KY GOP Sen. Who Said Mars Has the Same Temperature as Earth Doubles Down

Sen. Brandon Smith (famous climate science ‘academic’) is still living on Mars
Backwoods Sleuth
Environment • Views: 33,312

When we last left Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith, he was lecturing us about the “real facts” of climate change and how Mars is the same temperature as our own happy planet Earth.

When called out on his dubious grasp of how things actually work in real life science, he was quick to claim that his comments were taken out of context (despite actual video proof).

Well, Sen. Smith apparently is a man of strong beliefs who will not sit down and shut up when said beliefs are challenged. Please proceed, Sen. Smith (via Joe Sonka):

The Monday following the hearing, Smith sent the following email back to a Kentucky resident who emailed him to point out how wrong he was on Mars:

Subject: Re: Climate Change

It amazes me that you have no idea what I actually said, weren’t at this meeting yet bought into this bogus quote posted about me so entirely that you took time to actually send me an email. Really? I have some lake front property you might be interested in! Please do not kick yourself for being duped by this, 56 other people in the world did as well.

As you can see, Smith is still denying that he said it, and still lying about being misquoted or taken out of context. It’s all bogus! The person replied by sending Smith a link of the YouTube video I posted… in full, undeniable context. Smith did not reply until this weekend, when he sent the following email, proving that Smith’s head is still on another planet:

“I made the point that it is my opinion that something bigger than one industry, coal, is affecting our planet. I went on to use the example that both Earth and Mars have experienced temperature changes. The clip you saw only shows enough of the overall debate to make the viewer believe I’m saying something different. I am not asking you to believe me; that is entirely up to you. However, as always, there is more to this story that deserves to be told.

The meeting in question was held so the Secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet could explain to committee members the impact of the newly proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. To say this was a heavily attended gathering by the media is an understatement. In fact, every major state outlet was present. Curiously, they never reported this story. Why? Because all of the informed parties understood the context of the conversation as I have been making this point for over five years. In fact, I was in Louisville on May 14th at a Forum Panel where we had a healthy discussion on this exact topic, and there was no story following that. You might be wondering how then did you get the story? This story came from an individual in the audience who can be heard on the tape shouting the claim that New York City is underwater due to climate change (I assure you, the whole story really is that bizarre). They began to tweet and blog and when the tape became available, took the snippet of me you saw.

Either all of the legitimate reporters in this meeting missed my comments or this whole ordeal is a diversionary, anti-coal measure to keep people from asking what the Secretary had to say. The answer to that question, the really important question of the day, is that he said nothing. He did not show up. I am not certain if these facts make a difference now but at least it provides a more complete image of what really happened and background on the source. If you still have doubts, take notice that this story, as you see it, was not reported in this publication or any other in Kentucky.

Although the majority of emails and calls to my office and home on this topic have unfortunately been vicious and accusatory in nature, one may be surprised to know that I appreciate the input. This is a discussion worth having, and even though we don’t all have to agree, we need to have tolerance of the many different views if we hope to come together to address this vital issue. Jumping to conclusions and battering the “opposing side” only perpetuates the entrenched environment we currently live in, which hasn’t gotten us anywhere. As chairman of Natural Resource committee, I had an open door policy. We brought the most diverse group of individuals and ideas to our meetings in hopes of finding answers. It takes no effort to call someone an idiot; the true challenge is finding the opportunities to work together beyond differences.

Brandon D. Smith”

Joe Sonka demolishes Sen. Smith’s email claims point by point at: Sen. Brandon Smith (Famous Climate Science ‘Academic’) Is Still Living on Mars - FatLip

Video of the hearing in all its bad science glory is available via KET (Kentucky Educational Television) here.

UPDATE at 7/14/14 11:41:09 am by Backwoods_Sleuth

Here’s the clip of the comment that Sen. Smith claims “was taken out of context”:

Youtube Video

But feel free to watch the entire KET archive video of the committee hearing to see the comment in complete “context”. Spoiler: it doesn’t get any better for Sen. Smith.

Jump to bottom

139 comments
1 Rocky-in-Connecticut  Jul 14, 2014 10:01:08am

Might Makes Right and To the Victor go the Spoils are the two most important aspects in understanding the right wing mindset and their argumentative tactics.

Truth and verifiable facts fall to a distant, distant place of importance down on the list.

2 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:04:35am

re: #1 Rocky-in-Connecticut

This is true. I can only keep trying to spread the truth as much as I can.

3 Randall Gross  Jul 14, 2014 10:11:05am

The wingnut climate denial trope that Smith was trying to propagate is the one soundly debunked by Peter Sinclair in this “Climate Denial Crock of the Week”.

