“US President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/”

“Congratulations Mr. President! You make us proud.”

“

In a surprise, Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

AP - Friday, October 09, 2009
By KARL RITTER and MATT MOORE

President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

The stunning choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize and shocked Nobel observers because Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. Obama's name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."

The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.

"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.

Theodore Roosevelt won the award in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson won in 1919. Former President Jimmy Carter won the award in 2002, while former Vice President Al Gore shared the 2007 prize with the U.N. panel on climate change.

The Nobel committee received a record 205 nominations for this year's prize.

In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses."
last edited: 10/09/09 3:55:24 AM”

“The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/press.html”

“In related news:

WASHINGTON (AP) � President Barack Obama's popularity has boosted America's image abroad even though deep suspicions about the U.S. persist in the Muslim world, according to a poll released Thursday.

The survey of two dozen nations conducted this spring by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that positive public attitudes toward the United States have surged in many parts of the world since Obama's election.

Positive opinions about the United States have returned to higher levels not seen since before President George W. Bush took office in 2001. The Bush presidency marked a steep decline in U.S. popularity overseas, notably after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, because of a perception that the post-9/11 war on terrorism was targeted at Muslims.

"The image of the United States has improved markedly in most parts of the world, reflecting global confidence in Barack Obama," the center said in its annual Pew Global Attitudes Report.



http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1289/global-attitudes-survey-2009-obama-lifts-america-image
last edited: 10/09/09 4:16:14 AM”

“Didn't Algore win it for his global warming theories?

How'd that turn out? LOL!

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/No-Kidding-Snow-on-Sunday--63751227.html

”

“Try to be proud of America and your President, if only for a day.”

“America is freedom, and until Obama protects our freedom, instead of concentrating on increasing government powers, I won't be proud of him.”

“Are you kidding me? Obama? Nobel Peace Prize?
Now now guys, don't get carried away.

Well, I remember when the new pope was chosen and he was a german. Germanys most notorious tabloid jubilated: "We are pope!" So suddenly all of Germany was pope? mmmm...”

“....mmmmm, still thinking about it. I already said "don't get carried away", but I guess this board will go totally nuts the next couple of weeks.

Nevertheless: Congratulations!
:-)”

“Congratulations, violin. I find the honor dubious, to say the least: His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population,

Moral Relativism and One World Government FTW! What's not to love about that? I'm sure Walter Kronkite is proud.”

“So does this Peace Prize mean he won't be giving McChrystal all those troops?

It might look bad now to ratchet up a globally unpopular war.”

“it's a make-up call for not getting the olympics”

“OMG - this keeps getting better!

Check this out: Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline.

He'd only been in office two weeks! And it was based on his speech to the Muslim world. Holy cow, this was before it was obvious he was basically just continuing Bush's foreign policy, so he could focus on domestic issues. I have to chuckle now.
last edited: 10/09/09 5:33:09 AM”

“But don't you feel the least bit warm and fuzzy knowing that you have a president that you can be proud of? I mean now when I go out around the world, I don't have to be embarrassed and hang my head in shame. I can be proud of my president and my country once more! Swoon!”

“The tantrums and bedwetting have already begun, I see.”

“Who the hell were the other nominees?”

“from around the world ...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6867711.ece

The award of this year’s Nobel peace prize to President Obama will be met with widespread incredulity, consternation in many capitals and probably deep embarrassment by the President himself.

Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.

Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.

The pretext for the prize was Mr Obama’s decision to “strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”. Many people will point out that, while the President has indeed promised to “reset” relations with Russia and offer a fresh start to relations with the Muslim world, there is little so far to show for his fine words.”

“Tell us violin, are still happy about what is so obviously a hollow award?”

“Tsk Tsk”

“I like Obama. I think he has been highly competent so far - not perfect by any stretch, but he has my support.

That said, the Nobel peace prize for Obama this year seems nuts to me. My best explanation is that the voters wanted him to make a decent showing and no one thought he'd win. If not, then the prize vote has become a popularity contest for international figures. Or hey, maybe I can hope there are psychics on the committee. In my opinion he hasn't even earned a nomination yet - let alone the prize.

I can just imagine how this will fit into some Obama paranoia.”

“If the US won the world cup of Futbol, you'd all say it wasn't real cause they didn't wear helmets and new tires.”

“pedxing, what has Obama been "competent" at?”

