# Clueless Idiots: The Nobel Committee **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175 "2009-10-09T10:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/181 "2009-10-10T01:22:13Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Straw chafing your knuckles yet? I have a homemade salve you’re gonna love. I make it myself! I think we’d communicate better if your comments to me made any fucking sense. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/182 "2009-10-10T01:26:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Says the man who blithely reduces Aung San Suu Kyi’s life work to “professional prisoner”… > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If she’d won, I wouldn’t piss on it. She did win. In 1991. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/183 "2009-10-10T02:04:20Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Ahh, bup’s OK. He’s just kidding. Plus, he liked my book. I do like it, but I’m canvassing for Obama to win the Caldecott. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/184 "2009-10-10T02:11:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > He was given that chance by being elected President. If he succeeds, give him the 2013 Prize. > > It’s a ridiculous selection; I find it amazing anyone is defending it. I honestly don’t personally know anyone who DOESN’T like Barack Obama, being here in super-liberal Ontario, Canada, and every one of them I’ve talked to about this is saying “Are you fucking kidding?” That seems to be the general consensus in my neck of the woods. I haven’t met anybody, liberal or conservative, who thinks this award is justified. I pretty left-wing, even by Canuck standards, and I like Obama (although I’m becoming more disillusioned as time goes by) but I don’t think he’s done anything so far to justify the award. My take is that this is purely political and may have been intended to give him a little push in the right direction. Who knows, it may even motivate him to stop waffling on AfPak, Gitmo, Iraq, etc. If so, it the award may be justified. But only in retrospect. We’ll just have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/185 "2009-10-10T02:13:44Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I do like it, but I’m canvassing for Obama to win the Caldecott. Me too. You do mean Malia Obama for “My Puppy Bo”, right? ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/186 "2009-10-10T02:26:12Z")
My first reaction upon hearing the news was something like, “Wuh? Really? I like Obama more than most people I interact with\*, but he hasn’t had time to _do_ anything yet.” Having seen the reasoning behind the choice, I must say that I can understand why they made it, _but_ there was probably a better candidate out there. \*This applies to people I interact with in meat space, not cyberspace. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/187 "2009-10-10T03:02:48Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > No. I actually believe LOLCATS references should be punishable by death. Jeez, remind me never to leave the cap off the toothpaste tube at your place. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/188 "2009-10-10T03:15:31Z")
_Saturday morning in Norway…_ Where am I? We did what??? Man, that Aquavit is some strong shit! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/189 "2009-10-10T04:04:58Z")
You guys on this “accomplish” thing are operating under a false premise: that his award is somehow “about doing something”. The award for physics is, sure, as well as medicine and literature. But the Peace Prize is purely subjective, it can be entirely aspirational, according to the judgement (or whim) of the awarding committee. What you or I may think the Prize is for doesn’t mean shit to a tree. They’re really really glad Bush is gone, they think that Obama succeeding him is far better for the prospect of peace. I’m hard pressed to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/190 "2009-10-10T16:25:57Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > They’re really really glad Bush is gone, they think that Obama succeeding him is far better for the prospect of peace. I’m hard pressed to disagree. Yeah, but some of us think that handing out a Nobel Prize for being less of a threat to world peace than W. is setting the bar pretty low. It’s like giving a lifetime achievement Oscar to Michael Bay on the grounds that none of his films are as bad as “Battlefield Earth.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/191 "2009-10-10T16:31:51Z")
It’s pretty clear that the committee, at times, uses this prize to push world politics in a certain direction rather than to award concrete accomplishments. And that is their prerogative. In that case, it’s also our prerogative to dismiss this as we would dismiss any politically motivated action. ---
**Author:** ![RedWood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RedWood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedWood)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/192 "2009-10-10T16:32:25Z")
Yes, I voted for Obama. Yes, I can’t see that he’s really _done_ something that deserves the Nobel… but it’s their prize, they can award it as they please. 😃 I like that the $$$$$ is going to charity. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/193 "2009-10-10T16:37:28Z")
Does he have a choice about donating the money to charity? I mean, even if it were legal for him to keep it, it would be terrible, politically, for him to do so. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/194 "2009-10-10T16:51:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > …In that case, it’s also our prerogative to dismiss this as we would dismiss any politically motivated action. Or applaud, depending upon how we feel about his whole touchy-feely hippy “world peace” thing. I mean, really, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/195 "2009-10-10T17:08:57Z")
For all the whining, not one person has shown me the spot on their nose where skin was lost. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/196 "2009-10-10T17:31:02Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’m saying that the award comes as a surprise to plenty of people who, well aware of Obama’s “efforts”, in no way believe these amount to anything like what ought to be awarded by the Nobel; and indeed, Obama himself allegedly (and quite properly) shares this view. Then there are those people who don’t understand that the NPP is as often given for advocacy and being in a position to enable change as it is for achievements. Obama has advocated for years several issues dear to the NPP committee’s heart: 1. Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons 2. Serious attention to climate change 3. The restoration of U.S. diplomacy after it had been badly degraded by the previous president. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/197 "2009-10-10T17:33:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Or applaud, depending upon how we feel about his whole touchy-feely hippy “world peace” thing. I mean, really, who cares? True. Franklly, though, Obama is a more pro-war than I am, so I don’t really see him as a great leader in that arena. Much, much better than Bush, of course, but that’s not saying much. Maybe a bit better than Clinton, but we’ll have to see. I eagerly await his decision on how to proceed in Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/198 "2009-10-10T20:55:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s pretty clear that the committee, at times, uses this prize to push world politics in a certain direction rather than to award concrete accomplishments. And that is their prerogative. In that case, it’s also our prerogative to dismiss this as we would dismiss any politically motivated action. How is trying spur movement towards peace “political?” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/199 "2009-10-10T21:05:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How is trying spur movement towards peace “political?” The choice of president is a political one. They are basically saying “good choice”. BTW, I’m not implying that political = bad. Humans are largely political animals-- it’s basically what we do in groups. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/200 "2009-10-10T21:20:25Z")
The world has been a dangerous place the last 8 years. We had an administration that had no respect for national sovereignty. They felt they had the right to make unilateral decisions about the intents of countries and assumed the right to go in as they saw fit. The Cowboy Diplomacy of Bush terrified the world. He made an enemies list and started attacking them one after another. Then he was horrified to find they were trying to build arms to protect themselves. He set an ugly mess into motion. Obama has not shown the aggressive insanity of the neocons. He does not show that he thinks American exceptionalism gives him the right do do what he wants. He talks respectfully to foreign dignitaries. If he gets out of Iraq, leaves Afghanistan and closes Gitmo, I hope he wins another one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=11)