President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

[grantt]

Will he be allowed to keep it? Canadian prime ministers cannot accept gifts worth more than $1000. Does America have something similar for its' presidents?

Good question, but I believe so. He is the third sitting president to receive this honor/award. I think, when you ad Jimmy Carter in 2002, there have been 4 presidents to actually get it.

 

[Ben1]

Great! Wow! I am happy! He gives the world new hope.
You should be proud, guys! America is not longer the bad guy! I remember his very good speech to the muslim world.
Of course it is early...but the peace committee wants to support his new world politic. A goog sign, a good choice!
Congratulations, Mr.President!

 

[maxpowr9]

I just saw it on Yahoo when I logged into my PC at work. Im shocked by this. Even the media is taken back by it. Like others have said, I am just waiting to see what the right-wingers have to say about all this.

 

[grantt]

Obama will have a news conference this morning regarding this. I truly believe he is taken by surprize and may even be a little embarrassed....well, maybe. I do not fault Obama for this. I just feel that the Nobel organization has just lowered itself to little more than a political tool. Tarnishes the prize, kind of.

I hear you, Jockboy, and all your arguments in the presidents favor. I think I know how you see it. I, and many, many others, will see this from the premature aspect, that's all.

 

[Apollo]

President Obama has changed the international dynamic of political realism, by engaging Iran through diplomacy rather than perceived military threats.

President Obama has chosen to engage Russia as an international partner, rather than a perceived military threat.

President Obama has chosen to accelerate the transfer of responsibility for security, in Iraq to the Iraqi authorities.

President Obama has changed the way the rest of the world understands the manner that the United States Government relates to the rest of the world. No longer intimidation, threats, and coercion. Rather the creation of partnerships with those countries that respond to diplomacy rather than threats.

Diplomatic action is a process, and not an event.

Much more needs to be done. There are still only 24 hours in each day. Patience pays dividends.

Many Americans expect immediate, positive results to arise from government policy changes. The world does not work like that. And never has.

I applaud President Obama for his new international realism. More power to his elbow.

The award of this prize to President Obama is well deserved.

Quoted for Truth and Posterity.

Beyond that, I am hugely surprised. Maybe next year when he has done more diplomatic stuff instead of running in guns ablazing.

But hey, you go girl!

 

[kallipolis]

I mean:

1. Obama is still using Blackwater.

2. Obama is still pushing a war of absurdity in Afghanistan.

3. Obama in fact increased troops in Afghanistan.

4. Obama stated he was willing to attack Pakistan.

5. Obama supported surgical missile strikes on Iran.

6. Obama actively supported a bill to suppress photographic evidence of Americans systematically torturing and abusing detainees.

7. Obama has in fact implemented aspects of Bush's Iraq Policy.

.

A wonderful history lesson.

Current reality would inform us that the rest of the world is happy with President Obamas policies to employ diplomacy, rather than continue with the outrageous peace destructive policies of the Bush administration.

But of course diplomacy is a process and as such, will need time and patience, to rebuild Americas international relationships, destroyed by the ineptness of George Bushs megalomaniac policies.

The Nobel Peace committees decision to award President Obama with the peace prize does confirm that America is once again leading the world in creative peace making. Thank you, President Obama for your courage in electing to build international partnerships, employing a greater range of diplomacy and recognising that America needs friends, and not more enemies.

 

[andysayshi]

I supported Obama during the primaries and of course, during the election, but one must try to maintain some sort of objectivity when it comes to lauding achievement (and especially prizes as distinguished as the Nobel), and one must always make a distinction between supporting the lesser of two evils (Obama vs McCain) and actually giving someone credit for being radically different. Giving Obama significant credit for advancing the peace process -- even without requiring achievement as two posters have suggested here -- is blatantly absurd and completely unearned

I mean:

1. Obama is still using Blackwater.

2. Obama is still pushing a war of absurdity in Afghanistan.

3. Obama in fact increased troops in Afghanistan.

4. Obama stated he was willing to attack Pakistan.

5. Obama supported surgical missile strikes on Iran.

6. Obama actively supported a bill to suppress photographic evidence of Americans systematically torturing and abusing detainees.

7. Obama has in fact implemented aspects of Bush's Iraq Policy.

If this is our definition of "peace" -- yes, even "attempting peace" -- then I don't want to know what our definition of war is.

Great post - strong food for thought.

 

[kallipolis]

The peace creating policies of President Obama have been evidenced by Americas improving relationship with Russia, and as a result of very recent diplomatic efforts, a much more cooperative Iran.

Nine months in office does signal to the world, that President Obama is the representative, of a much more mature American involvement in international relationships.

