Prize 4 Prez! (+) Reactionaries playing checkers; Prez playing chess; Committee playing Go
“a stunning surprise” hardly begins to encompass the enormity!… But the back and forth over endeavor vs. success has blinded us to the brilliance of the prize committee’s work…..
Update:(h/t Garrett Utley);
That seismic rumble, barely audible beneath the hubub always provoked when a 25-1 shot comes in, was the shifting of the geopolitical fabric under the forces of reaction.
This is like a game of Go, and the committee has just dropped a stone out there in the ozone that is going to pay dividends for Prez’s true objectives—to finesse the Generals back into their constitutionally mandated subordination, so that the law enfocement prolems of the Pashtuns can be turned over to *law enforcement, and taken out of the free-fire zone.
Prez, and the forces of peace, have five strategically adept allies, as we battle with the war machine.
If nothing else, the McChrystal gambit, as played, will encounter an impediment; just as he packs for Stockholm, (Ed.note: It’s OSLO, you idiot!) Prez will be considering how to respond to that scurvy, mutinous, insubordinate leaker’s request for more cannon fodder.
Next step—the logical imperative for a vigorous world government, and the migration upward of (quaint concept) national sovereignty.
*There are bad people, doing bad things. Someone has to stop them. Just not us vigilante/gangbangers.
I think they offered it as encouragement, really. If you read their statement, it's pretty clear they want to help him continue of the path he's chosen.
Makes me step back and see him through the wider worlds eyes. Obviously, they see different things then we do. It's humbling, and wonderful.
=D
Maybe we can't appreciate him, but it is great that they do. I'm feeling pretty proud of Obama, and all of us for electing him.
October 9, 2009 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
offered it as encouragement
to be sure...interesting detail (per Washington Week)--the nomination had to have come 11 days after his inauguration. when the lists close...
October 9, 2009 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
His election was a triumph of hope over fear. Something we might take for granted, but perhaps others in the world have been living without hope far longer.
Just sayin'
October 9, 2009 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Something we might take for granted,
Not after 8 years of hell (The Bush Admin:All Demons, all the time...)
Personally, I continued with the spontaneous bouts of relief crying right through and past inauguration day...
October 9, 2009 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
a triumph of hope over fear
Like they sing at the ball game:
"O please let that star spangled banner yet wave,
Make us once again free, make us once again brave..."
October 9, 2009 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bwak, could you tell me what "=D" stands for?
October 10, 2009 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a beakly. A sort of smiley for poultry.
October 10, 2009 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would a flicker use that, too? Eek.
October 10, 2009 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
:>
October 10, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do make that?
October 10, 2009 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think is a "colon" followed by a "closing html bracket"
October 10, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you; now if I only knew what HTML is! I duck out whenever i see those con-sarned letters!
October 10, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the output of "shift+period"
October 10, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now I am being obnoxious
October 10, 2009 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
FUCK EVERY OTHER CONSIDERATION Jolly,
THIS MAKES ME JOLLY
October 9, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
FUCK EVERY OTHER CONSIDERATION
I gotta go with you on that...Sort of "my enemies' anguish is my delight..."
(I did, though, have an Onion moment, like Gleen G.)
October 9, 2009 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4p6tfoankk
THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE
October 9, 2009 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bobby Darin! Who'd a thunk?
October 9, 2009 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
A year ago we were on war footing with Iran. The Republican presidential candidate was singing Beach Boys songs about it. Even a month ago people were trying to push us into a war, using Israel as a proxy first strike.
Now nuclear inspectors from the UN are headed into Iran. We're not on war footing, we're inspecting. Quite an accomplishment. We can't afford a third Middle East war.
October 9, 2009 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 9, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
an accomplishment
Fair enuff, and I believe that there was a verifiable cascade of progress on Iran just the other day.
Yet and still, my teeth are down to nubs over the replication and endorsement of the Bush Security State--WTF??!!
Fafnir highlights some dissonant notes...
October 9, 2009 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
But what will happen to all the war profiteers if Obama has his way? I mean, War Profiteers are people too, you know. How do you expect them to live out their lives on the spoils they already have?
And what will we spend all that war money on? Boring stuff like infrastructure and green technology and health care and stuff like THAT, I'll bet.
OK, boys & girls -- if the repubs take back either house, or god-forbid, the Presidency, this will all go up in a puff of smoke (as in a mushroom cloud!) We need to make sure the Dems in Congress know that they better please US, or we are all sunk! If they continue to try to please republicans, then it is republicans who will most likely replace them.
Why are they not taking a lesson from Grayson - could it be that even though they clearly see the right way to go, they just can't give up the $$$$$$ from the insurance and pharma industries?
Anyway, back to the issue at hand: Congratulations, President!
October 10, 2009 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
they just can't give up the $$$$$$ from the insurance and pharma industries?
This is, of course, where the rubber meets the road.
How come no one ever jacks these assholes up on the straight numbers?? (I remember when Ellen came with a chilling roster of bank donations to the Dodds, Franks, et al...)
It should be an instant trip to electoral oblivion to take "the bank's shilling"
October 10, 2009 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
a lesson from Grayson
Talk about rehabilitating the family reputation......(I love this guy!)
October 10, 2009 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am hoping the Prize can set up some moral pressures to help in the negotiations between Hammas and Israel. I know that the Isralei congratulations had to have been hollow, but...
Thanks for bringing up the fact that Obama's security measures are more bush than bush, sadly.
And his economic team must go. It is no longer possible to believe that our President brought in Geithner, Summers and the rest of the Chicago boys in total ignorance. There have to be true reforms in the financial system or the US economy will never recover for The Rest of Us.
We often forget we can love someone, and still criticize their actions. Loving and respecting doesn't preclude disagreement.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
October 10, 2009 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isralei congratulations had to have been hollow
What, just because they needed five ER docs standing by to do Heimlich's while the farcical presser proceeded?
October 10, 2009 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, dear! What can the matter be?
Four old ladies locked in the lavatory!
They were there from Sunday to Saturday
Nobody knew they were there.
October 10, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What, are you implying something about the four women?
October 10, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know!
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
October 10, 2009 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bugger! I'm sorry, I'm lost. Four women on the Nobel committee. What else?
As to 'am I somebody?' Some days I am almost invisible, except to myself; I'm ok with that most days.
October 10, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
something about the four women?
Perhaps E. is reaching for the classic metaphor "to piss into the wind"; ill-advised for men, nearly impossible for women?
October 10, 2009 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emily Dikckenson holds the metaphorical key here, I believe. (Damned hospital internet connection here makes it difficult to surf.)
October 10, 2009 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emily Dikckenson holds the metaphorical key
But how to deconstruct the lavatory reference?
October 10, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a puzzle? Perhaps! But I think it's really quite funny. Oh, Dear!
October 10, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Jeezus, That's a bookful of lyrics!
October 10, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hospital?
Wot?!
October 11, 2009 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
The picture of checkers and chess is classic and accurate. The rest, not so much. Drop the world government stuff - not going to happen unless you live in an alternate Larry Niven universe. Also, no further public slapdown of the good general - he got that from Gates.
Also, I think an attack on Iran by someone in the region is closer than you think.
Great comparison though.
October 10, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
not going to happen
I refer you to the absence of a timetable...Permit me to offer the (simplistic) proposition that the problems besetting humanity, being susceptible only of worldwide solutions, will (eventually) force a world government or bring about the collapse (or submerging) of civilization.
The South Carolinians still "kick 'gainst the pricks"--but they no longer fire on Sumter
October 10, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink