Much has been made of President Obama’s being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The ground has been covered so many times by now that it looks like a CSI crime scene contaminated by too many eager cops. The various media are all agog, internet hits multiply by the hour, and the pundits keep weighing in as if there were no yesterday — as witness this very article. Yet, perhaps, there is still something to be said — and little reiteration wouldn’t hurt either.
According to the left-leaning Oslo committee, Obama deserves the award for creating “a new climate in international politics.” Its chairman, Thorbjoern Jagland, is deeply impressed by the extent to which Obama has “captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.” But, as has been pointed out by many commentators, Barack Obama has accomplished precisely nothing of any positive importance and those of his credentials as have been made public — of which there are decidedly few — indicate very little of substance in his resumé.
What is perhaps of equal interest is the fact that the president was nominated just a week and a half before the deadline, since a proposal must be submitted by February 1 and Obama’s inauguration took place on January 20. This doesn’t leave much time for even a paragon reformer endowed with magical abilities to effectuate anything of merit or consequence, which means the prize was awarded either proleptically — that is, in anticipation of future acts — or retroactively from the selection date in October, during the period of triage itself. It all seems somewhat fishy.
Be that as it may, when I contrast a know-nothing do-harmer like Obama with the prime minister of my own country, a principled and reliable politician who has defended the democratic tradition to the best of his ability and steered the country through the recent economic meltdown with reasonable firmness, who is naturally averse to bedding the media and wary of ingratiating himself with the public, and who possesses verifiable talents, I have no doubt that were Canada’s Stephen Harper president of the United States, it would find itself in a far more resilient position than it does now.
[More]
Amazing how fast some folks managed to knock together pictures of Obama winning various awards. I’ve seen Obama being presented the Stanley Cup, the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Heisman Trophy, a Grammy Award, you name it…
Personally, I would rather have people wonder why there wasn’t a monument in my honour than wonder why there was one…
Re: #1 — I cannot picture Loreen breaking a bowl over Stephen’s head (sidebar video) because I can’t envision him getting up and doing the Salsa but then again you never know about this guy (laughing).
Stephen Harper is a leader. Obama is just the guy in charge.
Personally I equate Obama with Ignatieff. Both were recruited by their respective parties to lead said party to the promised land. Both were blank slates upon which the party could project their dreams. Neither of them had a clue what they would do if they were given the reigns of power. Fortunately for Canada so far PM Harper stopped Iggy. Unfortunately for the US they have been stuck with Mr. Present for the next 3+ years.
Agree with you Joe, except for the the suggestion that neither would have a clue what they would do if they were given the reigns of power. What Obama is doing is not arbitrary or in reaction to the political climate. It is moving lockstep forward with a plan and strategy that was concieved well before he came to power.
I’d like someone to tell me what he could do to emasculate the US any faster than he is.
I like the line: Obama gets bling, Harper gets results.
Our Prime Minister works for the people who elected him, the American President makes his citizens work so he can play.
Or is it that Obama and the Democrats are in power rather than the Republicans with all their warts.
The American people have spoken and now its up to Obama to deliver providing the Republicans dont get in the way just because their not in charge.
Sad to see the once great U.S. slipping like it is. Looks like the next great economic power will be China and India to some extent. Time to look else where to sell our goods & services so Canada will miss the next great American economic meltdown.
I agree entirely with you Ward except I don’t believe the agenda is coming from Obama. His handlers had the agenda in mind and needed a blank slate figurehead to implement it. What they found was more than perfect because any criticism of his policy could immediately be labeled ‘racist’ thereby ending all debate.
This to my mind is the difference between Iggy and Obama. Iggy’s handlers don’t have a clear agenda except to regain power. There are all kinds of airy fairy wishy washy thinking going on but so much of it is in conflict with itself the voters are not attracted to it or the person pushing it.