National Review Falsely Accuses NASA Scientist James Hansen Of Violating The Hatch Act
National Review Falsely Accuses NASA Scientist James Hansen Of Violating The Hatch Act
On Monday, NASA scientist James Hansen commemorated the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking testimony declaring that “the greenhouse effect is here” by again speaking on Capitol Hill. Though he reiterated much of what he’s said many times before about climate change, Hansen sparked controversy when he said that if CEOs of fossil fuel companies “don’t change their tactics they’re guilty of crimes against humanity and nature.”
In an article for National Review Online today, Cato Institute Senior Fellow and prominent climate change skeptic Patrick J. Michaels attacks “Inquisitor Hansen” and accuses him of “terrorizing the American people.” Pivoting off of Hansen’s CEO comment, Michaels also explicitly accuses Hansen of breaking federal law:
Speaking of crimes, what about the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from electioneering? In the hotly contested state of Iowa, on October 26, 2004, Hansen gave a public speech in which he stated that “John Kerry has a far better grasp than President Bush on the important issues that we face.” Kerry lost Iowa by a mere 10,000 votes.
Michaels’s claim is flagrantly false. The Hatch Act, which restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, specifically allows federal employees to “express opinions about candidates and issues” and even “make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections.”
But Hansen’s speech wasn’t even a campaign speech. It was a lecture on “Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference.” In fact, after Hansen gave the speech in which he did acknowledge he would vote for Kerry, he specifically told the AP that he was “speaking as a private citizen” and that he had “paid his own way for the Iowa appearance.”
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We had one of those “state climatologists” here in Oregon, as well, who wasn’t either “state” or “climatologist.”
June 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pmFalse Accusations?
Resume Padding?
No understanding of Federal Law or Science or Conscience?
Sounds like ol’ Pat Michaels is bucking for a job in the Justice Dept.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pmIn fairness to Mr.Michaels, he can’t attack the science so he has to attack the scientist. Just basic Neocon101.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pmWhy is “prominent climate change skeptic Patrick J. Michaels” prominent?
Who made that determination?
June 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pmActually the Space Shuttle is solar powered, as is the space station ‘Freedom’
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/ISS_after_STS-117_in_June_2007.jpg
June 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pmI see that Michaels and rogerse are following the rules.
Rules to disengage thoughful discourse.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:10 pm1. Divert to a tangential issue.
2. Make the tangential issue the main issue.
3. Hope that no one notices.
Do you really want to try this one rog? You are waaaaaaaay over matched. And, while it’s not really on topic; the shuttles is cleaner than a car. The solid rocket boosters do give off toxic gases, but, the aren’t persistent toxins like gas or diesil fumes. And the main engines burn hydrogen and oxygen. No pollution there. Plus, the shuttles mission is not the search for extraterrestrial life.
I would really recommend a different thread more appropriate to your skill level.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pmpete Says:
I would really recommend a different thread more appropriate to your skill level.
TP doesn’t do Britney Spears threads anymore.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pmJebus. Why doesn’t that flarking jingoistic fascist Michaels just accuse Dr. Hansen of treason – and get it over with??
June 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pmIf he disagreed with the WH, it was against the Hatch Act and an ad hominen attack to boot!
Seriously, the law consistently rules that federal employees do NOT give up their rights to participate in politics. They just can’t do it on the federal dime (unless you’re a repub).
June 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pmStay on topic rog. You look like an idiot.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pmpete Says:
Stay on topic rog. You look like an idiot.
He’s just validating that fact; Over and over and over and over and over………………………………………and over and over…
June 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pmok, so did the hypocrit violate the hatch act?.
Lemme help…
Found that at the top of this page, has something to do with the topic we’re discussing…
June 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pmNap time, rogerse.
Nope. No violation there and Prof. Hansen has been quite consistent, not hypocritical at all. Michaels, on the other hand, is just trying to get invited on Hannity’s show by making ridiculous, outrageous, and slanderous remarks..
