Nobel Peace Prize

[Grace]

Won by President Obama!

I had not heard he was even nominated

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a stunning decision that comes just eight months into his presidency.
Less than nine months into his presidency, Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.


The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The president had not been mentioned as among front-runners for the prize, and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, uttered Obama's name.

The president, who was awakened to be told he had won, said he was humbled to be selected, according to an administration official.

The Nobel committee recognized Obama's efforts to solve complex global problems including working toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

"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.

Jagland said the decision was "unanimous" and came with ease.

He rejected the notion that Obama had been recognized prematurely for his efforts and said the committee wanted to promote the president just it had Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 in his efforts to open up the Soviet Union.

"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," it said.

Obama's recognition comes less than a year after he became the first African-American to win the White House. He is the fourth U.S. president to win the prestigious prize and the third sitting president to do so.


The announcement Friday in Oslo, Norway, came as a surprise -- Obama had not been mentioned among front-runners -- and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, announced Obama's name.

[pomtzu]

I was under the impression that one had to do something extraordinary to receive this prestigious award. Did I miss something???

[Grace]

I was under the impression that one had to do something extraordinary to receive this prestigious award. Did I miss something???

Obviously we all missed it.

[Lady's Human]

Absolutely amazing, especially considering nominations had to be in before he had been in office three weeks.

[Grace]

I wonder who nominated him?

From reading the accounts, it appears that none of his staff had any idea this would happen.

[Sirrahsim]

I posted this in General but I'll second myself here:
I have no problem with our President. I don't agree with some of his ideas but I don't dislike the man.
In my opinion, awarding an esteemed prize like the Nobel Peace Prize based on what someone MIGHT do is utterly ridiculous. It cheapens the award for the people who have actually already done something to deserve it.

[Catty1]

With all the flak the guy gets, I'd be a fan of his getting this simply as a big act of encouragement! He ain't getting it anywhere else!

[Puckstop31]

The biggest joke of all will be if he actually has the cajones to accept the award. Is his ego that grand?

This is akin to all the kids on a team getting a trophy for participating.

Its also interesting to note that only two other sitting US Presidents have been given the Nobel Peace Prize. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Note that both of those men were no friend of the individual Liberty this nation was founded on.

Interesting indeed.

[Grace]

Responses from three Americans -

Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty — both potential 2012 presidential contenders — urged restraint.

"There will be an outcry from those on the right who will say that Obama's nomination, made two weeks into his Presidency, is impossible to justify, but I think such an outcry will sound like right-wing whining," Huckabee said in a statement. "The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as President that merited such recognition."

Pawlenty, speaking on NPR, said there "will be some people who are saying 'Was it based on good intentions and thoughts or is it going to be based on good results?'"

"But I think the appropriate response is when anybody wins a Nobel Prize, that is a very noteworthy development and designation and I think the appropriate response is to say 'Congratulations,'" said the Minnesota governor.


John McCain, on CNN: "I can't divine all their intentions, but I think part of their decision-making was expectations. And I'm sure the president understands that he now has even more to live up to. But as Americans, we're proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category.

[Edwina's Secretary]

"There will be an outcry from those on the right who will say that Obama's nomination, made two weeks into his Presidency, is impossible to justify, but I think such an outcry will sound like right-wing whining," Huckabee said in a statement. "The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as President that merited such recognition."

Interesting to note ...Mr. Huckabee doesn't seem to think there are any people in the middle???

[Pam]

Responses from three Americans -

Huckabee said in a statement. "The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as President that merited such recognition."

I like Huckabee's answer. I would like to hear that explanation as well. I am glad that I left the house this morning before the hubby heard the news. I am sure he had some choice words.

[Pam]

Interesting to note ...Mr. Huckabee doesn't seem to think there are any people in the middle???

How can you be in the middle as far as thinking that 1) he deserved it or 2) he didn't. Is there a third option: 3) maybe he deserved it?

[RICHARD]

I was up this morning when they did a NEWS ALERT to announce the award.

One of the other nomines was a guy that built something like 25 schools with nothing in the way of funds or help.

It could only be more tragic if we, ourselves, had given him the award.


--------------------------

Handing the NPP to BO is akin to having your sports team give a new/rookie player a contract for four years and paying him on how you expect him to perform.

Not a good comparison, but look at all the people who have been given GIANT paychecks, then stink up the locker room after they figure out they cannot cut the mustard......

IT makes no sense and the NPP award should be based on the way I roll.....

I only get paid/acknowledged AFTER I have done the work.

Anything else is just BS.

[Grace]

Handing the NPP to BO is akin to having your sports team give a new/rookie player a contract for four years and paying him on how you expect him to perform.

Not a good comparison, but look at all the people who have been given GIANT paychecks, then stink up the locker room after they figure out they cannot cut the mustard......

IT makes no sense and the NPP award should be based on the way I roll.....

I only get paid/acknowledged AFTER I have done the work.

Anything else is just BS.

Tell it to the Norwegians - they're the ones who made the unanimous decision.

[Grace]

How can you be in the middle as far as thinking that 1) he deserved it or 2) he didn't. Is there a third option: 3) maybe he deserved it?

Yes, I believe there is a third option. And I'm one of those in the middle