Sam Donaldson blasts George Will’s climate denial.
Sam Donaldson blasts George Will’s climate denial.
Today on ABC This Week’s roundtable, right-wing columnist George Will mocked the Nobel Peace committee for awarding Al Gore the Peace Prize, saying that all Gore does is engage in “hyperbole.” Will continued to argue that there is no “planetary crisis,” until Sam Donaldson of ABC News interrupted him:
Now if you and Sen. Inhofe want to continue to stick your heads in the sand, I’m going to make it out. I’m old enough and I’ll will probably get out of here before the earth collapses. But I have grandchildren, George.
Watch it:
Will also stated that just one percent of the American public consider global warming their top concern. Donaldson then pointed out that “not long ago, the vast majority of the American people endorsed the strike against Iraq too. You telling me now that people haven’t gotten on to this problem, as they should, is not to say that the problem does not exist.”
Transcript:
STEPHANOPOULOS: But I do want to begin, and I have to do this for George, with the Al Gore Nobel Peace Prize. Because George, when I heard this on Friday morning, I said, “This is designed to drive you — George Will — crazy.” You don’t like the Nobel Peace committee, you don’t like Al Gore, you don’t think global warming is a crisis.
WILL: Right on all three counts. The New York Times, in one of those headlines that I’m sure it really believes is without editorial content, said, “Gore Vindicated.” I guess in that sense, Yassir Arafat, the world’s foremost terrorist, was “vindicated” by getting the Nobel Peace Prize.
It actually was two prizes. They say he’s sharing the prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But they’re doing two different things. The panel does the science. He does the hyperbole that gets people to pay attention to the science and there are all kinds of scientists who are quite candid about this.
The panel says, over the next century, we might anticipate a one foot increase in the sea levels, approximately what we’ve had since 1860, without a planetary crisis. Mr. Gore says 20 feet, hence the scene in his movie where Ground Zero is inundated, because he assumes all of the ice in Greenland melts, which, scientists say, could happen in 1,000 years or more.
DONALDSON: There are now studies that suggest within 30 years, the polar ice cap may melt.
WILL: Polar. I’m talking about Greenland.
DONALDSON: Well, it’s near enough that it would work. Al Gore deserved the prize. He’s pointed out something, and he’s been the leading exponent publicly about something that’s very important. Now if you and Sen. Inhofe want to continue to stick your heads in the sand, I’m going to make it out. I’m old enough and I’ll probably get out of here before the earth collapses. But I have grandchildren, George.
WILL: The American people, sensible that they are, told ABC’s recent poll that one percent of them consider global warming their top problem. The policy question, that we now come to, now that he’s had his Oscar and the Nobel Prize –
STEPHANOPOULOS: And the Emmy too.
WILL: The policy question is going to be –
ROBERTS: And he won the popular vote.
WILL: — how much are the developed nations — the underdog nations are not interested in this drama of the rich — How much are the developed nations willing to pay in cash, forgone productivity, inconvenience, circumscribed freedom, in order to have no measurable effect on global warming?
DONALDSON: George, not long ago, the vast majority of the American people endorsed the strike against Iraq too. You telling me now that people haven’t gotten on to this problem, as they should, is not to say that the problem does not exist. You cannot prove this by saying people out there don’t know yet.
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Sam Donaldson — kicking ass!
October 14th, 2007 at 1:40 pmWhat arrogance on the part of Will, the facts speak for themselves.
Even if you were to hedge a bit and say, well jeesh maybe it aint so bad as they say…well, it’s still bad and will get much much worse if we do nothing about it. And to try and dismiss it as a whole based on a citizenries lack of concern – which has been fueled by people like Will and I’mahoe’s misinformation – is repugnant and dangerous.
George Will obviously hates all children, all young adults and anyone else who gives a damn about the generations to come. But then again I’m sure he doesn’t give a sh#t about passing on the debt of this tragic war either, or the tax cuts, or the gutting of the economy.
His vision of America is one where in the future we’ll all live in an inhospitable environment, destitute and bankrupt. What a patriot!
There are no words to describe the individuals who continue to stonewall this.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pmWe will win the war against the Polar Bears!
October 14th, 2007 at 2:06 pmWhat arrogance is right. Will says developing countries aren’t interested in global warming. Since when is George Will qualified to speak for developing countries?
October 14th, 2007 at 2:07 pmTHE BEST description of the RISK of doing something vs. doing nothing.
