From: tasha_wilson	Date: October 10th, 2009 08:11 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Nobel Peace Prize, Obama

I am confused as to how you think the acceptance or non acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize shows Obama in any different light.

Some would say that Obama worked hard and thus was given what he was deserved; would a refusal to accept it just not come across as ungrateful? He definitely has worked to stop Muslim communites feel so isolated at least. Who would you say is a better candidate for this peace prize?

And your refusal to accept that ANYONE who has worked hard and is granted an award of that prestige would accept it eagerly is ridiculous.

	From: madoc62	Date: October 10th, 2009 08:25 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: Nobel Peace Prize, Obama

Tasha,

Hello and good day.

Thank you for taking the time to render comment here.

As to your points, in other discussions about Obama and his Nobel I raised these points:

What value honors not earned?

What character he who accepts such honors?

Those stand still about Obama.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee closes its nominations as of February 1st. That means Obama was accepted for consideration this honor when he'd only had eleven days on the job to qualify for such consideration. Not even a full two weeks.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee creates its "short list" of worthy candidates by April. Thus Obama had a further two entire months to do something worthy for further consideration. And now, a mere nine months - actually eight months and some few weeks - into his presidency the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has deemed he's accomplished enough to "honor" him this way.

What has he done? Spoken some sweet sounding word? Made a bunch of promises? Promises which he's managed to break most of even in the short time he's had in office.

Perhaps Obama will eventually do something that would otherwise be worthy of recognizing. But now? At this point so early into his first year in office?

And what of all the other Nobel Peace Prize candidates? What about their actual accomplishments? You know, the folks and organizations who have been at it for years if not decades? The ones who've actually done _something_?

What about them? Why have their actual accomplishments gone unrecognized whilst Obama's non-accomplishments get the prize?

And yes, Obama could easily have declined this "honor" and in so doing would have shown true humility and true statesmanship.

Instead, he could even hold himself back for a mere few hours of "thoughtful pondering" before gushing that he'd bathe himself in this new glory.

Sorry, he's blown it. Again.

Madoc

	From: tasha_wilson	Date: October 10th, 2009 08:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Did you actually watch his speech?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u26Oljj225o

Although I accept that your opinion will be different to mine, I think he accepted the award with great humility and humbleness. He even said that he did not really believe he deserved it, but he would accept the award for momentum for a set of actions. I do not think he came across as particularly eager.

More than that- Barack Obama is inspirational. I think that America should be proud of him, for in his (very) short time in office he has done a lot to promoting peace and changing things than Bush ever did. He is very ideological and the ideas that he promotes are not necessarily those that a lot of the American population agree with. He voices thoughts and opinions on things that other politicians won't because they're so keen on sitting on the fence and gaining power rather than what is best for their country. I think he has at least gone a fair way to achieving peace just in voicing some of the problems or attempting to solve them.


Maybe he didn't deserve the prize the most. But he was not wrong in accepting it.

	From: madoc62	Date: October 10th, 2009 09:16 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Tasha,

Yup, Obama is a gifted orator and he knows how to play the "hope & change" card quite well. But what has he actually accomplished? What concrete things has he actually done? This, in not quite nine months in office?

Oh sure, he's promised much and he's gotten some great PR with his oh-so-noble sentiments. But what has he actually gotten done? Even if you're predisposed to believe that all the warm 'n fuzzies he's evoked are things that will turn out to have lasting effect it's still far, far to early to announce that. Perhaps in a year or two. Maybe. If then. Right now it's of no substance.

The Palestinians are still trying to kill any Israeli who they can get to (and failing that they're still killing each other with almost reckless abandon.)

The Iranians are still hard at work on making their own atomic bombs and they've now boasted that they have missiles which could reach the US with them.

North Korea is still forging ahead with its nuclear weapons program and is just as belligerent as ever.

Last month there was a spate of Islamic terrorist attacks here in the US - attacks which got spoiled due to some diligent work by the FBI and its ilk.

So, what is this "promoting peace" accomplishments you bespeak? Sure, the Europeans love him and why not? He's happy to apologize for any and all of America's "sins" in their eyes. Sins which are mainly our not following their lead to favor their national interests.

Well, let me qualify that. I don't think many Poles or Czechs much care for Obama these days. Not after he sold them out to the Russians.

Then there's the Dalai Lama. A man of peace surely enough. Obama sold him out to - the first president to refuse to see the Dalai Lama - in order to curry favor with the Chinese.

So, please, give me some concrete examples of Obama's accomplishments.

And as to his showing some actual humility, Obama could well have said this in response to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's announcement:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This morning I was stunned to find I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a singular honor, and I am deeply flattered. Yet, as I look at the illustrious lives of men and women who have been so honored over the years - Mother Theresa who spent her life comforting the dying; Jimmy Carter, who at Camp David brokered the agreement between Sadat and Begin, Lech Walesa, who's efforts helped restore democracy to Poland, I realize that it is an honor I do not deserve. While I sincerely hope and pray the efforts I make as President of the United States of America will further the cause of peace, these efforts are but seedlings, newly sprouted in the field of world affairs. And while it is my prayer that they will bear much fruit, the time of harvest is far away. In between are long days of hard work, of uncertainty. None can say what the future may hold.

"I extend my thanks to the Nobel Peace Prize committee, who selected me for this honor. But it is an accolade I am not worthy to bear. So it is with regret that I must refuse the Nobel Peace Prize."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's what someone over on the Asimov's discussion board came up with. Had Obama voiced such words they'd be heaping praise on him from all corners. Instead, the guy who's made himself out to be a "deliberator" rushed to accept the award. Sorry, there's no humility there.

But then, what else would you expect from a millionaire like Obama who allows his half-brother to exist in poverty in Africa while also having an aunt who is not only in this country illegally but is also on welfare. Yeah, the guy really cares about folks. Yes, he does.

Madoc

From: kpsavage	Date: October 11th, 2009 03:01 am (UTC)		(Link)
Huh?

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

So, let me get this straight, in the 11 days between him taking up office and nominations closing for the Nobel Peace Prize, your President made extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, to a level high enough to be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize.

How'd he do that?

According to the official Whitehouse blog this is what your President did

FRI, JANUARY 23, 2:23 PM EST

• Calling for the closure of the Guantanamo detention center within one year
• Creating a Special Task Force to review detainee policy going forward
• Ensuring lawful interrogations by requiring that all interrogations of detainees in armed conflict follow the Army Field Manual interrogation guidelines

24 Rescinded the Mexico City Policy Family planning abroad
Filled Clinton's seat in the Senate

25
Quite time at home I suppose

26
Commented on the remaining bailout funds
energy independence
year of the ox &
gave well wishes to PM of india

27
said "Americans are not your enemy" on Arab TV
Listened to the Republicans side of how to recover the economy (Isn’t he a Democrat?)
Tim someone or other was made treasurer

28
Pal'd around with the big end of town execs (IBM, Honeywell etc)

29
Made a derisive comments about the big end of town execs
Declared federal emergencies in a couple of US states
Fair pay bill passed(for US only)

30
Set up a task force about the middle class
Made a speech about the US economy

31
Quiet day at home I suppose.

1 Feb
Nominations close for Nobel Peace Prize.

Not much in the way of extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, but what would I know.

Good luck with that y'all.