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I'd Like To Thank The Stockholm Academy...
Presented without commentary.
[Dear Blank, or Chrysler Senior Secured Lender, whichever one you find more credible] --
This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
h/t Bob
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In 3+ years, he can go hang out with Al Gore, Jimmy Carter and the rest of the Nobel losers.
Oh yea...How is that global warming thing working out for Al?
He can't even read a tele-promptor without stumbling today. How's he going to make world peace.
You forgot he is the Magic Negro!!!
That ain't no Magic Negro - unless he can throw down a fro like me!
that's because he went to bed last night ready to send another 100k troops to the 'um...theater of war' and woke up this morning to find out he just got punked by the norwegians.
you mean, he slept at a Holiday Inn Express...
Might as well award his ass the Heisman. Hell, a gold medal too.
I give you guys *****, not so much on the post as it just really pissed off my morning. You guys make my day. Carry on.
If a monument was built in BO’s honor, Mt. Rushmore would close due to poor attendance. When he looks in a mirror, there is never any reflection…because he is only 1 of a kind. Whatever side of the tracks he's currently on is the right side; if he crossed them, he would still be on the right side. He is the only man ever to ace a Rorschach test. The Mayans prophecized his birth. When he was born, the doctors smoked Cuban cigars with his father in the delivery room, to congratulate him on a job well done. As a child, he built a city out of blocks; today, over 6000 people live and work there. He once buried a time capsule full of things that haven't happened yet. He once taught a German Shepherd to bark in Spanish. People hang on his every word…even the prepositions. He’s a lover, not a fighter; but don’t get any ideas -- he’s also a fighter. His charisma can be seen from outer space. His reputation is expanding faster than the universe. He was once abducted by aliens…and was asked to anal probe them. Someday, archaeologists will fight over his discarded apple cores. He is Barack, the Messiah.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Eh, tres bien, Loup Garou! What part Terrebonne you from, cher? --Just'un Wilson
CRITICISM IN THE AWARDING
Nobel's nightmare
Luxury trips paid for by China, a pharmaceutical company as
a sponsor and risky financial transactions with the assets of
its founder: The Nobel Foundation is heavily in the criticism
It was also on this Wednesday is a solemn day in Stockholm than in the concert hall
traditionally been awarded for the death of its founder, the Nobel Prizes. However,
the Nobel Foundation was in the run-up has never been under public scrutiny as this
year. The accusations weigh heavily: from bribery and false speculations risky with
the estate of Alfred Nobel is the question.
As is now known, is the Nobel his fortune shrink to such an extent that funding for
the allowance of the equivalent of Nobel prize of one million euros per discipline due
to the financial crisis will not be saved. While it is true, this year's honorees would
not fear for their prize money, but no longer guarantees that the Nobel Foundation
may disburse the full sum in the future, reported the Swedish public service radio SR
() Sveriges Radio.
In fact, the Foundation had in 2004 agreed to invest a portion of their billions into
hedge funds. Thus, one could significantly increase the interest income, in both good
and bad economic times, was the justification. This proved to be false: The hedge
funds, including precisely the Worldwide Long / short fund "the troubled investment
bank Carnegie, making Awful.
Alfred Nobel put explicitly stated in his will that his fortune in "safe securities"
should be created. That is what we've done, "says Åke Altéus, deputy chairman of the
Nobel Foundation and primarily responsible for the finances. "Previously,
government bonds were regarded as safe securities. Today, however, assumes that
there is a safe investment in a well-balanced portfolio with a broad spread of risk."
Meanwhile, not only the risky lending at interest by the Foundation are in the
criticism: In time for the award further allegations are heard. Thus, the sender SR
revealed that the chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, Physics and
Medicine of the Chinese government on two extensive trips to China were invited -
the last time in January 2008.
The Chinese government took good care of the Nobel judges. She paid for everything
- from the flights in business class on the night in luxury hotels to fine dinner and a
great tour. Although the Nobel judges, according to own statements, were constantly
sought, which would make China, in order to garner Nobel prizes, they felt the
acceptance of invitations at that time as unproblematic.
Now stir the guilty conscience. "Had we known that the Nobel Prize is the focus of
the trip, I would have advised against travel to our members," is justified by Gunnar
Öqvist around, permanent secretary of the Royal Academy of Science to SR. Sven
Lidin by the Committee for the Chemistry Prize contrast, sees no reason for concern:
"One can imagine that you are in a borderline case, but that does not concern me at
all," he said. A little more self-Bertil Fredholm response from the medical cost. He
regretted taking part in a trip to China two years ago. When asked whether there was
a risk that he will be influenced by the journey, he answered in an unusually open
radio: "I do not think so. But to prove that it is not so, is not easy."
It is also criticized for not traveling to committee members took account that the
Chinese state television cut out just last year, those parts of the Nobel Prize
ceremony, in which it came to freedom of expression, for the Chinese audience from
the television broadcast. Critics stink now that can also invite the judges of the Nobel
Peace Prize of Beijing. The committee had this year been heavily criticized when it
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the politically unproblematic Finnish peace
mediator Martti Ahtisaari, instead of Chinese human rights activist.
As if all this were not enough, just before awarding the prize, the Nobel Foundation,
these days, yet also sharply criticized because of its proximity to the pharmaceutical
company AstraZeneca. The company has been a good six months the main sponsor of
the Nobel Prize in Company "Nobel Media" and "Nobel Web. You take care of the
media at the Nobel Prize. In October, Nobel Prize in medicine went to the German
researcher Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of the cervical cancer-causing
human papillomavirus (HPV).
