Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Globalwarmist Skirmish in Oregon


Still believe the globalwarmists are about science?

State climatologist may lose title: 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.

“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.

When a weather researcher concludes that actual data can not support the political policies of the State of Oregon, the reflexive response is to remove the scientist and create a new position that can be filled by some subservient political hack. Science is not about being a yes man to the boss, but partisan politics is.

George Taylor: George H. Taylor is the State Climatologist for Oregon, and a faculty member at Oregon State University's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences. He manages the Oregon Climate Service, the state repository of weather and climate information, and supervises a staff of ten. Mr. Taylor is past president of the American Association of State Climatologists. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and has received certification as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist by the Society.

I wonder how long before Governor Jim Doyle adopts this idea and replaces the UW Madison based Wisconsin State Climatologists with DNR based appointees? The whole sorry affair is enough to send AJ Strata into a prolonged rant about the end of scientific free speech in America. Oregon resident DANEgerus has additional links and raises a good question: If there is no agenda why are they threatening him?