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March 23, 2006
More Agenda Journalism
This time, it's another global warming hit piece that didn't properly disclose background on the scientist interviewed:
The scientist touted by CBS News' "60 Minutes" as arguably the "world's leading researcher on global warming" and spotlighted as a victim of the Bush administration's censorship on the issue, publicly endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president and received a $250,000 grant from the charitable foundation headed by Kerry's wife.
Scientist James Hansen has also admitted that he contributed to two recent Democratic presidential campaigns. Furthermore, he acted as a consultant in February to former Vice President Al Gore's slide show presentations on "global warming," which Gore presented around the country.
But Scott Pelley, the "60 Minutes" reporter who profiled Hansen and detailed his accusations of censorship on the March 19, edition of the newsmagazine, made no mention of Hansen's links to Kerry and Gore and none to the fact that Kerry's wife -- Teresa Heinz Kerry -- had been one of Hansen's benefactors.
Using the liberals' Armstrong Williams standard of ethics--if you're paid, you're nothing but a propagandist--this scientist is nothing but a left-wing propagandist.
Meanwhile, scientists believe the earth is warming to the temperature it was 130,000 years ago:
By the end of this century, Earth would be at least 4 degrees F (2.3 degrees C) warmer than now, or about as hot as it was nearly 130,000 years ago.
Back then, significant portions of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melted, pushing the global sea levels to about 20 feet higher than current levels.
I could be wrong, but I thought mean oil companies, capitalism, SUVs, Halliburton and the American Empire caused global warming (and racist hurricanes). Where these things around 130,000 years ago? Why was the earth hotter then that it is now?
Posted by Aaron at March 23, 2006 05:56 PM
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Comments
Does it matter? If green house gases make the earth warmer, hadnt we better reduce the contribution to warming from human activity to minimize potential damage?
Personally, my answer is no. I think it's too late. Party on!
Posted by: paul at March 23, 2006 10:50 PM
The part of the country I live in is likely to be one of the places where global warming actually improves the climate and I live about 60 miles inland, so I don't really care if the oceans rise or not. But science is established. It's already happening. The only question is how bad it's going to get. Pelley's estimate of 4 degrees C is conservative compared with a 5 degree estimate I read yesterday.
And the "Armstrong Williams standard" would apply to propaganda payed for by the US government with public money. Not scientific research funded by private individuals. And Williams is a professional pundit, no a scientist. Yet another false comparison by a dishonest pundit.
Posted by: IaintBacchus at March 24, 2006 11:57 AM
It is the nature of scientists to want to continue their life's work, which requires funding. It is possible that, in order to insure future funding from the same source, all it would take is a few, carefully chosen phrases to suggest that more research is needed, while pleasing the funding source. Been there, seen that.
Carbon dioxide only accounts for 0.039% of the atmosphere, using logical thought patterns, how is it possible for such a small component to control global climate? The vast majority of the Greenhouse Effect is due to clouds and humidity. If humans are responsible for any climate influences, it is probably the combined effects of deforestation, Urban Heat Islands, and anthropogenic atmospheric particulates.
OK, I can no longer avoid the truth. The global warming 130,000 years ago was due to the actions of George Bush's evil caveman ancestor Bush Bush, who invented fire. As small tribes across the land celebrated the invention of fire, by starting their own campfires, this triggered the first global warming which was preferable to the Ice Age freezing. But all was not well. The caveman ancestor of Al Gore, Gore Gore, claimed that Bush Bush had stolen his invention and swore to forever seek cosmic justice by undermining any successes by the Bush Bush decendants.
Posted by: joe-6-pack at March 24, 2006 01:18 PM
I love how you invent your own definitions for things, IB. And you miss the whole point.
The point is that global warming is happening, but if the earth was hotter or cooler in the past, it would be arrogant to assume that we have anything to do with it now.
Our impact is probably minimal--yet, liberals want it to be the focal point of all policy.
Posted by: Aaron at March 24, 2006 02:20 PM