Here’s one from yesterday that I wasn’t able to get around to
Dem ‘Witch Hunt’ Forces Scientist Out Of Global Warming Research
An investigation by Democratic lawmakers into the sources of funding for scientists who challenge details of the greater global warming narrative has already forced one scientist to call it quits.
University of Colorado climate scientist Dr. Roger Pielke, Jr. has been targeted by Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, the ranking liberal on the House Natural Resources Committee, for his research challenging the claim that global warming is making weather more extreme.
This investigation, and other attacks, have forced Pielke to stop researching climate issues. He said the “incessant attacks and smears are effective, no doubt, I have already shifted all of my academic work away from climate issues.â€
“I am simply not initiating any new research or papers on the topic and I have ring-fenced my slowly diminishing blogging on the subject,†Pielke wrote on his blog.
Pielke is one of seven academics under Grijalva’s investigation for allegedly taking money from the fossil fuels industry in exchange for research. Pielke says he’s never been funded by fossil fuels interests — a fact to which Grijalva already knows since Pielke disclosed as much when he testified before Congress.
Pielke is most definitely a believer in man-induced global warming, however, he’s not one of the nutty Warmists. Pielke writes
For instance, the Congressman and his staff, along with compliant journalists, are busy characterizing me in public as a “climate skeptic†opposed to action on climate change. This of course is a lie. I have written a book calling for a carbon tax, I have publicly supported President Obama’s proposed EPA carbon regulations, and I have just published another book strongly defending the scientific assessment of the IPCC with respect todisasters and climate change. All of this is public record, so the smears against me must be an intentional effort to delegitimize my academic research.
No matter your beliefs in anthropogenic global warming, “climate change”, climate disruption, etc, whether you are a big believer who says it is mostly/solely Mankind’s fault, or a 50%, or a “yes, Man does have a small effect, or a “nope, no effect”, you should be seriously concerned about government of any level, and especially an elected official, using their domineering position to come after private citizens in this manner. This is Big Brother territory. Warmists may be thinking “yeah, get that Skeptic! Mess him up! Get them all!”, but, remember, not stopping this kind of power abuse that you favor leaves you open if government comes after you.