Youtube Video

it was quite popular 2007-2009 and basically went “other planets are warming too & it’s solar causation” or the outright make shit up lie “Mars warmed at the same rate as planet Earth, proving solar forcing, not AGW”

4 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 10:11:44am

So first the deniers denied that the climate was changing. Now a few of them are acknowledging change but say that climates everywhere have always been changing——and deny that CO2 and methane have anything to do with it. They also say everyone is overreacting because life has survived all kinds of changes…..

This is why it is dangerous for people to not understand the evolutionary process. Evolution takes a long time especially for species that take a long time to mature. It works fine just as long as the climate changes are gradual enough. But when trees live in a quickly changing environment, they cannot just walk somewhere else that is more drought free and milder overall.

Ecosystems co-evolve so when the first handful of species die out, that can lead to yet more plants, animals and fungi on the chopping block. Evolutionary history features two MAJOR mass extinctions already; do we really want to force a third one upon ourselves?

5 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:15:26am

re: #3 Randall Gross

The wingnut climate denial trope that Smith was trying to propagate is the one soundly debunked by Peter Sinclair in this “Climate Denial Crock of the Week”.

[Embedded content]

it was quite popular 2007-2009

Yes. Joe Sonka has that linked in his post.

6 Skip Intro  Jul 14, 2014 10:15:49am

Here’s another one. Unfortunately he owns a media empire which follows his lead exactly.

Rupert Murdoch shrugged off the notion that climate change is a big deal in an interview on Sunday.

…..

“We should approach climate change with great skepticism,” he said. “Climate change has been going on as long as the planet is here. There will always be a little bit of it.”

Murdoch acknowledged that the changing planet could wipe out small countries like the Maldives, but he had a quick fix for that.

“We can’t stop it, we’ve just got to stop building vast houses on seashores,” he added. “The world has been changing for thousands and thousands of years, it’s just a lot more complicated today because we are more advanced.”

huffingtonpost.com

7 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:22:04am

I am still completely bemused that people like Sen. Smith completely ignore and deny video evidence.
Totally sticking fingers in his ears, closing his eyes and saying, “lalalalalalaa, I can’t hear you!”

8 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 10:27:24am

re: #6 Skip Intro

“We should approach climate change with great skepticism,” he said.

This asshole really pisses me off. Climate change was met with great skepticism from the get go——-because the scientific method is all about skepticism & disproving false notions! Thus far, climate change theory has survived decades of efforts to disprove it, so it is time to give it the benefit of the doubt even though it is remotely possible that all the current data has led us astray. The risks are too great to not act on this now.

9 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 10:32:50am

re: #7 Backwoods_Sleuth

I am still completely bemused that people like Sen. Smith completely ignore and deny video evidence.
Totally sticking fingers in his ears, closing his eyes and saying, “lalalalalalaa, I can’t hear you!”

In fairness to Smith, perhaps he misspoke and meant to say that both Earth and Mars had both experienced similar rates of temperature change. It is still a stupid argument but not as obviously stupid as claiming that the temperatures of the two planets are the same. I think it is important to address his actual argument than what he said by mistake.

10 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:35:24am

re: #9 KerFuFFler

In fairness to Smith, perhaps he misspoke and meant to say that both Earth and Mars had both experienced similar rates of temperature change. It is still a stupid argument but not as obviously stupid as claiming that the temperatures of the two planets are the same. I think it is important to address his actual argument than what he said by mistake.

No, he did not misspeak. He said:

Mars is the exact same temperature as Earth and Mars doesn’t have any coal mines and factories

11 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 10:40:10am

re: #10 Backwoods_Sleuth

“I made the point that it is my opinion that something bigger than one industry, coal, is affecting our planet. I went on to use the example that both Earth and Mars have experienced temperature changes.” Smith

Here he is saying that this is what he meant to say, so that would mean he misspoke in the video in question.

It is still a deeply flawed argument and one that should be countered on its own without our insisting that he meant to say that our two planets are the same temperature.

12 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:41:21am

re: #11 KerFuFFler

Here he is saying that this is what he meant to say, so that would mean he misspoke in the video in question.

Only because he got called out on it.
;)

13 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 10:45:51am

re: #12 Backwoods_Sleuth

I imagine he may have initially not understood the pseudo-scientific argument he was parroting and only realized after he had been made fun of that he misstated the argument.

14 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:46:58am

re: #13 KerFuFFler

I imagine he may have initially not understood the pseudo-scientific argument he was parroting and only realized after he had been made fun of that he misstated the argument.

He misstated every single thing. And he wasn’t the only one on the committee to do so.

15 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 10:48:27am

Also, he is still claiming he actually didn’t say what he actually said.

16 Randall Gross  Jul 14, 2014 10:57:12am

re: #7 Backwoods_Sleuth

I am still completely bemused that people like Sen. Smith completely ignore and deny video evidence.
Totally sticking fingers in his ears, closing his eyes and saying, “lalalalalalaa, I can’t hear you!”

