Nobel Laureate

[slimvintage]

Obama received the Peace Prize for identifying, with his typical passion (in speeches in Paris, Cairo and elsewhere), the themes he means to make central to his foreign policy: non-nuclearization, Middle East peace, and global warming.

Did the committee play petty, anti-Bush politics in awarding to someone who merely represents the antithesis of Cheney's policies but who hasn't done anything to earn it, the most prestigious prize a statesman can have?

Or is his vision, and the specific challenges he's prioritized, motive more than sufficient to defend the honor the Nobel committee awarded him?

 

[baal]

Since he was in office for (I believe) nine days of the eligibility period it's clear accomplishments had nothing to do with this...

 

[slimvintage]

Since he was in office for (I believe) nine days of the eligibility period it's clear accomplishments had nothing to do with this...

Ironically, the committee spoke of his accomplishments, those of uniting the world in the hope for a better life on a better planet, said uniting having taken place in the run-up to the election, and the December before he was inaugurated. Thanks for posting baal. I'm guessing that either everything that needs to be said about his winning the prize has either been said in the US media, or that no one is taking much notice in the States of an award given by a bunch of Swedish lefties. Or my questions were badly phrased. So thanks again.

 

[LesterM]

He has given many young people hope for a better world. His speech at the gay rights banquet made me feel much more positive that someday my bf and i will not have to wait for permission to seal our relationship. Would I like to see more progress, faster? Of course I would. I will say i feel much more positive than I did watching Bush, Chaney et al dismantaling my civil rights and destroying the economy while being raped by Wall Street

 

[baal]

But he did nothing substantive during the eligibility period. You can tap dance and say it's about potential and hope but there were people who actually did things during the time period that was covered that were cheated because of this decision...

 

[slimvintage]

But he did nothing substantive during the eligibility period. You can tap dance and say it's about potential and hope but there were people who actually did things during the time period that was covered that were cheated because of this decision...

Who do you think the Nobel Committee might have had on the short list?

 

[tampa24]

Who do you think the Nobel Committee might have had on the short list?

Actually I agree with Baal on his first point. I was surprised by the decision myself. But I also agree with you Slim on the second point. There were no easy or obvious choices this year for the Peace Prize.

Who indeed would have been on the short list?

Putin, Brown, Sarkozy, Abbas, Bush, the Pope?

If anybody has obvious choices of people more worthy than Obama this time around then go ahead and drop some names.

 

[slimvintage]

Actually I agree with Baal on his first point. I was surprised by the decision myself. But I also agree with you Slim on the second point. There were no easy or obvious choices this year for the Peace Prize.

Who indeed would have been on the short list?

Putin, Brown, Sarkozy, Abbas, Bush, the Pope?

If anybody has obvious choices of people more worthy than Obama this time around then go ahead and drop some names.

Thanks tamps. Here's what the Committee has been saying:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091013/ap_on_re_eu/eu_nobel_peace_obama

 

[Jayman01]

Pres. Obama began peace talks with other nations while he was still a Senator and while running for the office of President. I would not even be surprised if a lot of his campaign money came from outside sources distributed through local bank accounts. He was looking for a way to end this war early on in his term as President should he get elected. I think we can all argue that he may not have had the power until he became President. However; we should also remember that he wielded a considerable amount of power as a US Senator as well. Maybe we don't know everything he did as a US Senator prior to the elections. Just a thought.

 

[Jayman01]

Here is more information proior to Obama's election.

On Arab TV, Obama makes overture to Muslims - IHT - Jan 27, 2008
"..In his first extensive interview since taking office, President Barack Obama has struck a conciliatory tone toward the Islamic world, saying he wanted to persuade Muslims that "the Americans are not your enemy." He spoke a day after sending a special envoy on a Middle East tour in pursuit of what Obama called "progress that is concrete." The president told an interviewer from the Al Arabiya network, based in Dubai, that "the moment is ripe for both sides" to negotiate in the Middle East.. ..Obama's remarks marked at least a stylistic shift from the Bush administration, which critics say engaged too slowly on Middle East peace; the new president offered a dialogue with Iran and what he depicted as a new readiness to listen rather than dictate. On his first full day in office he had taken time to phone several Middle Eastern leaders.."

Obama uses Arab TV to reach Muslims - Washington Times - Jan 28, 2009
"..President Obama's choice of an Arab news channel for his first sit-down television interview since taking office jolted the Muslim world Tuesday, with Saudi Arabia voicing approval and Iran offering a tepid wait-and-see assessment.. ..Mr. Obama's decision to give his first TV interview to the satellite news channel Al Arabiya was intended as an olive branch to the Middle East and to Muslims, the White House said. "The president believed that this was an opportunity to show the world that he would be personally involved and engaged in seeking long-lasting peace in the Middle East," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. A prominent Palestinian lawmaker, Hanan Ashrawi, said of the interview: "People are starting to feel this isn't just lip service."

Hey, I don't know what the eligibility period is or was. Nor, do I know who was on the short list. in that respect I would have to say Baal has a great argument. In this case it seems he has a better understanding of the process than many of us. Why the President received the prize is beyond me. I do believe everything happens for a reason. Therefore, Seein President Obama receive the prize was not a surprising as if it had gone to Pope Benedict for me.

I would have thought Nicola Tessla would have received the prize being the absolute greatest scientist of our time. Yes, Tesla sores way above Thomas Edison, Alexander Grham Bell, and Albert Einstine. So, if the committee can choose not to give it to a man as deserving as Tessla for his accomplishments. Why can't they give it to some one as note worthy as Obama??? I do believe everything happens for a reason. greed, lust, anger, hatred, love, or even just simply being deserving....One day we will truly know...

 

[slimvintage]

Pres. Obama began peace talks with other nations while he was still a Senator and while running for the office of President. I would not even be surprised if a lot of his campaign money came from outside sources distributed through local bank accounts. He was looking for a way to end this war early on in his term as President should he get elected. I think we can all argue that he may not have had the power until he became President. However; we should also remember that he wielded a considerable amount of power as a US Senator as well. Maybe we don't know everything he did as a US Senator prior to the elections. Just a thought.

I personally thought it was a brilliant choice. It riveted the world and lent the prestige of the prize to the initiatives and enterprise of a person with the intelligence, vision and charisma to make real changes for the better.

 

[Jayman01]

I personally thought it was a brilliant choice. It riveted the world and lent the prestige of the prize to the initiatives and enterprise of a person with the intelligence, vision and charisma to make real changes for the better.

I agree. I would not agrue the committee's selection...