Why doesn't Virginia do stuff like this (taking action like other states are doing on global warming)? Perhaps because it's got a doofus like this as its "state climatologist" and chief global warming denier. Believe it or not, this bozo - whose "rather controversial opinions on global warming" may just be "very closely related to those he promotes as a private consultant to coal and power industries" - gets paid $91,530 a year by Virginia taxpayers to block any progress to global warming. Nice, eh? P.S. I wonder what Dr. Michaels has to say about this?
P.P.S. According to Wikipedia:
In a July 27, 2006 ABC News report, it was revealed that a Colorado energy cooperative, the Intermountain Rural Electric Association, had given Michaels $100,000. The report noted that the cooperative has a vested interest in opposing mandatory carbon dioxide caps. The wider context of the report concerned entities within the fossil fuel industry giving money to scientists in an effort to create a false perception that there is a lack of consensus in the scientific community regarding global warming.
Wonderful.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
Without even getting into this guy's politics and reasons for denying Global Warming, it boggles the mind to think that a state funded position got lost in the shuffle a quarter century ago and so it lives on with the same person. What's going to happen when he retires or dies? Is that position now in the possesion of his family and it can be passed down? Will the state or univeristy finally take it back and figure out who owns it?
Here's a great chance for Tim Kaine to strike a blow against anti-environmentalists and do something about state waste (or at least lack of oversight). Go get 'em Tim!
Per the NYT: "Dr. Michaels told Western business leaders last year that he was running out of money for his analyses of other scientists’ global warming research. So a Colorado utility organized a collection campaign for him last week and has raised at least $150,000 in donations and pledges."
Thomas Jefferson was already spinning in his grave from hearing George Allen call himself a "Jeffersonian Conservative." Now the university that he founded -- his most prized accomplishment -- is being tarnished with the same right wing brush.
Dear Gov. Kaine:
I am writing to express my concern about the activities of Professor Patrick Michaels of the University of Virginia, who claims to be the VA "State Climatologist."
Prof. Michaels is tarnishing the reputation of our state by accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the fossil fuel industries in exchange for running a propaganda campaign to downplay the threat of climate change.
I would strongly encourage you to proclaim that Prof. Michaels is not our State Climatologist and does not represent the State of Virginia in any way, shape or form.
For more information, please see the July 28th New York Times story (http://www.nytimes.c...) and the cvillenews blog at (http://www.cvillenew...).