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Political commentary from Andrew Malcolm


Now, Obama wins Motor Trend Car of Year Award

Democrat president Barack Obama's Tuxedo Tie

It's been quite a two successful weeks for President Obama.

First, he saved Illinois and federal taxpayers countless millions of rescue dollars by helping to lose Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics in the very first round of voting.

Then, even as he slept on the 289th day of his first term's 1,461 days, Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Democratic president said he was humbled by his selection and millions agreed the ex-state senator should be.

Especially since: 1) the peace prize recipient is overseeing the prosecution of two wars at the moment while contemplating a recommended escalation, and 2) the Nobel nominations were due by Feb. 1, the 12th day of the Obama administration. By which time the new president had barely promised to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within one year, an absolute deadline now absolutely hopeless.

Obama was pleased to be the latest in a long line of Democratic presidents to receive the internationally recognized award. Jimmy Carter got the Nobel Peace Prize for years of work culminating, finally, in a lasting peaceful settlement of the long Middle East conflict, as each day's news from there demonstrates.

Bill Clinton, oh, wait, he didn't win a Nobel, which explains his silence since Friday and the ...

... steam escaping from his Harlem office building. But Al Gore did win the Nobel Peace Prize. Oh, but, wait, he neglected to win the presidency first.

Anyway, the award puts Obama in the company of great historical figures like Mikhail Gorbachev, Elie Wiesel, Lech Walesa, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Kofi Anan and Yasser Arafat.

The premature prize to Obama for global lifetime achievement before he's eligible for AARP membership has prompted a flurry of satirical speculation about what other awards are likely to honor the 47-year-old father of two in coming days.

He's already got two real Grammys for being a good talker of recorded books. And some jokers on Twitter have started petitions to get Obama into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame as well as this year's Heisman Trophy.

The Motor Trend award* is certain for the presidential owner of a Ford that'll be perpetually parked in Chicago for at least three more years now while its owner rides around in heavily armed Secret ServPresidential Medal of Freedomice Suburbans.

An Academy Award Oscar from Obama-loving Hollywood seems a gimme next year for best screenplay of a movie yet to be made of a life yet to be lived.

A 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Obama's as-yet unwritten memoirs of the first 19% of his first term in office can be expected. (Do you think it'll make Oprah's recommended list?)

But that Obama volume faces stiff commercial competition from Sarah Palin's finished book about her own incomplete first term.

A Tony for the Broadway production of the nonexistent musical of the unwritten memoir of Obama's incomplete first year.

And, naturally, an Emmy for the Animal Planet channel's miniseries documenting the months-long political decision-making about acceptance of a purebred dog from a Texas breeder over a Cinderella tale of some lost, caged canine plucked from a local shelter.

The award possibilities are multitudinous in today's perpetual presidential campaigns. An Espy for the first presidential three-pointer during a female-free White House basketball game.

The NASCAR points race is still close enough for an arranged Obama win. But the Cy Young Award would be another reach since he only threw one pitch all season, at the All-Star Game.

What about the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Obama's the president. Congressional approval's a mere formality given the tight control there of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid over their Democratic party's lopsided majorities.

Yes, yes, it was belated. But during the violent Iranian election aftermath last June Obama did mourn the loss of innocent lives like Neda Agha-Soltan's. And he did criticize any "unjust actions" -- while quickly reassuring Iran's regime diplomatically that the U.S. has no interest in interfering with that country's internal "debate."

And what a photo op! President Obama wrapping the ribboned presidential medal around President Obama's neck.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Associated Press; White House (Presidential Medal of Freedom).

*Hat Tip to loyal Ticket reader Pete Lewis

Comments () | Archives (33)

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Seriously though, the guys a lightweight...

The One is the odds on favorite to win the Pepsi Challenge next.

Sheesh... the grapes are bitterly sour.

What an insightful article! I'm certain you are correct. Do you think he will be named MVP of the World Series?

May I suggest these other prestigious awards also richly deserved:

The Elmer (statuette), awarded in recognition of glutinous ubiquity in media.
The Blue Mini (Order Pour le Petit Merit) awarded for meritorious accomplishment in the face of overwhelming lack of accomplishment.
The Iron Double-Cross, First Class, awarded for notable foreign policy achievement in Eastern Europe.
The Most Illustrious Order of the Gold Fleecing, granted in recognition of Supreme Acts of Valor against personal wealth, financial independence, bond portfolios and 401K accounts.

I think President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He'd even hold out his hand to you if you'd unclinch your fist.

Word on the street says that Obama is a shoo-in for next year's "Miss America" contest. Michelle, however, isn't happy about that: she thinks Barry shouldn't settle for anything less than "Miss Universe."

"His legs are strong, Mrs. Gump. As strong as I've ever seen. But his back is as crooked as a politician."

Jimmy Carter was the ONLY president to have secured a lasting peace in the Middle East (Egypt & Israel). What have you accomplished lately other than sit on your butt and criticize others?

Upon reflection, one wishes that every person in this country who made it possible for Obama to be President would feel they have a stake in the award(s).

Lets not forget that he also deserves the Nobel Prize for Population control. Under his administration more people will die from the H1N1 Swine flue than any other President before him.

Pretty soon The One can have a chestful of medals, just like that other guy who did a lot of work involving the government in modernizing and shaping the economy, Iosif Stalin

I find your comments to be sour grapes and unjustified. Does anyone see envy here? Maybe the Nobel committee is recognizing a leader who is trying to make a difference in both his country and the world.

