Comments on: Dick Cheney, enemy of reality http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:17:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Delphia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-103373 Delphia Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:03:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-103373 Here's my 2 cents for what its worth. Anyone seen the T. Boone Pickens TV ad about Global warming? Good grief, the oil magnate is inspiring me to write him in for president. We all already know who we can nominate for the first 2 men to go to Mars, its time to move on and start working on a solution. Here’s my 2 cents for what its worth. Anyone seen the T. Boone Pickens TV ad about Global warming? Good grief, the oil magnate is inspiring me to write him in for president. We all already know who we can nominate for the first 2 men to go to Mars, its time to move on and start working on a solution.

]]> By: News Round-Up | Dr. Johnson’s Cat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-103222 News Round-Up | Dr. Johnson’s Cat Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:52:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-103222 [...] Dick Cheney’s office worked to suppress some testimony to Congress about the effects of climate ch.... (And the American people rise up as one and say: “No biggie.”) [...] […] Dick Cheney’s office worked to suppress some testimony to Congress about the effects of climate ch…. (And the American people rise up as one and say: “No biggie.”) […]

]]> By: Mxl Pltx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-102387 Mxl Pltx Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:27:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-102387 Alfredo Louro: "If someone doesn’t accept that at least to a significant extent global warming is caused by humans, then they don’t accept the findings of the IPCC ..." The IPCC charter is to provide policy information for politicians. It is hardly a place for vetting science. Most of the 2500 reviewers were not scientists and from examining responses to comments of those reviewers its hard not to get over the feeling that the "findings" were preordained. Maybe Cheney didn't accept the findings of the IPCC ( like some of these folks: http://www.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/200807/editor.cfm ) and in light of unproven AGW push was worried about the impact of an agency declaring (uncontrollable) weather causes problems? If it is indeed uncontrollable, then it's not much different than saying the lunar phases create mental health problems. Even if true, it's pointless since nothing can be done about it. It's hard to believe that Phil really doesn't know the distinction between GW and AGW. I don't know of anyone who doesn't think GW is real. Yet, Phil keeps throwing up the strawman of non-believers in GW. I'm beginning to think Phil is not very careful in his beliefs. He doesn't seem to be alone however. There seems to be a big media push to deliberately confuse the two issues. In light of that confusion and the ensuing politics, a government agency declaring health problems from GW without making a clear distinction between GW and AGW is acting somewhat irresponsibly and I applaud Cheney for requesting they tone it down. Alfredo Louro: “If someone doesn’t accept that at least to a significant extent global warming is caused by humans, then they don’t accept the findings of the IPCC …”

The IPCC charter is to provide policy information for politicians. It is hardly a place for vetting science. Most of the 2500 reviewers were not scientists and from examining responses to comments of those reviewers its hard not to get over the feeling that the “findings” were preordained.

Maybe Cheney didn’t accept the findings of the IPCC ( like some of these folks: http://www.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/200807/editor.cfm ) and in light of unproven AGW push was worried about the impact of an agency declaring (uncontrollable) weather causes problems? If it is indeed uncontrollable, then it’s not much different than saying the lunar phases create mental health problems. Even if true, it’s pointless since nothing can be done about it.

It’s hard to believe that Phil really doesn’t know the distinction between GW and AGW. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t think GW is real. Yet, Phil keeps throwing up the strawman of non-believers in GW. I’m beginning to think Phil is not very careful in his beliefs. He doesn’t seem to be alone however. There seems to be a big media push to deliberately confuse the two issues.

In light of that confusion and the ensuing politics, a government agency declaring health problems from GW without making a clear distinction between GW and AGW is acting somewhat irresponsibly and I applaud Cheney for requesting they tone it down.

]]> By: Dirk http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-101181 Dirk Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:04:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-101181 @ Alfreda Louro http://hallolinden-db.de/files/2008.07.12_Gray_Spinning_the_Climate.pdf and: http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0707/0707.1161v3.pdf @ Alfreda Louro

http://hallolinden-db.de/files/2008.07.12_Gray_Spinning_the_Climate.pdf

and:

http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0707/0707.1161v3.pdf

]]> By: Dick Cheney Thinks Threats to Public Health Are None of Our Business | ecoble - ecological design, green innovation and environmental sustainability http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100614 Dick Cheney Thinks Threats to Public Health Are None of Our Business | ecoble - ecological design, green innovation and environmental sustainability Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:21:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100614 [...] by the CDC in congressional hearings last fall.  Cheney’s people specifically asked for the removal of data in congressional testimony which proves the negative health consequences for human beings as a result of climate change.  At [...] […] by the CDC in congressional hearings last fall.  Cheney’s people specifically asked for the removal of data in congressional testimony which proves the negative health consequences for human beings as a result of climate change.  At […]

]]> By: Alfredo Louro http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100139 Alfredo Louro Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:32:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100139 If someone doesn't accept that at least to a significant extent global warming is caused by humans, then they don't accept the findings of the IPCC, or statements by the AGU, or the Joint Statement by the Science Academies of the G8+5, to name a few. In that case, I'd like to know precisely what the objections to these reports and statements are. Anyone who says "I haven't seen the evidence ... " should be simply directed to look at the evidence. Cheney is obviously playing for Big Oil, and Big Oil is painfully aware that they have little time to make profits before their industry seriously goes south, as oil becomes prohibitively expensive. So they try to make as much as they can for as long as they can. I don't think it's more complicated than that. If someone doesn’t accept that at least to a significant extent global warming is caused by humans, then they don’t accept the findings of the IPCC, or statements by the AGU, or the Joint Statement by the Science Academies of the G8+5, to name a few. In that case, I’d like to know precisely what the objections to these reports and statements are. Anyone who says “I haven’t seen the evidence … ” should be simply directed to look at the evidence.

Cheney is obviously playing for Big Oil, and Big Oil is painfully aware that they have little time to make profits before their industry seriously goes south, as oil becomes prohibitively expensive. So they try to make as much as they can for as long as they can. I don’t think it’s more complicated than that.

]]> By: Robbie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100129 Robbie Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:22:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/07/10/dick-cheney-enemy-of-reality/#comment-100129 Since when did the debate become about whether global warming is real or not? Maybe it's just me, but the people that I hear talking about global warming strictly talk about whether it's human caused or not. Perhaps I just ignore the rest and don't remember them. Assuming there are people that flatly deny climate change no matter the cause, then I am stunned. Since when did the debate become about whether global warming is real or not? Maybe it’s just me, but the people that I hear talking about global warming strictly talk about whether it’s human caused or not. Perhaps I just ignore the rest and don’t remember them. Assuming there are people that flatly deny climate change no matter the cause, then I am stunned.

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