Obama’s Triumph?
Posted on 09. Oct, 2009 by scott in Social commentary, political munglings
I woke up this morning to the news that President Obama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Then I ran to the calendar to check if I’d been ‘time-warped’ to April 1st (either back or forward).
Holy Moses this story was real.
The London Times called the award ‘absurd’ and I have to agree.
First a caveat, I did not vote for Obama, however I have had high hopes for the changes he promised on the campaign trail and personally (though we haven’t and will never meet) I like the guy. I’d love to sit down and have a Rootbeer and talk basketball and golf . . . and especially politics and economics.
Second — the reality.
Obama has not accomplished anything yet.
Apparently that does not bother the Nobel Committee. They awarded it for his ‘promise and potential.’ I don’t know if he will ever be entitled to the award but in any event this award is at least 5 or 6 years to early. Ya gotta do something real to get an award don’t ya?
Maybe not. But…
Why didn’t Pons and Flieschman get the Physics award a decade or so ago when he promised to have found the potential of Cold Fusion? Why didn’t I get it whey my high school English teacher told me I had great promise and potential? If we get awards for promise and potential then all of us should be collecting big checks from the Nobel people . . . tank you bery much.
According to reports Obama was nominated only days after his inauguration. That is unbelievable. The voting was based on his stumping speeches and promises on the campaign trail. Whooeeee!
On the face of it, this award is ridiculous. All I can think is that the Europeans and Scandinavians who voted for this have bought into the ‘celebrity’ status of our new President.’ Too bad. This will surely put more pressure on him to perform. Not like he needs any more. But the sad thing it will also give him and his majority party new ‘political’ capital.
In his comments about it, this morning, Obama said that the award is historically made to give momentum to worthy causes. Okay. To be fair he is not the first sitting president to receive the award. Roosevelt and Wilson also had the honor. Of course they weren’t only in office for nine months at the time, but whom am I to wonder? Continuing, President Obama was sufficiently humble and mentioned that the award should be shared with all people who strive for progress, independent of faith, race or religion. He further recognized that it was probably for his ‘engagement’ with other nations and desire to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Okay.
All good stuff. But, nothing accomplished yet. Just words. . . a mighty wind, so to speak.
The republicans immediately embarrassed themselves with critical comments about our Commander in Chief. Of course they should have been critical of the knuckleheads in the Nobel Committee but then who is counting? Then the democrats came back with a volley of their own and characterized the republicans in the same breath as the Taliban and Al Queda. What idiots! Again, I remind you of the power we (the people) would have with term limits!
Of course I am proud that our President will receive the award. I am also hopeful that someday he will actually deserve it. But not so much now.
Where does Obama go from here? He was placed on a pedestal by the right wing in America. Now that pedestal has been gold-guilded by the left oriented Nobel Committee. It is going to be an all uphill journey for Obama from here on, that is for sure.
All because a bunch of people back in the ‘old’ world . . . think he is cool and want to show how liberal and accepting they are. Dangit.
Expectations? Hope? Change? Now it will become a democratic stronger mandate that will ruin any hope of bipartisan cooperation on the many important issues facing all of us. I guess that celebrity trumps ‘blue collar’ accomplishment every day in the rarified atmosphere of the rich and famous. Sad.
Nine months. Nothing. Nada. What will the next year bring? I am afraid to contemplate the unrestricted power of a democratic majority backing our newest ’super-hero.’ Can hardly wait for the movie.
I can only hope for reasonableness. We can only hope that the dems don’t get too carried away with this newest and ultimate ‘approval’ of their socialist and anti-business leanings.
Congratulations President Obama.
And good luck, our man!
thanks to rubberpaw for the photo from flickr
Honors and Recognitions
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