Guest post by Steve Goreham
Originally published in The Washington Times
With barely a whimper from the media, John Kerry is President Obama’s official nominee for Secretary of State. Mr. Kerry is the senior Senator from Massachusetts, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was the 2004 presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Kerry has also been a long-time crusader in the effort to try to stop global warming.
With the possible exception of former Vice President Al Gore, Senator Kerry has been the most fervent climate hawk in the United States Congress. Kerry believes that “catastrophic climate change represents a threat to human security, global stability, and—yes—even to American national security” and that global warming is man-made. He further states that “Once you accept the science, it’s clear that such massive environmental change will create dislocation, destruction, chaos, and conflict.”
Senator Kerry and his wife authored the 2008 book This Moment on Earth: Today’s New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future, asking the question, “And what, in the face of so many powerful interests defending the status quo, are each of us willing to do, today and tomorrow, to force a change of course?”
True to his convictions, Kerry co-sponsored the American Power Act in 2010. The bill would have established a US cap-and-trade carbon trading system, but died in the Senate without a vote.
Senator Kerry parrots the “science” of man-made global warming with the starry-eyed ideology of a young environmentalist. After tornados killed 50 people in the Southeastern US in February 2008, Kerry appeared on MSNBC and concluded that man-made warming was to blame: “…this is related to the intensity of the storms that is related to the warming of Earth…the storms are more intensive and the rainfall is more intense…” But a simple look at data from the National Climatic Data Center shows that strong tornado activity in the US has decreased since the 1970s.
In a 2009 interview with the Huffington Post, Mr. Kerry stated, “Nowhere is the connection between climate and security more direct than in South Asia—home to Al Qaeda. Scientists now warn that the Himalayan glaciers which supply fresh water to a billion people in the region could disappear completely by 2035.” He was referring to a statement in Chapter 10 of the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
But in 2010, Dr. Murari Lal, the coordinating lead author for Chapter 10, admitted that the “melting by 2035” statement was not from peer-reviewed literature, but had been added to Chapter 10 to try to put pressure on world leaders. An accepting Senator Kerry fell prey to the ruse.
In another example last July, Senator Kerry warned about rising seas, stating, “With the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet alone, global sea levels could rise by as much as 3.26 meters in the coming years. And the Pacific and Atlantic coasts may be in for a 25 percent increase above average levels by century’s end.” But, empirical data indicate growth of both Antarctic sea ice and land ice over the last 30 years.
Data from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia show no increase in global surface temperatures for more than ten years. Nevertheless, Mr. Kerry continues his climate crusade. In a speech on the Senate floor in August of this year, Kerry declared that global climate change was “as dangerous” as nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran. President Obama recently said that climate change would be one of his top three priorities for his second term. Mr. Kerry may be just the man to lead the crusade.
During the next four years, look for Secretary Kerry to boost efforts in a futile fight to stop global warming. The real problems of the world, such as hunger, poverty and disease in developing nations, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation, may need to take a back seat.
Steve Goreham is Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and author of the new book The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Climatism: Mankind and Climate Change Mania.
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Why does Mencken come into mind?
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
H. L. Mencken
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hlmencke101109.html#ixzz1fJjU8xSJ
I have always looked at the USA as an example, a beacon of freedom.
My parents and my home country were liberated with the blood of (amongst others) US soldiers.
Something I never thought would happen has taken shape in the last 10 years.
America is being attacked from within.
I think the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ is the least of your worries.
Good luck and God bless….
Kerry is an awful choice from the standpoint of climate issues. He has been one of the most virulent advocates of irrational policial and economic policies on the issue for 20+ years:
John Kerry, global warming activist
p.s. get ready for the concern trolls to tell you not to discuss “politics” here — even if the SoS nominee is well outside the mainstream of his Senate colleagues he will be easily confirmed, as Senate “courtesy” is well oiled in cases like this one…..
Nowhere is the connection between climate and security more direct than in South Asia—home to Al Qaeda.
