I understand what the people awarding the peace prize to Obama are trying to say.
Obama seems to be the first president since I've been on the planet (1981) that is willing to talk without being spineless and isnt mindless when it comes to using force.
That being said I do think its a bit preemtive, I mean, I don't cram toilet paper up my ass because I know I have the potential to take a shit.
@Flyingchromelaserturd: I think there is a serious case of Obama Derangement Syndrome going around where people become apoplectic when anything good happens to Obama. The Nobel Prize not always but often awards effort. It's not always about rewarding the achievements of a certain individual, but used as a recognition of a persons vision and what that agent of change symbolizes in a larger context of getting the world on a more peaceful path. The election is over folks. People need to calm down, take a deep breath, and be happy that the President of the United States was awarded the Nobel. Below is a link to the speech President Obama gave in Berlin when he talked about a world without nuclear weapons.
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All of this vitriolic hatred directed at President Obama really has nothing to do with him being awarded the Nobel Prize, and everything to do with having an excuse to hate a black man in the White House. President Obama made a great speech in Prague. I commend Kojima-san for acknowledging the paradigm shift in Geo-political nuclear disarmament. I congratulate President Obama on winning the NPP. Now he has to show us why he deserves it.
@sporozoa: "really has nothing to do with him being awarded the Nobel Prize, and everything to do with having an excuse to hate a black man in the White House."
That thing you just said is more racist than me saying Obama doesn't deserve the prize.
The ignorance in that statement is just staggering.
@sporozoa: Yes, because we are all racist assholes that were looking for that excuse.
Oh boy, he made a great speech in Prague. Let us give him another Nobel Peace Prize for that one.
I guarantee you, a lot less people can give to shits about the color of his skin, then you like to think. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or whatever, it doesn't matter. Only people it truly matters to are the same ignorant people that said, "look a black man is running for President, I am voting for him." Damn people are 30 years old and never voted before in their life. Out of the wood works to vote for him, because he was black.
I know there are plenty of people that award should have gone to, that truly deserved it for their efforts at peace. And I bet none of them stood in front of a camera making some speech about world peace. A speech does not earn you the right to be awarded one of those. And someone who had held a position for basically a week, does not either.
@SSgtTEX: Completely agreed with SsgtTEX... I dont like obama because he's not very realistic about a lot of things and doesnt seem to have the ability to decide on a lot of things... in other words he talks big, but can't back it up... which can be a good thing because socialized medicine=bad bad things... ever waited in the emergency room in Canada?...
The vitriol is spewed from both sides of the spectrum, while REAL SKEPTICISM is also casted from people on both sides and the moderate voting constituencies.
Playing the "race card" will do no good anymore, since his worth is measured on the effectiveness as a leader, and not the color of his skin.
While I understand that there are ancillary reasons why some would want to keep the "race issue" alive, it is far less an issue in comparison to what (if any) accomplishments B-HO can done.
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@stoneflysoldier: No, we must slave drive him and Konami to make MGS10, and then work on Rocket Knights, a remake to Snatcher & Policenauts, and then ZOE3!
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In my opinion as a Canadian citizen I don't much care for American politics. I think people who were more deserving of the Nobel peace prize are irritated to say the least.
I would have liked to have read about someone who is far lesser known (non-political) that were doing something towards peace in the "diamond trade route" of Africa, or someone far lesser known that were trying to win back kids from being soldiers that are aged 6 on up.
There are people in this world that are lesser known that also don't do it for the grandstanding. They are truly "unsung heroes" to me, since they do it with no recognition, terrible pay and only a hopeful cause committed with their actions.
THOSE PEOPLE... THOSE LESSER KNOWN THAT ARE COMMITTING TOA GREATER GOOD... THEY DESERVE THE NOBEL PRIZE for PEACE.
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The thing that gets me about this, is that the deadline for NPP nominations is February 1. Which means that Obama would have been officially installed as President for slightly over a week by the time his nomination was locked in place.
Aside from Obama's joint-sponsored bill to secure caches of weapons around the world, there isn't really that much he'd done by that time that really DESERVED the nomination, not really anything that one could point to and say "Ok here, see, this is a guy who has devoted his life to world peace."
I think it's great that the world seems to adore our president right now, but until he is actually *doing* things, outside of running up gigantic debts on top of our already gigantic debt, I don't know how anybody can say he deserves all the adoration.
