2003

Lomborg’s science

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Funny, but the book isn’t science so why should it have to abide by the scientific process? Lomborg wrote a piece of advocacy and did no original scientific research. It is a mystery to me why so many are taking him seriously. There are serious discussions to have about specific environmental challenges and the science behind them, but he doesn’t add to those discussions in any substantive way. He does give right wing hacks something to scream about, but they would do that anyway.

Peter Raven sums it up well:

"The environment is a field where, when people do some light calculations like Lomborg did, it’s easy to argue for a happy-times kind of conclusion," said Dr. Peter H. Raven, the director of the Missouri Botanical Garden and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

But such findings should not be portrayed as science, he said, adding, "This is a just outcome that ought to bring his credibility to a halt except for those who desperately want to believe what he says."

He deserves little more attention than do creationists.

Announced Candidates to Replace Gephardt

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Steve Stoll’s ratings by interest groups are available from Vote-Smart.

He is pro-life just as Gephardt was early in his career, pro-gun and mediocre on the environment. Typical Missouri conservative Democrat. Look for liberal challenges from moderately liberal Carnahan or Mae Scheve, Missouri Democratic Chairwoman. Carnahan has already expressed interest.

What have you done for me lately?

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Not literally, given I’m melanin challenged, but you know.

During the Lott fiasco Republicans tried to argue that back in the 60s, they had done much for civil rights and they were correct. Today, George Schultz argues the same about school desegregation in the South. Republicans seem to think this is a way to address African-American voters and insist those voters just aren’t paying attention.

Wrong. African-American voters might pay attention to the GOP, if the GOP paid attention to them. That means getting out in the neighborhoods and working to address the concerns of African-American voters. I know a couple GOP guys who do that in St. Louis, but it doesn’t help if the candidates show up for one or two media events a year and then don’t bother. If you want African-American votes you have to work for them in the pulpits and in the neighbhorhoods. Telling people you did good things years ago is nice, but not very effective.

Radical Environmental Thought for the Day

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Charge idiots who try and farm in arid regions market rates for water and let the market sort it out.

Tilting at windmills

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

The Illinois Leader gives prominent space to one of the challengers to Daley. She even has a web site. She needs a web designer, however.

License for Bribes Minute

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Several senior aides of George Ryan are being subpoenaed to ensure they don’t destroy documents as they leave state government.

The other corruption trials

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Cicero is on the verge of having a chance to clean itself up for the first time since Capone took it over. While the breadth of organized crime is not anything like Capone’s time, the Outfit has controlled the suburban Cicero for years. The US Attorney is finally doing a house cleaning and lots of folks are finding their way to prison. The citizens of Cicero still have to avoid electing the remnants, but this is a good start.

Pate says goodbye

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

Philip officially retires from state government and it can only mean that the legislature will be a more humane place. Frank Watson may not be my ideal, but he isn’t going to be a racist retread at least.

The ICFST’s Last Gasp

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

The State Journal-Register covers the last minute appointments by Ryan and discusses G-Rods potential respones. Ultimately, killing off patronage offices is counterproductive from a political point-of-view so don’t expect action. Ultimately, this is a last minute push to get the last bit of patronage out of the system by the GOP. Losing nearly everything this time, they’ll have few places to reward party members for a while.

What is Coming for the nation?

ArchPundit January 8, 2003 No Comments

The same thing Shrub did for Texas. For those under the illusion that voters will wake-up, notice that Rick Perry is still Governor of Texas.