a surprise, Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize - Yahoo! News
OSLO – 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.

...

"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate.

That about sums up my thoughts on this gesture. It appears to be confirmation of the influence of the President's euro nut-riders. The prize for accomplishments worthy of international recognition has been used as a tool to push an agenda. Although the agenda sounds worthy, it looks like a misuse of the stated intent of the prize, namely rewarding accomplishments, not potential.

Every Commander-In-Chief during my lifetime has had 'initiatives' to reduce nukes, bring peace to the Middle East, and augment diplomacy. Some have had more success than others, but at least they had a track record established.

Regardless of personal opinions of the President, I think that this year's award has diminished the importance of the prize and the credibility with which candidates are evaluated.

**ckn** · October 9th, 2009, 09:18 AM

You beat me by 2 minutes! I've deleted my duplicate and copied my text here...

Surely this is the most idiotic, politically motivated Nobel Peace Prize ever.

The nominations for this year's prize had to be in by February 1st 2009 (source), a mere 12 days after Obama assumed the Presidency. That's one hell of a 12 days if it resulted in him gaining the Nobel Peace Prize!

The sensible thing for Obama to do would be to refuse it because it's very clear to anyone, regardless of politics, that he simply has not done anything to earn it yet.

ptrper · October 9th, 2009, 09:52 AM

In the words of Woody Harrelson from the movie "Zombieland", "Its time to nut up or shut up."

Have you guys watched the recent Saturday Night Live skit where they really dig into the President? Wow, I was rolling on the ground crying it was so funny!

Heres a link if you haven't caught it:

Hulu - Saturday Night Live: Obama Address

I'm sure he had/has good intentions, but dayum, the Nobel Peace Prize? Now it makes me wonder how credible the Institution is who hands out these awards...

**lukebeulah** · October 9th, 2009, 10:17 AM

I agree with tidal and ckn.... this is BS! How could Obama recieve the Nobel Peace Prize. Like you said- all past presidents have done the same things. Very few are recognized with an honor like this. Definitely not within their presidency!

This is not youth soccer- everyone doesn't get a trophy.

**RunningMan27** · October 9th, 2009, 10:37 AM

I have nothing new to comment on that hasn't already been said...

When I read the article this morning I was blown away that an award such as this would be presented to someone who has only talked about his plan. NOTHING has happened yet. Maybe 10 years from now after the plan was implemented and worked as it was expected (I'm not saying it will or won't), then the Nobel could be a discussion...and the award would be meaningful in the sense the prize was created for.

Movie directors don't get Oscars for pre-produced movies that might be really good but we won't know until 2010...

**SAINT_X** · October 9th, 2009, 10:44 AM

TAKE IT EASY! Good God...Bush starts and criminally mismanages two wars, destroys the economy, uses 9-11 as an excuse to sack most of the Bill of Rights, lolligags while a major american city drowns, ignores all the warning signs of imminent financial/economic collapes - until it does, and it's the worst since the great depression, presides over the greatets transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top since forever, sees millions of Americans lose healthcare and face financial ruin...and does nothing. etc..etc...
And he never caught half the crap Obama gets for winning the Nobel Prize???

Here's another perspective...

" The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama.

Some initial commentary has called the award unprecedented and wondered why the committee would give President Obama the award when he "hasn't done anything yet."

But anyone who thinks this award is unprecedented hasn't been paying attention.

Also see below:
President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize •

The Nobel Committee gave South African Bishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership efforts to abolish apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid wasn't fully abolished in South Africa until 1994. The committee could have waited until after apartheid was abolished to say, "Well done!" But the point of the award was to help bring down apartheid by strengthening Bishop Tutu's efforts. In particular, everyone knew that it was going to be much harder for the apartheid regime to crack down on Tutu after the Nobel Committee wrapped him in its protective cloak of world praise.

That's what the Nobel Committee is trying to do for Obama now. It's giving an award to encourage the change in world relations that Obama has promised, and to try to help shield Obama against his domestic adversaries. The committee is well aware that history is contingent and that Obama might fail. It knows very well that the same country that elected Obama also gave the world George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

The initial steps that Obama has taken are already under fierce attack. The Obama administration has now recognized that the Afghan Taliban are not a threat to the United States and that the United States can live with the Afghan Taliban playing a role in the government of Afghanistan. But right-wing forces in the military, Congress, think tanks and the media are denouncing these moves toward sanity as surrender. They want a full-out Vietnam against the Taliban.

The Obama administration has begun its promised diplomatic engagement with Iran. Of course, as every honest person knew, real engagement meant de-emphasizing the unachievable demand that Iran end its enrichment of uranium and instead focusing on achievable demands like opening Iranian enrichment facilities more fully to UN inspections and greater international oversight over the enriched uranium that Iran has already produced. Here also, the "endless war" right-wing is trying to undermine Obama.

