Some people say you shouldn’t poke a bear with a stick, for obvious reasons.
I’ll say one thing for Mr. Steyn, he never gives up poking the ‘MannBearPig’, even when being sued. Steyn writes on his web page today:
…
Which brings us to Michael Mann, the fake Nobel laureate currently suing NATIONAL REVIEW for mocking his global-warming “hockey stick.” Of the recent congressional hearings, Dr. Mann tweeted that it was “#Science” — i.e., the guy who agrees with him — vs. “#AntiScience” — i.e., Dr. Judith Curry, chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. That’s to say, she is by profession a scientist, but because she has the impertinence to dissent from Dr. Mann’s view she is “#AntiScience.” Mann is the climatological equivalent of those bozo imams on al-Arabiya raging about infidel whores: He can’t refute Dr. Curry, he can only label her.
He explains his aversion to appearing with anyone other than fawning groupies thus: “Getting on a debate stage signals that, while you might disagree, you respect the position of your opponent. #WhyWeDontDebateScienceDeniers.” But the reality is that he’s too insecure and dull-witted to argue. That’s why he’s suing me over a pun (“tree-ring circus”), why he threatened legal action in Minnesota over a song parody, and why he’s in court in Vancouver objecting to a bit of wordplay. “You can’t say that!” is the refrain of those who can’t hold their own. Michael Mann is seeking massive damages from me and this magazine. Nuts to that. But I would be willing to buy him a course in debating technique — because in free societies that’s how you win. I’d also like to buy the wee thin-skinned chap a sense of humor, but I don’t think there’s a course for that.
~You can help Mark defend himself against Dr Mann’s lawsuit by supporting the SteynOnline bookstore and by purchasing our new Steyn gift certificates.
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Source: http://www.steynonline.com/6079/yes-we-can-say-that
Readers might want to read what Dr. Curry has to say about all of this in her essay:
JC challenge to MM: Since you have publicly accused my Congressional testimony of being ‘anti-science,’ I expect you to (publicly) document and rebut any statement in my testimony that is factually inaccurate or where my conclusions are not supported by the evidence that I provide.
He has not responded to my challenge, other than to retweet some rather dubious blog posts.
See: http://judithcurry.com/2014/01/26/mann-versus-steyn/
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John A says:
February 8, 2014 at 7:15 am
“If I were his lawyer, I’d fight tooth and nail to prevent him from taking the stand, because Mann will have nowhere to hide.”
Lots of luck with that. Mann’s the plaintiff. He’s the one that’s asked to be deposed and put on the stand to defend his honor. I suppose his lawyer could argue that because Steyn’s bullying has been so unnerved Mann perhaps the Judge would see fit to allow him to take the stand in another room and tweet his responses to the court.
Where is Mann getting the funds to pay for his legal counsel?
TomRude says:
February 8, 2014 at 7:34 am
The impunity this Mann behaves suggests his handlers are powerful.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
He’s gotten away with so much for so long, he owns it. People tend to reach that conclusion about the time they’re running at full, neck-breaking speed to the end of their tether. At this point, though, he can’t afford to stop. It would be admission and the only thing he’s got going is bluff and bluster. Talk about being in denial.
The Nobel prize is a big deal. Universities should list how many current and past faculty members have the award. Regardless of how Mann represents his “award”, does any one know how many PSU lists? and if it includes Mann?
The lawsuits are not really attended to go to court; they are intended to harass and intimidate critics who often haven’t the financial means to defend themselves in court.
Although mostly known for its football team Penn State is gaining a reputation for sheltering reprobates. Maybe a contest of complete the sentence: I think Michael Mann is a …. So sue me. Along the line ” I am Spartacus”
There is no doubt that Steyn is a funny guy. I just hope he’s a funny guy with a lot of money.
Jim says:
February 8, 2014 at 7:52 am
“Where is Mann getting the funds to pay for his legal counsel?”
Soros.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/24/fighting-the-mann/#comment-1041764
Steyn is criminally poking a pig with a hockey stick?
Sorry, this kind of socialist v anti-socialist stuff is way over my level of understanding.
Mann will be remembered for only one thing, for perpetrating one of the greatest hoaxes of all time – the Hockey Stick.
Mann, for obvious reasons, will not be remembered for being any of the following:
1. A scientist,
2. A statistician,
3. An honourable person.
4. A nice guy.
5. Someone to be respected.
6. A searcher for the truth,
7. An intellectual giant,
8. Modest,
9. A robust debater with those of differing viewpoints.
10. etc.
John Cronan says:
February 8, 2014 at 7:41 am
—————-
Then again he may also be looking for media attention. Bad press is better than any press at all. Ask Justin Bieber or Janet Jackson (wardrobe malfunction).
Mann has had a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ of sorts by purchasing clothing from designer, Al Gore.
I am certain he notices how cold it is now, but is perplexed at why people are still laughing at him.