An unworthy column for this newspaper.

Perhaps you would be happier if someone threw a shoe at him.That sure made me proud!

You forgot his Purple Cross.

Didn't he cut himself shaving awhile back?

First, no one seems to understand exactly why Pres. Obama won the Nobel Prize. I think I do.
Pres Obama won the Nobel Prize for Peace, because of real actions he has taken in the political sphere. He went to Cairo and opened a dialogue with the Muslim world, in an intellectual climate that was informed by learned historians speaking of a clash of civilizations. He may have done much to defuse that clash. Barack Obama has also reduced the US nuclear arsenal, partly because of his quest for a nuclear free world and partly because that helps to restore America's credibility. It's hypocritical to talk of nuclear proliferation and at the same time pursue new, more powerful weapons designs, a la Messrs. Bush, Cheney and the other Neo Cons. What the Nobel committee has done is take all those real achievements and recognize them as likely turning points in international politics. Many positive changes - game changers - if you will are not noticed when they occur, primarily because they are game changers and are thus not understood until long after they occur. The Nobel Committee is saying that they believe that president Obama has done real , game changing, work in the field of international politics that will open up a path towards increased world peace.

Don't forget "Mr. Universe" (Hawaii vacation photo), but he won't be the first politician to win one since the Governator has won it already back in 1967!

Nice try, but you feel just short of funny with this post and landed right, square in the middle of droll.

Give it a rest. Yeah, he's a newbie, but nevertheless Obama has done more for the cause of world peace in 9 months than Bush did in 8 years, and the Nobel committee recognized the importance of having an American chief executive who actually helps the cause rather than hinders it.

Why don't we just give hime the CMH and be done with it? He is the CIC and he's talked with a general within the past week or so. He's a hero. Right lefties?

Screw you, Malcolm, you right wing wacko.

Another bitter anti-Obama rant regarding the Nobel Peace Prize.

BTW Bishop Desmond Tutu also won the prize even though his work to abolish apartheid had just begun. It would be decades before apartheid was abolished.

Many times in the past the Nobel Peace prize has been awarded to those whose efforts have just begun. President Obama's choice certainly has raised the ire of the right, but considering their past support of GW Bush and Cheney (remember they started that Iraq war thingy based on VERY faulty evidence of WMD?) or McCain (who even now ignores veterans rights-even walking out of a panel discussion by veterans) or Sarah Palin (wolf hunts by helicopter anyone?!) it's no wonder they continue to be bitter, resentful, and overjoyed at President Obama's tiniest misstep- see Glenn Beck's bed wetting hysteria over loosing the Olympics.

Grow up. Get over it. Move on. There's a country to fix and the GOP is the reason we're in the mess we are in.

Seems as if the lemmings are out once again with writers from major news outlets regurgitating the Obama "do nothing" myth from SNL that some find comforting. But the facts fly directly in the face of such assertions. Obama's done more in his 1st 10 mos.(they'd have you believe that he's been President for 10 years)than most Presidents have done in the entire 1st term. He's signed into law more new legislation than Clinton did in 2 years, and repealed many of the harmful statutes of the previous admin. Comedy is one thing, irresponsible, uncritical blogging from an uncritical mind is quite another, Mr. Malcolm. Give me a dollar for every piece of "Change" law written since Obama became President and I'll soon own your house, that of your parents, and assuming a guy like you has friends, the homes of those two people.

And Twitter is for dummies.

Snark snark snark.

I fail to see the purpose of this article.
There is basically no substance, just a attempt to make others madder at the President for being honored. And an attempt on your part to make the whole thing a joke.

Wake up and know that because you dishonor our President, the world see's his qualities and not his color.

Omitted but not forgotten is the possibility of a purloined pumpkin from Michele's garden winning in its own right. Who will receive the coveted award in Agricultural, Pumpkin Excellence for 2009. The APE award, singularity in pumpkin management would be a shoo-in for the Obamas.

I further see a Nobel prize for literature - for one of his already written books, and a Nobel prize for Economics for giving us the concept of "creating or saving" millions of jobs to save the global economy. That's a trifecta!

We might even believe that a 4th Nobel is possible for Medicine, for his comprehensive healthcare reform by which universal healthcare is achieved while simultaneously reducing the cost of said healthcare.

Looking at the unprecedented love/affection shown by the entire world, you gotta admit the woderful "chemistry" between him and the world population deserves yet another Nobel - this time in Chemistry.

When he heals the planet, lowers the ocean levels, and kind of reverses entropy, he will get the Nobel prize for Physics (that might be a tad difficult)

Not sure Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize after bombing The Moon!

This is one of the most amusing articles I have read in quite some time. Why do we not get more of this at the times?

Motor Trend Car of the Year? Why not? He has proved that he can run indefinitely on nothing but hot air.

"Obama was pleased to be the latest..."

No he wasn't. He said he doesn't feel like he deserves it.

Obama hasn't come through with a single promise he's made. NOT ONE! Yet there are people (David) that will defend him like he's the second coming of Jesus Christ. Open your eyes people. Remember how all you lefties laughed at Bush when he gave speeches? He was never a good speaker. Ummm, have you seen Obama give a speech when his teleprompter goes out? It's a train wreck.


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