Bit of a shock that Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. For one of the few times in my life that it will ever happen, I actually agree with the far-right punditocracy that he didn’t really deserve it- not yet, anyway.

To be fair as one can be to a Peace Prize recipient who is presently in charge of a war, Rachel Maddow offers justification for the award:

For the record, there were some folks other than wingnuts that felt that he didn’t deserve it, either.

Good morning. Well, this is not how I expected to wake up this morning. After I received the news, Malia walked in and said, “Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize, and it is Bo’s birthday!” And then Sasha added, “Plus, we have a three-day weekend coming up.” So it’s good to have kids to keep things in perspective.

I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize — men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

-Barack Obama

-weez