Speaking of clothing, Yves Smith at financial blog, Naked Capitalism, is supporting Mann but soon will be losing much of her readership. Her work regarding fraud in the banking sector was great, however, she is supportive of the fraud perpetrated by the AGW opportunists.
Go to http://www.steynonline.com to donate. There’s a banner at the top of the page.
@Greg says: (February 8, 2014 at 6:26 am)
A pig in a poke?
#sorry
“[Mann] can’t refute Dr. Curry, he can only label her.”
Broaden this tactic to cover the entirety of the IPCC side, and you see it’s been their central defense since the inception of the Gore/Hanson-era of AGW. Gore and his pals perceived a potentially fatal problem in their inability to refute skeptics, so they called them shills of the fossil fuel industry, fringe contrarians, right-wing nuts & such. AGW will ultimately collapse when the greater public sees what a pathetic schoolyard bully tactic that was and still is: “Jeeze, dudes, is that the best you can do?? You can’t disprove the skeptics’ climate assessment, can you?”
Reading Styen’s quotes on Dr. Curry’s blog, I can’t help but feel sympathy. The American civil “justice” system is a racket designed to milk both parties out of as much money as possible. Its purpose is to not seek truth, justice, or establish facts, but the churn out mounds and mounds of paperwork that the hapless clients can be billed for. Most cases never to trial as somebody either runs out of money for lawyers, or one or both sides declare “enough” or somebody decides to just settle before they go bankrupt.
Too bad Steyn doesn’t have a non-profit protecting free speech. Would make donations easy.
Actually, Mann’s ‘science’ is the best argument against harmful AGW from fossil fuel.
The more he claims science, the less he has.
John
Two days ago financial blog, Zero Hedge, did a piece on the new climate hubs:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-05/us-unveils-climate-hubs-war-against-climate-change
Here is a doozy left by one of the funniest and most unique commenters of all time, Boris Alatovkrap.
“In cave in rural France is painting circa 5000 BC, and is tell story. One day is rain much and lightening is loud and scary. Leader of cave community is explain danger of lightening and is predict end of world if citizenry is not work hard for stopping of lightening. Every citizenry of community must bring it portion of berries and meat for sacrificial god and make incantation. Leader of cave community is so very smart, is not help hunt and gather, but is must make strategy and “guide” community for self-preservation technique. One day, citizen is look up and see is still lightening, but is look around and is still alive. Other is still alive. Lightening is come and go, and community is survive. Citizen is make comment at cave meeting and next day is fall in tar pit.
Leader of cave community is explain danger of tar pit and is predict end of world if citizenry is not work hard for prevention of tar pit…”
In the American system, when you get sued your lawyer immediately tells you to shut up — no public statements, no comments on the suit, nothing. I suspect that this was what Mann expected. His suit would stop critics from talking about him for many years while he and his lawyers used procedural tactics to keep things moving as slowly as possible. What I love about Steyn is that he doesn’t play by the rules. He’s going to do what he did in Canada and be a vocal warrior during the whole process. If his lawyers don’t agree with this approach, then he’ll get new lawyers.
Notice yet another severe threat to the climate; the scary but unexpected one: the evil Resistant Starch!
http://freetheanimal.com/tag/resistant-starch
It looks like people have been consuming 4 tablespoons of raw potato starch per day in order to feed the bacteria in the colon, thus causing additional fermentation. And yes, fermentation increases the fartage! Can you imagine the effects of the increase in greenhouse gases that the systematic consumpiton of resistant starch by billions of people could cause?
Penn State interest in all things climate is no doubt heightened by the oil money funding the Rock Ethics Institute located on its campus. Named for Penn State alumnus Doug Rock who made his fortune selling oil field services; the Institute is full on climate change nutty.
No doubt Doug and his bucks are lurking somewhere around the Mann story.
What do you call someone who:
claims to be a Nobel Prize winner but isn’t?
claims to be a reluctant celebrity, but craves attention?
claims to be a scientist but refuses to debate or release data and methods for replication?
Liar & Pissant are both correct answers, as both are equally applicable in this case.
Mann has done more damage to the reputation of science and scientists than anyone I can think of. Please help Steyn in his fight against this pissant liar / lying pissant.
Dr. Mann is not as stupid as he appears to be. He’s using this suit as part of his master plan to get himself awarded a Nobel prize. He’s looked around and seen how politicized the awards have become and realized if he can become a big enough victim of climate realists, he will be awarded one for the advancement of the cause, despite his poor science which is so easily refuted by amateurs.
If people like Mark Steyn keep calling him a “fake Nobel laureate,” that is just going to seal the deal.
Why all the commotion? With the advent of the “Climate Hub”, extreme weather threats to agriculture have been eliminated by executive order…
NewScientist
John Peter says:
February 8, 2014 at 6:44 am
A pity one cannot just send a contribution through PayPal.
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Here’s a suggestion: Buy a Steyn gift certificate. When it arrives, tear it up. Voi la! You have just made a contribution. (And you get to keep the souvenir hockey stick.)