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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

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Matt Taibbi

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|NEXT STORY »

OPINION

Obama's Nobel Is the 'Not George W. Bush' Award

He's now the fourth recipient

By Harry Kimball| Posted Oct 9, 09 3:44 PM CDT|

(Newser) – The Nobel Peace Prize President Obama won today is nothing more or less than the “fourth Nobel Prize for Not Being George W. Bush,” writes Michael Grunwald. The other beneficiaries of the NPNBGWB were Jimmy Carter in 2002, for criticizing the Iraq war buildup; Mohamed ElBaradei of the IAEA in 2005, for refusing to kowtow on WMDs; and Al Gore in 2007, as a contrast to Bush's climate-change denials.

"This ill-concealed crusade is clearly damaging the prestige of the Nobel," writes Grunwald in Time. "The winners are supposed to be honored for their achievements, not for symbolizing the committee's grudges. And it probably won't do Obama any favors; he wants to be a leader, not a symbol, and honoring him for his rhetoric about a new American approach to diplomacy only reinforces the meme of his critics that he's merely a man of rhetoric."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Obama arrives in the Rose Garden today. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Former President George W. Bush. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

In foreign affairs, the US doesn't need to be loved, but it is nice to be less hated for a change...It's a point Obama should make more often. And he might want to add that a return to the Republican approach could win Daily Kos a Nobel Prize. - Michael Grunwald

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.20.09

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11.19.09

Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention

43 comments

VIEWING:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 9, 09 3:49 PM CDT

Let's flip it over and look at it this way, perhaps George Bush was just that wrong. Reply

+31

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 9, 09 3:49 PM CDT

On everything.

+29

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Oct 9, 09 3:56 PM CDT

That doesn't mean a peace prize should go to the guy who is just not as bad. He hasn't done too much in the way of peace. But then again, neither did Kissinger and he won it in 1973.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

drlarrymitchell
Oct 9, 09 4:06 PM CDT

TIME= Right-Wing rag. Worthy of being ignored.

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Oct 9, 09 4:45 PM CDT

Doctor, today we have seen the Right Wing go absolutely insane over President Obama and the news of this award. The insanity is so far flung it even has had effect on some in the Left causing them to also question this decision. The Committee which makes this decision made it months ago and not for Obama being President nor his efforts to provide Health Care to all, or even his Peace Overtures to the Middle East. They made it because it was their choice to make in any way they wish, also is the fact that they saw in Obama something desperately needed in America and that is hope, hope America will change her war like ways and rejoin the world community which the USA turned away from at the very begining of the Bush Rein and has only just now begun to wind down as it takes time to pull troops out of a country to better avoid getting many of those killed in that process, thus the reason Iraq has drug out as it takes months to pull out of a war or we wind up getting our a$$ shot off as happened in Vietnam as the Helicopters attempted to evacuate Americans from the country to waiting ships. This decision was made for hope, hope for the country will once more take up the role of Peace which we tossed away after 9/11 hope that we as Americans will remember a time of Peace and work toward that goal with only that in mind.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 9, 09 10:39 PM CDT

That's not what I was saying. By being that wrong Bush set the bar in negative territory, so someone who comes along after and starts setting things right becomes that much more right.

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Oct 9, 09 11:08 PM CDT

You really could be this wrong about Bush you know!

-2

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Oct 9, 09 3:49 PM CDT

It really does appear as if the peace prize has been handed out for this kind of reason. Sure I'd take Obama over Bush any day of the week, but just because I like the guy and his policies and world view are a closer match with mine, he should win a Nobel prize? He's now not just on a political promise to deliver. Reply

+11

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 4:21 PM CDT

He has delivered already. Repost from another story that was much older: Obama has averted what would likely have been another cold war started by the Bush administration when they tried to put ABMs right along the Russian border-a reverse Cuban Missle Crisis from the the Russian point of view-and the Bushies were making the cynical claim that it was to protect Eastern Europe from Iranian missles. This was an obvious lie to anyone but the most ignorant. By pulling the deployment of missles that should never have been deployed, he brought Russian into cooperating with much of the rest of the world in pressuring Iran to not continue to try to develop nukes. He did this in three months. Wonderful chess moves in my opinion and apparently much of the rest of the world's.

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Oct 9, 09 4:27 PM CDT

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say he averted another cold war. But certainly he reversed the anachronistic cold war mentality of the Rumsfeld-Cheney-Bush triumvirate.

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:04 PM CDT

@dax, maybe not, but the Russians were pissed. They were moving troops and weapons into Venezuela, and starting to gain hold with other South American countries that were rightfully freaked out by the policies of Bush/Cheney. Continued escalation along that path did not bode well.