Also, by honoring zur Hausen AstraZeneca must now reckon with astronomical
income to impute Swedish media. The drug company has the patents on the market
for both HPV vaccines, Cervarix and Gardasil. With the additional sale of usage
rights to other companies get the group together with other income streams of
revenue from 30 to 50 million euros, calculated from an expert on the major
Swedish bank Swedbank. By awarding the prize to the discoverer of the HP virus
would additionally promoted internationally for alleged ineffectiveness is still
controversial and substantial side effects nationwide vaccination programs
Gebärmuttelhalskrebs.
According to the Nobel Foundation director Michael Sohlman, the Group has no
More about
Nobel Prizes, the highest honor
ability to influence the award of the Prize. "We are extremely confident that this is
something that has nothing to do with each other," he says. Hans Jörnvall, secretary
of the Nobel Committee at Karolinska Institutet is more critical: "It's the first time
that we get a big sponsor that is as unusually close to our own activity," he told
Swedish Radio.
When asked about the co-sponsors of
the Foundation, was the German Nobel
laureate zur Hausen on Monday
genuinely surprised to receive an Embassy in Stockholm. "To the criticism against
the Foundation sponsors because I can not say anything. I hear this the first time," he
told TIME ONLINE. As a researcher in his field, he could only say that it would save
many women suffering if they were vaccinated against the sexually active period
against the virus. Also in the Swedish media is stressed that the camp has to do
himself in any way with the commercial use of vaccines.
The critics, led by respected science journalists in Sweden, are confident that the
Nobel Foundation over the years is simply too convenient and too little to become
self-critical. That could add to the reputation of the Nobel Prizes sustained major
damage, they fear. But that criticism does not like to be seen, says one of them:
"Journalists make the revelations about the Nobel Foundation in Sweden are treated
similarly unwelcome, as journalists, who put the royal family in a bad light."
COPYRIGHT TIME-LINE
ADDRESS http://www.zeit.de/online/2008/50/nobelpreis-verleihung-bestechung
In the short time since the Peace Prize was made to Barack Obama, a new spotlight has been turned on the Nobel Foundation directed by Michael Sohlman and its motivations The translated article that you’ve given us here is an icebreaker and I’m sure will help lead to eventually informing the world of just who these people are and what’s behind their use of Alfred Nobel’s fortune to further their plans.
Examples: What’s behind the unusual corruptive effort by the Chinese government to influence the awards of Nobel prizes which may have eliminated a Chinese human rights activist from the Peace award; what’s behind the monetary sponsorship by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca of the Foundation when it held patents for products prior to the awarding of the Nobel prize for research related to these patents; what’s behind the vast shrinkage of billions of Nobel funds from risky investment under the apparent violation of Alfred Nobel’s explicit instructions to invest his fortune only in “safe securities”?
And, of course, the major question on the minds of independent thinkers all over the world is: What’s behind the political bias of a foundation that selects “peacemakers” and conspicuously leaves out the greatest peacemaker of the 20th Century; the leader whose strength of purpose single handedly caused the end of the cold war, caused the step-back from the brink of nuclear competition between the world’s two superpowers, and caused the breakup of the world-threatening Soviet Union: Ronald Wilson Reagan?
In a related matter, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, n/k/a Publisher's Clearing House, has awarded the Nobel Prize in economics to Bernie Madoff. Due to prior commitments, Mr. Madoff will be unable to accept the award personally and will be represented by Ben Bernanke.
...Greenspan will be presenting the award. The after party will be hosted by Timothy Geithner and Hank Paulson at Goldman Sachs headquarters.
R.S.V.P
They gave a Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger. By comparison, this President is at least several million times more deserving, so..
Blair got his pockets filled with gold too. Not to mention the failbanks.
It's sad but the world now rewards failure and tyranny, while Joe Public is too busy watching dancing with the stars.
Blair was immediately put on the board at JPM. Not even a care about appearances.
He probably got the prize for bringing that Harvard professor and the police officer who arrested him (beer at the White house). I don't remember any other achievement related with peace.
If i was European i would love Obama more. He's bailing them out as well with no cost to Europeans (by stealing from our wallets day by day with help of his gang Summers, Bernanke, Gaithner et all)
Contributing to Obama campaign was my worst investment ever (huge negative ROE).
My ROE on my Obama campaign contributions is excellent!
I don't own a house because it didn't make sense to buy at inflated Southern California prices, I was mostly out of the market during the decline (except for my 401k) and I poured most of my money into the market in the March timeframe. I'm up something like 40% on the year without using leverage or options, which I don't believe in since I'm opposed to leverage except when buying a house. I'm way ahead now!
Seems like Obama is doing a great job, looking at the numbers (regarding unemployment, it's a lagging indicator...). It's good to have someone thoughtful and intelligent in the White House who clearly thinks about his decisions rather than letting someone else form his opinion on issues!
Most of you guys seem kind of upset. Seems like as Americans we should be cautiously optimistic and honored that our President has won this award. It reflects well on our country. Obviously, Obama himself is a little surprised that this has come so early, and is probably scratching his head over it a little. But, I choose to be optimistic and hope that Obama will grow to fit the award bestowed upon him.
Just as I was with Bush at this point in his presidency, I am still in my "wait-and-see" period with Obama. Nine months is far too short a time to pronounce one way or another what he represents. The long-term success or failure of his initiatives will in the end define his legacy, and nobody knows how that's going to turn out, although seemingly everyone is happy to prognosticate about the "certain" outcome of these "socialist" initiatives.
I guess I would just say that when Obama came into office, people were talking about another great Depression, the S&P was at around 840, and the housing market was in freefall. How many of you would have predicted the current state of affairs back in January? While there are obviously potential long-term issues with the Fed's balance sheet and the troubling "shadow inventory" which may hurt the housing market for years to come, I'm actually cautiously optimistic that we'll work our way out of this without another serious economic shock. Will there be massive inflation? Maybe. Some people would like to say "definitely", but I don't think the writing is on the wall. Are there issues with massive government intervention? Yes. But I for one am happy that I still have a job in an uncertain economy, and that I am still doing productive work. For my particular industry, this would almost certainly not be the case were it not for massive quantitative easing on the part of the Fed and the Chinese government.
