Obama gets Nobel Peace Prize

[markw]

I'll bet Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson are turning over in their graves. They actually had to earn this prize, not just give good speeches and head a cult of personality.

[3LB]

I'll bet Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson are turning over in their graves. They actually had to earn this prize, not just give good speeches and head a cult of personality.

Well, I mentioned Carter above...the man has been one of the most civically active ex-presidents that I can remember. He was active in middle-east peace accords and nuclear arms limitation talks in an era when such things seemed foolhardy or even pointless (in this country). He appointed many minorities to high positions during hi stenure as Governor of Georgia and as pres. He continues to work as a public figure both home and abroad. He's been a de facto embassador over the last two decades.

He was finally awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, which the committee basically did to reognize a lifetime commitment to civil rights, international peace, and economic development both domestic and abroad. Most people veiw his presidency as a failure because of the Iran-hostage crisis, turning over the Panama Canal, giving amnesty to draft dodgers, printing billions of dollars during a recession...his domestic policies did suck, but I'm sure the Nobel committee doesn't take such things into consideration. From a world perspective, the dude made great strides.

[jvc]

I'll bet Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson are turning over in their graves. They actually had to earn this prize, not just give good speeches and head a cult of personality.

Put Harry Truman in there with them, as far as rolling over in the grave...............

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited
The house from her mother and other than their years in the
White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year..

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There were no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois)

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!!