Huckleberries Online

Obama Attends Climate Confab

Posted by DFO

Dec. 18, 2009 10:35 a.m. • 42 comments

President Barack Obama, 4th left, is joined by other leaders in a multilateral meeting at the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, today. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Update: Obama: ‘Meaningful breakthrough’ on climate change/AP

Question: Should President Obama have boycotted the Copenhagen conference, as Sarah Palin suggested in a controversial column in the Washington Post?

42 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

idawa on December 18 at 11:03 a.m.
are you serious…
bpoole on December 18 at 11:09 a.m.
only if he thought that anything she said was relevant. obviously he didn’t.
nic on December 18 at 11:16 a.m.
The president should not do ANYTHING Sarah Palin suggests.
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 11:19 a.m.
It sounds like he might as well have stayed home. Maybe Palin was right.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/18/obama-speech-copenhagen
Sisyphus on December 18 at 11:29 a.m.
No she was most decidedly wrong hmoff as this points out.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200912090002

How much more evidence do you need, hmoff, to stop giving her the benefit of doubt?
Sisyphus on December 18 at 11:35 a.m.
Speaking of Sarah, she can’t even see a vacation through to the end.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30771.html

But she’s wicked with a sharpie.
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 11:37 a.m.
That is merely their opinion, Sis. The argument regarding global warming stands on its own merits. Many thought Palin was absolutely correct in what she had to say. So goes the AGW debate. In my mind, Bent has pretty much substantiated the fact that it is all political and simply a liberal tool to achieve their goals. Climategate only pointed out the degree to which the issue is manipulated to ones’ own political advantage.
Heatherlicious on December 18 at 11:38 a.m.
I could care less what Palin thinks. Obama shouldn’t have attended the conference because most of the American people know man-made Globull Warming is a scam designed to tax, tax, tax us.

Everything Obama does contributes to his slide in the polls. But the guy is an ideologue and a narcissist, so I doubt he even cares.
moscow_minidoka on December 18 at 11:44 a.m.
“That is merely their opinion, Sis.”

Not when the facts clearly contradict Palin’s claims. If I say “the earth is flat,” and that “my opinion,” does that change the nature of verifiable science?

“Many thought Palin was absolutely correct in what she had to say. ”

And those people were drawing their conclusions from misstatements and outright falsehoods. Just because “many people” thought she was correct doesn’t make it so. Many people think aliens landed at Roswell in 1948, but that doesn’t make it true.

There is certainly an element of political posturing regarding climate change (on both sides), but that doesn’t make it acceptable to write op-ed pieces that are full of easily-verifiable falsehoods.
Charlie on December 18 at 11:48 a.m.
A case could be made for tele-conferencing, but then that wouldn’t cost a ton of money and don’t forget the 40-50,000 tons of CO2 this conference produced. Obama seems to be in Air Force 1 more than the oval office!
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 11:54 a.m.
You know how it goes, Charlie. Do as I say, not as I do. Ask Gore about that.
Sisyphus on December 18 at 12:03 p.m.
Your utter inability to distinguish fact from opinion is why you have no credibility hmoff. What’s funny about your comment is that Palin also contradicted herself in the op ed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLnn4FMyW_w&feature=player_embedded

You had your opinion before Bent mentioned word one on the fallacy that is climate gate. And referencing him only reinforces your lazy approach to critical analysis or as other call it, thinking. All Bent’s ranting on climate ‘gate’ comes from a single conservative climate change denier in England who has been cherry picking quotes daily and placing them way out of context. It plays very well in the media, but in the scientific community? Well they’re sitting back with that elitist smile watching the world kill itself.
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 12:15 p.m.
Sis >> “Your utter inability to distinguish fact from opinion is why you have no credibility hmoff”

Perhaps. Especially if you are the one to determine that which is fact. That, also, is a matter of opinion. :~)
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 12:27 p.m.
And, as a matter of fact, your own credibility comes into question, Sis, when you support ‘facts’ that are known to have been derived through the manipulation of data.
Sisyphus on December 18 at 12:43 p.m.
I love the intertubes. Lack of physical proximity is sometimes a really good thing. ;-)

Sigh.

NOAA’s data hasn’t been manipulated hmoff. Nor has the gazillion other bodies of work besides that of East Anglia. And its very arguable whether that data was manipulated at all, let alone to the degree alleged.
moscow_minidoka on December 18 at 12:51 p.m.
Oh Sisyphus, will you never learn? Facts and uniformed opinions are the exact same thing as far as Hmoff is concerned, and one has no more value than the other.

