
A spokesman for the State Department hints that America is moving up in the eyes of the world.
A Swift Boater thinks Republicans are wise to avoid direct criticism of the award.
Much has been made today of the fact that the nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize is Feb. 1 -- just 12 days after President Obama took office. But the winner isn't selected until much later, in mid-September. Here's a look at the process.
DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) made it clear that Democrats will use Republican condemnation of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize as an issue of the GOP's basic patriotism.
The Republican candidate for Virginia governor said "he said he was pleased with anything that 'brings accolades to the United States.'"
Republicans haven't developed unified talking point, but some suggest that's to come Tuesday.
The Libertarian Party today suggested that, in the future, the announcement date every year for Nobel Prizes be moved to April 1.
Proving that the enemy of his enemy is his friend, Rush Limbaugh gave a shout out to the Taliban and Iran today after President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), in a statement: "I congratulate President Obama on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is an honor of the highest magnitude and all Americans should be proud of this recognition. Since his inauguration, President Obama has taken great strides to elevate America's standing in the world. Under President Obama, America has returned to its true spirit and core values - global engagement, alliance-building, and respect for international human rights and treaties. The Nobel Committee and the world have taken note of America's renewed commitment to responsible leadership."
In a statement today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) said, "Maria and I applaud President Obama for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The President has consistently shown that he is committed to reaching out to other nations and positioning America to once again be the global leader for peace and prosperity. This is a great honor for our country and reminds us all of the promise our nation holds. I look forward to working with him to address future challenges facing our nation. On behalf of all Californians, I congratulate President Obama for winning this inspiring award."
"The NAACP applauds the President for his swift actions to effect change in this country and around the world and we congratulate him on receiving this honor," said the National Association for the Advancement Of Colored People in a statement.
RedState.com's editor Erick Erickson tweeted this morning: "I did not realize the Nobel Committee had affirmative action quotas it had to meet." The comment, not surprisingly, has taken a lot of heat, but Erickson doesn't seem to mind. Just now he tweeted "Delighted at the level of shallow leftist rage for me calling Obama's Nobel Prize an affirmative action pick. You cannot parody the left."
"It confirms, finally, America's return to the hearts of the people of the world," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
Mohamed Elbaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said today, "There is nobody today in my view who is more deserving of that peace prize than Barack Obama. In less than a year he brought a radical change in the way we look at ourselves, in the way we look at our world. He is restoring the basic core values that every one of us should live by - dialogue, respect, democracy, due process, human rights, a security system that does not depend on nuclear weapons. His dedication to these values rekindles hope that, finally, we could have a world at peace with itself."
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) said today that President Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize as a reward for making the country weaker and appealing to the global community.
A spokesman for Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai gives this statement: "We congratulate Obama for winning the Nobel. His hard work and his new vision on global relations, his will and efforts for creating friendly and good relations at global level and global peace make him the appropriate recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize."
An aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave this statement: "We hope that this gives him the incentive to walk in the path of bringing justice to the world order. We are not upset and we hope that by receiving this prize he will start taking practical steps to remove injustice in the world."
International leaders, including the Iranian president and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, react to President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Al Gore says Obama's commitment to climate change likely behind his Nobel.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Nobel committee awarded President Obama the 2009 Peace prize because of a shift in politics from "fear" to "hope" his presidency has heralded.
In the immediate wake of President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a lot of right-wingers have simply gone nuts over it. We're not talking about any old criticism or disagreement.
"He now has even more to live up to," said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
The shock was real today when President Obama was chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The White House says President Obama will go to Oslo, Norway on Dec. 10 to accept the Peace Prize. The ceremony comes a few days after the climate change summit in Copenhagen on Dec. 7.
President Obama spoke briefly this morning, saying he is humbled by the award, that he will accept it, and that he wants to share it with everyone who fights for "justice and dignity" in the world. Watch the video at TPMtv.
Check out our open thread over at TPMcafe, read what other TPM-ers are saying about Obama's Nobel win and share your own thoughts.
The DNC hits back, hard, against the RNC's statement against Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.
The Associated Press, in a news analysis piece, questions the award. "And what about peace? Obama is running two wars in the Muslim world -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and can't get a climate change bill through his own Congress."
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) stays above the fray.
Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol: "We could note that, if the Swedes Norwegians wanted to give the Nobel Peace Prize to an American, it would have been been better to give it to Sen. John McCain for having the guts to push through the surge in Iraq, which has brought relative peace to that country. But that would be overkill."
President Obama says he shares the Nobel Peace Prize with others seeking a world without nuclear weapons, and says the award will generate momentum for change.
David Ignatius writes in the Washington Post that President Obama won the Peace Prize for "reconnecting America to the world and making us popular again." "Obama's achievements are in the "good intentions" category, but that doesn't mean they are insignificant," he writes.
Rush Limbaugh releases a statement: "With this 'award' the elites of the world are urging Obama, THE MAN OF PEACE, to not do the surge in Afghanistan, not take action against Iran and its nuclear program."
Bush's U.N. ambassador suggests maybe he should have won the Peace Prize.
The RNC releases a statement: "It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights."
The former president, also a Nobel laureate, said the Obama administration represents hope for the whole world.
Video of the Nobel Committee early this morning announcing that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