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:07 PM CDT

Of course, this was a far bigger story in much of the rest of the world, where they still practice real journalism in their mainstream media, instead of showing medicare recipients protesting socialized medicine and the latest dancing with the Stars elimination:>)

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Oct 9, 09 11:01 PM CDT

Bryan, I do not doubt that moves Obama has made are entirely consistent with a man and an administration who said he was going to implement multilateral policies, renew the focus on diplomacy and try like hell to reduce nuclear warheads. But the award is premature, especially considering the noms for the prize closed not long after his inauguration. I wholeheartedly support his initiatives, but to win this award in such a light is like calling aspirin for a severe injury a performance-enhancing drug.

| 0 minutes ago

Realist
Oct 9, 09 3:50 PM CDT

Maybe it's payment up front? Does seem to nullify the point of the award tho. I like Obama, but there are literally thousands of people more deserving of this 'honor' Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 9, 09 10:42 PM CDT

Actually there is a precedent for Nobel Prizes being a "Payment up front".

| 0 minutes ago

Nelstorm
Oct 9, 09 3:50 PM CDT

Actually I think it would be fair to say that GWB is an extreme contrast to what the Nobel Prize recipients should be like. So in a way, I agree. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Oct 9, 09 4:01 PM CDT

Did you just post this somewhere else? Please stop flooding the site with your recycled cookie cutter stupidity.

IN RESPONSE:

AnnieOkie58
Oct 9, 09 4:29 PM CDT

TSK TSK....LSA...your green is showing !

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:20 PM CDT

suckass, that consolation prize talking point must have come from FOX or something, because I heard it from two of their watchers at work today.

| 0 minutes ago

KennyBoy
Oct 9, 09 4:15 PM CDT

To the righties In the words they can understand, from the great philosopher Nelson Muntz- HAW HAW. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Oct 9, 09 4:18 PM CDT

"Nobel Committee awarded its Peace Prize to former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, ostensibly for monitoring elections in far-flung hellholes, but really for being the most prominent American critic of then President Bush's buildup to a war in Iraq." ---------- And Grunwald knows this how? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Oct 9, 09 4:20 PM CDT

"....when the prize went to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Mohamed ElBaradei for refusing to confirm the existence of Saddam Hussein's nonexistent weapons of mass destruction before the war in Iraq" ------ And Grunwald knows this how? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Oct 9, 09 4:23 PM CDT

"....the committee wouldn't have dreamed of adding former Democratic Vice President (and almost President) Al Gore if it hadn't wanted to contrast his advocacy with Bush's climate denial."------ And Grundwald knows this how? ----- Jeeze, the Right has copped the Left's victimization mentality. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

divetrader
Oct 9, 09 4:36 PM CDT

The Nobel award committee is obviously not perfect. They never have been. But once again, perhaps they are rewarding America for electing someone other than a thug. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Snowleopard
Oct 9, 09 5:15 PM CDT

time is not right wing. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:23 PM CDT

but it's on my side, yes it is, yes it is.

| 0 minutes ago

Observer
Oct 9, 09 5:22 PM CDT

Go Obama. And yes W was so bad that he will be remembered as the worst US President in history. He is a proven war criminal jerk-off. Domestic wiretapping on the ENTIRE population. Racist Christian Ultra-Fundamentalists that ruined virtually every Federal Agency. Preemptive wars without meaning or end. Let's send all the Bush family members including W and Laura to Afghanistan to help the heathens find God and Country. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 6:08 PM CDT

Sorry about that Observer. My post went horribly awry. It was mailed to LSA

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 6:04 PM CDT

You really seem to like ass. In fact, you seem to work it in everywhere. Does Rush make you horny by chance?

IN RESPONSE:

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:32 PM CDT

suckass, that consolation prize talking point must have come from FOX or something, because I heard it from two of their watchers at work today. See, we liberals can cut and paste too.

| 0 minutes ago

Bryanw55
Oct 9, 09 5:28 PM CDT

But why did he bomb the moon???:>) Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Cat-Lover
Oct 9, 09 5:43 PM CDT

I was more surprised than most. I was sure the Nobel Prize for Peace for 2009 would be jointly awarded to both George W. bUSH and Dick Cheney for their work in the cause of world peace by their leaving office! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

STALKIE
Oct 9, 09 8:57 PM CDT

Well lets see, Hussein has tripled the National Debt, tanked the economy,lost another 500,000 jobs....etc. in less than a year. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ultramarine13
Oct 9, 09 9:52 PM CDT

The President has a limited effect on the economy, he is not some mystical overseer of it. The economy tanked because of a history of poor choices and extremely risky behavior on the part of financial institutions in order to create as much short term gain as possible to balloon their stock prices. When Obama was inaugurated, the recession was already well underway. Oh, and speaking of the national debt: Care to guess how much the Iraq war has cost? Or the Afghan War? Or TARP? Or the myriad tax cuts, or any of the other expenses incurred by the previous administration?

