Obama Wins A Nobel Peace Prize...

[garykainz]

Anyone want to know the secret to winning the nobel peace prize?

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/vid...ddress/1163263/

[TheScotsman]

I'm not on the committee and neither is anyone else here so we really don't know how he ended up with it. I understand you have to be nominated by a group, reasons for your nomination given and then voting occurs through process of elimination. I'm neutral on it because like I said I'm not on the committee. So I don't know beyond any doubt how it came to be and therefore I'm not going to mouth off about it. But I would suggest people check their facts by claiming Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela weren't honored. Here's the entire list since it's inception and they're both on it. Among others. I think we should accept that it's an honor to have a sitting president be awarded the prize, will increase some connections with the rest of the world and leave the whys and wherefores to the peiple who were actually there to do the voting.

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- List of Nobel Peace Prize winners:

2009 -- Barack Obama, United States

2008 -- Martti Ahtisaari, Finland

.... blah, blah, blah....

'Rani

I dare contend that they were not honored, or rather, that by nominating, then selecting a complete clot, their award has been diminished.

After all, getting a turd-sundae is not an honor.
getting an award for not accomplishing anything is not an honor.
getting an award for something you plan to do is not an honor.
... it's another bitch-slap for onumbnuts, and it's completely hilarious if you look at it just right.

[zookahhookah]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

[Rani]

I'm not on the committee and neither is anyone else here so we really don't know how he ended up with it. I understand you have to be nominated by a group, reasons for your nomination given and then voting occurs through process of elimination. I'm neutral on it because like I said I'm not on the committee. So I don't know beyond any doubt how it came to be and therefore I'm not going to mouth off about it. But I would suggest people check their facts by claiming Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela weren't honored. Here's the entire list since it's inception and they're both on it. Among others. I think we should accept that it's an honor to have a sitting president be awarded the prize, will increase some connections with the rest of the world and leave the whys and wherefores to the peiple who were actually there to do the voting.

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- List of Nobel Peace Prize winners:

2009 -- Barack Obama, United States

2008 -- Martti Ahtisaari, Finland

.... blah, blah, blah....

'Rani

I dare contend that they were not honored, or rather, that by nominating, then selecting a complete clot, their award has been diminished.

After all, getting a turd-sundae is not an honor.
getting an award for not accomplishing anything is not an honor.
getting an award for something you plan to do is not an honor.
... it's another bitch-slap for onumbnuts, and it's completely hilarious if you look at it just right.

Here's my view..... You're not on the committee that voted. Nor am I, or anyone else here. I don't know that he should have won and I don't really have an opinion on it at all, because quite frankly not being on the committee it's none of my business who they give it to. They have their reasons which only they can decide are valid or not. My problem with people bitching about it is that is completely sounds like "I'm so unhappy and miserable in my own life that I have to bitch about something somebody I don't like won and I'm going to denigrate it and try to make it mean nothing so I can feel better about myself."

How the hell have people become so mean about the most ridiculious things? He's going to give $1.4M to charity because of the prize. $1.4M dollars that are going to go to American charities. And people want to complain about that? I think as Americans we should simply say "Thank you for the honor," and get over it.

FSU talked in another thread about the cost of his auto repair and nearly everybody who responded begrudged him driving a BMW. Why? Because they don't have one? Who cares? He's entitled to drive what he likes and the Nobel committee is entitled to give the award to whomever they feel like. If you think it should go to you, quit bitching about the administration and the world and go do something to make it a better place so you're eligible for it yourself. Nope, it's easier to sit behind the computer and bitch about anything and everything isn't it? It's mean, it's juvenile, it's completely unintelligent, and it shows how unhappy people are in their own lives that they can't simply say "Congratulations." and move on. Our opinions certainly don't matter to either the committee or the President. And if it's not going to make a differenced then it's just static to hear ourselves make noise. And ow wow, that's the act of a rational, intelligent, adult, now isn't it?

'Rani

[TheScotsman]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

Mccain is irrelevant.

Deflection: a tactic used by liberals who have no real point... and pre-teen children caught doing something they shouldn't.

What exactly did he do to deserve it... at any point, much less the first 2 weeks of his time in office.

