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He Won What?!
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Daily Beast contributors weigh in on the Nobel committee's controversial selection of President Obama for the peace prize.
View Our Gallery of Nobel Peace Prize Winners
A Prize Too Far
by Christopher Buckley
The Daily Beast's award-winning columnist delivers a message from President Obama to the Nobel committee: Thanks, but no thanks.
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The Woman Who Should Have Won Obama's Nobel
by Elaine Lafferty
Dr. Sima Samar, the physician and activist who survived a fatwa in Afghanistan, is the woman doing the kinds of things Obama is talking about—which is why she deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.
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A White House Surprise
by Richard Wolffe
Obama's aides did not see the Nobel coming. Richard Wolffe on how the prize—and the harsh reaction to it—tested the skills of the White House spinners.
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A Prize With a Price
by Michael Moore
President Obama has done much to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, writes Michael Moore. But now that he’s accepted it, his decisions on Afghanistan had better live up to it.
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Obama's Nobel Farce
by Peter Beinart
President Obama said Friday morning that he was "most surprised and deeply humbled" by being awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize," he added. The Daily Beast's Peter Beinart on why the award only aids the right’s arguments that Obamamania bears no relation to reality.
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Gore 'Thrilled' By Obama's Nobel
by Allan Dodds Frank
Former Vice President Al Gore jumped to the defense of President Obama today, saying the Nobel is “very well deserved” and praising his efforts at curbing climate change.
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Big Fat Story: Crib Notes on Obama's Nobel
by The Daily Beast
Left and right agree: He didn’t deserve it. The Daily Beast’s guide to getting past the conventional wisdom on the lightning bolt from Oslo.
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What's Wrong With Winning?
by Walter Russell Mead
Yes, he's got more words than deeds to his credit. But President Obama's Nobel is a reminder of America's unparalleled power to set the world’s agenda.
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The Problem Is the Prize
by Lee Siegel
The world is a different place than when Alfred Nobel cooked up the peace prize. Obama’s Nobel win, following misguided peace prizes for Yassir Arafat and Henry Kissinger, proves the prize is obsolete.
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Obama Wins Heisman Trophy!
by Mark Katz
The Nobel is not the only award the president does not deserve. Mark Katz imagines the prizes yet to come.
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Mauiboy
The game of political football is played around the edges (or the fringe as some call it) but it's the vast middle of independents that really make a difference in the elections. The Radical Right keep shooting themselves in the foot if they continue to harp on all things Obama. At some point, as we work on heath care reform and the economy, they will tune out the Right and the Obama Administration will start to make headway on the things that are truly important, while those on the Right will be forever marginalized. They should learn to pick their battles instead of fighting every battle.
BobbyTinGA
They can't help it, some folks are in permanent knee-jerk mode with Obama. It makes for entertaining noise at times.
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RADLIB
Barack Obama won the presidency and the Nobel Prize for peace. Get over it.
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diamondgirl
What economy? The only sector growing is Government, NOTHING ELSE, This is right out of the Rules for Radical book, Obama's was mentored by Saul Alinski. Grow government, destroy private sector jobs, he is a Socialist. Share the wealth, children with college education vs those without are at the same level of unemployment. That's called leveling the playing field. Shame on Him. He is so worried about the rest of the F....ing world thinks of
Him when he should be focused on The United States First...
Mauiboy
Alright, lets get the govt out of fixing the economy and let the private sector get things moving again...(chirp, chirp,chirp). The relentless call to reduce taxes has not worked and it wont work. When people hoard and when businesses layoff people, only the govt can do the heavy lifting until confidence comes back.
Budgetman
Can someone please explain to me why there is so much negative noise surrounding Obama's win of the Nobel prize? It only seems normal to me that someone of Obama's stature as a President of the people of the United States and his first attempts at taking a scholarly role on the international stage should be considered admirable qualities to earn this award. I am so put off by the fact that the world seems to understand Obama's rational and thoughtful ideas for solving the world's problems are based upon conversation and peaceful means while many American's are questioning this man's rightful place to present these new ideas on a world stage....which is what the prize was set up for in the first place....I am ashamed that some in America choose to underestimate and not appreciate this most powerful president for what he is attempting not only to do positively for America but for the world. Also please note that I am a Republican, and as such, have been generally pleased with his first nine months in office, as well as his flawless campaign....Give the president some time to fulfill his agenda...we gave Bush eight years and only with the wisdom of words and new ideas over the last nine months of Obama have we been able to put some of Bush's wrongful ways behind us as a country....I believe Obama deserved the prize as he stands for the hope of a better future, and we all should be happy that a man who promotes this hope for peace and honor for the entire world received it.
cardink
Obama has begun to return our respect in the world that under the previous POTUS was a joke.
