By Alex Hammer

It is interesting to me the range of reactions that others are having to the awarding of the Nobel Peace prize to our country's President, Barack Obama.

While public sentiment has not yet had the opportunity to congeal, a few beginning impressions are in order:

- Many seem to be questioning whether his selection might not be a little premature. Sure, there are the partisan elements that seemingly would disparage him no matter what award he won, however insignificant. But there also seems to be the recognition that Obama is new to his Presidency, in fact relatively new to the National political scene, and that as a result such accolades may (well) represent wishful thinking rather than actual achievement.

- Related to this, Obama was elected President in large part in his ability to mobilize the masses of the electorate and their ability to "hope" and "believe". I personally believe that we are living in a world of such tremendous change/chaos and crisis that people, at a deep fundamental, perhaps more than at most times, have a great yearning to believe. Not that all pick Obama as such a representative. People believe in many things and in many people.

- I think many people see potential in Obama and what he represents. Both in terms of his personal history and what that might bear possible in regard to opportunities for all of us, and his, (to some) harmonizing capabilities to bring (some) people together employing great speaking (some say rhetorical) ability and substantial intelligence.

- The world is moving forward, and some (many worldwide) see Obama as a beacon of that. I'll call it "The Presidency of the possible".

- Maine can also be poised for Greatness. I have written a book entitled "This Great State" in which I outline what I believe to be some of the principles and strategies by which, working together, we can make Maine great(er) and more successful by the definitions that Mainers define success (economic yes, quality of life yes, and beyond).

It can be read for free here online.

- It is not clear yet whether Obama is making our challenges in this country, OVER THE LONG TERM, better or worse, but the international community, for one, seems to like his approach in terms of world relations. In this country, domestic economic considerations predominate, as seems appropriate with our ongoing huge economic challenges.

- Try as he might to create bridges, Barack Obama represents one of America's two dominant political parties, and that serves, however well intentioned he may be, in providing some roadblocks for the most meaningful and also bipartisan solutions across the USA.

Such as his approach to healthcare.

Similar factors, I believe, relate to our healthcare efforts in Maine.

I would be happy to see Barack Obama receive the Nobel Peace Prize when he has done a lot more to earn it. Barack Obama is a good man. He may evolve into a great President. He may not.

How we select and judge our leaders also in Maine is similarly part of such a healthy debate.