Hell, let's make it easy for you, what has he done to deserve it to date?


1) It's not healthcare reform, it's healthcare for illegals, and a buy-down for the unions who are flooded with legacy costs.
2)healthcare anything does not qualify someone for a peace prize... hint is in the name PEACE PRIZE.


what charity... ACORN??? Apollo? Edited October 10, 2009 by TheScotsman

[Rani]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

^5 and then some.

'Rani

[Rani]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

Mccain is irrelevant.

Deflection: a tactic used by liberals who have no real point... and pre-teen children caught doing something they shouldn't.

What exactly did he do to deserve it... at any point, much less the first 2 weeks of his time in office.

Hell, let's make it easy for you, what has he done to deserve it to date?


1) It's not healthcare reform, it's healthcare for illegals, and a buy-down for the unions who are flooded with legacy costs.
2)healthcare anything does not qualify someone for a peace prize... hint is in the name PEACE PRIZE.


what charity... ACORN??? Apollo?

You completely skip whole paragraphs of the newspapers and news reports don't you?

'Rani

[zookahhookah]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

Mccain is irrelevant.

Deflection: a tactic used by liberals who have no real point... and pre-teen children caught doing something they shouldn't.

What exactly did he do to deserve it... at any point, much less the first 2 weeks of his time in office.

Hell, let's make it easy for you, what has he done to deserve it to date?


1) It's not healthcare reform, it's healthcare for illegals, and a buy-down for the unions who are flooded with legacy costs.
2)healthcare anything does not qualify someone for a peace prize... hint is in the name PEACE PRIZE.


what charity... ACORN??? Apollo?

Oooh. Liberals. I love how that's a dirty word now.

I already said I don't really think he deserved it, but he doesn't really think so either, so whatever. How on earth does that translate to him doing nothing? There aren't too many presidents who do Nobel-worthy things in their first term.

I'm just responding to the mindless Obama hatefest that this thread has become.

"Health care for illegals"? Really? You actually believe this xenophobic bullcrap? He's not covering illegal immigrants, and he's not creating a socialist system, and he's not coming to take away your freedom. Jesus flipping Christ, you seriously need to turn off Fox and watch something that's based on reality, not the delirious ravings of paranoid old men.

As far as what they actually awarded it to him for, it was their logic that he did a lot to change the political climate on a global scale into one of cooperation and moving forward. They said that they didn't think anyone has done more to effect the peace process in more places (forgive my paraphrasing). Again, I'm not saying I agree, but they sure as hell weren't basing it on our healthcare debate.

And seriously? You are worried about the charities he's going to donate to? How crazy are you?

[TheScotsman]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

Mccain is irrelevant.

Deflection: a tactic used by liberals who have no real point... and pre-teen children caught doing something they shouldn't.

What exactly did he do to deserve it... at any point, much less the first 2 weeks of his time in office.

Hell, let's make it easy for you, what has he done to deserve it to date?


1) It's not healthcare reform, it's healthcare for illegals, and a buy-down for the unions who are flooded with legacy costs.
2)healthcare anything does not qualify someone for a peace prize... hint is in the name PEACE PRIZE.


what charity... ACORN??? Apollo?

Oooh. Liberals. I love how that's a dirty word now.

I already said I don't really think he deserved it, but he doesn't really think so either, so whatever. How on earth does that translate to him doing nothing? There aren't too many presidents who do Nobel-worthy things in their first term.

I'm just responding to the mindless Obama hatefest that this thread has become.

"Health care for illegals"? Really? You actually believe this xenophobic bullcrap? He's not covering illegal immigrants, and he's not creating a socialist system, and he's not coming to take away your freedom. Jesus flipping Christ, you seriously need to turn off Fox and watch something that's based on reality, not the delirious ravings of paranoid old men.

As far as what they actually awarded it to him for, it was their logic that he did a lot to change the political climate on a global scale into one of cooperation and moving forward. They said that they didn't think anyone has done more to effect the peace process in more places (forgive my paraphrasing). Again, I'm not saying I agree, but they sure as hell weren't basing it on our healthcare debate.

And seriously? You are worried about the charities he's going to donate to? How crazy are you?

