The Road to Nobel is Paved (only) With Good Intentions

No one is perfect. I know that. But rarely has a group of highly educated people gooned it so badly. I guess it isn't entirely their fault (they are, after all, Norwegian). But I am holding them accountable for giving Obama a Nobel Peace Prize eight months after he was elected President.

Let's look at the timeline:

September 2008 - Solicitation for nominations published.
November 2008 - Obama elected.
January 2009 - Obama inaugurated.
February 2009 - Nominations due.
October 2009 - Obama given the Nobel Peace Prize.

Similarly, let's look at the timeline for the Nobel Physics winner Charles K. Kao:

1965 - Invent fiber optic communication.
(four decades of exponentially enhanced communications based on said fiber)
2009 - Kao awarded half the Physics Prize.

So guys, what's up? To win the Physics Prize you practically have to reinvent an entire branch of science and then wait several decades. To win the Peace Prize, however, it appears you have to give a couple nice speeches and make some promises. And this can be done after your nomination has been submitted.

What has Obama accomplished? Any revolutionary change in the world in the last eight months? Iraq--no. Afghanistan--maybe worse. Israel--no. Pakistan--no. Gaza--no. South America--no. Haiti--no. Sudan--no. Ethiopia--no.

Obama, in the next 3/7 years, may do something Nobel-worthy. But not now. I haven't been this ticked at Norway since Al Gore won this award in 2007. Or Carter in 2002. What is with the love affair with American Democrats? I'm sure Bill Clinton isn't taking this well. And he's the one who, above the others, might actually deserve it.

Whatever. I'm going home.