Who knew such a rock-ribbed conservative could be such a relativist? According to Hmoff, “there is no fact, only opinion.”
Me on December 18 at 12:52 p.m.
I heard a very nice little report from Copenhagen this morning on Air America. The reporter excitedly explained how he interviewed Richard Branson who has happily given up meat to save the planet - since the cattle are such a big part of global warming. He then explained how it would just make so much of a difference if everyone just gave up meat. So in the future we can all look forward to maybe $10.00 a pound for hamburger or something? And they talked about how gas needs to be $15.00 a gallon - let the “market” fix global warming.
Me on December 18 at 12:56 p.m.
Oh and for the record (and I have stated it several times here I believe) - it may very well be that our planet is in a warming period. What I have a problem with is 1 that we have the means to actually stop or reverse it and 2 that money will be what fixes it (I know, I know - it isn’t really the money - the money is simply the stick used to beat people to change).
Sisyphus on December 18 at 1:04 p.m.
The whole point of the confab in Copenhagen is to internalize the cost of CO2 production and make it a market commodity. How to do that fairly is a sticking point. And no Bent not a hockey stick-ing point. ;-) The point is to modify behavior. It makes perfect sense to me. Branson doesn’t always make perfect sense to me. But he is building a space ship so maybe he knows something.

We’re having several debates around the state on mass transit. Until you give a reason for folks to get out of their cars the proposals are worthless. Hence a gas tax to pay for them. And you see how far Butch got with that.
Cabbage Boy on December 18 at 1:38 p.m.
Sis, if the data “wasn’t manipulated” then why destroy it. Spin away my friend.

And ME, cows are huge producers of methane. They must all die, one steak at a time. Just doing my part.
Phaedrus on December 18 at 3:01 p.m.
Your utter inability to distinguish fact from opinion is why you have no credibility hmoff—

While we’re on this subject: yesterday hmoffsuite was complaining about the White House threatening an Air Force base closure in Nebraska if Ben Nelson didn’t support the Senate Health care bill. It’s not true.

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200912170020
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 3:43 p.m.
Phaedrus >> “Your utter inability to distinguish fact from opinion is why you have no credibility hmoff—”

Facts are derived from data. Opinions are formed by reviewing all the facts, and then employing one’s own education, experience and current information, and making a determination of ones’ own fact. That becomes an opinion. Refined, Massaged, Reconsidered, and then a conclusion. Statements such as yours above are merely confrontational and serve no value.
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 3:44 p.m.
And, yes, the Nebraska Senator deal did turn out to be a bunch of crap. I apologize for having posted it.
Bent on December 18 at 5:01 p.m.
“All Bent’s ranting on climate ‘gate’ comes from a single conservative climate change denier in England who has been cherry picking quotes daily and placing them way out of context…” — Sis

EXCUSE ME?????

I am offended by this statement… You want to take apart the sources that I post up here to poke a little fun into this discussion go right ahead…

But, you sir, are not going to discredit me on this issue — and quite frankly you couldn’t if you tried.

With the exception of a handful of people on this blog, nobody here has any idea how much reasearch I have done on this issue… I’ll have you know my work on this issue is extensive and has been ongoing long before the climategate issue came along. I know exactly what I am talking about when it comes to climate change, cap and trade, global warming, climategate (and even BRAC, Spoke, and BTW your were completely wrong on that issue the other night as well).

I only jumped into this discussion to point out how ridiculous the climategate deniers are on this subject… I think I have succeeded in what I set out to do, and as much as I would love to blow the lid off of your effort to personally discredit me on this issue or lable me as a deinier or proclaim that I am ignorant to scientific method … I’m going to have to pass for personal reasons… and that is a shame because in one single post, I could easily establish my credibility on this issue and you would be eating your words with a side humble pie…

With that I am done commenting on the issue of Climate Change here on HBO… I may even need a break altogether…
hmoffsuite on December 18 at 5:10 p.m.
Bent. Applause. Applause. Well said.
DFO on December 18 at 5:19 p.m.
@ Bent re: “With that I am done commenting on the issue of Climate Change here on HBO… I may even need a break altogether… ”

Don’t you dare.
Charlie on December 18 at 6:03 p.m.
What hmo said!
Me on December 18 at 6:57 p.m.
Bent - hang in there bud. You have been nothing but knowledgeable and articulate - I’m sure it drives some crazy, but they just like to dismiss, and belittle, and word people to death - so it isn’t worth your time and effort really - EXCEPT I have loved it. And you have sent me off on lots of research myself and I’m thankful for that.

Don’t get discouraged. Perhaps you should write a summary on YOUR blog - something for those of us who care to enjoy - without all the ‘noise’.
spokelooneh on December 18 at 8:18 p.m.
Well I can top off this thread quite swimmingly, and pull a Godwin as well:

” COPENHAGEN — Saudi Arabia called for an independent investigation into “climategate” Monday, warning that the scandal over stolen e-mails threatened to undermine the global-warming negotiations beginning here.

