So this happened, as Gherald already mentioned:

President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for his work to improve international diplomacy and rid the world of nuclear weapons — a stunning decision to celebrate a figure virtually unknown in the world before he launched his campaign for the White House nearly three years ago…

“He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate,” Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. “Some people say, and I understand it, isn’t it premature? Too early? Well, I’d say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us.”

The selection to some extent reflects a trans-Atlantic divergence on Obama. In Europe and much of the world he is lionized for bringing the United States closer to mainstream global thinking on issues like climate change and multilateralism. At home, the picture is more complicated. As president, Obama is often criticized as he attempts to carry out his agenda — drawing fire over a host of issues from government spending to health care to the conduct of the war in Afghanistan.

I have mixed feelings on this. My initial reaction is that this is pretty darn premature for a President who’s only been in office for nine months.

On the flip side, I also think that this is a channel for the international community to show its gratitude to America for booting out former Premier Bush. E.g.,

The award appeared to be at least partly a slap at Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama’s predecessor for his largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Here’s Steve Benen’s perspective:

The Nobel Peace Prize, as I understand it, is awarded to the person (or persons) who’ve shown great leadership in advancing the cause of international peace. President Obama has invested consider energy and political capital in doing just that — promoting counter-proliferation, reversing policies on torture, embracing a new approach to international engagement, and recommitting the U.S. to the Middle East peace process.

I’ll probably have more as the day wears on but… wow, what a surprise. At least we’ll have delicious rightwing freakout to keep the day interesting.

Conservatives reacted with shock and dismay to the Nobel committee’s decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama. There are reports that some prominent conservatives exploded like Agent Smith at the end of Matrix. But FOX News commentator Bill O’Reilly reacted with little surprise, telling viewers, “Look, Sweden is a socialist country, so of course they elected one of their own.” Rush Limbaugh blamed “reverse discrimination,” claiming that, “Qualified white candidates have been passed over once again for a black man who doesn’t deserve a peace prize.” Limbaugh also complained that liberals were “playing the race card again.” Glenn Beck wept aloud on his radio show and cried, “Run for your lives, America, the fascho-communist revolution is at hand!”

And it looks like Rupert Murdoch is rolling out a new set of awards to counteract the Nobel “taint” that has now befallen Obama:

Literature: Sarah Palin, for her upcoming book, Going Rogue: An American Life. While the book has not been released, the committee expressed confidence that “its literary impact will be enormous.”

Economics: Rush Limbaugh, for his groundbreaking theory that Obama had purposefully created economic instability in order to increase unemployment that would make people more anxious about health care and help pass a universal health care plan.

Chemistry: Charles B. Thaxton, author of The Mystery of Life’s Origin, for his pioneering work in the field of Intelligent Design

Physiology or Medicine: Rush Limbaugh again, for his courageous resistance Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ swine flu vaccination drive on the grounds that “it’s not her role” to tell him what to do.

Physics: God, for making the universe. God’s award will be accepted by His representative, Dr. James Dobson, and the $1.5M award will be donated to Dobson’s Focus on the Family organization.

Peace: Joint winners George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, for ridding the world of Saddam Hussein, a “dangerous menace” who the committee said “might one day have developed Weapons of Mass Destruction.”