June 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pmNo. In the same way that the president can speak his political mind at, for example, a McCain fund-raiser, any American — including federal employees — may voice an opinion, as long as the federal employee is not on the pay-earning clock.
Remember Lorita D., who — at a department lunch — entertained a Rove subordinate who spoke to the group (with a lovely visual aid of a chart) about the political races in need of focusing to maintain the coveted Republican majority.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pmbelac Says:
ok, so did the hypocrit violate the hatch act?.
Lemme help…
You’ll have to read it to him, apparently.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:29 pmNote to bloggers: S_Mart has seen fit to start providing “dirty” links. Flag him and do NOT click on his links.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pmHahahaha!! A right-wing phony, masquerading as a state climatologist, hurling lies at one of the most respected NASA scientists and authorities on climate change in the world. These wrong-wingers truly have no shame (nor brains).
Just saying . . .
June 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pmHansen versus Michaels – the first is selfless; the second, soulless.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:33 pmI would really recommend a different thread more appropriate to your (rogerse) skill level.
He has tried to generate discussion over at the Thomas the Tank Engine fan site but the kids keep making fun of him so he comes back here for more abuse.
By the way, Michaels is the one who is attempting to refute projections that the North Pole ice will completely melt this summer. He has done so by stating that the square footage of ice in the Arctic Circle is more than it was last year — which it is. However, the real issue is volume, not area. There is significantly less cubic feet of ice in the Arctic Circle than any time in recorded history.
Numb Nuts Limpballs presented Michaels’ argument as scientific fact on his rant-fest today. The sad thing is that his brain-dead listeners will believe him without ever understanding the difference between square footage and cubic footage measurements.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:35 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
This is quite the hypocritical statement considering that on a daily basis the vile reich-wingers terrorize the American people with claims that terrorists are going to blow up America if Democrats are elected. Hypocrites.
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There was also that better example of violationg the Hatch Act when they were doing slide shows on how to beat (D)s on the federal clock. Wasn’t that right before the ‘06 elections?
HYPOCRITES
June 27th, 2008 at 5:36 pmBob Says:
There was also that better example of violationg the Hatch Act when they were doing slide shows on how to beat (D)s on the federal clock. Wasn’t that right before the ‘06 elections?
Tsk tsk. IOKIYAR
June 27th, 2008 at 5:38 pmrogerse, you can start here.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:40 pmWhat does the National Review have to say about possible Hatch Act violations by Bush, Cheney, Addington, etc?
June 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pmtom Says:
June 27th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Perhaps we should give them partial credit for understanding square footage (two dimensional) when their thinking is usually one dimensional?
June 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pmZooey,
June 27th, 2008 at 5:44 pmCheney claims that he is not a member of government. Doesn’t that free him from the Hatch Act?
Actually Walt, I think that would free him from Executive Branch funding. :-)
June 27th, 2008 at 5:48 pmZooey,
June 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pmWe could be flexible enough to put him in a FEMA trailer atop the Capital Building. That would be more aesthetic than attaching it to one side of the structure.
Walt, you’re far more generous than me. :)
June 27th, 2008 at 5:57 pmrogerse is out of our hair for a while. The web link that I gave him may keep him busy for years.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:00 pmI’m not sure Walt. Generally he just reads enough to cut-n-paste something which refutes his, poorly stated, position.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:02 pmpete Says:
Stay on topic rog. You look like an idiot.
Ahhhh, Pete…even ON topic, our little roggie-doggie looks like an idiot.
There’s no hope for him. Sad, isn’t it?
June 27th, 2008 at 6:13 pmYes Annie. It’s very sad. But, my optimistic nature makes me hope we can convince him to TRY and LEARN something. ANYTHING.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:16 pmmy optimistic nature makes me hope we can convince him (rogerse) to TRY and LEARN something. ANYTHING.
I think the only thing that moron can master is grabbing his dick in his right hand and rubbing it with his left hand.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:22 pm