NASA Chief Sparks Global Warming Fury

Scientists Denounce NASA's Michael Griffin For Saying Earth's Warming May Not Be A Concern

(AP)  The head of the U.S. space agency NASA drew criticism from scientists when he said he was not sure global warming was a problem, and it would be "arrogant" to assume the world's climate should not change in the future.

"I have no doubt that global — that a trend of global warming exists," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said in a taped interview that aired Thursday on National Public Radio. "I am not sure that it is fair to say that is a problem we must wrestle with."

"I guess I would ask which human beings, where and when, are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now, is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take," Griffin said.

Jerry Mahlman, a former top scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who is now at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said Griffin's remarks showed he was either "totally clueless" or "a deep anti-global warming ideologue."

James Hansen, a top NASA climate scientist, said Griffin's comments showed "arrogance and ignorance," because millions of people probably will be harmed by global warming in the future.

White House science adviser Jack Marburger said he was not disturbed by Griffin's remarks but distanced them from President Bush, who announced an international global warming proposal Thursday.

"It's pretty obvious that the NASA administrator was speaking about his own personal views and by no means representing or attempting to represent the administration's views or broader policy," Marburger told The Associated Press. "He's got a very wry sense of humor and is very outspoken."

NASA spokesman David Mould said the radio interviewer was trying to push Griffin into saying something about global warming. NASA's position is that it provides scientific data on the issue, but policymakers are the ones who decide, he said.

[terrapin78]

What do one expect from a Bu$h appointee?

Nuff said!

[terrapin78]

What does one expect from a Bu$h appointee?

Nuff said!

[grazinggoat]

This clown will be the first one to settle on the moon once the weather starts to be unbearable. The rest of us will stay and fry on earth like hotdogs in the steamers...

[jimfinster]

He is an ADMINISTRATOR, not a research scientist. He is perhaps not the best person to be making these types of statements...

[terrapin78]

From above article that Griffin is either....
"totally clueless" or "a deep anti-global warming ideologue."

In the Bu$h administration? Totally clueless or a deep anti-global warming ideologue.

Imagine that!!!

[abcdgoldfish-2009]

Global Warming is a theory folks, there's just not enough data to determine a long term trend. The general consensus is that an increase in the Earth's temperature will result from the emissions that humans make. All the discussions that are going on are about how to prevent the occurance in the future. The "trends" over the past five to ten years are meaningless in the earth's history. Look at the trends over the past 1,000 - 20,000 years as "short-term trends".

The comments made by a NASA manager obviously are from the viewpoint of one who deals with cosmic time, not the time of our immediate gratification society.

For more information on global warning, please read the fictional book titled "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton (of Jurassic Park fame). It sheds light on one side of the Global Warming controversy. A side I'm inclined to agree with.

[dan9111]

There is so much lure to be wrong simply because somebody else is more wrong. In the sciences, there is no place for anger or fury in testing theories. Certainly geologists do not slug it out when they disagree about the crystalline structure of minerals. They use the scientific method!

Sadly, global warming has become a religious battle. It is rage-based education. If either side wants to be taken seriously, they should do what Al Gore did -- make a case and present it. Nothing more. The last thing you should do is cram something down another scientists throat, make new laws and regulations, and then say those who disagree aren't pious enough to be right ("put them in jail, *** it").

Weird science is what this battle is. No civility at all on either side.

[clestes-2009]

I heard this guy on NPR this morning and he is a Micheal Brown. Given the job for his ties to Bush, qualifications be damned, and doing NOTHING WORTHWHILE.

I'll bet he can hardly tie his shoe laces.

[clestes-2009]

abcdgoldfish,
I read that book by Micheal Crighton and it is a work of FICTION.

It was never intended to be anything else. Jesus, what moron. Have you read his other works?? If so, do you believe that aliens left a sphere in the ocean too??