I was not the one that posted some hogwash about ramming an unconstitutional healthcare bill down the public's throat as an accomplishment worthy of a peace prize. But in any case, while we are on it.

Show me the text of HR 3200 that bars illegals from the program?

Oh, wait, bet you haven't read it. I did, there is absolutely no language barring them.
http://cis.org/IllegalsAndHealthCareHR3200
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...--55021087.html

The president lied... plain and simple. it was a lie.

Fact 2: requiring someone to buy something against their will, or go to jail is taking away a freedom. Saying otherwise is ignorant.


Back to the thread-

I am still not seeing anything worthy of a peace prize, I have, however heard a previous recipient complaining his selection doesn't meet the guidelines set in Nobel's will :"to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Their prize, they can give it to anyone they want. Obviously it means very little, and has nothing to do with a persons actions, but rather is another political statement. Who knows, maybe the indignity that seems to be brewing over it will finally be the stake in the heart of the progressive agenda we are being flogged with.

[zookahhookah]

I was not the one that posted some hogwash about ramming an unconstitutional healthcare bill down the public's throat as an accomplishment worthy of a peace prize. But in any case, while we are on it.

Show me the text of HR 3200 that bars illegals from the program?

Oh, wait, bet you haven't read it. I did, there is absolutely no language barring them.
http://cis.org/IllegalsAndHealthCareHR3200
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...--55021087.html

The president lied... plain and simple. it was a lie.

Fact 2: requiring someone to buy something against their will, or go to jail is taking away a freedom. Saying otherwise is ignorant.

*sigh*

For the last time, I didn't say he was worthy of it, and I certainly didn't cite it as a reason. You can read what I say or not, but when you don't you look pretty goddamn silly.

You wanna talk about presidential lying? I have 8 years of material. Believe me, it's good stuff. Lots of stuff about torturing and killing Arabs. Nothing compared to giving Mexican kids a doctor, though.

As far as that bill is concerned, as your own links clearly state, that bill DOES NOT make illegal immigrants eligible. It claims it makes no provision for enforcement, which may very well be the case. However from what I read here, it seems to me that there IS specific language requiring enforcement on a more local level, which I haven't read a refutation of. Feel free to point me to one. In fact, I think you should read that article, as it seems to respond to a lot, if not all, of the issues raised by the report you linked. However, what it boils down to is, this ISN'T "plain", this isn't "simple", but in the end, it's certainly no "lie".

And yes, saying you have to do something is restricting your freedom. But to pigheadedly denounce anything that restricts your freedom is stubborn and reactionary. There are plenty of things in American law that restrict freedom. Arguably, many do so for the good of both the individual and our society as a whole. When you boil something down to for and against freedom you miss the finer details, and in doing so fail to see just how destructive attitudes like yours really are. I think compulsory education is a good thing. I think the income tax is a good thing. I think jury duty, while pretty flawed, is basically a good thing. Absolute freedom is just as ridiculous as absolute tyranny. Edited October 10, 2009 by zookahhookah

[Rani]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

Mccain is irrelevant.

Deflection: a tactic used by liberals who have no real point... and pre-teen children caught doing something they shouldn't.

What exactly did he do to deserve it... at any point, much less the first 2 weeks of his time in office.

Hell, let's make it easy for you, what has he done to deserve it to date?


1) It's not healthcare reform, it's healthcare for illegals, and a buy-down for the unions who are flooded with legacy costs.
2)healthcare anything does not qualify someone for a peace prize... hint is in the name PEACE PRIZE.


what charity... ACORN??? Apollo?

Oooh. Liberals. I love how that's a dirty word now.

I already said I don't really think he deserved it, but he doesn't really think so either, so whatever. How on earth does that translate to him doing nothing? There aren't too many presidents who do Nobel-worthy things in their first term.

I'm just responding to the mindless Obama hatefest that this thread has become.

"Health care for illegals"? Really? You actually believe this xenophobic bullcrap? He's not covering illegal immigrants, and he's not creating a socialist system, and he's not coming to take away your freedom. Jesus flipping Christ, you seriously need to turn off Fox and watch something that's based on reality, not the delirious ravings of paranoid old men.

