Nearly two years ago, I wrote on this blog that the Nobel Peace Prize had become a transparent fraud. Yesterday, the fraud became a further embarrassment when incredulously it was given to President Obama. The award continues its history of political and partisan intent. The further irony is that Obama's current principal preoccupation is deciding how and when to expand the war in Afghanistan. Obama has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible results, yet the committee obviously cannot separate hope from achievement. It is preposterous that the award be awarded to someone who achieved nothing prior to his election, and nothing since. Seriously, what has he accomplished? Past worthy recipients such as Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa have had their achievements diminished by this year's patronizing decision. The award is a mockery. Period.

Hollywood's immorality

International film makers and stars recently showed that they have nothing in common with the decent people who stuff their coffers with their entertainment dollars. There is now a Free Roman Polanski petition circulating with many well-known names on it, such as Woody Allen, Harvey Weinstein, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Terry Gilliams, Penelope Cruz, Deborah Winger, and Tilda Swinton. They are demanding the release of Roman Polanski from a Swiss jail after being apprehended for extradition back to the US. He has been on the lam since 1978 when he admitted raping a 13-year old girl. If you have forgotten, he drugged the girl with champagne and Quaaludes and tried to bully her into sex. She said no, but he raped and sodomized her anyway. He pleaded guilty and fled America before sentencing. Previously Polanski had dated Nastassja Kinski when she was only 15 and he was in his 40s. There is no surprise that Woody Allen is on board, granted that he married his adopted daughter, but to see the other famous film makers and actresses rally behind Polanski is a clear indication that they believe they, and he, are above the normal notions of morality and the legal process. That they lecture Americans about what is right and wrong only shows they have no idea what they are talking about.