THE BEST description of the RISK of doing something vs. doing nothing.
THE BEST description of the RISK of doing something vs. doing nothing.
THE BEST description of the RISK of doing something vs. doing nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
October 14th, 2007 at 2:08 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
The real news in the GW front is that warming is exceeding projections from models. This is not surprising. Scientists, especially in group form, are extremely conservative (in the non-political sense). The effects of global dimming in masking GG effects were not understood until recently. The effects of methane clathrates subliming are v. under-represented in most models.
I’ve a feeling GW will continue apace and we’ll be in for a bumpy ride far sooner than models of just five years ago predicted. Rain-pattern disruptions and resultant crop failures will be the most immediately and widely serious, followed fairly closely by altered tropical disease vectors.
The science isn’t hard and Georgie Bow-tie isn’t stupid. Will’s being deliberately disingenuous cuz he wants to appease and comfort the appeased and comfortable. That’s his job.
On a positive note, a growth (pardon the pun) in algae farms would do much to alter the CO2/O2 balance. Spirolina(sp?), to name just one alga, is a wonderful food source. Even significant carbon emission reductions will require 20-30 years to have much impact on climate. Unfortunately, I don’t see much mention of such methods as a fix.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:10 pmSo Mr. Will, only 1% think that global warming is their #1 concern. But a vast majority think it is a major concern:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/yu-acg100107.php
New Haven, Conn. — A growing number of Americans consider global warming an important threat that calls for drastic action, and 40% say that a presidential candidate’s position on the issue will strongly influence how they vote, according to a national survey conducted by Yale University, Gallup and the ClearVision Institute.
“One of the most surprising findings was the growing sense of urgency,†said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change and the study’s principal investigator. “Nearly half of Americans now believe that global warming is either already having dangerous impacts on people around the world or will in the next 10 years—a 20-percentage-point increase since 2004. These results indicate a sea change in public opinion.â€
The survey’s findings include:
* Sixty-two percent of respondents believe that life on earth will continue without major disruptions only if society takes immediate and drastic action to reduce global warming.
* Sixty-eight percent of Americans support a new international treaty requiring the United States to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90 percent by the year 2050. Yet, Leiserowitz notes, the United States has yet to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that would require the United States to cut its emissions 7 percent by the year 2012.
* A surprising 40 percent of respondents say a presidential candidate’s position on global warming will be either extremely important (16 percent) or very important (24 percent) when casting their ballots. “With the presidential primaries and general election near,†Leiserowitz said, “candidates should recognize that global warming has become an important issue for the electorate.â€
* Eight-five percent of those polled support requiring automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of cars, trucks and SUVs to 35 miles per gallon, even if it meant a new car would cost up to $500 more; and 82 percent support requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources, even if it cost the average household an extra $100 a year.
* Majorities of Americans, however, continue to oppose carbon taxes as a way to address global warming — either in the form of gasoline (67 percent against) or electricity taxes (71 percent against). —.
* Finally, 50 percent of respondents say they are personally worried —15 percent say a “great dealâ€â€” about global warming. “Many Americans, however, believe that global warming is a very serious threat to other species, people and places far away,†said Leiserowitz, “but not so serious of a threat to themselves, their own families or local communities. Nonetheless, they do strongly support a number of national and international policies to address this problem.â€
October 14th, 2007 at 2:16 pmGeorge Will is a pompous, self-preening pseudo-intellectual.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pmThe Rightards (sorry, but that’s the best descriptor for them) are really going off the deep end with their hatred of Al Gore and the way they are stamping their feet over his Nobel Peace Prize.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:44 pmI really think that their entire animus towards the reality of Global Warming is based on their ideological hatred of Al Gore.
I still wonder why this fringe minority of extreme 25%er right-wingers have so much clout with the media.
Who cares what they have to say?
They aren’t logical, sentient beings. They’re entire thought process is based on who they hate, not what the facts are.
BTW, have you noticed how it seems as though the media is deliberately giving these 25%er haters the majority of air play in order to bash Al Gore?
“Librul†media my @ss!
Where are Mr. Gore’s supporters on these news programs? Why only the haters?
It’s like the year 2000 all over again with the way the media is engaging in a mass lynching of Al Gore.
Of course if there weren’t so many anti-science rethug talking heads, like George Will and all of Fox News lying to the people every time this issue hits the new, the entire American public would be even more concerned than they are.