In any case, I wouldn't bet against America in the long-term. Time and time again, through both Democratic and Republican administrations, we have proven that we have a vibrant economy that will adapt to changing circumstances. I don't see anything in Obama's policies that will fundamentally change how strong this nation is.
Ariana is that you. Nice demagogy and quite a nice effort to spin something into relevance and someone into prominence. But unfortunately; this post is a fail in so many levels; i really have no wish to deconstruct it. But, again, nice piece of propaganda/day dreaming.
I busted anon: True identity!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arPnVL_7y_Q&feature=related
Hey, not that I really care, but this is what is usually described as an "ad hominem" argument. I can walk you through it:
I made an argument.
You linked to some ridiculous video of some guy on Youtube, and claim (facetiously) that I am that person, and thus ridiculous, therefore my argument must be ridiculous.
Usually this is what people do when they're losing an argument. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you're just a little bit lazy, and not willing to argue against my points.
The level of discourse in this comments section, and in general on the internet and in other media, is pretty low. Come on guys, I think we can do better than to throw profanities and vitriol around! There are a few posts that make good arguments. It would be nice when reading through the posts if I didn't have to filter out all the irrelevant stuff.
Give it the best you've got; you're wasting time on the internet anyway, may as well make good use of that time!
one fight at a time fellas
It is you and you responded...What hair color did you decide on? If you go blonde make sure to do your eyebrows!
LOL Perfect crosscut of Obama's base, worthless little trolls sitting living at home contributing nothing to society.
"A fail on so many levels"... but nothing to back up this statement.
Ok. I understand if you have better things to do than deconstruct people's random posts on the internet (I for one think this country needs fewer people diddling around on the blogs and news sites and more people working their butts off to generate wealth).
However, don't tell me my post is "a fail" and then not back it up. Don't you think that's kind of a "fail" in and of itself?
Interested to hear what you think...
"A fail on so many levels"... but nothing to back up this statement
I presume you are older than 18 and are not illiterate AND that you have a capability of critical reading and thinking. Your personified dogma about Obama is whats keeps me from not offering any sort of explanation. Also; the myth of " America the Great " is a myth based on military dominance and post WWII economical and political dominance over the smaller countries; which is a deduction from the before mentioned paradigm of the myth about how America is great. Your idealism and optimism are worthless given the set of information and data that tell us exactly the opposite. I think this will suffice why i called your post a fail; simply it is boring, un-imaginative and ultimately not true ( which is the most important thing ). It offers nothing new, only repetitive propaganda drivel which i have successfully learnt to eliminate when i was many many years younger. Sorry for being so straightforward, but im a " no bullshit, no fucking around, non-PC incorrect " kind of guy.
I am not illiterate, otherwise I wouldn't be able to read your posts or write responses! And what does my age have to do with anything? Yes, I am unfortunately substantially older than 18. And wise beyond my years.
Now that we've cleared up those points:
How exactly was my original post a "personified dogma" of Obama? I just said it was too early to judge his presidency, and that I hoped he would live up to the promise of the reward! I also clearly stated that it's too early to judge his legacy or the wisdom of his policies. I am not an economic historian, but my impression is that he's forming his policies (in regards to the economy) after examining past mistakes and after considering the differences between the current situation and those of the past. It seems to me that he is just trying to pick the past that seems best in a world of uncertainty. Will this be successful? It will probably take years to know for sure.
What of this "information and data" you speak of? You may not like it (I selfishly don't, because I'm trying to buy a house, but I recognize that for home owners this is a good thing), but the housing market has leveled off, in large part due to government intervention. Would you prefer continued wealth destruction? You want the "real" deserving people to own houses, I'm sure, and so do I.
What of the stock market? Last I checked, it was at least 30% above where it was when Obama took office. Were you hoping it would continue on down to "Dow 3600" to "prove" that presidents who are Democrats don't know what they are doing when it comes to a capitalist economy? Were you hoping that America would implode?
Tell me more about this data you are looking at that tells us "exactly the opposite". I am aware of the Fed's balance sheet, and I am troubled by that and the aforementioned inventory problems in the housing market. How is this "idealistic and optimistic"?
Regarding the "myth" of a great America...why do you hate America so much? Perhaps you don't live in the US. But if you do, where would you prefer to live? Personally, I have done only a small amount of travel, to China, Mexico, and to various locations in Europe. Of all of these places, there is no place I would prefer to LIVE than in the US.
Your use of the word "economical" as a synonym for economic is archaic, by the way.
So, regarding miliary dominance and economic dominance, why do you think that will change? What has kept America ahead? As a worker in the technology industry, my opinion is that a large part of this dominance is due to our investments in education and technology advancement. In spite of the neglect of the NSF and various other critical educational organizations under the Bush administration, our graduate level education system is the best in the world. I have personally experienced the level of technical expertise of Chinese engineers as compared to US educated engineers, and there is NO comparison; US engineers are far more competent. How about work ethic? Well, my experience with European engineers is that Americans typically work much harder! This gives me hope! As a country, we need to continue to invest, like any good business would, in the critical areas of education and technology development. This will catapult us ahead of the rest of the world in the area of technology. Obviously I am biased, but technology and hard work are what has kept us ahead so far.
Military dominance has obviously been and will continue to be very important. But we don't kick everybody's butts in this area because we have the most troops or the most tanks (even if we do). We have the BEST tanks and the BEST troops. This is because the right investments have been made in the technology development and the training of the personnel. Why will this necessarily change? And it's also not just military dominance...there has also been diplomatic dominance, backed by the military and a worldwide sense that the United States was a force for good. Obviously there have been MANY instances where we have made horrible mistakes, but on balance, we have been a force for good.
