I'll bring the popcorn!

QOTD, sgw:

If you hear something that sounds like fireworks early this morning, do not be alarmed. It is just the sound of wingnuts' heads exploding with the news that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.
...
I expect the reactions around the wingnutosphere/FOXNEWS will range from braying that he doesn't deserve it to this being further proof that he is the anti Christ. Still its awfully hard to support these idiots calling him a nazi and a communist etc right after he wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

Gotta love it!

QOTD2, SteveW 

Well, making wingnut heads explode does contribute immeasurably to world peace.

the Taliban:

“We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan.”

Josh Marshall's Deep Thought

It's like when Hitler won the Nobel.

Attaturk 

I guess Krauthammer was right, the international regard for the United States has so fallen after Obama became President that they just awarded our Chief Executive the Nobel Peace Prize -- probably for not being like Charles Krauthammer.

SteveW 

Well, making wingnut heads explode does contribute immeasurably to world peace.

From TPM's Facebook:

David Noyes

In response to a comment from hard-liner GOPer John Bolton:

"... If President Obama, you know, walked on water, you'd say he couldn't swim."

- Hillary Clinton

 McCain

“I congratulate President Obama on receiving this prestigious award. I join my fellow Americans in expressing pride in our President on this occasion.”

Alan Grayson: "If the President has a BLT tomorrow, the Republicans will try to ban bacon."

This video of Alan Grayson bringing it to both parties is a bit off topic, but also a must watch: 

Maddam Speaker I have words for both Democrats and Republicans tonight. Let's start with the Democrats. We as a party have spent the last six months-- the greatest minds of our party dwelling on the question, the unbelievably consuming question of how to get Olympia Snowe to vote for health care reform. I want to remind us all... Olympia Snowe was not elected president last year. Olympia Snowe has no veto power in the Senate. Olympia Snowe represents a state with one half of one percent of America's population. What America wants is health care reform.

John Cole: The Nobel

Not sure why he was given it, other than as a repudiation of the Bush way of doing things, but man I am enjoying the freak-out from the usual suspects.
Allahpundit sounds like he is about to stroke out, Breitbart probably won’t speak for two weeks, and this is yet another opportunity for Republicans to show the entire country what assholes they can be.
I’m really looking forward to it. There should be some pretty quality stuff coming from the wingnuts who just 24 hours ago were getting themselves worked into a froth over the art in the White House.

Benen: REVERSE CHEERLEADING...

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele isn't pleased about President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, and released this churlish statement this morning.

"The real question Americans are asking is, 'What has President Obama actually accomplished?' It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain -- President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action."

RedState's Erick Erickson argued that the Nobel Peace Prize must have "an affirmative action quota." Fox News is being, well, Fox News.
This hasn't been an especially good week for the right. When the United States suffered a setback last Friday, with the Olympic decision, a few too many conservatives were thrilled to the point of giddiness. When the United States wins a great honor today, a few too many conservatives are furious.
Bad news for the country is cause for exuberance, and good news for the country is grounds for bitter disappointment.
Has the right really thought this strategy through?

Sargent: DNC: Steele And GOP Have Thrown In Their Lot With The Terrorists By Criticizing Obama’s Nobel

Dems intend to go on the offensive today by holding up Republican criticism of Obama’s Nobel as the latest example of Republicans desperately hoping for America’s failure, placing it alongside GOP cheer at America’s loss of the Olympics as evidence of an unmistakable pattern.
The DNC’s Brad Woodhouse sends over a typically hard-hitting reaction, linking Republicans with terrorists:

The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize — an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride — unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim.

It’s worth noting that Republicans who fail to find anything good or celebratory to say about the Nobel risk doing at least as much damage to themselves as to Obama, by feeding the GOP-wants-America-to-fail meme.