Global warming caused 9/11?
Really?
Gosh!
Thus Kerry jostles for first place in the Megalodon Steeplechase. He’ll be signing up at Al’s Gym and taking up climate boxing next…
I prefer to keep to the science and the valid reasoned debate about it, as you do too; but you do wonder sometimes when clearly pressing problems which are killing and sickening millions now are shunted to the back of the queue in favour of theoretical future problems. What’s it about? Earlier this year I tried to get some response published to Donald Prothero’s diatribes on climate (which now apparently have been published in print) in eSkeptic without success. At one point I wrote, ‘Let us think about geopolitical interests. Currently, the US and the European Union dominate the world stage economically and politically. Developing countries, especially India and China, which hold nearly half the world’s population, are making efforts to raise their people out of poverty. If these countries continue with their scientific, technological and economic development, they will represent a perceived ‘threat’ to the existing dominant powers. Because of their level of development, the most obvious route for India and China to get access to the energy needed for development is by using fossil fuels, just as the currently developed nations did and do. It does not require a highly Machiavellian mind to see that imposing severe restrictions on CO2 emissions, and thus on the use of fossil fuels, would restrict the development of these countries, and reduce the ‘threat’ to the currently dominant ones. (Personally, I do not think that these countries’ development would necessarily be a threat, rather an opportunity.) It is, sadly, normal amongst AGWT supporters to refer to NAGWT proponents as ‘industry shills’; but perhaps the AGWT scientists and organisations are in the hands of someone’s slightly murky geopolitical strategy. I don’t know, but it bears thinking about.’
I thought, on a first quick glance, that the Kerry/Edwards logo strapline read “Astrologer America” which would at least have had the advantage of being accurate!
So depressingly transparent. And with the influence of the liberal MSM, most people will suck it right up as always. Keep up the good work Anthony. Please!
The real problems of the world, such as hunger, poverty and disease in developing nations, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation, may need to take a back seat.
To be fair, the world is probably better off is if the US doesn’t try to solve terrorism. When it has been defeated (Red Brigades, IRA, Tamil Tigers etc) it has been without US help. Where the US “helps” things tend to get worse.
Al Gore did an excellent job with his exaggeration, deceit and obvious desire for personal gain in discrediting the claims of the CAGW cult. Hopefully, John Kerry will prove equally as inept in his support for the Global Warming Industry’s gravy train.
Speaking as a non-American, few thought Hilary Clinton would do such a good job as Secretary of State, perhaps in his new job Kerry will find himself too busy to continue pandering to the whims of the econuts in the PDR Massachusetts. We can always hope.
I suppose for a non scientist like Senator Kerry it is very difficult to accept that a deeply held conviction should be discarded when the observed scientific facts make your position incorrect. Let’s face it politics is about persuasion not about facts and he is a very persuasive man, to wit he is a senior senator.
Interestingly in the UK Prime Minister Cameron is replacing climate activists with realists in his administration and President Obama is going the other way. Cameron has a reputation for doing policy U turns when the facts prove him wrong. I wonder if Obama will show the same degree of pragmatism or , if like many weak men, he will continue with his course no matter what for fear of appearing weak.
http://rt.com/news/russia-freeze-cold-temperature-379/
Dear John.
While you are flying pointlessly around the globe, please whip in and explain to the Ruskies how the warm is detrimental to their well being.
shyster.
regards.
John Kerry certainly was foolish enough to pick John Edwards as his running mate. However George H W Bush chose J Danforth Quayle, a genius act to prevent assassination, and George W Bush chose Dick Cheney, a man constantly in a secure location but still willing and able to shoot a lawyer friend in the face because his friend looked like a small bird.
However I must have missed the point since the secretary of state is the President’s roving ambassador in foreign affairs, not domestic energy policy.
The reality is that no-one, not even the Democrats, is going to vote for higher energy costs through a cap-and-trade while America still struggles with the results of the near collapse of the American economy during latter Bush administration.