Economically and to some extent militarily (we have more leeway in the military area), there will inevitably be a leveling of the playing field. But why does it have to be a zero-sum game? Are you that pessimistic about human nature? So, when 1 billion Chinese consumers get excited about buying things, how exactly will that hurt America? Well, it will hurt us if we do not start making things that people want! But is that too hard? I've been working for a few years, and now millions of the things I've made are in Chinese hands. It took a lot of work, but I'm benefiting from this international trade. There are others in this country benefiting as well. I have complete confidence that this country isn't so stupid as to continue to ignore the importance of manufacturing and technology, especially if the dollar begins to gradually weaken. Let's just start making things people want!
Anyway, I guess I'm just more of an optimist than you. The data and my personal experience gives me hope that there are still good days to come for the United States.
You're a drunk kind of guy. "Non-PC incorrect?"
look at this picture and read this article you fucking moron;and tell me, how could anyone gave a monster, who could ORDER atrocities like these, the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. You are nothing more than a goddamn fanboy of a puppet which cant even talk without a help of a goddamn machine. http://www.smh.com.au/world/usled-strikes-clashes-kill-100-mostly-civilians-afghan-police-20090507-avle.html http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/
Enough of the ad hominem attacks! Look, I read the articles, and for the most part I agree with what Greenwald said. Paraphasing: Obama hasn't done much at this point, but he does show some promise in the foreign policy arena.
People didn't give Obama a chance to win the presidency in the early going, but he did (people betting with real money on Intrade gave him a very low chance of winning, just in case you would debate this point). So perhaps people should keep an open mind about what he might be able to do to improve the situation worldwide. It's not going to change overnight, we all know that. But I think he could bring substantive improvement to the mess that Bush left.
Were all previous Nobel Peace Prize winners saints? None of them had any blood on their hands. Gentlemen, this is a complicated world we live in. Presidents have immense power, and decisions they make can lead to death, even if it is for the "greater good".
Did you not support the initial Afghanistan invasion to remove the Taliban from power? Making that decision meant people died...does that mean the Bush automatically was not a peace loving man? It was defense of the United States.
Only time will tell whether Obama will deserve the prize. You can guess and rant and call me names all you want, but you're not really convincing me. You almost won me over when you called me a "f***ing moron", though. That almost convinced me your were right. Maybe you should do it more, it clearly makes you feel better.
No i did not; do i need to send you a hooker, kilo of blow and a nice letter for you to understand that I AM NOT AN AMERICAN, therefore have no interest in what goes on INSIDE the borders of the US and what kind of INTERNAL policy US conducts. However, as a citizen of this planet i have a HUGE interest in the FOREIGN ( mostly unlawful, or blatantly illegal ) actions conducted by the US and its lapdogs just to secure geopolitical positioning via conducting preventive ( read as; Hitler invasion of Poland in 1939 kind of preventive ) wars in order to increase the necessary Business Lebensraum needed for future dominance of the US and the Anglo-Saxon model. I despise EVERY form of of authoritative governance, no matter how subtle it was, or how well hidden it is ( although it is not hidden at all, i mean to the trained eye at least ). So excuse me when i say that i don't give a shit about the security of the USA; because a ) it is not my problem b ) security of the USA=repression of the rest of the world via multiple techniques used c ) the disgusting hypocrisy which USA represents in the eye of the most of the world d) various historical examples ( which you will surely dismiss and labeled them with your indoctrinated view on the matter and false sense of patriotism which you so, evidently equate with the person which hold the highest office in the country ). I really dont want your response for me to give you a concrete examples; you are old enough and smart enough to find them for yourself. Also, this is not a matter of interpretation, but concise and rigorous reasoning. You can keep arguing with me via building your arguments on your false principles and un-sound paradigms to which you were exposed via cultural indoctrination; i will just dismiss them simply because i know what they are.
Cheeky,
I am an American. Most non-Americans that I know share your attitude toward the US, more or less. However, most sheeple in other countries are spoon-fed propaganda similar to the tripe we are served in the US.
Regarding Obama: why the fuck would the world give a rat's ass about our new president, be it a black, purple, or striped president? They only care to the extent it AFFECTS them or people they are care about.
Why would I expect YOU to care about the security of the US? I wouldn't, unless it somehow affected you.Why don't some people understand this?
Regarding governance, I agree with you, which is why I am against ANY new powers/taxes/bureaus period.
My view is that we need competing powerful governments just like we need competition in a capitalistic market. Too bad we'll get neither any time soon.
Cheeky,
I love how you start your posts.
You sound just a tad jealous of the US. I'm sorry your government (which I'm sure is not authoritative) isn't living up to your high standards. Or do you live in a cave in an ungoverned land? That must be nice! Personally, I love the outdoors, and love being away from the influences of technology, society, and law for periods of time...but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the benefits of those things when I return to civilization....
I guess the world would have done fine without the United States over the last century, that's what you're going to say next?
I LOVE your continued insistence that you don't need to provide concrete examples; instead you prefer to make your argument with bluster and vitriol! But hey everybody, don't worry, you still claim your arguments have "concise and rigorous reasoning".
I'd like to hear what your paradigm is, other than "the US is evil and hegemonic, everything the US does must be wrong and bad for everyone else".
Yeah, maybe I have been brain-washed...but at least I am articulating what I believe.
How do I know YOU haven't been brain-washed to hate the United States and everything it stands for? Why are my principles and paradigms automatically false, while yours are without fault? Let's see the data and historical evidence backing up your claims that the US is "bad".
Note that I'm not arguing that the US does not protect its own interests! Of course they do. But my argument would be that in spite of mistakes (I would list the invasion of Iraq as a mistake - a war of choice), the US has, on balance, been an enormous force for good in this world over the past century. I don't base this conclusion ONLY on what I was taught in school...
