Inhofe EPW Press Blog Post: Great example of disingenousness...

A friend of mine sent this on to me as part of an ongoing discussion regarding climate change.

To summarize, Marc Morano (whoever he is) published an article entitled "Climate Momentum Shifting: Prominent Scientists Reverse Belief in Man-made Global Warming - Now Skeptics" on U.S. Senator Inhofe's Press Blog on May 15, 2007.

In this article, Mr. Morano states that a "recent and quite remarkable momentum shift [is] taking place in climate science." (Hah. I won't comment on that.) The article then goes on to state that:

"Many former believers in catastrophic man-made global warming have recently reversed themselves and are now climate skeptics. The names included below are just a sampling of the prominent scientists who have spoken out recently to oppose former Vice President Al Gore, the United Nations, and the media driven “consensus” on man-made global warming. " (my emphasis added.)

The article goes on to list names of scientists who have spoken out recently as being skeptical of climate change. The blog post implies that these scientists are skeptics of recent vintage, and it is clear that this is not the case for some of them.

Drs Tim Patterson, Ian Clarke, Jan Veizer, Tad Murty, were signatories to an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada over a year ago (April 2006) requesting that "balanced, comprehensive public-consultation sessions be held so as to examine the scientific foundation of the federal government's climate-change plans."

Mr. Morano is technically correct is saying that the skeptics he mentions are scientists who have "spoken out recently" against Al Gore, but they have been saying that, in some cases, for years.

Mr. Morano chooses to ignore the professional societies that represent thousands of scientists who have recognized man's contribution to precipitating climate change. This blog entry is an example of sensationalist, exaggerated, untruthful and ill-researched "spin". It just goes to show you can put anything up on a blog... Hehehe...

I gauge that Drs Patterson et al are quite conscientious for requesting that public consultation sessions be held to examine the scientific foundations of any climate change plans, under any government. But I suspect that politicians would not want to sink themselves into a morass of scientific discussion - something of which they know nothing about - and would choose to stay away.

Okay, I've spent too much time on this... I gotta get started on that stupid shed...