Actually, that’s not it at all. I do not, nor have I ever, had any aspirations to the Nobel Peace Prize. What irritates me is that the Peace Prize has now become a political tool, and not a prize to recognize accomplishments. You can’t tell me that 12 days into his presidency, Obama accomplished anything that is even remotely close to some of the accomplishments of the other people that were being considered for the prize.

Furthermore, when the Nobel Prize committee has to have a press conference to explain why on earth someone received a prize, that is a signular indication of a poor choice. It seems to me that when the Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced, most people should be thinking “Well, of course, because…”, NOT “What the heck for???”.

I do agree that it was NOT luck…that would imply some randomness. This was a well-planned glad-handing gesture to recognize someone who has, as of yet, achieved nothing significant, other than becoming a Celebri-dent.

No one cares! He won, get over it!

In reply to Lana, I care. In the past, the Nobel Peace Prize meant something—an achievement for excellence, for something truly special. Two WEEKS in office?! AT the very least complete a full term in office and rate his accomplishments. This award has become a joke.

@Lana: Why shouldn’t anyone care? I find that most people who say things like that can’t think of a reasonably good reason either. But, it is always easier to just tell someone to “shut up” than defend an indefensible position.

I am going to make an assumption, which may be wrong, so if it is, forgive me. I am going to guess that you are a die-hard Obama supporter. If so, please, please, please…tell me something that he has accomplished…I mean, actually accomplished. Not talked about, not threatened to do. ACTUALLY accomplished.

I DEFY you to give me an answer. The man is a zero-substance, do-nothing President. To borrow from William Shakespeare, his promises are a “tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

False analogy. Eddie in the story DID something. Mr. Obama THOUGHT about something to “won.”

Exactly, Kevin. Thanks for pointing that out.

President Obama HAS done something in his short time as President. He has divided this country among both socio-economic and racial lines more than any other president. That in itself is an achievement, but Peace Prize worthy? I think not.

Four of the five Nobel Peace Prize committee members gave an interview (see Associated Press interview, published October 14, 2009). It was a unanimous award. The guidelines for the award state that it should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year. During his campaign, his speeches, and his travels throughout the world, he certainly expressed that intent and the people of the world responded.

Oddly enough, the Nobel Peace Prize acknowledges one’s intent, not just the result. Review past recipients: it was their intent, not necessarily what they actually or eventually did.

I heard a joke that the reason President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize is because He Isn’t George Bush.

How does cranking up existing wars promote peace?

I’m not George W. Bush…do I get the Peace Prize too?

The prize fund itself barely had any integrity to begin with, and everyone awarded this prize (after the first year) has been either:

A left-wing celebrity (Al Gore, Bishop Tutu, Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, now Obama…)

A United Nations/League of Nations lapdog (Henry Kissinger, Cordell Hull, various European politicians and UN “officials,” the UN itself…)

A corporation or fund created to promote issues in a direction personally agreeable to committee members, and through violence or monetary coersion rather than democratic means (BIPP, IDI, ICBL, Amnesty Int…)

All of them have advanced arbitrary world government by force, though always called “world peace” or “international dialogue and cooperation.” This itself states the lie: WAR = PEACE
The only jealousy or naysaying involved is that of other countries’ leaders griping over the wealth, arms, and liberty of the United States. This itself states (to the rest of the world): FREEDOM = SLAVERY

All of you who assume that people outside of this country should/would use the same criteria for awarding prices. How egocentric.

In any contest, we dismiss the results if we don’t agree with them. Those of you who think this was an idiotic choice would be totally on board with someone more in line with your political/sociological leanings.

So accept this for what it is: a price awarded by non-Americans using non-American criteria. If it was possible for us to hermetically seal the U.S.A. up, the Nobel prizes would go on without us. For those of you who really disagree with this award, maybe this is the extent to which the conservative element is out of phase with the rest of the world.

Yes, yes. I hear all of you saying that you don’t give a rat’s patoot what the rest of the world thinks – until the liberals and Unions want to sanction trading partners, etc. then you go spastic over lost global business opportunities. We can’t just export to them, but then tell them we don’t care what they think. It is like being a little pregnant. You are either global or not.

Personally, I am still mulling it over.

Considering how many Nobel laureates expressed confusion about the award to Obama, I’m afraid my belief that the award was unwarranted stands unchanged.

@Nadja
Past Nobel laureates do not choose future award winners, any more than past Kentucky Derby winners do. Nobel selection committees pick prize winners.

This are Norwegians, who are picking who they think should win. I am very familiar with several Norwegians. Generally, they know what they know, they think what they think, and that is that. And I am imagining they don’t really worry whether we have disagreed with them. This has been my experience when discussing issues with them. I have learned that I should respect them for that, even when I do not agree with them. They are entitled to their opinions. This is not an American award.

@Jaime
First of all, assuming that people would use LOGIC is not egocentric. However, you bring up an important point: This is a private organization. They are, therefore, entitled to bestow their award and waste their money on anyone they choose, no matter how stupid the choice would seem to anyone with higher brain function.

I have to admit, I’ve been quite amused by all the hubbub about this Nobel Peace Prize decision. The tone of so many of the comments make it sound as if it’s Obama’s fault that he won something that he didn’t deserve. He didn’t ask to be nominated. He didn’t “apply” for it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was totally floored by the decision himself! I personally was shocked by the decision, and I agree that it does seem to be a “political” decision that came about 8 years too soon. But it is the Nobel committee’s decision after all, based on whatever they want to base it on.