Let's be specific ; progress is being made in N. Korera, Cuba,Russia, Iran, Isreal & Pakistand sure we are not there yet but we are in far better shape than a year ago. Obama is a true leader and a pragmatic one at that he offers to the world and a younger generation great hope where there was arrogance. Maybe it is not what he has done as much as what he is doing . And just for good measure let's throw in his leadership in the global economy. we are well likede and well respected and this was not an accident.He is a postive force that is not afraid to make the tough decision In my opinion we are lucky to have him but the far right will never see this as they have become the party of NO rather why Not!!!
xlntcat
You could make the argument that Gore hasn't solved Global Warming or that many other recipients had charted the coarse but only began the work. Obama was given the award because of all the things the 'cardink' listed and by acknowledging our past short comings and stating our intention to chart a course that respests other nations and a willingness to work cooperatively in the international community. Bush was on the way to making us North Korea.
melissamsouza
Excellent point-"not what he has done but what he is doing". That's perfect. And like you say, already there has been significant progress with Russia, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea--not to mention the economy. These naysaying pundits should be ashamed of themselves--their pseudo-"arguments" are ridiculous. With all do respect to the President of Zimbabwe, who many say should have won the prize, what real power does this man have to effect significant, transformative change on a global scale, on so many levels? He would have won the prize and then gone back to his (yes) unfinished work in war-torn, ravaged Zimbabwe. Obama is a world player and world leader; far from being an act of anti-Americanism, as has been suggested in the most absurd, silly manner by some, granting the Nobel to Obama is a tribute to the importance of American leadership in the world, and the hope that is vested in American power and example.
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kleinnp
Nice - you are the ass.
Dan100
The Nobel peace prize is a farce.. Any committee twisted enough to award the 'most prestigous international peace honour' to 20th century war-mongers & monsters like Henry Kissinger, Le Duc Tho & Yasser Arafat is beyond redemption. I suspect some crusty old Scandanavians thought they would jump on the Obama popularity wagon by ousting more deserving nominess like Morgan Tsvangirai, a man who has backed up his soaring rhetoric with enormous personal sacrifice in the name of peace
Mauiboy
You must have been really upset when Bush awarded the Presidential Freedom Award to Dick Cheney, L. Paul Bremer, General Tommy Franks, and former CIA director George Tenet, those that led us into the Iraq mess.
rhonda1309
The deadline for this prize was 12 days after he took office, he won for being BLACK!
or speaks well with telepromter
because he
hadn't bankrupted the country yet
hadn't taken over the GM and Chrysler yet
roger37
Not only is TDB rapidly becoming a message board for right-wing editorialists, it's attracting the worst kind of semiliterate wingnut, as exemplified by the above post.
Ritarita
Yes.
Just be thankful
Our friend Rhonda doesn't
Have a brain.
She would be exceedingly
Dangerous.
PellaB
I am amazed at the fact the media us as Americans must pick apart our President. When Bush took us to a war he couldn't explain the push was he's our president to criticize is un-American. This guy wins an award that he had no hand in and people are losing their minds. Let's ask ourselves why are we not embracing his positives no matter small or large as we embraced, sighed with relief when George Bush got a complete sentence out of his mouth. What could be the cause for the disparity.
Barbara416
rhonda1309, you are ridiculous!
kleinnp
yes indeed she is.
LeighBeast
It's shocking to me to see so much negative rhetoric over something that honors this country. The critics are behaving like jealous children.
melissamsouza
It is just so ridiculous the way these pundits have to earn their paychecks by concocting the most ludicrous "arguments" and stirring up a firestorm about something which should be celebrated. I am with Professor Walter Mead and with John McCain: to the naysayers, just chill out, lay back and celebrate the fact that the world is very grateful for a much needed, new kind of American leadership. Other more deserving folks should have won it? Who? Most Nobel winners, for all their do-gooding activities, come out of obscurity for 15 minutes to receive their prize, then go right back into it, thank you very much. Most are not great accomplishers and receive the prize with their work largely unfinished or never to be finished. I would like to know which of the 200 nominees has the degree and scope of power to literally stride on the world stage, inspire millions of people worldwide and de facto transform the social, economic and political landscape? This is an acknowledgement of American power and importance (despite all the buzz to the contrary), and how much the world yearns for an American President who can take the realms of world leadership for the Good. I live overseas, and I think many Americans underestimate the trauma inflicted on the world by George W. Bush. To the wingnuts and Bush defenders of might is right, I say that in my lifetime I have never seen America so hated, and an American President so disrespected, as I have witnessed living abroad for the past few years. No one feared us, no one respected us, everyone was cheering our decline. This is not power; this is weakness, severe weakness. Obama in his brief nine months has restored America as a Beacon to the World--this is no minor accomplishment, and for a global population in crisis desperately in need of leadership, he has more than fulfilled his promise.
djanimaequeen
Wonderfully stated. Bravo.
