Well, Scottar - what will you do when we can no longer find oil or what we can find is more expensive than alternative energies?  That's one of the reasons the US is so cosy with dictators over in the middle east and the real reason why we went to war in the Gulf twice now.  Counting all the known oil reserves in US territory - even the stuff in ANWAR and ALL the off shore we have only 3% of the worlds oil reserves.  We USE %25 of the worlds oil.  It's not just a matter of climate, it's a matter of national security and the continuation of our way of life.  Like the polar bear or other creatures, we will have to adapt or die.  Or do something about it.  Denver is a better place to live because we heeded environmentalists and cleaned up our air.  The world will be a better place to live when we take better care of it.  Or I guess you don't care about that or the future of human life on earth  cause gw could make us extinct like it did to 98% of life on earth after the pre-cambrian era.  You only care about making $$$$.

For 10 years I have been researching the phenomenon of global warming. One good source reference is http://adognamedkyoto.blogspot.com. Although it is a bolg, the info collected has good substantiated references. It also has good links to other valid sites about the true nature of global warming.

Global Warming has suddenly morphed into Climate Change. I guess greenies got a brand new bag. But what really ires me is that the mantra of global warming has been use to equivocate to the small human contribution that people automatically associate AGW directly with GW or CC. This is a form of brain washing and entrapment for those who dispel that man caused emissions are overall driving GW. Proponents use excerpted and hyped science to make the human contribution bigger than it actually is. Anyone who disagrees is automatically labeled as in denial of the global warming event and demonized.

The IPCC has used a flawed peer review process to make it appear that the 2,500 scientists that they have gather reports from have supported the IPCC's panel conclusions on GW and AGW. They have cleverly exaggerated AGW by clever structuring of their reports..

The Democrats, who comprise more of the liberal extremist and social activists, have embraced the hysteria of global warming to further their social agendas though controls on energy and taxes and pollution. It's easy to fool the ignorant with deceptive, alarmists claims like Al Gore is doing. The current economic fiasco is mostly the result of Democrats pushing relaxed credit ratings to allow people to buy homes and other stuff that under the old guidlines they couldn't have. In 1999, under the Clinton administration, legislation removed Depression-era barriers between commercial banks and investment firms and allowed the creation of financial behemoths that led to the  underwriting  of subprime mortgages. McCain tried to summit a bill to regulate the process back in 2005 but the Democrats killed it.

The same thing is happening in the climate change hysteria over CO2 emissions. Democrats are overall pushing for ineffective alternative technology that can't replace fossil fuels and nuclear. Special corporate and financial groups have developed technology to cap or sequester CO2 due to this pumping up of global warming hysteria. Since they will gain from the mandated caps and subsides they will push the AGW agenda as it is less costly then fighting it. The democrats are taking the voter for a ride down poverty lain due to this hysteria. It's all part of getting the public more dependent on their great society programs and ensuring job security.

So before you drink this feel good koolaide remember who initially pushed the liberalization of credit and loan qualifications and where it has presently led the country. The best intentions are often paved with fool's gold.

Too bad McCain won't stick to his original positions and must appeal to the Republican base. But one then wonders what he would really do after elected, especially if he only intends to run for one term. Not knowing what he really stands for, and the possibility of no accountability is scary.

Climate change is both natural and man made.  On thiis issue both OBAMA and McCAIN are right. PALEN however is a nut-job.

Of course McCain will defer to Palin. Who do you think will be minding the store? The increasingly erratic, forgetful, lying old man or the young right wing religious fanatic liar?

McCain is awful, but should the American people be so stupid as to elect him and his unqualified soul

mate, he's going to find himself obsolete very quickly.

Be careful what you wish for Johnny.

Obama/Biden 08

I am not a hardcore geologist but rather look at it as a hobby. One of the things about opening one's "geological eye" is that its altered my perspective on the world in what I view to be a positive way. Looking back into deep time one sees it divided up into periods such as the precambrian, cambrian, permian, devonian, silurian, jurrassic, carboniferous (i know i'm missing some and screwed up the order). The borders between these time zones represent mas exctinctions and every of these mass extinctions was asociated with climate change. The climate change we're experiencing right now is happening incredibly fast in comparison to many in the past. To  deny this is sheer lunacy and it may be pathetically egocentric to believe that we are capable of putting the brakes on this phenomena. It may be important to consider financial ramifications of environmental conservation, but to take the short term and preserve profits at the cost of the planet, is well....you fill in the adjective..