You seem so angry...I kind of feel sorry for you. You do realize that not everyone will agree with your opinions, right? I am genuinely curious about exactly what you're upset about. Also, what is your proposed path to a more peaceful, happy, and prosperous world?
Dear Anon, i hope you will have enough time to read this book; which will further elaborate my statements ....
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20891098/Noam-Chomsky-Hegemony-or-Survival
and for your further reading i point you out towards the work of William Engdahl, which you can find on Amazon, or if you wish to get it free of the Internet providers who specialize in publishing documents i.e Scribd.
Cheeky,
Thanks for finally calming down....
You'll be happy to hear that, coincidentally (or perhaps not?) I'm currently reading "Manufacturing Consent", also by Chomsky. I will be sure to read your recommendation after I am finished. In fact, I was considering your recommedation as reading, but my immediate interest was in the forces that drive the media, hence my choice.
I will look into William Engdahl as well...perhaps his work can be next on the reading list in my "book club" (which is just starting up).
I like to keep an open mind...I am aware of the limitations of the United States, to be sure, but I have yet to be convinced that there is a country in which I would be better off living. Obviously part of that choice is due to my comfort being in my own country with my immediate family. But I don't think that's all of it...America has got something right, in spite of all its warts.
Isn't it nice to have a good civil discussion?
Hey Anon; of course nothing is black or white; it is mostly in the spectrum between; and of course the US has done many good things over the years; but what i was arguing was the dominant picture the US foreign policy is painting for almost 60 yrs now. I have no problem with the american society ( far from it; i'm a fan of some parts of it ); but with the political leaders and political courses which were implemented and preached over the decades. Oh, and i have a great book about the Media, you will surely love it. Here you go; this is the link http://www.scribd.com/doc/19298726/Reclaiming-the-Media-Communication-Rights-and-Democratic-Media-Roles and this one http://www.scribd.com/doc/19301441/Press-Freedom-and-Pluralism-in-Europe-Concepts-and-Conditions aaaaaaaaaand this one http://www.scribd.com/doc/19299561/Towards-a-Sustainable-Information-Society-Deconstructing-WSIS.
Hope you find them useful.
THE ONLY VALUE YOU HAVE IS AS SOYLENT GREEN
That's what I thought you meant. Guess the problem is that most Americans live in their Glorious Exceptionalism and don't know that freak who haunts us in the mirror before we set ourselves up for the day with a new application of make-up. It's Hollywood, baby!
And the home of the "brave".
Basically it took you far too many words to avoid the point at issue. Obama has ALREADY fucked up. There's no waiting-and-seeing. He has ABSOLUTELY no control, a massive trust deficit. He stands for nothing more than pretty words. Many now recognize this. The others just don't want to deal with the hurt (feelings).
Not upset, angry. And this nation is not strong, let alone stronger because of this clown.
>>>>>I don't see anything in Obama's policies that will fundamentally change how strong this nation is<<<<<
2nd funniest thing written on the internet Fri 9th Oct 2009.
The funniest was "Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize"
Easy to dismiss the statement "I don't see anything in Obama's policies that will fundamentally change how strong this nation is"...or is it?
Is it really that funny a statment? Do you have an argument for how, exactly, Obama's policies are weakening the US? Or are you just going to drop a turd in the comment section and walk away without backing up what you say?
Maybe it is a funny statement...or maybe I'm right.
May the best argument win out...
No it doesnt...this awards is analogous to the bailouts... it only reinforces the fact that the US is a place where people are constantly given undeserved rewards.
Wrong again...it should be obvious as all hell that he represents the status quo, and as George Carlin once said "the status quo SUCKS!" Also from his reappointment of Ben Bernanke it should be obvious that he represents the interests of the financial sector and the destruction of our currency as collateral damage for preserving the status quo.
You're welcome. Now if you would just pay my taxes for me I wouldnt consider you a parasite.
This has nothing to do with Obama. It is a testament to the political and economic aspirations for liberty and freedom that are the foundations of this country that are under increasing attack for about a century, with the latest perpetrator being Obama.
As for your conclusions, well you should know that the blue team and the red team are sides of the same turd covered coin. And then a big LOL for the rest of it.
Grade: Fail
happy?
TumblingDice; beautiful my man, beautiful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxAKFlpdcfc
THE WHOLE THING IS one BLACK SWAN EVENT.
EXACTAMUNDO
Let's celebrate, This the reason:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/nobel-prize-to-obama-defe_n_316...
First, I couldn't believe and then I just rofled. (was sitting at a conference at the time, & of cause everyone gave me that look :) )
Well, at least the O-Team has a good poker face.
p.s. I am so no voting from now on, period.
if only this Idiotus could have ballz to make that CHANGE!!
better run back to Kenya, while you can!
I like everything about Zero Hedge except for the tiresome, tedious, backward, ignorant, extreme right wing, racist-leaning attitude of its founder toward our President.
your mom's backward. Our President is not a good thing.
wtf is racist-leaning? passive/agressive much?
junked
This post is fishy. I'm notifying the authorities.
Freedom of speech.
This is very frightening. Now that Obama is labeled the Man of Peace, this will give him the authority to wage war similar to FDR and Stalin. He now has the legal authority and official gravitas to start any war wherever and whenever. People, please prepare for the worst. America will soon be sacrificing its young for needless Obama wars; he is the next FDR and in the next "unnecessary war".
Unlike Bush who fought the wrong wars, now we can prepare for the "right war" for the "right reasons" and watch the people follow. it was the same in the election. you could see it coming. nothing was going to derail the guy. I am sure he still has some more magic powder to sprinkle on the American population sleepy eyes.
Frightening indeed. Now it's "documented" that he's the Prince Of Peace . . . could any new war be wrong, especially if he tells the story well (not that US Presidents usually have to, but they aren't usually selling them from the position of having two major wars already going.)
It's also called the Brzezinski Price. Carter got one also.
Brzezinski told Haaretz: "One [piece of] advice that I would give the Israeli government is not to engage in this campaign for an American attack on Iran, because I don't think America is going to attack Iran, and if it did, and the consequences would be disastrous."
Brzezinski: U.S. should forcibly stop IAF flying over Iraq to reach Iran
By Haaretz Service
Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former national security adviser to U.S. President Jimmy Carter, said on Sunday that U.S. forces should forcibly prevent the Israel Air Force from reaching Iran to strike its nuclear facilities.
In an interview with news Web site the Daily Beast, Brzezinski said that the U.S. forces were "not exactly impotent little babies," saying that Israel forces have "to fly over our airspace in Iraq. Are we just going to sit there and watch?"
When asked what should the United States do in case Israeli jets fly over Iraq anyway, the former national security advisor said the United States would "have to be serious about denying them that right."
"That means a denial where you aren't just saying it. If they fly over, you go up and confront them," Brzezinski said, adding that Israeli fighters would then "have the choice of turning back or not."
Brzezinski added that "No one wishes for this but it could be a Liberty in reverse," referring to the IDF attack on the U.S.S. Liberty during the Six Day War, which Israel claims was a case of mistaken identity.
The incident was investigated by inquiry commissions in both Israel and the United States, and both concluded that it had, indeed, been a tragic error.
Late last year, Brzezinski had told Haaretz that Israel could do harm to its relations with the United States if it insisted on lobbying Washington for an American military strike on Iran.
Brzezinski told Haaretz: "One [piece of] advice that I would give the Israeli government is not to engage in this campaign for an American attack on Iran, because I don't think America is going to attack Iran, and if it did, and the consequences would be disastrous."
On Sunday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told CNN that Israeli President Shimon Peres told him that Israel would not launch an attack on Iran..
The Russian president described such an attack as "the worst thing that can be imagined." He said Peres made the comment at a meeting in the Russian resort of Sochi in August.
"When he visited me in Sochi, Israeli President Peres said something important for us all: 'Israel does not plan to launch any strikes on Iran, we are a peaceful country and we will not do this'," Medvedev said in the interview, which was recorded on Tuesday, according to a Kremlin transcript.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115891.html
wow, that's a great idea.
'cept now the cat's out of the bag.
Tell that to tens of thousand butchered Palestinian women, children and the elderly ....
This is about the time Israel abandons it's protector/enabler in search of it's next son of a bitch....usually marked by a King David Hotel moment.....or was that 911?
Stockholm Academy = Stockholm Syndrome.
High Frequency Cognitive Dissonance.
"Hey, all those Eurotrash socialist wastelands look the same these days anyway." Ha!
WOW!
Now when all of us un-educated red-necks in Texas (whose economy is nowhere as bad as what you see in the MSM across the rest of the country) decide to succeed from the USA (United Socialist America), he won't be able to call in the air strikes and tanks!
He's a man of peace!
That's Hope and Change I can believe in!
don't forget your bushes on the way out the door buddy
Dude, it's secede, not succeed. That being said, I do home you succeed in whatever you put your mind to.
Also, "uneducated" is typically not hyphenated.
By the way, congratulations to Texas for not succumbing to the poor loan standards that the rest of the country did. Genuine kudos to them. Maybe there's something to this "personal responsibility" ethic.
Ooops. Meant "hope", not "home". That's ironic. Oh well, I guess a typo is better than the wrong word.
I just love and adore Obama. He SO deserved this Nobel Peace Prize. It's about time everyone including Nobel realize that this man Obama is our savior.
Its remarkable to think that a man who is Commander and Chief of the most powerful Army, Navy and AirForce on earth, a man who will soon send between 10,000 to 40,000 troops to Afghanistan and a man who may well expand armed conflict into Pakistan and maybe even Iran is hailed as a man of peace. Who finished second President Jintau of China? Is this a political shot by the Nobel Committee? Are they trying to force Obama to become a pacifist?
Yassar Arafat was always yapping about the "piss process" and he finally won the Nobel "Piss Prize".
Has anyone actually read the proclamation in Norwegian?
Truth be maybe all Obowma won was a pissing contest.
I am Chumbawannabe
Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize.........
........Visualize Whirled Piss.
Seriously, is there anyone you WOULD give the Nobel Peace Prize to this year? If so, then whom, and why?
No one
who puts the most banksters in jail should get the most nobel prizes, PUT THEM IN JAIL, TAKE THEM OUT OF THE GAME!
judge rakoff...
Isn't Stockholm in Sweden? The Norwegian capitol would be Oslo, so it would be the "Oslo Academy" or the "Nokia Academy" or the "In the tank for Obama douche bags Academy"
I voted for him because he didn't absolutely hate the F-22 like McCain does (F-22 continuity is VERY important to my economic wellbeing).
Then he kept the same DOD secretary as Dubya.
Then he selected TurboTax Timmy to replace Henry "Hank My" Paulson.
And I thought, "Oh sheeeeeeeeiiiiit, what have I done!"
BO just chose China over the Dalai Lama.
I wonder how the Tibetan political dissidents and Tibetan monks who are locked up in Chinese prisons feel about BO getting the Peace Prize.
His choosing China over the Dalai Lama is equivalent to signing the execution orders of these prisoners. I am sure the guards made sure the news made it to all of the torture chambers.
Peace to the Tibetans.
I'm reminded of the prophecy of the Shia Muslims... meh, it's prolly nothing...
But I do find it fascinating that a man can win the Nobel Peace prize whilst simultaneously expanding a war...this world is wierd... beam me up Scotty...