“We believe this scandal — or what has been referred to as the ‘climategate’ scandal — we think this is definitely going to affect the nature of what could be trusted in our deliberations,” the Saudi Arabian negotiator said.

Now, why would one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world want to promote “Climategate” as a crisis of confidence for global warming? Hmm. It’s a head-scratcher, all right.

The very last thing the Saudis want is for the western world to get serious about alternate sources of energy.”

Curiously enough, the Deniers aren’t just in the camp of the Islamic supremacists, but also cozied up with the British neo-Nazis.

“The leader of the British National Party and MEP is at the international summit as a representative of the European Parliament.

But he said global warming was a “hoax” designed to impose tax increases on the citizens of the world through putting up the price of energy.”

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/35379_BNP_Leader_Griffin-_Climate_Change_is_a_Hoax_World_Leaders_Are_Mass_Murderers

“The British National Party (BNP) is a far-right political party formed as a splinter group of the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982. Until 2009, when it was challenged in the courts on grounds of racial discrimination,[15] it restricted membership to people of “Caucasian origin”.[16]

The BNP seeks to restore the overwhelmingly white ethnicity of Britain that existed prior to 1948 through legal means, including “firm but voluntary incentives for immigrants and their descendants to return home”“
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_National_Party

Send ‘em back to Africa! And Asia!

Deniers, Saudi Islamo-supremacists, Brit Neo-Nazi’s, all in the same camp. Oh, and for good measure, the Russians as well.

Good luck with that “coalition”.

I’ll stick with the Climatologists, myself. Especially the NASA and NOAA RED BLOODED AMERICANS!
spokelooneh on December 18 at 8:19 p.m.
And Bent doing a Nixon Checkers Speech move, reprising Digger’s recent stomping off?

Classy.
Me on December 18 at 8:30 p.m.
Spoke - so funny:

Now, why would one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world want to promote “Climategate” as a crisis of confidence for global warming? Hmm. It’s a head-scratcher, all right.

And why would global warming alarmists want to promote “Climate Change - and the disasters that are just around the corner”? Hmmmm - yeah that is a head-scratcher all right.

Here’s a clue $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Me on December 18 at 8:32 p.m.
Oh and Spoke - nice use of comparison to Nazis and Islamic supremacists - extra points for that one!!!
spokelooneh on December 18 at 9:22 p.m.
Like I said “me”, I’ll stick with the red-blooded AMERICAN climatologists.

Others are free to join the camp of the Saudis, the Russians, and the British Neo-Nazis. Because it is, you see, a FREE COUNTRY!

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!
Cindy_H on December 18 at 9:26 p.m.
Bent, don’t let ignorance get your goat.
You’ll need all your goats for the coming apocalypse that will be ushered in by dog-owning, humans who drive Hummers, flaunt phosphate bans and don’t recycle.
Just saying.
Cindy_H on December 18 at 9:29 p.m.
In case you didn’t know dogs leave big carbon footprints http://www.physorg.com/news176582720.html
But at least when global warming begins to destroy our planet and we have to eat our pets, dog owners will have more to chew on.
mike_s on December 18 at 9:58 p.m.
Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys.
Cabbage Boy on December 18 at 10:16 p.m.
Well done Bent. I appreciate your efforts.
spokelooneh on December 18 at 10:25 p.m.
Attaboy!

God Bless America!
Bent on December 19 at 12:08 a.m.
“And Bent doing a Nixon Checkers Speech move, reprising Digger’s recent stomping off?

Classy.” — Spoke

You are right, I’ve spent a lot of time stomping on here lately, but it hasn’t been “off” … it’s been on your azz, man. And BTW the obvious Saudi story is three weeks old, dude … is the Greenwire that far behind???
spokelooneh on December 19 at 12:28 a.m.
Soviets? Who are they, Bent? Are you still in the 80’s? Here’s a clue, the Soviet Union disintegrated LONG ago.

The Russians are still standing by their claims of a few weeks ago, that I referenced.

Pay attention.

I’ve beaten down each and every of your alarmist arguments. That’s gotta hurt.

No wonder you’re running off, unless that too, was just a ruse.

Figures.
spokelooneh on December 19 at 12:29 a.m.
And yes, the Saudi’s stand behind their story of three weeks ago.
spokelooneh on December 19 at 1:47 a.m.
Clearly the WATB’s can’t take the heat, and have to scurry off in the face of scientific evidence, not political rhetoric.

C-ya.

« Back to Huckleberries Online

You must be logged in to post comments.
Please create a profile or log in here.

About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.