Why Not Wall-E?

What is it with the Oscars, exactly? Why do they insist on nominating films like "The Reader" and "Frost/Nixon" which got tepid reviews at best when they have stronger, better-reviewed films like "Wall-E" or even "The Dark Knight" to nominate? When you think back to the truly ridiculous films to have been nominated for (or even to win) Oscars in the past it's really nausiating that a film is deemed unworthy simply because it is seen as a "cartoon." Dirty Dancing? Fatal Attraction? The Greatest Show in Earth? Working Girl? Were these really Oscar worthy films? So often lesser films get nominated when non-pedigreed films get shut out whether it's because they are animated, documentaries, foreign, or a combination (tough luck, "Persepolis"). Which film do you think will still be watched and well-regarded in 20 or even 50 years: "Finding Nemo" or "Master & Commander: the Far Side of the World?"

And they wonder why no one wants to tune into the ceremony anymore...