Fourth American President to have won it, after Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter. TR and Wilson both won while in office.

And this took me by surprise.

But he doesn't have a birth certificate.... he was never born. How could they give the Nobel Prize to someone who was never born?

I believe Kissinger had the same problem.

And yeah I'm surprised by another fact: Gandhi never won the Prize.

Its as ridiculous of a snub as The Stooges, KISS, and Alice Cooper locked out of the Rock Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Mr. Obama!

The greatest snub in history (IMHO).

I would agree!

Why give it to Obama he hasn't done anything.

Yeah, Dubya is a MUCH better candidate for a PEACE prize, seeing as he started a war with Iraq to get validation from his daddy .

But I do think giving it to Obama was premature. He's only been in office 8 months.

Congratulations to the president of the United States.

Congratulations to Obama, but I'm baffled. While he has begun an initiative that can produce positive change in the world, the results haven't arrived yet. By the way, today he is expected to add another 40,000 troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for accomplishments, not expectation and speculation, but I guess the panel had their reasons.

I support Obama, but I find it puzzling that he receive this prize...at least now.

Why would you mention Bush hell I never even though of him being worthy as well.

To be perfectly honest the whole nobel peace prize award is a joke. No matter who wins it.

I agree with you on that. Jimmy Carter won it and he's done more to divide the Middle East than any President in American history. He's a rabid anti-Semite, and if he could win it, the whole award system is flawed.

Had they waited and given it to him after a couple of years of success in achieving world peace, this prize would have had some meaning. As it is, this is ludicrous.

I do believe (as reported) that Obama was taken aback also. He gave a very nice speech moments ago and said he didn't think he deserved it.

I don't really know who this panel is that chooses this award, but I do know that since Obama's been in office respect for the U.S. has risen significantly. Plus, I think Obama is liked and admired on the world stage for his efforts to regain respect and "reach out" are noticed and appreciated overseas. I don't know what criteria is used, and don't know who should have won, but looking from a foreign perspective, perhaps that has something to do with it. All that being said it does put more pressure on Obama just in terms of expectations.

The righties are going bananas though aren't they? They absolutely can't stand it.

TIS

How is he an anti-semite? He seems so nice, and also he invited a Pro Wrestler to the White House. True Story.

Given your age, you have one of the sharpest political minds I've ever encountered, so I KNOW you're kidding, right?

Lecture me, grandpa.

Also, you still pissed that the subway replaced the carriage in Brooklyn?

But really, for an Anti-Semite, I would think the Camp David Accords backfired by helping Israel out. Then again, that sounds like the Carter Presidency.

Jimmy Carter has sided with terrorists and their allies against Israel, which is America's ally.

He came close to Holocaust denial by leaving the Holocaust out of his book on the conflict between Arabs and Israel.

He holds the Jewish state to a standard that he is unwilling to impose upon the Palestinians.

Rush Limbaugh's head just exploded.

Explain exactly.




Did he explicitely say it never happened and denied its existence? Its one thing to do so as say President Ratface over in Tehran.



You mean a competent functional democracy not run by a gang of armed thugs in a constant power struggle with a fucking corrupt Authority? Or one that allowed gays to openly join its military*? Oh and gave us that chick on N.C.I.S.?

*=Israel: Tougher than America?

and Glenn Beck just had a seizure.

You know after the election last year, I tuned in to watch Sean Hannity's reaction to that victory. It was worth it.

and Glenn Beck just had a seizure.

[/quote]

I'd pay to see that.

What happened to Colmes? Hannity by himself is just plain annoying. At least with the tag team it was sort of interesting.

“In my opinion, Netanyahu brought up several obstacles to peace in his speech that others before him have not placed. He insists on settlement expansion and demands that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, even though 20% of Israel’s citizens are not Jewish.”

That's what Carter had to say last summer. So, in Jimmy Carter’s world, Israel’s daring to insist that it be recognized as the Jewish homeland is the obstacle to peace, not the Arabs’ refusal to accept it.

That's not a double standard?

Carter deserved the Nobel for the Camp David accords and his post presidency work eradicating river blindness in Africa, establishing the Carter Center for Peace and for his work with Habitat for Humanity.