Youtube Video

17 Khal Wimpo  Jul 14, 2014 11:13:06am

Over the years, I’ve tracked the arguments from an otherwise intelligent wingnut friend of mine. First, it was that there was a giant upwelling of warm water in the Gulf Stream that was causing the shift in ocean temperatures.

Then it was CO2 releases from Mount Erebus in Antarctica that was responsible for the uptick in greenhouse gases. And solar flares.

Now he lives in an area that is consistently flooding. Where humans have lived for more than 5,000 years. And his wife is an archeologist, so she knows how to read the records of human settlement patterns to point out that the waters are rising far beyond where they have EVER been.

Current line of reasoning: the planet’s climate is always changing. And we can’t do anything about it because shut up that’s why.

Did I mention that a large part of his income comes from working for the oil industry? Yeah, that just might be relevant.

18 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:13:45am

Uh.

19 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:14:00am
20 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:16:03am

re: #17 Khal Wimpo

(snip the rest of the great comment)

Did I mention that a large part of his income comes from working for the oil industry? Yeah, that just might be relevant.

Sen. Smith’s income comes from coal/mining/natural gas/oil industries, too! My surprise, etc……

21 GunstarGreen  Jul 14, 2014 11:16:27am

Serious question: how many “whoops, that pic totally wasn’t at all what I originally claimed it to be, sorry about that!” twits should be allowed before we concede that social-media-as-source-of-news-slash-outrage is bullshit and needs to stop?

22 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:16:35am

re: #18 Charles Johnson

Uh.

[Embedded content]

These people are completely nutz.

23 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:18:04am

re: #21 GunstarGreen

Serious question: how many “whoops, that pic totally wasn’t at all what I originally claimed it to be, sorry about that!” twits should be allowed before we concede that social-media-as-source-of-news-slash-outrage is bullshit and needs to stop?

It’s gotten to the point that twitter pix are always suspect when someone is attempting to make a political point.

24 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 11:18:27am

re: #10 Backwoods_Sleuth

No, he did not misspeak. He said:

Mars is the exact same temperature as Earth and Mars doesn’t have any coal mines and factories

I went back and listened to the clip and his precise wording was

“…the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here ….”

He may have simply left out the word ‘changing’ after ‘Mars is’. He is not currently insisting that the temperatures are the same on the two planets so I think it is fair to call it a misstatement.

He is still a fool, but I like my side to fight fair———and again, it is more important to counter the argument he says he is making than to insist on only making fun of a glaring flub.

25 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:19:18am
26 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:19:34am

re: #21 GunstarGreen

Serious question: how many “whoops, that pic totally wasn’t at all what I originally claimed it to be, sorry about that!” twits should be allowed before we concede that social-media-as-source-of-news-slash-outrage is bullshit and needs to stop?

We’re living in wikipedia age. Resistance is futile.

27 wrenchwench  Jul 14, 2014 11:20:28am

re: #22 Backwoods_Sleuth

These people are completely nutz.

I was thrown off by the bicycle in Ezra’s bio, but then noticed it’s a stupid fixie so….

28 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:20:56am

re: #27 wrenchwench

*guffaw*

29 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:22:06am

re: #24 KerFuFFler

I don’t agree. He clearly stated that the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is on Earth. It’s not “misstating” anything to quote his exact words.

30 CuriousLurker  Jul 14, 2014 11:23:47am

re: #21 GunstarGreen

Serious question: how many “whoops, that pic totally wasn’t at all what I originally claimed it to be, sorry about that!” twits should be allowed before we concede that social-media-as-source-of-news-slash-outrage is bullshit and needs to stop?

There’s nothing that can be done to stop it unless Twitter removes the ability to upload or link to photos, which I don’t see happening.

As for the “whoops…!” part, I just automatically assume photos are inaccurate unless they’re coming form a mainstream news source. Even then, sometimes you find them using file photos that aren’t necessarily about the same event as the article, but at least they’re usually labeled as such.

31 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:25:14am

re: #24 KerFuFFler

I went back and listened to the clip and his precise wording was

“…the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here and Mars doesn’t….”

He may have simply left out the word ‘changing’ after ‘Mars is’. He is not currently insisting that the temperatures are the same on the two planets so I think it is fair to call it a misstatement.

He is still a fool, but I like my side to fight fair———and again, it is more important to counter the argument he says he is making than to insist on only making fun of a glaring flub.

I’ll have to refer you to the video in Randall’s post at re: #3 Randall Gross and the fact that Sen. Smith is using Grist to double down on his Mars science:

But Smith seems to be really convinced by these photos of one spot melting on Mars. Here’s the response from Grist:

On Earth, we have poles melting, surface temperature rising, tropospheric temperatures rising, permafrost melting, glaciers worldwide melting, CO2 concentrations increasing, borehole analysis showing warming, sea ice receding, proxy reconstructions showing warming, sea level rising, sea surface temperatures rising, energy imbalance, ice sheets melting, and stratospheric cooling, all of which leads us to believe the earth is undergoing global warming driven by an enhanced greenhouse effect.

