SubscribeThorbjørn Jagland (Chairman)And they'll use the word "agenda" a lot.
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"... Asked why the prize had been awarded to Mr Obama less than a year after he took office, Nobel committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said: "It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve".It will be interesting, given this public statement by the Nobel committee head, which could be construed as making the Nobel committee's award an intentional act of political lobbying, to see if Obama keeps the $1.4 million dollar prize, or respects the broader spirit of his own Executive Order, and either refuses the prize, or donates it to the U.S. archives as a Presidential gift exceeding the value threshold for personal retention by the President.
"It is a clear signal that we want to advocate the same as he has done," he said.
He specifically mentioned Mr Obama's work to strengthen international institutions and work towards a world free of nuclear arms. ..."
"And of course, the big news story tonight is the sensational win of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize by none other than American President Barack Obama. And the question everyone's asking is... has the prize committee finally flipped? Obama, the man who invented the audacity of hope, ex-Illinois senator, once described by Oprah Winfrey as 'The One,' and recently voted the Least Persuasive Olympic Lobbyist for the first time... have they got an answer this time? We asked committee chairman Thorbjørn Jagland..."
The music swirled and dived for a moment. Another voice broke in, presumably Jagland. He said:
"Vell, Obama's jist zis guy, you know?"
What a joke, now he has a "Nobel" with about as much value as that moron Al Gore's...BFD. Nothing but BLING for Chicago's Homie in the hood made good.Me, I'm wondering how this played out in real life. Did he have any inkling? or did he just assume it was a courtesy nomination? I'm imagining that call at 4:00 and Obama turning to the sleeping Michelle, "Babe, I just won the Nobel Peace Prize," in a tone of incredulity. That would be some crazy-assed way to wake-up. My husband thought the White House Staff would just let him sleep and would not put the call through, but I am guessing that he was out of bed and calling his speech writers before he called for coffee.
Looking back on the Obama presidency so far, Mr. Jagland said: “One of the first things he did was to go to Cairo to try to reach out to the Muslim world, then to restart the Mideast negotiations and then he reached out to the rest of the world through international institutions. “
He mentioned in particular the recent United Nations Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament and the announcement of the prize noted the special importance the Nobel committee attached to President Obama’s vision of a world without nuclear weapons.
“Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play,” the committee said.
It might be OK to say this award is premature, and even designed to send a political message. GOPers will go further and whine that Obama is at fault for winning, and they will predict dire consequences.
But most Nobel Peace Peace prizes go to conventional leftwing types popular with European elites — Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Mikhail Gorbachev. Before they break out the champagne at the White House, they may want to pause over the fact that Obama now shares this honor with Mohammed el-Baradei, Yasser Arafat, and flagrant liar Rigoberta Menchu Tum.Riehl World View:
"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. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
Unfortunately, this inexperienced, indecisive, ineffectual jerk doesn't seem to speak for America. And that's his real problem in the end. At this rate, the man is going to become reviled by a majority of the American people in four years.
"It's quite likely this committee will reward somebody who is engaged in current processes," said Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the International Peace Institute in Oslo (PRIO).
"They want the prize to have an impact on things that are about to happen and want to affect events," he told Reuters.
I imagine that when the new criteria is that when you can bankrupt a country, turn the proud and free people of that country against each other in a way unlike anything that has been seen since the civil war and then take away that country's freedoms of 233 years , in such a short time you deserve the nobel prize.
What about Obama's relentless war on the unborn?
He only got this becouse he's black
Who cares if he wins...it is a bogus award anyhow. Do you not know the history of Dr. Alfred Nobel and the Nobel SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT award?
People like Al Gore and Obama didn't do anything intelligent or worth while to receive it. The people who give this reward out have diminished it's true meaning. Nobel Peace Prize now equals the Darwin Awards.
The "prize" is given by leftists to other leftists. Has no meaning and as somone posted earlier, I, too, wonder what this one cost us. O is anti-American, and I'm sick of his traveling the world to apologize for Americans who love this country. I don't know when he's had time to campaign for this "prize" with his rigorous TV schedule
"I cannot think of anyone today more deserving of this honor. In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself. He has shown an unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."—Mohamed Elbaradei (2005)I was surprised by the announcement and am still mulling over my reaction. Then again, I'm not a Nobel laureate.
"In these hard times people who are capable of taking responsibility, who have a vision, commitment and political will should be supported."—Mikhail Gorbachev (1990)
"It's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all. It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama’s message of hope."—Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984)
"For the time being Obama's just making proposals. But sometimes the Nobel committee awards the prize to encourage responsible action. Let's give Obama a chance."—Lech Walesa (1983)
"Former President Jimmy Carter says the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Barack Obama is a "bold statement of international support for his vision and commitment."
Carter won the peace prize himself in 2002, two decades after leaving office. In a statement, he described the Nobel committee's decision Friday as support for Obama's work toward peace and harmony in international relations.
