Mortimer I. Marker was a thinly veiled reference to Mortimer J. Adler

Claire and Rudi and Vanessa must be proud of Cliff Huxtable... So Obama won the Noble Peace Prize--and while I find it exciting despite countless unrecognized individuals that struggle quietly, the greater part of me wants this to turn out to be a joke. Since when were Nobles handed out for potential? Without mentioning his nomination was put in just weeks after the election when the Birthers were still trying to decide if Hawaii was part of the Union, Obama has little else going for him other than the potential to undo all the destructive policies of the previous regime. I am hopeful but Obama has not managed to accomplish that yet, nor restore America's relevance as a world-player. Is there now supposed to be a sophomoric Noble curse? It is a joke-honourarium like the cover of Time magazine for Man of the Year? I pray that he is able to live up that hope. It was ingracious of him to accept the prize, rather than respectfully turn it down. Even worse, Obama accepted it on behalf of all Americans--I am fairly certain that they won't rise to the occasion.