Nobel Peace Prize meaningless, meaningful

Yesterday was a banner day in collective cognitive dissonance.

A whole lot of people spent a whole lot of energy claiming — at exactly the same time — that the Nobel Peace Prize is completely meaningless since either Jimmy Carter, Yasser Arafat, or Al Gore won it but also pregnant with profound significance.

And all of the above in spite of* its current recipient declaring that he was both surprised by and undeserving of the award.

But the most important event for observers of American politics was Rush Limbaugh, the unofficial leader of the Republican Party, confirming that he aligns himself with the Taliban in his oft-voiced desires for the failure of the President of the United States.

In former times such sentiments might have been considered treasonous. Except for Rush Limbaugh and his legions of admiring constituents they're emblematic of just another day at the office.

* Literally, which is at bottom what this is about.