A Climate Change Denier’s Links to the Fossil Fuel Industry Exposed

Deliverables
Environment • Views: 38,787

Huge news on the climate change front, as one of the main climate change-denying scientist’s highly lucrative links to the fossil fuel industry are exposed: Deeper Ties to Corporate Cash for a Doubtful Climate Scientist.

For years, politicians wanting to block legislation on climate change have bolstered their arguments by pointing to the work of a handful of scientists who claim that greenhouse gases pose little risk to humanity.

One of the names they invoke most often is Wei-Hock Soon, known as Willie, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who claims that variations in the sun’s energy can largely explain recent global warming. He has often appeared on conservative news programs, testified before Congress and in state capitals, and starred at conferences of people who deny the risks of global warming.

But newly released documents show the extent to which Dr. Soon’s work has been tied to funding he received from corporate interests.

He has accepted more than $1.2 million in money from the fossil-fuel industry over the last decade while failing to disclose that conflict of interest in most of his scientific papers. At least 11 papers he has published since 2008 omitted such a disclosure, and in at least eight of those cases, he appears to have violated ethical guidelines of the journals that published his work.

The documents show that Dr. Soon, in correspondence with his corporate funders, described many of his scientific papers as “deliverables” that he completed in exchange for their money. He used the same term to describe testimony he prepared for Congress.

This is the exact same strategy the tobacco industry used for years to spread disinformation about smoking. And in many cases, it’s the very same people and organizations spreading disinformation about climate change.

Youtube Video

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198 comments
1 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 7:37:59pm

Yeah but the other scientists are lying because Al Gore gave them even more money.//

2 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 7:39:09pm

re: #1 HappyWarrior

Yeah but the other scientists are lying because Al Gore gave them even more money.//

Say, did you know Al Gore has a big house? And he’s FAT!!!

3 Kragar  Feb 21, 2015 7:39:14pm

Why should we trust all those other scientists when all these companies trust this guy enough to give him their money?

4 Teukka  Feb 21, 2015 7:39:34pm

re: #1 HappyWarrior

Yeah but the other scientists are lying because Al Gore gave them even more money.//

Nonono. It’s a socialist conspiracy to help impose a one world socialist government to take away our freedoms! Frankfurt School marxists, I tells ya!

5 Great White Snark  Feb 21, 2015 7:40:34pm

I have poured all my surprise about this into the following character. , Yup that little period and it has lots of room left over.

6 Great White Snark  Feb 21, 2015 7:48:50pm

Remember if you are a lobbyist the best opinions are paid opinions.

7 aagcobb  Feb 21, 2015 7:54:09pm

Doing something about climate change is the single most important reason to elect a Democrat President next year. If a Republican, any Republican, is elected President, say goodbye to any government efforts to limit carbon emissions or promote renewable energy sources, and another critical 4-8 years will be lost.

8 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 7:55:50pm

re: #7 aagcobb

Doing something about climate change is the single most important reason to elect a Democrat President next year. If a Republican, any Republican, is elected President, say goodbye to any government efforts to limit carbon emissions or promote renewable energy sources, and another critical 4-8 years will be lost.

Indeed. Clinton or whoever the Democratic nominee is really needs to emphasize just how an important this really is and how shameful the Republican denial on the issue is as well.

9 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 7:59:59pm

Of course, what’s frustrating is idiots just see large amounts of snow and cold weather and think “Hey climate change must be a myth.” It’s unfortunately a very easy issue to take advantage of the gullible.

10 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 8:00:18pm

re: #8 HappyWarrior

Indeed. Clinton or whoever the Democratic nominee is really needs to emphasize just how an important this really is and how shameful the Republican denial on the issue is as well.

They will also need to persuade China and India to get on the bandwagon, too, which may be easier than persuading Republicans.

11 Belafon  Feb 21, 2015 8:00:48pm

re: #10 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

They will also need to persuade China and India to get on the bandwagon, too, which may be easier than persuading Republicans.

Which I believe Obama has taken care of.

12 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:02:55pm

re: #11 Belafon

Which I believe Obama has taken care of.

Obama’s made relations with India a big part of his Asian FP. Some of Obama’s smarter policies have been little things like that don’t get headlines but they really set a lot of important wheels in motion that would have never gotten set in a Republican administration.

13 BeachDem  Feb 21, 2015 8:06:10pm

re: #7 aagcobb

Doing something about climate change is the single most important reason to elect a Democrat President next year. If a Republican, any Republican, is elected President, say goodbye to any government efforts to limit carbon emissions or promote renewable energy sources, and another critical 4-8 years will be lost.

Add in Supreme Court nominations and I’m with you 100%.

14 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 21, 2015 8:06:50pm

HURR HURR LEONARDO DE CAPRIO HAS A PRIVATE JET!!!!!!!

15 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 21, 2015 8:07:12pm

HURR HURR THEY ALL FLY TO CLIMATE CONFERENCES ON THERE PRIVATE JETZ!!!!!!!!

16 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:07:32pm

re: #13 BeachDem

Add in Supreme Court nominations and I’m with you 100%.

Those are among the most important for me too. Every time I hear a would be Republican president talk about how we need more judges like Scalia or Alito on the bench, I just know I have yet another reason to vote for his Democratic opponent. Obama’s judiciary picks have been pretty solid in their own right too. I like both Kagan and Sotomayor.

17 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:08:42pm

re: #15 The Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR THEY ALL FLY TO CLIMATE CONFERENCES ON THERE PRIVATE JETZ!!!!!!!!

And yet they also mock those who do try to live ecologically friendly as possible as being stupid hippies.

18 bratwurst  Feb 21, 2015 8:12:22pm

In case anyone wasn’t able to read the lengthy Facebook post by a a former CBS correspondent who was with Bill O’Reilly in Argentina, here is an excellent summary of the issues it raises. This is not going away over the weekend.

19 BeachDem  Feb 21, 2015 8:13:19pm

re: #16 HappyWarrior

Those are among the most important for me too. Every time I hear a would be Republican president talk about how we need more judges like Scalia or Alito on the bench, I just know I have yet another reason to vote for his Democratic opponent. Obama’s judiciary picks have been pretty solid in their own right too. I like both Kagan and Sotomayor.

The Supreme Court was my one and only rallying point for the 2004 elections. I talked till I was blue in the face, trying to convince people how very important it was going to be and why we HAD to elect a Democrat.

And we didn’t; and we got Roberts and Alito. Spit.

20 Kragar  Feb 21, 2015 8:16:31pm
21 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:17:39pm

re: #19 BeachDem

The Supreme Court was my one and only rallying point for the 2004 elections. I talked till I was blue in the face, trying to convince people how very important it was going to be and why we HAD to elect a Democrat.

And we didn’t; and we got Roberts and Alito. Spit.

Really is too bad that we didn’t. The court’s moved stayed pretty right ward ever since Warren retired in ‘69. In some ways, Roberts bothers me more than Rehnquist.

22 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 21, 2015 8:21:01pm

re: #17 HappyWarrior

And yet they also mock those who do try to live ecologically friendly as possible as being stupid hippies.

A poor person criticizes income inequality:
HURR HURR YOUR JUST JEALOUS THAT YOUR NOT SUCCESSFUL U LAZY MOOCHER!!!!!!!1

A rich person criticizes income inequality:
HURR HURR WHY DON’T U GIVE AWAY ALL YOU’RE MONEYS TO TEH POORS INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT ON 8 HOUSES & PRIVATE JETS!!!!!1!!!!!

