****Watch the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Thursday 7am EST****

[Clio the Leo]

(lol, if you are so inclined, if not, there's always "Morning Joe")

Video Stream
http://nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=1197


Geir Lundestad explains why President Obama was selected (and addresses the Afghanistan situtation.)
"We hope that the Nobel can bring added support to his cause."
http://nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=1174&view=1

And no matter what you may think of the commitee's decision, consider the fact that a little teeny tiny bit of that award belongs to you.

[Cha]

1. When I get online it will

be way later than that so I'll read all about what the latest controversary is.

Thanks for the heads up, Clio.

[goclark]

2. Thanks for the reminder!

[jenmito]

3. It'll be on C-Span 2, too. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

7. Thanks! I'll tape it, since I won't be up at 4:00 in the morning here in CA!

[NYC_SKP]

4. Well Earned and Bravo, Mr. President! n/t

:applause:

:bounce:

:toast:

:P

[hlthe2b]

5. thanks.. I'd like to watch....

[NYC_SKP]

6. Kick and Rec... nt

[Clio the Leo]

8. Check out the hottie on Krugman!

Or "what are the fringe benefits of winning a Nobel Prize?"

2008 Economics Laureate Paul Krugman arrives accompanied by Princess Madeleine of Sweden.

[davidpdx]

22. Krugman Caption: Bet you wish you were me!

[ShortnFiery]

50. He looks like a doddering old man helped across the street by his daughter.

And some people still believe that Krugman does not serve the ruling elite ... even with those PERKS. :shrug:

[hileeopnyn8d]

62. He's married

and she's engaged. I'm sure her escorting him is part of her royal duties.

[rockymountaindem]

66. Man, you hate everybody and everything to do with Obama, eh?

Nevermind the fact that Krugman relentlessly criticized the stimulus for being too small and called for way more strict banking and derivative regulations. That's serving the ruling elite... how, exactly?

[Clio the Leo]

9. And if you cant sleep...

.... take a look at the photo gallery of the gowns Sweden's Queen Silvia has worn to various Nobel banquets over the last 30 years. She wont be where the Obamas are. She's at the banquet for the OTHER recepients in Sweden (and the Obamas are in Norway) but by the time you get to the giant puff sleeves in the 80s, you wont care. lol

(and watch her husband get older, while wearing the same suit)

http://nobelprize.org/award_ceremonies/banquet/queensgowns/

[Kind of Blue]

10. Thanks, Clio the Leo!

Totally forgot and I'll be up and working - will make a very nice break here at PST.

[Hekate]

11. It'll be 4 a.m. here, so I'm hoping for reruns. I'd like to hear what he has to say for himself. nt

[FrenchieCat]

12. I'm sure there won't be any reruns, not on MSM anyways.....

I don't think they care to repeat much of anything the President has to say,
except for a soundbyte here and there.

[Clio the Leo]

16. I think both CSPAN and the Nobel website will have the clip available later. NT

[Undercurrent]

13. Right now it's 2:30 AM where I am.

Can't sleep (ugh!), but I get to watch (yeah!).

[Clio the Leo]

14. Kick! Web stream is up! NT

[Clio the Leo]

15. More web links......

http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2

[davidpdx]

17. Thanks, watching from Seoul Korea right now

On both the Nobel site and have C-Span as a back up

[Clio the Leo]

18. Obligatory, "Michelle looks fabulous!" post.

[Clio the Leo]

19. Chairman: "The most popular man in the world...."

lol, take that Rasmussen!

[davidpdx]

20. Will Smith and his wife are there

[Clio the Leo]

24. And the President's sister, Maya.

[Clio the Leo]

27. And Wyclef. NT

[Clio the Leo]

21. "President Obama understands the committee's decision perfectly...."

This according to the Committee Chairman when commenting on the speech the President made the morning he was given the award. "He understands that the award is not given only for achievement but as a call to action."

Then goes on to discuss what the President has done toward nuclear disarmament and to improve international relations.

[Clio the Leo]

23. Also cites the dismaneling of the weapons shield in Poland.

[Clio the Leo]

25. Chairman quotes, "We will extend a hand if you will unclench your fist." NT

[Clio the Leo]

26. Chairman: "The problems in Afghanistan can only be solved by the Afghans themselves....."

"this is the underlying motivantion of the President's strategy."

[Clio the Leo]

28. Chairman quotes from the Berlin speech and says....

"This is surely Alfred Nobel's fraternity....."

"By his own leadership, he is demanding that we all take responsibility."

