Okay, anyone else having that lingering “huh?” moment today?

I voted for President Obama. I continue to support him, despite what I believe are some mistakes and bad judgment calls since taking the oath back in January.  And, I have nothing but the utmost respect for an individual who can remain calm while being accused of everything from being a foreigner to having a secret agenda to usher in Hitler’s Amerika.

But, a Nobel Peace Prize?

*blinks*

What?

Former President Jimmy Carter received the same honor 20 years after his presidency, in recognition for the tireless efforts he made for peace. In 1978, it was former President Carter who brought Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat together to sign the Camp David Peace Accord. He was nominated for the prize many times. And, he deserved it.

So, what has President Obama done to earn this honor? According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, he was honored for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

Extraordinary efforts? Like what? Giving a kick-ass speech in Germany? Knowing which fork to use at the UN dinners? Keeping Rahm Emanuel from going all Dick Cheney and shooting a Chinese ambassador in the face?

Look, I truly support and admire our president. But, he’s been in office nine months. He has done nothing above and beyond the call of the normal diplomatic duties of a president with regard to international relations. This news does nothing but give Rush Limbaugh, the de facto Republican commander in chief, and his ilk a reason to scream about this president cares more about other nations than he does his own. The prize committee cited, in particular, the president’s “outreach to the Muslim world.” I imagine guns sales went up one hundred fold today as collective wingnuttia hunkered down, waiting for the Muslim shock troops to come savage our land. World News Daily has already called for the impeachment of President Obama because of the prize. No, really.

Perhaps it’s good the international community doesn’t view our leader as an out-of-control cowboy with nothing but contempt for anyone outside our borders. But, I would rather it have been more than nod toward a simple change in the administration of this country.

*bimbles off*

P.S.  My long absence is due to my hard drive going belly up. *sigh*  Big thanks go out to my bestest friend and computer guru KN for getting back to my little corner of the internets.