23 goddamnedfrank  Feb 21, 2015 8:21:19pm
who claims that variations in the sun’s energy can largely explain recent global warming

No, just no. We’ve been making direct measurements of solar irradiance for a long time. It doesn’t vary by much at all, less than +/- half a percent if we’re being very, very generous. The sun is also in a prolonged lull in it’s cycle, meaning irradiance is actually down right now and has been for several years, while global temperature continues to set historical records.

24 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:22:03pm

re: #22 The Vicious Babushka

A poor person criticizes income inequality:
HURR HURR YOUR JUST JEALOUS THAT YOUR NOT SUCCESSFUL U LAZY MOOCHER!!!!!!!1

A rich person criticizes income inequality:
HURR HURR WHY DON’T U GIVE AWAY ALL YOU’RE MONEYS TO TEH POORS INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT ON 8 HOUSES & PRIVATE JETS!!!!!1!!!!!

I believe Russell Brand had a similar observation. They call you jealous when you’re poor and criticize income inequality and if you’re rich, you need to give all your money to the poor or else you’re a hypocrite. It’s all so fucking stupid.

25 goddamnedfrank  Feb 21, 2015 8:23:53pm

Oh jeez.

26 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 8:26:32pm

re: #25 goddamnedfrank

Oh jeez.

[Embedded content]

I’m speechless. I mean, really?

27 Kragar  Feb 21, 2015 8:27:24pm

re: #25 goddamnedfrank

28 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:27:40pm

re: #25 goddamnedfrank

Oh jeez.

[Embedded content]

Ask your “hot Asian wife” Chuckles. What a bigoted ass this guy is. No wonder why he’s shedding tears over NRO canning Derbyshire and Steyn.

29 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:28:51pm

re: #26 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I’m speechless. I mean, really?

Well given his active support for a neo-confederate wanker in Chris McDaniel, his fond childhood memories of listening to racist Rush Limbaugh, and his recent bemoaning of NRO firing John Derbyshire and Mark Steyn. I guess it’s not any real shock that Chuckles feels this way.

30 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 8:30:36pm

re: #26 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I’m speechless. I mean, really?

I dunno why I’m surprised—this is where the right is nowadays. Most of them aren’t stupid enough to say it out loud—yet.

See this is why I think Jeb will be the nominee. He’s the only one with any chance of not saying something like this in public between now and November 2016.

31 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 8:31:31pm

re: #29 HappyWarrior

Well given his active support for a neo-confederate wanker in Chris McDaniel, his fond childhood memories of listening to racist Rush Limbaugh, and his recent bemoaning of NRO firing John Derbyshire and Mark Steyn. I guess it’s not any real shock that Chuckles feels this way.

He’s said The Bell Curve (the book) changed his life, I suppose by giving him a badly needed sense of self-worth based on his imagined superiority over lesser members of our species.

In other words, a fancier way of being a basically insecure loser/white supremacist.

32 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 8:32:15pm

re: #31 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

He’s said The Bell Curve (the book) changed his life, I suppose by giving him a badly needed sense of self-worth based on his imagined superiority over lesser members of our species.

In other words, a fancier way of being a basically insecure loser/white supremacist.

Yeah I forgot that he loved Murray’s The Bell Curve. Good points.

33 lostlakehiker  Feb 21, 2015 8:38:44pm

Soon of Balliuskas and Soon, I presume?

I was going to put up a page on this, titling it Bought and Paid For, but the early reader gets the worm.

Go figure.

34 lostlakehiker  Feb 21, 2015 8:42:11pm

re: #8 HappyWarrior

Indeed. Clinton or whoever the Democratic nominee is really needs to emphasize just how an important this really is and how shameful the Republican denial on the issue is as well.

I don’t think Clinton’s heart would be in the effort. Not much was done during Bill’s terms in office, and Hillary takes a lot of money from businesses. I don’t exactly agree with Warren on most of the policy matters, but I trust her and I don’t trust Hillary.

35 nines09  Feb 21, 2015 8:43:12pm

Willie. On the take. Scientist. Bought by the Oil Industry. Made beau coup bucks. By lying. Repeatedly. All the time. About global warming. It’s the Sun! Where did I put my surprised face at? Oh. It’s over there. Let me go get it. BIAB….

36 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 8:44:39pm

re: #25 goddamnedfrank

37 Charles Johnson  Feb 21, 2015 8:48:39pm
38 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 8:49:10pm

A scientist that’s been getting paid awfully handsome-like by oil companies to disprove AGW in front of our august legislative bodies and universities. I’m shocked. /

Capitalism at its best, baby. I mean, if the public goes along with cutting carbon emissions to stave off catastrophic consequences of AGW, the oil companies’ profits will disappear. I mean, fuck, these guys have boat payments!

39 A Cranky One  Feb 21, 2015 8:51:03pm

40 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 8:57:59pm

Boulder, CO received more snow today than Vail, CO.

Someone get me an ice pack.
41 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 9:00:42pm

Just so y’all know, Obummer really sucks as President. The people have spoken!

///

42 A Cranky One  Feb 21, 2015 9:01:05pm

re: #40 teleskiguy

Boulder, CO received more snow today than Vail, CO.

[Embedded content]

Wouldn’t you prefer a snowpack? ;)

43 EPR-radar  Feb 21, 2015 9:03:45pm

re: #25 goddamnedfrank

What’s next for CCJ? Diatribes about “useless mouths”?

CCJ is one of the first to metamorphose from US wingnut to Nazi.

44 klys (maker of Silmarils)  Feb 21, 2015 9:08:55pm

re: #41 teleskiguy

Geee, I wonder what factor could possibly account for the maximum in his approval rating being so much lower, despite having presided over an economic recovery Republicans would be praising through the roof if they could claim any responsibility.

45 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 9:09:44pm

Ugh. An UpChuck sympathizer retweeted my “UpChuck is a racist piece of shit” tweet.

I never get any block button exercise. We’ll see in the next day or so.

46 OhNoZombies!  Feb 21, 2015 9:12:32pm

Chuckles must not be getting enough attention, so he had to go sewer-diving.

47 Charles Johnson  Feb 21, 2015 9:14:08pm
48 A Cranky One  Feb 21, 2015 9:18:18pm

re: #46 OhNoZombies!

Chuckles must not be getting enough attention, so he had to go sewer-diving.

Even resembles Upchuck!

49 A Cranky One  Feb 21, 2015 9:19:02pm

re: #47 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

It’s what a “real” Christian would do! //////

50 missliberties  Feb 21, 2015 9:19:09pm

re: #47 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

That is a high honor Charles. Congrats.

51 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 9:19:30pm

re: #47 Charles Johnson

Charles,

It took until 2015 for Erick, son of Erick to figure out that you’ve lost your mind! Didn’t that memo go out around 2008 or so?

52 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 9:22:40pm
53 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 9:23:43pm

re: #41 teleskiguy

Just so y’all know, Obummer really sucks as President. The people have spoken!

[Embedded content]

///

That spread for the two Bushes is impressive. I guess you have to start a war to get up in the high 80s like that.

54 Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 21, 2015 9:24:24pm

re: #53 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

That spread for the two Bushes is impressive. I guess you have to start a war to get up in the high 80s like that.

I had the same thought.

