Commentary It’s gratifying to see prestigious awards bestowed on those who share our political or aesthetic sensibilities. Such awards confirm our predilections, assuring us that we’re on the side of the angels. Unfortunately, political partisanship often clouds the judgment of those responsible for the award. The predictable result is a long list of unmerited prizes. For example, in 2009, when Barack Obama had barely been sworn into office, the Swedish Academy awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama was flummoxed and knew the award was excessive. He decided that the least bad option was to accept it graciously. In 2016, the Nobel Committee again continued its streak of surprise announcements when it awarded Bob Dylan the prize for literature, a turn of events that astonished everyone, no one more so than Dylan himself. Again, after some initial hesitation, Dylan put on a brave face and accepted the award, candidly admitting …