Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize - Conservatives explode like Agent Smith at the end of Matrix

Yeah, this reflects poorly on the Nobel committee more than anything else.  I like that Obama has been outspoken about non-proliferation, even co-sponsoring a non-proliferation bill with Dick Lugar, but being outspoken about the issue alone doesn't seem to warrant the Nobel Peace Prize.  I actually thought Wolfie was pulling one of his usual bait-and-switch routines until I clicked his link.  Maybe the world is just so desensitized to crazy after eight years of Bush that the Nobel committee was ecstatic that we didn't immediately vaporize Iran after they revealed the Qum facility.

Why not someone like Vandana Shiva?  Or what about William Kamkwamba?

One thing this award has done is to cast in stark relief those that do not understand the moment. We have the two extremes - the pro-award crowd who think it's great but don't really think about why. - the anti-award crowd who think it's a farce but fail to produce any arguments that would garner higher than a C grade in 9th grade English. Then we have the two middle groups: - the anti-award crowd who have valid arguments. Sometimes they still stoop to insult tossing. - the pro-award crowd that have valid arguments. Sometimes they still stoop to glassy-eyed dreaminess. I fall into the last category and attempt to remain steadfast. This is a fantastic development. Obama has worked hard to bring hundreds of thousands of new people into politics who before couldn't have cared less - they didn't vote at all. A voting populace is not necessarily and informed populace but it's a start. The US is one of (if not THE) most power nation in the world and we set precedents left and right. The fact that our populace had stopped participating in the leadership of the country was fine until the leadership began warmongering, ignoring fact, ignoring science, and ignoring world peace protests. Obama is a breath of fresh air. He uses technology instead of fearing it. He talks to everyone. He uses Youtube. When criticized, he explains his thinking instead of cowardly reversing his opinion. It is amazing to me that we have a President with the will to do what needs to get done. It's fantastic! And Peace Prize folks seem to understand this as well. Now, I would be willing to agree that it may be a little premature but - think of the encouragement it gives the Obama Presidency! It is incredibly difficult to push on against tons of people trying to pull you down. This prize is like a beam of light from on high shining on Obama and encouraging him to push onward. May the willfully ignorant discover their close-minded ways and weep.

I'm not sure what you mean by "philosophical lens" here.  Personally, I can't really put much credence in the NPP.  There are plenty of people out there who work tirelessly against incredible odds for peace.  It's not that Obama has done nothing in this capacity, but I think we would both agree that his personal contributions to this effort are only beginning to take shape.  In that sense, the prize has little to do with its sister awards for achievements in fields like physics and chemistry.  It isn't really about a personal achievement in the peace effort at all, especially if we take your view that the award is more about messaging than anything else.

Plus, it's hard to bring the luster back to your "peace prize" once you give it people like Kissinger and Lê Ðức Thọ (who, to his credit, declined the prize).  Even giving it to someone like Teddy Roosevelt is questionable if the award is really about achievement in the goal of peace.

They could have finally thrown one Gandhi's way.  Sure, it would have been a bit like giving Scorcese the Oscar for The Departed or the rash of recognition that Bob Dylan has received from the Grammy folks in the last couple of decades, but at least it would offer some clarity as to what the prize is really about.  If it's not about actual accomplishment in the endeavor for peace, then why call it the Peace Prize?

If it's really about messaging, then whose messaging is it and why should I care?  I'm supposed to care that some elites in Norway like that we elected Obama?  I like that we elected him, too, but that alone warrants a NPP?  I mean, he was nominated less than a month after taking office.  What could the impetus for nominating him possibly have been at that point in time?

Mega Shark has GOTTA be bitter about not winning this year. I mean, he only took out GIANT OCTOPUS! Hello? And who did Obama take down? JOHN MCCAIN? LEVI'S GRAMMA? I hope Mega Shark tears Oslo a new one.

Lol. I love that Drudge is becoming increasingly shrill totry to catch up with a movement that's taken a decidedly Beckian turn.