Jim Lakely, Heartland’s communications director, takes Daniel Souweine of the TV meteorologist hassling group Fabricate Forecast the Facts to task in this piece on the Heartland blog:
Reports of Heartland’s Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated
By Jim Lakely
Yesterday, the boss addressed an article in a recent edition of The Economist reporting wishing for the downfall of The Heartland Institute. Definitely check it out — especially for the part in which the esteemed international publication acknowledged Heartland’s important and influential position in the climate debate.
On the heels of that Economist story came a piece at the Huffington Post by Daniel Souweine, the campaign director for Forecast The Facts — a recently cooked-up astroturf outfit that has engaged in a social media and letter-writing campaign against some of Heartland’s corporate donors.
The title of Souweine’s piece is, “The People-Power-Inflicted Downfall of Heartland.” Hate to break it to you, Dan, but there is no “downfall.” While you and your leftist activist buddies have been exchanging high fives and taking a “victory” lap, Heartland has been keepin’ on keepin’ on — and better than ever.
Below is what I wrote in the comment section below Souweine’s piece. The response to my dousing of rain on their parade brought predictably lame counter-comments — which have added amusement to my weekend. Anyway, on to what I wrote:
The big trouble with your piece, Daniel, is that its overall theme – that Heartland is in “decline” and has brought about its own “downfall” – is simply not true. Or, to borrow from Mark Twain: Reports of Heartland’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
As Mr. Bast explains in his blog post, the idea Heartland lost nearly $1 million in donations is false: “Most of the donors who have said they won’t continue to support us have agreed to fund new or existing groups that will continue our work; some already contributed this year before their announcements; and others had indicated they would not fund us even before the billboard controversy. We have now raised considerably more from current and new donors than we may have lost due to the controversy.”
So not only is Heartland not “down” a net $1 million, Heartland is not even at a net “zero” after spinning off its dedicated insurance projects. We’re up in funds, overall. Heartland has already doubled the number of individual donors since Peter Gleick’s Fakegate scandal, and we expect that number to continue to rise steeply throughout 2012.
In short, exactly the opposite of what leftist activists intended – let alone claim to have achieved – has actually occurred. If you think 2012 marks the “demise” of The Heartland Institute, I suggest you check back with us in five, 10 or 20 years. We’ll still be here, fighting for smaller government, individual liberty and free markets – just as we have for the last 28 years.
And I’m betting Forecast the Facts won’t exist anymore in three years. Any takers?
We might have more to say about this, and in greater detail, at a later date. But know this: The leftist “victory” over Heartland is all in their heads.
If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donatation to The Heartland Institute, visit this site.
Latimer Alder says:
June 3, 2012 at 1:24 am
I’m afraid that, – arch sceptic though I am – I found the billboard adverts in very bad taste, and could see little moral superiority over the 10:10 video or the ‘we know where you live’ memo.
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Latimer, I think a distinction between the billboard ad and the “10:10 and we know where you live” pieces need to be made.
In the 10:10 and many other ads and opinions (tattoos, re-education camps, etc….), these are not-so-thinly veiled threats against skeptics. These are thoughts and exhortations of maniacal people…… much like Ted Kaczynski.
Heartlands billboard only points out the parallels. It contains no threats, nor does it fantasize about violence against alarmists.
Now, I understand how people can be squeamish about this. Confronting monsters is always a difficult task. It shatters the belief in the common good of mankind. It shakes one’s faith. It’s very disconcerting to understand the depths of depravity a fellow human being can have.
Some have argued that alarmists haven’t acted upon their dark fantasies, and so the billboard isn’t an apt comparison. But, that argument only comes from people who are not yet prepared to look into the abyss. Upon inspection, we see that the argument that they haven’t acted on their fantasies is simply not true. http://suyts.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/these-animals-are-committing-crimes-against-humanity/ and http://suyts.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/by-their-fruit-you-will-recognize-them/
I think it’s time we all took off our rose colored glasses and see reality.
This whole scenario reminds me of a song “Clam Chowder” out of Maryland sung…..
Perhaps this should become Mann’s theme song.
I will leave it at that. Find the rest at: http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=7067
Jim Lakely says:
June 2, 2012 at 10:12 pm
If you’re up for some punchy fun, head over to HuffPost
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Lol, Jim, HuffPo actively engages in suppression and censorship of opposing views. I’ve gone through no less than 4 accounts on HuffPo. They keep deleting them. So, I wish I could, but, …….