55 teleskiguy  Feb 21, 2015 9:26:31pm

re: #53 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

That spread for the two Bushes is impressive. I guess you have to start a war to get up in the high 80s like that.

George Carlin said it best.

Video

56 Timothy Watson  Feb 21, 2015 9:27:30pm

re: #53 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

That spread for the two Bushes is impressive. I guess you have to start a war to get up in the high 80s like that.

To be fair, it’s probably not just the Bushes. Clinton’s highest was the same month he ordered airstrikes on Iraq and Reagan’s highest is the month following the bombing of Libya (Operation El Dorado Canyon).

EDIT: Clinton’s highest was also the same time impeachment proceedings were ongoing.

57 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 9:28:25pm

And Clinton at 71% in Dec. ‘98. How’d that impeachment thing work out for you, wingnuts?

58 lostlakehiker  Feb 21, 2015 9:29:19pm

re: #53 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

That spread for the two Bushes is impressive. I guess you have to start a war to get up in the high 80s like that.

I had the impression it was Saddam Hussein who invaded Kuwait. That’s like blaming Chamberlain for starting WW2 because it was his government that declared war on Germany rather than the other way around.

59 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 9:30:24pm

It must really gripe them that Obama’s spread is inside that of Saint Reagan and averages a point higher.

60 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Feb 21, 2015 9:31:18pm

re: #44 klys (maker of Silmarils)

Geee, I wonder what factor could possibly account for the maximum in his approval rating being so much lower, despite having presided over an economic recovery Republicans would be praising through the roof if they could claim any responsibility.

I could hazard a guess, but that would require me to attribute a fairly unsavory characteristic to a large number of my fellow citizens, and I’d racism rather not.

Oops, Freudian slip there. Sorry.

61 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 9:32:02pm

UpChuck finally got around to divulging some of those secrets he’s been holding about Obama.

ANALYSIS: The myth about the “Obama is a Christian” truth, and also send us money #ObamaLovesAmerica

62 lostlakehiker  Feb 21, 2015 9:32:39pm
This is the exact same strategy the tobacco industry used for years to spread disinformation about smoking. And in many cases, it’s the very same people and organizations spreading disinformation about climate change.

There’s a book: Doubt is their product.

Makes the case very well. Including specific names of who those same people are or were.

63 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 9:32:59pm

re: #58 lostlakehiker

I had the impression it was Saddam Hussein who invaded Kuwait. That’s like blaming Chamberlain for starting WW2 because it was his government that declared war on Germany rather than the other way around.

That’s idiotic. Saddam Hussein crossed a totally arbitrary line in the sand drawn in the British Foreign Office in 1920. Why should anyone else give a crap? It was totally on Bush for pitching a fit about it.

64 Timothy Watson  Feb 21, 2015 9:35:02pm

re: #58 lostlakehiker

I had the impression it was Saddam Hussein who invaded Kuwait. That’s like blaming Chamberlain for starting WW2 because it was his government that declared war on Germany rather than the other way around.

After Bush’s ambassador told Hussein the United States didn’t care about his ongoing conflict with Kuwait over slant oil drilling.

65 goddamnedfrank  Feb 21, 2015 9:55:43pm

Ummm?

At the intersection of weird, retarded, and anti-semeitic avenues.

66 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 9:57:49pm

re: #65 goddamnedfrank

It’s a plot by the Juice and the Illuminati!! 11ty!!

67 goddamnedfrank  Feb 21, 2015 9:59:43pm

re: #66 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

It’s a plot by the Juice and the Illuminati!! 11ty!!

I updated it with another tweet of his. It’s an odd collection of ideas to hold simultaneously.

68 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 10:11:52pm

Mullah Obongo really gets their knickers in a twist, doesn’t he?/

69 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 10:13:01pm

re: #67 goddamnedfrank

I updated it with another tweet of his. It’s an odd collection of ideas to hold simultaneously.

Logical consistency is not a common attribute of conspiracy theorists.

70 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:14:01pm

re: #34 lostlakehiker

I don’t think Clinton’s heart would be in the effort. Not much was done during Bill’s terms in office, and Hillary takes a lot of money from businesses. I don’t exactly agree with Warren on most of the policy matters, but I trust her and I don’t trust Hillary.

Warren would certainly do more than Clinton and I’m not a big Clinton fan. However, the issue is a much bigger issue than it was during her husband’s administration and my larger point here is that her administration would actually address as opposed to continuing to act like it’s not happening or a problem like many a Republican administration would.

71 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:14:33pm

re: #65 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

At the intersection of weird, retarded, and anti-semeitic avenues.

Oooh shiny.

72 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 10:21:06pm

It’s funny how the RWNJs claim climate scientists are on the dole when they say climate change is real, but never consider the possibility that climate change deniers might also be on the dole. I guess only librulz take bribes.

Still waiting for mine.

73 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:23:23pm

re: #72 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

It’s funny how the RWNJs claim climate scientists are on the dole when they say climate change is real, but never consider the possibility that climate change deniers might also be on the dole. I guess only librulz take bribes.

I like how they think climate change scientists who mostly are academically funded are on the dole but the deniers who are on the corporate funding side more often aren’t. Honestly the whole climate change denial movement I think comes down to a couple things A) Their despising of Al Gore and to go with that any environmental movement and B) plain old ignorance about how climate actually works. These are people who actually think pointing to snow outside somehow disproves climate change.

74 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 21, 2015 10:26:33pm

re: #73 HappyWarrior

I like how they think climate change scientists who mostly are academically funded are on the dole but the deniers who are on the corporate funding side more often aren’t. Honestly the whole climate change movement I think comes down to a couple things A) Their despising of Al Gore and to go with that any environmental movement and B) plain old ignorance about how climate actually works. These are people who actually think pointing to snow outside somehow disproves climate change.

Style point: “¡¡ALGORE!!11!! is one word.

75 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 10:26:34pm

re: #73 HappyWarrior

These are also people who claim fossils are a hoax by God or Satan, and the Great Flood formed the Grand Canyon in like a day or two.

76 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:27:25pm

The fact of the matter is to me it’s simple. I trust a scientist who has spent years not just of academic study but also field experience studying this subject versus a senator like Jim Inholfe who has a vested interest both for himself and his campaign contributors in ACA not being real. And then there’s that many of these same people not only don’t believe in evolutionary theory but they see it as evil because it challenges their religious beliefs.

77 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:27:49pm

re: #74 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Style point: “¡¡ALGORE!!11!! is one word.

Hahha fair enough, I’ve been up since 7:30 AM though.

78 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:28:40pm

re: #75 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

These are also people who claim fossils are a hoax by God or Satan, and the Great Flood formed the Grand Canyon in like a day or two.

Yeah see my #76. It’s all about who is denying and who the believers are. Honestly, I find the deniers unbelievably selfish. The whole fuck future generations shit.

79 BlueSpotinAL  Feb 21, 2015 10:31:52pm

Gotta defend Poppy, he did not start Gulf War 1. He and his advisors were also afraid of overthrowing Saddam Hussein and creating a power vacuum.

As we all can see today, there was nothing to fear. //

GHWB’s low ratings were primarily based on the perception that he did not care about the recession. Hence Carville’s message now summarized as “It’s the economy, stupid!”

