What part of this seems reasonable?
OK, maybe it's because of my long, long week (this last leg of Virtual Earth is aging me somethin' fierce), but I just can't see how someone could justify any of this with a straight face.
White House Calls Editing Climate Files Part of Usual ReviewBush administration officials said yesterday that revisions to reports on climate change made by Philip A. Cooney, a former oil-industry lobbyist now working at the White House, were part of the normal review before publishing projects that involved many agencies.
At his morning briefing for reporters, the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, defended Mr. Cooney's participation and said the reports were "scientifically sound."
[ . . . ]
The revisions, many of which cast doubt on findings that climate scientists say are robust, prompted strong criticisms of the administration from scientists and environmental groups after they were reported yesterday in The New York Times.
Mr. Cooney, 45, is chief of staff to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which helps shape and carry out the president's environmental policies. A lawyer with no scientific training, he moved to the White House in 2001 after having worked for more than 10 years for the American Petroleum Institute, the oil-industry lobby. His last title there was climate team leader, and his focus was defeating plans to restrict heat-trapping gases.
[ . . . ]
Seriously, now. What the fuck?
Savannah, on Thursday, June 9, 2005 at 5:27 PM:
But you see, David, they're an empire now. And when they act, they create their own reality. They're history's actors, David, and we, all of us, will be left to just study what they do.
(Paraphrased from the immortal and terrifying "Without a Doubt" article.)
So when they changed the meaning of the report, don't you see, they were changing the facts about climate. Because when they act, they create their own reality. It's simple really.
Don't you feel better now?
Timothy, on Thursday, June 9, 2005 at 6:08 PM:
Back in 2000 bushie said that "they need to do more research" about global warming to have the facts straight - the SAME exact thign he said this week during a press con with his buddy Blair ... When you have "interests" one must be careful - it's his retirement fund you know ....