October 9, 2009

"How can he now send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan?"

Rush Limbaugh — just now — on the real reason why Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize. It's a "hand grenade that has been lobbed" into American foreign policy. "He's basically emasculating America, and they're rewarding him."

83 comments:

Chennaul said...

Yep.

Won't take too much before Obama has spent more time with Scandinavians than with US Servicemen....

Racist.

Peter V. Bella said...

He got the prize. The prize is for what he has supposedly done, not for what he will do. He can unleash a war to end all wars and it won't make any difference. Of course he will not do that. It would offend the Europeans and the Muslim world. Can't have that now can we?

reader_iam said...

He's basically emasculating America, and they're rewarding him" [and those who voted him into office]

Fixed.

reader_iam said...

Again, congratulations on your prize, and whatever implications it carries.

Freeman Hunt said...

He could announce that he's putting the prize money into military spending. #awesomealternateobama

oncoyle said...

His vanity will now likely let a few Norwegian wankers influence his foreign policy.

Kansas City said...

I was just thinking the same thing. It seems very likely that a significant part of the motivation was to affect Obama's future decisions and especially his decision on Afghanistan.

The worst part is that there is a fair chance it will work and Obama's decision will be influenced. I am afraid we have made a major mistake in electing Obama president. He starts with no relevant experience or strong principles and now he is facing important decisions that he needs to make on the fly.

Scott said...

Hey wait a minute.

The Nobel Peace Prize has a big chunk of money attached to it, doesn't it.

If it's not an award for achievement, but rather "aspirational" (in the hope that it will influence the recipient to do things a certain way)...

... doesn't it constitute a bribe?

David said...

I'm with Rush on this one. The prize is an attempt to put pressure on Obama not to do certain things, like help Israel defend itself, keep Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, put more troops in Afghanistan, etc.

And if, as Obama says, this is a prize for the nation and not for him, will he turn the tax free $1.4 million over to the government?

I do hear he's in the running for the Claret Jug, the Lombardi Trophy and the Stanley Cup.

Scott said...

Maybe that's the way we can bribe politicians in the US and get away with it.

Announce it to the public and call it an "award".

Man, those Nobel Peace Prize people are slicker than pig poop!

Scott said...

Maybe we should call it the Nobel Peace Bribe.

former law student said...

Sending troops is not incompatible with the Peace Prize. Other sitting Presidents who received the Peace Prize include the Hero of San Juan Hill (TR) and the man who kept us out of war but then got us into it, anyway (Wilson).

Mr B said...

Don't be fooled, the decision to bail on Afghanistan is already made. The administration (and their media enablers) are just looking for a way to minimize the political damage.

Peter Hoh said...

Well, the Chinese certainly want us in Afghanistan, and we already know that the President will do what it takes to keep the Chinese happy. Right?

I'm Full of Soup said...

OT, perhaps, but the media has been referring to Obama's "war councils".

Did they do the same when Bush met with his defense and nat security advisers?

Peter V. Bella said...

You know maybe our mommies were right. If you are well spoken, dress nicely, and apologize for everything- including the very existence of your country-, people will like you.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Hey, I think I figured out the theme for the day. Does it have something to do with Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize?

Daniel12 said...

Maybe everyone needs to settle down and chill the fuck out.

virgil xenophon said...

Malkin quotes someone as saying: "Where is Kanye West when we need him? LOL!
l

exhelodrvr1 said...

I demand a recount on the Olympic decision!

Freeman Hunt said...

Yo Obama, I'm really happy for you, imma let you finish, but Beyonce is one of the greatest peace brokers of all time!

Joe said...

Can Obama legally accept the award?

Article I, Section 9: "And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."

Darwin said...

me to the nobel committee: YOU LIE!

exhelodrvr1 said...

I'm really ashamed now that I didn't vote for him!!

LouisAntoine said...

Obama emasculates America. Not like Rush... those Dominican girls will never be the same after Rush proved to them just how masculated America is. He needed viagra, but whatever.

Hey, just want to say thanks for delivering, Anne! I asked for shitty, you delivered! That's service.

