Yes we can...

...make a mockery of the Nobel Peace Prize!
So let me get this straight. Barack Obama is going to be awarded the most ironically named honor on the planet? OK. Um, for what? From the web page of the Nobel Prize:

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons."

Alright then. I know what you're thinking. "You're not going to trash the president as well as an organization that basically awards people for trying to make the world a better place, are you?" Well yes. Yes I am.

Obama really has done dick-all since taking office in January. Actually, I suppose that's technically not true. He has successfully failed to end the war in Iraq. He has succeeded in plans to escalate the war in Afghansistan. He succeeded in failing to secure the Olympics for Chicago. He has succeeded at becoming CEO of major US companies. (Even though, you know, he really didn't want to.) He's also succeeded at increasing his celebrity instead of his effectiveness as a leader. So really, I guess so far his presidency has been a success.

The Nobel Committee used his "vision" of a world without nuclear weapons and his actions to reach that goal as a part of their reasoning behind honoring him. Now as far as vision is concerned, I think that it would be great if there were no longer nuclear arsenals around the world too. (I'm totally winning the award next year.) As far as action? Well I'm sorry but telling Ahmadinejad that you will fuck his shit up if he doesn't stop being a psycho doesn't count in my book as peaceful.

And efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples? Are you fucking kidding me. Just because he has the tact that Bush lacked to at least pretend to listen to other people does not mean that he is actually doing so. And have they taken a look at how our government is operating these days? Those people can't get shit done because they hate each other so much. Maybe there should be a few more years to see how his "efforts to strengthen... cooperation between people" actually pan out.

The Norwegian committee also chose Obama as this year's recipient in February. Quick history lesson kids, Obama was sworn in as President of the Unite States in January. What in the name of fuck did he accomplish in 2 weeks that told the committee he was worthy of this honor? I'm not naive of course. I understand that an award such as the Nobel Peace Prize is highly politicized and isn't it great that the United States elected a black guy and that cowboy George Bush is history, blah blah blah. But isn't it a little bit embarrassing to award someone such a prestigious honor (at least it used to be until a few hours ago) to someone on the basis of what they might accomplish? I mean come on.

Is it wrong to ask for just a little bit of integrity? Even when Al Gore won at least it was after he did something. Granted, he succeeded in basically nothing and was arguing a retarded point. But he put in the time and money. Not to mention the astronomical energy bills from his homes and the cost of travel around the world on private planes. Christ, even Jimmy Carter won the fucking award. We all know how I feel about Jimmy Carter, but at least he accomplished something after he ruined his presidency. Nice houses Mr. President! Keep up the good work!

This is, unfortunately, just the latest example of Barack Obama trading on hopes and promises. I've said before that I don't hope for, now would I applaud, his failure as a president. I just hope that he can step away from the rhetoric and ambition and put something tangible into play that Americans can look at and judge him by. Unfortunately for him, we can be harsher judges and critics than the Norwegian Nobel Committee.