Posted on 10/02/2011 4:52:35 AM PDT by IbJensen
As Chris Christie continues to play footsie with a presidential run, we should be aware that the New Jersey governor is yet another example of the politician as scientific know-nothing, warning of the dangers of anthropogenic global warming. Christie — a graduate of the University of Delaware in political science [sic] with a law degree from Seton Hall — has decided global warming is real. How does he know?
Says Christie: “I’m certainly not a scientist, which is the first problem. So I can’t claim to fully understand all of this, certainly not after just a few months of study. But when you have over 90 percent of the world’s scientists who have studied this stating that climate change is occurring and that humans play a contributing role, it’s time to defer to the experts.”
No, it’s not. Anyone who understands anything about the history of science knows that kind of reasoning is antithetical to the scientific method (repetitive testing of an hypothesis) and to the search for truth. Of course, that’s what our uneducated politicians have to do, trust the experts they choose, since they themselves have no background. Only a handful with medical degrees are qualified to have any kind of opinion about global warming at all.
Frankly, Christie worries me with this simple-minded statement. (Ironically, of all the candidates, including the incumbent, the only one with substantive scientific or technical training is Herman Cain, who has a degree in mathematics from Morehouse and computer science from Purdue.)
One more thing. My friend Scott Johnson, with whom I normally agree, is unconcerned with Christie’s girth. I would certainly concur that we have had more than enough nanny state nattering about our excessive avoirdupois from such pot-to-kettle hypocrites as Michelle Obama. And Scott’s prediction that big bellies will come back into fashion with a Christie presidency might be true.
But the truth is being president isn’t remotely the same thing as it was during the days of that famous Man of Belly Scott cites, William Howard Taft. The modern presidency is a 24/7 high-stress job beyond the imagination of the people of Taft’s time, a hundred years ago. Even Barack Obama — a lithe, devoted basketball player — looks physically wrecked after three years. Christie could keel over in three weeks.
I have some advice for the Jersey governor. If he’s really serious about running, he should do it from a spa where he is on an exercise and calorie restriction plan. The press could come and interview him there about his policies while he works out. It would be a good thing for his family too.
As regards the junk science designed to make some other fat cats rich, the earth has never been environmentally stable for eons, and we are overdue for severe change if the earth matches its past history.
The question is how much humanity contributes….which is a minute if any amount. Mild volcano activity releases millions of tons of “greenhouse” gas into the atmosphere….Moderate volcano activity will release hundreds of millions of tons within a few hours. A major volcanic eruption has the potential to wipe out most of humanity if lasting long enough.
The ocean releases 200 million tons of methane into the atmosphere every year..this is all part of earths geology.
Most people have no idea how difficult or treacherous the earth has been to our ancestors, A short study of geology or recent earth science will reveal just how hard life was in our past, and how difficult life will be again.
But Humanity has little to do with this, it is just how the earth works.
Some historical reality for Crispy Creme...
In SW Ohio where I live, we were once covered by a 2-mile thick glacier. Eventually the temps increased and began melting the glacier “back” to the Artic.
In addition, Greenland was indeed green when Lief and the boys landed.
Christie is just another liberal RINO in the GOP...and supports the islamic 9-11 victory mosque at Ground Zero.
Sorry Ann Coulter, but we should be aware that the New Jersey governor is yet another example of the politician as scientific know-nothing.
Did you go to journalism hit-man school?
Just not as a republican candidate for president.
I hope he doesn't enter the ring, we'll have to tear down his name and expose his liberal policies which are as bad as any RINO.
Compelling us to scrutinize his record would be his own fault.
BTW—He ALSO hates gun ownership; and LOVES illegals. Muzzies, and Sharia law.
What’s not to like?
Normally I ignore single issue political positions on the grounds that humanity is infuriatingly diverse and therefore very gray-scale.
But as a scientist, I regard blatant ignorance of basic scientific tenets to be a crippling personality flaw. Christie and Gengrich, along with many others, have demonstrated intellectual lazyness when giving voice to MMGW positions. If a politician can’t be bothered to digest simple physiology and earth science realities, they give me no reason to believe much thought was put into other topics.
Science is not a democracy. Flawed data and irresponsible analysis cannot be massaged into a scientific truth. Pandering to the MMGW mindset is scientific idolatry.
Incumbent Governor Jon Corzine used that tactic in almost every television ad against Christie. It got so bad that reporters were asking Corzine about his baldness problem - just to get him to shut up about Christie's weight problem.
In other words, the weight issue backfired against the Democrat. There are MANY fat people in the United States and they will not take kindly to being insulted on this issue.
Gun control is a deal breaker. If he is in favor of gun control, he did not take his oath of office seriously. Too many politicians are like this. They swear to uphold and defend the constitution, then go about destroying it. Enough already!
>>As Chris Christie continues to play footsie with a presidential run<<
Chris Christie said he isn’t running. The press has made up this meme.
Says Christie: “I’m certainly not a scientist, which is the first problem. So I can’t claim to fully understand all of this, certainly not after just a few months of study. But when you have over 90 percent of the world’s scientists who have studied this stating that climate change is occurring and that humans play a contributing role, it’s time to defer to the experts.”
I think he has just signed onto the political economics of self enrichment.
Vote for Sarah.
>>In other words, the weight issue backfired against the Democrat. There are MANY fat people in the United States and they will not take kindly to being insulted on this issue. <<
Because not everyone has an obsession with weight.
Some people are or know people who are fat. It just looks classless after a while.
Like the way the left attacks. Not on the issues, but on looks.
Saul Alinsky tactics are ugly and childish no matter which side uses them.
Truth be told.
Nicely put.
I get so tired of this kind of reporting. I don’t care about the color of people, their weight, their gender ... when it comes to my freedoms and my security ... how will they VOTE! Will they try to get rid of the EPA, IRS, will they secure the borders, etc? If they will try, whothehell cares what color they are or what weight they might carry. The press gets this process confused with hollywood ... (Bigger breasts are better) ... this is not hollywood, this is about what people BELIEVE now how they “look”. Geesh!
You really get it! Bravo.
Plus Gun control, in-state tuition(horror of horrors), etc etc.
And I forgot the muslim he appointed to the state court.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.