I'm Full of Soup said...

This reminds me of the PC treatment of little league and youth sports today.

No more keeping score so both teams can think they won, etc. Every player gets a trophy just for showing up.

chickelit said...

Watch now for intensified efforts to shut down free speech before the next elections.

AllenS said...

Obama won't send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, he'll send 40,000 peace keepers instead. There is a difference. Just ask Norway.

WV: ingen

Hey, that's me!

Simon Kenton said...

Shouldn't he give the money to Acorn? They really need it, and they gave according to thier ability for the cause of peace, by electing him.

Mark said...

Oh my god.

WV: "pustr" - which about sums it up.

MadisonMan said...

Ignorance @ 11:35: That's great!

Kansas City said...

Former law student,

The Roosevelt and Wilson cases were not ones where they resorted to military force AFTER winning the Nobel prize. Actually, since Obama authorized one troop increase in Afghanistan, he is another example of the prize being won after using military force.

The focus here is the Norwegians seeking to influence what he does in the future. They, like everyone else, know he is inexperienced and subject to influence.

It is an entirely rational decision by the leftist Norwegians. They have a chance to influence the most powerful person in the world, and they promote their approach to world problems. Heck, there even is a tiny chance they may be right, not naive, and this will lead to world peace. I assume they think it will.

Shanna said...

Malkin quotes someone as saying: "Where is Kanye West when we need him? LOL!

Hee. Ghandi had the best peace of ALL TIME.

Darwin said...

the nobel committee learned pre-emptive action from george W.

Kansas City said...

I did not see Obama's remarks, but he apparently said he would accept it as a "call to action" which is framing it pretty well. The big picture is still drivel, but at least it puts the award in a rational light.

I also though the line about West was pretty good.

Triangle Man said...

The NPP is about as meaningful as Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" cover.

Once written, twice... said...

Wow! Twelve posts over four hours! That is a lot of red meat. Ann aren't you afraid you are going to over feed your Althouse Hillbillies?

themightypuck said...

Only paranoid people are going to think this will somehow impact US Foreign policy. If the Nobel committee thought it could they would have given one to W. Also, it's funny and weird Obama won the thing but going on about how undeserving he is gets old pretty fast and starts making the haters sound like petty whiners and losers. All Obama has to do here is be gracious and humble and he will be fine.

former law student said...

from any King, Prince or foreign State."

I am not familiar with the country of Nobelia. Is it near Atlantis?

chickelit said...

Scott wrote:
... doesn't it constitute a bribe?

That's a perfectly valid point. There's no court of law that would touch that though.

Alex said...

FLS admits it's a clown prize given mostly to whoever is the most anti-American, anti-Israel, global-warming scare mongering(Gore).

Mark said...

Joe, that's a pretty clear statement in the Constitution. Of course, Congress could go ahead and pass the resolution allowing him to accept it, but I doubt they'll bother; less and less do our Political Overlords treat the Constitution even as a fig leaf.

TosaGuy said...

It's not Obama's fault that he was given an NP.

Mark said...

FLS, the Nobel Prize is given under the auspices of the King of Norway, so I believe, if we follow the intent of the Founders, that Congress is supposed to now step up and pass a resolution.

But I forgot Original Intent is a dirty dirty concept.

Anonymous said...

Wow - Looks like the wingnuts have gone ballistic.

Obama has already announced that he is ending the Iraq War, with troops scheduled to leave next year. That makes him a bigger peacemaker than anyone else in the past year. If John McCain had won, we would have had war in Iraq forever (or at least the remainder of his term).

So you can LIE all you want about how he's done "nothing", but what that really means is that you are all FUCKING PISSED OFF that he is ending useless neocon wars and he's getting credit for it.

This prize is for what he has DONE.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Read it and weep.

garage mahal said...

Again, congratulations on your prize, and whatever implications it carries.

Sniff sniff.

Shanna said...

It's not Obama's fault that he was given an NP.

No, it isn't. I don't think this reflects badly at all on Obama himself. It's just stupid of them to give it to him.

Shanna said...