The saddest statement on conservative Americans is that they can’t embrace any issue that doesn’t affect them directly. The sad part is, once it does start to affect us all in really obvious ways, it will be too late to do anything about it if we don’t start now.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:49 pmGeorge Will is a pompous, self-preening pseudo-intellectual.
Comment by VerbalKint — October 14, 2007 @ 2:34
Intellectual? You are too generous.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pmI just nominated George Will for Meia Putz of the Week: http://www.mediaputz.com/nominate.html
Here is my “reason for nomination:”
“George Will is Rush Limbaugh on a diet.
Will’s exchange with Sam Donaldson over global climate change is just ONE example of his repeating “conservative” talking points over and over again without the necessity of thinking.
In contrast to Limbaugh, George just uses more erudite-sounding words, and looks serious.
George Will has been a media putz for YEARS. Now is the time for you to recognize him!”
October 14th, 2007 at 2:54 pmI’d agree with you hterrya on Will being media putz if I hadn’t see Tucker Carlson on Bill Mahers show Friday night interrupting every topic with his inane, inaccurate blabbering. Thus, I’d say it’s a tie.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:57 pmWanted: mapmaker to construct map of George Will’s burial plot.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:58 pmDescendants will need to locate for urination ritual.
Fox All Stars: ‘Anti-American’ Al Gore Shouldn’t Have Won Nobel For ‘Bloviating’ About Warming
On Fox News Sunday this morning, Weekly Standard editor William Kristol and conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer attacked former Vice President Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize win, calling him “anti-American†and derisively claiming that he got the award for “nothing†but “bloviating about global warming.â€
Sarcastically calling Gore’s win “deeply moving,†Kristol disparaged Gore and the Nobel prize itself, saying “it’s a prize given by bloviators to a bloviatorâ€:
KRISTOL: Friday, I felt a warm glow thinking that this man got the Nobel Peace Prize for bloviating about global warming. I mean, it’s a prize given by bloviators to a bloviator for nothing. What did he — he was Vice President of the United States for eight years. I missed the Clinton administration’s bold initiatives on global warming and carbon caps. Did they enforce the Kyoto Treaty? I don’t think so. You know, so he gets the Nobel Peace Prize for talking.
See: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/14/kristol-krauthammer-gore/#comments
See what I mean about Will, and “conservative” talking points? Talk about bloviating!
October 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pmI’d agree with you hterrya on Will being media putz if I hadn’t see Tucker Carlson on Bill Mahers show Friday night interrupting every topic with his inane, inaccurate blabbering. Thus, I’d say it’s a tie.
Comment by Shayne — October 14, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Tucker Carlson has already received the award for July 26, 2007!
http://mediaputz.com/07/07/putz0726.html
Will has received an award, yet! I’d say it’s Georgie’s turn! {:-)
October 14th, 2007 at 3:07 pmComment by hterrya — October 14, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
October 14th, 2007 at 3:10 pmWill has=Will hasn’t
Sorry
bravo sam!
October 14th, 2007 at 3:12 pmOK hyterra, I didn’t know Tuckedin had already won. But I can’t believe George Will hasn’t already. So much putz competition out there.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:35 pmhterrya, sorry about misspelling your name, I’m losing it. Hearing even second hand what the likes of Will, Carlson and all of Fox News has to say kills brain cells.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:37 pmTo those who say global warming is a hoax I submit the following:
I drove by your home a few minutes ago, and noticed smoke and flames coming from your roof. I stopped, banged on the door, and told you I though your home was on fire.
You said “it’s probably not a fire; we should wait a few days to make sure. Besides, if we called the fire department now, they would make us vacate the house, and there’s a great football game on TV.”
October 14th, 2007 at 4:01 pm#15: See what I mean about Will, and “conservative†talking points? Talk about bloviating!
You obviously don’t understand. When people on the Left opine on a particular subject, it’s called “bloviating.” When people on the Right do it, it’s called “commentary.”
What matters, of course, is not what you call it, but whether or not you’re right. Gore has the backing of scientific research; Will has the backing of right-wing ideology.
October 14th, 2007 at 4:06 pmTucker Carlson is a foolish buffoon with no discernible skill or talent who has somehow landed a “news” show on MSNBC; so, when he displays the ridiculous behavior as he did on Bill Maher’s show the other night, it is no surprise – it’s what he does.