80 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:35:15pm

The other problem and this goes back to another point that has been made here many a time but this is why de-emphasizing science is a disaster.You have too many people and unfortunately these are often policymakers who don’t see that even what look like small amounts of rises in sea water temperature doesn’t mean much. For climate change to be real to these types, something like 100 degree days in the winter would need to happen and like wise cold days in the summer. They flat out don’t understand basic science. It also doesn’t help that we send so many people who pride themselves as non-career politicians to Washington and those too often are people who go to D.C with quixotic intentions of taking on “Washington” rather than actually looking at the issues.

81 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 10:41:02pm

re: #80 HappyWarrior

Basically, they won’t admit to anything they themselves haven’t experienced or seen with their own eyes.

82 HappyWarrior  Feb 21, 2015 10:48:04pm

re: #81 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Basically, they won’t admit to anything they themselves haven’t experienced or seen with their own eyes.

Right and it’s honestly a problem with discussing issues with them that go beyond science and environmental issues. Labor issues is a big one in this field. I can’t tell you how many times I hear “Unions had a use but they don’t anymore.” I was actually watching an old episode of How The States got Their Shapes a couple hours ago and they had a steel worker and TP activist and the TP activist was bellyaching about how steelworkers have to join the union and the steelworker pointed out that you’re going to need a union in a steel mill. These are also people who bellyache about “greedy union bosses” but yet just say free market at work to an executive giving himself a seven or in some cases even an eight figure bonus.

83 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 21, 2015 11:16:39pm

re: #82 HappyWarrior

My Republican father hated unions until he had to join a Teamsters affiliate to get a job he wanted really badly. When he got sick and had to be in hospital for a couple of weeks, the union picked up the tab.

He changed his mind about unions right about then.

84 bratwurst  Feb 21, 2015 11:26:09pm

re: #65 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

At the intersection of weird, retarded, and anti-semeitic avenues.

I don’t dare ask him what he would see as the lucrative upside for a “Rothchild bank” to set up shop in Syria at this point.

85 Dr Lizardo  Feb 21, 2015 11:40:21pm

re: #62 lostlakehiker

There’s a book: Doubt is their product.

Makes the case very well. Including specific names of who those same people are or were.

Another good book on that theme is Merchants of Doubt, by Namoi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway.

It identifies parallels between the climate change debate and earlier controversies over tobacco smoking, acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer. Oreskes and Conway write that in each case “keeping the controversy alive” by spreading doubt and confusion after a scientific consensus had been reached, was the basic strategy of those opposing action.

amazon.com

86 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 22, 2015 12:02:02am

re: #85 Dr Lizardo

It’s a similar strategy for the creationists and Intelligent Designists: pretend there is a “controversy” about evolution by creating the controversy in the first place. Note that they take advantage of the poor science background of most Americans, and the slow response rate of legitimate scientists.

87 Kragar  Feb 22, 2015 12:38:07am

Eversor Temple

The Eversor Temple is possibly the most gruesome of the many temples that train Imperial Assassins for the Officio Assassinorum. The Eversor Assassins specialise in shock and terror tactics, instilling fear of Imperial retribution into the hearts and minds of all who hold positions of power in the Imperium of Man. Often in the employ of the Imperial Inquisition’s Ordo Malleus, Eversor Assassins are used to solve the problem when the indelible taint of Chaos is believed to have spread throughout the ruling elite of an entire Imperial Adepta or planetary government.

Whilst the more overt forces of the Ordo Malleus like the Grey Knights Space Marines may face the daemonic minions of a Chaos Cult or Chaos Space Marine warband on the battlefield, the Eversor will operate behind enemy lines and eradicate the infection at its source. An Eversor Assassin rarely has just a single target. His mission will be to rip the heart out of the Chaos insurgency, wreaking havoc and destruction. Such brutality ensures that the Heretics are totally cleansed and that no would-be successors may take over. The sheer terror left behind in the wake of an Eversor Assassin’s onslaught ensures that none will dare to oppose the will of the Imperium again.

The Inquisition’s Ordo Hereticus has also been known to make use of Eversor Assassins from time to time. The Ordo Hereticus uses Eversor Assassins to eliminate the entire top echelons of Imperial Adeptas or planetary governments that are believed to have become heretical or turned against the will of the Emperor.

88 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 1:10:28am

re: #20 Kragar

When was it decided that only White Evangelical Conservatives could determine if someone was a “real” Christian?

About the same time that Iranian Mullahs got to decide who was a “True Muslim”.

89 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 1:29:20am

re: #86 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

It’s a similar strategy for the creationists and Intelligent Designists: pretend there is a “controversy” about evolution by creating the controversy in the first place. Note that they take advantage of the poor science background of most Americans, and the slow response rate of legitimate scientists.

As John Oliver pointed out, 97% of scientists are in agreement, but in any panel discussion, there is only one representative of each side. He showed what it would look like if they had 97 scientists supporting climate change and three against it.

90 Dr Lizardo  Feb 22, 2015 2:08:30am

re: #89 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

As John Oliver pointed out, 97% of scientists are in agreement, but in any panel discussion, there is only one representative of each side. He showed what it would look like if they had 97 scientists supporting climate change and three against it.

Yep….as the Magical Balance Fairy flutters her wings and spreads her Magic Balance pixie dust over at CNN and whatnot.

91 freetoken  Feb 22, 2015 2:09:17am
92 freetoken  Feb 22, 2015 2:50:18am
93 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 3:22:39am

…drip…drip…drip…

94 freetoken  Feb 22, 2015 3:27:07am
95 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 4:40:36am

re: #90 Dr Lizardo

Yep….as the Magical Balance Fairy flutters her wings and spreads her Magic Balance pixie dust over at CNN and whatnot.

There is a deeper, darker motivation behind this all. If you are Biblical literalist, you must reject not only Evolution, but science, and even logic in general in order to be able to accept all the contradictions you find in your Scriptures.

Since the fundamentalist literalists cannot (yet) banish Evolution, science (and logic) from society, they do their best to undermine them.

96 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 4:47:41am

I sure hope “Willie” doesn’t have tenure.

Harvard is the richest university in the world, with billions in endowments. It also has a huge portfolio in fossil fuel companies.

bloomberg.com

“Harvard, whose endowment performance lagged behind Ivy League peers in recent years, has declined calls by both students and faculty to sell its holdings of fossil-fuel companies. The endowment, which was valued at $36.4 billion as of June, mostly invests with external managers. It reported a 15 percent return on investments for fiscal 2014, and in September the school chose Stephen Blyth to be Harvard Management Co.’s next leader.”

97 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 4:54:08am

Woops, my bad. I see that Soon actually has no connection with Harvard.

“Though often described on conservative news programs as a “Harvard astrophysicist,” Dr. Soon is not an astrophysicist and has never been employed by Harvard. He is a part-time employee of the Smithsonian Institution with a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering. He has received little federal research money over the past decade and is thus responsible for bringing in his own funds, including his salary.”

I see a money-hungry, self-promoter at work who says what the fossil fuel industry pays him to say.

98 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 22, 2015 5:15:22am

re: #97 Justanotherhuman

Woops, my bad. I see that Soon actually has no connection with Harvard.

“Though often described on conservative news programs as a “Harvard astrophysicist,” Dr. Soon is not an astrophysicist and has never been employed by Harvard. He is a part-time employee of the Smithsonian Institution with a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering. He has received little federal research money over the past decade and is thus responsible for bringing in his own funds, including his salary.”