I like Obama and all (I voted for him) but I seriously don't think he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He's barely made any progress on any of his goals.
If he had 100% power to do whatever he wanted and he completed even HALF of what he promised, Sure, give the the prize, Hell, give him next year's prize too!
I guess it's not his fault they nominated him, but damn if it isn't a political liability.
@ReynaldoRiv: I Agree, i mean, the peace prize is handed out for accomplishment, not for intentions. You serve as go between for two hostile parties and wrangle a cease-fire or truce. Or you promote and make some serious head way into preventing such and such atrocity.
Intentions != results however, if that were the case, every peace bumper sticker should get a prize.
@STG7: Well put. At least a couple of people on Kotaku have half a brain.
Where did all of these Reaganites come from? I thought this post was about how much of an opportunistic dick Kojima is for using the Nobel Peace Prize as an platform for shameless the self promotion of a videogame that encourages violence.
And mouth breathers? Listen to STG7 or at least click a damn link. The NPP is awarded almost exclusively in a political fashion, and is not based on merit but potential. Do some research before you start flapping your gums, people. Not coming off like a jackass is usually just a mouse click away... it's called Google. Use it.
I believe I remember distinctly Ronald Reagan calling out for a global nuclear disarmament. He also caused the collapse of the Soviet Union, and brought down the Berlin wall.
So, why didn't he get a Nobel Peace Prize?
Reagan actually accomplished some things.
Obama has yet to accomplish anything.
@marklip: Ronald Reagan watched as millions of people died from HIV/AIDS, not doing anything to acknowledge its existence. He layed the plans for nuclear weapons and defense shields in space, violating dozens of international weapons treaties. He fired workers for exercising their right to strike. He pressured opposite forms of government in oblivion to protect the american system of terrorism and imperialist expansionism.
Ronald Reagan was a terrorist, a murderer and if there was really any justice in this world, he would have been cut down by his attempted assasins bullet.
Ronald Reagan accomplished nothing but putting people in the crosshairs of lasers and nuclear weapons. He terrorised millions of people, watched them die from a horiffic disease, and destabilised all of Asia and Europe to progress his campaign of imperialism.
@marklip: Reagan did NOT cause the collapse of the soviet union. The SOVIET UNION caused the collapse of the soviet union. Reagan made a speech that you'll listen to and think "wow, he told general Gorbachev to tear down that wall" while the speech it's self was fairly minute and Gorbachev hardly even noticed it.
I'm not saying Obama necessarily deserved the prize (it was a confusing and insulting shock to myself) but I certainly feel he was more deserving than Reagan, a man who by many definitions was a war criminal. Yes, he "Dreamed of a world without nuclear weapons" But when Obama says it he doesn't announce a deadly space laser program the next month. You need to read into you politicians deeper than their speeches. If every politician was who he said he was, we would be covered in gold and unemployment would be 0 and the schools would have money and the world would be pleasant ville.
@thekoopatrooper: Then again you need to realize that Regan lived in a different time and was faced with a different situation now. Which is why also it is unfair to compare different presidents to another. Each one lived in their own "time" with set "problems". So speeches / actions given / done during said point in time was tailored to the problems faced and issues that needed to be addressed.
@marklip: In my opinion, giving Obama the Peace Prize sort of cheapens the NPP. It has little to do with Obama's actual achievements, it's just the Nobel committee basically tossing a "fuck you" to George W. Bush.
@onikuwagata: I seriously don't see why people bring Bush back into the picture. How is this a big "fuck you" to Bush? What does it have to do with him?
@thekoopatrooper: FYI: Gorbie wasn't a General at the time. He were the President of the USSR. He were also General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
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@marklip: Yea, I would credit Gorbachev with bringing down the USSR. He instituted the reforms, and even if Reagan encouraged him heavily, if Gorbachev had been a conservative hardliner nothing would have changed. The USSR easily could have become even more tyrannical in the face of a poor economy and foreign influence.
Reagan had Iran-Contra, which to me was so utterly despicable for someone to oversee that it tars my entire perception of the guy.
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I still don't understand why people are angry with Obama for something given to him that he did not ask for or even feel he deserves. . .
