Comments on: Denier-Industrial-Complex Kooks (DICKs) scream: ‘Czar’ Browner is a ’socialist’!

By: Jörg Haas

Jörg Haas — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:37:15 +0000

By the way, also the German Social Democrats are members of the socialist international. German Chancellor Merkel is ruling in a coalition with them. And Spains ruling PSOE is also member of SI. From UK to Germany to Spain to Israel – according to the right wing probably all cruel totalitarian dictatorships. What a bad joke.

By: Lou Grinzo

Lou Grinzo — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:42:03 +0000

This issue of leadership is something I think about a lot in connection with my writing over on The Cost of Energy, particularly when I talk about the ongoing infowar between deniers and science.

I think that there’s no way for anyone to lead on “our” side without getting Gored, for two reasons.

First, the mass media is dumber than a sack of rocks on science issues, so they inevitably fall back on the tactic of covering their hindquarters via the “faux balance” move: This respected scientist says X, but this wackjob says otherwise, so there’s no consensus. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Second, the deniers have too much money and are too good at throwing garbage. We’re trying to convince the masses of a particular scientific truth, e.g. you have to take care of your teeth, while the deniers are running big-buck efforts telling people, “Who wants to do all that brushing? And flossing??? Here–have some candy and ignore those crazy people with the high-falutin’ degrees who are trying to run your life.” Hate that all you want, but the bottom line is that it plays very well with a lot of Americans who still cling to the rugged individualism/manifest destiny shtick, even in 2009.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I honestly believe that in the US we’ve been reduced to trying to elect someone who sounds right-of-center and then hoping he or she switches gears once in office and actually (gasp!) listens to experts and does what’s in everyone’s long-term best interest.

By: Kathy N

Kathy N — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:36:10 +0000

I like the one about the metal earrings, but on a less serious note I equally liked the story about Palin discribed as a Grizzly Mom. Joe who is your choice to lead us in this time of silly McCarthyism types spouting off about Socialists trying to take over our goverment! AGAIN!! Didnt we hear all this garbage over and over from Kill a mother humping moose eight days of the week PALIN?? My main question when this crap rises to the surface of the cess pool is: What is the source of this abiding fear among conservatives that good for many is so bad?

By: Wes Rolley

Wes Rolley — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:27:29 +0000

Of course the environmental community has leaders who are patriotic, forward thinking people. Nordhaus and Shellenberger would never be mistaken for socialists. Of course, they have also alienated their share of folks.

Seriously, the problem is in the translation from ecological goals to political action. The legislation never matches the campaign speeches and compromise always favors those who have the power. To paraphrase my once upon a time Senator, Barry Goldwater “Moderation in the pursuit of ecological justice is no virtue.” (next sentence after his extremism in the defense of liberty comment).

On the issues of climate, there can be no compromise or this world as we know it is done.

Wes Rolley CoChair – EcoAction Committee, Green Party, US

By: Romm for Cabinet

Romm for Cabinet — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:24:20 +0000

Joe, would you agree that the environmental community is lacking leadership? Stories like this tell me that our movement is badly lacking leadership at this point. As much as I admire the guy, Al Gore is simply not cutting it. He has alienated half the country. We need a leader who will show the average American that environmentalists aren’t socialists or hippies. We are patriotic, forward thinking people.

By: hapa

hapa — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:51:51 +0000

“you’ll pry my baseless slander from my cold, dead hands”

By: David B. Benson

David B. Benson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:36:10 +0000

Its even less funny.

By: johninoregon

johninoregon — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:32:30 +0000

“Bizarrely, Drudge and Newsbusters are also promoting a global warming denial story from the Russian web-based tabloid Pravda.”

And tellingly, neither Drudge nor NewsBusters apparently “did the Google” on the writer of the Pravda piece. If the had, they would have found that he’s an Oregon-based blogger who’s has also written that 9-11 was an inside job and expressed a a variety of alternative and leftist viewpoints that would make Drudge and NewsBusters fans blanch.

But hey, why bother to check out a writer’s background and credibility? If he’s a global warming denier, that’s plenty good enough for this crowd.