I see a money-hungry, self-promoter at work who says what the fossil fuel industry pays him to say.

A very well educated grifter, in other words.

99 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 5:17:52am

I also know, in a very small way, how schools can thwart or encourage change, including schools funded by public taxation.

When I went back to school in the early ’70s at a community college, I was still full of second-wave feminist energy and, as a project, attempted to take a survey of the female faculty with questions about sex discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, tenure, etc. I had the backing and support of my instructor and a couple of faculty mentors who encouraged me (they wanted to know the results, also). After I put the questionnaires into their mail boxes and got a few responses, I received a notice from the admin that I would not be allowed to continue with the survey because of “complaints”, with no further explanation even though I tried to get more info from them.

That was my first real test of academic freedom.

100 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 5:24:14am

This was during a march celebrating the first anny of Yanukovych’s ouster.

3 dead following explosion during a pro-Ukrainian march in Kharkiv, Ukraine, officials say - @AFP
read more on yahoo.com

Explosion in Kharkiv, Ukraine, treated as a terrorist act, caused by an ‘unknown explosive device,’ police say - @Reuters

101 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 5:31:13am

re: #100 Justanotherhuman

This was during a march celebrating the first anny of Yanukovych’s ouster.

Russia is busy commemorating the first anniversary of the “fascist coup”.

102 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 5:33:14am

re: #101 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Russia is busy commemorating the first anniversary of the “fascist coup”.

Russia would say that, wouldn’t they? : )

103 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 5:44:26am

Medical Marijuana Has Been Legal In Illinois For A Year, But A Single Patient Has Yet To Benefit

“We are real people who have real lives, real jobs, friends, family,” Harper said of her fellow patients who suffer from chronic illness. “[Medical marijuana] will not just benefit patients, it’ll benefit all of those people, too.”

104 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 22, 2015 5:45:46am

Good morning Lizards. Foggy and a little above freezing here in Philly. Some rain overnight - which just made things sloppy after yesterday’s snow.

Have errands to run, but will probably put them off until afternoon in order to let the roads improve a bit.

105 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 5:46:05am
Hey all!
106 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 5:47:18am

It’s relatively warm in my part of the world, but looks to be getting colder by bed-time.

107 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 5:49:24am

re: #105 FemNaziBitch

I admit a fondness for squirrels. Since they can’t get at the bird feeder, I left them a little bit of seed on the ground.

But now, damn it, they expect more. : )

108 lawhawk  Feb 22, 2015 5:49:28am

Woke up this morning to a couple inches of new snow on the ground. Super.

Then logged on and found that I got Insta-derped. *Super*

Pointing out racism on the right? I must be racist.

109 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 5:50:11am
110 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 5:56:03am

re: #108 lawhawk

Will try to push the high 50s temp we’re supposed to have here today your way. Should be almost spring-like and melt the rest of this crap.

Getting back to nearly normal this week with highs in 40 but lows in 20s and rain tomorrow to (hopefully) rinse things off…

111 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 5:56:51am

OK, now this is proof that men are really boys —teehee

112 PhillyPretzel  Feb 22, 2015 6:03:23am

re: #111 FemNaziBitch

Can I borrow that? I have to clean my sidewalk today. I am not looking forward to it.

113 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:04:54am

re: #112 PhillyPretzel

Can I borrow that? I have to clean my sidewalk today. I am not looking forward to it.

I don’t have one. If I did, I would most certainly lend it to you.

:)

114 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 6:06:07am

I’m confused…

TEPCO says sensors, which were rigged to a gutter that pours rain and ground water at the Fukushima Daiichi plant to a nearby bay, detected contamination levels up to 70 times greater than the already-high radioactive status seen at the plant campus - @AFP
abc.net.au

FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT LEAKING RADIOACTIVE WATER
24m
No contaminated water leakage has been confirmed at Fukushima Daiichi, TEPCO says - @TEPCO_English

115 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:06:36am
116 Dr Lizardo  Feb 22, 2015 6:07:43am

re: #114 Justanotherhuman

I’m confused…

TEPCO says sensors, which were rigged to a gutter that pours rain and ground water at the Fukushima Daiichi plant to a nearby bay, detected contamination levels up to 70 times greater than the already-high radioactive status seen at the plant campus - @AFP
abc.net.au

FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT LEAKING RADIOACTIVE WATER
24m
No contaminated water leakage has been confirmed at Fukushima Daiichi, TEPCO says - @TEPCO_English

Forget it Jake JustAnotherHuman, it’s Chinatown TEPCO.

117 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:08:42am
118 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 6:11:29am

re: #117 FemNaziBitch

Embedded Image

I love your mother and child bonding photos. : )

119 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:23:17am

re: #118 Justanotherhuman

I love your mother and child bonding photos. : )

Yeah, there is something about them …

120 wrenchwench  Feb 22, 2015 6:24:09am
121 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:25:25am

I’m not sure of the source, Einstein. But it rings true.

122 Eventual Carrion  Feb 22, 2015 6:33:02am

re: #2 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Say, did you know Al Gore has a big house? And he’s FAT!!!

That’s what Rush Limbaugh told me too. Don’t trust fat guys who live in big houses.

123 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 6:48:21am

124 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 7:05:50am

Suspects detained in bombing in eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv, official says - @Reuters
end of alert

Suspects in Kharkiv, Ukraine, blast received weapons, instructions in Russia, Ukraine security service chief’s aide claims - @Reuters
end of alert

125 Dr Lizardo  Feb 22, 2015 7:08:26am

re: #124 Justanotherhuman

Suspects detained in bombing in eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv, official says - @Reuters
end of alert

Suspects in Kharkiv, Ukraine, blast received weapons, instructions in Russia, Ukraine security service chief’s aide claims - @Reuters
end of alert

Things that make you say, “Hmmm…….”

126 PhillyPretzel  Feb 22, 2015 7:14:15am

Just finished shoveling the walk. It is slush and it was heavy. I am going to rest for a while.

127 Dr. Matt  Feb 22, 2015 7:19:54am

re: #18 bratwurst

In case anyone wasn’t able to read the lengthy Facebook post by a a former CBS correspondent who was with Bill O’Reilly in Argentina, here is an excellent summary of the issues it raises. This is not going away over the weekend.

BillO is running to Howard Kurtz today to “rebut” these claims. Kurtz will treat this, as usual, with kids gloves. And BillO will spend the entire interview flinging insults.

128 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 22, 2015 7:20:53am
129 BlueSpotinAL  Feb 22, 2015 7:26:51am

re: #127 Dr. Matt

BillO is running to Howard Kurtz today to “rebut” these claims. Kurtz will treat this, as usual, with kids gloves. And BillO will spend the entire interview flinging insults.

The Kurtz interview will become a combat situation in the retelling.

130 EmmaAnne  Feb 22, 2015 7:27:16am

Having just watched the recent COSMOS, I can tell you that exactly the same techniques were used to defend the use of lead in gasoline. If Democrats weren’t running the show at the time, we’d probably have continued poisoning our children for another few decades.

131 BigPapa  Feb 22, 2015 7:33:39am
132 WhatEVs  Feb 22, 2015 7:35:23am

re: #52 teleskiguy

I wake up to see that Scott Walker punted on more questions.

This guy is such a weasel. He cannot take a stand on anything because he knows that the people who vote for him no matter what are insane, and the people who are not won’t stand for any inanity.

