Nobel Prize in Peace More about Hope

As we all know by now, President Barack Hussein Obama won the Nobel Prize for Peace. The committee liked his international outlook.

Obviously, this award was not about accomplishment, but more about being a world leader. It was also a smack down of Dubya.

Personally, I thought that Hillary Clinton should have shared this award with the President in this instance. She's been doing all of the ground work.

I also wished this would have happened next year. Oh well, one takes the victories when one can get them.

Ok Dems, pass health insurance reform. It's time. You've got a popular president.

Update: note from the POTUS himself:

Benny,

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.


Good response, Mr. President.

Good Day for Our Planet

As about half of the United States and Europe know by now, Al Gore and an UN agency, ICCP, are being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, for their work on raising awareness about global warming. VP Gore has done much in bringing more research to this cause, as it is a serious problem. How it connects to peace is that he brought people together via a movie, appearances at various places, and a global concert back in July. He did so with his own passion and ability to do it with mainly private monies. This is true citizen activism at its best.

John Edwards was the first political candidate to send his congratulations publicly about the award:

Congratulations to Al Gore. The Nobel Peace Prize rewards three decades of Vice President Gore’s prescient and compelling – and often lonely – advocacy for the future of the Earth. His leadership stands in stunning contrast to the failure of the current administration to pursue policies that would reduce the harm of global warming.

“The Nobel Committee's recognition of Vice President Gore shines a bright light on the most inconvenient truth of all – the selection of George Bush as president has endangered the peace and prosperity of the entire planet.

“Two terms later, Americans are ready for bold change, ready to be patriotic about something other than war and ready to take action to stop global warming before it's too late. The stakes are sky-high – as Al Gore predicted, our Earth is in the balance.

Happy Friday, Al. I don't envy all of the bloggers, artists, politicians, and reporters who are clamoring to speak to you on your special day. And to Senator Jim Inhofe, even you cannot deny that Al Gore is on to something.

Update: Here's a class act, Nobel Recipient, Al Gore:



Nutkuses (a term my spouse uses):

Republican Shill, Cheri Jacobus
Republican Presidential Candidate, John McCain

And the most classy of all of the Republican Party, its leader, GWB, who won't even call Gore to congratulate him, as an American statesman/citizen, personally.

At the White House, Mr Bush’s spokesman insisted, possibly through gritted teeth, that the President shared Mr Gore’s joy — but had no plans to speak to him. “

Enjoy Al Gore's fellow Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge from Live Earth: