Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to American, Conservatives Go Crazy With Rage

Today President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to create diplomacy throughout the world. While many individuals question the award, only three groups outright objected to it: the Taliban, claiming he has done nothing to pursue peace in Afghanistan; Hamas, because the American government still does not recognize the nation of Palestine; and American Conservatives, because he is President Obama.

It is a stark, and possibly even radical, comparison to make of Conservatives and radical Muslim groups however their unwillingness to admit wrong or defeat and their eagerness to use radical means towards a goal is strikingly similar. Over the past year Conservatives have abandoned their unmatched patriotism that supported two wars for an unprecedented 'hate' for President Obama. After laughing and cheering when the United States of America loses the Olympics, and then throwing a fit of rage when he President of the United States of America wins the Nobel Peace Prize, some organizations such Media Matters are compelled to ask the question "If not America, then who are the Republicans rooting for?". It is a question that should be asked.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee their choice was one of confidence in Obama to gain global support for his diplomatic policies such as nuclear non-proliferation. They praised the President for creating " new climate in international politics.". This justification, although, is not enough for critics of the award who claim Obama has done nothing in office. However, just by taking a look at America alone, one can see that criticism is unfounded. Just in the time Obama took office until now, according to a poll of 25 countries from Pew Global Attitudes Project, America has found itself with double digit boosts to the percentage of people who view America favorably all across the world. In Germany , over 90 percent of people approve of America, compared to the 12 percent that approved America a little over a year ago. This is no minor accomplishment. Obama is being awarded for setting the stage for a most peaceful world in the history of the Earth--a world where America can recognized as an active leader and participant.

Take the word of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, "[The peace prize confirms, finally, America's return to the hearts of the people of the world...".

If the new approval ratings don't convince you of Obama's impact on international community, the praise he has received will. Upon receiving the prize Obama received praise from leaders all across the world including: Mikhail Gorbachev, the regime of Hamid Karzai, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, just to name a few.

However, to Republicans, overwhelming international praise and major feats not enough for the Nobel Peace Prize, and they are quick to offer their opinion on the issue-- even more proof that the GOP is disconnected with the rest of the nation. Glenn Beck said that Obama setting a new stage in the world for peace was not enough for the award, and that it really should have been awarded to a movement he started that featured posters and propaganda that depicted Obama as a Nazi and witchdoctor. RedState's Erick Erickson credited Obama's award towards affirmative action-- does that even make sense?

In the past week we have seen a peak into the conservative party that is shocking and disturbing. The Olympics and the Nobel Peace Prize have shown the world that this unparalleled patriotism conservatives claim to have was never for the United States of America, it was for a rich white America, and right-wing America, a Conservative America. Anything else is the enemy.

3 reasons why Republicans won't make a comeback in 2010

Note: I wrote this as a op-ed article in the New University. It will be published next week.

Although it seemed President Barrack Obama's honeymoon popularity would never end, his glow has finally ceased to exist. Since March, President Obama has dropped 50 percent in his approval rating--the largest drop of an American President in the history of polling. However, it is not just the President who is suffering in the polls, Congress is too. According to Quinnipiac University Poll, congressional Democrats have been declining in their approval ratings, dropping more than 13 points since May. Some major Republican leaders such as Sen. Mitchell McConnell believe that the Democrat's free fall in ratings means a shimmer of hope for Republicans in 2010. However, that notion is about as crazy as the notion of "death panels".

Yes, it is true, President Obama is far from the untouchable realm he was in during the election. Yes, it is true, Democrats have less than been effective despite a heavy majority in Congress. Yes, it is true Democratic approval ratings as a whole have dropped constantly since May. Yet, despite all of this, the Republicans won't make a comeback in 2010 due to four simple reasons.
The first is that the health care debate has overshadowed other aspects of the administration, and it has shown in the ratings. However, sooner or later the debate is going to end, and the focus will shift to other important aspects of his administration (i.e the economy, Iraq, cap and trade). So much of the media's attentions has been focus on the gruesome health care debate, nobody seems to have noticed the economy is on the road to recovery, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the rate at which people are losing jobs are declining. Ultimately a huge factor in whether Democrats get re-elected is the economy, and from the looks of it, the economic trends will continue to rise in 2010.

The second reason is that, recently, the republicans have shown themselves to be still be akin to the Bush Administration. Lets face it, the Bush Administration made some pretty serious mistakes, especially on the issue of national security. The last thing republicans need is to relate their policies, in any regard, to the Bush Administration. While John McCain did an effective job of that in the campaign, the Republicans have taken a step backwards. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, a trusted republican voice on homeland security stated on the Rachel Maddow Show, he didn't regret going to war to Iraq. In fact, he failed to acknowledge there was a flaw in the policy makers who drew us into war. As Maddow correctly noted, Americans need to believe won't make the serious mistakes of the Bush/Cheney administration, and unless the republicans begin to acknowledge the mistakes, and separate themselves from it, they will not get their credibility back. This goes for all issues, national security, the economy, energy, everything.

Finally, the third and most important reason, is that republicans are operating on a unsustainable model of politics. Crazy politics. A large contributor to the democratic decline in approval ratings is how difficult the republicans have made it to get anything done. The Republicans have gone about the philosophy stop any bill at any means --including lying, and distortion. While this may have provided a favorable shift in ratings for a time being, Republicans still have not fared well in the polls against Democrats. According to a recent poll by CNN approval ratings for the GOP are at least 10 points below Democrats on almost every major issue, except terrorism.

More importantly however, the Republican mindset of block any Democratic bill at all costs, will eventually ware thin on the American public. This new mindset has forced the republican party to distance itself from moderate, intellectual, conservatism. For the sake of a few numbers in the polls, republicans as a whole have moved towards the extreme right, embracing, encouraging, and in some cases promoting the rhetoric and false claims of extreme conservative pundits such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Betsy McCaughey. Even Republicans who are considered to be moderate, such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have endorsed radical notions of seccession and "death panels". If a moderate, low-key, Republican is endorsing succeeding from the union because of health reform, what message is being sent to the American public about the Republican part?

While it is true these extreme notions and views may have caused a hiccup for those on the left, the extreme right still only makes up of only a small minority of the American population. The American people can only believe, and tolerate, a certain amount of far-fetched notions and radical rhetoric--a threshold the Republicans are dangerously close to.

That being said, Democrats have made some mistakes, giving an opportunity for Republicans to make ground in the polls. For that to happen, moderation and rational thought needs to return to the GOP. During the later years of the Cold War Ronald Reagan, perhaps unintentionally, started a conservative intellectual movement to bring the republican rhetoric to moderation-- that same moderation and intelligence needs to return to the Republican party if they even have a prayer making significant ground 2010. That means Sarah Palin needs to stop writing on her facebook, that means the Republican party needs to reprimand Joe Wilson instead of endorse him, that means the GOP has to know its contradictory to call Obama a Nazi and Socialist at the same time. Plain and simple, the GOP cannot continue to move in the anti-intellectual direction they are headed.

However, if things continue as they are, the Republican party will eventually lose its credibility amongst voters. Essentially, the GOP will forever become the party that cried wolf.

The defense of liberalism

For as long as President Obama has been in the public eye, he has refused to criticize the conservative movement or the republican party as whole. Never has he spoken about an issue on ideological terms, defending or attacking one side of the political spectrum or another. He has, despite not receiving the same gracious courtesy from his critics and despite pressure from his own identifying party, stayed steadfastly above the fray.

That is, until the end of his speech last night. For the first time ever--since this President has been in the eye of the American public--he has offered up a defense of liberalism. But when relentless badgering and distortions of his own ideological views, constant nagging from his identfied party, and an agenda full of issues that boils down to essence of the liberal/conservative debate has failed to stagger his stead fast mentality, what possibly did?

Here is the inspiring, emotional, defensive and beautiful letter Ted Kennedy wrote to President Obama. A letter that was so influencial, President Obama did something so unprecendeted for him, it has caused the media a stir.

May 12, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me — and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth.

On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life.

You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the president who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society. For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me — and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination.

There will be struggles — there always have been — and they are already under way again. But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat — that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will — yes, we will — fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign — and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young president who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young president inspires another generation and once more on America's behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend — and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become.

At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on.

And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

(Ted)