[Razzl]

How bizarre for a man who heads an agency devoted to the most sophisticated project ever conceived for manipulating the laws of nature to think that it's somehow inappropriate to use science and technology to solve other problems. It shows the continuing price we pay for a President who appoints people to these positions for their loyalty rather than their competence in their field...

[ralan40]

I wouldn't spout a fictional book to back up my ideas. But I do agree there are a lot of factors involved. Scientists rarely agree on this stuff. It happens in other sciences. We're just hearing the alarmist theories because that gets people's attention.
The earth has been warming since the last ice age over 11,000 years, ago. This has been going on for a long time. Nature can release a lot on her own. Mt St Helens is the largest single polluter in the Pacific NW.
Of course global warming is happening. The Anasthazi-natives in the 4 corners area of the US, dissapeared 1,000 years ago when their farmland they grew corn, turned into the desert we know, today. This was climate change
Is mankind causing it? No, not causing but aggrivating it.
The third world is getting into the manufacturing business, much more pollution and our cutbacks, here will do little good. But our personal examples in ecologic sensibility couldn't hurt.

[Syndicate]

This guy nailed it. we know the Earth is in a warming trend but whos to say a few degrees warmer wouldn't be better for everyone. Who knows maybe the Sahara will bloom again like it did in ancient times. The most recent "hockey stick" graph I've seen shows that it was several degrees warmer than now a thousand years ago. This is the same graph all the environmentalist use except the data was updated as the original sources were updated. Funny how some people keep using old data because the new data isn't as dramatic.

[antoniof123]

He was appointted by guess who that is right our buddy George Bush.

Also he is not a climate expert.

What else is new.......

[cozzicon]

I'm going to wait until penguins spontaneously combust before I change my mind.

At that point there will be true measurable evidence that everyone can understand based on the physical condition of the penguin.

[co2max]

Griffin's comments on the fact that global warming is not such a bad thing are extremely valid. We get so much paniced propoganda, that everyone starts to believe that *** because that's almost all they hear. Do some research, look up the history, and you'll find out that he's right.

Just stay calm, rational, and civil. Adjustments need to be made, but that is the way of our species throughout time. Our civilization exists today completely because of a global warming that has been taking place for 12,500 years.

[bobnjersey]

["I guess I would ask which human beings, where and when, are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now, is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take," Griffin said. ]

that's an idealoge if i ever heard one. what an ignorant fool ... not suited to be a director of an agency that deals in unknowns all the time ... and plans for them ... w/ contingincies ... and redundant backup systems.

["It's pretty obvious that the NASA administrator was speaking about his own personal views ... " Marburger told The Associated Press. "He's got a very wry sense of humor and is very outspoken." ]

then maybe he can get a job on comedy central.

[co2max]

No, Griffin is being realistic.
The earth's climate has never been in a steady state. He's is completely correct to say that is is just arrogance on our part to decide here and today that the world's climate shall be held in place to remain just as it is (or perhaps set it back to what it was 100 years ago?) so that humans can enjoy the climate just the way we want it. It's totally outrageous that we should pretend to play god and sculpt the planetary systems to suit our needs. Griffin is right.

[bobnjersey]

[Griffin is right. ]
[Posted by CO2Max at 09:15 AM : Jun 01, 2007]

no ... griffin just holds the same opinion as you.

they should have asked him when the beginnings of the earth were ... this mental giant probably thinks it was 10,000 years ago.

[co2max]

this mental giant probably thinks it was 10,000 years ago.
Posted by bobnjersey at 09:45 AM : Jun 01, 2007
---------------
I seriously doubt that. Be civil, please.
Nonetheless, 10,000 years would be more real than what I would suppose is your estimate for the age of the earth. That's why we have scientists in the world who have a better idea of what's going on. (hint: not the "scientists" who serve on the IPCC)

[bobnjersey]

[Nonetheless, 10,000 years would be more real than what I would suppose is your estimate for the age of the earth. That's why we have scientists in the world who have a better idea of what's going on. (hint: not the "scientists" who serve on the IPCC) ]
[Posted by CO2Max at 09:56 AM : Jun 01, 2007]

ahhh ... i see ... so it's 'which' scientists to believe ... like what sources to read ... and what talking points to repeat.

i'm not one to believe that scientists are 'making stuff up' to get money and power ... the typical 'no global warming' mantra ... they're typically driven by other motivations.

if you think 10k years is close ... good for you ... ignorance is bliss.