In giving this award, the Nobel Committee is telling these right-wing forces to back off. And it's sending a message of encouragement to those Americans who put Obama in office:"

"Showing signs of significant improvement. Keep up the good work."

**varbo** · October 9th, 2009, 10:46 AM

Hey Guy's,
do you think that if I say that I'm going to develop a polutionless energy from the garbage in our dumps that has no byproducts and is 100% efficient, they'll give me nobel prize for physics??

To Quote Side Show Bob: "They don't give the nobel prize for attempted Physics!"

But I guess they do give it for attempted peace.

For Saint X - I agree that Obama shouldn't get crap for winning, but the committee definately needs to get crap for giving it to him. Obama Hadn't done anything when he was nominated. Tutu had already done a lot of work before he was even given the nomination. Besides, I'm sure other leaders have works towards nuclear disarmament and didn't get anywhere with the nobel committee.

**A1food4U** · October 9th, 2009, 11:01 AM

I'm on the fence with this one. While I question the choice based on the "it hasn't happened yet" argument I can still step back and say "well, at least it's not US bashing". Let's face it, in most cases. awards aren't given by popular vote (Dustin Pedroia AL MVP), sometimes they don't make sense (OSCARS;Penn for MiLK instead of Langella in Nixon , and others are just plain narcisistic (VMA's).

So although I disagree, it's not my award to give. Mr. Obama should take a bow, say thanks, give a nice speech, but under NO circumstances should he give the microphone to Kayne West.... just say-in

**ckn** · October 9th, 2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAINT_X

TAKE IT EASY! Good God...Bush starts and criminally mismanages two wars, destroys the economy, uses 9-11 as an excuse to sack most of the Bill of Rights, lolligags while a major american city drowns, ignores all the warning signs of imminent financial/economic collapes - until it does, and it's the worst since the great depression, presides over the greatets transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top since forever, sees millions of Americans lose healthcare and face financial ruin...and does nothing. etc..etc...
And he never caught half the crap Obama gets for winning the Nobel Prize???

Here's another perspective...

" The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama.

Some initial commentary has called the award unprecedented and wondered why the committee would give President Obama the award when he "hasn't done anything yet."

But anyone who thinks this award is unprecedented hasn't been paying attention.

Also see below:
President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize •

The Nobel Committee gave South African Bishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership efforts to abolish apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid wasn't fully abolished in South Africa until 1994. The committee could have waited until after apartheid was abolished to say, "Well done!" But the point of the award was to help bring down apartheid by strengthening Bishop Tutu's efforts. In particular, everyone knew that it was going to be much harder for the apartheid regime to crack down on Tutu after the Nobel Committee wrapped him in its protective cloak of world praise.

That's what the Nobel Committee is trying to do for Obama now. It's giving an award to encourage the change in world relations that Obama has promised, and to try to help shield Obama against his domestic adversaries. The committee is well aware that history is contingent and that Obama might fail. It knows very well that the same country that elected Obama also gave the world George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

The initial steps that Obama has taken are already under fierce attack. The Obama administration has now recognized that the Afghan Taliban are not a threat to the United States and that the United States can live with the Afghan Taliban playing a role in the government of Afghanistan. But right-wing forces in the military, Congress, think tanks and the media are denouncing these moves toward sanity as surrender. They want a full-out Vietnam against the Taliban.

The Obama administration has begun its promised diplomatic engagement with Iran. Of course, as every honest person knew, real engagement meant de-emphasizing the unachievable demand that Iran end its enrichment of uranium and instead focusing on achievable demands like opening Iranian enrichment facilities more fully to UN inspections and greater international oversight over the enriched uranium that Iran has already produced. Here also, the "endless war" right-wing is trying to undermine Obama.

In giving this award, the Nobel Committee is telling these right-wing forces to back off. And it's sending a message of encouragement to those Americans who put Obama in office:"

"Showing signs of significant improvement. Keep up the good work."

Although I see where you're coming from, the final deadline for nominations for this year's award was 1st February 2009, a mere 12 days after he took office. He barely had his stuff unpacked in the White House and he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Even if they had waited until next year they'd have had more credibility.

No-one (sensible) is knocking Obama for this, he didn't apply for it and I'd bet his first reaction when hearing about it would be a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.

EDIT: Desmond Tutu was an anti-apartheid campaigner for many years before the final breakdown of South African apartheid. By the time he received his award, he'd already sacrificed any chance of future progression in the church and had many death threats against him for his vigorous opposition to apartheid. He put himself at personal risk to fight against racism and he did it over many years before he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, he was at the forefront of international anti-apartheid movement for eight years before he was awarded the prize.

**brucew63** · October 9th, 2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foreign Policy Initiative's Abe Greenwald

Could there be a clearer indicator of Barack Obama’s significance around the world: Obama makes an unprecedented, no-holds-barred effort before one international organization, the IOC, to obtain something for his country and fails in an immediate and spectacular manner. But after doing absolutely nothing, he wins a prize for himself from another international organization, the Nobel Committee, for insulting his country for nine months.