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diamondgirl
I think it's wonderful for Obama and his family, I am sure they are very happy to have won an award... This award creates more questions than answers as to why he received it. The socialist's judges see similarities in Obama's way of governing, which is a scary thing for an American President to have. While this award is a great thing for those Countries who can relate, it's not for most of Americans!
robjh1
I congratulate him on this fete. But why is the liberal media so shocked? He won the Presidency having had any major accomplishements in Congress but you folks told us he was a change agent having second thoughts. The committee is just following your lead.
"and we are not saved..."
deucedaddydon
This is an outrage!!!!---A mullato born in KENYA, Africa(Documented), becoming president of the USA (illegally, must be born in USA),---accepting such a prestigous award, must make the other reciepients of the Nobel Peace prize turn their heads in disbelief!!!
drevilo
deucedaddydon:
Wow! You sure said what needed to be said. I am so very happy to know I am not the only non-political person in the USA. Man, if you can't say it like it really is, its better not said. Un-warranted recognigtion thrown at a country, the USA, with a know hitstory of racism, by a group of five elite white ass holes of the Nordic is just plain nit witty at best, and political gerrymandering at worst. All this Oslo group did is honor an unqualified black dude...your are right on..........thanks for being around today. I needed a shot in the arm over this arrogance of EU jerks.,..........Best
deucedaddydon
Not only that, but what you will never hear from our LIBERAL MEDIA is, that at the present time there are 18 suits filed in Federal court pertaining to Obama's legal status COLB (Certificate of live birth). Any day now there is supposed to be a hearing brought by citizens demanding PROOF of Obama's citizenship OR qualification to serve as President of USA.
US Justice Foundation has released the results of their investigation, showing estimates that Obama spent upwards of $950,000 in campaign funds in the past year, hiring 11 law firms in 12 states to BLOCK disclosure of ANY OF HIS PERSONAL RECORDS, investigation is still ongoing & results will be provided to US ATTY.GENERAL, ERIC HOLDER----Mr. Holder so far has REFUSED to comment on this matter.
Lastly, the smoking gun is the lady lawyer from Irvine, Ca. that paid her own way to Kenya, Africa to document this hushed up claim, & after working her way up in that Government controlled area, paid an official to look the other way while she photographed & documented Obama's official birth certificate & baby footprint stamped on the same document, thus PROVING that Obama is an Illegal President of the USA!!!
kleinnp
Born in Kenya? Birther blather.
RADLIB
This ignorant comment does not warrent a reasoned response.
drevilo
Then why respond at all you sorry piece of Kenya cow dung...........Best
deucedaddydon
RADLIB-------Brace yourself for the truth!!!----Why else would Obama spend about one( 1) million bucks to keep this quiet????----Like it or not, as this erupts, (& it will ), all the Liberals will commence to pulling their hair out!!.
kleinnp
Birther blather
drevilo
Damn the truth is hard to swallow. How are you so sure this mullato was born in Hawaii? Give me a shred of evidence other than your two bit opinion ,and what the criminals behind him have put out for your gullible consumption. You are a "blathering" fool, most probably..........at least easy to be manipulated by the black boys..........
Best
pacifistgunslinger
And I still keep asking where were George Bush and Dick Cheney when I was in Vietnam?
Bojangles54
It's not Obama's fault he won the award. I'm sure he wished he hadn't ... at least at this point in his term. But it does underscore the fawning liberal left's infatuation with the man. All he has done to date is read speeches written by his subordinates, apologize for the actions of America around the world, and push his socialist agenda. The Europeans love all that. If that is what it takes to win a Nobel, he certainly deserves it.
getkicksonrte66
Your thinking is so small
drevilo
Holy shit, don't you think this guy knew his staff nominated him. Get a frigging life Bojanles54, your too much in love with your "BRO" to see the trees for the forest.........Best
roger37
Shut up, you racist prick.
drevilo
You wont find me hiding the truth behind your back you piece of Kenyan cow dung roger37. The truth in this cruel "world" is that it will always be racist. Once you get your culture straight maybe things will change, but until then you will always be pushed aside.......Telling me shut up is like your mother, you dad has most probably split, telling you study and get off the basketball court, usleless........................
newsy1
The Repubs are just jealous. They know if their candidates had gotten in, McCain and Palin, the Nobel Prize committee wouldn't have even known how to spell their names. You betcha! http://newsy1.wordpress.com
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