Thursday, February 08, 2007

This is Rich

I cannot remember a colder February in Indiana - so I'm really enjoying this:

Whether or not the Earth is getting warmer, things are getting hot for George Taylor, the state climatologist in Oregon. He does not believe that human activities are the primary cause of global warming.
"Most of the climate changes we have seen up until now have been a result of natural variations," Taylor asserts.
Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski wants to do what many progressive, enlightened leaders support doing to a dissenter — shut him up or fire him.
The governor said Taylor’s contradictions interfere with the state’s stated goals to reduce greenhouse gases. Yes, and in a world of progressive enlightenment, there is no room for dissent.


In Delaware, a number of folks are unhappy with David Legates. Like Mr. Taylor, he is the state climatologist and, like his Oregon colleague, he believes human activities are not to blame for global warming. And, as in Oregon, a lot of people want to shut him up too.

Then there is Virginia resident S. Fred Singer, who is the professor emeritus of environmental science at the University of Virginia. With Dennis Avery, Professor Singer has authored a book, "Unstoppable Global Warming – Every 1,500 Years." The Earth is in one of its natural cycles, the two authors say. Since the advent of recorded history, the Earth has experienced both warming and cooling cycles, many of which occurred before the industrial age, they note.

Some pundits claim that to dissent, even in a time of war, is patriotic and courageous. So, isn’t dissenting on a scientific opinion also courageous and patriotic? Shouldn’t the dissenting scientists be listened to and not fired?

Besides, shouldn’t the global warming supporters be a tad humble in their views since the nation is currently experiencing record-breaking freezing temperatures?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't even know where to start on this one.

1. George Taylor has connections to the George Marshall Institute, which has been funded by oil companies in the past.

2. Legates (see Taylor)

3. S. Fred Singer worked for President Eisenhower at one point and has offered arguements AGAINST the connection between second-hand smoke nad lung cancer.

4. Avery, like Singer, has connections to the Hudson Institute, yet another right wing think-tank.

In other words: They are all hired guns and/or whores (which ever term you prefer. I am sure they would offer up paper on how the moon is made of cheese if the oil companies wrote the check.

On a side note: I find it amusing when people -- usually ignorant people -- say things like "See how cold it is? Global warming, where's it at? Ha, ha."

Global warming doesn't mean the entire freaking planet is going to turn into a steam room! But there does -- even to my untrained, commie liberal eye -- seem to be a change in the weather.

Now I wouldn't presume to say it is or isn't a man-made problem. But at the same time I am not going to scarf down all of the crap sandwiches that these rubes spit out.

Malott said...

CMac,

Thanks for your comments.

Sorry, but I just don't buy it. This issue shakes out as just another political tool of the Left.

And if I'm wrong? Nothing any one country or political party does is going to change anything.

Anonymous said...

I dug around the references in this post and found some items that complement CMac.

I think any fair observer would have to put this "article" in the Guilty-Pleasure-Because-It-Backs-Up-My-Preceonceived-Notions category.

Taylor is basically a weather man, with an MS, whose title is granted by the state univeristy, not the gov. The governor cannot possibly in any way fire him, and there's no evidence that anyone is doing anything to silence him.

Legates seems to be in a lot of back pockets which is easy to look up. Again, there is no evidence of retaliation of any sort. "[Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control administratior] Cherry, who is managing Delaware's efforts with other states to cap regional greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, said Legates was free to take a stand that contradicts Delaware. "But I have to say he's in the very small minority," Cherry said."
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070201/NEWS/702010363/1006/NEWS

paw said...

Nuts - I'm that anonymous above - and that was supposed to be a draft, not yet posted.

Anyway, the money line in this article, "Shouldn’t the dissenting scientists be listened to and not fired?", cannot be substantiated. To that fact, I'll opine that there is no left-wing strangle hold on science.