Warming Denial Humor

From an administration already known to be rich in comedy comes a new act:

"I guess I would ask which human beings, where and when, are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now, is the best climate for all other human beings," he [Michael Griifin, NASA Administrator] said during a National Public Radio interview aired yesterday morning.
[…]
James Hansen, NASA's top official on climate change, said of Griffin's stance: "It was a shocking statement because of the level of ignorance it indicated with regard to the current situation. He seemed unaware that 170 nations agreed that climate change is a serious problem with enormous repercussions, and that many people will suffer if it is not addressed."
[…]
White House science adviser John H. Marburger distanced the administration from Griffin, saying that "nobody should think that he was speaking for anyone but himself."

[Marc Kaufman, "NASA Administrator Questions Need to Fight Global Warming", Washington Post, 1 June 2007.]

Posted on June 1, 2007 at 12.28 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Will Rogers Moments

3 Responses

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  1. Written by S.W. Anderson
    on Friday, 1 June 2007 at 19.42
    Permalink

    Intellectual breadth and depth aren't exactly hallmarks of Bush appointees, are they?

    Griffin questions a general assumption, which for discussion purposes is certainly within bounds. But then he makes it all hinge on equity considerations — big mistake. Sort of like a committed vegan weighing in about the relative merits of filet mignon vs. N.Y. strip. Leads to all manner of neocontortions.

    Maybe the worst of this nonsense from Griffin is that it begs the question, "Which human beings, where and when, are to be accorded the privilege of deciding who will be uprooted, lose their property, maybe their livelihood and, in worst case situations, maybe lose their lives?"

    I have a hunch about his answer, although I'm not sure he'd be dumb enough to say it on radio.

  2. Written by jns
    on Friday, 1 June 2007 at 22.10
    Permalink

    Yes, and I particularly like the little coda provided by Marburger — who has never impressed me in his limited role as science adviser — saying of the chief spokesperson for NASA that said spokesperson spoke only for himself.

  3. Written by S.W. Anderson
    on Saturday, 2 June 2007 at 14.24
    Permalink

    ". . . saying of the chief spokesperson for NASA that said spokesperson spoke only for himself"

    Indeed, that defeats the purpose of having a spokesperson,doesn't it?

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