Why has this turned into an inquiry of Obama's worth instead of (what it should be) an inquiry into the rationality of the Nobel Peace Prize committee?
If you mean, peace as in no wars, then I'd say you'd have to get rid of religion and government all over the world, and kings and queens and lazy asses. Because until those things are gone, there will always be wars.
(You ask, how could a lazy ass possible cause any problems. There too lazy to do anything productive for themselves so they take from others, through force or threat of force)
Of course with those entity's gone, then there would be just smaller skirmishes that happened every now and then, but they would not be a world scale, they would all be local and for the most part probably die out pretty quickly.
Yeah I am just rambling...And honestly just my opinion. (stuffing all the stuff together I have read this is the conclusion I came up with)
@Witzbold: Took the words out of my mouth. You don't need religion and government and whatnot for people to fight each other, they'll always find a reason to do it anyways.
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@garytek: I wouldn't go so far as to say "haters", but there are plenty of legitimate skeptics out there (including myself) that are wondering what he did so great that were far and beyond that warranted a Nobel Prize for Peace.
It looks more or less like a popularity contest now. Years from now, it would not surprise me if this move tarnishes the reputation of the Nobel Prize.
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@Soldier_CLE: Agreed, and I'm a registered Democrat. Everyone's going nuts about how great Obama is, but I would love it if he could at least whip his party into shape. It's embarrassing that a filibuster-proof majority in control of every branch of government has made so many concessions on Obama's health care plan that it's almost useless.
@garytek: There are haters but I say more who disagree with his ideals. Look ideals are great and all but Obama seems to be all talk and no walk in my opinion. I strongly oppose his health care plan since it will definitely drag down progress and success rate in the medical field. That aside, I wish I could get a Nobel peace prize for saying I want to do something but not yet made happen. Hmm, a world where violence and hate is a thing of the past is the world I want to come true.
@Soldier_CLE: "It looks more or less like a popularity contest now. Years from now, it would not surprise me if this move tarnishes the reputation of the Nobel Prize"
From what I have seen, it's already starting.
Which, I to am a skeptic.
So maybe we will get some type of explanation down the road.
To be fair, the 2 other presidents that have also received the Peace Prize while in office faced a similar level of skepticism when they revived their awards.
Then again awards have been handed out for worse reasons other than "bringing hope". Hell one guy revived a Nobel award in the late 50's after he claimed he found a cure for a deadly disease only to be proven false a year later. He still got to keep his award. And money.
A few others winners have been jailed for less than noble intentions.
@Soldier_CLE: I agree. Obama is clearly a decisive leader, but he has been very occupied with health care reform and other domestic issues to have been actively pursuing a world without nuclear weapons.
How much work could he have done in less than a year in these matters?
How much has he accomplished? In, you know, concrete results?
The Nobel Peace Prize is a really prestigious award that awards people who have (in some cases) suffered so much for their goal that it would sadden me to see it reduce to a popularity contest.
@Soldier_CLE: Does nobody remember that they gave Yasser Arafat the prize? If that didn't make you lose respect in the prize I don't see how this could make any difference.
The motives behind it were very similar to Obama's winning the prize: Arafat had taken some steps towards an unthinkable peace process at the time, and the Nobel people wanted to encourage him to see it through. Of course, he ceased to keep cooperating soon after, but that's besides the point.
@keyrat: Of course! I thought that were askewed too, but could legitimize it a tad with actual results having taken place shortly after, with the cease fire that lasted six months, which were a major feat in some ways (Though Clinton should've gotten the nod for those talks)
There is the difference between Arafat and B-HO. At least Arafat got it done with Prime Minister Sharon and Pres. Clinton. B-HO just read what were off the teleprompters.
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To be perfectly honest, removing Cheney and Bush era republicans from office is way more than enough to award somebody the prize. At least from an European perspective. Most of the previous winners, Carter and Gore included, were awarded for *attempting* to turn around US policies and failing to achieve it. I'd say running for US president on a platform of peace and social services and winning is one of the biggest triumphs for world peace ever.
@NoelVeiga: Please. After talking to a few local nationals in Europe, all I got out of it were the same thing they were asking: "Peace Prize for what??!!??"
It is one thing if he accomplished something, let alone accomplish peace, while running two wars at the same time (regardless of who started it.) Putting 40k more troops into a war zone does not constitute peace.