“I think the Nobel committee acted prematurely, also, Ped. But, I also look at it this way. Some people, who will remain unnamed, blame President Obama, who has only been in office for 9 months, for everything under the sun that they deem as negative. Why not balance it out with a little, (albeit premature), positive reinforcement?
Congratulations, President Obama. I am sure that you should share this award with GW, since he made you look so good.”

“Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho shared a 1973 Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War. Tho rejected his award, saying that there was no peace in his country.

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1847407,00.html”

“LOL..Yogi I remember hearing a reference to Super K as "the only man in history for winning a medal for losing a war."

For D'Ohbama I think this is hilarious. In essence he was chosen for what he had PROMISED. In actuality he has really done no more than he has done as President.”

“Why not balance it out with a little, (albeit premature), positive reinforcement?

Here's another idea. Give the award to somebody who earned it.”

“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_s_woes_analysis_1

Here is the kicker, say Iran goes ahead and hits Isreal (end of peace there) because of D'ohbama being such a wuss.

Then North Korea figures he will back down and pushes it.

Then Afhghanistan explodes and Pakistan is dragged in...necessitating India getting involved.

The Noball piece prize will become synonymous with "Premature Ej..."”

“Methinks someone's head is about to explode. Sorry that this is so difficult to counter for some of you negativity mongers.”

“"Nominations for the prize had to be postmarked by February 1 -- only 12 days after Obama took office. The committee sent out its solicitation for nominations last September -- two months before Obama was elected president."

talk about pathetic. not only did he get the prize for accomplishing nothing but he was nominated less than two weeks after starting office. what a joke.
last edited: 10/09/09 7:56:14 AM”

“Why do I keep remembering the movie "American Beauty" (LOL)”

“If I'd known it would take a broken bone to get Dunadan to post more often I'd have sent Bubba out to Lawrence years ago to have a little chat with Dunny.”

“i dont see how barry deserved it. but, for those of you getting your panties in a wad, who DID deserve it?”

“I think Obama played it correctly here, said he didn't deserve it without dissing the committee:

WASHINGTON � He said he does not "view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments," but rather as a recognition of goals he has set for the United States and the world. Obama said, "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize."”

“like Jimmy Carter and Al Gore? LOL!!”

“It's lefty's intentions that matter, not actual accomplishments. LOL
last edited: 10/09/09 9:07:54 AM”

“Jimmy Carter acheived something with Camp David and peace between Egypt and Israel. If he had been followed by someone more capable on this front, it is quite possible we would have had further progress - instead of an administration that gave the green light for the whole Israel in Lebanon fiasco (especially Israel's over-reach after clearing the PLO out of the border areas).”

“As far as Obama's competence. Two things I'd cite:

He has steered us away from a depression. He has understood the need to stimulate the economy by improving infrastructure - not just funding a spending spree where the money will trickle out due to the trade deficit.

He has managed to shift the tone of US foreign policy and reverse America's precipitous decline in respect and influence without making abrupt and foolish choices in Iraq. We will see if he can do the same in Afghanistan.”

“Barack Obama linked to terrorist Yasser Arafat

LOL, so true”

“Steered us away from a depression? Just about every economic indicator has gotten WORSE under him, plus, there is no reason to believe we were going to be in a depression. I guess under that logic he kept aliens from attacking us, so kudos for that!

re: Iraq and Afghanistan - he's done NOTHING different than Bush did, or had on any of his timelines to do. NOTHING except make things worse in Afghanistan. Actions speak louder than words. He TALKED about doing things differently, so maybe that's the tone you're referring to. He lied, and he screwed things up worse. Not sure what standard you're using for "competence". At least Bush was straightforward about his intentions.”

“They wear pointed hoods to cover their pointed heads.”

“He has managed to shift the tone of US foreign policy

By continuing Bush's foreign policy?”

“giving obama the nobel peace prize is the biggest joke in the world. i hate clinton and he could have deserved it more. all we need to do is prove obama was born in europe, have him shot in the head, die and live again and we have the damn anti christ for god's sake. i mean jesus christ this freak has everyone snowed.”

“Meanwhile, over at FAUX News...

”

“He doesn't do the F- imitation of John Wayne as'W' for Wayne did.”

“You are just a racist because you don't support the left's messiah, dizzy, just ask t*lt.”

“What is good for America is bad for Republicans, so it would seem.

Must suck to so hate-filled.”