Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

[Neo-Logic]

First president, and arguably the first laureate, to win the Nobel Peace Prize through ideology!!!

Say what we will, but that deserves some recognition. What's left for Obama at this point? Being Knighted? Have his own brand of clothing line? Pull a reverse Governator and win an academy award? The only ones I feel sorry for are Obama's two daughters. Good luck out-growing their daddy's shadow.

 

[Poisonshady313]

every thing he has done in his life up to the announcement of the award are open for consideration.

That's not the way Nobel wanted it.

"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way:
The capital shall be invested by my executors in safe securities and shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind."

 

[Poisonshady313]

Nobel's wishes on what constitutes a Peace laureate:

the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

 

[Poisonshady313]

Nobel must be spinning in his grave.


Obama was given the award for what people hope he might do, instead of for anything he's actually done.

This is definitely the second worst decision for Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

An instructive side-note from Jerusalem Post:

'Guardian' omits Israeli nobel winners

LONDON - The Guardian was forced to amend an article on past Nobel Peace Prize winners on its Web site on Friday after it omitted the names of Israel's prize winners.

Following the announcement of US President Barack Obama's winning the 2009 prize, an article written by the newspaper's news editor Simon Rogers listed the names of all Nobel Peace prize winners since the awards inception in 1909. However, all of Israel's prize winners - Menachem Begin, Yizhak Rabin and Shimon Peres - were omitted.

In the 1978 entry, Menachem Begin's name was missing, with only Egyptian president Anwar Sadat listed. The same error occurred in the 1994 entry with Yasser Arafat the only entry and Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres missing.
​

Instructive ...

One could call the error Insulting what ever the explanation, which does however seem feasible.
Something of a Freudian slip perhaps.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

If Obama was "your Man" You would have no problem seeing this award as Justified.
By being disparaging about it, you demonstrate that " he is far from being your man"
and that you see him as close to being an enemy of what the USA stands for.

 

[Heneni]

There is one upside to all of this....he can hardly win the peace prize and then go to war for whatever reason. No more war for the americanos! He can't change strategy now...he won the peace prize..he has to prove his worthy of it now. It's not the he won it, its that he accepted it!

Imagine if china or russia declares war...what is he going to do then? Talk and talk and talk until there is no more talking to be done while the koreans go 'into action' to nuke america... good strategy to whoever thought it was a good idea to give him the prize. Now all he can do is talk peace while the rest can plan war.

Is america a sitting duck now?

Heneni

 

[Troublemane]

I am waiting for my Academy Award for the movie I have yet to complete. :trampo:

 

[MissAlice]

Question:

What did Obama do to earn the Nobel Peace Prize...

 

[silvermoon383]

There is one upside to all of this....he can hardly win the peace prize and then go to war for whatever reason. No more war for the americanos! He can't change strategy now...he won the peace prize..he has to prove his worthy of it now. It's not the he won it, its that he accepted it!

Imagine if china or russia declares war...what is he going to do then? Talk and talk and talk until there is no more talking to be done while the koreans go 'into action' to nuke america... good strategy to whoever thought it was a good idea to give him the prize. Now all he can do is talk peace while the rest can plan war.

Is america a sitting duck now?

Heneni

If it's a case where the US is attacked by another nation then the President can ask Congress to declare war without being a "warmonger". If you're attacked you have every right to defend yourself, peaceful person/nation or not. It's the Nobel Peace Prize, not the Nobel Pacifism Prize.

 

[Kathryn]

President Obama has broken new ground here. Nominations for potential winners of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ended on February 1. The president took office only 12 days earlier on January 20.