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@NoelVeiga: Well, then, since Cheney and Bush served their terms for the longest possible time, the prize should be awarded to the witers of the 22nd ammendment to the Constitution. Obama had nothing to do with Bush leaving office and his policies are just as bad. One set of policies has us as the world's super-power. We can't police the world and we shouldn't. The other policy kisses the UN's butts when the UN gives respect to some of the worst human rights offenders in the world. As for President Bush he didn't run on a such a hawkish platform in his first election but he was changed completely after 9/11. Even after that, when American and British intelligence were sure Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction President Bush petitioned the UN for intervention based on their own policies. They didn't act. Par for the course with those scumbags. Turns out Hussein wanted us to think he had WMDs because he thought we would follow the rules of mutually assured destruction and just not take the chance in attacking. He was wrong. If you were President when your country took one of the worst attacks in the history of the world (besides the A-bomb, I guess sorry doesn't cut it on that one.) would you take any chances with someone who has commited mass-murder before? President Bush made mistakes but under the circumstances I don't think anyone would have fared any better. The UN chose to shun America first, then we played cowboy.
@Witzbold: Sure, he can be all four! Lord knows the tin-foil hat wearing keyboard jockeys of the world can argue that possibility ALL day! God I hate political discussions online.
@KeroseneClimax: I don't hate them because it gets everyone's TRUE feelings an opinions into the mixture.
In a "politically correct" environment in real-time America, this is one of the fewer remaining actual 1st Amendment mediums that one can fully participate in with the least amount of stifling.
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republican or not, its ridiculous that he gets a nobel PEACE prize when he refuses to investigate the crimes of the previous administration, close guantanamo, or stop the war in iraq
@tnasoundlug: It's funny, but also scary. With such strong, blind devotion, we put all of the power into politician's hands. When you give up your identity to what political party you belong to instead of what you believe is right or wrong, you become nothing more than a cog in the machine.
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Still incomplete. Granted, it's as it should be. Good healthy debate should occur instead of the hastilly passed stimulus package, which did all but nothing effective.
Still, I hope that "Healthcare reform" takes the shape of something from "The Great Contribution", and not "The Great Society".
Also: Don't put healthcare on B-HO's belt notches just yet. Like most everything else, it is not accomplished.
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@Soldier_CLE: "...which did all but nothing effective."
You've been doing so well in this thread until you said this, because as this stimulus goes (with most of the money yet to be allocated) it's next to impossible to determine whether it has had an effect or not. Especially when it's so soon.
Also, I'd love to point out the hypocrisy of how when he gets something done fast it's "rushed" and when he takes his time he "gets nothing done".
Make up your fucking mind, and don't just spew the same rhetoric for which you're skewering others.
@Theoutlet: As a person who invests, I would know from a 90 day window as to whether or not it had any microcosm of effect that would lead to a lasting macroeconomical impact.
The stimulus, to be frank, were unnecessary, since the darwin effect would've strengthened the remaining groups and remind everyone that the weaker companies fell because of bad practice/policy.
An effective leader in his position would be gaged by small chops at the tree and not overreaching swings that miss the arboretum all together.
I have made up my mind, and my position still stands.
OBAMA HAS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE TO NOTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE IN HIS FIRST YEAR (THUS FAR). IN FACT, HE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER PRESIDENT BUT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
Neither corporate nor social welfare will progress this nation.
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@Soldier_CLE: "As a person who invests, I would know from a 90 day window as to whether or not it had any microcosm of effect that would lead to a lasting macroeconomical impact."
I'm glad that you think so highly of yourself. However, I will continue to trust the experts of this field, and not just people who invest (of which I am also a part of) to truly gage the effect of the package. Many, if not most experts (not politicians), will agree on that such a large plan is hard and next to impossible to assess on its impact, especially within one year. You may like to believe that you know how to effect the entire country's economy, but I choose to be much more humble in my assessment. I'm sorry if you find that naive.
"The stimulus, to be frank, were unnecessary, since the darwin effect would've strengthened the remaining groups and remind everyone that the weaker companies fell because of bad practice/policy."
It'd be nice, if I could believe in such simple minded ideals, but the truth of the matter is that such companies were allowed to grow too large (capitalism in its ideal state) and thus would have brought down more than just itself. At least, that is my opinion, which I do not dare try and state as fact or predict, as I am not omniscient.
