Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Global warming skeptics are touting thousands of hacked emails as proof that scientists schemed to overstate man’s influence on climate change. Now those emails could undermine negotiations for a new climate change treaty that begin in Copenhagen this week. Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel is a climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists and she joins Bob to discuss the controversy. Then, Justin Townes Earle is the son of acclaimed singer & songwriter Steve Earle, but he’s quickly establishing his own name in the music business. He’s released his second album called Midnight at the Movies and last month he won the Americana Music Association’s award for New & Emerging Artist of the Year.
Bob, I’ve been listening to your show for nearly 20 years. I have always enjoyed it and I’m sure I will continue to. But I have to tell you that I feel the segment you aired concerning the hacked emails from East Anglia with Brenda Ekwurzel was lopsided. We only heard from one side.
Al Gore this week has grossly exaggerated and misquoted a climate scientist stating the north polar ice cap will likely melt away during the summer months in 5-7 years. I’ve read that 30,000 scientists signed a petition that challenges the concept of man made global warming. From what I hear and read Al Gore and the scientific community at East Anglia and the IPCC refuse to debate the issue. Why not? I thought debate was a cornerstone of the scientific process.
Why isn’t anyone following the money on this story? President Obama has appointed Gary Gensler, senior partner at Goldman Sachs, as head of the CFTC that will regulate carbon credits if the cap and trade bill is passed. I’ve read a lot about Gary Gensler. I’ve read Gensler successfully lobbied Congress to remove regulations that were hindering Kenneth Lay and Enron from all the wonderful things they did in the world of finance. Bernie Sanders unsuccessfully tried to block Gensler’s appointment as CFTC chairman because of this.
I’ve read that Gary Gensler and Kenneth Lay were the ones who originally hatched the idea of cap and trade so the likes of Goldman Sachs and Enron could cash in on the newly created carbon derivatives. It’s fair to say Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management Company will make billions on cap and trade.
I’m as concerned about pollution and our dependence on oil as anyone. But not because I believe what people like Gore, Gensler or President Obama are saying. I don’t trust them any more than I trust Phil Graham, Hank Paulsen or George W. Bush. I’m concerned because young men and women die in wars that were started because of the world’s oil supply. I’m concerned that the skies are turning brown with pollution.
I’m concerned about the mainstream media too often reporting one side of a story.