Let’s take a look at the president’s first 12 days in the White House according to his public schedule to see what he did to deserve a Nobel Peace Prize:

January 20: Sworn in as president. Went to a parade. Partied.
January 21: Asked bureaucrats to re-write guidelines for information requests. Held an “open house” party at the White House.
January 22: Signed Executive Orders: Executive Branch workers to take ethics pledge; re-affirmed Army Field Manual techniques for interrogations; expressed desire to close Gitmo (how’s that working out?)
January 23: Ordered the release of federal funding to pay for abortions in foreign countries. Lunch with Joe Biden; met with Tim Geithner.
January 24: Budget meeting with economic team.
January 25: Skipped church.
January 26: Gave speech about jobs and energy. Met with Hillary Clinton. Attended Geithner's swearing in ceremony.
January 27: Met with Republicans. Spoke at a clock tower in Ohio.
January 28: Economic meetings in the morning, met with Defense secretary in the afternoon.
January 29: Signed Ledbetter Bill overturning Supreme Court decision on lawsuits over wages. Party in the State Room. Met with Biden.
January 30: Met economic advisers. Gave speech on Middle Class Working Families Task Force. Met with senior enlisted military officials.
January 31: Took the day off.
February 1: Skipped church. Threw a Super Bowl party.

So there you have it. The short path to the Nobel Peace Prize: Party, go to meetings, skip church, release federal funding to pay for abortions in foreign countries, party some more.

You know what - with just a little tweaking, I think I stand a pretty good chance of winning that prize myself! Thanksgiving Day of this year I think I'll start working on that. Here's my schedule:

November 26: Get sworn at by Uncle Buck for putting onions in dressing. Go to the Thanksgiving Day parade. Watch football. Party.
November 27: Ask relatives to re-write guidelines for Christmas gift drawings so we all don't go broke. Go shopping and hit the sales. Have another party cuz everyone's still in town. Eat leftovers.
November 28: Sign up for another credit card. Pledge to go on a diet; Interrogate husband about location of last piece of pecan pie; express desire to close down house and send all relatives packing (how’s that working out?)
November 29: Skip church. Help relatives pack. Say goodbye. Collapse.
November 30: Check on the release of federal funding to pay for abortions for inbred relatives. Lunch with best friend; meet with boss about Christmas schedule.
December 1: Budget meeting with husband. Swear to uphold principles of fiscal responsibility
December 2: Meet with defensive secretary in the afternoon for annual review. Instruct her to stop wearing Spandex pants to work. Check mailbox for new credit card before husband comes home.
December 3: Give presentation at work about jobs and energy. Recommend 5-Hour Energy Drinks. Read bio of Hillary Clinton during lunch break for insight on how to handle difficult husbands.
December 4: Meet with local Republicans at We The People meeting. Ask why there are no Democrats there since this is a bipartisan movement. Swear off further meetings out of frustration.
December 5: Economic meeting in the morning with husband about Christmas gifts - usual exchange of "Honestly, don't get me anything." "OK, when you say that to me, do you really think I am not going to get you ANYTHING for Christmas? Do you realize that when you say that, you run the risk of me getting you something like, I don't know, underwear and socks?" "OK, then I guess I want a gift certificate to Home Depot." "That's better."
December 6: Skip church because none of my winter clothes from last year fit. Watch Saints play. Pray for victory.
December 7: Meet with stockbroker. Ask where son's college fund disappeared to. Give presentation to HR team at corporate office about Middle Class Working Families need for more than a 2% annual raise. Email son in military about his holiday plans.
December 8: Call in sick. Spend entire day Googling diet plans and lowfat holiday recipes.
December 9: Start planning Christmas dinner. Throw out all low fat recipes after howls of dismay from kids. Resolve to begin diet January 1.

I should be a shoo - in.

 

[Heneni]

If it's a case where the US is attacked by another nation then the President can ask Congress to declare war without being a "warmonger". If you're attacked you have every right to defend yourself, peaceful person/nation or not. It's the Nobel Peace Prize, not the Nobel Pacifism Prize.

Yes of course....there will always be reasons to go to war. It would just look bad on his CV. Nobel peace prize winner goes to war. I do find that a little funny.

Or Nobel peace winner goes to war to establish peace..... yes that might look better.