I must leave as there’s a man at the door offering me a ride in his Swiftboat….
Looking at the issue from another angle you could state that: It’s now time to take forceful action to avoid the next ice age which, if we let the current trend since 8000 years continue, will affect our children and coming generations most severely.
Perhaps the time has come for an open letter to Mr Kerry showing that the fight against CAGW has been won already by Gaia. Otherwise, it is certain that in his panic over the lack of ‘global warming’ for 15 years, he will join forces with President Obama, his ‘czars’ Holdren and Sunstein, and the UN to enforce Agenda 21 on the world.
John Heinz-Kerry Is a [snip . . c’mon now . . mod], Just like Algore. Neither one even try to live the lifestyle that the preach for the rest of the world.
Surely there must be a better choice available for Sec of State than Kerry. He simply does not command the respect he needs for the job in my view.
Seasons greeting to Anthony, his family, mods, commenters and lurkers 😉
To wish any nation’s Secretary of State busyness in their actual business is fraught with possibility. Yet, in this case I find I am thinking along those lines.
May he live in interesting times. Keeping his nose out the things he either knows nothing of or refuses to research. /benefit of doubt.
Senator John Kerry seems to be what I thought was impossible,,,,even more dangerous than Al Gore!
Peter Hannan says:
December 26, 2012 at 12:43 am
“It does not require a highly Machiavellian mind to see that imposing severe restrictions on CO2 emissions, and thus on the use of fossil fuels, would restrict the development of these countries, and reduce the ‘threat’ to the currently dominant ones.”
—————–
Peter, that’s a given for anyone with a modicum of interest in following geopolitics. There are other odd allies such as those on the extreme left conservationists and extreme right Malthusians, or combinations thereof, but these are not the prime mover of the AGW campaign.iimho.
“Cameron has a reputation for doing policy U turns when the facts prove him wrong.”
Not really Keith. Facts say his severe cutting in the public sector, cutting benefits (raising by 1% when the inflation is at 3% means you’re cutting by 2% Spinster Cameron!) is detrimental to the economy. The economy is supposed to be growing by 3% according to his plan 4 years ago. It has obviously failed dramatically. We’re near a tripple-dipped recesssion now, with things projected to stay the same till 2018. We lost our tripple A rating, something George Osborne has said before was incredibly important to guage how the plan is working out. Not surprisingly after the rating was lost he said it’s not a big deal anyway.
Yup, even his own indicators tell him his economic policy has failed, yet Cameron still won’t admit it and carries on this path that threatens many more with severe poverty.
As a followup to my previous post. I have just finished dinner here in Zhuhai, China, while watching CCTV13 news.
Mongolia under siege, -44C, same for Urumchi, and Wuhan in the centre. Terrible road conditions causing accidents.
But then, this would only be weather, wouldn’t it??
regards.
even the locals here in Zhuhai are commenting on the cold.
John Kerry is emblematic of the massive problem facing America. Its Political class. The worst ever, without a doubt. What a mess!!!!
regards
Stop worrying about words and beliefs. Everyone in Washington (except heroic James Inhofe!) believes and says the same things. Everyone in the Euro ruling class (no exceptions!) believes and says the same things. Despite that, they’re not getting anywhere. The parasite has already eaten the resources that would be needed to continue its growth. So the hosts have to find other ways of living, even while they loudly sing the praises of the parasite.
See Kerry stand by Florida U. police taser a student for asking “difficult” questions. What a guy.
Kerry might want to watch some Russian TV,
Moscow,
soviet built heating systems that centralize heating, have for the lack of maintenance been freezing in Moscow’s recent cold spell ( – 30c ) + 500,000 apartments have been affected, a minister of public services has said it will be sometime in May next year before service is restored completely, Schools and public buildings with independent heating systems have been opened to the public!
Eastern Siberia
Temp of up to minus 62c have been recorded in the cities of the region !
Bet Kerry always says “climate change, never “global warming “