"An effective leader in his position would be gaged by small chops at the tree and not overreaching swings that miss the arboretum all together."
What you may gage large, I would gage too small. See, such terms are relative, and I believe that we may have not spent enough in trying to help our economy. Truly, the countries seeing the most stable, and fastest recoveries are the ones who invested in a large, focused stimulus. One needs only look at China and many European countries to see this. Although, I'm sure I'll be scoffed at for even mentioning such countries, due to their obvious political standing. However, as I stated before, we can never be too sure if this is a result of its stimulus or something else entirely. Perhaps we should reflect on why such socialist/communist countries recover faster than our obviously superior capitalist one?
Naaaaaaaaaaah.
"OBAMA HAS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE TO NOTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE IN HIS FIRST YEAR (THUS FAR). IN FACT, HE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER PRESIDENT BUT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION."
I'm sorry that you feel that way and it's quite obvious that I can not dissuade of this opinion as you appear quite zealous in your conviction. However, please do no try and hide under the guise of pure intentions as it is quite obvious that your opinions are a manufacturing of the beliefs of the right and the holiness of capitalism. Be up front with your beliefs! At least then we could have a frank discussion that can later be dismissed as we futilely push further in trying to convince each other and the world of our ideals.
@Theoutlet: Pursuant to your responses, I will reply in order.
1a. Yes, I do think highly of myself. I'd rather think highly of myself than with disdain. Your "appeal to flattery" will get you nowhere with me on here.
1b. Those "experts" seem to be siding with me on the analyses, part of why I am delaying any investing in this month, as well as doing so conservatively on 1st QTR '10. The "experts" also proponderently agree that while there is some signs of potential growth, that the economy is still in dire straits, noting the unemployment percentages, and the lack of effective turnaround.
2. Your "appeal to ridicule" will also get you nowhere with me either, since you see my assessment as "simple minded", yet failed to reasonably approach what the end result entailed (Marketalism), which also failed prior to our capitalist society. From your apparent ridicule of capitalism ("the truth of the matter is that such companies were allowed to grow too large (capitalism in its ideal state) and thus would have brought down more than just itself") tells me that you would not want those markets (and other weaker ones ancillary to them) to eliminate themselves. However, the other side to Capitalism is to let the weak fade away, rather than have them funded in futility (as the markets have shown.)
3. The measure that I am looking at are within the progression of success within the promises made by the politician-turned-official, and the failure to (thus far) deliver. Now, do I hope he succeeds on at least some of the items? YES. DO I want him to succeed in all of it? NO, but like others, I have my reasons. The grade card for the presidency is clear and concise when it comes to watching a person and the agenda to progress the United States forward, regardless of their party.
4. I AM UPFRONT WITH MY BELIEFS! I were a couple of years back when I called Bush a failure on here, as I am calling B-HO's first year (thus far) a failure, as well.
As a Moderate Independent, I am confortable saying what I like and dislike about a President.
This one is no different.
But since you want a concrete belief past what I've said, I'll give it: The last good President were Clinton, and I'd wish that Obama were more like him.
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10/11/09
Obama seems to be the first president since I've been on the planet (1981) that is willing to talk without being spineless and isnt mindless when it comes to using force.
That being said I do think its a bit preemtive, I mean, I don't cram toilet paper up my ass because I know I have the potential to take a shit.
10/12/09
Stop the madness
Jade in San Francisco
[www.youtube.com]
10/12/09
Even people within his own party (and even himself) wonders why he deserves it -- As noted in a recent speech.
The skepticism towards the validity of selection is warranted.
10/11/09
Stop the madness
Jade in San Francisco
10/11/09
That thing you just said is more racist than me saying Obama doesn't deserve the prize.
The ignorance in that statement is just staggering.
10/11/09
Oh boy, he made a great speech in Prague. Let us give him another Nobel Peace Prize for that one.
I guarantee you, a lot less people can give to shits about the color of his skin, then you like to think. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or whatever, it doesn't matter. Only people it truly matters to are the same ignorant people that said, "look a black man is running for President, I am voting for him." Damn people are 30 years old and never voted before in their life. Out of the wood works to vote for him, because he was black.