James Sexton says:
June 3, 2012 at 8:25 am
“I think it’s time we all took off our rose colored glasses and see reality.”
Of course warmists see the entire biosphere as threatened and wished there would be less humans. I have ample supply of real life warmist conversation partners here in Germany. That being said, they see themselves as the good ones; they only want the best for everyone. They are “evil” in the same way the government in Atlas Shrugged or the real life Obama administration is; trying to save everyone with regulations and prohibition of what they see as negative.
The results are everywhere to be marveled at; the imploding economies of Ireland, Portugal or Spain, to no small part caused by misdirecting massive amounts of capital into gigantomanic green energy projects. Less in total amount than in Germany, but these economies were much smaller to begin with.
Just two days ago a warmist woman I happen to know, when asked what she thinks about the threat to the polar bears in antarctica (yes I did ask it that way, she’s a biology techer, I wanted to see how she would react), responded that every species is threatened and that we should build only zero energy houses. I asked: “So you want to deprive poorer people of the possibility of owning a house” and she just didn’t understand the problem.
They’re well-intentioned but generally so dumb that they’re just making a mess of everything they get to touch.
So never let them touch anything and you’re fine.
DirkH says:
June 3, 2012 at 9:27 am
They’re well-intentioned but generally so dumb that they’re just making a mess of everything they get to touch.
So never let them touch anything and you’re fine.
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Yes, the sheep are easily duped. I don’t believe all are so well-intentioned, but they all see themselves as working for the greater good.
James Sexton says:
June 3, 2012 at 9:43 am
“Yes, the sheep are easily duped. I don’t believe all are so well-intentioned, but they all see themselves as working for the greater good.”
I meant the fanboys and girls. Some at the top have other motives or instructions.
Hansen earns NASA 1.2 billion USD in Global Warming money a year (and himself a million with book sales and prices from European monarchies and breweries and whatnot).
http://notrickszone.com/2012/04/12/nasa-abdalatis-response-to-50-esteemed-professionals-is-managerial-negligence-an-embarrassment/#comment-92515
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/FY12-climate-fs.pdf
James Sexton says:
June 3, 2012 at 9:43 am
Yes, the sheep are easily duped. I don’t believe all are so well-intentioned, but they all see themselves as working for the greater good.
= = = = = = =
James Sexton & DirkH,
I suggest the sheeplike people who follow the ideologically anti-human cult of environmentalists feel guilty of being modern, affluent humans. The important question is what intellectual/philosophical trend in modern civilization created the guilt in those sheeplike people and more fundamentally why did they become such sheeplike people in today’s more secular civilizations?
John
John Whitman says:
June 3, 2012 at 10:04 am
I suggest the sheeplike people who follow the ideologically anti-human cult of environmentalists feel guilty of being modern, affluent humans. The important question is what intellectual/philosophical trend in modern civilization created the guilt in those sheeplike people and more fundamentally why did they become such sheeplike people in today’s more secular civilizations?
John
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John, that’s a great question. I’m sure my answer will have people in fundamental disagreement with me, but your question lends to the answer. “….. in today’s more secular civilizations”.
My answer…… Relative morality and the replacement of traditional religion with a quasi-religion which worships and values objects over humanity.(air, water, trees…) A “golden calf” as it were. It also creates a devil from inanimate objects such as coal and oil, and that devil’s instrument of use, humanity.
When people have no foundations to set upon, they are easily swayed by the winds of opinion and can come to believe the most absurd posits. And, we all know where that leads…… (Voltaire.)
James Sexton says
‘I think it’s time we all took off our rose colored glasses and see reality’
I don’t think I am wearing any rose-coloured and I share your dislike of the warmist mantra and the warmist agenda. I am a consistent critic of them both as my musings over the years will show.
But I don’t believe that you will persuade the vast middle ground of people who are undecided one way or another about ‘climate change’ (and may not care very much), by simply indulging in a street fight with both sides screaming about how bad the other guys are. I think that tactic just repels a lot of people and leads to general apathy. ‘A plague on both your houses’ as I remarked earlier (with a little help from an oldtime playwright).
It is much more productive to make your case by showing that you have something positive to say, not just abusing your opponents. Heartland cocked it up badly IMO.
