Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize!?

[filkertom]

I swear to FSM, I thought it was an Onion headline.

President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

Basically, for running around the world this year and being Super Diplomatic Peacemaker Guy.

(I recall Henry Kissinger getting one as well, so, yeah.)

Some people think it's a rebuke against Dubya, who was... well, Dubya. Some think it's meant to be encouragement for greater things to come. Some think it's way too soon for such a recognition. Some think that someone who's running a country enmeshed in two wars shouldn't get a Peace Prize until he ends those.

I think that there are so few people in the world willing to work for peace that even talking about it publicly is enough to put you head and shoulders above most world leaders. And actually attempting to do something about it... well.

That scares me.

Thoughts?

ETA: I'm actually feeling some better about it, having read Josh Marshall's take:

It's not the accustomed stance of a writer or blogger. But this one does have me at something of a loss for words. I notice the condemnation of the Taliban, the edged snark of the superciliati. But I also see Ana Marie Cox's first-off Twitter: "Apparently Nobel prizes now being awarded to anyone who is not George Bush." And while less than generous, I think she's on to the root of the matter.

This is an odd award. You'd expect it to come later in Obama's presidency and tied to some particular event or accomplishment. But the unmistakable message of the award is one of the consequences of a period in which the most powerful country in the world, the 'hyper-power' as the French have it, became the focus of destabilization and in real if limited ways lawlessness. A harsh judgment, yes. But a dark period. And Obama has begun, if fitfully and very imperfectly to many of his supporters, to steer the ship of state in a different direction. If that seems like a meager accomplishment to many of the usual Washington types it's a profound reflection of their own enablement of the Bush era and how compromised they are by it, how much they perpetuated the belief that it was 'normal history' rather than dark aberration.

Comments

[ozarque.livejournal.com]

Myself, I welcome Obama's peaceful -- nonhostile -- mode of discourse. That's an innovation in itself.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I must disagree. It's not innovation, it's a return to a style of diplomacy which we as Americans have gotten unused to from our government. It's a welcome return, and a very good start. But not, I think sufficient for this Prize, yet.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Onion was my reaction also. I mean, I like the guy, but WTF? I think Lech Waleda hit the nail on the head when he said, "So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act."

[sdelmonte]

I think it's too soon. He's on the right track, but is a long way from there. I think there is an implied rebuke of Dubya, which is well earned but not really the point of this prize.

I am usually more interested in the other prizes, though. The science awards are easier to quantify.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

I think it's premature, and I think it is in part for being not-Dubya (or not-McCain).

If they wanted to give the prize as a rebuke to the Busheviks and other American rightwingers, they should have given it to Bill Clinton. He definitely has the achievements to justify it, from the Good Friday Accord and the Dayton Accord through the activities of the Clinton Foundation.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I think it's premature; I want to see some world-class results (on the same level as Carter got between Egypt and Israel) before I award the Peace Prize.

Another snub of Pete Seeger, who deserves it twice or more times, at least.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

My prediction is, Seeger will get it posthumously, the same year he passes away. I pray that won't be for several years yet.

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

Cool! Good for him! Wow, this is going to get his haters talking, not that they need any really good reason.

Have fun at Conclave. Wish I could be there...

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

I won't say that he might not deserve it one day, but it might have had some real meaning if they had waited until ... oh, I don't know ... he had actually done something that justifies it. It's not unprecedented for a sitting President to receive one. If memory serves, both Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson received them while in office, but it was for very specific actions. This is than a purely political attaboy award, which isn't what it should be.

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Pencil him in for a future one, sure. Even shortlist him, if there's really such a huge push to use the Nobel committee to make political statements. But awarding it outright?

Hell, I haven't invaded any (more) countries since I last moved house, either. Where's my Nobel?

UPDATE: What would be really cool would be if Obama declined the prize on the grounds that he hasn't seen the policies through to completion yet. Sort of a "Judge me by my actions" request. I bet he'd get major political mileage out of that, especially internationally.

[misterseth.livejournal.com]

I see it more of a snub against the rightwing naysayers/teabaggers/republicans/ etc. than specifically not being Bush.
I can't wait to see Rush/Coultier's view on this tho...

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

The cut-off date for nomination was Feb 1st, 2009. So this was given for 10 days in office?
Directions, directives might have been issued, but they have not been fullfilled completely. Too soon.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

No. It. Was. Not. That's going to be a major wingnut talking point, though.

Getting Russia and North Korea back to the negotiating table counts for nothing, I guess.

This isn't the Oscars, where the award is based only on what you've done as of the time of the nomination. Go read the announcement; among other things, it says: For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. It's both recognition and encouragement... and possibly a rather pointed hint that he needs to back down from the prospect of war with Afghanistan, as well.

[uhrwerkmensch.livejournal.com]

What next, we preemptively award the Physics prize to a young researcher with a promising CV and brilliant grant application who's just beginning to study String Theory, just as soon as he pays off his creditors?