In fact....the nobel peace prize might just be enough insentive to 'go into action' as Mr. Obama said...that is go all out warring against anybody that threatens the peace.

heneni

 

[rojse]

It seems that most people are asserting that the Nobel Peace Prize is merely considered on the basis of Obama's works as President, and I have not seen any evidence posted on this thread that warrants this assumption. Obama has supported and chaired a variety of church and community-based projects, as well as initiated a variety of bills while working as a member in the various government tiers in America, before he became President of the United States.

Should his work in these earn him a Nobel Peace Prize? I do not think so, but to say that Obama has done nothing at all to earn this award is wrong, too.

 

[Heneni]

It seems that most people are asserting that the Nobel Peace Prize is merely considered on the basis of Obama's works as President, and I have not seen any evidence posted on this thread that warrants this assumption. Obama has supported and chaired a variety of church and community-based projects, as well as initiated a variety of bills while working as a member in the various government tiers in America, before he became President of the United States.

Should his work in these earn him a Nobel Peace Prize? I do not think so, but to say that Obama has done nothing at all to earn this award is wrong, too.

True...also there are people who have done more humanitarian work that have not been considered for the prize. Personally I think that america has gone through a tough time economically and I think that in the end what really makes the majority (especially the middle class and lower class) support a president is more money in their pockets.

I wonder how peace in the middle east and america's continual involvement in peace talks benefit the poor in america. Perhaps an argument can be made that such peace is beneficial to the average joe on the street. The future of the dollar might make or further weaken the economy. The last time a country decided it was no longer trading oil in dollars (iraq) weapons of mass destruction was reported to have been found....and the rest is history.

Heneni

 

[gnomon]

First president, and arguably the first laureate, to win the Nobel Peace Prize through ideology!!!

Say what we will, but that deserves some recognition. What's left for Obama at this point? Being Knighted? Have his own brand of clothing line? Pull a reverse Governator and win an academy award? The only ones I feel sorry for are Obama's two daughters. Good luck out-growing their daddy's shadow.

YouTube - Barack Obama Wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize and...

Nobel must be spinning in his grave.


Obama was given the award for what people hope he might do, instead of for anything he's actually done.

This is definitely the second worst decision for Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Well it's not the first time this organization has issued the prize for nothing more than purely political reasons.

If Obama was "your Man" You would have no problem seeing this award as Justified.
By being disparaging about it, you demonstrate that " he is far from being your man"
and that you see him as close to being an enemy of what the USA stands for.

Load of garbage. I guess this should be considered expected of you now. Sorry some of us do not meet your ideal of hugging delusions.

There is one upside to all of this....he can hardly win the peace prize and then go to war for whatever reason. No more war for the americanos! He can't change strategy now...he won the peace prize..he has to prove his worthy of it now. It's not the he won it, its that he accepted it!

Imagine if china or russia declares war...what is he going to do then? Talk and talk and talk until there is no more talking to be done while the koreans go 'into action' to nuke america... good strategy to whoever thought it was a good idea to give him the prize. Now all he can do is talk peace while the rest can plan war.

Is america a sitting duck now?

Heneni

Obama has never talked in a manner ruling out the use of force. Not now nor before his Presidency. In the past he has made statements about sending forces into Pakistan, against anything the leadership of Pakistan desires, to hunt down Al-Qaeda. Not really wise words of peace.

So I wouldn't fear of Obama not using force. He's probably going to be more hawkish than Bill Clinton. That President actually did more not to use force, at least in a "direct" manner, in any situation until the US authorized the use of bombing raids in Bosnia and Serbia or throwing a missile here or there to distract the public.

 

[gnomon]

It seems that most people are asserting that the Nobel Peace Prize is merely considered on the basis of Obama's works as President, and I have not seen any evidence posted on this thread that warrants this assumption. Obama has supported and chaired a variety of church and community-based projects, as well as initiated a variety of bills while working as a member in the various government tiers in America, before he became President of the United States.

Should his work in these earn him a Nobel Peace Prize? I do not think so, but to say that Obama has done nothing at all to earn this award is wrong, too.

