After reading Lowell Greenbaum's Oct. 15 letter ("Obama richly deserving of Peace Prize"), I'm still trying to find what Mr. Greenbaum is saying President Obama had done to "richly" deserve it.
Let us not lose sight of the fact that, according to all I have heard and read, Obama was nominated for the award 11 or 12 days after being inaugurated as president. As I recall, and I could be wrong, at that time Obama, was extremely busy trying to get the stimulus package set up and pushed through Congress, and setting up his Cabinet.
I am not saying that in time Obama might not earn what we at one time considered a prestigious award. However, at the time he was nominated, the award either had fallen from that "prestigious" category, or Obama was nominated for some other reason.
Perhaps nominators were considering their feelings concerning the administration of President Bush, and the Republican Party in general, as covered so eloquently by Mr. Greenbaum, and adding Obama's name to that of former President Carter and former Vice President Al Gore. Gosh, they sure do like the Democratic Party, except they overlooked former President Clinton.
It is interesting to read in the Norweigian paper Verneds Gang that initially three of the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee objected to Obama's being awarded the prize. However, it seems they were influenced by the other two members, Thorbjoern Jagland and Sissel Roenbeck, both members of the Labor Party. Seems we are not the only country where party allegiance is significant.
According to politifact.com, Mr. Obama made 513 promises during his campaign for the office he now holds. According to them, he has 47 promises kept, 12 promises compromised, seven promises broken, 13 promises stalled, 123 promises in the works and 313 promises with no action taken. Perhaps in Mr. Greenbaum's next epistle, he would do better to explain these 446 promises he made and so far have not been completed.
James H. Shoffner
Augusta
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There has been 43 Presidents, only two "sitting" ones were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, so the award at this stage of the 44th is especially unique. However, it was completely justifies to anyone who studies, who understands, who comprehends, who values lessons of history. NO President WILL be graded like this president will be! No President has EVER been scrutinized like this one will be! Ridiculous Example: Ol' James has counted the number of campaign promises at 513. Why? He's wrong because its 511, but what point is he trying to make? That the president lied maybe...why is that relevant if ALL previous presidents did it? And U a liar if U say they didn't, so why focus on a number when all can't be fulfilled? The AWM is setting precedent with this president that demonstrates exterme prejudice. Was G. Bush's promises keep? What number was his total? Unknown. Why didn't the AWM count his promises? "They" didn't feel the need, but now they count and publish a number. Wow! How insane. And the quick repair job the president did on America's image on the world stage impressed other nations. That feat alone (G. Bush failed at it) earn him the "preemptive" Peace Prize.
Actually he is on a pretty good pace. He only has to accomplish about 67 goals a year over 8 years. LOL
Yawn :-() I'm nobelprize fatigued.
How are Prezbhojangles' lies different from other President's lies you ask? Because Prezbhojangles' lies were so outrageous and impossible to keep, and for the uneducated and inept voters who believed the lies.............that's the difference, Cuz.
55 F-100, after 8 years name Bush's crowning accomplishments. Before you go with he kept us safe. Under which administration did more Americans die on American soil EVER?
I wonder how many more letters to the editor about the nobel prize the chronicle is going to print LOL... Is there a tally on how many negative letters vs positive letters, who's ahead? LOL.
Obviously, the Nobel Peace Prize has become a joke.
Yeah, fruitpa, it's like the abuse Sanford is still receiving after all these months. Who would have thought....
actually more Americans died during the Civil War but we will not go there.
Yes, many died on American soil under Bush, but it took years to plan such events. A group did not get up that morning and say, Let's blow up some building with planes. We as a nation let our guard down--plain and simple. Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush all should be responsible.
Concerned......My post had absolutely nothing to do with Bush...my post addressed the fact that Prezbhojangles' lies were outrageous, impossible to keep, and that the voters who believed the lies (and some still believe) were inept, uneducated, and oh by the way, I should have added kool-aid drinkers....Cuz.
How many letters saying the same thing is the AC going to print? President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize; 200 years from now he will still have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Nothing is going to change that. Give it up; let it go; move on!
OK, maybe the prize was premature. Don't forget that Kissinger, a Republican, got a premature Nobel Peace Prize and his international deal didn't actually even lead to peace. Awarding the Peace Prize is an inherently subjective judgment. Let's be proud of our country and hope and pray for the best.
To Shoffner: He was nominated a few days into his presidency, but deliberations took place later. There was evidently no influence from the White House, the Nobel committee acted within their rules and have the right to award the price to whomever they wish. Even the President was surprised. It probably was premature, but how is it affecting you?
Who cares..... WORLD PEACE is a joke....It has NEVER happened, never will. Obama won the award...let's move on.
It is interesting to read in the Norweigian paper Verneds Gang that initially three of the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee objected to Obama's being awarded the prize.... a TINY bit of research will educate one that the above named publication is the equal of the National Enquirer and is given the same weight in Norway.
JACKFRUIT, newsflash, if it sells papers, they'll run these letters for a year. By the way, if anybody wants to see how much this president is respected, go to Youtube and punch in "Russians snub Obama." Of course, the American press never ran this. If it had been Bush, it would have been the lead story. Obama won the prize. Even he admits he doesn't deserve it, but he's not man enough to refuse. Next, he'll win a Heisman Trophy for watching a college football game!