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Tuesday 7 February 2012

The Nobel Peace Prize Jumps the Shark

Friday, 9th October 2009

I mean, really, how absurd. We are accustomed to being baffled by the Nobel committee, but the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama is entirely preposterous. Apparently:

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the Norwegian committee said in a statement.

"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."

Asked why the prize had been awarded to Mr Obama less than a year after he took office, Nobel committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said: "It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve".

"It is a clear signal that we want to advocate the same as he has done," he said.

Well, the Nobel prizes have always occupied a place somewhere between a racket and naked boosterism and this decision - and the reasons given for it - demonstrate that more clearly than ever. Even so, it's rarely been given so prematurely. Obama has been in office for eight months. Eight. What Nobel-worthy achievements have there been in that time?

In one sense, however, one can understand the Nobel Committee's decision. It's like a Guardian editorial conference on steroids. What is mystifying, however, is Obama's decision to accept* the award. Better by far to have quietly told the Nobel organisation that, while generous, their award was presumptious and, by any reasonable standard, premature.

Accepting a prize of such magnitude in return for little in the way of real achievement makes Obama look foolish. He's not a latterday political messiah and, despite what some people, including some in the White House, seem to think it's not all about him all the time. That being so, it would have been wiser to decline awards that reinforce the notion that it is.

Expecting politicians to be embarrassed by adulation is, in many ways, a mug's game. And no-one has ever accused Obama of being without ego. Nevertheless, while the Nobel Committee are free to behave like King Canute's courtiers**, it would have been better for all concerned if Obama had shown the wisdom of Canute and refused this preoposterous bauble.

*Perhaps he still can turn it down. He certainly should.

**That is, they believed Canute omnipotent; he ordered the tide to recede to demonstrate the limits of his authority. Obama, of course, may be the anti-Canute at least in terms of global warming. But that's a matter for another day...

Filed under: Canute (3 more articles) , Nobel (4 more articles) , Obama (354 more articles)

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DavidDP

October 9th, 2009 11:31am Report this comment

It gets worse. The nomination deadline was only 11 days after Obama was sworn in.

In other words, even the reasons given by the committee, as poor as they are, don't actually work, since he'd not done any of that, or indeed, anything at all apart from give a speech, in 11 days.

Kevyn Bodman

October 9th, 2009 11:36am Report this comment

Without exaggeration, I did not believe this.

I thought it was a joke,I re-read the post but couldn't detect an ironic tone.Then I tought it was a hypothetical set in 2017, I re-read it again and didn't find that.

So I checked on a newspaper website,they are running the story too.

It is absurd, ridiculous and laughable.

paracelsus

October 9th, 2009 11:48am Report this comment

What a joke.

It's insulting to anyone with a modicum of intelligence and free thought. The left really loves their own.

crappy little country, crappy people in it

October 9th, 2009 12:10pm Report this comment

yes. it certainly did jump the shark. now its time for the network to pull it from the schedule.

Conservative Cabbie

October 9th, 2009 12:13pm Report this comment

Which is worse, Al Gore winning it or Barack Obama?

And to think that Reagan, the man who bought the cold war to an end, didn't win one.

ed bell

October 9th, 2009 12:31pm Report this comment

Nobel Prize for reading autocues and lying about muslim contributions to science.

Austin Barry

October 9th, 2009 12:55pm Report this comment

An empty prize to an empty suit.

Imagine the boost this will give to surely the most self-regarding, conceited, strutting egos ever to have inhabited the White House.

Martin Adamson

October 9th, 2009 1:49pm Report this comment

Like giving the Olympic gold medal for Diving before the diver has hit the water.

mac

October 9th, 2009 2:16pm Report this comment

Ludicrous.
Only dreamin' Norwegians could do this!
Oh, and Gordon "no gimmicks, but pleez, pleez photograph me with the One" Brown, of course.

