I am sure his image of himself is very close to that of his acolytes, but I don't think it is his intentions that are the issues. He is one of those leaders who give people a warm and fuzzy feeling for "admiring" him and very little downside for ignoring him. His impact on the world stage is going to be a lot of approval and very little influence.

>It probably does. I am sure he would have chosen not to receive this award, at least not for another few decades.
>
>He is a genuinely serious politician. That freaks some people out. He takes on the toughest issues head on. When is the last time we had that?
>
>>When even the Kool-aid drinkers will admit it is over the top <bg> you can imagine how it strikes others who might like Obama more if he were not the most praised and worshiped beyond any actual accomplishment in modern history. This last accolade must embarrass even him.
>>
>>>I agree, this is a little over the top. He has the potential to be one of our great presidents but this is a little premature.
>>>
>>>http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html
>>>
>>>Last week I was at a volleyball match at Mundelein HS. Mundelein is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago, home to many doctors, lawyers, and fund managers. On the way to the gym I stopped by a display case about the four presidents from Illinois. Barack Obama's name was misspelled. Barak. I emailed the school on their web site the next morning, nicely. An equally nice response came back -- I am embarrassed and we will correct it today. And I bet he made sure it was. Very different school district -- his position is Director of Communications, which I don't believe Round Lake HS has,and he has a PhD.