Walker is trying to walk a fine line - and I don’t think that’s something he is going to be able to do. It might make him worthy of selection as veep. Which is terrifying.

133 nearly-headless smith25  Feb 22, 2015 7:39:36am

re: #100 Justanotherhuman

Has it really been a year? Man.

This is about the time that I really became embedded into LGF.

134 Dark_Falcon  Feb 22, 2015 8:01:47am

re: #132 WhatEVs

I wake up to see that Scott Walker punted on more questions.

This guy is such a weasel. He cannot take a stand on anything because he knows that the people who vote for him no matter what are insane, and the people who are not won’t stand for any inanity.

Walker is trying to walk a fine line - and I don’t think that’s something he is going to be able to do. It might make him worthy of selection as veep. Which is terrifying.

As a sitting governor, Scott Walker has to be especially careful in what he says. Being governor of a state with lots of Dems means he has at times had to do things that Republican party activists don’t like, such as foreswearing trying to pass Right-to-Work legislation. That means he’s already got a problem with the “Purity Now!” crowd, since no sitting governor of a a state with a medium-to-large population is ever going to pure enough for them.

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

135 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 8:04:23am

It’s CNN, so…

Islamic State video purportedly shows Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers in cages, paraded around Iraqi streets - @cnnbrk
read more on edition.cnn.com

137 Dr. Matt  Feb 22, 2015 8:07:26am

re: #132 WhatEVs

I wake up to see that Scott Walker punted on more questions.

This guy is such a weasel. He cannot take a stand on anything because he knows that the people who vote for him no matter what are insane, and the people who are not won’t stand for any inanity.

Walker is trying to walk a fine line - and I don’t think that’s something he is going to be able to do. It might make him worthy of selection as veep. Which is terrifying.

138 HappyWarrior  Feb 22, 2015 8:11:46am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

As a sitting governor, Scott Walker has to be especially careful in what he says. Being governor of a state with lots of Dems means he has at times had to do things that Republican party activists don’t like, such as foreswearing trying to pass Right-to-Work legislation. That means he’s already got a problem with the “Purity Now!” crowd, since no sitting governor of a a state with a medium-to-large population is ever going to pure enough for them.

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

He got himself in this one by saying he didn’t know whether President Obama was a Christian or not even though President Obama celebrates Christian holidays and has been seen in church services. Face it, he was definitely pandering to a large element within the GOP that believes Obama is the “other.” Walker again is showing why he’s not a leader at all. His whole weak response to Rudy Giuliani saying the president didn’t love the country was either. IIRC he made some bs comment about New Yorkers having strong opinion. Would you really believe he’d be so generous if Bill DeBlasio had made those comments about him or a Republican leader? Walker is a hack. He’s always been.

139 Renaissance_Man  Feb 22, 2015 8:12:00am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

As a sitting governor, Scott Walker has to be especially careful in what he says. Being governor of a state with lots of Dems means he has at times had to do things that Republican party activists don’t like, such as foreswearing trying to pass Right-to-Work legislation. That means he’s already got a problem with the “Purity Now!” crowd, since no sitting governor of a a state with a medium-to-large population is ever going to pure enough for them.

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

Out of interest, do you make statements like this out of a belief that Scott Walker actually believes sane and rational things, but his hand is forced because he must avoid alienating an increasingly insane voting base? And, ergo, he doesn’t really want to enact the grotesque policies he has as Governor, but he must to placate that same base and/or his donors?

Or do you say it to try to explain that his weasel words and anti-American policies are actually rational acts?

Because neither situation qualifies him for any sort of office at all.

140 HappyWarrior  Feb 22, 2015 8:14:54am

You know these guys if they’re that worried about having to placate extremists within their party, maybe they shouldn’t be running whole states. Or better yet don’t be part of a party that has a large number of extremists that are inflexible people.

141 Dr. Matt  Feb 22, 2015 8:15:53am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

That wasn’t a “gotcha question”. Not even close. Walker had the opportunity to denounce the hateful, personal attacks by Giuliani and he didn’t. Rather, Walker decided to double down.

142 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 8:16:21am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

Walker has already been tripped up, and not by “gotcha” questions.

What do you have against honest debate and criticism? “Punting”, indeed.

Walker has been weaseling his way through elective office for years.

143 Dr. Matt  Feb 22, 2015 8:17:39am

And frankly, I don’t feel sorry for Giuliani and his so-called death threats. This president has had more death threats than any president in history and he has never once made the sort for vile personal attacks that Giuliani decided to make. Fuck Giuliani. Fuck Scott Walker.

144 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 8:18:39am

re: #143 Dr. Matt

And frankly, I don’t feel sorry for Giuliani and his so-called death threats. This president has had more death threats than any president in history and he has never once made the sort for vile personal attacks that Giuliani didn’t to make. Fuck Giuliani. Fuck Scott Walker.

Obama does not play the poor oppressed victim as well as his opponents.

145 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 8:20:19am

Republican mantra: “Protect the party and its candidates at all cost! Continue to fuck the country with wire brush politics.”

146 EmmaAnne  Feb 22, 2015 8:25:27am

Is there a way to check whether anyone has responded to your comments? I kind of flit in and out of here and I have the feeling I am ignoring a lot of people accidentally.

147 Varek Raith  Feb 22, 2015 8:25:55am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

It’s your party’s fault they are so beholden to wingnuts.
No one else to blame but yourselves.

148 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 8:27:23am

Clark Terry, Influential Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 94

nytimes.com

He left quite a legacy.

149 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 8:27:34am

re: #147 Varek Raith

It’s your party’s fault they are so beholden to wingnuts.
No one else to blame but yourselves.

I still recall when someone at a Town Hall meeting called Obama a traitor and John McCain tried to defend him…they shouted him down.

Republicans took the wrong lesson from that encounter.

They are too scared to confront or even distance themselves from these people for fear of alienating their base.

150 Dr. Matt  Feb 22, 2015 8:28:00am

re: #146 EmmaAnne

Is there a way to check whether anyone has responded to your comments? I kind of flit in and out of here and I have the feeling I am ignoring a lot of people accidentally.

At the bottom of the screen above the giant question mark you can subscribe to have replies emailed to you.

151 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 22, 2015 8:28:21am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

Evolution and Obama’s Christianity are not “gotcha” questions, they are a matter of established fact.

152 Great White Snark  Feb 22, 2015 8:28:56am

re: #146 EmmaAnne

I use ctrl-F and enter my Nic. That lets me skim a long thread.

153 Varek Raith  Feb 22, 2015 8:30:26am

re: #147 Varek Raith

It’s your party’s fault they are so beholden to wingnuts.
No one else to blame but yourselves.

And you all are doing nothing to rectify this.
Nothing.

154 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 22, 2015 8:32:20am

re: #152 Great White Snark

I use ctrl-F and enter my Nic. That lets me skim a long thread.

Nothing happens if I hit ctrl-F.

155 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 22, 2015 8:32:50am
156 allegro  Feb 22, 2015 8:34:15am

To say that a candidate must be a liar, racist, misogynist, anti-labor, pro-corporatist, climate denier in order to get elected is the Republican way.

157 Great White Snark  Feb 22, 2015 8:35:01am

re: #154 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Hm, well Win 7 and Chrome here. I think all the browsers have a page search thing.

