Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

[cured]

I can't wait to see the latest round of Republican attacks on him for this one. Their true colors have really been showing lately.

A note from Andrew Sullivan:

Reading through all the reactions, compiled by Chris and Patrick, there are two obvious points: this is premature and this is thoroughly deserved.

Both are right. I don't think Americans fully absorbed the depths to which this country's reputation had sunk under the Cheney era. That's understandable. And so they also haven't fully absorbed the turn-around in the world's view of America that Obama and the American people have accomplished. Of course, this has yet to bear real fruit. But you can begin to see how it could; and I hope more see both the peaceful intentions and the steely resolve of this man to persevere.


This president has done a huge amount to bring race relations in this country to a different place, which is why the far right has become so vicious in attacking him and lying about him. They know he threatens their politics of division and rule. He has also directly addressed the Muslim world, telling some hard truths, and played a small role in evoking a similar movement of hope and change in Iran, and finally told the Israelis to stop cutting their nose off to spite their face.

[dubman]

god it's going to be disappointing for everyone when this guy doesnt get re-elected because repubs found a way to market him as a failure.
next carter, guys. hope im wrong but calling it now

[Sean]

Originally Posted by dubman

god it's going to be disappointing for everyone when this guy doesnt get re-elected because repubs found a way to market him as a failure.
next carter, guys. hope im wrong but calling it now

That's why we need to support Palin as the 2012 Republican nominee. What better way to insure Obama gets re-elected?

So I've been increasingly disturbed by how blatant Republicans have gotten in their opposition to Obama, because it's grown to the point where it's actually become flat-out opposition to American success. This Nobel Prize is a perfect example to start with. While we could, as a united country, celebrate the potential international leverage that our President winning this prize could provide, instead, Republicans are calling it things like "unfortunate" (Republican National Chairman Michael Steele), or worse if you listen to tools like Limbaugh or Beck. Who are Republicans putting first in this case, America, or Republicans? I'd say Republicans.

But there are other examples that have been striking me lately, too. Like , an event that would have injected millions and millions of dollars of badly needed revenue into our economy. There is literally no way to justify celebrating this loss other than as a celebration of Obama's failure to sway the Olympic committee. But what Republicans were actually cheering was the loss of a massive injection of money into the American economy. So who are Republicans putting first in this case, America, or Republicans? Once again, Republicans.

Then there's our previous discussion about Obama's address to schoolchildren urging them to work hard, assume personal responsibility, and stay in school. Republicans were in a frothy tizzy over this perceived "brainwashing" and "indoctrination" of our country's kids into Obama's "socialist", "communist" or "Hitler-like" agenda. Who were Republicans putting first in rabidly opposing a call to children to do well in school, America, or Republicans? Yeah....Republicans.

And as a final example, let's look at our own resident Obama-hater, Mongoose, who started his own thread decrying Obama for "bombing the moon". This is a mission that, if it does detect water, will be a vital step in our drive to further explore our solar system and beyond - an adventure that has and will benefit the entire planet with each new discovery, solution, and invention that it spawns. So yet again (assuming you are a Republican Mongoose), who are Republicans supporting, themselves, America, mankind? Tell America and mankind to fend for themselves, because they ain't gettin any support from Republicans on this one either.

So all of this is to get to my ultimate question. Who was it that was so eager to label Presidential opponents as "un-American" from 2000-2008, when people were demonstrating against a war that they were perfectly justified in opposing? Oh yeah....it was Republicans. So now that Republicans are actually taking stands that will obviously and decidedly hurt our country purely in the name of personal, political gain, are they also willing to assume the well deserved label of being "un-American". I mean it's one thing to protest a war, but totally another to try leveraging political advantage by celebrating significant American financial loss, or urging that we destroy American opportunity that has arisen in the form of a Peace Prize for our President, or actively fighting against calls to our children to work hard and stay in school, or campaigning against the major human advances that would arise from the confirmation of water on the moon. A notable portion of Republicans, and anyone who supports all of these machiavellian idiocies, have become one of the most ignorant and selfish groups of people currently on the planet.

