I’m sure many WUWT readers on both sides of the AGW debate watched Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech last night. The most memorable line that got a standing ovation was a poke back at Obama’s famous line – “I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children … this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” given at his acceptance speech in 2008.
Marc Morano of Climate Depot has the story about how some folks are upset about that. Mike Mann, since he doesn’t have anything else to do since being put on “sabbatical” is of course given the opportunity to refute. He’s the ‘go to guy’ now that Gore has imploded.
Below are selected excerpts of the Politico article. To read full article go to here. (subscription required)
Politico: Romney’s climate change remark makes waves
By Alex Guillen
8/30/12 11:29 PM EDT
Mitt Romney took a shot at President Barack Obama’s climate change position during his acceptance speech Thursday.
“President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet,” Romney said after accepting the GOP’s presidential nomination in Tampa, drawing laughter from the crowd. “My promise is to help you and your family.”
The line received a standing ovation.
Romney was referring to now-famous remarks Obama made in 2008 after securing the Democratic nomination. “I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children … this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.”
A needless slam on science? That’s how it appeared to Penn State climate researcher Michael Mann.
“How sad it is to witness such fallacious logic from a major party candidate for president,” Mann, one of the nation’s best-known climate researchers, told POLITICO. “If we do not take the necessary actions to combat climate change now, we will of course be leaving our children and grandchildren the legacy of a degraded planet.”
[…]
Marc Morano, publisher of the climate skeptic blog Climate Depot, predicted that Romney’s line from Thursday’s speech will be memorable.
“Kudos to Romney for an accurate framing of the global warming debate,” he said. “Romney’s quip will serve to remind voters just how lofty Obama’s rhetoric once was. Romney’s reminder of Obama’s promise to command the oceans will be one of the most memorable lines of the speech.”
Romney’s speech also included a reiteration of his promise to achieve North American energy independence by 2020 “by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables.”
To read full article and comment online:
https://www.politicopro.com/go/?id=13838 (subscription required)
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I agree with Dr. Michael Mann, candidate Obama’s statement about healing the planet was indeed “fallacious logic”, especially in lieu of his track record on climate now. – Anthony
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Actually I didn’t think this was a particular reference to climate change but rather to the silly Messiah hype of Obama while Romney intends to focus on everyday issues that matter to everyday Americans, i.e., the economy and jobs.
Morano is about as bad to our side as Mann is to the other side.
If Gov. Romney wins, Professor Mann’s gravy train may be derailed.
Frankly, there is no proof that any body can slow the rise of the oceans. As for healing the planet, placing solar panels all over the Western US is anything but a healing venture.
Mann has so much of his integrity wrapped up in his scam/junk science that he will still be claiming global warming as a 2-mile thick glacier wipes State College, PA from the face of the Earth.
I agree with Parentofed. I took the comment as more a reference to our Undocumented Worker-in-Chief’s Messiah complex. Arrogance-squared. He certainly does not have self-esteem problems.
Good one from mr. Gekko – oops, Romney.
Barak “King Canute” Obama
King Cnute was told by his courtiers that he was all powerful despite his efforts to deny such hubris. His failed stand to turn the tides was his act to show limited power. Unfortunately Obama has no such wisdom.
Policies to reduce oil imports, whilst expanding home production, will go a long way to help every American man and woman in the street.
Romney might even reduce EPA power.
parentofed – that was exactly what it meant. But we tend to see things through the lenses we wear, and the more often we wear them, the more jaded our vision. I’m sure to MSNCB that dig by Romney was a veiled racist comment – to them every thing is.
Romney is a Gaian. He’s doing a good job of reciting random Republican soundbites now, but he’ll return to his true church if he’s elected. They always do.
parentofed has it accurately. The left saw Obummer as a messianic character who would part the seas of individualism so his chosen people could reach the promised land of collectivism and “environmental justice” on the backs of the productive class. Like King Kanute, however, unintentionally, Obama has shown how impossible it is to legislate against the tide, even to the point of bringing us to the fiscal precipice of economic collapse. Romney, a far more humble man, is setting his goals much more realistically.