Obama has already announced that he is ending the Iraq War, with troops scheduled to leave next year. ...

This prize is for what he has DONE.


NO. As you stated earlier, it's about what he SAYS he's going to do...what he may do in the future. The only thing he's done besides talk is get elected.

former law student said...

that's a pretty clear statement in the Constitution.

Not an issue when Roosevelt picked up his prize money, when he gave it all away.

Original Mike said...

Obama has already announced that he is ending the Iraq War

Dude. He's in a position to "end" it because Bush won it.

AlmaGarret said...

Perhaps he can do a Sally Field "You like me! You really like me!" acceptance speech.

I'm hoping this ridiculous prize actually causes more Americans to wake up and realize what a doofus we have for a prez.

MadisonMan said...

I'm hoping this ridiculous prize actually causes more Americans to wake up and realize what a doofus we have for a prez.

How does that follow?

It makes me think the people who award the prize are doofuses (doofi?). If Paris Hilton had won an Oscar for her work in House of Wax, would it make you think differently of her, or for the people who voted for her?

I rather doubt Obama is going to be poised to do something militaristic and then think Oops, nope, can't do that, I'm a Nobel Laureate!.

Anonymous said...

Obama has already announced that he is ending the Iraq War, with troops scheduled to leave next year. That makes him a bigger peacemaker than anyone else in the past year...

... This prize is for what he has DONE.


Henry Ford once said, "You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do."

President Obama (who I voted for) may have proven Ford wrong.

I wish Obama had had the grace to tell the Nobel committee, "Not now. Let's see if I deserve it later."

Oh, well.

Peter V. Bella said...

"I'm hoping this ridiculous prize actually causes more Americans to wake up and realize what a doofus we have for a prez."

Unfortunately it will not. The American people aka the voters are about as apathetic a bunch of slugs on the face of the earth. Proof- they keep electing the same people to congress and the senate over and over again. They identify with political parties- to lazy to form their own thoughts. They bitch and moan about taxes, jobs, and the economy- yet they do nothing about it; just keep electing the same poltroons and idiots over and over again. Repubs or Dems makes no difference.

Hey they even elected a total brainless moron as vice president. Joe Biden- an embarrassment to any person with a modicum of intelligence. For you uber liberals Biden makes Bush look like a member of Mensa.

Joe said...

Not an issue when Roosevelt picked up his prize money, when he gave it all away.

Roosevelt's contempt for the constitution was even more glaring than that of our current Congress (Obama seems so indifferent to everything, who knows what his views actually are.)

I really do believe that returning to the principles of the constitution will return the country to greatness and go a long way toward solving several of its most glaring problems. I deeply resent the evisceration of the constitution in whatever name that has been going on for almost a century.

In the end, Congress merely has to pass a simple resolution to resolve this. And while I roll my eyes at Obama's award, I see no reason why such a resolution not receive an overwhelming majority approval (unless its full of sycophancy, in which case, I would ask all to reject it.) Of course, seeing congress actual pass something as simple as "President Barrack Obama has our permission to receive the Nobel Peace Prize." is too much to ask.

Alex said...

Peter - I agree with you about the idea of Americans as slugs. We literally are looking like slugs every day with obesity going out of control. I bet Obama/Dems dominate among the obese.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

Yeah, I think Rush has a point.

He's screwed now. If he does send troops, he's a disappointment. If he doesn't, then he's letting vanity cloud his decision making.

Even if he had already decided before this, he's going to look bad.

Hopefully he has the integrity to ignore this when it comes to the country's interests.

themightypuck said...

The troops to Afghanistan decision is fraught with way more real life problems than some optics issue related to the Nobel Prize. My suspicion is that such real life concerns are a beach to the NPs grain of sand here.

Kansas City said...

Chris,

You are right that all Obama has to do is show up and be gracious.

You are wrong in not recognizing the obvious - that the Nobel Prize folks want to influence Obama. As I said, that is an entirely rational approach, albeit not in the spirit of the award.

So, when you say, "Only paranoid people are going to think this will somehow impact US Foreign policy. If the Nobel committee thought it could they would have given one to W."