158 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 8:37:30am

Scott Walker’s Latest Anti-Union Plan Is ‘Cowardly,’ Says Former Republican Leader

thinkprogress.org

159 Pawn of the Oppressor  Feb 22, 2015 8:41:00am

re: #114 Justanotherhuman

I’m confused…

TEPCO says sensors, which were rigged to a gutter that pours rain and ground water at the Fukushima Daiichi plant to a nearby bay, detected contamination levels up to 70 times greater than the already-high radioactive status seen at the plant campus - @AFP
abc.net.au

FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT LEAKING RADIOACTIVE WATER
24m
No contaminated water leakage has been confirmed at Fukushima Daiichi, TEPCO says - @TEPCO_English

TEPCO is like Baghdad Bob.

“There is no Cesium within a thousand miles of Fukushima. We have driven it all back! There is no Fukushima! Radiation? What radiation? This is a lie!”

160 Dr Lizardo  Feb 22, 2015 8:44:06am

re: #159 Pawn of the Oppressor

TEPCO is like Baghdad Bob.

“There is no Cesium within a thousand miles of Fukushima. We have driven it all back! There is no Fukushima! Radiation? What radiation? This is a lie!”

I always wondered what happened to ol’ Baghdad Bob. Nice to see he’s found work as TEPCO’s PR chief.

161 lawhawk  Feb 22, 2015 8:45:16am
162 Dark_Falcon  Feb 22, 2015 8:46:03am

re: #155 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

The attacker was 18, another young man pumped full of lies by Palestinian so-called ‘leaders’ and then sent to murder innocent civilians. I know the guy’s got to pay, but Israel needs to inflict some punishment on the dirtbags who turn young people into terrorists.

163 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 8:47:00am

re: #161 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

because all they have are ad hominem attacks.

164 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 22, 2015 8:47:20am

re: #162 Dark_Falcon

Like they haven’t been trying?

165 WhatEVs  Feb 22, 2015 8:48:07am

re: #139 Renaissance_Man

Out of interest, do you make statements like this out of a belief that Scott Walker actually believes sane and rational things, but his hand is forced because he must avoid alienating an increasingly insane voting base? And, ergo, he doesn’t really want to enact the grotesque policies he has as Governor, but he must to placate that same base and/or his donors?

Or do you say it to try to explain that his weasel words and anti-American policies are actually rational acts?

Because neither situation qualifies him for any sort of office at all.

You left out the big question: Do you think Walker is fit for higher office?

I think we know the answer to that.

166 allegro  Feb 22, 2015 8:48:11am

re: #164 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Like they haven’t been trying?

Hey, they got nukes, don’t they?

/////////

167 Dark_Falcon  Feb 22, 2015 8:48:32am

re: #158 Justanotherhuman

Scott Walker’s Latest Anti-Union Plan Is ‘Cowardly,’ Says Former Republican Leader

thinkprogress.org

While that article fails to note Rick Synder’s reelection despite Michigan passing Right-to-Work, I think Walker’s making a mistake on this one. More protests and turmoil isn’t going to help him.

168 Pawn of the Oppressor  Feb 22, 2015 8:49:00am

I’ve not always been a fan of Greenpeace, but I hope this is the tip of a new strategy to expose the money chain that keeps these a-holes in the business of turning out Republican denial charts. I hope there are more FOIA requests in the pipeline.

It’s interesting that they use trusts as slush funds to pay these tools. So-called “liberals” - meaning, in this case, anybody who can read - need to get tough about the money trail. Not that evidence sways deniers, of course, but at least identifying the cash flow is a good step. Maybe somewhere out there is another Merrell Williams, Jr.

The joke about alternative medicine can be re-worked a little bit for climate change deniers’ presenting an illusion of debate:

“You know what they call controversial science that proves something real? ‘SCIENCE.’ “

169 WhatEVs  Feb 22, 2015 8:49:09am

re: #142 Justanotherhuman

Walker has already been tripped up, and not by “gotcha” questions.

What do you have against honest debate and criticism? “Punting”, indeed.

Walker has been weaseling lying his way through elective office for years.

FIFY.

170 Renaissance_Man  Feb 22, 2015 8:50:59am

re: #165 WhatEVs

You left out the big question: Do you think Walker is fit for higher office?

I think we know the answer to that.

Well, DF does. My question was not entirely fair, as the ultimate conclusion would require him to defend Republican policies, which he doesn’t really want to do and which, to be fair, are becoming increasingly indefensible.

So it was sort of a gotcha question of my own.

171 Varek Raith  Feb 22, 2015 8:52:45am

re: #170 Renaissance_Man

Well, DF does. My question was not entirely fair, as the ultimate conclusion would require him to defend Republican policies, which he doesn’t really want to do and which, to be fair, are becoming increasingly indefensible.

So it was sort of a gotcha question of my own.

As long as people continue to vote for those who push said policies, it’s a perfectly fair question.

172 WhatEVs  Feb 22, 2015 8:52:45am

re: #146 EmmaAnne

Is there a way to check whether anyone has responded to your comments? I kind of flit in and out of here and I have the feeling I am ignoring a lot of people accidentally.

You can Subscribe to a thread or go back into it and do a Ctrl-F and search for your screen name. I do both. If you subscribe to a main thread, you may want to pick “Email all responses to me” so your email doesn’t get overwhelmed and everything winds up in your spam folder.

A click to see comment responses would be a nice addition.

173 Mattand  Feb 22, 2015 8:53:25am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

You know what? The fact that you are including proven science and known public facts about Obama as ‘gotcha’ questions proves how deep the rot in the Republican party goes.

You are not a stupid person. Yet instead of saying “Governor Walker should grow a spine and embrace reality (Obama’s a Christian; evolution is true)”, you are making the case that it’s okay to for Walker to get his stupid on and keep the ignorant in the GOP as happy as possible.

That’s so messed up on so many levels.

174 allegro  Feb 22, 2015 8:59:17am

To lighten things up a bit, a recommendation for a fun few hours of teevee…

I watched “Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond” 4 part BBC series on Netflix yesterday while making excellent progress on my new crocheted coverlet. It was great! I knew Fleming had been in military intelligence in WWII but had no idea what a fascinating story it was. He even had influence on the creation of our own CIA. Very fun watch.

175 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 9:02:08am

re: #161 lawhawk

Gee, why do GOPers question Obama’s religion, ethnicity, background, American-ness? What is it that gets under GOP skin so much? Hmmm…

He only retained the same treasury people that the GOP used, he instituted a health-care plan that was based on a GOP model and continued Guantanamo and several wars started under a GOP president.

There must be something about his very nature that is terribly, terribly wrong…

176 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 22, 2015 9:03:25am

re: #174 allegro

To lighten things up a bit, a recommendation for a fun few hours of teevee…

I watched “Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond” 4 part BBC series on Netflix yesterday while making excellent progress on my new crocheted coverlet. It was great! I knew Fleming had been in military intelligence in WWII but had no idea what a fascinating story it was. He even had influence on the creation of our own CIA. Very fun watch.

He had advisory credit on the first couple of Bond flicks—and he really pushed for his cousin Christopher Lee to play the part. Would have been different….

177 allegro  Feb 22, 2015 9:03:38am

re: #175 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

He only retained the same treasury people that the GOP used, he instituted a health-care plan that was based on a GOP model and continued Guantanamo and several wars started under a GOP president.

There must be something about his very nature that is terribly, terribly wrong…

He fathered black babies. That’s what did McCain in during the 2000 primaries. Must be it.

