Barack Obama 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Winner... wait, wtf?

[Halifirien]

Of course it does. It shows how they can make the WORST possible choices. Hitler was nominated for the prize because of the politics of the era. Absolutely NO DIFFERENCE why Obama was nominated now. He hasn't done jack shit for peace. Iraq War. CHECK. Afgan War. CHECK (and getting worse). Hell fucking Gitmo is even still open.

No, it really doesn't say anything except how eager you are to put Hitler and Obama in the same sentence. You can nominate anyone you like for a prize. That has nothing to do with the eventual winner. Hitler being nominated means nothing. You're grasping at straws. Big, Hitler-flavored straws.

 

[Keryan]

Maybe the fact that hes the first black US President? Sure, its not a significant contribution to humanity, but hey, look at this country's history when it comes to minorities in power. Becoming president while being something other than white is one hell of an accomplishment.

He is also white. People tend to forget this. He has not done anything to earn this. It belittles the award. I am not suprised at all that someone put his name in. It is a shame that people were so small minded to do it. I hope he declines the nomination.

 

[Halifirien]

I hope he declines the nomination.

Too late to decline the nomination. He's already won.

I thought this was an interesting explanation for how it isn't always for past accomplishments:

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.

The Nobel Committee gave South African Bishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership of 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.

I still think it feels premature, but I'll accept it if it makes Glenn Beck cry again.

 

[Miros]

I thought this was an interesting explanation for how it isn't always for past accomplishments:

So it was a pity award given to him because people were starting to get harsh since he hasn't done anything? If that's the case then it doesn't sound like they have much faith in Obama either.

Him getting the award is complete bullshit. If you want to point out Bishop Tutu as an example, according to wiki he was already speaking against and starting his campaign in 1976. So he already had 8 years to at least earn the prize. What's Obama done? Guantanamo by the bay is still open and we still are over in the middle east. I think this may harm Obama's image more then help. I've got liberal friends even saying now that there's no reason for him to be getting this prize and they would have rather him done something first.

 

[Cort]

True, but to say "Promises that havent been kept" is plain idiotic. The guy has only been in office for a few months, and had more backlash than any other president in recent history.

Hali put it best though, Obama may not have done anything world changing in the past, but who's to say he wont pull something big in the future?

That doesn't change the fact that he hasn't acted on a ton of his promises.

Habeas fucking Corpus, the wiretapping, and so on.
He can easily abuse his power to right these wrongs, but he hasn't done a damn thing.

 

[Zyndara]

I just love the Obama bashing. He didn't ask for the thing, he was awarded it. Was it premature? Yep. But he hasn't done anything Miros? He's been in the presidency less than a year. Come on ffs. I'm tired of people smashing the piss out of him when meaningful change takes time. He inherited an economy that's a goddamned mess, largely thanks to W and his moronic and misguided overspending, people all over the country are suffering with the highest unemployment rate in over a decade, and people are tapping their feet saying he hasn't done shit. Well guess fucking what? It didn't get that way overnight, and it isn't going to get fixed in under a year.

You don't decline a Nobel nomination. It's a tremendous honor, whether you personally agree with his being awarded it or not. You do exactly what he said he'd do, which is work very hard to live up to the honor that was bestowed on him. If we're looking at another year down the road with no discernable progress then by all means, give him hell. But for fuck's sake, give him a minute.

 

[Zoolander]

I've got liberal friends even saying now that there's no reason for him to be getting this prize and they would have rather him done something first.

Wow lol, talk about overreacting to something completely out of the hands of Obama. For fucks sake, some stupid Norwegians gave him the award to soon. Everyone was surprised by it and hes just handling it the best that it can be. At least it does show how much our image has improved overseas already.

I mean his response was perfect for the most part: http://www.democrats.org/a/2009/10/remarks_by_pres.php

and he is doing the obvious of donating the money to charity lol. Not like he gave himself the award or something, such a stupid thing to get bitchy about.

 

[Halifirien]

and he is doing the obvious of donating the money to charity lol. Not like he gave himself the award or something, such a stupid thing to get bitchy about.