You are wrong. Obviously, the Nobel committe would only follow this course with a president they thought they could influence - so your reference to Bush makes no sense.

prairie wind said...

"Obama has already announced that he is ending the Iraq War, with troops scheduled to leave next year....This prize is for what he has DONE."

He has also announced that he won't raise taxes on anyone earning less than $250K and we see how little he meant with that. There is a long list of "announcements" that Obama has made. I have no reason to think he means what he says about the Iraq war, either.

section9 said...

When does Althouse get her Nobel Peace Prize?

....since they appear to be just giving them the fuck away....

Althouse, I assume, published her law review articles.

wv=miall

Kansas City said...

John Lynch,

Thinking about it, I think he now almost has to authorize more troops, although probably in a fashion that makes it look less agressive. If he ever said no to generals after this, he would be tagged with siding with Nobel Prize leftists over his generals - an untenable position.

Anonymous said...

Peter Bella said: "Unfortunately it will not. The American people aka the voters are about as apathetic a bunch of slugs on the face of the earth. Proof- they keep electing the same people to congress and the senate over and over again. They identify with political parties- to lazy to form their own thoughts. They bitch and moan about taxes, jobs, and the economy- yet they do nothing about it; just keep electing the same poltroons and idiots over and over again. Repubs or Dems makes no difference."

Hey Peter, are you sure the voters are to blame? Are you sure it isn't ACORN? It seems the Dems are doubling-down on every poorly received initiative they've taken. It's almost like they don't think they'll be held accountable...which they won't be if the FIX is IN.

vw = auttoi: a group of space aliens with developmental problems due to a home planet environment rich in the element Mercury.

traditionalguy said...

If Obama (1)sends 40,000 troops into the Afghan Mountain Valleys then the Taliban and its allies in Iran will send in 10,000 suicide Jihadists for slaughtering infidels practice, but maybe the grandchildren of today's Afghan deployed men and women may one day finish this war. If(2) Obama withdraws then we will never be feard again by the Arabs. Or if (3) Obama keeps the present troop levels then the first result happens, but with no hope for any victory. Life is a bitch when you have already been awarded the Prince Of Peace Prize for shilly shallying away from anything but double talk, and then suddenly American lives are at stake if and when a decision ever has to be made. I predict he will opt for #3.

KCFleming said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rhhardin said...

Why didn't the corporate morale department think of Nobel prizes.

They've been giving out plaques and tee-shirts.

Unknown said...

Downtownlad: bullying your way through an opposing view is not going to get your point across. Further, he was only in office 11 days when nominations closed. This was for work DONE, not for work since. Whether you agree or disagree on what Obama has (or has not) done, that is a fact. He had not done anything yet (or arguably now, but we are going to have to agree to disagree on that).

Pogo: the Nobel Peace Prize's credibility is tarnished with this. If they were really going to go through with it (w/no agenda), then it should be next year or beyond. And I don't think it should go to Obama period, but at least don't be so obvious about it.

Finally, Obama says he will donate the money to charity. How about our national debt he has increased so substantially that our children's children will be paying it off?

Kansas City said...

I now listened to Obama's statement. I found it odd. It was well constructed as to content, but he seemed detached from what he was saying. Part of it might have been no teleprompter, which required him to look down at notes. Part of it may be that even he thought the award was unjustified. Part of it might have been that his joke at the outset about his kids bing a bomb. But overall, it was pretty good on content (in the sense of being modest and touching the right bases, even if largely empty rhetoric), but not well or sincerely delivered.

It will be fascinating to watch how the award impacts his decision on Afghanistan, which presumably will be made prior to his acceptance of the award.

themightypuck said...

Lets be honest about Afghanistan. It is a thorny problem that has little to do with Iraq. I say we make a deal with the Russians and go halvsies on it.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

I say give them the whole thing.

Michael Haz said...

Why are you paying attention to Althouse? She didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize

No. She won the Meade Trophy in August. That's a much bigger deal.

Freeman Hunt said...

I don't see why he should have to give away or give back the money. If a bunch of fools wanted to give me $1.4 million for no reason, my response would be, "Yay!"