Judy

October 9th, 2009 2:39pm Report this comment

Maybe the International Olympic Committee will follow suit by awarding Barack Obama an advance 2012 Gold Medal for Walking on Water?

THX1138

October 9th, 2009 3:04pm Report this comment

Ah Happy Days -It's going to be a great spectator sport, watching the wingnutosphere got nutzoid over this.

To quote Fonzie "When you're this cool, they're all out to get you."

Hal

October 9th, 2009 3:18pm Report this comment

The main reason for the choice of Obama was George W. Bush, closely followed by Dick Cheney. Eight years of American lawlessness, of preemptive war and black sites, made Obama look like a huge relief to the Norwegians. The prize is to encourage him to return the U.S. to normality as a world power. I agree it's premature, but of course Obama should accept it, humbly. It's political capital, and he can use it.

Steve

October 9th, 2009 3:44pm Report this comment

I agree the prize should have gone to someone who had actually done something to foster peace in the period the prize is being awarded for (i.e. - before Obama's election) but I am ok with it just for the sheer fact that it is driving the fringe right insane...

Jon Zank

October 9th, 2009 4:44pm Report this comment

To Alex Massie,
You call yourself a journalist? Did you ever hear about or consider using spell check? Your ability to write and publish a disparaging article without making sure that "at a minimum" your grammar and spelling is correct only goes to show what a fool you are. For all you racist homophobic morons out there, get used to it! Wake up America! Obama "is" our duly ELECTED PRESIDENT. He actually represents the overwhelming majority of Americans! It would serve our nation well if scum like you crawled back under your rock and put a sock in your mouth. Just goes to prove, "ignorance is bliss."

Senorita Bonita

October 9th, 2009 5:12pm Report this comment

Wboyz of da world Unite! PBHO responsible for: global warming, body odor, cancer, smelly socks world recession litter Great depression illegal anything take your pick and of course for the 09 Nobel Peace Prize

Les

October 9th, 2009 5:28pm Report this comment

JON ZANK

Well you certainly know about ignorance you proved that. However if you think Blockhead OBummer is bliss you need help. The man is a joke albeit a bad one

joe lindsay

October 9th, 2009 5:54pm Report this comment

This is extremely lame. Obama has done more to turn America (the World's most powerful country) from using its power carelessly to reorient it to product and peaceful ends, and seemingly overnight. He is indeed worthy of the prize, as are others.

And hopefully he will put the good will to good use.

Fergus Pickering

October 9th, 2009 6:54pm Report this comment

If you list the various shysters and arseholes who have won the Nobel Peace Prize then that puts it in perspective. Why not Obama? Why not Gordon Brown? Why not the bleeding Wizard of Oz?

mac

October 9th, 2009 7:01pm Report this comment

That Jon Zank, eh, THX? Your sorta guy.

Beefeater

October 9th, 2009 8:34pm Report this comment

As one still suffering from Clinton Disorder Syndrome, I am thrilled at the bitterness and bile Bill (the first black prez. of the US) is feeling right now.

Beer Moth

October 10th, 2009 12:20pm Report this comment

Hal.

"The prize is to encourage him to return the U.S. to normality as a world power."

This 'encouragement' is an interesting concept. So the nobbled prize is now dangled as some kind of treat for those who would do the committee's bidding?

Give a dog a good name and he will be loath to part with it.

Aquavits all round.

John Zank.

You sure you want to nit-pick on technicalities? It's a blog not a thesis. Or at least get your comma key sorted out would you?

More to the point, I think you'd do yourself a favour if you were to read back on a few of Doc Massie's former posts regarding Obama. See if he's the assassin you thought you'd unearthed.

THX

Are you not going to offer anything but that poked tongue and a smartie face? Can't you see anything in this which actually hampers the ensuing actions and decisions of any person who occupies Obama's position?

A J Scott

October 10th, 2009 12:24pm Report this comment

Mr Obama has the opportunity to make a real statement for peace by joining Le Duc Tho (remember? joint with Mr Kissinger) in declining the "Prize".

tommyt

October 10th, 2009 12:51pm Report this comment

Hey Jon Zank.

