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Home Front: Culture Wars
Gov. Wants To Fire State Climatologist - Climate Change Skeptic
2007-02-07
The stifling of dissent continues. Climate Change has become a religion, and blasphemers (skeptics) are being shut down, fired, and ridiculed. That's science?
In the face of evidence agreed upon by hundreds of climate scientists, George Taylor holds firm. He does not believe human activities are the main cause of global climate change. Taylor also holds a unique title: State Climatologist.

Hundreds of scientists last Friday issued the strongest warning yet on global warming saying humans are "very likely" the cause. “Most of the climate changes we have seen up until now have been a result of natural variations,” Taylor asserts.

Taylor has held the title of "state climatologist" since 1991 when the legislature created a state climate office at OSU. The university created the job title, not the state. His opinions conflict not only with many other scientists, but with the state of Oregon's policies.

So the governor wants to take that title from Taylor and make it a position that he would appoint. In an exclusive interview with KGW-TV, Governor Ted Kulongoski confirmed he wants to take that title from Taylor. The governor said Taylor's contradictions interfere with the state's stated goals to reduce greenhouse gases, the accepted cause of global warming in the eyes of a vast majority of scientists.
Because it's just not proper to have dissent when the dissenter is saying stuff you don't like ...
“He is Oregon State University's climatologist. He is not the state of Oregon's climatologist,” Kulongoski said.
So the governor is going to re-arrange what the university has done. So much for academic freedom ...
Taylor declined to comment on the proposal other than to say he was a "bit shocked" by the news. He recently engaged in a debate at O.M.S.I. and repeated his doubts about accepted science.
Join the Galileo club, Dr. Taylor ...
In an interview he told KGW, "There are a lot of people saying the bulk of the warming of the last 50 years is due to human activities and I don't believe that's true." He believes natural cycles explain most of the changes the earth has seen.

A bill will be introduced in Salem soon on the matter. Sen. Brad Avakian, (D) Washington County, is sponsoring the bill. He said global warming is so important to state policy it's important to have a climatologist as a toady consultant to the governor. He denied this is targeted personally at Taylor. "Absolutely not," Avakian said, "I've never met Mr. Taylor and if he's got opinions I hope he comes to the hearing and testifies."
"I don't need to meet Mr. Taylor to know that he should be suppressed."
Kulongoski said the state needs a consistent message on reducing greenhouse gases to combat climate change.
"Whether or not it's true, it must be consistent."
The Governor says, "I just think there has to be somebody that says, 'this is the state position on this.'"
This was h/t'd to Drudge, who has become one of the worst hysterics on Climate Change...
Posted by:Frank G

#18  I live in Oregon -- Gov. Kulongoski is a joke, a very bad joke. He ranks right up there with the Mayor of Portland as an example of who NOT to elect to public office. But for the past 30 years or so, no Republican can get major vote totals in this state : lots of people brag that Oregon was one of the few states NOT to vote for Reagan either time. And the only Republican Senator is sounding more and more like a RINO every day.

Kulongoski is a publicity whore, and will throw anyone under the bus for applause from the Greenies.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2007-02-07 22:38  

#17  "Important to state policy" > TREE/FOREST-, SASQUATCH-, and related ECO-TOURISM $$$???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-02-07 20:45  

#16  as a CaliFornian in the San Diego region, strong military supporters, and the Father of an Army enlistee, F*CK OFF and KISS MY ASS. I will not tolerate bigoted ignorance and blanket slams, or perhaps you aren't Navy at all, if you don't respect our regions' contributions. My father is buried at Ft Rosecrans, and I don't have to apologize to you at all, USN, Ret. Time to acknowledge your stupidity, or that some parts of CALIFORNIA are in the US and do their part. You too, Icerigger.
Posted by: Frank G   2007-02-07 20:44  

#15  :>
Posted by: Shipman   2007-02-07 19:02  

#14  Nope.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2007-02-07 18:50  

#13  Deacon you ever been anywhere you didn't like the people?
Posted by: Shipman   2007-02-07 18:26  

#12  I spent time in Hillsboro, Oregon back in '91. I actually liked it and liked the people. The one thing I didn't like was the very high property taxes.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2007-02-07 17:59  

#11  Caliphonians? To funny!

