[Blue Lion]

I get the feeling the only people fighting against it instead of "I don't know" (a reasonable stand) are just reacting because it's Obama.

[Janos]

You're right, those are accomplishments, but they're still in their early stages. I agree that he's definitely moving in the right direction, but, to go with my analogy a bit further, it's still the beginning of the season.

"Beginning of the season" has nothing to do with whether the accomplishments are, you know, accomplishments or not. Besides Russia already suspended their Kaliningrad missile plan, Obama already ditched the missile base program in Central Europe and he has already taken steps on the other parts. What else do you want - nuclear-free Europe before you're willing to cut him some slack? You just outright dismissed whatever he has done - completely in the sense of NPP committee! - as "beginning", but guess what history is?

I guess I just find it shoddy to recognize someone for starting to do something when they haven't had a chance to finish yet. If I were Obama, I'd feel like someone handed me a medal after running the first mile of the Marathon (sports analogy again ). Sure, I still intend to finish, but the early reward is kind of hollow, and cheapened by being applied too casually.

Admittedly, I can't present any better candidates myself (or worse ones, for that matter ), so maybe he really was the best available choice. I still find the whole affair unsatisfying, though.

I am not supporting Obama's prize, I just often find the vocal opponents' arguments lacking or intellectually dishonest.


[/quote]

[TrashMan]

Bah... That's a lot of text to tackle...

Let's start, shall we?

1.  I have no idea why Obama was elected.  I don't really care. Maybe it was because of his political program. Maybe it was his charisma. Maybe it was because he was black. If even taking that possibility into consideration is considered racist, then I'm a racist and I'll die happy.

2. When you look at some of hte others who won the Nobel piece prize - they dedicated their lives to doing good and promoting peace. They usually recieved the prize in their autumn years and after much hardship. Tehy all suffered for hteir conviction. Dalai-Lama, Mathatma Ghandi, Mother Theresea, etc..

Obama did nothing yet. It's too early for a prize. Not because he's Obama, but because he really needs time to prove his DEDICATION.

3. As I said before, removing hte missiel shiled is no sacrifice for peeace. The missile defense was moved in the air - the new laser-equipped 747's are taking over the job of static missile bases.
Not that making a missile DEFENSE system is a war act, mind you.

[General Battuta]

No, the laser-equipped 747s aren't doing crap, because they won't be ready for years. The Navy is allegedly taking over.

[Ford Prefect]

I thought they scrapped the whole idea because they just didn't work.

[TrashMan]

Don't you read the news? The prototype was a complete success.

Also, not installing equipment you dont' really need is not what I would consider a great effort for world peace.

[Kosh]

I thought they scrapped it because it was too expensive.

[TrashMan]

Nope, they plan on building a fleet. Several have been ordered AFAIK.

[General Battuta]

Nope, they plan on building a fleet. Several have been ordered AFAIK.

Which is why it's not going to be ready for years.

[Nuclear1]

There's one that's operational and doin tests out over California.  Gates and Obama want to cut it since it's too costly and the USAF is focusing its attention elsewhere now.

[Aardwolf]

Don't you read the news? The prototype was a complete success.

[glados voice]I'm making a note here: huge success[/glados voice]

[NGTM-1R]

You have to be within 300 miles of a hostile missile base to make it work so far, because it can only track the target and engage successfully in the ascent stage, IIRC. This means it's only really useful in...Korea.

The SM-3 can engage a ballistic missile in any stage of flight at about the same distance and is rather less tempermental than the YAL. The Navy took the mission.

[Macfie]

BREAKING NEWS: This just in!!! Obama wins the Heisman Trophy after watching a college football game!!!

[Scotty]

As a completely sarcastic remark, that was pretty funny.

[Ford Prefect]

It was actually because of this whole fiasco that I finally learned what the Heisman Trophy is.

[Blue Lion]

The best one I've seen is " This Sunday, the Pope will canonize five new saints, including one from Hawaii. Wait, what? After only eight months in office?"

[TrashMan]

ERm...the conclave decides on the saints, not the Pope. The Pople does the canonizing only.

It's basicly like a senate making a decision and the president putting his John Hancock on the bill.

[Aardwolf]

John Hancock was never President.

[Nuclear1]

John Hancock was never President.

That's...not what he meant.

[TrashMan]

John Hancock was never President.

John Hancock = slang for signature.

To put it more simple, the Pope does not decide on the saints alone. It usually takes several years (sometimes even decades) of deliberation before someone is made a saint.