D.O.D, do tell; im interested
And, don't forget, on the same day we bombed the freaking Moon!
lol...wow
Speaking of Peace and quiet, have any bank failures happened today? It's kindof eerie that we haven't heard anything.
Did the FDIC run out of money? Did their debit card just get an overdraft charge?
People - thank God I can read your statements - at least I'm not alone in this total WTF moment! When I read the news this morning that the Big Zero had won the Nobel Peace Prize, I kept waiting for the 'bwahahahahah, just fooling!' but it never came. It is 12 hours later and I am STILL trying to get my head around this insane award decision. It is so bizarre. Not just totally unwarranted and ridiculous - it's WAY past that. This award is so freakish and weird that I'm expecing to hear 'do de do dah! do de do dah!' and Rod Serling saying 'Welcome to the Twilight Zone.'
Must watch Bill Moyers: Former International Monetary Fund chief economist Simon Johnson and US Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) discussing the current economic crisis.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10092009/watch.html
BILL MOYERS: So Simon, go ahead- you were saying- what is it that scares you? You're worried?
SIMON JOHNSON: Another Great Depression. Right? If you don't fix the financial system, Bill. If you allow them to have the same attitude. If you- if you actually allow them to increase their economic power, their ability to take risk, and their belief that they can shove the losses onto the government. And that's why they didn't show up to President Obama's speech on Wall Street.
BILL MOYERS: Why don't they respect him?
SIMON JOHNSON: Because they think that the next time they won't even have to ask. They'll just be given the bailout that they want.
Simply another bubble ... Now the peace bubble! Pressure on the Commander and Chief to bring peace to Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel ... looking forward to it!
This Nobel Prize is the equivalent of a NINJA loan.
Thank you for debunking the amazing junk here tonight Cheeky, i frankly am worn out and bewildered even reading a portion of what was said here! Strange mix...must be an busy night for the shills trying to discredit anything from Tyler et al.
duplicate
triplicate
ok, sorry don't know how this happened 4th copy
embarrassing...5th copy. it wasn't processing and i hit the "save" 5 times apparently...sorry
ps marla or tyler, will you please delete copies 2-5 that popped up here? Thankyou!
WTF is wrong with people here? Seriously, from ZH I expect more, I would expect people to understand that the position of president is pretty much irrelevant, regardless of who fills it.
My father, bless him, was a career politician for most of is life. I got to see politics from the inside from a very early age. The sad truth is that no matter how powerful a man in politics may seem, no matter how much influence he may seem to have, he truthfully has neither (note I'm talking about democracy here).
Politicians aren't whores or drug addicts. Worse, they're both. ALL politicians are crack-whores. The substance addiction is the 'power' and believe me, is IS a substance addiction. I heard dozens of my father's political colleagues confirm this, speaking of the 'high' they get from winning a campaign (dopamine rush). Like crack-whores, politicians will do anything to get a fix from a dealer. When the sheeple are the best source of power then the politician serves the sheeple, when banksters are the best source of power then the politician serves the banksters, etc.
Obama is a crack-whore just like the rest. The tragic thing in his case is that he used to belong to high-society, went to the best schools, was trained in etiquette, is highly intelligent and well travelled. He knows how far he has fallen, but can't break his habit. Sometimes when he's performing depraved acts in front of the camera he remembers and he cries...
So ease up on the guy because it makes exactly ZERO difference who gets elected as president. The only difference between Bush and Obama is that Bush was too fucking stupid to actually understand what he was whereas Obama knows. Had the Republicans won then you would see McCain stumbling his way through the same shit that Obama more eloquently delivers, no difference in outcome.
I feel sorry for Obama, seems much more humane to put a moron into the presidency. Sorry to say it but you haters are being stupid assholes. Focus your venom on the real target here, Central Banks.
but we are; this was just a side note; and most of us here know what you have written in your post;so no need to call us assholes ( even tough we are :D )
*noted. If I could edit I would delete the 'stupid' from 'stupid assholes'.
You are still an asshole though (that's a compliment).
its all good; we all know what you meant ...
"Rope and Mange" ? I don't think the american people are going to vote you in on the promise of giving them Rope and Mange sir!
"You're right. We'd better make it Hope and Change"
Just for everyone's consideration...
The Nobel Peace Prize's deadline was in February as reported by Mike Rivero @ What Really Happened? Radio Show.
Thus, what criteria could they have used for a President that was in office for several months?
Confidence is everything. It's reassuring to know that the toxic garbage you're buying has an AAA rating, and it's reassuring to know that your country is being invaded by a Nobel peace laureate.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Is there a Nobel in oratory?
If one perceives our President as receiving the award on account, it may be forgiven.
Did 'hope' win the Nobel?
It's not a terrible selection: for perspective, our President's hands are thankfully cleaner than 1973's winner and war criminal Kissinger, who must always double-check his global itinerary for outstanding warrants.
For domestic, political purposes, might this award prove a liability?
Perhaps in November 2010,
after a staggering dearth of accomplishment on nearly any issue,
and deep into a second, likely more precipitous fiscal dip,
in spite of doling $12trillions in handouts and guarantees
to primarily private, corporate investment banking with no oversight,
and with at least two in-process, elective wars of aggression to boot,
this medal may feel leaden, appear cartoonish about our President's neck.
Pity we only have populist, caricature clowns as opposition,
who are also feted and bedded by the very same directors.
Looking at it from a different angle, Mr. Obama is boxed into his promises without any flexibility by this award. His presidency becomes more ineffective. Is this an anti-America move by Nobel Peace Prize?
Don´t blame Sweden/Stockholm. We only award the Nobel Prize for Literature. Instead it´s our neighboring country Norway thats´s to blame, probably because they are abundant with oil and would like to thank one of the guys that keep the oil price in their preferred range of 70-500 dollars...