I know there are plenty of people that award should have gone to, that truly deserved it for their efforts at peace. And I bet none of them stood in front of a camera making some speech about world peace. A speech does not earn you the right to be awarded one of those. And someone who had held a position for basically a week, does not either.
10/12/09
10/12/09
The vitriol is spewed from both sides of the spectrum, while REAL SKEPTICISM is also casted from people on both sides and the moderate voting constituencies.
Playing the "race card" will do no good anymore, since his worth is measured on the effectiveness as a leader, and not the color of his skin.
While I understand that there are ancillary reasons why some would want to keep the "race issue" alive, it is far less an issue in comparison to what (if any) accomplishments B-HO can done.
10/11/09
10/12/09
Kojima , He deserved Novel Prize.
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I would have liked to have read about someone who is far lesser known (non-political) that were doing something towards peace in the "diamond trade route" of Africa, or someone far lesser known that were trying to win back kids from being soldiers that are aged 6 on up.
There are people in this world that are lesser known that also don't do it for the grandstanding. They are truly "unsung heroes" to me, since they do it with no recognition, terrible pay and only a hopeful cause committed with their actions.
THOSE PEOPLE... THOSE LESSER KNOWN THAT ARE COMMITTING TOA GREATER GOOD... THEY DESERVE THE NOBEL PRIZE for PEACE.
10/11/09
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Aside from Obama's joint-sponsored bill to secure caches of weapons around the world, there isn't really that much he'd done by that time that really DESERVED the nomination, not really anything that one could point to and say "Ok here, see, this is a guy who has devoted his life to world peace."
I think it's great that the world seems to adore our president right now, but until he is actually *doing* things, outside of running up gigantic debts on top of our already gigantic debt, I don't know how anybody can say he deserves all the adoration.
10/10/09
If he had 100% power to do whatever he wanted and he completed even HALF of what he promised, Sure, give the the prize, Hell, give him next year's prize too!
I guess it's not his fault they nominated him, but damn if it isn't a political liability.
10/11/09
Intentions != results however, if that were the case, every peace bumper sticker should get a prize.
10/11/09
From "Common Misconceptions About the Nobel Peace Prize" ( [www.google.com] ) --
Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.
More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.
I see it as them basically telling Obama to keep going the way he is and not quit. (And as one last international middle finger to Bush.)
10/11/09
Where did all of these Reaganites come from? I thought this post was about how much of an opportunistic dick Kojima is for using the Nobel Peace Prize as an platform for shameless the self promotion of a videogame that encourages violence.
And mouth breathers? Listen to STG7 or at least click a damn link. The NPP is awarded almost exclusively in a political fashion, and is not based on merit but potential. Do some research before you start flapping your gums, people. Not coming off like a jackass is usually just a mouse click away... it's called Google. Use it.
10/10/09
So, why didn't he get a Nobel Peace Prize?
Reagan actually accomplished some things.
Obama has yet to accomplish anything.
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10/10/09
Ronald Reagan was a terrorist, a murderer and if there was really any justice in this world, he would have been cut down by his attempted assasins bullet.
Ronald Reagan accomplished nothing but putting people in the crosshairs of lasers and nuclear weapons. He terrorised millions of people, watched them die from a horiffic disease, and destabilised all of Asia and Europe to progress his campaign of imperialism.
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However, I do think that Obama should not have received that Nobel prize.
Personally I categorize both Presidents as overrated, although one still has a chance to turn things around.
10/10/09
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I'm not saying Obama necessarily deserved the prize (it was a confusing and insulting shock to myself) but I certainly feel he was more deserving than Reagan, a man who by many definitions was a war criminal. Yes, he "Dreamed of a world without nuclear weapons" But when Obama says it he doesn't announce a deadly space laser program the next month. You need to read into you politicians deeper than their speeches. If every politician was who he said he was, we would be covered in gold and unemployment would be 0 and the schools would have money and the world would be pleasant ville.
10/10/09
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10/11/09
Reagan had Iran-Contra, which to me was so utterly despicable for someone to oversee that it tars my entire perception of the guy.
10/12/09
//ORIGINALIKNOWOMGZ!!!!
10/10/09
Why has this turned into an inquiry of Obama's worth instead of (what it should be) an inquiry into the rationality of the Nobel Peace Prize committee?
