The worst part is that nominations have to be submitted by February 1, meaning Obama was in office about 12 days. He didn’t have time to do anything yet. What was the nominator thinking?
12 thoughts on “Wait, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize?”
“Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year. Who has done more for that than Barack Obama?” – um, well in the 12 days Barack Obama was actually president… probably a lot of people.
Well maybe they gave him the prize for the historical importance of his election and campaign which did occur in the last year. Whether one agrees with his policies or not, he did break down an important and long standing barrier in this country. This resonates around the world in a way that I don’t think we really grasp, not to mention what it might mean for the possibilities within our own nation. I would hope that they did not give it to him for his short time in office. That would not make sense.
I do hope that they gave it to him for the reasons I mentioned in the beginning of my post. Sometimes we need to look a little farther and deeper to see the reasons of things.
I agree with you that IF they gave it to him on potential that would be wrong. (Kind of like giving a first round draft millions of dollars on potential!)
But as I said in my reply it seems to me that the award was indeed for an accomplishment-his historic campaign and election. The fact that he was able to break down a huge historical barrier with a rather large crossover vote in this country is very significant for both our nation and the rest of the world. That seems like an accomplishment worth noting.
Not that the first non-white president is not an accomplishment, but it doesn’t seem like the type of thing to be honored the peace prize. In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was the first female Muslim head-of-state. Was she peace prize material?
Even Arafat, who was a somewhat controversial pick, could be said to have tried to do something with the Oslo peace accords. That seems like the type of thing that the award should be rewarding.
“Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year. Who has done more for that than Barack Obama?” – um, well in the 12 days Barack Obama was actually president… probably a lot of people.
Nominated by John McCain as revenge.
Considering that Yasser Arafat won the Nobel Peace Prize… Obama’s 12 days of president wasn’t the worst they could have done.
@Annie: Yeah, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad didn’t publicly announce that he wanted to destroy Israel during those 12 days.
@Kate: Hahaha, that would have been brilliant if a political enemy did nominate him.
@Allen: You must be one of those nutjobs who thinks Arafat was the leader of a terrorist organization or something.
Who would you suggest then? Qaddafi?
uday and qusay hussein. they did a lot for world peace by not wasting any more oxygen.
Kim Jong Il. He could have nuked Tokyo, but didn’t.
Well maybe they gave him the prize for the historical importance of his election and campaign which did occur in the last year. Whether one agrees with his policies or not, he did break down an important and long standing barrier in this country. This resonates around the world in a way that I don’t think we really grasp, not to mention what it might mean for the possibilities within our own nation. I would hope that they did not give it to him for his short time in office. That would not make sense.
I do hope that they gave it to him for the reasons I mentioned in the beginning of my post. Sometimes we need to look a little farther and deeper to see the reasons of things.
@tommyg: Some of the other candidates: http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?p=4023
Awards are for accomplishments, not potential. Obama was awarded for his potential effect only. This is my problem with it.
Hey Donnie,
I agree with you that IF they gave it to him on potential that would be wrong. (Kind of like giving a first round draft millions of dollars on potential!)
But as I said in my reply it seems to me that the award was indeed for an accomplishment-his historic campaign and election. The fact that he was able to break down a huge historical barrier with a rather large crossover vote in this country is very significant for both our nation and the rest of the world. That seems like an accomplishment worth noting.
Just my thoughts.
Not that the first non-white president is not an accomplishment, but it doesn’t seem like the type of thing to be honored the peace prize. In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was the first female Muslim head-of-state. Was she peace prize material?
Even Arafat, who was a somewhat controversial pick, could be said to have tried to do something with the Oslo peace accords. That seems like the type of thing that the award should be rewarding.
Well, my problem with it is that Obama is part of Al-Qaeda and he wants my grandma to die at 60.