Palin sounds more and more uncaring every day.

In other news, this single issue makes me angrier with the Republicans than any other issue except the war.

It's not so much that they don't believe that climate change is happening, it's that most of them don't seem to believe there's even a reason to *suspect* it.  "Can't burden our companies with environmental regulation, ho hum."  Environmental damage IS economic damage.  If there's actually a chance that global warming carries the risk of catastrophic consequence, we ought to at least be taking a look at it.  The Republican position is based purely on the short-term quarterly profits of businesses who will, if global warming turns out to be the disaster that is feared, lose those profits anyway after the hurricanes, droughts, and floods that this phenomenon may bring.

I have nothing against anyone who doesn't believe it's the problem the media has made it to be, but I have a LOT against someone who categorically and almost violently denies the opposing position, especially out of personal greed.  If there's a chance that it's going on, we need to be taking a look at it.

Until the world heals the environment from hate and inhumanity,

global WARMING will remain SECONDARY.

There is no greater force destroying mankind  and the planet more quickly

than HUMAN BEINGS and their never-ending GREED, HATE and

LACK OF COMPASSION for OTHERS.

If EVERY PERSON did ONE THING TODAY for SOMEONE OTHER THAN

THEMSELVES in mind every day,

MANKIND COULD REST AND THE PLANET REVOLVE IN HARMONY.

Help a child, a homeless person, a neighbor, a relative, a stranger,

an animal, And do it because YOU WANT TO care about something

beyong YOURSELF.

The Earth will revolve a little easier for it.

And you will help to ensure future beyond your grandchildren's grandchildren.

Regardless of its cause, we are experiencing climate change. In the book, "Winds of Change," the effect of climate on the development and existence of civilization is made clear. The dark ages, where little of history is recorded, experienced a devastating climactic event where the sun was obscured by haze and massive famine and the black death occurred. We also experienced global warming during the 15th century when grapes were grown in England and the Vikings flourished on Greenland. The Little Ice Age changed that about a 100 years later. Our mild climate for the past 400 years has given us a massive increase in human population which is stressing the limits of our planetary resources. We need to learn how to adapt to changes and share the resources equitably with our world populations as well as control overpopulation so that all species can survive.

We cannot pray away humanity's contribution to global warming just to save a few bucks.  We are contributing and if we do not do things to curb that contribution now then future generations are going to reap the whirlwind of our ignorance to accept our responsibilities and will curse us for our inaction.  We cannot afford to let "Sinner" Sarah anywhere near the White House nor can we allow her to influence our global warming strategy.  McCain will just pander to the knuckledraggers of his party who wish to deny our responsibilities because it's politically popular for getting elected.  Only Obama/Biden understand the problem and are dedicated to accept responsibility and do something to reduce our contributions to the global warming problem.

So not only are we going to leave the upcoming generation DEBT that has yet to be calculated...trillions...but also higher temperatures, Bejing quality air, fewer species of plants and animals.    And oh yes...."closer to God" (Tina Faye).  Thanks GOP

Here's a factoid for you folks who don't think global warming / climate change is important:

Forget the dinosaur extinction 65 mill. years ago by an astroid.  Evidence suggests that the greatist extinction event was by a serious global warming event that killed %98 of all life on earth.  Global temps were raised over 10,000 years 7 degrees.  Last century world temps raised almost 2 degrees.

Part is recovery from the little ice age drop of 1 degree previous 5 centuries.  Caused serious world famine, and political upheavals.  Was a factor in the Protestant reformation, Irish potato famine, American Revoultion, French Revolution,  westward expansion of the US.

Our civilization has been built on 10,000 years of relatively stable global climate.  This is one of the longest stable climates ever.  Little ice age showed change just 1 or 2 degrees and our civilization could come unraveled.  Not to mention it's built on oil which is running out no matter how much we drill.

James Lee, keeptrying10 :

Fact Check.

No, the scientific community did not tell us the world was flat.  About the earliest human activity that could be called science was practiced by the Greeks, and in roughly 250 BC (that's BC), Eratosthenes not only knew the Earth was round, he CALCULATED the circumference with less than a 1% error.  Look it up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes

The only people who believed in a flat earth were odd religious groups.  There is still a group that believes in it today.  Look it up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth_Society

Maybe you guys should get together and have a party.  I'm serious.  The clique of people who continue to believe that rapid climate change does not pose a serious threat to the future of HUMANS (that's humans, *not polar bears*) is getting to be about as small as the clique of Flat Earthers.