[Lars77]

29. As a Norwegian i would just like to say that

it's kind of embarrasing that Jagland's English is not better. But on the other hand, it's probably better than Obama's Norwegian skills :D

The speech is held in Oslo City hall by the way, i live here and the city is completely under siege. Obama has brought 700 staff, a helicopter fleet, a fleet of armoured limos and the military are out. I'm beginning to understand what it's like to live in DC.

Tonight im going for an anti-war (not neccesarily anti-obama) protest that will probably be very big.

[Clio the Leo]

31. I was impressed that the Chairman gave the speech in English. NT

[Hekate]

63. Welcome to DU, Lars77. Please report back to us on your experience!

:hi:

Hekate

[jefferson_dem]

30. Obama: America is a voice of universal aspirations

Excerpts from Obama's speech:

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear to these movements that hope and history are on their side.

But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached -- their faith in human progress must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/12/obama-america-is-a-voice-of-universal-aspirations/1?csp=34

[Clio the Leo]

32. The audience did NOT give a standing ovation last year...

..... which has more to do, I think, with the number of Americans in the audience this year than it is any reflection on last year's winner.

(but the Princess still clapped the same way lol)

[Clio the Leo]

33. lol Esperanza could be the President's sister....

.... she has the nose mole and everything.

(Well, her's is more of a freckle)

(She's playing cello at the ceremony for those of you who are reading this later.)

[alsame]

34. He's on now. nt

[Clio the Leo]

35. POTUS: "Our actions matter." NT

[Clio the Leo]

36. POTUS: "Compared to other winners, my actions are slight." NT

[Clio the Leo]

37. POTUS: "I come here with an accute sense of the consequences of armed conflict;"

[Clio the Leo]

38. "The architecture of the UN is buckling....."

"under the weight of global armed threat." (paraphrased)

[Clio the Leo]

39. "We must begin with a hard truth..."

"We will never eradicate violence." (paraphrased)

[Clio the Leo]

40. "A non violent movement could not have halted Hitler's army"

(after admitting that he could not be where he is without the civil rights movement"

[Clio the Leo]

41. "The US has helped underwrite peace around the world...."

"with the blood of our citizens.... we do so because we hope to improve the lives of our children and grandchildren recognizing that we can only do this by improving the lives of others." (paraphrased)

[Clio the Leo]

42. "We recognize that war is sometimes a human folly." NT

[Clio the Leo]

43. "All nations must adhere to standards of the use of force."

(paraphrased)

[Clio the Leo]

44. "I believe force can be justified on humanitarian grounds." NT

[Clio the Leo]

45. "The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it...."

"peace requires sacrifice."

[Clio the Leo]

46. "We honor our ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when it's hard."

[jefferson_dem]

47. "We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend."

Biggest applause line so far.

[Clio the Leo]

48. "There must be consequences when diplomacy fails." NT

[Cha]

65. Ah Yeah!

bushcheney failed to protect the country and Pres Obama is not going to let that happen if he can possibly help it.

Dealing in reality and making the hard decisions isn't as pretty sometimes but ignoring it would be infinetly worse.

[Clio the Leo]

49. "Peace is unstable when people lose their basic human rights" (paraphrased) NT

[Kdillard]

51. I believe he is knocking it out of the park.

[Clio the Leo]

54. It's his best speech ever!

(but I always say that)

It is a good one though .... one I dont think we'll be able to fully appreciate for years to come.

[Clio the Leo]

52. "Nixon's meeting with Mao seemed inexcusable...."

"Yet it set China on the path to improving human rights." (paraphrased)

[Clio the Leo]

53. "The absense of hope can rot a society from within." NT

[Clio the Leo]

55. "The fundamental faith that Ghandi and King taught us...."

"must always be the North Star that guides us."

[Clio the Leo]

56. "Let us reach for the world that ought to be."

[babylonsister]

57. Standing "O" for Obama, beautiful speech! nt

[Clio the Leo]

58. The pianist has dove buttons....

.... I thought it important for you all to know that. On his cuffs ... little doves .... they match the doves embroidered on his suit.

[opihimoimoi]

59. Awesome,,,America can be Proud...some of us are ..more so than others. He hit one outta the park

:kick:

[Clio the Leo]

60. And the event concludes with some weird unison clapping. NT

[jefferson_dem]

61. Thanks for the "blow-by-blow", Clio

:hi:

[me b zola]

64. Recommended

Thanks, Clio, for the thread and highlighting parts of his speech. I'm so proud of him.