Kansas City said...

Afghanistan is a fascinating issue.

1.Afghanistan standing alone means almost nothing to the U.S. in any stategic sense, other than keeping it from being a staging ground for terrorist attacks against us. [This puts the moral and nation building issues to one side - yes, it would be nice to help those poor people, but we really can't afford to be that generous.]

2. Pakistan means a great deal to us strategically, due to its nuclear bombs. So, our decisions should be driven by how to achieve the desired result in Pakistan.

3. Obama and the Democrats were putting on a con job about the war in Afghanistan as being the real place for the war on terror and a war of necessity.

4. Democrats obviously would prefer to get out of Afghanistan if they could and they will not be tolerant of Obama for very long if he decides he has to stay in.

5. The reality is now hitting Obama and he does not know what to do.

6. Now Obama is in a catch 22. If he folds, he will look weak and expose his con job. If he approves what the generals want, it will be inconsisen with his peace prize and the democrats will be unhappy with him.

7. He will look for a middle ground that will lead to disaster.

miller said...

Now he can't prosecute the war in Afghanistan. Nice blocking move, Norway!

former law student said...

Further, he was only in office 11 days when nominations closed. This was for work DONE, not for work since.

Unless you're on the committee, I don't see how you can be an authority on how they work. The close of nominations means no more entrants, not the end of deliberations. For all we know, they were comparing performance through Tuesday.

If Obama dropped a nuke on Pyongyang last week, I suspect the committee would have picked some one else.

David said...

Michael Hasenstab said...
"Why are you paying attention to Althouse? She didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize.

No. She won the Meade Trophy in August. That's a much bigger deal."

Get a grip, Michael. It's "Trophy Meade" not "Meade Trophy."

David said...

Kansas City said...

"1.Afghanistan standing alone means almost nothing to the U.S. in any stategic sense, other than keeping it from being a staging ground for terrorist attacks against us."

Check a map, KC. It's a crucial location and if it destabilizes there is no end of trouble for India, Pakistan and some of the other stans to the north and east. The Russians did not go to war their just because they thought it would be a good training exercise. They know influential geography when they see it.

Eli Blake said...

We are really being stupid in Afghanistan. We are losing American lives and spending hundreds of billions of our treasure, and in the regions that we have 'stabilized,' the Chinese are opening iron and copper mines.

If Obama does send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan it will benefit not us, but the Chinese (sort of like how the real winner in the Iraq war was Iran.)

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

When you agree with Rush's scathing derision of Obama, specifically his reference to Obama's alleged emasculation of America, that leads me to wonder if you have something against vaginas.

And as anyone who follows this blog knows, the commenters believe there is great wonder and power in vaginas - especially if the vagina belongs to Sarah Palin or any other politician that Andrew Sullivan criticizes for being a liar.

I'll accept that Obama coasts off of being the most popular boy in the classroom if you'll accept that Sarah Palin's a pin-up doll for the right wing.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

I don't see why he should have to give away or give back the money. If a bunch of fools wanted to give me $1.4 million for no reason, my response would be, "Yay!"

What'sa matter, Freeman? No one with any brains thought that you offered anything of any real value for which they'd gladly pay you?

amba said...

Per NPR, no less, a bunker-busting bomb is being readied by the U.S. military that could penetrate and destroy Iran's "secret" uranium-enriching facility.

And frankly, you couldn't do more for peace than that.

vw: messi I'll say.

traditionalguy said...

David...Once Obama eliminates nuclear weapons by having a UN Global Army take them all away. then what do we care who destabilizes Pakistan, Russia, China? That Peace Prize is an atta boy given to our new Global Organizer. He just needs to let Biden be a President for us while he Presides over Global Governance. Then watch out Rio...The Olympic Games may belong to ChiTown permanently. What me worry?

george said...

This more or less validates all of the stereotypes the right has of the left. Obama is rewarded for his blatant anti-Americanism by a bunch of European leftists who want to see America weak and on the retreat. They are so desperate to prop Obama up that they will make fools of themselves to do so.