That said, I’m still not enamored of Mittens or his neocon backers. The way they behaved toward the Ron Paul delegates made a travesty of every principle of democracy.
Oops – MSNBC!
parentofed says:
August 31, 2012 at 7:09 am
Actually I didn’t think this was a particular reference to climate change but rather to the silly Messiah hype of Obama while Romney intends to focus on everyday issues that matter to everyday Americans, i.e., the economy and jobs.
Ditto. This was a reference to Obama’s naked hubris.
King Canute commanding the sea
To teach his courtiers this importance of humility,King Cnut (Canute)
From Henry of Huntingdon, Chronicle Canute’s death and character AD1035 (p 199)
For a popular retelling see King Canute on the Seashore from The Book of Virtues
Be careful criticizing their Messiah, they’re likely to burn you @ur momisugly the stake,
O, wait
They’ll burn you @ur momisugly the stake no matter what you say…
…carry on.
So Mann is implying pretty strongly that the policies he has made his fortune on do not help families.
Jeff says:
August 31, 2012 at 7:11 am
“Morano is about as bad to our side as Mann is to the other side.”
Morano is the Breitbart of climate skepticism. More power to him. YMMV.
polistra says:
August 31, 2012 at 7:40 am
“Romney is a Gaian. ”
…whose company ran what? Steel mills?…
It took a republican to create the EPA & I’m sure Mitt will reform that agency. You will not see or hear of eviromental justice anymore. That is nothing but redistribution of $ from developed countries to the undeveloped ones. Total BS.
@Neo, “[T]here is no proof that any body can slow the rise of the oceans.”
I don’t know what might pass as proof, but freshman physics suggests that removal of the Earth orbiting body, the Moon, would eliminate Lunar tide rise and fall.
There’s no doubt that your understanding of modern Private Equity is limited to what you learned watching the 1980s movie, Wall Street.
From Wikipedia, on King Canute:
“Henry of Huntingdon, the 12th-century chronicler, tells how Cnut set his throne by the sea shore and commanded the tide to halt and not wet his feet and robes. Yet “continuing to rise as usual [the tide] dashed over his feet and legs without respect to his royal person. Then the king leapt backwards, saying: ‘Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.’ He then hung his gold crown on a crucifix, and never wore it again “to the honour of God the almighty King”.[95] This incident is usually misrepresented by popular commentators and politicians as an example of Cnut’s arrogance.[96]”
Doesn’t sound like Obama.
Friday funny II:
31 Aug: BBC: Richard Black
Farewell and thanks for reading
This is my last entry for this page – I’m leaving the BBC to work, initially, on ocean conservation issues.
While this page will no longer be updated, it will stay here for reference…
To keep up to date with news and views about the environment, I hope you’ll keep reading the science and environment pages of the BBC News website, and my science correspondent colleagues Jonathan Amos and David Shukman.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19422041
You either got your ‘sides’ mixed up or that was the lamest troll attempt evah!
Marc Morano is doing tons for ‘our side’. He runs an enormously important skeptic/realist website, easily in the top 5 of all of them. He gets into the TV and radio media where the AGW kooks have overwhelming representation. He worked in the federal government in DC, for James Inhofe no less who is probably the highest profile and most reliable anti-AGW politician. Marc Morano takes flak, lots of it, from the AGW religious wackos, that means he is always flying over the target.
What have you done for ‘our side’ again?
Let us know when you parachute into an AGW kook infested climate conference as he did with Chris Monckton at Durban this past December …
‘End of the world’ doomsayers beware, adults will be judging your “science” in the future. Prestige points will not be awarded for name-calling, guesswork or fraud. Alarmist nut-jobs need to drink a big cup of STFU, it’s over.