Carter says the award shows the Obama administration represents hope not only for Americans, but for people around the world."
The president wins the Nobel Peace Prize and some Democrats are wondering if he should turn it down because it might upset the wingnuts. Marc Ambinder summarizes:This tracks with one argument I'm hearing and reading from Democrats and others who are skeptical of the prize: it will turn the volume and enthusiasm level all the way to the extreme end of the dial for conservatives -- overmodulating at 110%; the resulting hyperpolarization will hurt Obama's agenda. (Representative of this opinion: "I think it will feed not just conservative dislike but the growing concern of independents and elites, that he is a man of rhetoric, a work of imagination, but as of now an unaccomplished statesman. The smartest thing he could do is turn it down. It will backfire on him.'")Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a parallel dimension where everything is inverted. Accepting the Nobel Prize makes you look bad? It's narcissistic to accept prizes from other people?
I am gobsmacked that some Democrats want the president to turn down the prize for his own good. What message would that send to the rest of the world? Something along the lines of 'Thanks, guys, but I'm really all about war'?
Of course the Republicans are going to freak out. Our guy wins a Nobel Peace Prize after 9 months in office, primarily for tinkering with the worst excesses of the wars their guy started. That's humiliating. Humiliated Republicans lash out, news at eleven.
Whatever, they're all French, ain't they? This is a travesty! Shoulda been Cheney and Jesus!I didn't need some idiots in Sweden to make me feel proud of my country. And the idea that we should all enjoy the pat on the head for electing Obama makes this even more of a joke.Norway awards the Peace Prize.
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.
"But Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the five-member Nobel committee, said 'we have not given the prize for what may happen in the future. We are awarding Obama for what he has done in the past year. And we are hoping this may contribute a little bit for what he is trying to do.' In making the announcement, the committee said Obama has 'created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play.'"*
"Two key White House aides were both convinced they 'were being punked' when they heard the news, reported ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. 'It's not April 1, is it?' one said."*
"'I am both surprised and deeply humbled,' Obama said from the White House Friday morning.
He said he does not 'view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments,' but rather as a 'call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century.'
'I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize,' he added."
"The award appeared to be a slap at Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama's predecessor for his largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The Nobel committee praised Obama's creation of 'a new climate in international politics' and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the U.N. to the center of the world stage.
'You have to remember that the world has been in a pretty dangerous phase,' Jagland said. 'And anybody who can contribute to getting the world out of this situation deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.'"
Honey, I've something to tell you. Please sit. Here's a valium and your heart medication. Now, while you were asleep it was announced that..."
Norway and Sweden were at that time still in union, and with Sweden responsible for all foreign policy, Nobel felt that the prize might be less subject to political corruption if awarded by Norway.
"White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama woke up to the news a little before 6 a.m. ET.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided not to inform Obama before the announcement because it didn't want to wake him up, committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said.
'Waking up a president in the middle of the night, this isn't really something you do,' Jagland said."*
Shimon Peres:
''Very few leaders if at all were able to change the mood of the entire world in such a short while with such profound impact. You provided the entire humanity with fresh hope, with intellectual determination, and a feeling that there is a Lord in heaven and believers on earth...''
''Under your leadership, peace became a real and original agenda. And from Jerusalem, I am sure all the bells of engagement and understanding will ring again. You gave us a license to dream and act in a noble direction...''.
"I think that everybody is laughing. Our president is a worldwide joke. Folks, do you realize something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn't deserve the award. Now that's hilarious, that I'm on the same side of something with the Taliban, and that we all are on the same side as the Taliban."Shut up, you drug-addled, fat fuck.
You see, this is where the whole Democratic elected majority falls apart. We get the White House, the Senate, and the House. And everyone wants their personal issue to be on the table. War in Iraq. Guantanamo. Health Care Reform. Gay Marriage. Global Warming. Peace in the Middle East. Rebuild a Broken Economy. If any ONE of these things were accomplished during a four year term--hell, an EIGHT year term--I'd be absolutely shocked and proud. But we aren't content with one. We want them all. Right now. And we all want to be first.Jesus Christ talk about setting low bar. All of those are important – in most cases critical – issues especially Global Warming, Healthcare and the Economy. Those are not in any way "personal" issues. We need to fix all of them and if the party can't fix (or at least make a real effort to fix them as a government) them then we have a serious, serious problem. I can't believe people can have such low standards!
I just wish sometimes that the left could be as success obsessed as the right. They would pump an award like this for all its worth if one of theirs won it, whether they believed it was correct or not.The fact that leftists are more honest then conservatives is a plus, not a minus.
Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a parallel dimension where everything is inverted. Accepting the Nobel Prize makes you look bad? It's narcissistic to accept prizes from other people?I agree that he shouldn't turn down the award. I mean personally, I don't think he's done enough for peace to get it but if he turned down the prize it would be a huge slap in the face to the international community. The fact that wingnuts will get riled up is really not a big issue. They are already riled all the way up and despite what Ambinder says, the knobs actually only go to 100%. If they try to push things further they will polarize things, sure, but polarize by strengthening the distaste most people have for them, not make people like Obama less.
I am gobsmacked that some Democrats want the president to turn down the prize for his own good. What message would that send to the rest of the world? Something along the lines of 'Thanks, guys, but I'm really all about war'? -- Kattullus quoting Lindsay Beyrstein
He cannot suddenly up and tell the military that they have to all wear pink tutu's in battle.I general agree with your larger point, but I think that the president actually does have the authority to tell the military that they have to all wear pink tutus in battle.
"Republican operative Floyd Brown, 'one of the nation’s dirtiest political strategists' and the architect of the racially-charged Willie Horton ad against Michael Dukakis, has launched a campaign to impeach Obama."I doubt the wackos will get far on their specious claims against Obama.
Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which recognize completed scientific or literary accomplishment, the Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to persons or organizations that are in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace.
"Certainly from our standpoint, this gives us a sense of momentum — when the United States has accolades tossed its way, rather than shoes."
They award it after he refuses to see the Dali Lama, after he continues the Bush regimes policies on prisoners, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, after he continues to enforce policies that are the direct opposite of what he campaigned, after he doesn't get rid of "signing powers", after he refuses to stand up and make the US join the rest of the western world in universal health care, and good education for every one, even poor kids.Yeah, um, that's fucking insane.
They did give it to a Republican. They just gave it to one of a different color.
“The announcement drew gasps of surprise and cries of too much, too soon. Yet President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday because the judges found his promise of disarmament and diplomacy too good to ignore.
The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee - four of whom spoke to The Associated Press, said awarding Obama the peace prize could be seen as an early vote of confidence intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration.
They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease U.S. conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen its role in combating climate change.
‘Some people say - and I understand it - 'Isn't it premature? Too early?' Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now,’ Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, told the AP. ‘It is now that we have the opportunity to respond - all of us.’
Jagland said the committee whittled down a record pool of 205 nominations and had ‘several candidates until the last minute,’ but it became more obvious that ‘we couldn't get around these deep changes that are taking place’ under Obama.
…In Europe and much of the world, Obama is praised for bringing the U.S. closer to mainstream global thinking on such issues as climate change and multilateralism. A 25-nation poll of 27,000 people released in July by the Pew Global Attitudes Project found double-digit boosts to the percentage of people viewing the U.S. favorably in countries around the world. That indicator had plunged across the world under President George W. Bush.
…The Nobel committee said it paid special attention to Obama's vision of a nuclear-free world, laid out in a speech in Prague and in April and at the United Nations last month.
Former Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said Obama has already provided outstanding leadership on nuclear non-proliferation.
‘He has shown an unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts,’ ElBaradei said. [more…]”
surviving their transformation into a 21st century version of the Whig Party
As a nation, we begin by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty--to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy.
The US "War on terrorism" removed the Taliban regime in October 2001, but it has not removed religious fundamentalism which is the main cause of all our miseries. In fact, by reinstalling the warlords in power in Afghanistan, the US administration is replacing one fundamentalist regime with another. The US government and Mr.Karzai mostly rely on Northern Alliance criminal leaders who are as brutal and misogynist as the Taliban.Yeah, those are some smug faux-progressives right there, all right. If only they realized the war was really in their best interests!
RAWA believes that freedom and democracy can’t be donated; it is the duty of the people of a country to fight and achieve these values. Under the US-supported government, the sworn enemies of human rights, democracy, and secularism have gripped their claws over our country and attempt to restore their religious fascism on our people.
Whenever fundamentalists exist as a military and political force in our injured land, the problem of Afghanistan will not be solved. Today RAWA's mission for women's rights is far from over and we have to work hard for establishment of an independent, free, democratic and secular Afghanistan. We need the solidarity and support of all people around the world.
Well, that was a big heaping pile of straw man argumentation. Exactly who is making the case that the Republicans and Democrats are the same.Well, Republicans and Obama, at least: Peecabu is.
Shouldn't you achieve something before you win a prize?and
He believes in multilateralism, international treaties, nuclear disarmament, and the UN. He has talked tough to the Israelis and nicely to the Muslims. But mostly, he has brought the American rogue state back to its senses.DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
Diplomacy is great, but it only gets you so far. I'd rather put my faith in a guy who, as one former Peace Prize winner put it, speaks softly and also carries a big stick.It sounds like she likes a guy who is loudly belligerent and carries a big stick.
His Republican nominations to cabinet positions have been very high.
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posted by Sfving at 2:14 AM on October 9 [235 favorites]