10/10/09
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10/10/09
If you mean, peace as in no wars, then I'd say you'd have to get rid of religion and government all over the world, and kings and queens and lazy asses. Because until those things are gone, there will always be wars.
(You ask, how could a lazy ass possible cause any problems. There too lazy to do anything productive for themselves so they take from others, through force or threat of force)
Of course with those entity's gone, then there would be just smaller skirmishes that happened every now and then, but they would not be a world scale, they would all be local and for the most part probably die out pretty quickly.
Yeah I am just rambling...And honestly just my opinion. (stuffing all the stuff together I have read this is the conclusion I came up with)
P.s. This is a very simplified explanation...
Anyways interesting plug by Mr. Kojima.
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10/10/09
It looks more or less like a popularity contest now. Years from now, it would not surprise me if this move tarnishes the reputation of the Nobel Prize.
10/10/09
10/10/09
Oh wait...I don't get a prize for that.
10/10/09
As the saying goes "Actions speak louder than words."
All Ive seen so far is someone blowing smoke up everyone's asses.
Then again to be fair that's what all politicians do so cant really blame the guy... He just was better at it than most others.
!
10/10/09
From what I have seen, it's already starting.
Which, I to am a skeptic.
So maybe we will get some type of explanation down the road.
10/10/09
To be fair, the 2 other presidents that have also received the Peace Prize while in office faced a similar level of skepticism when they revived their awards.
Then again awards have been handed out for worse reasons other than "bringing hope". Hell one guy revived a Nobel award in the late 50's after he claimed he found a cure for a deadly disease only to be proven false a year later. He still got to keep his award. And money.
A few others winners have been jailed for less than noble intentions.
10/11/09
How much work could he have done in less than a year in these matters?
How much has he accomplished? In, you know, concrete results?
The Nobel Peace Prize is a really prestigious award that awards people who have (in some cases) suffered so much for their goal that it would sadden me to see it reduce to a popularity contest.
10/11/09
The motives behind it were very similar to Obama's winning the prize: Arafat had taken some steps towards an unthinkable peace process at the time, and the Nobel people wanted to encourage him to see it through. Of course, he ceased to keep cooperating soon after, but that's besides the point.
10/12/09
There is the difference between Arafat and B-HO. At least Arafat got it done with Prime Minister Sharon and Pres. Clinton. B-HO just read what were off the teleprompters.
10/10/09
10/10/09
It is one thing if he accomplished something, let alone accomplish peace, while running two wars at the same time (regardless of who started it.) Putting 40k more troops into a war zone does not constitute peace.
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10/10/09
Hence why I avoided the comments section like the Plague. That and its the weekend. :D
10/10/09
@Michael Dukakis: No its Internet + Politics = lulz
10/11/09
10/12/09
In a "politically correct" environment in real-time America, this is one of the fewer remaining actual 1st Amendment mediums that one can fully participate in with the least amount of stifling.
10/10/09
10/10/09
republican or not, its ridiculous that he gets a nobel PEACE prize when he refuses to investigate the crimes of the previous administration, close guantanamo, or stop the war in iraq
10/10/09
You're a fucking tool.
10/10/09
This... That's why American Politics are so funny
10/10/09
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Sometimes, I wonder what good it does someone to be apologetic for EITHER side.
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Thats why people pick a side.
10/10/09
What he did except that stupid health care plan.
10/10/09
10/10/09
Still incomplete. Granted, it's as it should be. Good healthy debate should occur instead of the hastilly passed stimulus package, which did all but nothing effective.
Still, I hope that "Healthcare reform" takes the shape of something from "The Great Contribution", and not "The Great Society".
Also: Don't put healthcare on B-HO's belt notches just yet. Like most everything else, it is not accomplished.
10/10/09
You've been doing so well in this thread until you said this, because as this stimulus goes (with most of the money yet to be allocated) it's next to impossible to determine whether it has had an effect or not. Especially when it's so soon.
Also, I'd love to point out the hypocrisy of how when he gets something done fast it's "rushed" and when he takes his time he "gets nothing done".
Make up your fucking mind, and don't just spew the same rhetoric for which you're skewering others.
10/11/09
The stimulus, to be frank, were unnecessary, since the darwin effect would've strengthened the remaining groups and remind everyone that the weaker companies fell because of bad practice/policy.