The prize should be an embarrassment to the Obama administration — a confirmation of what Bill Clinton pointed out on the campaign trail: “This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.”

just another perspective.

**IMFREAKZILLA** · October 9th, 2009, 11:48 AM

Its like taking sand to the beach,just don't belong.

**ItalianStallion** · October 9th, 2009, 11:54 AM

i cant believe it...what has Obama done to deserve such an award? please explain to me what hes done...he was nominated in Feb, before he was in office for a month, thats like nominating Alex ROdriquez for the MVP during the first 10 games of the season....I dont understand it, it mind boggles me...

**wil** · October 9th, 2009, 04:15 PM

from the quote in Brucew63's post...

Quote:

But after doing absolutely nothing, he wins a prize for himself from another international organization, the Nobel Committee, for insulting his country for nine months.

That right there is what it's all about. End of story.

jack9 · October 9th, 2009, 06:21 PM

This just in: Sports Illustrated has named President Obama as their "Athlete of the Year" for the popularity he has brought to the sport of basketball.

**linemanpaul** · October 9th, 2009, 08:17 PM

Since everyone seems to have forgot, he is America's first 50% White American President, that alone should be worth an ACORN or two

**tooncesthecat** · October 9th, 2009, 09:24 PM

Just in case anyone thinks it's only us conservatives who are mad...

Jesse Berney: He Should Have Turned It Down

**tidalwave** · October 9th, 2009, 10:12 PM

I don't think it's a liberal vs conservative issue at all.

If Ronald Regan had won the prize without doing anything to warrant it, I'd still call BS. In fact, if I were the President, or anyone without a gigantic ego, I would at least be somewhat embarrassed.

However, I think that there is a bit more vocal criticism due to the cult of personality that has surrounded the President since his appearance on the national stage.

**lukebeulah** · October 9th, 2009, 10:45 PM

I'm sorry, but I can't help this....

**helpmespock** · October 10th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMFREAKZILLA

Its like taking sand to the beach,just don't belong.

wait a minute freak...

sand "don't belong" at the beach?

**brucew63** · October 10th, 2009, 06:57 AM

I was just going to post the link to this blogspot, but the style of writing is so good (even if you don't agree with the message, you aught to at least appreciate the craftsmanship) that I felt compelled to post the entirety, here. This is from the blog by chrismatthewsotherleg.blogspot.com:

Quote:

NOBEL PRIZE COMMITTEE: MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU
Over a thousand years ago the Vikings reduced the civilized world to tears. Today, they did it again!

I fell like I’ve been biffed in the belly by one of those huge rusty wrecking balls so beloved of demolition crews the world over.

The Nobel Peace Prize!

For Obama. President Zero of Zilch Gulch. La Nada Nueva del Circulo Grande. That cold, smooth marble slab ever in search of a cadaver worthy of its emptiness. That sack of wind always in need of a teleprompter to ease the bloat within. That ideological Black Hole into which all our hopes and dreams are remorselessly sucked. That O that Chicago spat into Washington. The con in conjuror, the hood in hoodwink, the ray in betrayal. This spoilt priest who would be Pope. This soggy canapé who would be main course. This paltry resident who would be awesome president. This woeful accident who would be shining essence. This little one who would be the Mighty All. This Judas who would be Jesus. This mess who would be Messiah. The Preener as Redeemer.

As for the therapy group that is the Nobel Committee, their collective delusion is surely the tipping point when all men, women and suckling infants of common sense will decamp to Tora Bora and rise up with Osama to sweep away the squalid stumps of what is left of a great civilization. For what is worse than living in the very midst of the tendentious triviality that is now our lot? Our worst nightmare have been surpassed.

We feared the soft tyranny of welfare state totalitarianism but find ourselves overwhelmed by the soft-headed tedium of the terminally trite. Our politics have become an endless Princess Di funeral complete with troops of caterwauling hysterics and squads of soap opera narcissists. Vital legislation is penned with less care than a thirteen year old with a spray can gives to his assinine defacements. The Moguls of Malibu beat their grotesquely enhanced breasts and rend their shimmering Armanis in defence of a fugitive child rapist while regarding babies in the womb as disposable as so many crumpled tissues. Kilimanjaros of citizens’ money are wasted daily - hourly - on socialistic schemes of social engineering which even the most addle-pated ideologue knows have failed time and time again and left millions upon millions the world over both despairing and destitute.

We have all become characters in an Ionescu skit.

Yes, this Nobel Peace Prize marks not the beginning of the end, nor the coming of the end. It is the end. The terminus ad quem beyond which it is not possible to pass because even the darkest absurdity has its bounds and we are at them.

We started with Homer those long centuries ago. He gave us the Illiad and the Odyssey.

We end with Gomer. He gives us gas.