////

178 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 9:08:15am

re: #177 allegro

He fathered black babies. That’s what did McCain in during the 2000 primaries. Must be it.

////

getting closer…

179 TedStriker  Feb 22, 2015 9:09:11am

re: #17 HappyWarrior

And yet they also mock those who do try to live ecologically friendly as possible as being stupid hippies.

Like Ed Begley Jr.

He has talked the talk and walked the walk long before it was cool or fashionable.

180 allegro  Feb 22, 2015 9:09:15am

re: #176 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

He had advisory credit on the first couple of Bond flicks—and he really pushed for his cousin Christopher Lee to play the part. Would have been different….

The series really didn’t spend any time at all on his Bond character and books, though you could see how it all grew out of his own experiences with military intelligence and his innate creativity. It’s mostly a WWII story told from a very different perspective.

181 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 9:11:52am

Is this more for US consumption ahead of Netanyahu’s March 3 visit to Congress?

Iran seeking to open ‘third front’ on Israel in Syria’s Golan Heights, Israel’s PM Netanyahu says - @AFP
read more on france24.com

And Likud puts out ad likening Netanyahu to Ben Gurion…

haaretz.com

“The ad was posted on Netanyahu’s Facebook page, accompanied by text declaring his commitment to addressing Congress. “Congress is the only place where a bad deal can be stopped. It is the right and essential thing to do to safeguard Israel’s security and existence,” Netanyahu wrote, according to a translation by the Times of Israel.

“Netanyahu is expected to address Congress on March 3 on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, of which he has been a fierce critic. He was invited by Speaker of the House John Boehner — not President Barack Obama — and the episode has significantly widened the already-wide rift between the American president and the Israeli prime minister. The White House is reportedly considering options to undercut Netanyahu’s message according to the Associated Press.”

182 Great White Snark  Feb 22, 2015 9:12:09am

re: #175 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

We who lean right a lot or even a little like me must admit that the first black President was three steps forward, and that the election empowered the racists who now have taken us two full steps back. Coarsened the debate, the GOP itself & damaged the conservative brand of moderate politics.

This took time. Remember when I went to an early TP event here & posted images? Zero racist signs at that early event. But as a little time passed the racism grew like a cancer that was weak but metastasized and became hyper aggressive.

183 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 22, 2015 9:14:03am

re: #182 Great White Snark

This too time. Remember when I went to an early TP event here & posted images? ? Zero racist signs at that early event. But as a little time passed the racism grew like a cancer that was weak but metastasized and became hyper aggressive.

Because the GOP was too cowardly to confront it for fear of alienating their “base”.

184 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 9:14:26am

re: #182 Great White Snark

We who lean right a lot or even a little like me must admit that the first black President was three steps forward, and that the election empowered the racists who now have taken us two full steps back. Coarsened the debate, the GOP itself & damaged the conservative brand of moderate politics.

This too time. Remember when I went to an early TP event here & posted images? Zero racist signs at that early event. But as a little time passed the racism grew like a cancer that was weak but metastasized and became hyper aggressive.

The racism was always there, under the surface.

185 HappyWarrior  Feb 22, 2015 9:14:31am

re: #179 TedStriker

Like Ed Begley Jr.

He has talked the talk and walked the walk long before it was cool or fashionable.

Yeah he was actually who I was thinking of.

186 Great White Snark  Feb 22, 2015 9:14:55am

re: #183 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Because the GOP was too cowardly to confront it for fear of alienating their “base”.

Yes indeed.

187 Great White Snark  Feb 22, 2015 9:17:03am

re: #184 Justanotherhuman

The racism was always there, under the surface.

Agreed hence my cancer reference.

188 Dark_Falcon  Feb 22, 2015 9:18:09am

re: #179 TedStriker

Like Ed Begley Jr.

He has talked the talk and walked the walk long before it was cool or fashionable.

True, but the fact that he’s an actor means many people assume he’s just a flake. In this case its not true, but most people don’t get further than the stereotype, because they use the stereotype as a substitute for actually thinking about things themselves.

BBL

189 Shiplord Kirel  Feb 22, 2015 9:19:26am

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

As a sitting governor, Scott Walker has to be especially careful in what he says. Being governor of a state with lots of Dems means he has at times had to do things that Republican party activists don’t like, such as foreswearing trying to pass Right-to-Work legislation. That means he’s already got a problem with the “Purity Now!” crowd, since no sitting governor of a a state with a medium-to-large population is ever going to pure enough for them.

What this means is that Scott Walker can’t afford to get tripped up by a ‘gotcha’ question. His best bet is to punt such questions. And no, that doesn’t come across as decisive, but given the way the nominating process works these days, its what Gov. Walker has to do.

Sheesh, Dark. I clung to the sinking GOP ship till the rigging started under. Now, though, the topgallant is two fathoms down and you’re still hanging on. You’re gulping seawater. It’s past time to let go and come up for air.

190 HappyWarrior  Feb 22, 2015 9:19:45am

re: #174 allegro

To lighten things up a bit, a recommendation for a fun few hours of teevee…

I watched “Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond” 4 part BBC series on Netflix yesterday while making excellent progress on my new crocheted coverlet. It was great! I knew Fleming had been in military intelligence in WWII but had no idea what a fascinating story it was. He even had influence on the creation of our own CIA. Very fun watch.

Definitely going to look for that. Sounds very interesting.

191 William Barnett-Lewis  Feb 22, 2015 9:21:24am

re: #31 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

He’s said The Bell Curve (the book) changed his life, I suppose by giving him a badly needed sense of self-worth based on his imagined superiority over lesser members of our species.

In other words, a fancier way of being a basically insecure loser/white supremacist.

The world might be a better place had it been “The Bell Jar” that changed his life instead…

192 Justanotherhuman  Feb 22, 2015 9:25:27am

What airline allows 15 yr olds to travel this way? Security failure all around.

Families of UK teenagers said to be heading to Syria give emotional TV appeals for their return - @BBCNews
bbc.com

193 Varek Raith  Feb 22, 2015 9:36:01am

194 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 9:37:02am
195 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 9:37:23am
196 FemNaziBitch  Feb 22, 2015 9:37:27am

bbl

197 Lidane  Feb 22, 2015 10:08:53am
198 lawhawk  Feb 22, 2015 11:39:31am

re: #181 Justanotherhuman

It’s all about Netayahu’s attempt to win reelection in Israel than domestic US consumption. The polls show things pretty close between Likud and Labor (Zionist Union - Labor/Livni). As such, Netanyahu has got to try and show Labor as being weak on security, because Likud has shown itself to be weak on the economy.

To me, both Labor and Likud have essentially done the same thing in recent years on security - they’ve both gotten bogged down in conflicts against Hamas, with no measurable improvement in security. Netanyahu is trying to show that he’s got security credentials, but his security posture is little different than Livni’s, which is to say, it sucks.

On the economy, Labor has an edge. But Israelis tend to vote security first, economy second. There’s still a huge undecided pool in the polls, so any slight movement could have drastic changes in outcomes.

The wildcards aren’t so much Zionist Union or Likud, but parties like Bennett’s, who will shift alliances depending on what party looks like they will get a chance to form the next government. There just are too many options and Yair Lapid’s party wanted to improve the economy and address serious poverty issues, but Likud didn’t want to upset the apple cart. Fixing the Tal Law was a start, but much more has to be done.


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