Al Gore didn’t win last year’s prize, he won 2007′s. Last year’s laureate was Martti Ahtisaari.

And Yassir Arafat won it, and Paul Krugman won the Nobel prize in economics. So…..
http://www.jesus-on-taxes.com/ON_PAUL_KRUGMAN.html

I’m sure Tom Woods knows the back story, but all mathematicians have long had reason to disparage the Nobels as nothing more than shallow political maneuvering and pithy repentance for past aggression.

Seeing the negative uses of an invention, he doesn’t hesitate to discriminate in who he allows access to his discovery, but instead offers money earned from indiscriminate sale to the State for nefarious purpose to those who, in their own self interest, would have promoted peace anyway, and probably would resent being associated with such a person shielding his misdeeds with what may be considered dirty money.

If only his wife’s affair had been with a peace-nik economist instead of a mathematician.

The Nobel Peace Prize to Obama is ridiculous as is your writing on “European socialists and ethical relativists or nihilists.”

Mr. Stocker,

I did not say that all Europeans are “socialists and ethical relativists or nihilists;” my comment referred to those awarding the Nobel Prize. With that said, I believe it is accurate that European, and for that matter American, politics and academia are dominated by these types of individuals, and the true pursuit of peace is generally not one of their major priorities.

Also, I am an American and would not argue that American culture and civilization are on net much, if at all, better than Europe’s.

I would add that in recent years Europe has produced some outstanding Classical Liberal/Libertarian scholars. At the risk of not mentioning several others, Hans-Herman Hoppe, Jörg Guido Hülsmann, Pascal Salin, and Jesús Huerta de Soto quickly come to mind. Unfortunately, these individuals and like thinkers have had only marginal influence in European politics and with organizations such as the Nobel Committee.

Why pay more attention to the Nobel Committee than the judges who award prizes to country and western singers, or the Academy Awards Committee, or Dancing with the Stars?
As far as I’m concerned the Nobel Peace Prize lost all credibility when it awarded the prize to Al Gore for inventing global warming – they could just as well have awarded him the Nobel Physics Prize for inventing a toilet that doesn’t flush.
The Nobel (Bank of Sweden) Economics prize, made an award to Paul Krugman – I think I’ve already posted enough rants on that one!

If he had any integrity, he would just reject it. American presidents, no matter what party, do not need European prizes, especially one as silly as the Nobel Peace Prize has become.

I would be much more receptive to constructive criticism of the Nobel Committee’s decision were it not for completely unnecessary, ignorant, and offensive comments such as the one posted by “fundamentalist” earlier in this thread. I can listen to arguments regarding the credibility of the Committee and the internal politics at work within the Committee that might cast doubt on the Committee’s supposed good will, but I have no patience for blatantly racist rhetoric that suggests that the awarding of the peace prize is the Nobel Committee’s form of affirmative action. To suggest that Obama received the reward due to his race is to claim that Obama is intellectually and otherwise unfit to run the office that he was elected to (and by extension an indictment of every person that voted for him). As a thought experiment, let us suppose that Hilary Clinton had won the Democratic nomination and, by virtue of that, also won the Presidency (McCain would not have won either way). Let us suppose further that the committee then decided to give the award to Clinton as they did to Obama (not much of a stretch if you believe that the awarding of the peace prize to Obama was first and foremost a rebuke of the Bush administration). In either event, were it Obama or Clinton receiving the award, I’m sure massive controversy would ensue. In general, many of the same merit based type arguments that have been levied against Obama would also be used against Clinton. I wonder, if in this alternate reality, anyone would accuse the Nobel Committee of engaging in affirmative action. I can hear people say, “but that doesn’t make sense because Hilary isn’t black, she’s white.” True. But Hilary Clinton is a woman, and as anyone who is willing and eager to criticize affirmative action SHOULD KNOW women have benefited at least as much as racial minorities have from affirmative action (if not considerably more so). However, something tells me that in this alternate scenario the affirmative action jib wouldn’t be on the tip of every Anti-Clinton person’s tongue as it is on so many Anti-Obama folks’. Its one thing to criticize Barack Obama on substance. I have generally been a supporter of his, but have my own reservations regarding some of his actions and inaction thus far (e.g. I don’t agree with the “buy American” clause). But resorting to race based attacks is not only morally reprehensible but immediately discredits anything noteworthy you might otherwise have to say.

karlos: “for completely unnecessary, ignorant, and offensive comments such as the one posted by “fundamentalist” earlier in this thread.”