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Probably not. Hard sciences are more objective than social sciences. And the Peace Prize is always going to be controversial, as it involves groups of people who vehemently disagree with one another.

One person's idea of "making peace" may be another's idea of freedom-stifling imposition. Might one be considered for a Peace Prize for putting down an insurrection that others saw as taking up arms as a last resort against a dictator? Might Neville Chamberlain have been considered for the accolade, having (as it was widely thought at the time) prevented WWII? Was Arafat's selection a Prodigal Son reward to the militant who put down the gun and picked up the olive branch, or was it an obscenity that glorified a terrorist? Reasonable people have differed.

[juglore.livejournal.com]

The largest peaceful demonstration in America's history was Obama's inaguration. Blacks, whites, hispanics, men, women, christians, jews, muslims, athiests, Hollywood liberals, army conservatives all came together behind one man. Go Obama.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

While I applaud the committee recognizing his efforts, I'm afraid that it WAS too soon. The intent is great, but too early. Had this come next year after some actual accomplishments, it would mean more. Instead, it cheapens the peace prize into a mere popularity contest, and that dilutes its importance. I appreciate how relieved everyone is that the s***head before is gone and the world is relaxing a bit. But the peace prize should be about accomplishments, not desires.

But it does say something to the bleating whiney dittoheads out there that success comes to those who do, not to those who bawl that they aren't getting their way all the time.

[the-blue-fenix.livejournal.com]

I'm also in the "confirm this was not an Onion headline" category.

We should check the incidence of heart attacks among Republicans (especially in the South and over age 60) to see if it goes up today. I worry for some of my relatives.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be so quick to say he's done nothing to deserve it. He did spend most of the year attempting to make peace with a violent, anti-American force ... the GOP.

[marrael.livejournal.com]

WIN.

[pjhandley.livejournal.com]

We thought it was an Onion Headline too......

[violinsontv.livejournal.com]

This is not an award per se, to my mind. It's not even really for Obama the president's achiue

It's a message, to America, from an international community that has had a deaf ear turned to it over the past eight years.

It is a message to our government and it is a message to us as a people.

A group of the best minds in the developed world is telling us in a way that it hopes we will at least notice and maybe, just maybe, *not* ignore, saying *Yes. More of this. This is what we want.*

Is it political? You're damn tootin'.

But, at least for this news cycle, it's getting our attention.

[violinsontv.livejournal.com]

Sorry--what I meant to say was--

It's not for Obama's achievement as a president, because he hasn't had a *chance* to achieve a whole lot as president.

[lariss.livejournal.com]

Could this be a Nobel pre-emptive action to try to keep the USA from expanding the war(s) in the Middle East? Sort of a,"Hey! We just gave you the PEACE Prize! You can't run around sending MORE troops to Afghanistand OR nuke Iran!!!"


Possibly?

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

After reading the article, I have to agree: the award was given solely as a slap to the face of the Dubya administration.

As you probably knew already, I don't believe he deserves it.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

He = Obama, I mean.

[batyatoon]

... I'm afraid the only thing to come to mind is Sideshow Bob's line about his conviction for attempted murder. "Do they give the Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"

I haven't taken the Nobel Peace Prize too seriously since Arafat, I'm afraid. But I tend to agree that this is meant as a message to America, and on that level I can appreciate it.

[awfulhorrid.livejournal.com]

I have to agree that I don't think he really should get it yet. That said, I think it's pretty damned funny. I'll agree that it's more of a poke at Bush, etc. than anything else, but it's generating some really funny moments already, such as watching (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele on CNN saying "It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights."

Anything that can get a republican to (sort of) praise advocates for peace is good. Actually hearing them try to do so is just plain funny!

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

An article I read about this said that nomonations had to be in by February 1st. Mr Obama was sworn in only 12 days before that. And given that I still see no mention of pulling out of Iraq in anything I'm fed in the media I really think that this is just slightly premature.

But that's just my 2cents.

[pandoradeloeste.livejournal.com]

This article (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j1_QF_M_HvZAOpRa9UGcm5CbA-1gD9B7HDR80) might clarify why he got the peace prize. In particular:

_ Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.

More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.

So not really so much awarding Obama a cookie for not being Dubya, but not-so-subtly poking him to follow through. I can respect that, I guess. . .?

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

IF that article is correct, then the Prize itself is fucked up, not our perception of it.

[cernowain.livejournal.com]

It's a consolation prize for not getting the Olympics to the USA. j/k.

Well, that was kinda tongue-in-cheek, but seriously, I think its an award to America for finally overcoming its racism enough to elect a black president. That is deserving of a Nobel moment.

bb,
Cernowain Greenman

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

Then why not give the award to America?

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

Absent any of the other things I could say about it...this makes the Nobel Committee look pretty damned dumb, IMO.

You cannot tell me there was no one else on the short list who deserved this more. The Nobel Peace Prize isn't supposed to be a "vote of confidence," as the Committee has claimed. It's supposed to be an award for accomplishment.