One Mars we have one spot melting, which leads us to believe that … one spot is melting.

Smith just CAN NOT admit that he is completely wrong.

32 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:26:28am
33 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 11:26:51am
34 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Jul 14, 2014 11:27:41am

God created them both on the same day, probably used the same dough mix

35 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:27:57am
36 CuriousLurker  Jul 14, 2014 11:29:27am

re: #31 Backwoods_Sleuth

Good to see you following up on this. Congrats on the Page promotion.

37 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:29:59am

AND YET

38 Decatur Deb  Jul 14, 2014 11:30:04am

re: #32 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Think Frum was making a ‘Winnipeg’ joke. It’s like a ‘Philadelphia’ joke, but colder.

39 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:30:57am

re: #36 CuriousLurker

Good to see you following up on this. Congrats on the Page promotion.

Thank you! I blush…but Joe Sonka is really the one to thank. I’m just trying best I can to help spread the word.

40 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 11:31:06am

re: #29 Charles Johnson

I don’t agree. He clearly stated that the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is on Earth. It’s not “misstating” anything to quote his exact words.

“I made the point that it is my opinion that something bigger than one industry, coal, is affecting our planet. I went on to use the example that both Earth and Mars have experienced temperature changes. The clip you saw only shows enough of the overall debate to make the viewer believe I’m saying something different. Smith

Since Smith is currently maintaining that this is what he meant, it is fair to say that he misspoke when he said, “…the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here ….”. That is what it means to misspeak.

It’s not “misstating” anything to quote his exact words.

I was not accusing people quoting him as making a misstatement——-I was saying that Smith’s comment about the temperature was a misstatement.

41 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:31:34am

Well, actually

42 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:31:57am
43 Gus  Jul 14, 2014 11:32:01am

re: #38 Decatur Deb

Think Frum was making a ‘Winnipeg’ joke. It’s like a ‘Philadelphia’ joke, but colder.

You mean The City of Brotherly Love. //

44 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 11:32:04am

re: #37 Charles Johnson

AND YET

He forgot his Kool-Aid guy saying “Well actually”

45 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 11:32:16am

Who has a spare desk I can throw out the window?

46 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:32:52am

re: #40 KerFuFFler

Since Smith is currently maintaining that this is what he meant, it is fair to say that he misspoke when he said, “…the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here ….”. That is what it means to misspeak.

Ah the GOP definition of “misspeak”…don’t believe anyone who quotes me verbatim, especially when everyone is pointing and laughing.

47 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:33:52am

re: #40 KerFuFFler

Since Smith is currently maintaining that this is what he meant, it is fair to say that he misspoke when he said, “…the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here ….”. That is what it means to misspeak.

Does he claim that he misspoke?

48 Decatur Deb  Jul 14, 2014 11:35:32am

re: #43 Gus

You mean The City of Brotherly Love. //

“All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”

49 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:35:36am

re: #47 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

Does he claim that he misspoke?

He claims his comment was “taken out of context”…

50 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:35:49am

There’s also the fact that Smith’s current argument is also complete bullshit, even if you accept that he misstated it originally. It’s another ridiculous right wing anti-science talking point.

51 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 11:36:24am
52 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:36:33am

When someone misspeaks, it’s their duty to say: “Oops, my bad, I misspoke. What I actually meant was…” instead of “Stop distorting what I said, liar!”.

53 Gus  Jul 14, 2014 11:37:35am

A square is just like a circle in that a circle could be seen as comprised of millions of straight line segments much like the 4 straight line segments of a square. So a square is also a circle only with 4 edges.

GOP

//

54 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:38:30am

re: #53 Gus

A square is just like a circle in that a circle could be seen as comprised of millions of straight line segments much like the 4 straight line segments of a square. So a square is also a circle only with 4 edges.

GOP

//

From this we conclude that Pi=3 and the Bible was right.

55 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 11:39:12am

re: #53 Gus

A square is just like a circle in that a circle could be seen as comprised of millions of straight line segments much like the 4 straight line segments of a square. So a square is also a circle only with 4 edges.

GOP

//

EXCELLENT POINT

56 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:42:26am

I’ve added the short clip (that Sen. Smith claims was “taken out of context”) from the previous post about this.

57 EPR-radar  Jul 14, 2014 11:43:13am

re: #53 Gus

A square is just like a circle in that a circle could be seen as comprised of millions of straight line segments much like the 4 straight line segments of a square. So a square is also a circle only with 4 edges.

GOP

//

QED. This same line of reasoning can be used to conclusively prove my personal version of prosperity gospel Christianity.

