NASA Chief Puts Warmies Down As "Arrogant"

Michael Griffen, NASA's top dog, agrees that the globe has warmed and may likely warm more. He acknowledges evidence that "appears" to nail down that humans "may" be the cause. But he's not about to condone spending billions on appeasing the Warmie Hysterics who think we should fight global warming.

Could that be because in a fight between humans and the planet, the planet is likely to win?

Yes, that and more. From Griffen's interview yesterday on NPR:

I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change.

First of all, I don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown. And second of all, 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. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.

You betcha. I hope Griffen's quote gets major play in Scandinavia, Russia and Canada (OK, and Minnesota, too), where people would be praying for global warming if they had any sense at all, not rallying to fight it. If global warming is real, they would benefit greatly from it.

There appears to be strong job security in NASA, because premier Warmie Hysteric James Hansen, NASA's climate change guy, responded with:

"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." (WaPo)

What is shocking in Griffen's quote? What is ignorant? Would Hansen have us believe that global climate changes have never occurred before? Would he want us to swallow that change is not necessarily bad? Does he not know that people suffer through all sorts of climatological brouhaha, and that we adapt? Does he want us to have such full faith in models that can't accurately predict tomorrow that we commit hundreds of billions of dollars to tip at global windmills?

In a bad sign, even the White House science adviser, John H. Marburger, said "nobody should think that he was speaking for anyone but himself" -- putting distance between Griffen and the administration.

It was a stupid statement by Marburger. He should have acknowledged that Griffen raised some important points that are worthy of consideration, and stated that whatever Griffen's views, they did not reflect negatively on the need to gather data, which is NASA's mission.

Griffen acknowledged as much today, saying:

It is NASA's responsibility to collect, analyze and release information. It is not NASA's mission to make policy regarding possible climate change mitigation strategies.

If only James Hansen would acknowledge that mission and stop dedicating his taxpayer-financed career attempting to set our national policy on global warming.