[Deckard]

Seems like, once again, extremist Muslims and the conservative right of America have found common cause.

Michelle Malkin:
"It's the final nail in the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's coffin."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid:
"We condemn the institute's awarding him the peace prize. We condemn this year's peace prize as unjust."

Oh, get an island!!

Originally Posted by dubman

god it's going to be disappointing for everyone when this guy doesnt get re-elected because repubs found a way to market him as a failure.
next carter, guys. hope im wrong but calling it now

Yeah, I think you could well be right to call it like that. I honestly don't see how Obama can possibly outlive (in a political sense) the vehemence of his critics which, a mere 8 months into his presidency, just seems astonishing to me. You're right when you say he's being marketed as a failure. Sadly the impression I get is that it's working.

Can't help wondering how much of all this was seeded 12-18 months ago by the Clintons. We forget just how vicious that campaign was, and the amount of fear and nonsense that was doing the rounds, even before the guy got to flub his presidential oath. That Bill Clinton must be sucking lemons today following the Nobel announcement is at least a reason to smile.

[the mongoose]

Nope. I'm a Democrat, I never watch Fox, and I hated Bush's job in command as well. This is practically a one party system parading around as a two party system anyways.

OK fine, yes this looks good on America's resume or whatever........but, do you really believe that Pizza Hut has OMFG TEH BEST WINGZ EVA!!!! like they advertise?!? Of course they're not the best fucking wings out there, but if 50 million people are brainwashed cleverly like this:
>>>Click<<<
then you are going to lose credibility like the Wing King has (aka sold out)


So when Nobel says that OBAMAS IS TEH BEST PEACER EVA!! I just say.......of fucking course he's not the best fucking Peace bringer of the year, but if 5000 million people are brainwashed cleverly like this:

then you are going to lose credibility like the Nobel Peace Commitee has (aka sold out)


P.S. When you guys click on the Obomber the Moon thread to see what a looney batshit baby I am, read the other shit I say near the end about Miss America hopefuls and Super Bowl rings. I think that shit is relevant to this discussion.


But Obama - "YES YOU CAN! YES YOU DID! AND YES YOU DO!"

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

but, but

I'm officially crack-free as of a month ago. In every sense of the phrase Mr. Goose.

[bryantm3]

what exactly has he done to win the nobel peace prize? he hasn't done anything yet! although he is an image of hope to many people, we have to realize that he is a human being, and he shouldn't be awarded for just being around. the only thing i can think of that he has accomplished is closing the Guantanamo bay prison, and why should he be awarded for that? jimmy carter was not awarded the nobel peace prize for forgiving those who ducked out of the draft. george bush was not awarded the nobel peace prize for leading the kuwaitis to freedom from sadaam. the nobel peace prize has turned into a political sham. the fact of the matter is that those that are running the nobel committee have become notoriously left-leaning, and they think obama is the biggest lefty socialist to be elected president in america yet, and they want to give him a trophy. what a bunch of garbage.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Sean

That's why we need to support Palin as the 2012 Republican nominee. What better way to insure Obama gets re-elected?

So I've been increasingly disturbed by how blatant Republicans have gotten in their opposition to Obama, because it's grown to the point where it's actually become flat-out opposition to American success. This Nobel Prize is a perfect example to start with. While we could, as a united country, celebrate the potential international leverage that our President winning this prize could provide, instead, Republicans are calling it things like "unfortunate" (Republican National Chairman Michael Steele), or worse if you listen to tools like Limbaugh or Beck. Who are Republicans putting first in this case, America, or Republicans? I'd say Republicans.

oh, come off it. like the democrats don't pull the same stuff when republicans are in office? i'm sure that if george w. bush had won some award, most of us would be lauding it. it's not about 'supporting the country'. obama is not america. bush is not america. they are our leaders, not gods.

