See the previous post re the Senate Energy and Environment committee hearings (video at the 1hr 50min mark) for the remarks of committee Deputy Chair, Senator Grant Mitchell (Liberal, Alberta). Note that earlier he had declined to ask the first question (as is his normal routine) stating he preferred to go last. From his remarks it's easy to see why. The man is a complete asshole!
Senator Mitchell (a political 'scientist' and smirking full time), said that while he didn't doubt the sincerity of the four contrarian scientists, there was an "overwhelming concensus" [there we go again!] of equally sincere scientists who subscribe wholeheartedly to AGW as a serious problem requiring action. He referred to the IPCC as "the strawman that's been raised here") [Uh oh!] adding that many scientists who hold the opposing view are not IPCC scientists but "independent scientists all over the world". To believe these (skeptical) arguments is "to believe some kind of strange conspiracy theory" and to believe that "the Harper government is clamping down on scientists to enforce elite climate science concensus" ... "it's the last government that would enforce concensus". Before ending Mitchell claims that "there is devastating science that confronts and overwhelms what you are saying" and it's "the same as saying that vaccines are dangerous ... that cell phones cause cancer or that evolution is not true.... If humans aren't causing this we have to be very, very afraid ... then we can't fix it."
[Wow! Just wow! Them's fighting words! Mitchell is a closed minded twit and an asshat!! Is he alone on the committee in this line of thinking? Perhaps not but he's the only one to show his true colours here. And note that he gave a speech with no intention of asking questions and getting a response he clearly isn't interested in hearing. He pretty much ran out the clock.] Prof Veizer asked whether he could speak off the record to address Mitchell's remarks. I think given the chance Veizer would have clocked the pr*ck (verbally of course).
Now we're getting to the nub of the problem. That there is "scientific concensus" is widely accepted dogma. Senator Mitchell certainly has no doubts.
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4 comments:
If you are from Alberta, you are very familiar with Grant Mitchell. Remember that he was a senior member of Principal Group, the outfit that bilked seniors out of millions of dollars. He went from there to ruin the Liberal Party of Alberta that under Decore almost gained power in the 1990's. From there he was appointed by Liberals to the Senate. Yes, he has a track record! One of complete failure. For this reason, there is not much reason to put any stock in anything this person has to say. He has about as much credibility as a VP for Chiquita Bananas, and depending on your point of view - about as much integrity.
Thanks for the info RJ. I've updated the post to include Mitchell's bio.
William in Ajax said...
Paraphrasing Donna Laframboise...
It just goes to show, one cannot question the supposed science nor the stances of the religious leaders of the day without facing totalitarian authority.
Science is the child of skepticism.
When skeptics are treated as heretics, you are no longer dealing with science. You are dealing with the blind faith of a religion.
True, Anon. Mitchell is totally wedded to the false AGW "concensus" notion (until death do them part) and, not really understanding the science, he buys the alarmist claims unconditionally. He can't or won't think for himself. His mind is therefore closed to any contrary ideas. This is all indicative of pig-headed blind faith.
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