Tuesday
Nov242009
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill Thought for the day
Much rejoicing over Monbiot's apology for having meekly accepted everything the scientists had been telling him for the last twenty years. He goes as far as saying that Phil Jones should retire.
But given that Monbiot has, by his own admission, failed in his primary duty as a journalist, can his own position be very secure?
Reader Comments (13)
I'm sorry, but Monbio's role has not been that of a journalist; he has been one of the foremost propagandists for the movement.
His apology is twaddle.
O/T (sorry), anyone else seen this:
Is global warming unstoppable?
Have you ever consistently read his 'comment' pieces?
Basically he plays to the 18-20 undergrad audience. That is his level. A 'celeb' activist.
I couldn't care whether he apologises or not. The only thing which drives his conscience is his ego.
If he is giving ground now in a controlled way, it is because he knows he would have to give ground anyway.
Gorgeous George has a few emails of his own I am guessing he wishes would not enter the public domain.
I agree with Jimminy
This is the colleagues deciding that the only way to save themselves is for one of their number to fall on their sword. The hope that they can then declare the problem fixed and go back to business as usual.
I suspect they are wrong, because up to now they have been very successful in closing out certain media to any reports that fail to support the orthodoxy. They have used their reputations as independent scientists to avoid discussion. I don't think that will ever be tenable again.
Monbiot is a perpetual petulant teenager. A rebel without a clue.
Remember he was a joint founder of the 'Respect' party.
GM resigned from Respect when it put up candidates against the Greens:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/feb/17/iraq.iraq1
The hoax has finally been unearthed. Their lack of scientific integrity and downright propagation of lies should lead to criminal charges. The financial costs of this hoax are already into the billions worldwide. How much $ have these so called "scientists" made on this scam. Al Gore has made 10's of millions on this poppycock. How does anyone take this apology for real .... just damage control, not sincere, pure malarky. This scam has cost more than other scam is history. Madoff was chump change next to this.
Congress is on it now, one of Obama's advisors is in the mix; the British media won't be able to keep the gags on now.
Monbiot? A Journalist? Hardly
First, picking a nit - "meekly accepted everything the scientists had been telling him" should be "SOME" or better "A FEW" scientists, not an implied totality.
Secondly, a reminder: modern "Chaos Theory" is an outcome of a conclusion by a METEOROLOGIST (Lorenz) that computer models cannot successfully model climate.
Monbiot's sole role on the Gruaniad is to make Polly's twaddle seem almost rational by comparison.
Let's keep pushing on the FOI aspects. It's easier for laymen to understand than some of the coding stuff. It avoids the 'there but for the grace of God' defence of leaked improper emails. It appeals to journalists over anything else.
Seen elsewhere (Mr E I think):
The opposite of skeptic is gullible
Props to Monbiot. Keep in mind it is very hard to buck your colleagues and admit error. If he didn't actually break any laws, I hope he does not lose his job. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he would have lost his job for not swallowing the lie all these years.
Furthermore, if he does lose his job, his colleagues might interpret this as clear evidence that their best course of action is to dig in their heals and fight. Hopefully, a more peaceful surrender will occur. Of course one of the terms of surrender should be that those who have suffered due their integrity on this issue should be re-habilitated and recognized for their character and profesionalism.