What of his pre-political career. What are those achievements?

Millions of people in this country support and chair community based projects. Knowing how even people on this forum speak of the religious communities many of those people belong to they get jack when it comes to respect. What makes Obama any different. He has done less work than others, went on to a lackluster Illinois Senate career and has done nothing in during his entire political tenure to date to deserve this award.

What did Obama achieve beyond others. Got Chicago to start asbestos testing. Agitating locals. A whole three years in Chicago working for agitators before moving on to Law School. When returning he did what. Attended seminars! Took money from another community organizer for his campaign who was defrauding tenants!

 

[rojse]

What of his pre-political career. What are those achievements?

Millions of people in this country support and chair community based projects. Knowing how even people on this forum speak of the religious communities many of those people belong to they get jack when it comes to respect. What makes Obama any different. He has done less work than others, went on to a lackluster Illinois Senate career and has done nothing in during his entire political tenure to date to deserve this award.

I merely said that he had not done nothing, as many posters assert. I also said that his work was probably not deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize.

What did Obama achieve beyond others. Got Chicago to start asbestos testing.

What's wrong with that?

Agitating locals.

What locals, how many of them were agitated, and how were they agitated?

A whole three years in Chicago working for agitators before moving on to Law School. When returning he did what. Attended seminars! Took money from another community organizer for his campaign who was defrauding tenants!

From Wikipedia's Barack Obama page:

After four years in New York City, Obama moved to Chicago, where he was hired as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland (Roseland, West Pullman and Riverdale) on Chicago's far South Side. He worked there as a community organizer from June 1985 to May 1988.[24][26] During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from one to thirteen and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000. He helped set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in Altgeld Gardens.[27] Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, a community organizing institute.

From April to October 1992, Obama directed Illinois's Project Vote, a voter registration drive with a staff of ten and 700 volunteers; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state.

Obama was a founding member of the board of directors of Public Allies in 1992, resigning before his wife, Michelle, became the founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago in early 1993.[24][39] He served from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund the Developing Communities Project, and also from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of the Joyce Foundation.[24] Obama served on the board of directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge from 1995 to 2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995 to 1999.[24] He also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.

If he earnt money from any or all of these foundations, what of it? He could have earnt far more with his credentials from Harvard Law school besides being a educator and a community project director.

 

[gnomon]

I merely said that he had not done nothing, as many posters assert. I also said that his work was probably not deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize.

I know. It's just that many people seem to really be reaching for something to the point that any word Obama has stated is worth considering.

What's wrong with that?

Nothing. It's something he specifically did. It's not Nobel worthy but in this thread someone should at least state something the man did.

What locals, how many of them were agitated, and how were they agitated?

It's the method of community organizing Obama was trained on. Rather than using connections you agitate the locals into confronting officials regarding issues. Not a bad method. But not one usually associated with peace, original or Nobel worthy. It is the community organizing he did before going to law school. Much of the community work he did after law school and getting into politics is pretty much par for the course for many elected officials.

Obama has some achievements. Given that he was specifically awarded on the grounds of working to bring international peace, the statement that Obama has not achieved anything yet still stands true. He's beginning. With nuclear disarmament talks, trying to figure out where we are going in Afghanistan, removing troops from Iraq, etc. But his community work which is rather common among political officials, most of whom we'll never hear of, is not even a part of this.

 

[linwood]

President Obama has broken new ground here. Nominations for potential winners of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ended on February 1. The president took office only 12 days earlier on January 20.

That list is more than a slight misrepresentation.

After reading it and actually knowing what those meetings involved and those bills he signed said I`m actually more inclined to believe he did do something as president to deserve the award.

Thanks

 

[Alceste]

That list is more than a slight misrepresentation.

After reading it and actually knowing what those meetings involved and those bills he signed said I`m actually more inclined to believe he did do something as president to deserve the award.

Thanks

Yeh - as soon as I saw "skipped church" I didn't even bother to read the rest.