Same thing goes for the idea of Sun orbiting the Earth.  Scientists got it right.  It was the Catholic Church that banned the findings - and they kept at it for about 300 years.  Look it up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernicus

The task of accurately assessing the expected rate of climate change, and just how badly it is going to hurt civilization is one of the most complex problems the scientific community has ever faced.  That's why they have been debating it and checking their figures for the last 40+ YEARS!  But among real scientists, there is no longer any doubt that problems are going to be very serious.  Look it up:

http://www.ipcc.ch/

http://www.factcheck.org/society/can_you_prevent_global_warming.html

Maybe you ought to put a little faith in what scientists have to say since it was scientists who invented all the modern technology on which you are so dependent.  Just a thought.

ike278 :

Guess YOU are a reader, huh?  This article isn't biased, it just reports stats.  I'm not a Dem, but I do respect facts.

The big buzz  word used to be global warming. Now it's climate change. And what about the influence of the sun in the global warming/climatechange change debate? Why is it you never hear about the othe factors that could be effecting tempature change on earth? Because it does not fit into the liberal mantra that man is the sole cause of everything wrong on earth. Other scientific evidence has been supressed and dissent shouted down because there are millions to be made by the selling of carbon tax credits. Companies who meet their goals of reducing their emissions can sell their excess credits to companies that don't. More big government intrusion into our lives. Kyoto limits are already being exceeded in some EU countries because they are impossible to meet, and the economic damnage that those limits would impose on the US would devastate our economy. It's about money, not about the environment. Socialism by the back door. And those who stand to gain the most are corporations and governments who want to tell us what kind of car to buy, what kind of house to live in, in other words control our lives because we cannot be trusted to make those decisions for ourselves. It's not man, it's the sun and more that enough scientific evidence exsists that refutes the myth that has been shoved down our throats about global warming/climate change.

Usually you at least PRETEND not to be biased for Dems.  Thanks for not wasting our time and insulting us this time.

Of course it never occurred to you elites in the liberal bubble that conservatives have good reason to not believe you partisans in the press and your Democrat brethren  on global warming and many other issues.  You won't debate it, ignore conflicting results and always have a big government policy attached to your latest "problem."  When you open YOUR mind and stop with the one sided coverage and listen instead of lecturing us you might actually get some respect and some readers.

keeptrying10 - those polar bears will have no problem surviving with all of that land and shoreline, since they eat rocks and dirt, right? Sounds nourishing to me.

Keeptrying10, you are so right!

And entire countries aren't drowning from rising sea levels due to melting polar ice caps. And the glaciers in Chile aren't disappearing, leaving Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, and Ecuador with severely diminished drinking water. And the storm systems have not intensified 10 fold in the past 30 years and even THIS year!! How many is it now?  And the Bush administration didn't censor the most worrisome data on the effects of global warming in the EPA's reports!  And the overwhelming proof that it is CAUSED by fossil fuel emissions. And the 5 billion or so people around the world who disagree with you, the 40% or so of American Republicans, who just want to keep the money machine rolling.

But hey, if you want to keep your blinders on, just focused on dollars signs (and by the way, ignoring the huge financial upside of investing in alternative fuels and green jobs and staying competitive on the global markets), you and you're right wing greed cadre can do so.

Or.. you can actually read the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007 Assessment Report, which clearly lays out the facts. Undeniable. Irrefutable.

keeptrying10

Help me! Please! Please!

You are soooooo wrong!  

I am Chicken Little.  I know the sky is falling because of man-made global warming because a chunk of the sky just fell and hit me right on top of my head.

You should help me try to find Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurkey so we can get them to go with us to warn King Algore that we all are going to die.

Oh, please, please , please won't you help me?

I know.  I know.  If you won't help, we will all go see that friendly and wise environmentalist Foxy Loxy.  He is sure to know what we should do to prevent the sky from falling.  We will follow him and be safe!

And shame on you for talking so mean about those poor cute little polar bears!  You should be like me and ignore the fact that the U.S. polar bear population has been increasing rather than dwindling.  They are just too cute to let facts get in the way of environmental extremism and unnecessary protectionism.  Shame, shame, shame on you!!!

