# 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:** 2
**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 9, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/21 "2009-10-09T13:07:31Z")
You know who else won the Nobel Peace Prize? Oh, wait, never mind. ---
**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 9, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/22 "2009-10-09T13:08:41Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > I think the rest of the world just wanted to award it to “the American president who ISN’T George Bush…what’s his name? The black guy with the good-looking wife?” Tiger Woods. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/23 "2009-10-09T13:08:42Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > He should refuse it (is that possible?). That’s an interesting question. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/24 "2009-10-09T13:09:06Z")
Well, the choices are unfortunately limited: economics, medicine, physics, literature…perhaps if there were a specific Nobel Prize for awesome… ---
**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 9, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/25 "2009-10-09T13:09:57Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I think it was too early. > > However this may bring home to decent US citizens how much Bush wrecked the reputation of the US. No, it won’t. It just makes the committee look silly. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/26 "2009-10-09T13:11:57Z")
Yeup, pretty headscratchingly strange. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/27 "2009-10-09T13:12:51Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Is this serious. Did this really happen? I’m a bit stunned. > > He should refuse it (is that possible?). I saw the headline on Yahoo, and wondered, “What for?” I mean, I’m not the guy’s biggest fan, though people seem to think if you voted for him that means you want to have his babies, but what has he done to deserve it? The point about Kissinger is a good one, though. Maybe they should call it the Nobel “Peace” Prize instead. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/28 "2009-10-09T13:18:28Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > That’s an interesting question. Anybody know? It’s possible. It was refused by Le Duc Tho, who was jointly awarded the prize with Kissinger. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/29 "2009-10-09T13:18:33Z")
Looks like somebody was really impressed with Obama’s ‘Beer Summit’ between Professor Gates at that Boston cop. This Nobel is totally deserved, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/30 "2009-10-09T13:20:59Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I’m a big Obama fan (yeah, the only right-wing Obama fan on the SDMB; I love how it confuses Dopers and destroys their worldview) but this is absolutely pathetic and it cheapens the Nobel Peace Prize. There was no one else, not in the entire freaking world, who could be nominated? Someone who’s actually had time to accomplish something? _No one else?_ Complete agreement on that. I mean, I like the guy and he’s off to a pretty reasonable start - but really, he’s only just started, and he’s not done much yet. It’s just a silly decision. ---
**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 9, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/31 "2009-10-09T13:21:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Tiger Woods. No. The black guy with the good looking wife with the bangin’ booty. This is crazy. I wish someone would explain to me how this can even be seen as anything other than a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![St.Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@St.Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Anger)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/32 "2009-10-09T13:21:33Z")
I think the nomination was well deserved, and Obama’s efforts to reach out to other world leaders clinched the deal. Of COURSE its a reaction to George W. Bush, as it is clear Obama has no intentions of starting wars with other countries under false pretenses, setting up secret prisons overseas, holding prisoners without due process.or refusing to negotiate with world leaders we don’t like. Plus, I LOVE how it now takes the wind out of the sails from all the idiotic right wing media pundits who have been laughing at Obama for not getting the Olympics. Go get your crying towels, Obama Haters. The reason Obama is getting the Peace Prize is because unlike many American xenophobes he has a much more enlightened vision of world affairs than Billy Bob hiding in the bomb shelter he built under his trailer, curled up with the shotgun waitin’ for the Commies to come. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/33 "2009-10-09T13:22:51Z")
NPR news said this morning that the Taliban opposed awarding the Nobel to Obama, which means that the Republicans, Beck, Limbaugh et al are now aligned with the Terrorists! 😃 Put me in the column of Obama supporters who don’t understand why he won the award either. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/34 "2009-10-09T13:37:00Z")
> [@St.Anger](#): > > I think the nomination was well deserved, and Obama’s efforts to reach out to other world leaders clinched the deal. Of COURSE its a reaction to George W. Bush, as it is clear Obama has no intentions of starting wars with other countries under false pretenses, setting up secret prisons overseas, holding prisoners without due process.or refusing to negotiate with world leaders we don’t like. We’re still holding prisoners without due process. If they wanted to react to George W. Bush they could have posthumously awarded it to Saddam or something. It would only have been slightly less ridiculous (and I say this as an Obama fan). I hope he refuses it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/35 "2009-10-09T13:41:44Z")
What’s to understand, its a love letter to America, and some of you guys are bitching because the sentiment is corny. Well, of course it is! Does he deserve it? Do we? Does anyone, can anyone, actually deserve such a thing? He hasn’t given them peace, he’s given them hope for peace. And we gave them him! Obama couldn’t have happened anywhere else. America, number one! One flag-waving, red-blooded All American radical says “Yeeeeee-haw! Ride 'em and spank 'em, Barry!” ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/36 "2009-10-09T13:46:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What’s to understand, its a love letter to America, and some of you guys are bitching because the sentiment is corny. Well, of course it is! Does he deserve it? Do we? Does anyone, can anyone, actually deserve such a thing? > > He hasn’t given them peace, he’s given them hope for peace. And we gave them him! Obama couldn’t have happened anywhere else. America, number one! > > One flag-waving, red-blooded All American radical says “Yeeeeee-haw! Ride 'em and spank 'em, Barry!” I actually would have been plesently surprised it they had gave it to “The people of America” for going with Obama. It would have been great fun seeing the right react to that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/37 "2009-10-09T13:51:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What’s to understand, its a love letter to America, and some of you guys are bitching because the sentiment is corny. Well, of course it is! Does he deserve it? Do we? Does anyone, can anyone, actually deserve such a thing? I’d say the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi, Elie Wiesel, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa, Mother Teresa, Amnesty International, Andrei Sakharov, Martin Luther King, Linus Pauling, Medicins Sans Frontieres, George Marshall, Albert Schweitzer and Teddy Roosevelt were pretty deserving. This isn’t exactly like Kissinger accepting the prize while bombing Cambodia, but it’s not good. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/38 "2009-10-09T13:51:58Z")
My first thought – as someone who is awful fond of our Prez – is to say “Are they KIDDING?” But to respond to this – > [@glee](#): > > However this may bring home to decent US citizens how much Bush wrecked the reputation of the US. This may be kind of the point. I know that there’s people out there who think Bush wasn’t so bad in many respects and don’t much care that people didn’t like him off in other countries. But this is certainly a statement: it’s an indication that the people out there were REALLY FREAKING AFRAID of Bush. And not in the Machiavellian ‘love me or fear me’ way, more the ‘You punch him in the neck while his back is turned’ way. ISTR also that it’s not really hard to get nominated for a Nobel prize – your name just has to be put forward – but to actually GET it, they toss the name back and forth and squint at what the guy’s done/is doing. So no, when he was nominated he hadn’t done jack, but they may have been peeking over their cover sheets since then. But yeah: count me as one bewildered ninja right now. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/39 "2009-10-09T13:54:49Z")
It’s kind of embarrassing they announce this the same day [we declared war on the moon](http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/10/09/probe.moon.crash/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175/40 "2009-10-09T13:57:08Z")
Wow. Highly premature, to say the least. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clueless-idiots-the-nobel-committee/513175.md?page=3)