Obama is scheduled to meet the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, and the Norwegian royal family before receiving his medal at a ceremony due to begin at midday. His main speech is scheduled at a banquet tonight. But Norwegians are incensed over what they view as his shabby response to the prize by cutting short his visit. The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children’s event promoting peace and a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel peace centre. According to a poll conducted by the InFact institute and published in daily Verdens Gang (VG), 44 percent of 1,000 people surveyed said it was “impolite” of Obama to not lunch with the king, while 34 percent said it was okay. More than half, 53 percent, said it was “impolite” not to attend the Nobel concert, while 27 percent disagreed.

Even the Dali Lama is blasting Obama! As President Barack Obama prepares to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, the Dalai Lama told Sky News he believes the award is “a little early” and cautioned the U.S. president against relying too much on his advisers.

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) only had time to say “Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to–,” before Price shouted “I object.” The presiding chair, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) made gestures to maintain control, declaring that “the request is not yet before the House” and that Price was “out of order,” to little effect. Capps attempted to go on, but Price continued shouting “I object! I object! I object!”

Lawmakers in the House voted 220 to 215 on Saturday night to approve a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Only one Republican voted for the bill, and 39 Democrats opposed it, including 24 members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. An overwhelming majority of the Democratic lawmakers who opposed the bill — 31 of the 39 — represent districts that were won by Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, in the 2008 presidential election, and a third of them were freshmen. Nearly all of the fourteen freshmen Democrats who voted “no” represent districts that were previously Republican and are considered vulnerable in 2010. Geographically, 22 lawmakers from southern states formed the largest opposition bloc. Below are details on the Democrats that opposed the health care legislation in the House. – from NYTimes

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Vice President Biden is about to find out how well his boss can take a joke. The vice president razzed the commander-in-chief Wednesday while speaking at the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony in Colorado, poking fun at President Obama’s known affinity for his Teleprompter. Biden made the crack about Obama’s crutch after a strong gust of wind blew over one of the vice president’s Teleprompters. Biden was talking about Colorado’s thin air at the time and when he heard the crash, he added, “and the strong winds.” Then he said: “What am I gonna tell the president when I tell him his Teleprompter is broken? What will he do then?” The crowd laughed at the joke made at the expense of the absent president, who was in Las Vegas at the time. – From Fox News

President Obama announced on Tuesday that he will nominate the federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, choosing a daughter of Puerto Rican parents raised in Bronx public housing projects to become the nation’s first Hispanic justice. Judge Sotomayor, who stood next to the president during the announcement, was described by Mr. Obama as “an inspiring woman who I am confident will make a great justice.” – from NYTimes

President Obama on Tuesday nominated federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace David Souter on the Supreme Court, where she will become the first Hispanic and the third woman if confirmed by the Senate. Calling Sotomayor “an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice,” Obama outlined her qualifications and background as the prime reasons for his selection. – from NPR

Barring the unexpected, Senate confirmation seems likely, given the large Democratic majority. If approved, she would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current court, the third in history. She would succeed retiring Justice David Souter. Senate Republicans pledged to give her a fair hearing, and some questioned whether she would base decisions on her personal feelings, rather than constitutional principles. Given her background, any effort to filibuster her nomination could carry political risks, since Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the population and an increasingly important one politically. – from AP

President Barack Obama will name former space shuttle commander Charles Bolden to lead NASA, the White House said on Saturday, in the midst of a major shift in the U.S. human space program. Bolden, 62, a retired Marine general, flew on four shuttle missions before leaving the U.S. space agency in 1994 to return to the military. Bolden, who would become the 12th administrator in NASA’s 51-year history and its first black head, is seen as a strong advocate for human space flight. “I think it’s good news and good for the agency,” said Frank Siezten, a Washington-based space consultant. – from AFP

Despite their opposing political views, President Obama says he’s kept in touch with former President Bush since moving into the White House. Asked by CSPAN if he’s had any conversation with Bush since the inauguration, Obama replied, “I have.” “I think that although I’ve only been president four months, I think a general policy of keeping confidence with your predecessors is important,” Obama said in an interview aired Saturday. Just this week, Obama slammed the Bush administration for taking America “off course” in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack. In a speech on national security Thursday, he said his administration has been forced to deal with “a mess” that was left for them. – From CNN

President Barack Obama staunchly defended his decision to close the Guantanamo prison facility Thursday, calling it ‘a mess,’ and saying he won’t do anything to endanger the American people.