[glb1969]

What an anti-science idelogue this guy is. His loyalty is to the worlds biggest moron (Bush) and he will continue to ignore science and reality until we get him out of his position. Next thing you know we'll hear Bush saying "Good job, Griffin. You ended this global warming mess for us by ignoring it"

What an idiot.

[co2max]

if you think 10k years is close ... good for you ... ignorance is bliss.
Posted by bobnjersey at 10:05 AM : Jun 01, 2007
---------------
seems you are unable to conduct a worth discussion of this.
For your information, 10,000 years in earth history isn't even equal in relative terms to the time it took me to write this post out of my lifetime.
You're just another one of those Yah-Hoos who just wants to rant.

[ammianus]

The Sorrows of Young Dumus, Art. XIII
Direction of the Hegemon%u2019s space policy was assumed by Imbustus Vulturinus, who convened a secret advisory group of five Oligarchs of the religious-totalitarian movement. Bereft of any knowledge of science, these persons were recommended by their large financial contributions to the imperial clique and their fanatical opinions on the use of space to subjugate all the nations of Earth. This group was convened on an irregular schedule to compose %u201Cwhite papers%u201D on particular space policy issues. These were submitted to Vulturinus who worked to implement their recommendations. Vulturinus%u2019 orders flowed to an oversight board in the Office of Management and Budget and thence to the Administrator of the Hegemon%u2019s space agency. Michael Griffin attained his position by swearing absolute fealty to Vulturinus and the totalitarian faction of the legislature. The ultimate object of the space policy oligarchs was to turn the Earth into one vast prison. More immediately, scientific inquiries into matters threatening the propaganda of the Oligarchy, such as global climate change, were quietly starved. Likewise, the search for life outside the Earth was terminated. Such discoveries would conflict with the teachings of the religious totalitarian clique supporting Dumas. Little did the Oligarchs suspect that by substituting blind superstition for reasoned inquiry, they would finally pull down their own house.

[co2max]

Ammianus,
Whatever in the world you're talking about might have some sort of relevance on that day when the Roman Empire establishes a base on the surface of the Moon.

I state again what I said elsewhere earlier about Global Warming causing brain damage. Problem is, it is difficult to know if it the the warming or the political *** causing the brain drain. (and does it matter?)

[briannorwood]

Of course. This moron was appointed by Dumbya himself. No wonder he's towing the party line.

Shame that an educated guy like he apparently is is willing to make himself the laughing stalk of the world scientific community.

Don't worry though. He'll be gone in a year or so.

[bobnjersey]

[You're just another one of those Yah-Hoos who just wants to rant. ]
[Posted by CO2Max at 12:09 PM : Jun 01, 2007]

and what exactly do you think of yourself ... i can tell you do that often ... posting (ranting) that global warming is a fallacy ... w/ the name co2max?

[hawksprings]

I keep being told comprises only 1/4 of 1% of our atmosphere (that's 0.025 of 100.00.)

It would be nice to hear an explanation of how the such a tiny fraction of a fraction of an increase of the dreaded greenhouse gas CO2 is gonna kill or drown us all.
And we evil humans, especially the capitalist pig-humans, are responsible for eventually raising the CO2 level by an additional 25% over what it would have been if we didn't exist. So I guess that works out to something like 0.0275 percent is going to the CO2 level in our air.

And that .0025% increase of CO2 is going to melt all the ice in the world, raise the seas by 20 feet, and cause mass extinction and death across the globe.

That's one powerful gas.

And the "experts" just can't see why some of us are skeptical?

[lees2002]

http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/3967