And how in the world can you ignore the consensus opinion of the scientific community when they say that man is causing the earth to warm?  Don't you know that this same omniscient scientific community once told us that the world was flat and that knowledge prevented us from falling off the edge?  Don't you know that they also told us that the sun orbited the earth and that knowledge enabled us to know when to plant and when to harvest our crops?  And don't you know that they also told us that earth was going to perish from global cooling by the 1990's and that knowledge helped us to buy enough long john underwear to withstand the storm?

Shame, shame, shame on you Mr. keeptrying10!

Signed,

Chicken Little

"Posted By: shennie (September 19, 2008 at 5:09 PM)

The world cannot afford NOT to save the Polar Bear.  Does this idiot not realize that all life forms on our planet are essential and are part of a greater scheme of things.  Each time we lose a life form to extinction we are one step closer to extinction ourselves."

So if that is true why do you back a political party that advocates killing off unborn children? Are they not life forms as well? Just wondering...  

It does not exist.  Remember someone told you this 30 years from now.  Study liberalism and the ecology.  Do it.  You will wake up.

I have to think that the people who can't accept that this country is facing great environmental challenges, is a small vocal minority that identifies the issue with liberalism.  It is no longer a question of whether it exists but what has to be done.  This is an issue for not only you but more importantly your children.  Demanding a better environment is ultimately a patriotic act.

I see I struck a nerve with the polar bears.  Must be in the monthly newsletter now.  Polar f ing Bears have LOTS area to do what they do.  MILLIONS OF SQUARE MILES OF LAND AND SHORELINE.  They are NOT in any danger now or in the future.  Do you not know just how large the arctic areas are?  Have you driven across the populated US?  A large majority of it has NO population.  Times the US by hundreds, and that's the arctic.  IT IS FREAKING MASSIVE BEYOND BELIEF. Even though many things go extinct, naturally and unnaturally, it changes NOTHING anyway.  You glommed on to them to try and stir emotion cause they are cute, not because they are in danger.  They aren't going anywhere, especially since it's been proven by non whack jobs that global warming is a farce.  A COMPLETE FARCE.  You and your pack mentality.  Like a bunch of retarded jackals.

You guys are just irrational fools in the global warming crowd.  Completely duped.  Yes, we know you found a group that you can belong to, and that will take you.  Great, that's fine, but go spew your lack of manipulated data amongst yourselves.  I can tell by the way you write...  You're young, lots of piercings, a tat or two, and your hair is black, and you certainly are overweight.  Let me be the one to share.. you don't have to have a miserable life like you're having.  Get away from that crowd.  Hang with losers, you're a loser.  Most of all, do something useful, like working with seniors, children, etc.  You won't though, because you care about belong to the crowd.  The crowd of dipshits.  I'm guessing you're the king of the dipshits?

Nothing is more important that stopping global warming from getting out of control. Drugs, fitness, etc. don't matter when you are dead. The economy won't even exist, much less matter when all humans are gone.

Come on, stop spreading these lies. You don't "know" global warming is a farce. You just think it is, for whatever irrational reason you may have. Ignorance may be bliss for you now, but if what you "know" is wrong, you will be partly responsible for billions upon billions of deaths. Please, stop spewing opinions based on propaganda. Do the work like I did, read up on the science (not the propaganda). And then help me save the world.

keeptrying10 your agrument about a polar beer jumping off ice into extinction without being there is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard.  Are you saying because you can't see the O2 you are breathing means it isn't there either?  There are many things intelligent people don't see first hand know they are true.  Maybe you should go up there and start skipping around on ice floats yourself?  

unbelievable. the posts here demonstrate the lack of education of said posters.  so as species go extinct, and these selfish idiots continue to say nothing's wrong, as the EDUCATED people show what global warming is doing and the accelerated rate it's occuring at, again, these selfish fools continue to say all is good.  these are the same jackholes that dump plastic into the ocean, spew their cigarrette butts at moving cars, and expose the rest of us to carcinogens.  we've become a country of half brains.  nice.

Yes Ms. Palin thinks the warming is caused by God hugging us closer.  Her look alike, Tina Fay said this though by judging her crazy acting in Church I am sure that is what she thinks.  We really need another idiot in the White House.