58 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:46:06am
Me: “But 9 says ‘Don’t use alcohol.’ which doesn’t quite go with item 2, and 6 says ‘The moon is made of green cheese,’ which is just plain wrong.”

John: “There’s no contradiction between 9 and 2, 9 just clarifies 2. As far as 6 goes, you’ve never been to the moon, so you can’t say for sure.”

Me: “Scientists have pretty firmly established that the moon is made of rock…”

Mary: “But they don’t know if the rock came from the Earth, or from out of space, so it could just as easily be green cheese.”

Me: “I’m not really an expert, but I think the theory that the Moon was somehow ‘captured’ by the Earth has been discounted. Besides, not knowing where the rock came from doesn’t make it cheese.”

John: “Ha! You just admitted that scientists make mistakes, but we know Hank is always right!”

Me: “We do?”

Mary: “Of course we do, Item 7 says so.”

jhuger.com

59 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 11:46:57am

re: #49 Backwoods_Sleuth

He claims his comment was “taken out of context”…

“I made the point that it is my opinion that something bigger than one industry, coal, is affecting our planet. I went on to use the example that both Earth and Mars have experienced temperature changes. Smith.

Here he is maintaining that this is what he meant to say, so since that has a totally different meaning, it is fair to say he misspoke. I don’t think he has used that term yet, but I still think it is important to address the bogus argument he was trying to make. Drawing parallels between the temperature changes on other planets about which we have little data, and ignoring the vastly different orbits and other conditions is completely specious.

60 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:48:50am

re: #59 KerFuFFler

Sorry, but since he doesn’t claim that he misspoke, there’s not much we can do. He said what he said, then he said that he had said something else, when he had actually said what we say he had said.

61 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 11:50:49am
62 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 11:53:15am

re:
#61

My surprise, etc….

63 lawhawk  Jul 14, 2014 11:55:24am
64 Varek Raith  Jul 14, 2014 11:56:16am

Average temp of Earth - 15°C
Average temp of Mars - Minus 60°C

Discuss.

65 sagehen  Jul 14, 2014 11:56:49am

re: #45 Pie-onist Overlord

Who has a spare desk I can throw out the window?

[Embedded content]

If you throw all your desks out the window, how are you going to be able to headdesk?

66 iossarian  Jul 14, 2014 11:56:53am

re: #35 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Are there really people who think that it’s somehow relevant to the science of global warming that under certain conditions the same temperature might be observed at some location on Earth and some location on Mars?

67 Kid A  Jul 14, 2014 11:56:53am

NYT blows up Brownback’s tax cut wet dream today.

68 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 11:56:55am

re: #64 Varek Raith

Average temp of Earth - 15°C
Average temp of Mars - Minus 60°C

Discuss.

If the guy lives on the Sun, then he has a point.

69 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 11:57:17am

re: #64 Varek Raith

Average temp of Earth - 15°C
Average temp of Mars - Minus 60°C

Discuss.

But the icecaps on Mars are melting!!11!! Totes the same thing!!11!!

70 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 11:57:26am

re: #64 Varek Raith

Average temp of Earth - 15°C
Average temp of Mars - Minus 60°C

Discuss.

You can find places on earth which are -60, so its the exact same thing

71 Gus  Jul 14, 2014 11:57:39am

Also remember. There are no coal fired power plant on Mars.

//

72 iossarian  Jul 14, 2014 11:58:00am

IT’S THE SAME NUMBER YOU DIRTY LIBRULS

73 GunstarGreen  Jul 14, 2014 11:58:38am

re: #66 iossarian

Are there really people who think that it’s somehow relevant to the science of global warming that under certain conditions the same temperature might be observed at some location on Earth and some location on Mars?

Yes, because those people don’t actually understand what science is. Remember, they believe that all they need to know about the world can be found in a single book, which is a re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-translation of a millenia-old volume.

This is what happens when you allow people to base their understanding of the world upon fairytales.

74 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 11:59:58am

re: #65 sagehen

If you throw all your desks out the window, how are you going to be able to headdesk?

I’ll jump out the window head first on to the pile of desks.

75 Varek Raith  Jul 14, 2014 12:00:38pm

I’m totally sending these guys to Mars on a vacation. When they come back they can tell us just how pleasant it was there.
What morons.

76 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:00:42pm

The Mars temperature is to be found in 5 Esdras, 32:18. It’s the same as the Earth’s in 3 Chron. 42:12. QED.

And that’s how you do science, kids.

77 Varek Raith  Jul 14, 2014 12:00:56pm

re: #74 Pie-onist Overlord

I’ll jump out the window head first on to the pile of desks.

You win an internets.

78 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 12:01:53pm

re: #52 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

When someone misspeaks, it’s their duty to say: “Oops, my bad, I misspoke. What I actually meant was…” instead of “Stop distorting what I said, liar!”.