As far as what they actually awarded it to him for, it was their logic that he did a lot to change the political climate on a global scale into one of cooperation and moving forward. They said that they didn't think anyone has done more to effect the peace process in more places (forgive my paraphrasing). Again, I'm not saying I agree, but they sure as hell weren't basing it on our healthcare debate.

And seriously? You are worried about the charities he's going to donate to? How crazy are you?

I was not the one that posted some hogwash about ramming an unconstitutional healthcare bill down the public's throat as an accomplishment worthy of a peace prize. But in any case, while we are on it.

Show me the text of HR 3200 that bars illegals from the program?

Oh, wait, bet you haven't read it. I did, there is absolutely no language barring them.
http://cis.org/IllegalsAndHealthCareHR3200
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...--55021087.html

The president lied... plain and simple. it was a lie.

Fact 2: requiring someone to buy something against their will, or go to jail is taking away a freedom. Saying otherwise is ignorant.


Back to the thread-

I am still not seeing anything worthy of a peace prize, I have, however heard a previous recipient complaining his selection doesn't meet the guidelines set in Nobel's will :"to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Their prize, they can give it to anyone they want. Obviously it means very little, and has nothing to do with a persons actions, but rather is another political statement. Who knows, maybe the indignity that seems to be brewing over it will finally be the stake in the heart of the progressive agenda we are being flogged with.

HR 3200 is from 2007. Yep, it's been hanging around that long. Kinda hard to blame the sitting president for something that's been around 2 years when he's been in office less than 1. At last report there were at least six (6) bills in committee dealing with health care reform and none of them are providing health care to illegal aliens. And none of them are remotely close to completion or passing as of yet. Even the slander mongering media upon fact checking this outrageous claim by the right wing agreed that illegal aliens would not be eligible for health care insurance under the Prsident's plan. What's more, there are exemptiions for those who can't afford to purchase health care. Which is where the much debated public option is supposed to fill the gap. The health insurance industry is strongly lobbying against the public option because it shows their massive for profit pricing for the gouging it is. Your soap box is rickety Scotsman.

As far as the Peace Prize is concerned I'll say it again..... How about you (and the rest of us) trying to make the world a better place and win it yourself instead of griping about who else got it?

'Rani

[FiveSpeedF150]

I find it pretty spectacular how the right wing in America can do everything in it's power to block Obama at every turn and then whine about how he doesn't accomplish anything. Not saying he deserved it, but to say he hasn't done anything but talk is to demonstrate total ignorance of Washington for the past year. He's worked very hard to wade through the molasses of American politics. He's trying to push through massive healthcare reform, which Clinton couldn't do for 8 years. He's worked hard on changing the situation in two wars started by a man who spent more time on vacation than any sitting American president, ever. The job ain't easy, and I'm friggin' sick of people knocking him for being "all talk". You guys seriously think McCain would have done better?

^5 and then some.

'Rani

I swear people will be using the "Blame Bush" tactic years after the guy is dead and buried. McCain would not have done much different than Obama, most likely, but he never would have been nominated for the Nobel Prize over it, because he's a Republican (in name only).

[StreetBob]

I can't bash Obama for this though, it was whoever votes for, or politically rigs the prize... I thought Obama showed some class in his speech when he admitted that he didn't deserve it.

[FiveSpeedF150]

I can't bash Obama for this though, it was whoever votes for, or politically rigs the prize... I thought Obama showed some class in his speech when he admitted that he didn't deserve it.

Agreed. Now, if he donates the $$$ to ACORN we'll really have something to bitch about.

[Tyler]

How did this topic even have republicans brought up in it? Simply stated, Obama was nominated too early, on a "vision," had done nothing for PEACE, won it based on what he is TRYING to do, rather than any of the other ~204 nominees who I'm sure have actually DONE something. If he was nominated next year instead, assuming he actually did something concrete for PEACE, sure, give it to him, but don't hand him a prize that he even admits he didn't deserve.

[joytron]

Eh... its just the peace prize, not sure why everyone is getting all worked up about it.


Non-issue

[Hippo_Master]

Eh... its just the peace prize, not sure why everyone is getting all worked up about it.