....questioning a polar bear jumping off ice into extinction, without actually being there yourself in person makes you look real ignorant.  Before posting at least do a little homework.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.  Do you know how many MILLIONS of square miles of arctic there are, and shoreline??  It is so incredibly dis-ingeniousness to show a polar bear jumping off a clump of ice like it's one of the last ones around, or like it will be in the next 5000 years.  You appeal to dumb people, not people who know better.  I guess we let you get away with your stupidity far too long.

Plz, tell me more about the limited space starting to happen for polar bears.  The person responsible for that commercial should be tranquilized and studied.  Grow up or something.

There you go.  These lifetime environment researches, the ones whose lives are completely supported by govt funding.  The ones who have to find something, anything, for that next dollar of free money.  Show me one backer of global warming, in a self-sustained business, that is in the business of global warming research.  There are none.  It's a complete conflict of interest.  The 10s of thousands of scientists who are not being supported by government money, are the 10's of thousands of scientist who will tell you it's a farce.  Actually, there are many who have jumped ship, as you know, and who are not speaking against global warming.  You know, the ones that get death threats regularly.  Like I said, put this energy to good us.  Help a child, an aging person, not some useless owl that doesn't even exist.

OISM is a worthless piece of paper,.  nice lies again.  Do they teach you this tactic in the Al Gore school of crazies?  Nobody is buying it anymore.  As others, who are objective in life, have written recently..the global warming and waste of money green movement will fade away.  Just like the last big one in teh 70s with the coming ice age.  I'm 41 and i remember being afraid as a kid of that.  I remember it well.  Look at the psychological harm you are doing to children, all because you final found a group to belong to.  For that you should be put to sleep.

97% of climate scientists agree...  BLAH BLAH BLAH.  You're not fooling anyone.  You couldn't fool us in the 70s, 50s, 30s.  Get a real topic to devote your energy too.  You want to save lives, get people off drugs and alcohol, promote fitness, promote health eating.  Just PLZ, for the sake of all of us who know it's a farce, get off that topic.  Work with children, old people, something useful.  PLZ.  

OISM is a worthless piece of paper, with a bunch of fake names and people who have PhDs in Journalism. The IPCC is a collection of experts in this specific discipline, and they are in agreement that it is happening, and that humanity activity is a major contributor. Any wingnut with a PhD can have an opinion the Earth is flat, but the guys who have spent a lifetime studying THIS field, the only people who can form an educated opinion, are unanimous on Global Warming.

97% of climate scientists agree that global warming is real and caused by humans. I have studied the science for the past few years, and there is no greater threat to the human race or life on this planet. Not only that, but there is very little time left. It is difficult to convince people because the full effects take at least 50 years. By the time we have the absolute proof that some people demand, it will be way too late to reverse.

Why do republicans and democrats put such complete faith in the scientists and engineers who design our weapons, who get our satellites in orbit, who find cures for diseases, and so many other things? Because science works. Then why would they simply refuse to believe the scientists who are virtually all telling us global warming is real and caused by humans? I have no idea. If Republicans really valued life, they would all be clamoring for ways to prevent the global cataclysm that will come if we continue to pretend nothing is happening.

To all those who continue to argue that we should not act quickly and aggressively to stop global warming, why don't you find out what the real scientists are saying and stop relying on propaganda from oil corporations and people who value profit more than life? Are you really that gullible or lazy? Or if it is because you hate life that much, then why not just kill yourself? Don't take the rest of us with you.

Keetrying10 the oism.org site you referenced is filled with criticism in regards to the nature of the petition.  Check out http://www.fair.org/activism/stossel-tampering.html just one site of many questioning the validity of the petition at hand.  From what I have read at this site and have disccussed with colleagues in the scientific community the petition's holes include: to sign you just need a BA in science, not specifically the discipline of climate science, the conclusions in the petition did not go through the rigorous process of peer review (other grad students, doctorial candidates or PHD's who disect the research in order to determine validity of the thesis at hand) and there are more look for your self.  Part of sounding informed is reading through a variety of sources and using basic deduction of the language used in harmony with common sense to form beliefs along with sensual experience as well.  Using one reference to back your claim or citing an add where you are questioning a polar bear jumping off ice into extinction, without actually being there yourself in person makes you look real ignorant.  Before posting at least do a little homework.

