I think it was the apology tour that pushed him above the rest.

Two laureates voluntarily declined the Nobel Prize:

Jean-Paul Sartre, who was awarded the Literature Nobel Prize in 1964[40]

L Đức Thọ, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973

you know, he could be in even more elite company if he were to decline.

Only guy to ever get and decline the prize that quickly in his term in office.

Obama has done some things to smooth over bad feelings abroad from actions caused by Bush's arrogance while in office.

BUT I feel Obama was not given the Nobel Peace Prize based on his own individual accomplishments -- which is how it is suppose to be -- but merely as the Committee's way of giving a "pay back" to Bush whom they did not like and Obama should be man enough to refuse to accept the Nobel Peace Prize at this time for that reason.

Merely to win the award because the previous U.S. President happened to be unpopular is entirely the wrong reason to award the Peace Prize to the current President who to date done nothing to justify earning it. Obama should have politely turned the prize down until Obama had accomplished something on his own merits.

Obama has not been in office anywhere near enough, nor has he accomplished enough, to have merited earning the Nobel Peace Prize for his own accomplishments. Obama should tell the Nobel Peace Prize committee "Thanks but no thanks."

I think it was the apology tour that pushed him above the rest.

I personally can't stand it when an American President goes overseas and grovels and apologizes for MY country and its actions -- whether right or wrong.

Sure, maybe the U.S. did some things which could have been handled differently, but let us Americans voice our displeasure over here among ourselves. No U.S. President has the right to be so undignified as to go to other countries and apologize on our behalf. It makes him -- and us -- look weak and like some dog who can be kicked around. Wrong move on Obama's part.

As pissed as the world was at us (more so than at any other time in our history) our restored image in the world is the proof Obama's outreach to the world was the right thing to do. And it was very effective. Obama's travels and speeches did not diminish America one iota. How could you imply that? Al Qaeda recruitment is way, way down as is recruitment in other anti-American terrorist organizations. Average people around the world don't mock and deride us as they did 9 short months ago.

The Nobel Peace Prize, unlike those for science or literature, is often given to further a cause, not to recognize past achievement.

Example: Desmond Tutu, who won 10 years before the end of apartheid. There are many more examples of winners who were recognized as a way of furthering their cause. This isn't something new, but the right wing (and other idiots) sure would like to pretend it's an 'embarrassment' as Limbaugh pontificated.

Speaking out loudly against invading Iraq when that was a politically disastrous road to take, for nuclear disarmament, social justice, racial reconciliation, ending cowboy diplomacy, restoring America as the example of morality in policy and practice, ending America torturing people, ..... the list goes on.

#4 | Posted by CalifChris: Sure, maybe the U.S. did some things which could have been handled differently, but let us Americans voice our displeasure over here among ourselves. No U.S. President has the right to be so undignified as to go to other countries and apologize on our behalf. It makes him -- and us -- look weak and like some dog who can be kicked around.

There is only one thing worse than making a mistake - it's not standing up and admitting it was made it.