It wouldn’t be funny if it weren’t just a little be offensive.

You apparently don’t know much about affirmative action. Maybe you’re not from the US. Here, colleges and businesses lower the requirements for particular minorities, usually just native Americans, blacks and hispanics, never Asians, to get scholarships or jobs. The idea is to make up for the bad treatment of previous generations.

The Nobel committee clearly lowered the standards for its selection of President Obama. If they did it because of his race (he’s also white) I don’t know. I would guess they did it because of his socialism. Whatever the reason, they lowered the standards by quite a bit without any doubt. That’s what everyone in the world is complaining about. President Obama’s claiming to be black, even though he is as much white, is what ties the situation to affirmative action and makes it funny.

Karlos,

“To suggest that Obama received the reward due to his race is to claim that Obama is intellectually and otherwise unfit to run the office that he was elected to (and by extension an indictment of every person that voted for him).”

This made no sense at all. It doesn’t make a bit of different what race Obama happens to be – he is still intellectually and otherwise unfit to run the office that he was elected to [sic]. And, it is by extension an indictment of every person that voted for him, again regardless of his race.

In related news, Fox Broadcasting has announced that Season 9 for the _American Idol_ competitions shall air, beginning in January.

Fundamentalist,

I am American. I grew up here and know exactly what affirmative action is. Besides, my argument had nothing to do with arguing in favor or against affirmative action. Please take your time to actually read and understand my post.

“The Nobel committee clearly lowered the standards for its selection of President Obama. If they did it because of his race (he’s also white) I don’t know. I would guess they did it because of his socialism.”

Nice way to back peddle from your earlier comment. First, you clearly implied that Mr. Obama received the award because of his race (the affirmative action joke). Then you changed your perspective a bit and implied that MAYBE he received it because of his race, but probably because of his social policies. This is a very convenient way to make a controversial and unsubstantiated claim without really taking responsibility for making the claim.

Regarding the black/white issue as it relates to Mr. Obama’s personal heritage, you’re absolutely correct. Obama is as much white (if not more so, especially culturally speaking) than he is black. But you ignore the central tenet of black/white relations that has always dominated the racial issue in this country. Unlike several Latin American countries, where race is viewed more as a continuum, the strict black/white divide is this country has always been stark. You can’t be both in this country as is clearly evident by the fact that our President is considered black despite his white mother. The one drop rule still applies, i.e. any African heritage immediately make someone black. None of this is to suggest that race relations are in any way better in Latin America then they are here (they aren’t). But what I find amazing is how so many people (including some blacks) are quick to suggest that Obama is not really black because of his white mom. If Obama isn’t really black because of this, then we should go right back through the history books and call guys like Malcolm X white since he had some white ancestry.

Hello Everyone,

Nbbel Peace Prize Fits The AC Muslim BO Perfectly

Let’s see, Jesus Christ spoke the words and it was done. BO the AC Muslim speaks the words and it is not done. Then he’s awarded the nobel peace price?, for speaking in lofty platitudes, and having done nothing, being a total man pleaser? In my estimation this action bears witness to him being the Antichrist in totality, and the nobel peace prize committee is the encouragement needed to set in motion, and hasten this final end. It’ll be exactly like unto the 30 pieces of silver received by his brother Judas, when satan interred into him, Jesus say; What ye do do quickly. Now my friends remember, 2000 years ago Jesus was in microcosm of events. Today it is by His Holy Spirit that these events shall unfold in macrocosm. This means BO the AC Muslim will be satan, as the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ our Lord. The power of our Lord’s Holy Spirit shall move satan to know his time is short, so what he does, he must do quickly. Thank you Lord, this is showing so very much, thank you. Amen

My friends the year 2010 will be like being in the eye of a hurricane. Everyone will be in merriment. There will be an inordinate amount of marriages, everywhere, even to the comment by people saying; wow there seems to be a lot of weddings? When you who are awake see these things happening, get all things of meaning in order, and become as real as you can. For there aren’t any fakes in Heaven, no not one. Which quickens my mind to another reason one may see, and recognize the true end results to this nobel awarding. But be it known, the scorpion’s tail will have its reward as well.

And my friends I seek not the nobel peace prize of men, but am already ascending unto reception of a crown of glory in Heaven, give of God and His Christ, that perfect crown made just for all believers.

It is in this way I am knowing in the 2012 end, JC our LG and His Holy Angels, shall defeat BO the AC Muslim and his obamanite hordes; scorpion’s tail.