An effective leader in his position would be gaged by small chops at the tree and not overreaching swings that miss the arboretum all together.
I have made up my mind, and my position still stands.
OBAMA HAS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE TO NOTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE IN HIS FIRST YEAR (THUS FAR). IN FACT, HE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER PRESIDENT BUT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
Neither corporate nor social welfare will progress this nation.
10/11/09
I'm glad that you think so highly of yourself. However, I will continue to trust the experts of this field, and not just people who invest (of which I am also a part of) to truly gage the effect of the package. Many, if not most experts (not politicians), will agree on that such a large plan is hard and next to impossible to assess on its impact, especially within one year. You may like to believe that you know how to effect the entire country's economy, but I choose to be much more humble in my assessment. I'm sorry if you find that naive.
"The stimulus, to be frank, were unnecessary, since the darwin effect would've strengthened the remaining groups and remind everyone that the weaker companies fell because of bad practice/policy."
It'd be nice, if I could believe in such simple minded ideals, but the truth of the matter is that such companies were allowed to grow too large (capitalism in its ideal state) and thus would have brought down more than just itself. At least, that is my opinion, which I do not dare try and state as fact or predict, as I am not omniscient.
"An effective leader in his position would be gaged by small chops at the tree and not overreaching swings that miss the arboretum all together."
What you may gage large, I would gage too small. See, such terms are relative, and I believe that we may have not spent enough in trying to help our economy. Truly, the countries seeing the most stable, and fastest recoveries are the ones who invested in a large, focused stimulus. One needs only look at China and many European countries to see this. Although, I'm sure I'll be scoffed at for even mentioning such countries, due to their obvious political standing. However, as I stated before, we can never be too sure if this is a result of its stimulus or something else entirely. Perhaps we should reflect on why such socialist/communist countries recover faster than our obviously superior capitalist one?
Naaaaaaaaaaah.
"OBAMA HAS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE TO NOTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE IN HIS FIRST YEAR (THUS FAR). IN FACT, HE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER PRESIDENT BUT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION."
I'm sorry that you feel that way and it's quite obvious that I can not dissuade of this opinion as you appear quite zealous in your conviction. However, please do no try and hide under the guise of pure intentions as it is quite obvious that your opinions are a manufacturing of the beliefs of the right and the holiness of capitalism. Be up front with your beliefs! At least then we could have a frank discussion that can later be dismissed as we futilely push further in trying to convince each other and the world of our ideals.
10/11/09
1a. Yes, I do think highly of myself. I'd rather think highly of myself than with disdain. Your "appeal to flattery" will get you nowhere with me on here.
1b. Those "experts" seem to be siding with me on the analyses, part of why I am delaying any investing in this month, as well as doing so conservatively on 1st QTR '10. The "experts" also proponderently agree that while there is some signs of potential growth, that the economy is still in dire straits, noting the unemployment percentages, and the lack of effective turnaround.
2. Your "appeal to ridicule" will also get you nowhere with me either, since you see my assessment as "simple minded", yet failed to reasonably approach what the end result entailed (Marketalism), which also failed prior to our capitalist society. From your apparent ridicule of capitalism ("the truth of the matter is that such companies were allowed to grow too large (capitalism in its ideal state) and thus would have brought down more than just itself") tells me that you would not want those markets (and other weaker ones ancillary to them) to eliminate themselves. However, the other side to Capitalism is to let the weak fade away, rather than have them funded in futility (as the markets have shown.)
3. The measure that I am looking at are within the progression of success within the promises made by the politician-turned-official, and the failure to (thus far) deliver. Now, do I hope he succeeds on at least some of the items? YES. DO I want him to succeed in all of it? NO, but like others, I have my reasons. The grade card for the presidency is clear and concise when it comes to watching a person and the agenda to progress the United States forward, regardless of their party.
4. I AM UPFRONT WITH MY BELIEFS! I were a couple of years back when I called Bush a failure on here, as I am calling B-HO's first year (thus far) a failure, as well.
As a Moderate Independent, I am confortable saying what I like and dislike about a President.
This one is no different.
But since you want a concrete belief past what I've said, I'll give it: The last good President were Clinton, and I'd wish that Obama were more like him.
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That said, I also believe that much more discussion and planning should occur before implementing the changes.
The adage "measure twice, cut once" could never be more correct in this instance.