The ability to hit f7 does not define anyone as a journalist. The award of what was once a revered prize to someone who has a nice turn of phrase and a pretty wife but who knows what else is ludicrous, smacks of publicity seeking and is hugely patronising to the US.

Robert Marchenoir

October 10th, 2009 3:40pm Report this comment

Jon Zank :

"For all you racist homophobic morons out there, get used to it."

Holy smokes. On top of being black, socialist and a closet muslim , Barack Obama is homosexual ? This guy really ticks all the boxes, doesn't he ?

Angus McFarlane

October 11th, 2009 3:28pm Report this comment

The irony deepens when one thinks of Obama's "reaching out" to Muslim terrorists and Iran's government and the fact that Alfred Nobel's family made its fortune from the manufacture of explosives!

Sam ARMSTRONG

October 11th, 2009 10:42pm Report this comment

Jon Zank:

Your post sounds hysterical and contains a lie. You claim that Obama "actually represents the overwhelming majority of Americans" and yet he got 51% of the vote in the election. Hardly a landslide.

This is typical of people who support left-wing parties and politicians. There is no problem telling lies, spouting evil rumours and calling everyone homophobes and racists.

And yet, Jon Zank, when one looks carefully at your typing, one sees clearly that what you want is to shut down all debate about Obama. After denouncing all sensible and honest debate about the most powerful politician in the world, you then use fascistic means to finally put the boot in, attempting to mess everyones heads up with your simplistic and philistine accusations of racism and homophobia.

Bully.

Leo

October 12th, 2009 7:46am Report this comment

This is inexplicable. If you can get a Nobel Peace Price for making Long Speeches , next the award has to go to the miss world or miss universe. The others if not everyone did lots of work to get the price.

logdon

October 12th, 2009 10:30am Report this comment

Now according to Democrats, (and obviously the irate zanker on this page) anyone finding this award to be the most ludicrous and, if truth be known, patronising piece of garbage is siding with gasp, terrorists.

Remember? - that word Obeyme just cannot bring himself to utter in conjunction, when talking of a group who in the name of it's religion is responsible for around ninety five percent of global terrorist activity.

Obviously fine when talking of people who find the award juvenile, preposterous and completely removed from reality. Not so for the head amputators and suicide bombers who in the furtherance of their beloved caliphate bring carnage and misery to the world.

This is the mother of all moral inversions but hey, when has that ever stopped these lunatics?

"Who Exactly Is Aligned With Terrorists

The Democratic National Committee is in full throated and irrational defense mode of Barack Obama’s social promotion into the Nobel Prize winner’s circle.

“The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas this morning – in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize,” DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said in a statement.

Now wait just a damn minute.

The Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Yassar Arafat, Hezbollah, Jimmy Carter, and too many other terrorists and terrorist sympathizers to count.

It looks like it is the Nobel committee throwing its lot with the terrorists and those who sympathize with them."

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/10/09/who-exactly-is-aligned-with-terrorists/

Skeptic

October 13th, 2009 9:27am Report this comment

"I am now in prison for a crime I didn't commit. ATTEMPTED Murder? What kind of crime is that?! Do they give the Nobel prize for attempted chemistry?" -- Sideshow Bob, "The Simpsons", 1994.

Apparently they do -- not for chemistry, but for peace. Heck, you don't even have to seriously attempt anything.

Fleurdamour

October 13th, 2009 6:13pm Report this comment

I am an American, and I think it's just a sobering measure of how much we've freaked out the rest of the world the past eight years. Obama got the award for not being Bush, plain and simple. The Nobel committee wanted to send a message about their disapproval of the way our country has acted with war and torture and the suspension of rights, and their current approval that we finally seem to be changing course. I can't say I blame them. The award isn't for what Obama has done, it's for what he would never do.

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