True Peace is coming, not as the world giveth (BO the AC Muslim), but Jesus Christ our Lord and God! amen

Let’s see, in the right hand Mother Teresa, world renowned champion for the downtrodden of life, lived in harms way, meager existence, struggled all her life, to espouse that which was for the improvement unto sanctity of Life, then toward the end of her charitable work, received the nobel peace prize. Now in contrast, here on the left hand we have BO the AC Muslim, who seeks self glorying, wants the power and control of the world, champion of abortionist, no experience of anything valuable for mankind, within 8 months of a charlatan president, receives the nobel peace prise.

This day I spit on, and dust my feet off over, this nobel peace prize. Thank you Lord

He will be ushered in as a man of peace, but in his heart is war, destruction, and dying.

Thank you Lord, sljc

Karlos: “Nice way to back peddle from your earlier comment.”

You caught me! Guilty as charged. The affirmative action joke wouldn’t be funny if I added that they gave it to him for his socialist policies. And it wouldn’t have worked if Obama was white. Nor would it work if Obama was nothing but a poor kid from an inner city. It works because it suggests that the Nobel committee gave an award intended for a poor black kid to the President of the United States!

But the real joke is the prize itself. It has been a joke since they gave it to Yasser Arafat the terrorists and murderer.

Like most Democrats, you need to go down to WalMart and buy yourself a sense of humor. They stock them next to the glasses with the big noses.

Fundamentalist – you got it all wrong. Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize for dissing the Dalai Lama – another winner of the Nobel Peace Prize!

I see the awarding of the prize as a good thing.

Because it shreds the last remaining credibility of the Nobel Peace Prize.

True, many an evil man has won the prize before (e.g. T. Roosevelt, W. Wilson, H. Kissinger, M. Begin, J. Carter, A. Gore), but there’s always been some contextual plausibility to the award in terms of the mainstream media. But this time almost everyone (except Democrat Party p.r. men) finds this amazingly, uh, _premature_.

And it will only appear more premature as the wars on the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan escalate during the next couple of years. What little influence the Prize has on the assessments of common man is gone, for at least a decade.

Franklin,

You make a good point regarding any practical change in Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to start getting our of Iraq soon. I’m not sure how to feel about Afghanistan anymore. I’ve been a supporter of expanding our efforts in Afghanistan and one of my arguments against going into Iraq was that our interests were better served in Afghanistan. But the situation seems bleak now. We’ve allowed the Taliban to become a major player once again, which now serves as an outlet for many frustrated young Afghans who have no other way to channel their anger over their poverty ridden society. The Karzai regime is a joke that doesn’t take us seriously. Until we find a tangible way to put pressure on Karzai and Co. to get their act together we’re just going to keep taking tax payer’s money and putting it in the pockets of corrupt government officials.

Karlos wrote:

“The party continues to push for brain dead deregulation, such as the deregulation that allowed the kind of predatory lending practices that have led us into the mortgage crises we’re in today.”

You need to read books by people like Thomas Woods or Thomas Sowell on why the housing bubble happened. Deregulation was not the only problem, or even the main problem. Easy money from the Fed, and regulations that forced banks to make bad loans (like the Community Reinvestment Act) are also to blame. Not to mention Freddie Mac et al. buying loans and then bundling them, which allows banks to make bad loans and then pass the risk to others, and which starts the whole derivative problem in the first place. A lot of the regulation that we supposedly need would not be an issue in the first place if it weren’t for government interference in the market to give everybody in America a house, whether they can afford it or not.

Oh, and to keep this post tangentially on topic, who pays attention to the Nobel Peace Prize anymore? Doesn’t everybody know it’s a joke by now?

I agree with most of Lew’s commentary on Afghanistan except this small piece: “the US should have paid Taliban to uproot al-Qaida.”

I lived in Afghanistan for a short time many years ago and have studied them since. They would never have accepted payment. Money doesn’t mean anything to those guys. I don’t think the Taliban ever cared much for Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, but the customs of hospitality are very strong in that part of the world and Bin Laden asked the Taliban for refuge. Under their customs, they had no choice but to try to protect him and his people. Besides, Muslims will always side with Muslims against infidels no matter how much money you offer them.

President Obama will win my respect and gratitude if his has the courage to completely pull out of Afghanistan. Staying there only invites another Viet Nam that will destroy his presidency. The Taliban are the creation of the Pakistani secret service, as Lew wrote, so destroying them would require invading Pakistan. The only good choice is to get out.