# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/221 "2009-10-11T15:50:54Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I get it now-the Nobel Prize Committeee is awatding prizes based upon FUTURE achievements! Obama’s award is for stuff he will do. > So, can I get my Olympic gold medal now? (I plan to win the 500 meter freestyle race (swimming), in Rio, in 2016! And **ralph124c** wins the “Doobie” award for most egregious failure to pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/222 "2009-10-11T16:08:35Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > And **ralph124c** wins the “Doobie” award for most egregious failure to pay attention. The prize is a personalized waterboarding session by the vice president Cheney himself. Ohh, wait, Dick Cheney isn’t VP anymore, and America doesn’t torture people anymore. qauck, qauck! ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/223 "2009-10-11T17:03:55Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > This thread reveals, somewhat, exactly how “American-centric”, Americans really are. > > And only in America would the population react in this fashion. Any other nation would be proud that their elected leader means so much to the rest of the world. > > He was elected because he could waken hope for better government in his own country. He won this prize because he has awakened hope, around the world, for a better world leader. When the son of an African goat herder makes it into the white house the world begins to believe again that America can live up to it’s ideals and maybe, lead the world. Well, when that happens sometime in the future, get back to us. Thanks for the lecture, though. We’ll give it all the consideration it is due. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/224 "2009-10-11T17:22:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, when that happens sometime in the future, get back to us. Thanks for the lecture, though. We’ll give it all the consideration it is due. I doubt that. I think they were rewarding the change in tenor. Obama made many speeches discussing what he wants to do. He has shown a desire to not be unilateral like Bush. he shows more respect for other nations and the UN. Obama is not a blank slate. he has written a todo list on it and other countries appreciate the change. ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/225 "2009-10-11T17:29:09Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I doubt that. You doubt what? I was commenting on that notion that Obama is the son of a goat herder. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/226 "2009-10-11T17:43:49Z")
> [@Morkfromork](#): > > Must be the Messiah got nominated for nobel peace prize as soon as he was sworn in done nowt but still won it. What a disgracful display of kowtowing to America. To quote the great brirish comedian (ALI G )is it cause i is black. Would a white American President have got the same treatment? (doubtful.) And no i am not a racist never have been so for folks in the uk no nu labour slanders thanks. It is the question everybody should be asking. Do drop back when you finish first6 form, now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/227 "2009-10-11T17:50:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You doubt what? I was commenting on that notion that Obama is the son of a goat herder. You were? Gotta say, **Big John** , that interpretation never occurred to me, either. ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/228 "2009-10-11T17:50:36Z")
Whether he deserves it or not, Obama is viewed as strongly internationalist by many Europeans. If a White guy had that attached to him, and had come to the presidency after Bush, I would expect he would be treated much like Obama. That’s why I mentioned Kucinich earlier. He’s actually more “internationalist” than Obama. ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/229 "2009-10-11T17:53:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You were? Gotta say, **Big John** , that interpretation never occurred to me, either. My bad, then. I should have quoted only that last sentence to make it more obvious. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/230 "2009-10-11T17:55:02Z")
Even Homer nods. ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/231 "2009-10-11T17:59:01Z")
At least it was just about herding goats… ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/232 "2009-10-12T01:05:07Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > This thread reveals, somewhat, exactly how “American-centric”, Americans really are. > > And only in America would the population react in this fashion. Any other nation would be proud that their elected leader means so much to the rest of the world. Ehhh…check out the Irish, English or Dutch messageboards, most people think it was a bit premature. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/233 "2009-10-12T01:11:44Z")
In the intervening seven minutes, I’ve done an exhaustive survey of 1300 European message boards. You’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Dick\_Dastardly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@Dick\_Dastardly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dick_Dastardly)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/234 "2009-10-12T01:35:32Z")
