The audacity prize

Everyone is waking up to the news that President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize. 

The first question asked is "For what?"

Flipping through the morning news shows, the common reaction has been one of disbelief, even from his own supporters and his media friends.

My advice would be for him to thank the Nobel committee and then turn it down.  That would give him much more elbow room in which to negotiate his legislative and foreign affairs plans.  Not to mention some measure of respect which would negate what will be fodder for all kinds of commentary.

Some reactions to this news:

Obama wins the Nobel peace prize on the very morning he bombs the moon.

"This is the first time the award is given for wishful thinking."  Israeli Kismet member.

"The prize seems to be more for Obama's promise than for his performance. Work on the president's ambitious agenda, both at home and abroad, is barely underway, much less finished. He has no standout moment of victory that would seem to warrant a verdict as sweeping as that issued by the Nobel committee."  AP

"Absurd decision on Obama makes a mockery of the Nobel Peace Prize."  "Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent."   Times Online

"It's not April 1st, is it?"  A White House aid.

"What's next, the Heisman?"  Politico

"Riddle.  Why didn't Barack Obama win the Nobel Prize for Literature?  He wrote two books."  Ann Althouse

This could, and will, go on all day.

Comments

[Pete]

My mother used to give me a cookie for cleaning my room. I don't think I ever received or expected a cookie for promising to clean my room. We can all hope, pray, legislate, or pontificate on a better world. This premature selection just devalued what should be a highly prestigious award. If the Nobel Committee wanted to make a statement, they should have skipped awarding for a year.