I agree! He is making a big fool of himself by refusing to clear this up. It may feel like a distortion of what he said to him since it was not what he meant, but it is what he said and he needs to address that.

79 Gus  Jul 14, 2014 12:02:26pm

Bible doesn’t mention Mars so how can we be sure it exists?

//

80 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:02:33pm

81 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:03:14pm
82 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:03:31pm
83 iossarian  Jul 14, 2014 12:03:40pm

SQUIRREL BEES ON MARS

84 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:03:46pm

I’ll say this about the French: they knew how to throw a Revolution!

85 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:03:59pm

On second thought… we’ve been chasing a red herring. He meant this Mars:

86 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:05:14pm
87 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:05:32pm

GET YOUR DREAM JOB BY PULLING OUT A GLOCK AT THE JOB INTERVIEW!!!

88 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 12:06:48pm

re: #83 iossarian

SQUIRREL BEES ON MARS

And then we have the Squirrel Spider of Venus

89 Varek Raith  Jul 14, 2014 12:07:29pm

re: #88 Kragar

And then we have the Squirrel Spider of Venus

[Embedded image]

Excuse me while I go get the fire.

90 wrenchwench  Jul 14, 2014 12:07:45pm

re: #86 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

You’ll stir up a hornets’ BEES DUDEBROS’ nest!

91 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:07:51pm

92 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 12:08:07pm

re: #85 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

On second thought… we’ve been chasing a red herring. He meant this Mars:

[Embedded image]

93 iossarian  Jul 14, 2014 12:08:28pm

re: #87 Pie-onist Overlord

Where the fuck do “conservative women” think their right to own property, vote, etc. came from other than “leftist feminism”?

94 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 12:08:40pm

re: #87 Pie-onist Overlord

GET YOUR DREAM JOB BY PULLING OUT A GLOCK AT THE JOB INTERVIEW!!!

[Embedded content]

I suppose that’s how we get to vote…

95 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 12:09:13pm
96 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:10:29pm

She’s such an idiot

97 Decatur Deb  Jul 14, 2014 12:10:47pm

re: #94 Backwoods_Sleuth

I suppose that’s how we get to vote…

On the other hand, I’ve never seen the Delco starter get its due.

98 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:12:18pm

About the IBT: Moonies, Messiahs and Media: Who Really Owns Newsweek?

99 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:13:39pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

About the IBT: Moonies, Messiahs and Media: Who Really Owns Newsweek?

David haz a sad because he didn’t the dream job at The Intercept, but he accept Teh Glenntweet as a consolation prize.

100 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 12:14:09pm

re:
#93

Hurr hurr Founders passed the 20th Amendment!!!!111

101 Rightwingconspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:14:13pm

And again-NYPD cops lie so press charges

Paged

102 S'latch  Jul 14, 2014 12:16:29pm

Sen. Brandon Smith is just an agent for maintaining the status quo, and he will say anything that he thinks will help maintain it.

He can say that “the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here,” then claim he meant some other slightly less obvious falsehood. Whatever it takes to keep the boat from rocking.

103 wrenchwench  Jul 14, 2014 12:18:40pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

About the IBT: Moonies, Messiahs and Media: Who Really Owns Newsweek?

From your link:

Mr. Jang’s friends also appear to have silenced a reporter who looked into the connection between the church and IBT. Ann Brocklehurst—now an editor at the Toronto Star, but then an independent journalist—investigated IBT’s funding and eventually discovered its close connections to Olivet University. She wrote a series of posts suggesting that Mr. Jang was funding IBT, then abruptly deleted every post referencing IBT, presumably after being pressured. (Fortunately, one post was copied before being deleted.)

“real journalistic independence” !

104 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 14, 2014 12:25:17pm

re: #65 sagehen

If you throw all your desks out the window, how are you going to be able to headdesk?

Job creation.

105 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 14, 2014 12:25:46pm

re: #68 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

If the guy lives on the Sun, then he has a point.

What does he do at night though?

106 RealityBasedSteve  Jul 14, 2014 12:27:04pm

re: #68 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

If the guy lives on the Sun, then he has a point.

Well, he could, if he stayed over on the dark side of the Sun, it’s a lot cooler there.

RBS

107 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 12:28:23pm

re: #105 Feline Fearless Leader

What does he do at night though?

sleeps in the chariot until morning.

108 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:32:53pm

re: #105 Feline Fearless Leader

What does he do at night though?

Ask the NSA. I’m sure they wiretap the Sun too. /

109 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 14, 2014 12:35:45pm

MORON==>

110 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:36:56pm
111 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 14, 2014 12:38:13pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

So does PZ Myers. With gusto.

