OSTP rules Holdren’s video released by the White House was “personal opinion” and therefore not subject to Data Quality Act.
Back in January, in the midst of one incredibly cold winter, John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, posted a short video on the agency’s website entitled The Polar Vortex Explained in 2 Minutes. In that video, Holdren claimed that a “growing body of evidence suggests that the kind of extreme cold being experienced by much of the United States as we speak is a pattern that we can expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues.” In short, global warming was responsible for colder winters.
This, of course, would be yet another step towards galactic nonverifiability—If global warming is responsible for everything, it can be never be tested empirically.
But as a number of climate scientists soon pointed out, Holdren’s claim of a growing body of evidence on this issue was simply false. In fact, from September 2013 on, three peer-reviewed studies appeared debunking the notion that polar warming had led to an increase in what are known as winter blocking episodes—situations where extremely low temperatures become locked in for exceptionally long periods of time. That was why, in April, we filed a formal request for correction with OSTP under what’s known as the federal Data Quality Act.
After we filed our petition , by the way, yet a fourth study appeared disputing the global warming/polar vortex connection.
Yesterday, shortly before OSTP’s 90-day deadline for responding to correction requests, we received the agency’s denial (see below). OSTP claims that Holdren was simply expressing his “personal opinion” rather than any “comprehensive review of the scientific literature”.
On its face, this response is shovel-ready nonsense. Holdren, and others at OSTP who parroted his claim, at no point suggested that they were speaking personally rather than as agency employees. To the contrary, they employed both the agency’s resources and stature to disseminate the polar vortex claim.
More importantly, the specific contention—of a “growing body of evidence”—can be tested by any kindergartner. Four recent studies on this issue all contradict the global warming/polar vortex connection, more than countering the older studies that support Holdren—that at least balances, and more likely outweighs, whatever Holdren was relying on. And the notion that the body of evidence supporting him is growing is nonsense.
If Holdren were selling pizza, the FTC would’ve been all over him long ago.
See the response: 229015759-OSTP-IQA-Response (PDF)
Now watch his video:
On the plus side, Holdren’s “personal opinion video” issued by the White House only has 230,662 views as of this writing. From an outreach perspective, it’s a big flop for the White House.
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The claim “growing body of evidence” seems approximately equivalent to something my mother often says while reporting the latest gossip: “People tell me…”
**If Holdren were selling pizza, the FTC would’ve been all over him long ago.**
It seems questionable whether Holdren has enough common sense to deliver pizza, let alone sell it.
My god I’ll bet Nixon is envious of this White House.
“Growing body of evidence ” is a marketing phrase.
The phrase “What a maroon” was first used by Bugs Bunny in the 1940’s
This is just the beginning of the climate science showing that CO2 causes cooling as well as warming.
Paradoxically they may finally be getting the science right.
This “personal” video shows all the signs of a very professional production, green screen, make-up, sound, editing and camera work.
What a disgusting weasel post event cop out.
“
Dr. Holdren’s video is typical of everything his entire career is based on.
‘Colder winters’ are on the Number Watch page “A Complete List of Things Caused by Global Warming”, which as of today includes 883 items.
The previous record for any nameable First Cause able to cause absolutely anything else was held by “Yahweh”, Who was unfortunately limited by His Nature to be unable to contradict Himself.
So they are admitting that the top advisers to Obama are ignorant and incompetent?
And of course Obama is totally unaware of the situation.
The official response is simply untruthful. At 0:14 into the video he is presenteds “President Obamah’s Science Advisor, the closing credits carry the White House logo.
There is not way to pretend that this is Mr. John Holdren expressing his personal opinion.
“they employed both the agency’s resources and stature to disseminate the polar vortex claim.”
Since this is a “personal opinion video” Holdren should be forced to repay all expenses incurred for using the agency’s resources including all the time he spent doing this personal thing while being paid for official business.
One interesting quote at 1:45
“… and, as in all science, there will be continuing dabate about what is happening…..”
Seems his boss is not listening to his own science advisor.
The media that broadcasts the rubbish told by Holdren and co. is just as guilty as the one who speaks the lie.
If the media is short of news worthy storys.
Just exposing the lies as they are told should would keep the head lines ticking over.
Greg,
Mr. Obama’s unquestioned reliance on Holdren and others of his ilk is making a reality of what Tolkien pointed out in his fantasy books: that bad things come by way of leaders who put themselves in the thrall of evil counselors. Holdren, Ehrlich, Schneider, and their gang have on balance done great harm to the world and to science, yet have never been held to account.
Well he has some other personal opinions:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/21/obamas-science-czar-considered-forced-abortions-sterilization-population-growth/
hunter,
Some Ehrlich quotes can be found here:
http://classicalvalues.com/2014/06/what-the-left-has-in-store-for-you/
There is also something at 0:45 , that I picked up when I first saw the video when it came out:
” … is a pattern we can expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues and the reason is this ..”
Note how fast he cuts in with the follow up “and the reason is this” .
This is an indication he is not very comfortable with what he has just said.
We have a saying in the UK ”not qualified to run a winkle stall”
Holdren falls neatly into that bracket with Obama close behind.
If Holdren was to make a pizza, he would almost certainly put the pastry on top and tell us that we can expect to see more of this kind of pizza “as the world continues to warm”.
In listening to Holdren the movie line, “He’s a pedantic, pretentious, ponificating ba$tard, a belligerent old fart, and a worthless steaming pile of cow dung, figuratively speaking”, came to mind immediately.
And we all know that left to it’s own devices a steaming pile of cow dung will ‘grow’ until it reaches a “tipping point” of decomposition and then just fade away into the dirt from whence it came. Although I think he was amiss in referring to it as “evidence”.
oops: pontificating above @ur momisugly 5:11 am…darn it!
The claim “growing body of evidence from policy based studies” seems approximately equivalent to something my mother often says while reporting the latest gossip: “People tell me…”
There fixed it?
This is a dangerous precedent. It is quite clear that the propagation of Holdren’s views were sponsored by the government.
I trust you are planning to appeal.
Typo up top “OSTP rules Holdren’s video released bu the White House ” think you meant “by the White House”…