He began losing it about a decade ago and in 2002 he was supposed to be the referee of the Venezuelan election which was rigged by Hugo Chavez. Rather than challenge Chavez, he announced his wife's birthday was coming up and he did not have any more time to listen to any complaints, and pronounced Chavez the legitimate president. We all know how that worked out. Since then he has taken a very pro Palestinian stance, and while there is nothing wrong with that per se, he has taken some shots at Israel that IMHO have been un called for.

I noticed at Obama's inauguration, and again at Ted Kennedy's funeral that the other ex-preidents and the sitting president were all hugging each other...wives too, chatting amiably...all except the Carters.

IMHO Jimmy is going soft in the head and ought to retire from public life.

Okay, back on topic.

GOP, even some liberals, dismiss Obama peace prize

By CHARLES BABINGTON (AP)

WASHINGTON — Gee, you'd think a U.S. president who won the Nobel Peace Prize might get rave reviews from his party's activists and a polite congrats from top Republicans.

But news of Barack Obama's award Friday drew a rebuke from the Republican Party chairman, ridicule from conservative bloggers, and even gripes from some liberals who think he hasn't done enough to wind down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Top Democrats congratulated Obama, of course, but critics abounded on the left and right.

"What has President Obama actually accomplished?" said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

"It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights."

There was praise from two Democrats who also have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Former President Jimmy Carter, who won in 2002, called Obama's selection a "bold statement of international support for his vision and commitment."

And former Vice President Al Gore, who won two years ago, said Obama's prize was "extremely well deserved."

"I think that much of what he has accomplished already is going to be far more appreciated in the eyes of history, as it has been by the Nobel committee," Gore said.

But conservative bloggers seethed with astonishment and criticism of the news from Oslo.

Several commentators challenged the value of the Peace Prize, noting that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat shared it in 1994.

"What's Obama done?" asked Rick Moran in his blog on American Thinker, a strong advocate of Israel. "What peace has he negotiated? ... I suppose an organization that thought Yasser Arafat worthy of the same prize can't be taken seriously anyway. But they are."

Erick Erickson, writing on RedState.com, suggested Obama won in part because he is black.

"I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it, but that is the only thing I can think of for this news," Erickson wrote. "There is no way Barack Obama earned it in the nominations period."

Obama himself declared in a Rose Garden statement: "I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments."

The reaction was only slightly warmer on some liberal Web sites, with some questioning the award because of Obama's role as commander-in-chief of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To be sure, some groups and politicians gave Obama full-throated congratulations.

Global Zero, comprising political and military leaders from around the world, applauded Obama's award, which was "in part based on his leadership to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons."

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who chairs the Democratic National Committee, called the award "an affirmation of the fact that the United States has returned to its longstanding role as a world leader."

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chastised the GOP's Steele for his remarks, and noted that conservative activists had cheered when Obama failed last week to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago.

"I find it very very disappointing for the chairman of the Republican Party — after the cheers that went out when America lost the Olympics — to now be attacking our president, everyone's president in our country, at a time when he is being recognized on the world stage," Stabenow said.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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YES HE CAN!

It all makes perfect sense.

It's too early in his Presidency (according to the 'lefties) to asses the impact of his administration & policies.

Yet, it's not too early in his Presidency to award him the Nobel Peace Prize.

I understand Jimmy Carter is a little miffed, as he had to suck up for 20+ years to receive the same 'honor' after less than a year as President.

Sen. McCain is quoted as stating the Prize is based upon 'expectations'.

If that is the case, then it will be interesting to monitor Mr. Obama's accomplishments over the next 3 years.

But remember....it's still to early to judge.



Apple

Still quoting the wrong guy, huh?

Frankly, I have to say that I was shocked. I, too, don't think he deserved, at least not yet. Yes, he has done wonderful work smoothing the feathers that were ruffled by the previous administration, but I think that goes under his job description, and not necessarily worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. Might he deserve it a few years from now? I would like to think so, based on the ground he is currently laying, but I do think it's a wee premature.

As for saying that he got it because he's black, that is just disgusting.

Whether I agree with giving it to him now or not, I am very proud of our President, and very proud to be an American today.

Bush set the bar so low, now that the US president acts as he should, all are overwhelmed.

I didn't expect him to win this prize so early, but if not he, then who else? No one else was this influential in promoting peace and hope this past year. Congratulations to president Obama, he changed the attitude of the world for the better and inspired hope around the world.