Part Credit. In this post, I wondered whether the Times and PI would cover Al Gore's enormous energy use. Both newspapers did, though neither made the comparison to the Crawford White House that I think they should.
The Seattle Times, perhaps to protect its more sensitive leftist readers, included the news in a summary article on environmental issues.
The PI did better, running the story by itself, and making it the subject of a "Sound Off".
(Interestingly, the PI also does better on what I like to call the "Lomborg test". Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist has some of the most interesting ideas on global warming I have seen. In brief, Lomborg accepts the UN estimates on global warming, but concludes that preventing global warming does not pass an ordinary cost benefit test. It would be better, he believes, to spend the money on other causes, such as providing clean water to the poorest people in the world. Lomborg may be right, or he may be wrong, but you can't really understand the debate without confronting his ideas.
When I did a search at the PI on "Lomborg", I found this Mark Trahant column defending Lomborg's honesty. When I did the same search at the Times, I found only a nasty letter and a passing reference in an AP article. There may be more at both newspapers; I have found that their internal searches sometimes miss items, but it does say something about the Times — something unfortunate — that it has published so little on Lomborg's ideas.)
Note to commenters: The subject of this post is not global warming; it is how our local media cover the subject. So, for example, a comment on how KOMO covers this subject would be on topic, but a comment on polar bears would not.
Closed: I am sorry that I had to do this, but one commenter was unwilling to follow my simple request to stay on topic. I hope that he behaves better when he is invited into other peoples' homes than he does on this web site.
Posted by Jim Miller at March 02, 2007 11:53 AM | Email ThisNow that would have been good reporting, but I must remember it's the PI.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 2, 2007 12:12 PMHere's the original press release
Posted by: JDH on March 2, 2007 12:46 PMHello CATO....
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 2, 2007 12:54 PMUnless, of course, they wish to inhibit free speech by being silent on the issue. You see, the "debate is over" on GW, so why should they report on the skeptics and hypocracy in their own ranks?
If they posted counter articles, then the "sheeples" would think. But, since the debate is on their side, they want to keep the masses uninformed.
I agree, Mr. Miller, the Seattle papers are suspiciously silent.
Posted by: swatter on March 2, 2007 01:00 PM"I found this Mark Trahant column defending Lomborg's honesty."
Actually Trahant noted thatLomborg had been accused of scientific dishonesty by a Danish scietific reviewing panel and then the review panel had been accused of bias. The jury was still out. Subsequently, the reviewing panel then re-reviewed his book and continued to find scientific dishonesty. Trahant was merely saying that Lomborg should be given a hearing, and was not vouching for his legitimacy or honesty.
From what I've read Lomborg's "scientific" work is questionable. He was trained as a political scientist.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bjorn_Lomborg
Posted by: chew2 on March 2, 2007 01:00 PM
Geee how many people could that be said of?.
If the UN is any part of it I sure would.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 2, 2007 01:05 PMAnd despite what the liberal media and the leftists want the world to believe, The Goracle didn't win an Oscar. Davis Guggenheim won. He credited The Goracle for the inspiration, but The Goracle's name didn't, and won't appear on any awards list, except in the twisted minds on the left.
This is no different that the hundreds of millions of dollars in stock options given to The Goracle by the founders of Google and the board of Apple. It's nothing less than a bunch of leftie hero worshipers bestowing undeserved wealth and rewards on their patron saints.
Notice how the media portrays it, however. (Yes, Jim, I'm going stay on topic.) The media portrays it as The Goracle "won an Oscar," and The Goracle has made hundreds of millions on his "investments."
The media is too lazy; they should follow the money.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on March 2, 2007 01:11 PMIs that true? I searched for articles about it and could not find anyone who has reported this. Do you have a link?
Posted by: Palouse on March 2, 2007 01:17 PM
Sorry it was on this morning news when I heard it. Even the news guys was taken back.
Of course that's a right wing website, right? After all it's spreading lies about The Goracle. So maybe this PDF of the press release will help:
GIM Press Release
Or this:
GIM Founding Partners
Gore helped found Generation Investment Management, through which he and others pay for offsets. The firm invests the money in solar, wind and other projects that reduce energy consumption around the globe...
Gore is chairman of the firm and, presumably, draws an income or will make money as its investments prosper. In other words, he "buys" his "carbon offsets" from himself, through a transaction designed to boost his own investments and return a profit to himself. To be blunt, Gore doesn't buy "carbon offsets" through Generation Investment Management - he buys stocks.
Posted by: Palouse on March 2, 2007 01:45 PMThis will leave a mark:
Bonnie Prince Al
Comparison of The Goracle's house and the Crawford WH:
Al Gore's Own Inconvenient Truth
I almost feel sorry for the guy, he's such an easy target.
Then again, considering how much cash he's been given by Google and Apple, No. I. Don't.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on March 2, 2007 02:00 PMRE AlGore: I think its about time we "Milli Vanilli" AlGore. You know...exposing pure fraud, living a lie, passing yourself off as something you're not, receiving credit for talent when there's none to be had...I could keep going for a while...It would be precious to see him have to give back his grammys.
