Somebody has to say it. It's more and more clear that the Republican party is in a dysfunctional state. Mind you, I'm a live and let live person, but things have gone too far.

This is full blown Sore Loser Syndrome.

People who stood passively by while a American President lied to us about weapons of mass destruction, ignored global warming, failed to respond to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, fired scientists who contributed unwanted facts, outed a CIA agent; one who set up a system of secret prisons and condoned torture, and, in so doing, revived Al Queda in the few Arab states that had previously resisted it, as well as gaining the censure of the world, they are already mad at Barack Obama.

And what has Obama done? Well, in the first nine months, he's tackled reforming a massive health care system that everyone agrees is a burden on both individuals and our economy, done much to restore some credibility and honor to our country abroad, belatedly steered the ship of state toward energy independence and serious consideration of climate change. In other words, he's boldly faced up to some of the real problems and threats of the twenty-first century.

And won a Nobel Prize.

And for this, the right wants to kill him.

Do you remember the ancient story of Hercules, shoveling out the Aegean stables? That's pretty much Obama's job these days.

Does he deserve it? The prize, I mean. A peacemaker, in my mind, is someone who, in the midst of a "culture war" inside his own country, tells those who have screamed at him in sessions of Congress, that his door is "still open".

When you've come to hate success, when you hope your own country will fail... seriously, Republicans, where is your head at?

Peace in this country would be a prize. And by peace I don't mean complacency, but respectful disagreement, willingness to work together to solve common problems, and the maturity to pay one's share toward those larger goals. Maturity to face the reality that the threats we face aren't partisan, and to accept the moral and ethical imperatives of being a citizen of this country, and of the world, at this time in history are great.

Kudos to the NYT moderate Republican David Brooks who recently called down the shock jocks, and Tim Pawlenty who, guardedly, chose to publicly congratulate Obama. "I think the appropriate response, or an appropriate response, is when anybody wins a Nobel Prize, you know, that is a very noteworthy development and designation and award, and I think the proper response is to say congratulations.”

There was a culture war that preceded civil rights, a culture war when women wanted the vote, a culture war over establishing the National Parks, (thanks, Ken Burns for remembering that), over ending the war in Vietnam.

God help U.S.

Yes, peace could be a prize for America, indeed.