second guessing (let alone criticizing) the nobel committee always seems kinda silly to me. as if the committee has some sort of obligation to share your particular agenda.

the only criticisms that i find interesting or compelling are those that come from past recipients. and anyone who pays attention to the peace prize knows that group to be an extremely opinionated bunch who often disagree with one another.

The day I take Tony Fratto's advice is the day I give myself a root canal. Yes, Tony, good for Bush for reducing stockpiles, although I think those numbers are up for interpretation. And good for Bush for having the courage to let arms treaties expire, relying on executive decree rather than official arrangements, opening up new nuclear avenues with bunker busters and the RRW, and pretty much letting the nuclear proliferation issue slide down the priority list while international cooperation and international institutions declined in the face of unilateralism.

It's insane that these people get quoted in the press.

Opens him up for criticism? what the fuck?!!! Just existing opens him up for criticism. Every damn decision he makes opens him up for criticism. Taking his wife out for their anniversary opened him up for criticism.

Mark Salter says:
"There are a great many people in this world who are risking their lives today for the cause of peace and human dignity"

And Obama doesn't risk his life every day with wingnuts out there espousing assassination??

"Nor can I see how giving it to anyone based on their style of diplomacy or what they discern as his potential will advance by a single degree world peace or comfort one oppressed person,"

Sure it did! All those oppressed liberals out there! It certainly comforted me today...after the initial WTF response of course.

I am waiting
I am waiting
I am waiting...
for the American eagle
to straighten up
and fly right.

Ferlinghetti

Well, I is We and We is the World, as the famous song put it, more or less. (I can see the whole spread of pop culture from Michael Jackson to Bob Dylan before my mind's eye this minute belting it out - there really is no business like show business!)

The whole world was waiting, impatient, frustrated, often despairing that America, beacon of hope for the whole world, the world's country with its tumultuous mix of every creed and color imaginable, seemed unable to assume its destined role as world leader, but, finally, someone comes along to give them the chance, the reason, to show their real feelings about the most powerful and popular country on earth.

They love us! This is a love letter to America from the rest of the world. Everyone now has taken advantage of the President's positive and open embrace of internationalism - respect for all nations - and rejection of small-minded, narrow nationalism to signal their enthusiastic and relieved approval of what they knew was there in us all along, but often not in evidence in our actions.

Discussion of the small-minded legalisms of the nomination period and process are beside the point - they could not help themselves! This flowed out from the heart of the world in a great gushing unstoppable stream of emotion that simply swept the committee along with it.

The award is for the President just being there, being who he is. It is to encourage us to stay on this course of peaceful involvement in the world, for the future continuation of this positive style of American leadership. It is a heartfelt thank you from the world for the whole administration and for the whole nation, each and every one of us Americans.

Most of all it is an expression of hope. It is an expression of how much the world needs to have faith in America, how much the world wants to believe in America. Now we have to live up to the responsibility they have given us.

What really gets me is the holier than thou attitude of these "patriotic" Republican Hatriots. Patriotic, my foot.

Does anyone really believe that these Republcan a--holes wouldn't push America under the bus if it would lead to personal gain? That's waht cheering for America's Olympic loss was about. That's what their loathing for our president (circa 2004 "our Commander in Chief!" -- remember that?) when he wins some big award is about. Anything good for the country is bad for them.

What is most remarkable is how the GOP hardly needs to say anything. The MSM is thoroughly infested/infected with rightwing frames, memes and values.

The derision and xenophobia from the press corp is pretty startling. The press doesn't like the choice so now the Nobel Prize is worthless, a joke, etc. etc. This isn't coming from the RNC, but from the MSM, presumably after thoroughly reading RNC talking points.

Most startling is how out of touch the US press is from the rest of the world, some 95% of humanity. Around the world, the Nobel has tons of cred. The US press corp? Not so much. Reminds me of how the MSM played ball with things like "freedom fries" and Kerry looking "French". Remember that?

Obama wins this huge international, historical prize, and they view is as an embarrassment becuase it means that foreigners like Obama, and that's a bad thing! And we can't forget -- or more precisely, the MSM punditry wont forget -- McCain's sneering celebrity ads around the Berlin speech. The only problem is that MCcain's sneer failed and Obama won. And, oh, by the way, on its merits, the US being popular in the world is a good thing.

I think this prize shows how thoroughly craven and corruped our press is. They've got GOP on the brain. There still inviting "fascinating" John McCain on all the Sunday shows. We've got a very ignorant, xenophobic press corp, and it can only hurt the US from ever achieving its aims around the world.

This brings me back to the wisdom of the award committee. Obama might be the last chance to bring the US back into the fold. But the US press reaction shows how much of an isolated and xenophobic rogue nation the US became under Bush.

You should change yr name AnswerF. And please tell me, how do we "work our way out of debt"? We could drive revenue by creating what answer man - jobs. And you do that by lending money. But here's the rub: the Pres will throw our tax $$ at the banks and all they say is TYVM. More please. AIG gets bailout at 100% on the dollar! During the S&L; crisis over 1,000 "investors" went to jail. And the count today - zero. And the bankers say no I can't lend it out to small businesses or start-ups that might create jobs. But the Pres says NOTHING. Like I said, no leadership. And no I'm not a pub. Stop with the cheap shots and tell me where I'm wrong.

While you're waiting to see which road most Repubs decide to go down - get ready with "10 reasons Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize".

http://trulyskewed.blogspot.com/2009/10/ten-reasons-obama-deserves-nobel-peace.html