Best Regards,
Inga from Sweden
I would give the prize to Gladstone.
Cheeky, I think we may overestimate the amount of political power President Obama has in Washington (which is not nearly as much as the military power placed at his fingertips). All Presidents, from Washington to the Roosevelts, had to fight tooth and nail on every thing they did for Americans, and lost many battles against the entrenched lords of finance. I think that, after four years, we will find that President Obama may not have been able to demilitarize much, but has done a lot of things which will at least slow the destruction of the planet and defer mass-misery in many places. For instance, think of the benefits of starting an organic garden and ending Bush's rule against foreign aid to countries which allowed the teaching of birth control (not abortion). "Blessed is he who expecteth little, for he shall not be disappointed."
I would give the prize to Gladstone.
After scrolling through the past two pages of comments, I am grossly disappointed by the level of maturity demonstrated by the vast majority of posters.
This has nothing to do with the question of whether or not President Barack Obama deserved the award. If you must know, I too, was surprised when I heard that he had won, and I whole-heartedly agree that it was premature, possibly a lingering effect of the worldwide Obama personality cult.
Nonetheless, when I visit ZH and scroll down into the comments section I do NOT expect to see the conduct and mannerisms of a bunch of 13 year olds playing HALO. This is not Myspace. If Tyler, Marla and the rest of the ZH team work so hard to make sure that the content being offered is of a certain minimum quality, then the least we can do is maintain a few standards of our own.
I'll give Barack Obama one thing-whatever his flaws or broken promises, he understands the power of dignity.
Grow up, ALL of you.
I think I've spotted a Boer.
It was a call to action from Europe to the US. Don't even think about invading Iran or Pakistan. That direction you are going in, Euro-socialism, keep on going baby and welcome to the party of tired ex-imperialist powers
I see there are some people here who haven't figured it out yet. The same people who pulled Clinton's strings and GWB's strings are pulling Obama's strings now. The CFR owns all who make it to the big show. Do you really believe you have a choice on election day? As Metallica said, "The shortest straw has been chosen for you."
C'mon people, give him some credit as he has brought peace to the antiwar movement.
Code pink now supports the Afghan war. Great job Bo.
The Nobel Academy will look really foolish when BHO is commander-in-chief when the US defaults on its Treasuries and initiates WW3 against its creditors when they protest.
it is not Mr.Obama, who would like to have this award. What are the motivations from Europe to do this to American? Not good intention.
New World Order meets the Special Olympics
Desde luego es dificil sentirse orgulloso de compartir un premio Nobel de la Paz con Henry Kissinger.Obama que no es tonto, lo reparte con todo el pueblo norteamericano.
I can agree with the comment above that most traders travel in packs following the general trend of the moment and that for Obama is down.
I wouldn't mind picking up a few shares of the 2x Bearish Obama ETF if he breaks below support at 50%
We are beginning to sound like the US House of Representatives.
BTW, it wasn't Stockholm, knuckleheads. It was Oslo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome
stop swallowing your toothpaste!
the hope dealer's pimp hand just got stronger.
Is this Zerohedge or Craigslist R&R? With all the turmoil going on in the world, much of it due to the destructive policies of GW Bush and the GOP...you people get your panties in a bunch over President Obama recieving the noble Nobel Peace Prize? You just play into the hands of the whiny neo-cons. Obama was against the war from the start, unlike Hillary. POTUS is'nt perfect, and he is'nt moving as rapidly as I had hoped, but Rome was'nt built in a day. For all the resistance he is encountering, he is doing a damn fine job.
oh so its all just the OTHER GUY'S FAULT. thanks for reminding us.
Obama was opposed to the war from the start and Obama isnt a neocon! what could possibly go wrong! seriously as long as he meets these qualifications then hes one of the good guys. Anyone who critisizes him is helping the neocons!
Ahem...
He voted with the telecom industry on the issue of fisa, he lied about transparency (if you want to take my word on it just listen to jon stewart http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-june-25-2009/cheney-predacted), he reappoints Helicopter Ben, he isnt fulfilling his promises for Iraq, he keeps the Bush policies of bailouts, stimulus and skyrocketing deficits going, he did not rescind the executive orders from bush like he said he would, he keeps spying on american citizens, he hasnt fought special interests, in fact the amount of lobbying going on right now, especially around health reform is at record highs....I can keep going.
You need to understand who you're talking to here..I hate Bush. He might just be the worst president in US history. But the point here is that Bam bam is not that different from Bush, he never meant to bring change, he is doing his best to preserve th status quo...at the cost of the us dollar and this country's integrity I may add. I amost voted for him before I realized he is a phoney. He belongs to the same council of foreign relations that cheney was a director of. so in the end hes just a big phoney sellout. again I can just keep going here but I will stop myself and close with a plea:
THINK DAMNIT! THINK! FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE JUST FUCKING THINK! EXERCISE YOUR ABILITY FOR CRITICAL THOUGHT!
Pendleton Act(see carroll quigley)
The law only applied to federal government jobs: not to the state and local jobs that were the basis for political machines. At first it covered very few jobs, but there was a ratchet provision whereby outgoing presidents could lock in their own appointees by converting their jobs to civil service. After a series of party reversals at the presidential level (1884, 1888, 1892, 1896), the result was that most federal jobs were under civil service. One result was more expertise and less politics. An unintended result was the shift of the parties to reliance on funding from business, since they could no longer depend on patronage hopefuls.
For a great Society to be destroyed from the outside, it must first have been destroyed from within.
Read my Lips....
Al Gore.
IPCC
Paul Krugman
Barack O'Bummer
the Fabians are having a ferkin lend of all of us. None of the above can walk on water so they are given a mantlepiece trophy instead.
regards
Loup that was classic. Still laughing while reaching for my cerveza!