One of my favorite bloggers joked that Obama could really cause conservative heads to explode by donating the money to Acorn.

Which leads to another quote that I liked. This one from Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., giving the STFU treatment to the GOP. He was specifically addressing health care reform, but I think he's pretty much nailed the sentiment on the right toward anything Obama does.

They understand that if Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world, the Republicans would blame him for overpopulation. They understand that if Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace, they'd blame him for destroying the defense industry. In fact, they understand that if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch, they will try to ban bacon!

I almost pity the GOP at this point. Bad enough they got smacked around in the election, but now the Nobel Peace Prize going to Obama can be seen as one more "Fuck you" to their view of the world and yet another repudiation of the Bush Doctrine.

 

[Miros]

I just love the Obama bashing. He didn't ask for the thing, he was awarded it. Was it premature? Yep. But he hasn't done anything Miros? He's been in the presidency less than a year. Come on ffs. I'm tired of people smashing the piss out of him when meaningful change takes time. He inherited an economy that's a goddamned mess, largely thanks to W and his moronic and misguided overspending, people all over the country are suffering with the highest unemployment rate in over a decade, and people are tapping their feet saying he hasn't done shit. Well guess fucking what? It didn't get that way overnight, and it isn't going to get fixed in under a year.

You don't decline a Nobel nomination. It's a tremendous honor, whether you personally agree with his being awarded it or not. You do exactly what he said he'd do, which is work very hard to live up to the honor that was bestowed on him. If we're looking at another year down the road with no discernable progress then by all means, give him hell. But for fuck's sake, give him a minute.

Wow lol, talk about overreacting to something completely out of the hands of Obama. For fucks sake, some stupid Norwegians gave him the award to soon. Everyone was surprised by it and hes just handling it the best that it can be. At least it does show how much our image has improved overseas already.

I mean his response was perfect for the most part: http://www.democrats.org/a/2009/10/remarks_by_pres.php

and he is doing the obvious of donating the money to charity lol. Not like he gave himself the award or something, such a stupid thing to get bitchy about.

That's all I keep hearing. Give him time. Am I the only one who doesn't think 4 years is a whole hell of a lot of time to get all that he wants/is promising taken care of. Not only that but I hear that you have to spend money to get change. We're in that trillion mark and that's a hell of a lot of money to just shrug off.

I think you both may need to look closer. I'm perfectly willing to wait if Obama has a plan that could get us out of the war, get us out of debt and move this country to a better economic time. But so many people are unwilling to see any wrong in the guy and of course treat him as the messiah that the US needs. I'm glad that Obama himself even agrees that probably shouldn't get it.

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.

I'll applaud him for that not problem. But I still find it to be bullshit that he's getting the award. I'm pissed at the people who will won't step back and say "hey, I wonder why he hasn't done much." Just like I was pissed at people who wouldn't step back and say "hey, why didn't Bush do anything about the rising gas prices?"

 

[Zyndara]

I don't think he's a messiah at all. I think he's a man committed to changing things for the better. And I think he will. And yeah, you're absolutely right. Four years isn't a hell of a lot of time. Especially when you're cleaning up the colossal mess the last president left. He didn't put those soldiers in the middle east. He didn't authorize the goings on in Guantanamo. You can't just say "well new president time to move out." It's not easy and it's not instantaneous. Anyone who thinks all that can just be done in under a year considering our government's red tape happy history is kidding themselves, and if they think it's because it's Obama in the White House, well then they're delusional too. Put anyone else in there, and you still wouldn't see an instant shift. It's simply not feasible.

 

[Miros]

I don't think he's a messiah at all. I think he's a man committed to changing things for the better. And I think he will. And yeah, you're absolutely right. Four years isn't a hell of a lot of time. Especially when you're cleaning up the colossal mess the last president left. He didn't put those soldiers in the middle east. He didn't authorize the goings on in Guantanamo. You can't just say "well new president time to move out." It's not easy and it's not instantaneous. Anyone who thinks all that can just be done in under a year considering our government's red tape happy history is kidding themselves, and if they think it's because it's Obama in the White House, well then they're delusional too. Put anyone else in there, and you still wouldn't see an instant shift. It's simply not feasible.