Josh Marshall: Unexpected Developments 

It's not the accustomed stance of a writer or blogger. But this one does have me at something of a loss for words. I notice the condemnation of the Taliban, the edged snark of the superciliati. But I also see Ana Marie Cox's first-off Twitter: "Apparently Nobel prizes now being awarded to anyone who is not George Bush." And while less than generous, I think she's on to the root of the matter. But perhaps not precisely in the way she thinks.
This is an odd award. You'd expect it to come later in Obama's presidency and tied to some particular event or accomplishment. But the unmistakable message of the award is one of the consequences of a period in which the most powerful country in the world, the 'hyper-power' as the French have it, became the focus of destabilization and in real if limited ways lawlessness. A harsh judgment, yes. But a dark period. And Obama has begun, if fitfully and very imperfectly to many of his supporters, to steer the ship of state in a different direction. If that seems like a meager accomplishment to many of the usual Washington types it's a profound reflection of their own enablement of the Bush era and how compromised they are by it, how much they perpetuated the belief that it was 'normal history' rather than dark aberration.

Kevin Drum 

Wait a second.  Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize?  What for?  Says here it's in recognition of "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
I'm going to head out into the blogosphere and see what people think of this.  But before I do, I just want to say that this is ridiculous.  I mean, I'm all in favor of making wingnut heads explode, but the guy's been in office for slightly less than nine months.  That's barely enough time to make a baby, let alone bring world peace.  Shouldn't the luminaries in Oslo have waited until he had done something more significant than making nice with his former primary opponent before declaring him a man for the ages?
Oh well.  Sometimes people do dumb things.  At least we get to see wingnut heads explode.

•  from the comments:
  
  

  Excellent Choice

  Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 9, 2009 - 8:15am.
  

  The Prize committee is apparently Norwegians. From their perspective, Obama is a huge change, a big breath of fresh air. He is tackling some of the biggest international issues of the day… nuclear proliferation, climate change, middleeast peace, plus more, including the West’s relations with Islam and stopping torture.
  This is more than just an anti-Bush prize. It is to award who they consider the most important person in the world getting things on the correct track.
  

Benen: OBAMA TO ACCEPT NOBEL PRIZE... 

There was some talk in assorted circles this morning that President Obama might want to turn down his Nobel Peace Prize. Speaking briefly at the White House this morning, the president expressed humility, but nevertheless said he will accept the award.

Obama described himself as "surprised and deeply humbled" by the honor, adding that he does consider the award a recognition of his accomplishments. "To be honest," he added, "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize."
Obama went on to say, "I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century."
The president went on to emphasize his vision on counter-proliferation, addressing global warming, promoting international mutual respect on diversity issues, peace in the Middle East, and opportunities in developing nations.
Obama noted that the challenges "will not be met by one person or one nation alone.... This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration, it's about the courageous efforts of people around the world."

Benen: THE DNC'S 'FACES' SERIES.... 

ABC News reported this morning that the DNC is launching a new initiative today, called "The Faces of the GOP." It strikes me as a pretty good idea.

The first target of the campaign is Rep. Steve King (R) of Iowa, who's described, accurately, as a "radical Republican" who is nevertheless "a leading voice of the Republican Party." The video features a few of his striking public comments, and points to his prominent role in the GOP. (He's not, in other words, some backbencher no one's ever heard of.)
Now, the video itself strikes me as just so-so. In fact, I think there's a typo in clip, with a quotation mark that comes after a question mark when it should come before.
Nevertheless, I like the idea of the larger effort. Heading into next year's midterm campaign season, it's in the DNC's interest to characterize congressional Republicans as extremists, far from the American mainstream. Highlighting the GOP's more ridiculous members, and introducing them to the public that may not be familiar with their antics, delivers a not-so-subtle message: would you really want these folks in the majority, dictating policy?
ABC's report added, "The new campaign, which a Democratic aide said may include targeted media and online buys as well as local media outreach in the future, reflects an effort by the DNC highlight some of the more controversial figures inside the Republican Party who have emerged as prominent voices in media appearances."
King, in other words, is the first to be "honored," but Paul Broun, Michele Bachmann, and others will no doubt be featured "faces of the GOP," too.
The more this campaign has an effect, the worse the already-damaged Republican brand will be.

Republicans confused by own propaganda  Oct. 8: Rachel Maddow is joined by Democratic strategist Joe Trippi to discuss the hazards of playing politics with public opinion polls.

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