I don’t think the Nobel committee can be accused of being idiots. It appears to me that they’ve decided to try a preemptive peace campaign against the world’s biggest threat to peace by deciding to give newly-elected US Presidents the Peace Prize in the hope that it’ll restict the amount of carnage the new Nobel Laureate inflicts on the rest of the world during his term. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/235 "2009-10-12T07:53:08Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > In the intervening seven minutes, I’ve done an exhaustive survey of 1300 European message boards. You’re wrong. Please unwooshify this for me. One cannot do an _exhaustive_ survey of one board in 7 minutes, let alone 1300. I mean, I realize this is likely joke, but I’m hoping there’s something I’m missing that would actually make it funny. * * * Look. We’re intellectuals on this board. We should be able to comprehend how we can both be happy for Obama’s win, but disagree with it. This is the opinion of almost everyone I talk to in real life. I honestly thought the Peace prize what it Nobel said it meant, that someone had accomplished something. I don’t think Obama has accomplished anything extraordinary enough to be singled out like this. Let’s take the Rachel Maddow quote one by one: > [@](#): > > It [The Nobel Peace Prize] recognizes people trying in big ways to get the world on a more peaceful path. … > > Before he was nominated for the Nobel, Mr. Obama had persuaded the people of the most powerful nation on earth to choose him and his vision of strength through diplomacy, instead of the vision offered by his rival for the presidency… There was no way a Republican was going to win after Bush. Even we slow Americans figured out he was bad. > [@](#): > > Before he was nominated for the Nobel, Mr. Obama had persuaded the people of the most powerful nation on earth, the only nation to have ever used a nuclear weapon in war, the holder of the biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons on earth; he persuaded the people of that country that the next president of the United States should try to abolish nuclear weapons world-wide… He persuaded us? Hardly. That idea is hardly new, and hardly uncontroversial still. Just because we elected the guy doesn’t mean we agree with everything he stands for. And since it can’t happen in the short time of his presidency, it’s irrelevant. The next guy (or gal) may have a different policy. > [@](#): > > Before he was nominated for the Nobel Prize, Mr. Obama decided that the most powerful nation on earth would try again to work with other countries through international institutions… As did every other viable candidate in the election. Even McCain supported talking to the international community. > [@](#): > > Before he was nominated for the Nobel, Mr. Obama declared that the most powerful nation on earth would close its secret prisons, and the prison it off-shored in Cuba to avoid our own constitution, and he declared that the United States government would no longer support a policy of torture… He made a declaration that the people of the United States wanted him to make. That makes him a good President, but no more than several others. Of course they have the right to give it to him, despite all this. And maybe it will actually do some good. But, while I’m glad our president has such a great reputation overseas, I disagree with the decision that that is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/236 "2009-10-12T08:07:23Z")
This just in! Obama awarded Heisman Trophy after watching college football game! Highlights at 11:00! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/237 "2009-10-12T09:34:06Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > This just in! Obama awarded Heisman Trophy after watching college football game! Highlights at 11:00! Good. I’m sick of the Heisman going to nothing but quarterbacks. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/238 "2009-10-12T13:38:39Z")
Another ‘Obama Derangement Syndrome’ thread. Oh, goodie. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/239 "2009-10-12T14:52:36Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Those who say it cheapens their prize doesn’t seem to really grasp that it is their prize to give, and those that covet and respect it do so based on the choices that they have made as a committee thus far. It doesn’t make sense to think they can really cheapen their own prize; the prize represents their ideas. By this rationale, nothing could ever cheapen anything ever. Hell, applying this logic to the U.S., Bush never destroyed our reputation with the rest of the world, because it was our reputation. > [@Dick\_Dastardly](#): > > It appears to me that they’ve decided to try a preemptive peace campaign against the world’s biggest threat to peace by deciding to give newly-elected US Presidents the Peace Prize in the hope that it’ll restict the amount of carnage the new Nobel Laureate inflicts on the rest of the world during his term. So, how well has that worked out in the past? (Serious question here, 'cause I don’t know enough about international politics to comment.) What did Henry Kissinger do after 1973? Mikhail Gorbachev after 1990? Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres after 1994? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/240 "2009-10-12T15:14:45Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > By this rationale, nothing could ever cheapen anything ever. Hell, applying this logic to the U.S., Bush never destroyed our reputation with the rest of the world, because it was our reputation. That is not the same thing at all. A committee gets together with a set of ideas and decide to give out prizes based on those ideas. It is their game. People learn to respect those choices, based on the ideas of the committee. People respect and covet the prize, and admire the winners. Based on the ideas of the committee. That has zero to do with our reputation as a nation. If people really and truly lose respect for the prize, then who they give it to would be a non issue…not even news. If the prize were cheap, no one would even be talking about it at all. The prize is valuable, and they gave it to who they wanted to, based on their own ideas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=13)