I definitely agree with you and I know he's got a shit mess that he's got. I'll say it again, I have nothing against the man himself it's just the blind followers he has. Most of which have such pent up frustration from Bush's 8 years that anything they view as a "fuck you" to the republican party they'll start cheering for it blindly. Much like extremists who hate Obama and want him to lose are cheering because we lost Chicago Olympics. Jesus I still remember the rallys they had at school. Never said anything except "Yes we can!" and "Fuck Bush!" at the same time free pencils and t-shirts being handed out. I truly want this president to do things that will make extreme rights cry because he actually would have earned the award. But I can't get over how blind some people are. Everything's switched since Bush.

 

[Strid]

I don't agree with it, not one bit. Time? Go fuck yourself, give it to someone who has done somethin' or AT LEAST has a track record to show they WILL do something. It's okay to be a humanitarian and all, go ahead give that money to the needy, and when it backfires on us years from now, like it did with Clinton, we'll just blame it on the last Republican who held office. We'll also not blame society, no, never. So go right ahead and drive us further in debt, like you already have, accept your million dollar prize award, we'll let you slide later on anyway. Yeah, I'm pissed.

 

[Nyosan~]

One of my favorite bloggers joked that Obama could really cause conservative heads to explode by donating the money to Acorn.

Which leads to another quote that I liked. This one from Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., giving the STFU treatment to the GOP. He was specifically addressing health care reform, but I think he's pretty much nailed the sentiment on the right toward anything Obama does.

They understand that if Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world, the Republicans would blame him for overpopulation. They understand that if Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace, they'd blame him for destroying the defense industry. In fact, they understand that if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch, they will try to ban bacon!

I almost pity the GOP at this point. Bad enough they got smacked around in the election, but now the Nobel Peace Prize going to Obama can be seen as one more "Fuck you" to their view of the world and yet another repudiation of the Bush Doctrine.

That Grayson quote is ridiculous. He's giving "The Right" the same demonization treatment that he's accusing them of doing (not that there isn't some of it going on). In my opinion, anyone who accuses other human beings of being completely reactionary without any thought toward what they're doing deserves to be ignored, regardless of political affiliation.

On topic:
I think that it's quite premature, a few speeches and some nice sentiments hardly qualify one for the prize. As for Tutu, I don't really see the comparison as valid. Nobel Peace Prize 2012 would've been much more understandable in my opinion, assuming that any of this comes to fruition.

 

[Zyndara]

I agree with you on that tack. I think that there are people so relieved not to have W. in office that they now have their heads firmly planted up their asses and are complete yes men. I wish that there was more informed knowledge in general among our population. I think government should be more than a one semester course you take just to graduate. But in the meantime, I hope that the people that do bother to take the time to read and follow what's going on and be politically well read can present both sides of it. Which is I guess kind of what I'm trying to do here. He's a human being, and he's got flaws like the rest of us. I'm positive he'll screw up in one way or another. But I've got some faith that at the heart of it is a president who has the ability and the will to make some good things happen. It's not blind faith. It's hopeful faith.

And as for "go fuck yourself" Strid... Laughable. This country thrived under Clinton. He made mistakes, yes. But please tell me you're not so ignorant to think that W. didn't compound any situation he walked into. He was inept. It wasn't a case of "oh poor republicans getting dumped on by the democrats." It was a case of a poor fucking president with neither the intelligence nor the fortitude to think things through past his own presidency. He fucked up over and over and gleefully got more money from congress to dig that hole a little deeper. So please. Don't blame that bullshit on a president who hasn't had 8 years to mess everything up.

 

[Halifirien]

I'm positive he'll screw up in one way or another. But I've got some faith that at the heart of it is a president who has the ability and the will to make some good things happen.