Check out some of the "scientists" who signed that petition... "Michael Jackson" "Albert Einstein" ... the list go on. ...

That's completely not accurate...  Some of us are not dumb, so leave off the stupid comments.

DON'T POST LINKS.  NOBODY GOES TO THEM.  I PROMISE.

What?  I despise the dems and republicans.  I'll vote repub since it's the lesser of two evils.  Republicans don't think the world is 5k yr old.  I don't where you got that.  The general irrationality of people, especially as it relates to the emotion driven topic of the environment, is a symptom as to why we are in the position.  Irrationality.  That, and the fact that dems couldn't maintain the gift given to them in the form of a no down payment house, eased credit, flex pmts, etc.  Gave you a home, you blew it, again, and now we are paying for it.  I like being called einstein, so lets keep that up, please.

http://www.fossweb.com/CA/modules3-6/Environments/activities/delgap/images_sized/phfield2001.GIF   [click on "see full sized image"]

Hmm, jstacey, so the increasing acidic levels in rain samples between 1994 and 2001 in the Eastern US is really due to a higher concentration of bird poop in the East?  

"Shoo, birds!"

I'd say there is a higher concentration of fecal matter evident in some of this country, but rain water isn't what's full of it.

Last check, life expectancy is sky rocketing...  Nobody is for pollution, but I don't see it on the list of killers.  Pollution was much worse in the 70s BTW.  I see the many problems associated with being overweight, eating poorly and not exercising.  You worry about pollution and polar bears, but then remain fat?  Just a logical guess since a majority of the population is fat.  Sorry you can't afford an SUV and a large house.  Envy is a negative emotion that you should abolish.  

Keeptrying10 you are off the party line by saying there is natural selection.  Your party believes tha earth was formed 5,000 years ago.  You better get out the right wing manual.  Also explain to me einstein, how environmentalism has put us in any position.  It's friday, go have a drink with your wall street buddies, you can use the republican credit card (The US Treasury).

Can you imagine the gall of people to want to make sure the environment is safe. How can they even think that would be important. Crazy liberals.  I mean why would we want to make a change to renewable fuels that pollute less and keep us from sending billions to the arab countries who are our sworn enemies.  why would we want to  do that.  Instead let's keep sending them the cash to buy the weapons they use against us everyday. Let's put the country into debt with $100.00 a barrel oil.  Let's not create new industries and new jobs here in the U.S..

What are those crazy $#%^&$# liberals thinking

.....After 30 years of voting Republican, I am done... GOOD, enjoy the misery that goes along with being a democrat.  You guys are missing out on life.  As if the govt is going to change something for you.  You really don't get it, do you.

we are one step closer to extinction ourselves.,,,  ya right.

It's called natural selection, been going on for millions of years.  Bazillions of animals, plants insects, etc. have been going extinct for millions of years.  Your not going to die or go extinct from an animal going extinct.  Also, the polar bears are not at risk of going extinct.  I saw that stupid ad where they're jumping off tiny ice pieces.  That's not the truth.  Many give evidence that the world would be hugely better off with some warmer temps.  Anyway, don't waste you life on such a useless agenda driven topic.   Your statement is the kind of irrationality that puts us in the position we are in.  Let me guess.  You are 12?

After 30 years of voting Republican, I am done. They have now officially decided that corporations are more important than the people of this country and the world. Lobbyists have convinced the party and the administration that trying to "green" our environment is going to be disaster for the economy.  They know bettter than us that the only real danger is to the fossil fuel companies. They will fight any way they can to stop it. It seems to me that it will create opportunites on a massive scale,

No, climate change is not real.  Do your own research, meaning research the other side and arguments and you will see the light.  The incomplete data alone, over such an extremely short period of time, in the life of the 5 million plus old earth, should end the discussion.  You get a hot spell, and it's global warming.  Look some time at the record highs for the short time we have tracked them.  Many go back 70 years.  I doubt they were screaming global warming and looking for money for research.  It is cyclical.  Nobody is for unnecessary pollution.  Just don't try to tell us the bandwagon, for votes mostly, someone started 10 years ago indicates global warming.  It certainly did not help their/your cause that their main spokesman lost all credibility after going completely crazy.  You have to admit, he is completely lost it.  You know... Mr. Gore.  Ecology goes way back with the liberal dems.  Again, look it up.  Don't rely on what our friends tell you.

