Lurie/UN Award, 2nd place cartoon

2nd place cartoon in the 2009 Ranan Lurie/UN Awards -- by Silvan Wegmann, Sonntag (Switzerland)

What if Obama can’t live up to the hopes Europe has for him?  This cartoon won 2nd place, $5000, for Swiss cartoonist Silvan Wegmann in the Ranan Lurie/UN Cartoon competition.

(See first place cartoon here.)

Obama in Prague, on nuclear weapons

First e-mail of the day, from an early-riser friend:

A short while ago I caught a replay, on C-SPAN, of President Obama’s speech in Hradcany Square in Prague. I tuned in so as to catch almost all of it — practically all I missed were the introductory remarks. And they were cheering, I tell you. Can you say, “Ich bin ein Berliner” ??

This guy isn’t fooling around. He’s no Bush. He’s a “people’s President.” He’s charismatic. He’s exactly who we need and when we need him.

• Associated Press story, via NPR; see especially the AP photos.

Obama talked about reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons.  Some people still dream of peace.

See also these sites:

• “Nuclear weapons ban” at Later On
• Washington Monthly’s blog, by Steve Benen

President Barack Obama and wife Michelle, in Prague - photo via Politico

The printed version of Obama’s remarks, below the fold.