112 wrenchwench  Jul 14, 2014 12:41:34pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

RON PAUL

113 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 12:43:49pm

re: #109 Pie-onist Overlord

MORON==>

[Embedded content]

Isn’t Amy just precious?
/spit

114 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 12:44:09pm

re:
#111

Linky please?

115 BeachDem  Jul 14, 2014 12:44:24pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

Charles, in case you haven’t seen it, thought you would get a kick out of Wonkette’s feature on Chuck C. (complete with blingee!!)

“Move over Ben Shapiro, because it’s safe to say that Yer Wonkette, collectively, is simply head over heels for Charles C. “Chuck” Johnson, the brave not-a-blogger (HE’S AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST!!!) who has attached himself to the Mississippi Senate runoff controversy like a particularly tenacious hagfish.”

Read more at wonkette.com

116 Charles Johnson  Jul 14, 2014 12:49:06pm

re: #115 BeachDem

Chuck is such an asshole even right wingers hate him.

117 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 12:52:05pm

re:
#115

From the Wonkette article and the link to the “award”—

The winner will receive the opportunity to begin a paid internship at either Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal, or The New York Post.

Check out those fine, scholarly, “independent” “news” organizations.

Bwwwwaaaaaaaaahahahhhhhhhhh

Moar—

The Eric Breindel Collegiate Journalism Award is presented to the undergraduate journalist, columnist, editorial writer or reporter who best reflects the spirit of Mr. Breindel’s writings: love of country and its democratic institutions as well as the commitment to preserve the freedoms that allow such institutions to flourish.

Yeah, “love of country” as long as it has a GOP prez and if not then elections and democratic processes and institutions don’t mean jacksht and must be overthrown Operation American Spring!!!!111

118 BeachDem  Jul 14, 2014 12:53:27pm

re: #116 Charles Johnson

But nobody snarks like Wonkette’s Princess Sparkle Pony.

Here’s Charles C. Johnson clarifying some of his recent journalism: “There is no proof that [my wild new NRSC accusation] is true,” he explained to a handful of non-award-winning journalists, “but there is no proof that it is not true.” YES. I am standing up in my chair and Cheering 4 ChuckTM right now! Ow, it’s a swiveling chair and I fell and hit my head.

119 jaunte  Jul 14, 2014 12:53:44pm

re: #115 BeachDem

“…You guys, Charles C. Johnson won the prestigious Eric Breindel Collegiate Journalism Award, which is the award given to collegiate journalists who “best reflect the spirit” of Eric Breindel. How many of you can say that?”

Oh, sure, but does he have a Peabody????

120 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 12:55:06pm

Looking for confirmation:

121 Slap  Jul 14, 2014 12:55:48pm

re: #119 jaunte

He has a Mr. Peabody action figure. That’s the same thing, right?

122 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 12:55:59pm
123 b_sharp  Jul 14, 2014 12:56:55pm

It doesn’t matter if his literal words were an error in repeating the talking point or if he got the talking point correct. The talking point itself is wrong. The inference we are supposed to make from the talking point, that the warming is due to solar forcing alone, is wrong.

Whether he truly thinks Mars is the same temp as Earth or that they both experienced the same temperature trend the specific words are irrelevant. What he wants everyone to take from the point is that coal, oil, and every other fossil fuel can be burned without consequence.

That is the point that needs to be addressed.

124 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 12:58:39pm

re:
#110

Well I’m somewhat relieved to learn that not all the asinine online poll results I’ve seen are due to the antics of wingnuts. /

125 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 12:58:41pm
126 Kragar  Jul 14, 2014 1:00:02pm
127 Bulworth  Jul 14, 2014 1:02:35pm

From cnn.com—-

Attorney General Eric Holder says he sees “racial animus” in strident opposition to Obama’s policies. Some media conservatives accuse Holder and the White House of trying to “stoke racial divisions.”

Holder doing a little trolling of the RWNJ…..

128 CuriousLurker  Jul 14, 2014 1:05:04pm

re: #126 Kragar

It looks like the UN pulled it’s staff out today, which I was unaware of. It appears that the airport in Tripoli was closed, so hopefully the plane was empty.

U.N. pulls staff out of Libya as clashes kill 13, close airports

The United Nations on Monday pulled its staff out of Libya where at least 13 people have been killed in fighting in the eastern city of Benghazi and in Tripoli, forcing the closure of the international airport.

Security and medical sources said at least six people were killed and 25 wounded in Benghazi in heavy fighting between security forces and rival militias since late Sunday. […]

Tripoli airport and Misrata city airport were closed on Monday which, along with the closure two months ago of Benghazi airport, leaves the country with only a land route to Tunisia, a flashback to the 1990s when Libya was under U.N. sanctions.