October 14th, 2007 at 4:17 pmGeorge Will, on the other hand, is a long-time columnist, who commands an audience in readers and viewers; which isn’t to say that he doesn’t exhibit behavior similar to Carlson. Will may be a pseudo-intellectual, but his blinding fealty to his Republican party has denied him the ability to use his intellect for more positive purposes – he chooses instead to continue to diminish himself to a sycophantic speaker for the rabid right wing who deny the inevitable facts of climate changes. His and the collective hatred of the right-wing for all things Democratic, especially all things related to Al Gore, will be their downfall.
Good for Sam Donaldson in calling Will on his foolishness.
For his own sake, Will should retire from political commentary and return to writing about baseball.
ROBERTS: And he won the popular vote.
What a pit-stain.
This political parakeet’s relevance ends at the tip of her Irish-coffee-stained beak…
October 14th, 2007 at 4:37 pmFor his own sake, Will should retire from political commentary and return to writing about baseball.
Comment by Marie — October 14, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Please…he should NOT “return to writing about baseball” because he’s a baseball nerd, and a pansy-ass stat phreak that never played anything outside of his cave growing up
GORGE WILL NEEDS TO GO BACK TO BEING A REAL CONSERVATIVE OR SHUT THE PHUCK UP FOREVER AND FOREVER!! WE DON’T NEED NEOCON A$$WIPES AROUND HERE ANYMORE!!!
ABC LOVES THIS A$$HOLE!!!
October 14th, 2007 at 4:47 pmSo 1% of Americans consider global warming their top problem. Take a look at Nobel Peace Laureates over the past several years and tell me, how many Americans consider the economic well-being of farmers in Bangladesh their top problem? How about democracy in Africa? The liberation of Tibet? Unexploded land mines? Or even nuclear proliferation?
October 14th, 2007 at 6:42 pmThese, along with global warming, are all important problems. My guess is, though, that most Americans consider affordable health care, safe neighborhoods or simply providing for their children their TOP problem.
Frame it however you want, George. The fact is, 62% of Americans apparently feel an urgent need to do something about global warming, in spite of the rantings of Fox News and others. And it seems the Nobel Committee is a bit more farsighted than you are.
I like the word “asshat” in this instance. George Will is an asshat.
I remember when they first started talking about global warming. Most of their predictions were 100 or 200 years into the future. But a lot of the predictions have already happened, far sooner than even the scientists thought. Hell, now a ship can pass between Canada and the North Pole, and this idiot George Will is talking about inconveniencing developing nations.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:20 pmI’m certainly no expert, but I’d be willing to bet that Dr. William Gray knows a bit more about climatology than Sam Donaldson. “We’re brainwashing our children,†said Dr Gray, 78, a long-time professor at Colorado State University. “They’re going to the Gore movie [An Inconvenient Truth] and being fed all this. It’s ridiculous.â€
Comment by TCDon — October 14, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
I’m no expert either, but I’d be willing to bet that Dr. Andrew Dessler, a professor at Texas A & M, knows a bit more about climatology than Dr. William Gray. http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/10/11/9119/4948
I’d also be willing to bet that the Australian Academy of Sciences, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Canada, Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, French Academy of Sciences, German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina, Indian National Science Academy, Indonesian Academy of Sciences, Royal Irish Academy, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Italy), Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Royal Society (UK), all of whom endorse the IPCC as the most reliable source on global warming, might know a bit more about climate change than Dr. William Gray.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:36 pmI’m certainly no expert, but I’d be willing to bet that Dr. William Gray knows a bit more about climatology than Sam Donaldson. “We’re brainwashing our children,†said Dr Gray, 78, a long-time professor at Colorado State University. “They’re going to the Gore movie [An Inconvenient Truth] and being fed all this. It’s ridiculous.â€
Comment by TCDon
Gray has been thoroughly debunked many times before. There are approximately 70 “scientists” out of 50,000 that believe their own lies. Wow! Amazing what media propaganda can do to teeny minority. Make their insane, Oil and Military minds seem like a majority.
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2006/04/gray-on-agw/
October 14th, 2007 at 8:55 pmTCDon, you’re certainly “no expert”, nor is Gray.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:23 pmThe wierdest thing about all this is that EVERYONE is affected by climate change. Money $$$ does not insulate these naysayers from the effects of climate change. But let them continue to have their heads in the sand. The sand will get deeper and bury their bodies. By the time it will be too late to save themselves.
October 15th, 2007 at 6:27 pm