The world cannot afford NOT to save the Polar Bear.  Does this idiot not realize that all life forms on our planet are essential and are part of a greater scheme of things.  Each time we lose a life form to extinction we are one step closer to extinction ourselves.  

As for Sarah Palin, as a lifelong Republican female I am disgusted that this woman was ever selected.  It is an insult to all Republicans as well as to women.

shennie

Go ahead, put the economy before environment.  Then when you are poisoned from air and water pollution, drive your oil-guzzling car and live in your over-sized house and whine about it....then die young from any number of diseases that have a direct link to pollution.

keeptrying10, the OISM is a blatant shill for energy cartel trying to discredit the _established_ science of climate change. Check out some of the "scientists" who signed that petition... "Michael Jackson" "Albert Einstein" ... the list go on. only a very minute fraction of the total signatories are even associated with climatology.

I am a lifelong republican; pro-business, pro-life, pro-free market. But after I cut through all the partisan BS on climate change and actually looked at the research, it was very clear that climate change is real and man-made sources are a huge factor. The evidence and research are strong enough that 10 of the top academies of science (include the US Academy of Science) have signed a statement to that effect.

the country can not afford some crazy polar bear hugging liberal that puts the environment before the economy. Of all the candidates, only Palin is right and will lead us to energy independence by drilling in Alaska.

We don't need no stinking polar bear, we need oil!

More than 31,072 American scientists, including 9,021 with Ph.Ds, have signed the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine's Global Warming Petition, which says in part, "There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate." www.oism.org

It will fade away, like the impending ice age scare from back in the 70s.  Remember ?  Just another useless liberal agenda.  It's been a mainstay of their party for over a hundred years.  Look it up.

You beat me to the punch. I was just about ot link: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/surface_water.html

Perhaps one reason you hear about it less is that many states passed legislation controlling emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds. In other words, people acted based on the science. It strikes me as somewhat disturbing that everytime good science uncovers a problem that requires some degree of involvement on our part, a great number of people jump up to decry it as a hoax. Could that be motivated by something other than a deep understanding of the issue? Laziness, perhaps? Greed? You question the psychology of those who crave to fix problems, jstacey, though you describe them as "those who crave to find such terrible flaws in our civilization." I do not find it nearly as difficult to wonder at the psychology that leads a person to claim there is no problem at all. Denial has always been a favored starting point.

Sorry, I have never found it necessary to post before but I had to comment on jstacey's revisionist history.  The current President is no fan of environmental causes but his own EPA (http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what/index.html) and USGS (http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/acidrain/2.html) both list it as a legitimate concern.  

You can go here to read about the interaction between soot and precipitation and its effect on stone buildings in Pittsburgh (http://www.phlf.org/2007/06/25/landmark-downtown-cathedral-gets-its-first-cleaning%E2%80%93-episcopal-house-of-worship-was-being-damaged-by-acid-runoff-whenever-it-rained/).  

I bet the environmental movement moved on from acid raid because there was no point to continue to harp on it once the science ensured there was no longer a need to advocate.

As this article (http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/jun/29/0629_acidlake/) demonstrates, their efforts paid dividends, even if some now are trying to re-write history.

Jstacey, acid rain is real...oh, and the earth is actually ROUND...

www.epa.gov/acidrain:

"Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and Canada. Acid rain is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems. This Web site provides information about the following..."

""Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) resulting from fossil fuel combustion. In the United States, roughly 2/3 of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx come from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal.  Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and national borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles. "

20 years ago, we faced a devastating environmental catastrophe: mountain tops, denuded of trees, lakes and streams devoid of life. But then, real scientists got involved thanks to a $500M bill sponsored, in part by Sen. Moynihan. Guess what? No-one could find these devastated areas. And the acidic lakes, upon review, were determined to have been acidic for thousands of years. In 1991, Steve Croft reported this story on 60 Minutes. The conclusion was, there is 100 times more acid in the environment from bird excrement than human pollution. It appears, "Acid Rain" was a hoax. Since 1991, without apology or explanation, the environmental movement has quietly dropped the subject of acid rain, and moved on to the next world threatening cause. What percentage of the global warming alarmists where true believers in the acid rain hoax? And what percentage of those extremists are democrats? What is the psychology of these people that they crave to find such terrible flaws in our civilization?