Sunday, October 11, 2009

Obama Well-Deserving of Prize

Conservative John Podhoretz argues that Barack Obama well deserves the Nobel Prize.
I can’t agree with my colleagues here on CONTENTIONS that a) Barack Obama should reject the Nobel Peace Prize or b) be embarrassed by it. The Nobel Committee chose him wisely because he does, in fact, represent the organization’s highest ideals.

He is an American president queasy about the projection of American power. He is an American president who rejects the notion of American exceptionalism. He is an American president eagerly in pursuit of legitimacy to be granted him not by those who voted for him but by those who do not cast a vote and who chafe at American leadership. It is his devout wish that America become one of many nations, influencing the world indirectly or not influencing it at all, rather than “the indispensable nation,” as Madeleine Albright characterized it. He is the encapsulation, the representative, the wish fulfillment, the very embodiment, of the multilateralist impulse. He is, almost literally, a dream come true for the sorts of people who treasure and value the Nobel Peace Prize.
Indeed.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Bob said...

Gil - For crying out loud. Give it a break. You're turning into a Glenn Beck. Or maybe a proctologist.

October 12, 2009 at 2:12 AM 
Anonymous frank said...

bob, maybe the republicans can get gil-the-proctologist to replace joe-the-plumber.

October 12, 2009 at 12:48 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

American Exceptionalism is alive and well. We have exceptionally dumb conservatives controlling the microphones.

October 12, 2009 at 1:42 PM 
Blogger Trish said...

Wow, talk about misplaced hate! Anything said against this president becomes "right wing" crazy talk. I wonder where these clowns were when GW was in office???? I could have shown them REAL hate...
Listen Gil, isn't the real question, what the heck did the man do to be awarded the Nobel PEACE prize? If general appeasement counts as peaceful policy, he hadn't even gotten enough time in under his belt when he was nominated, so what are these boobs talking about?
If the Nobel committee were hoping Obama will turn our country into a socialist state much like Norway, then there's something solid to be considered.
If these fans of yours don't like criticism why do they listen to Rush and Glenn, or follow your blog? And while they're at it, they might want to skip over the ratings that these two and their fellow conservatives are reaping...

October 13, 2009 at 12:56 PM 
Anonymous jake said...

Think of the inspiring new message to America's children: Success is 99% aspiration and 1% perspiration.

October 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Trish-
Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. I wouldn't call that socialism. Why would you suggest that:
1) they would want the United States to become socialist
2) that the mere awarding of the Peace Prize would be enough to flip our country over to a different form of government

People like Rush and Glenn are fools that stir people to violence. Rush admitted in a recent interview that he does it all for ratings, so he can charge the advertisers more and make more money for himself. Sure he's for reducing the tax rate for the top 1% (by dollar value, not just body weight).
These people don't have the slightest interest in improving the lives of average Americans. They are corporate shill out to enrich themselves, at your expense.

Read the Nobel's committee's actual statements on the matter and the criteria for the prize. Don't forget the conservatives on the committee and the unanimous vote.

October 13, 2009 at 10:49 PM 
Anonymous Bob said...

Trish - I read Gil because I like his columns, and personaly, I think he's a nice guy. We've had some spirited conversations. I listen to Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck now and then, because I have an elderly father who I visit several times a week, and thats his listening preference. I'm not going to tell him who to listen to. Besides that, I think healthy to listen to both sides. It's also healthy to have political debate. As far as the Prize goes, Obama was very humble upon hearing the news, and Sen. McCain's take on the issue was respectful, classy, and worthy of being used as an example of how Americans should act when their leader is given favorable recognition of international stature. To compare the hatred of Bush to that of Obama is way off. Even according to many on the right. I've recently heard both Smirconish and Pat Buchanan say that the've never seen anything quite like the far rights hatred of Obama, even when compared to the far lefts hatred of Bush. I guess you've forgotten that Bush had a 92% approval rating after 9/11. That's alot of people on the left getting behind their president. It dropped as low as 23% shortly before his term ended. Why do you think that is Trish?

October 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM 

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