Non-issue

They should just switch between PJP2 , Dalai, M. Teresa, and Ghandi. Give Ghandi 2, and also give him 1948. Then give one to Saddam because the second he died was so spectacular and let everyone feel some peace for a split millisecond.

[TheScotsman]

I nominate Rani for the HF 2009 Peace Prize.

[tinyj316]

Who cares if he won? If Rani didn't post the list of all the NPP winners, would you be able to say who's won the award each year for the past decade? Probably not... Most people would know of Al Gore right off the top of their head...maybe the UN...maybe Jimmy Carter...

The NPP is a joke...As Rani said, we're not a part of the committee, so we really have no say in the matter...what's done is done. We should all get the fuck over it...Though I think most of us can agree on at least two of these points:

Should Obama have won? Probably not.

Should he have declined the award? Probably.

Is he doing the right thing by donating the winnings to charity? Probably.

Should he tell the country/world who he's donating the money to? I don't think he should have to, as this is private citizens issue, not a government issue.

Does it make a damn bit of difference to the lives of you and I in general? NO

[delSol_si]

Is he doing the right thing by donating the winnings to charity? Probably.

I don't know if anyone has commented on this or not, I'm not really in the mood to read, but I wouldn't say he is being really overly "nice" by doing so. Ya, its a nice gesture, but most rich people donate money to charities for tax benefits, especially if it throws them in a higher tax bracket....plus its good PR.

so I wouldn't call it a 100% genuinely generous act. It was nice, but don't forget, he gets some good benefits off donating it.

[tinyj316]

Is he doing the right thing by donating the winnings to charity? Probably.

I don't know if anyone has commented on this or not, I'm not really in the mood to read, but I wouldn't say he is being really overly "nice" by doing so. Ya, its a nice gesture, but most rich people donate money to charities for tax benefits, especially if it throws them in a higher tax bracket....plus its good PR.

so I wouldn't call it a 100% genuinely generous act. It was nice, but don't forget, he gets some good benefits off donating it.

Regardless of the tax break he'll get as a result, the fact of the matter is, he could have just as easily kept the money in his own coffers.

Any time anyone gives money to a charity they are eligible for a tax write-off...assuming they're a 501©(x) charity, and assuming you gave a donation that was big enough (generally anything over $25 they'll give you a tax receipt, though it varies by charity)

If you had just been awarded that much money, I'm sure you'd be looking to offload some of that into charity donations as well...and those charities would be more than happy to take it. There's nothing wrong with giving money to charity, especially when it could be going to help those in need. I'd rather see it go there than going to the pentagon.

[r1v3th3ad]

I think he got the prize because he is the first black president

[destructo]

I think he got the prize because he is the first black president

you mean 1/2 black 1/2 white. hes not even full black. he exploits his "blackness" so that if you didnt vote for him or like him and you are white you are racist. its bullshit

[Rani]

I think he got the prize because he is the first black president

you mean 1/2 black 1/2 white. hes not even full black. he exploits his "blackness" so that if you didnt vote for him or like him and you are white you are racist. its bullshit

Historically, if someone has a single drop of black blood they were legally black so that's a non-issue. Actually he doesn't play the race card himself - but it's often played about him. When Jimmy Carter said he thought Obama was having a more difficult time in Washington than a white president would Obama disregarded the remark and refuted it. Truthfully anyone who doesn't accept racism is still rampant in this country is living in fantasy land. Overt racism may be dying out thank heavens, but it does still taint how we look at people - often without our even realizing it. For example, white women might clutch their purse tighter in a black nightclub than a white one and not even realize they're doing it. Very few people can truly overlook race when considering someone statements or actions. Must just don't equate it with race because racism is such an ugly thing. They find another reason to justify their mistrust never making the connection that their reaction is based on a childhood conditioning that's now completely subconscious.

'Rani

[destructo]

i fail to see how its a non issue unless im misunderstanding you. i remember at work when they announced that he won almost everyone was cheering and what not saying how great it is and that we finally got a black president. also ive heard people blame obamas shitty job on his blackness and ive been told im racist because i didnt vote for him (i didnt vote for mccain either).