Posted by: k2 on March 2, 2007 02:01 PM"And let's be clear about our real adversaries. The environmental movement's deadliest threats to human lives do not come from its violent fringe characters, that relative handful of "eco-terrorists" who set fire to SUV dealerships and research labs. As I aim to show, the environmental movement's worst assaults on human lives are plotted and implemented every day by genteel, well-dressed lawyers, activists, and bureaucrats, working inside the posh offices of mainstream environmental groups and government agencies. While the theatrics of tree-sitters and terrorists grab headlines and provoke public anger, the policies and programs of the mainstream greens command little public concern or opposition. But theirs are the activities that are destroying the lives of millions."
http://www.objectivistcenter.org/showcontent.aspx?ct=835&h=53
Posted by: JDH on March 2, 2007 02:11 PMFor more info go here:
Ed Begley Jr.'s IMDB webpage
Ed's known for being a bit quirky, and is currently starring in a TV show "Living With Ed," which as I understand it, focuses on the trials and tribulations of his long suffering wife as she tries to deal with his eccentricities.
Living With Ed
He does live the green life, generates electricity, rides a bike or takes public transportation, etc., which is more than you can say about most green activists. For living what he preaches he has my respect.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on March 2, 2007 02:27 PMdon't forget your trip a few years ago to the Pacific NW wherein we shut the WHOLE darn Nat. Park down just so YOU could climb a mountain.
liberals for the common man, eh?
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on March 2, 2007 02:30 PMThe Right Wing mouthpiece, National Geographic has had the audacity to report that real scientists have been noticing global warming on both Earth and Mars!
Posted by: Keb on March 2, 2007 03:03 PMI was at the mall today and happened to observe plenty of Americans. Do you know the one trait that these Americans all seem to have in common?
Americans are obese and gluttonous.
Look at their hungry eyes. I want to tell these Americans: Look, you've eaten enough!
But they would never hear that sort of message. The Americans feel entitled to consume all of the world's resources and they could care less about the negative health consequences of their excesses.
The rest of the world can suffer, the rest of the world can starve, but Americans will keep on eating no matter how fat they become. Americans will drive their big fat SUVs down to the mall and boast about how skilled they are at shopping.
The Americans don't seem to notice that their lifestyle is killing them, nor do they seem to care. Americans are obese and addicted and oblivious to that portion of the Universe which is outside their own stomach.
Americans want to consume everything and they aren't happy unless they are always consuming more. Americans are the world's hyperconsumers and Americans excrete the greatest amount of pollution on the Earth.
China isn't very far behind. The Chinese are emulating America's sins. India is following the same path. Hundreds of millions of people seeking for their own little chunk of the American dream, not a single one of them thinking about the consequences of their own actions.
You want to know how this story ends?
Homo sapiens will go extinct.
God doesn't care, either. God is fed up with humankind. Nature isn't our friend. Nature is harsh, especially when it is angry, and humans have provoked Nature's anger.
And humankind? Humans are like sheep without any shedherd. Humans are utterly and absolutely lost. Of all the animals of the Earth, Homo sapiens are by far the most miserable, the most violent, the most destructive, and the most suicidal.
Civilization is going to begin winding down very soon. Civilization's end is fast approaching.
Prepare for the worst because what is coming is much worse than you can imagine. America's days are numbered. America's era of prosperity is ending. America's global domination is dying in the Middle East.
This world is coming to an end. May God have mercy upon us all.
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 03:28 PMYou're the weakest link.
Goodbye.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on March 2, 2007 03:34 PMPerhaps he was shopping for a clue....
Posted by: Obi-Wan on March 2, 2007 03:41 PMI know that humans don't care. That's the reason why humankind's extinction is now both inevitable & inescapable.
Homo sapiens haven't merely destroyed the Earth, the entire species has committed suicide on a grand scale. When all is said & done, humankind's extinction event will rival the catastrophe of an asteroid impact.
I don't have any faith in humankind whatsoever. The primate is intelligent but it is not wise. The primate destroys everything within reach and then invents technologies to destroy everything else. The primate has polluted the entire globe and transformed the Earth into humankind's own special sewer.
Humankind doesn't want to survive. Humankind wants to go extinct.
God says, "Suit yourself." Nature says, "Thanks. Goodbye." Humankind responds, "What? I'm not immortal?"
There's no hope for humankind whatsoever. The species is committing suicide. The extinction is self-inflicted.
What God said about humankind prior to Noah's flood was the most honest & truthful comment about human nature ever uttered. Too bad for humankind, but our fate is already sealed.
There's no hope whatsoever for humankind. While wisdom could very well avert a disaster, humankind's greed & gluttony are a great deal more powerful than human wisdom.
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 03:41 PMI was at the blog today and happend to observe a particular American. Do you know what trait this American had? He was Obese and Gluttonous.
(I can't say for certain what his body looked like, this is after all cyberspace.)
But I can say that he not only knew that his lifestyle was killing him he had to tell everyone else about it. But the most peculiar thing about it was that he was totally and completely unwilling to change that lifestyle.
