Henican: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize for not being Bush
Photo credit: AP | File - U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in this Sept. 23, 2009 file photo. President Obama on Friday Oct. 9, 2009 won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Other Columnists
That wasn't the Nobel Peace Prize.
That was the He-Isn't-Bush Prize. Nine months was more than enough for the Nobel Committee to figure that much out.
Sure, Barack Obama's peace-on-Earth plan is still a work in progress. War still rages in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran's nuclear bravado isn't letting up. North Korea's still a gulag. Israelis and Palestinians still can't get along. Even Saint Jimmy Carter is sounding a little harsh these days.
But you know exactly what they were thinking in Stockholm. They were thinking - finally!
Finally, an American president who doesn't hate the French so much he refuses to kiss his wife on the lips.
Finally, an American president who doesn't say, "nuke-u-lur." Those Nobel people, they have a long-standing rule. No annihilating entire civilizations if you can't pronounce the bomb.
And finally, an American president who doesn't constantly ask the vice president, "OK, so what are we supposed to do now?"
It was a little strange, waking up on Friday and hearing the Nobel judges bestow their most precious award on a president who has barely begun to serve. Even Obama seemed slightly shocked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
But even if the results aren't clear yet, Obama has clearly changed the momentum in America's relations with the world.
Allies matter again. The U.S. no longer pretends to be all-knowing and all-right. Before sending troops in, a difficult question is asked: "What exactly is our mission there?"
Certainly, that alone won't bring peace to all the warring parties. But what a change!
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY:
What do four-figure gold prices mean for Long Island jewelers? "Fifty people a week dashing into the store with handfuls of gold to sell," said Philip Tavella, co-owner of Philip Joseph Jewelers in Bellmore. "Often, these are the same pieces they bought from us, now worth much more." Phil's wife, Shirley, has been busy with in-home gold parties. She brings the jeweler's scale and pays cash for whatever baubles the partyers care to part with. It's like Tupperware in reverse. Hosts keep 10 percent.
ANSWERED: We wondered aloud last week about all those LIRR vehicles clogging the Oakdale commuter lot. 'RR VP Joe Calderone offered an explanation - and a solution: "70 LIRR workers with trucks and equipment are currently in this area as part of an upcoming grade crossing rehabilitation project on Oakdale Avenue as well as a tie replacement job in the Mastic area. We have instructed our workforce to no longer park in this area." Oakdale says thanks.
ASKED AND
UNANSWERED: What made "Junior" Gotti think angry courthouse outbursts will convince the world he's not a mobster? . . . "Don't go into teaching for the money"? Has Richard Brande's $739,000 Comsewogue retirement payout just killed that old canard? . . . Mixed messages? Steve Levy's for multicultural UNITY now? . . . What's the problem, Christie and Peter? First round wasn't bitter enough? Want to spend MORE time in court? . . . Let's assume - let's just assume - that Michael Lohan is right: Lindsay's a pathetic pill-head. So how exactly will that nightmare be eased by Dad blabbing daughter's business all over the media? . . . Will Casey Exton, just turning 75, ever retire? "Yeah, when I get to be 65," said the ageless publisher of Tattoo Review and Skin Art . . . A cat house on Elmont's quiet Caroline Avenue? Neighbors say the place is totally overrun with felines. "The owner comes by every few days to feed the cats and clean up the some of the mess," says Helmuth Ruppe . . . Did it ever occur to the food police in West Babylon schools? Maybe birthday-party treats aren't supposed to be healthy?
E-mail ellis@henican.comFollow on Twitter.com/henican
