I contemplated writing an essay about Al Gore and the Nobel Peace Prize. You know, something inspirational and nostalgic.

Then I read this:

Davenport, Ia. — Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain said the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, announced today, should have gone to someone else other than former Vice President Al Gore.

“I would have liked to see that prize go to the Buddhist monks who are suffering and dying in Burma,” McCain said after a speech this morning in Davenport….

That’s when I realized it. Al Gore didn’t get an Emmy, an Academy Award [Oscar] and the Nobel Peace Prize because he is concerned about the effects of global warming. He went after all those accolades to upset republicans and their enabling cable network gasbags. Brilliant strategery. Why, at this very moment Al Gore is probably rubbing his hands together and cackling with glee at all their sputtering and exploding heads.

Living well is the best revenge.

Let’s get back to John McCain – the man who is running way behind a whole bunch of other people for the republican nomination to be president. The Nobel organization states about nominations:

In the month of September, the respective Nobel Committees send invitations to thousands of qualified individuals to submit names of candidates for the following year. Around 200-300 names are submitted since the same candidate can be nominated by several persons. The names of the nominees cannot be revealed until 50 years later.

If you’re really dense, or a republican cable network bloviator, I’ll spell it out for you. The Buddhist monks in Myanmar (how’s that for presidential geopolitical knowledge?) are eligible to be nominated for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize – their commendable and life risking activities for peace have only recently taken place in the public eye. Since he didn’t know that, we can probably assume that John McCain is upset that he hasn’t ever been solicited to nominate anyone by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Either that, or he knew and he’s an ungracious political hack.

Nah, they’re probably all just unhappy because the United States Supreme Court didn’t vote 5 to 4 to give the Nobel Peace Prize to dubya.
[Yes, I stole that joke.]