Then there's our previous discussion about Obama's address to schoolchildren urging them to work hard, assume personal responsibility, and stay in school. Republicans were in a frothy tizzy over this perceived "brainwashing" and "indoctrination" of our country's kids into Obama's "socialist", "communist" or "Hitler-like" agenda. Who were Republicans putting first in rabidly opposing a call to children to do well in school, America, or Republicans? Yeah....Republicans.

once again, what if the war in iraq had just broken out, fahrenheit 9/11 had just come out, and george w. bush wanted to speak to schoolkids about education. BRAINWASHING!!!

[chuck]

I agree with Sean that the rabid-ness of the opposition, as led by Glenn Beck and others is insane, and I wonder where all these people were hiding from 2000 - 2008. Surely there can't be that many villages missing their idiots? Or possibly the village sane person is simply missing.

Mongoose - your rant about the LCROSS mission was just random and even for your normal levels of dialectically mis-construed babble - just truly epic.

Let's keep this Nobel Peace Prize in perspective - it's always a symbolic and politically motivated prize. And by the nature of it being about "PEACE" - it's going to be seen as liberal, leftwing and socialist.

But check out the previous winners:

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/

In particular check WHY Obama was given it this year.

"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"

If you live inside the USA you may not actually realise how low the standing, the credibility of your republic as a force for positive diplomacy and cooperation has sunk in the last 8 years.

The very fact that there's been discussions between Iran and the US - on the basis of Obama taking that first step means something. Considering the last 8 years - doing that is quite extraordinary. From 'axis of evil' to sitting down around a table for discussions - that takes some diplomacy.

I'm not saying Obama is a saviour of the universe. But in the last year - who would you put forward?

Most of the individuals given the laureate have been pretty specific players in certain times and events - Trimble and Hume in Northern Ireland, Romas-Horte in East Timor, Kissinger for Vietnam (hmmm...), Mandela and de Klerk in South Africa, Gorbachev for glasnost, Lech Walesa in Poland. Apart from a few individuals like Mother Teresa, or groups like MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES who are truly lifelong in their dedication to peace - most laureate winners have been honoured for specific events.

[Deckard]

Stop being all measured and sensible, Chuck.

Originally Posted by chuck

I agree with Sean that the rabid-ness of the opposition, as led by Glenn Beck and others is insane, and I wonder where all these people were hiding from 2000 - 2008. Surely there can't be that many villages missing their idiots? Or possibly the village sane person is simply missing.

Mongoose - your rant about the LCROSS mission was just random and even for your normal levels of dialectically mis-construed babble - just truly epic.

Let's keep this Nobel Peace Prize in perspective - it's always a symbolic and politically motivated prize. And by the nature of it being about "PEACE" - it's going to be seen as liberal, leftwing and socialist.

But check out the previous winners:

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/

In particular check WHY Obama was given it this year.

"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"

If you live inside the USA you may not actually realise how low the standing, the credibility of your republic as a force for positive diplomacy and cooperation has sunk in the last 8 years.

The very fact that there's been discussions between Iran and the US - on the basis of Obama taking that first step means something. Considering the last 8 years - doing that is quite extraordinary. From 'axis of evil' to sitting down around a table for discussions - that takes some diplomacy.

I'm not saying Obama is a saviour of the universe. But in the last year - who would you put forward?

Most of the individuals given the laureate have been pretty specific players in certain times and events - Trimble and Hume in Northern Ireland, Romas-Horte in East Timor, Kissinger for Vietnam (hmmm...), Mandela and de Klerk in South Africa, Gorbachev for glasnost, Lech Walesa in Poland. Apart from a few individuals like Mother Teresa, or groups like MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES who are truly lifelong in their dedication to peace - most laureate winners have been honoured for specific events.

So what you're really saying is, he's the messiah?