Let's keep in mind that the last ice age was brought down by all those evil Plains Indians driving around SUV and keeping large herds of buffalo. Haliburton put a stop to that.
Posted by: Icerigger   2007-02-07 17:47  

#10  For whatever reason, Spousal Unit loves going to the Oregon coast for vacation. Me, the only good thin I can say about Oregon is that it acts as a physical barrier to help filter the Caliphonians out so it will slow down the destruction of the great state of Seattle. (True story, had a Caliphonian and his wife stop me whilst mowing the yard and offered me a considerable sum of money for the place, when I told him no, he got all sort of pissed off. )
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2007-02-07 14:55  

#9  Sounds like it may be safer for you in Sadr City, Oregon Guy. Good luck and G*dspeed.
Posted by: BA   2007-02-07 13:29  

#8  It's a difficult year to be an Oregonian. We have the penultimate hack as Governor and yet there is no engine for change.

It's been, roughly, thirty years since the Republican party in Oregon has had any public role to play. Following the ascent of what is referred to as the "religious right" to the levers of power within the party in 1978 the party has been viewed as an assortment of anti-feminist Christianists. The last hurrah was the gubernatorial aspiration of Dave Frohnmeyer in 1994.

When you look back Oregon has had its share of outstanding public servants. Mark Hatfield, Edith Green, Al Ullman, Wendell Wyatt, John Dellenback, Vic Atiyeh, Tom McCall and Bob Packwood. Al Ullman served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from 1975 to 1981. He lost because he advocated replacing the current tax code with a national value added tax. Bob Packwood was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and responsible for the 1986 Tax Reform Act.

You can love Clinton all you want. It was the work of Oregonians like these who've helped move our country forward. The bellweather loss by Portland Mayor Frank Ivancie went unnoticed within the ranks of the party faithful. By '76 the Right had been infested by the Single-Issue Religious. Thanks to that Californian President, then Ford opponent. Four years later, independent candidate John Anderson ran his most successful campaign in this state.

And now being a Republican is viewed as being a moral bigot. Pointing out the ludricrous nature of our Governor's or state legislature's plans ends up with finger-pointing and name calling. This is the current level of debate in this once great state.

But I will not go gently into the night. Nor will I allow others to frame the debate. (Remember, baby steps.)
Posted by: OregonGuy   2007-02-07 13:11  

#7  His eubellent pomposity, Governor Ted Kulongoski, of the Peoples Republic of Oregon, has decreed that anyone denying the 1000% human cause of global warming shall have his tongue removed and his lips sewn together...

The secret police are on the hunt for those who will be judged to be politically lacking...

Now, let's all sing the Oregonian anthem, "If I Only Had a Brain"
Posted by: BigEd   2007-02-07 11:30  

#6  Very little difference between a modern Green and an unreconstructed Red.
Posted by: RWV   2007-02-07 11:03  

#5  The left embraces the theory that Global Warming is man made and keeps the ecology wackos in their camp and not splitting off to vote for Nader as in the last two presidential elections.

The "climate scientists" are then paid off with grants and will keep the charade going for generations.
Posted by: USMC6743   2007-02-07 10:09  

#4  The Eco-nazis are out in full force...emboldened by the November elections.

I will say again...there are many skeptical government atmospheric scientists who, by regulation, are not allowed to express an opinion on the subject.
Posted by: anymouse   2007-02-07 09:54  

#3  Galileo. Pope. Jesuits.

BTW, does the Gov understand that around 20,000 years ago his state was under a massive ice sheet and that if real and natural climate warming hadn't occurred he wouldn't be pompous Gov of Oregon?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-02-07 09:43  

#2  Oregon?
Nevermind fired, I'm surprised this guy isn't hanging from a tree.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-02-07 09:43  

#1  Plus, think of all the government and private money will come in now that there is no opposition to Global Warming™ in Oregon!
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-02-07 09:35  

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