Latimer Alder says:
June 3, 2012 at 10:33 am
James Sexton says
‘I think it’s time we all took off our rose colored glasses and see reality’
I don’t think I am wearing any rose-coloured and I share your dislike of the warmist mantra and the warmist agenda. I am a consistent critic of them both as my musings over the years will show..
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Latimer, I’m sorry about the choice of words. That statement wasn’t directed towards you, but the skeptical community in general.
But, this is the dilemma. When is it inappropriate to point out the parallels of monstrosity? Maybe some in the skeptical community are unaware of the entirely dehumanizing abuses which are occurring around the globe. In my view, the billboard didn’t go far enough. (But, how much information can one place on a billboard?) The facts are, alarmist advocacy has killed more people than Kaczynski. Much of the rationale for both actions are exactly the same. Both wish to halt the advancement of humanity.
I don’t think it is productive to pretend people around the world aren’t being displaced, murdered, their home burnt down, forced mass sterilizations being perpetrated, and more….. all in the name of global warming advocacy. I think these things need to be pointed out and confronted. I think the billboard presented the opportunity to have a dialogue about such things, but we’re wasting it because it is unseemly for some people. Take care to look into the abyss, but, look we must.
Click here for just a few examples of what we’re really fighting.
The climate discussion has moved from the hypothetical intellectual exercise. These maniacs are pursuing and perpetrating some of the most vile acts in crimes against humanity. Aren’t we bound to point these things out?
@James Baldwin sexton
Maybe we’ll just have to agree to differ. Maybe the British and US tastes are so far apart that what is OK in one culture is just not right in another.
But if similar billboards had been erected along the motorways on the way into London they would have been spectacular own goals and an absolute gift to the alarmist tendency.
Jim, short but well-written counter-arguments, congrats.
Warning: to anyone making a donation to the Heartland Institute using the link above. It is not a secure connection and the Heartland site does not redirect itself to being a secure connection on its donation page. Your credit card details could be exposed. Change the link above to https://giving.heartland.org/donate
The problem with nonsense such as that spewed out by the Economist and HuffPo, is that their followers will believe them. Then, as the months turn into years they will see the HI is still there, and stronger than ever. That’s gotta sting!
Journalists told them lies? How can that be?
Sam Geoghegan says:
June 3, 2012 at 12:24 am
“That’s cool and all but they’re still a bunch of neo-cons.”
Sam,
Thanks for the words of praise! New or old, conservatives are all about honest addition and multiplication, not the political subtraction and division practiced by our opponents, et.al. That’s why we support science blogs like WUWT, free market policy groups like The Heartland Institute, and true grass roots organizations like the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party folks.
MtK
James Sexton says:
June 3, 2012 at 8:25 am
“……I think it’s time we all took off our rose colored glasses and see reality.”
James,
Polite and well stated, et.al.! We cannot always be bound to the Marquis of Queensbury Rules, while our opponents pummel us about the nether parts with low blows and loaded gloves! Occasionally, showing them an ugly reflection of themselves (and that is all those billboards did) serves effectively.
The sortie down into the enemy’s trenches was effective. Now, let’s get back to the high ground!!
MtK
James Sexton says: @ur momisugly June 3, 2012 at 11:44 am
on’t think I am wearing any rose-coloured and I share your dislike of the warmist mantra and the warmist agenda. I am a consistent critic of them both as my musings over the years will show..
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Latimer, I’m sorry about the choice of words. That statement wasn’t directed towards you, but the skeptical community in general.
But, this is the dilemma. When is it inappropriate to point out the parallels of monstrosity?…..
Click here for just a few examples of what we’re really fighting.
The climate discussion has moved from the hypothetical intellectual exercise. These maniacs are pursuing and perpetrating some of the most vile acts in crimes against humanity. Aren’t we bound to point these things out?
___________________________________________
Thank you for pointing this out.
Once you peel of the rose colored glasses, it becomes obvious that there has been a well orchestrated power grab going on for decades. Pres. Clinton’s mentor, Professor Carroll Quigley made a study of that power grab and wrote Tragedy and Hope (1966). Bill Clinton is now giving lectures at the London School of Economics, Founded by the Webbs who also founded the Fabian Society. If you want to see what the Fabians had planned check out what Co-founder George Bernard Shaw’s plans for humanity were.