The Tripoli air control centre covering western Libya was closed because it was not safe for staff to go to work, aviation officials and state news agency Lana said on Monday. The control centre is responsible for traffic in Tripoli, Misrata and Sabha. […]

129 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 14, 2014 1:09:47pm

re: #123 b_sharp

It doesn’t matter if his literal words were an error in repeating the talking point or if he got the talking point correct. The talking point itself is wrong. The inference we are supposed to make from the talking point, that the warming is due to solar forcing alone, is wrong.

Whether he truly thinks Mars is the same temp as Earth or that they both experienced the same temperature trend the specific words are irrelevant. What he wants everyone to take from the point is that coal, oil, and every other fossil fuel can be burned without consequence.

That is the point that needs to be addressed.

I don’t think Mars has many coal-fired power plants. One reason being that Mars probably doesn’t have any coal since coal deposits are biological in source.

130 De Kolta Chair  Jul 14, 2014 1:11:47pm

“I have some lake front property you might be interested in!”

Since he owns an energy company, I’m assuming he meant that literally.

131 b_sharp  Jul 14, 2014 1:24:31pm

re: #129 Feline Fearless Leader

I don’t think Mars has many coal-fired power plants. One reason being that Mars probably doesn’t have any coal since coal deposits are biological in source.

Your point?

132 KerFuFFler  Jul 14, 2014 1:33:59pm

re: #123 b_sharp

It doesn’t matter if his literal words were an error in repeating the talking point or if he got the talking point correct. The talking point itself is wrong. The inference we are supposed to make from the talking point, that the warming is due to solar forcing alone, is wrong.

Whether he truly thinks Mars is the same temp as Earth or that they both experienced the same temperature trend the specific words are irrelevant. What he wants everyone to take from the point is that coal, oil, and every other fossil fuel can be burned without consequence.

That is the point that needs to be addressed.

Absolutely! That is really the point that I have been trying to make all along. Since the argument that is making the rounds is about a spurious parallel in temperature changes among several planets, that is the argument that really needs to be addressed rather than the even stupider idea Smith uttered about the actual temperatures on Earth and Mars. Nobody believes the temperatures are the same on Earth and Mars. He clearly misspoke and is too pigheaded to admit it, so while we may make fun of him for that, it is also important to counter the actual pseudo-scientific message he and others are trying to convey.

133 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 14, 2014 1:41:53pm

re: #132 KerFuFFler

The fact remains that there is a significant portion of the population in Kentucky (and they also believe the Creation Museum is real science) will completely agree with any of the nonsense spewing out of Sen. Smith, misspeak or whatever you want to call it.
For crying out loud, these people ELECTED him! And he’s the majority whip in our state Senate.

134 ObserverArt  Jul 14, 2014 2:07:30pm

re: #71 Gus

Also remember. There are no coal fired power plant on Mars.

//

Oh yeah! Then why did the little Martian guy in the Looney Tunes cartoons have that black face???

Marvin the Martian - Coal Black Face…proof of coal fired plants on Mars.

Coal had to be involved…take that!

/

135 RealityBasedSteve  Jul 14, 2014 2:08:16pm

re: #115 BeachDem

Charles, in case you haven’t seen it, thought you would get a kick out of Wonkette’s feature on Chuck C. (complete with blingee!!)

“Move over Ben Shapiro, because it’s safe to say that Yer Wonkette, collectively, is simply head over heels for Charles C. “Chuck” Johnson, the brave not-a-blogger (HE’S AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST!!!) who has attached himself to the Mississippi Senate runoff controversy like a particularly tenacious hagfish.”

Read more at wonkette.com

Wonkette does have a way with words. :) He may be an award winning journalist, but does he have 5 Buckeye NewsHawk Awards, the Copper Cob and the coveted Silver Sow? Have him get back to me when he’s in the class of a Les Nessmann.

RBS

136 ObserverArt  Jul 14, 2014 2:14:21pm

re: #109 Pie-onist Overlord

MORON==>

[u sound so needy & whiny it’s sad! Pay 4 your own birth control & if u were smarter u might earn more.]

Well, at least she leaves wiggle room by stating “u might earn more” which says there is a chance you won’t and will be screwed but she won’t let that stand in the way of being smarmy and putting people down she doesn’t know.

/

137 BeenHereAwhile  Jul 14, 2014 6:00:48pm

re: #97 Decatur Deb

On the other hand, I’ve never seen the Delco starter get its due.

Good on Charles Kettering.

138 Decatur Deb  Jul 14, 2014 6:02:26pm

re: #137 BeenHereAwhile

Good on Charles Kettering.

Ah. Still running a Kettering distributor. Didn’t know he was behind the starter, too.

139 7-y (Expectation of Great Things in Due Course)  Jul 14, 2014 7:58:01pm

re: #96 Pie-onist Overlord

She’s such an idiot

[Embedded content]

I’m really beginning to think that a lot of those “conservative” (blonde) girls who tweet may actually be guys who like to pretend they are tough girls?


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