I wish President Obama good luck with his emphasis on diplomacy, knowing that our planet is now benefiting immensely from the dramatic change, in Americas approach to dealing with international challenges.

Keep up the good work, Mr. President.

 

[palemale]

5. Obama supported surgical missile strikes on Iran.

I love this cite. It's from the Socialist Workers Party, also know by its acronym SWP, which many on the left say stands for Sex Without Partners. They're real credible.

 

[kevin23]

Obama is much like Jack Kennedy, both were very popular Presidents but accomplished very little. Pres. Johnson was the one who passed the Civil Rights legislation that Kennedy talked about, and sometimes gets credit for.

No, he doesn't deserve the Nobel Prize. At least not yet.

 

[palemale]

^^ As usual, you are uninformed.

You mean they aren't known on the left as Sex Without Partners?

 

[kallipolis]

Obama is much like Jack Kennedy, both were very popular Presidents but accomplished very little. Pres. Johnson was the one who passed the Civil Rights legislation that Kennedy talked about, and sometimes gets credit for.

No, he doesn't deserve the Nobel Prize. At least not yet.

A bullet, or two interrupted the progress of John F. Kennedy.

 

[Apollo]

He's not radically different on Iraq as two of the links I included show. And I have yet to hear a persuasive argument in favor of any of the atrocities I mentioned: Blackwater, troop-increase in Afghanistan, suppression of photographic evidence of torture, and no real progress on Iraq withdrawal, or ending the horrors of Guantanamo.



Do you even realize how vague this is? As long as he keeps giving pretty speeches, he will remain globally popular, but that goodwill doesn't always match his actual policies.

But it's nice to know that France likes us again.

Dont we have an established time table for Iraq withdrawel? Didnt he release the 3 year plan on how troops will be gone, leaving only a small force to train the Iraqi's but they will not be policing or patroling Iraq as they are there for training purposes?

And aren't troop levels going DOWN in Iraq right now?

I don't know what Blackwater is.

The torture pictures I think should be released.

And the troop increase in Afghanistan is necessary IMO.

France and the rest of Europe. I personally like Europe and the world liking us again. It means more diplomatic approaches get used than not. Hell, Iran has a hard time attacking us and have moved on to their old enemy Great Britain for their propaganda ads.

 

[kallipolis]

President Obamas constructive engagement with the international community, towards expanding peace is always work in progress. There can never be an end result, when we speak of peace building. For homo sapiens will resort to violence as a means to further self interest.

It's much more creative to give the Nobel peace prize to someone who is currently working at developing world peace (however compromised, the peace making process) than to award the prize to someone, who may in the past have contributed something to wards a peace making process.

 

[MystikWizard]

I personally think it is a bit too soon to award Obama the Nobel Peace Prize.

I recognize that he has verbally stated that he plans on ending the War in Iraq, bringing the troops home, ending the War in Afghanistan, reaching out to Iran and other rogue nations ... but still I have to say that the "Proof is in the Pudding".

When some of these things actually get accomplished, then I would certainly be happy to take him into consideration as a candidate.

However, in my opinion, it is entirely too soon.

 

[kallipolis]

I give full marks to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for their intelligent, foresight in recognising President Obamas work in progress.

 

[TheTalkingAsshole]

Achievement is not a prerequisite to winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Well then, Obama is overqualified for the award I suppose.

 

[kallipolis]

It is a fine pickle. He does deserve credit for bringing people to the table and for trying to start some honest conversation. My objections are that a person of peace doesn't prepare for war and peace at the same time. A person of peace would not look to add more and more troops. A person of peace would stand at the bully pulpit the people elected him to and stand down the rampant hate and ignorance that is brewing. He has a tendency to speak out of both sides of his mouth. He tries to please everyone and in return pleases no one. Good intentions only get you so far, and they have a way of paving the path to hell.

History teaches us that those who are committed to maintain peace, are also fully prepared to wage war, to encourage the aggressor to maintain the peace.

 

[palemale]

Following is a statement released this morning by the DNC, which pretty much says it all:

"The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize," wrote DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. "Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize -- an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride -- unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it's an embarrassing label to claim."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/obamas-nobel-prize-inspir_n_315167.html

Whatever one thinks about the Nobel committee's decision, and whether or not Prez. Obama deserves it, it hardly seems fair to attack him for what the Nobel committee did.

 

[kallipolis]

Following is a statement released this morning by the DNC, which pretty much says it all:

"The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize," wrote DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. "Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize -- an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride -- unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it's an embarrassing label to claim."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/obamas-nobel-prize-inspir_n_315167.html

Whatever one thinks about the Nobel committee's decision, and whether or not Prez. Obama deserves it, it hardly seems fair to attack him for what the Nobel committee did.

Wisdom, in deed.