Oakley : Obama 's Nobel peace prize an award for aspiration rather than achievement . He is being rewarded not for solid achievement but for creating new hope -- in effect , for not being Bush . Democratic had hopes that Mikhail Gorbachev 's successor would be different . Obama said Europe had created favorable international political climate . Some commentators say Obama should be saluted for effort but not yet a Nobel .
Oakley : Obama 's Nobel peace prize an award for aspiration rather than achievement . Democratic had hopes that Mikhail Gorbachev 's successor would be different . Obama said Europe had created favorable international political climate . Some commentators say Obama should be saluted for effort but not yet a Nobel .