He's already screwed up multiple times, in ways that make me seriously uncomfortable about his feel-good presidency. Defending indefinite detainment, refusing to investigate possible war crimes -- people in power are very reluctant to be held accountable for the shit they pull, no matter what their party affiliation -- exploiting the Zazi case to tout Patriot Act abuses of power as vital to waging The War On Terror™. I didn't vote for him to be Bush II.

Still, it's better than McCain-Palin.

And don't get me started on Obama's abysmal showing toward gay rights so far. I'm amused that he's addressing the Human Rights Campaign tomorrow, but I have a feeling it's going to be another episode of everyone's favorite show: "Watch Obama Blow Smoke Up Our Ass."

 

[Zyndara]

It is better than McCain-Palin. By a far stretch.

I hear you. If we're still having this same conversation next year, then yeah, I'll absolutely agree. It's just unreasonable to expect that he's going to address every single issue everyone wants addressed in his first 8 months in the presidency. The economy is slowly improving which is a start - I'd like to see how the next 8 months evolves before writing him off.

 

[Zoolander]

How any rational person could actually be angry over this is beyond me. Its not like he nominated himself or was out there competing for it and people arn'te even really arguing that he deserves it. It is besides the point anyway. I don't know how he could of handled it any better either.

And Miros, what are you talking about? No where in my post did I say give him time or even allude to time other than saying that everyone knows they were a bit premature with awarding him that.

 

[Acutie]

So the award is being used to promote peace rather than to award someone who has already done so. It's a choice for the greater good probably, it will definitely piss people off who have been working tirelessly for peace all year long though.

On a side note, I wish I got awards for stuff I may or may not do.

 

[Strid]

And as for "go fuck yourself" Strid... Laughable.

Right, because the prize should go to someone through wishful thinking. Silly me.

This country thrived under Clinton.

To "thrive under" and to "thrive because of" are two different things.

But please tell me you're not so ignorant to think that W. didn't compound any situation he walked into. He was inept. It wasn't a case of "oh poor republicans getting dumped on by the democrats." It was a case of a poor fucking president with neither the intelligence nor the fortitude to think things through past his own presidency. He fucked up over and over and gleefully got more money from congress to dig that hole a little deeper. So please. Don't blame that bullshit on a president who hasn't had 8 years to mess everything up.

I'm not so ignorant to blame -everything- (like you just did) on George W. and applaud another man with a different name for doing the same, with different ending pockets. If you want to be a typical Bush basher and insult intelligence go right ahead but forgive me for not joining you. Far be it from me to say whether or not he is not an intelligent man. I don't define a person's intelligence by their public speaking abilities (that would be a zinger, fyi).

However, all of this is insignificant to the topic at hand.

How any rational person could actually be angry over this is beyond me. Its not like he nominated himself or was out there competing for it and people arn'te even really arguing that he deserves it. It is besides the point anyway. I don't know how he could of handled it any better either.

You need to understand what the anger is toward, it's not Obama himself. The anger is directed toward the people who made this happen. It takes a real idiot to nominate someone who hasn't done anything. I'm sure there are also some right wing nut-bags mad at Obama though, clearly irrational.

There is an article in U.S.A. Today that explains my feelings 100% on the matter, I'll quote it below.

Shen Dingli, an international relations expert at Fudan University in Shanghai, saw undue haste in Oslo's award. "They have the patience to wait 50 years for a natural science award, but no patience to wait three years" for Obama's first term to conclude, he said. "He may not deserve it, and he may destroy the Nobel Peace Prize's importance."

 

[Cort]

He inherited an economy that's a goddamned mess, largely thanks to W and his moronic and misguided overspending,

lololololol. If you think the problem is bush then you're blind, my friend.

I almost pity the GOP at this point. Bad enough they got smacked around in the election, but now the Nobel Peace Prize going to Obama can be seen as one more "Fuck you" to their view of the world and yet another repudiation of the Bush Doctrine.

THIS JUST IN, EVERY REPUBLICAN BELIEVES THE SAME THING.

MORE IGNORANT NEWS AT 11, BACK TO YOU BOB.