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Oct 9, 09 11:20 PM CDT

Or the Democratic Congress that wrote that budget, and passes half those things?

-2

| 0 minutes ago

Spudsy
Oct 9, 09 9:15 PM CDT

As much as I disagreed with Carter sometimes, his prize was for much more than disputing the Iraq lies. Let's see Shrub and Cheney go live in tents and build houses for the poor. Cheney might volunteer to go dig graves for the poor. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ultramarine13
Oct 9, 09 9:57 PM CDT

There have been a number of people who are wrong about the selection date for the Nobel Peace Prize, including, amazingly, a number of writers whose articles appear here on Newser. Has no one heard of Google before? Come on, check your facts people. To clear it up, here is the ENTIRE selection timeline, verbatim, taken directly from the Nobel Prize website. No more excuses for getting it wrong. September – Invitation letters are sent out. The Nobel Committee sends out invitation letters to individuals qualified to nominate – members of national assemblies, governments, and international courts of law; university chancellors, professors of social science, history, philosophy, law and theology; leaders of peace research institutes and institutes of foreign affairs; previous Nobel Peace Prize Laureates; board members of organizations that have received the Nobel Peace Prize; present and past members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; and former advisers of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. February – Deadline for submission. The Committee bases its assessment on nominations that must be postmarked no later than 1 February each year. Nominations postmarked and received after this date are included in the following year's discussions. In recent years, the Committee has received close to 200 different nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. The number of nominating letters is much higher, as many are for the same candidates. February-March – Short list. The Committee assesses the candidates' work and prepares a short list. March-August – Adviser review. The short list is reviewed by permanent advisers and advisers specially recruited for their knowledge of specific candidates. The advisers do not directly evaluate nominations nor give explicit recommendations. October – Nobel Laureates are chosen. At the beginning of October, the Nobel Committee chooses the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates through a majority vote. The decision is final and without appeal. The names of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates are then announced. December – Nobel Laureates receive their prize. The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony takes place on 10 December in Oslo, Norway, where the Nobel Laureates receive their Nobel Prize, which consists of a Nobel Medal and Diploma, and a document confirming the prize amount. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ultramarine13
Oct 9, 09 9:58 PM CDT

Please forgive the formatting. For some reason it didn't survive posting.

| 0 minutes ago

Reader68389796
Oct 9, 09 10:02 PM CDT

I agree with you that "The winners are supposed to be honored for their achievements" and who better to receiver this than the President of the United States. Maybe he is too young too accomplish much but what he has done to bring "Peace" to the world is so much more than any living or dead leader has ever done. The prize is not about what you have achieved, it is about what your change for peace has brought about. And this President has in his little time in office brought peace and harmony to this world. Who else would you have given it too when our world is being destroyed? Congratulation to our President. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Oct 9, 09 11:27 PM CDT

WTH? What has he done? By weakening the US he is inviting aggression against us. He is emboldening our foes. I am certainly glad he brought us peace in our time. I wonder who else has done that this century. Let us also remember Santyana, and know our history before we repeat it. This kid president seems to not know the history of the last hundred years. Yeah the Taliban is so happy today!

-7

| 0 minutes ago

OG_Travis
Oct 10, 09 9:41 AM CDT

i'm sick of hearing that obama's only great because of george retard bush....the guy would be amazing at this point either way...he was the FIRST and very UNEXPECTED black president and he HAS done a lot regardless of the nonsense...look up what he's actually passed already look at the agreements and plans made the guy is intelligent and gives a shit so deal with it he's a bad ass Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Toon
Oct 10, 09 3:49 PM CDT

I agree but a crocus is beautiful for more than itself, both its timing to be first in the spring and that contrast with the snow that it emerges from make it all the better. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83540559
Oct 11, 09 11:40 PM CDT

Kissenger was very successful in his own right. He had contributed much to world interests. Obama has done nothing but run for office and work for Acorn. He didn't even make a name for himself as community organizer. He did vote "HERE" 128 times in the senate. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 43 comments »

climate change • Al Gore • Jimmy Carter • IAEA • Nobel Prize • Nobel Peace Prize • rhetoric • George W. Bush • Mohamed ElBaradei • President Obama • Michael Grunwald

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Obama's Nobel Is the 'Not George W. Bush' Award