If fact, I wonder if he is working particularly to hasten both his demise and all others by his rapcious appetite for energy that he cannot bring himself to curtail.
I am certainly going to prepare for the worst as this person, and all the others of his kind, such as the ones who live in huge estates, drive huge cars and fly around in private jets and congregate in large, expensive venues with huge energy consuption volitionally and with malice attpemt to bring about the prophecies that they so earnestly desire to come to pass.
So David, are you TRYING to bring about global warming or can you finally tell me that you are personally attempting to curtail your energy usage to that of, say, the average person in Kenya?
Please be clear on your personal "walk" so that we can all be inspired and desire to be like you.
Posted by: Eyago on March 2, 2007 03:42 PM> So David, are you TRYING to bring about global warming or can you finally tell me that you are personally attempting to curtail your energy usage to that of, say, the average person in Kenya?
I have cut back substantially on my electricity, gasoline and food consumption. I have ceased all consumer activities otherwise (except for buying the occasional book).
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 03:44 PMDon't you know? The debate about global warming over.
Ot at least that's what they keep telling me.
Posted by: G Jiggy on March 2, 2007 03:53 PMAnd to others: Please do not feed the trolls. (Whether they are intentional trolls or not.)
And don't forget my Ignoratio Elenchi advice. Matthews has -- again -- conceded my point, so he doesn't really need to say anything more, though I appreciate his support. (A little, anyway.)
Posted by: Jim Miller on March 2, 2007 04:01 PMI bought two books over the last week. I observe the behaviors & habits of humankind at the mall.
Do you want to know what books I bought this week? Don't worry, I'll tell you:
July 20, 2019: Life in the 21st Century by Arthur C. Clarke
and ...
Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change by Stephen Kinzer
The first book is interesting because it speaks about a future which will never occur, whereas the second book is sad because it speaks about America's many crimes against poor & weak nations.
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 04:01 PMBeing as I am the proud owner of 5,500 lbs of GHG spewing American Iron commonly referred to as an F-150 FX-4 Lariat Super Crew. Am I allowed to follow the AlGore's model which is also consistent with the Kyoto accords? And if not, why not?
In case you are not familiar with how this scheme works, let me lay it out for you. I am in possession of one hell of a carbon generating somebitch, which according to Kyoto... should I decide to forego spewing GHGs I am entitled to peddle as "offsets" to the highest bidder. (I even have a model to follow, this is the model every country in the European Union has been following).
I hate to say it, but most of the posts written regarding by Global Warming by yourself, Stephen and Earl are examples of Ignoratio elenchi.
Al Gore's sins don't in any sense minimize the impact of pollution upon the global warming, nor do they reduce the threat posed by global warming.
Al Gore's mansion and his electric bill are irrelevant to the subject of global warming. Hence, this entire thread is a massive example of Ignoratio elenchi.
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 04:05 PM> Being as I am the proud owner of 5,500 lbs of GHG spewing American Iron commonly referred to as an F-150 FX-4 Lariat Super Crew. Am I allowed to follow the AlGore's model which is also consistent with the Kyoto accords? And if not, why not?
What I suggest, JDH, is very different from the solution that Al Gore offers.
What I suggest is: Park the pickup and let it rust away to dust in your front yard. Don't buy another vehicle. Learn to enjoy walking.
Is this solution acceptable to you?
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 04:08 PMNow I am telling you: Stop the off topic posts. And email me an apology.
Posted by: Jim Miller on March 2, 2007 04:17 PMHe couldn't.
Except as an invention of Sound Politic's central contributors. Serving as a catalyst for blog traffic.
Posted by: Bart Cannon on March 2, 2007 04:32 PM> Now I am telling you: Stop the off topic posts. And email me an apology.
Eh, Jim, who are you kidding?
I read through this entire thread and it appears like no one has remained on-topic. Nor -- for that matter -- does your original post remain on-topic:
"Interestingly, the PI also does better on what I like to call the "Lomborg test". Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist has some of the most interesting ideas on global warming I have seen. In brief, Lomborg accepts the UN estimates on global warming, but concludes that preventing global warming does not pass an ordinary cost benefit test. It would be better, he believes, to spend the money on other causes, such as providing clean water to the poorest people in the world. Lomborg may be right, or he may be wrong, but you can't really understand the debate without confronting his ideas."
What does the "Lomborg test" have to do with "how our local media cover the subject"?
Nothing whatsoever.
And what does Al Gore's lifestyle have to do with Global Warming?
Nothing whatsoever.
And what does the SoundPolitics Meteorological Reports have to do with Global Warming?
Nothing whatsoever.
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 04:42 PMHow is it possible that I could respond concurrently to your post @34? Clearly my post was a response to your post @31, at 3:34 pm.
Unless you imagine that I have some sort of Divine insight into your posts while you are writing them, that is ...
Posted by: David Mathews on March 2, 2007 04:46 PMMany in the statistical profession have criticized IPCC reports, research, and climate change models as being flawed from a statistical point of view, and have pointed out the absence of statisticians from the studies.
Posted by: Dave Onkels on March 2, 2007 04:57 PM