If Heartland is going to do another billboard, remember that the Unabomber is not running in any election and nobody was going to vote for him anyway. Put real candidates faces on those billboards and try to make the anti-economy side of CAGW an election issue.
John Whitman says:
June 3, 2012 at 10:04 am
“I suggest the sheeplike people who follow the ideologically anti-human cult of environmentalists feel guilty of being modern, affluent humans. The important question is what intellectual/philosophical trend in modern civilization created the guilt in those sheeplike people and more fundamentally why did they become such sheeplike people in today’s more secular civilizations?”
I recommend you read Eric Berne’s Games People Play. (1964)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_People_Play_%28book%29
Berne identified a number of behavioral patterns he calls games that people play to stabilize their feeling of self-worth. Many of the little Malthusian sheeple lead completely ordinary “polluting” lives and they don’t think for a moment about it. Their own world-saving rethoric is in fact completely disconnected from the fact that they own three cars between their hubby and themselves. They have just decided a long time ago that they can impress people and appear as smart and thoughtful by every once in a while criticize our way of living, as if deep rational ponderings took place inside of them when nothing could be further from the truth; just regurgitate something that sounds complicated enough to impress a chimp.
Ask any of them for a refutation of an argument you just made up of thin air and you’re lucky if you can get a personal attack back in return; most of the times they just go away. Warmists avoid debates because that’s not the game they play; they play a game of displaying their own thoughtfulness but it’s a Potemkin village on display. There’s nothing behind it.
Host: “And I’m betting Forecast the Facts won’t exist anymore in three years. Any takers?”
Anyone know if “Intrade” has an over/under number?
.
Honey, try CENTURIES. Those in power want to stay in power It works in families on up.
Maybe all this comes as a shock to you, and may explain your apparent fascination with the subject, but, it’s not new material.
And you think mankind’s nature is going to change one iota just b/c it’s 2012 and we have the internet?
Not if the Son of God were to come down upon this earth … (Could go back to the point where ‘Original sin’ enters the picture and mention ‘free will’ and all but I’ll stop here.)
.
Latimer Alder says:
June 3, 2012 at 12:09 pm
@James Baldwin sexton
Maybe we’ll just have to agree to differ. ….
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What a horribly boring place this would be if we all always agreed on everything. I disagree with my friends often, and they with me.
It’s the Con-Censor-Us — the concensorus!
The entirely valid implicit message of the BBoards: CAGW readily lends itself to justification of the most anti-human and vile philosophies and agendas. With the de-industrialization/depop crowd, it’s quite explicit, in fact.
The sceptical pro-science approach is entirely the opposite, wanting to enrich all humans as much as possible to empower them to flourish and prosper whatever the climate decides to do.
The contrast is stark, notwithstanding the pusillanimous posturing of those who can’t tell the difference between naming names and doing special effects videos of dynamited child sceptics.
Toto says:
June 3, 2012 at 6:19 pm
If Heartland is going to do another billboard, remember that the Unabomber is not running in any election and nobody was going to vote for him anyway. Put real candidates faces on those billboards and try to make the anti-economy side of CAGW an election issue.
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I don’t think politics is any part of Hearland’s game plan, I could be wrong, but their concern is about corrupted science.
I don’t recall who posted this page of temperature charts a few days ago, http://www.c3headlines.com/temperature-charts-historical-proxies.html
but one I recognised with affection having used it in a discussion because it was so, well, graphic. It instantly gives a sense of scale in the bold blocks of colour and of our position, our place in it, in a history familiar to us.
http://c3headlines.typepad.com/.a/6a010536b58035970c014e8b847998970d-400wi
I like the boldness of big blocks of colour and the use of the ‘warm’ ‘very warm’ ‘cold’ ‘very cold’, which take out any delay in recognition, but think it does need the black arrow to present temperature to be much larger and bolder to the you are here now.
It doesn’t need all that information for a billboard easy story at a glance – the volcanic information and such taken out. I’d keep in the dates and such markers as Hebrew Exodus From Egypt, Birth of Christ, Roman Empire, Medieval Warm, Little Ice Age, and miss out the speculation of where it could be going so ending on the Now arrow, and, keeping in the title line and the box “At Least 75 Major Temperature Swings ..”, but change the colour of the box to white with red writing to match title as the message doesn’t stand out in blue. Perhaps the Viking Exploration could be associated with farming in Greenland.