scripting languages vs statically compiled ones

[Peter Hansen]

Ajay wrote:
> is there an authoritative source on the performance of scripting languages
> such as python vs. something like java, c, c++.
> 
> its for a report, so it would be awesome if i could quote some well-known
> authority on this.

Define "well-known" and "authoritative".  For most definitions,
the answer would be "no" though.

-Peter