Bush and Crichton 16

Todd Gitlin brings us this quote from Frank Barnes' Rebel-in-Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush:

Though he didn't say so publicly, Bush is a dissenter on the theory of global warming....He avidly read Michael Crichton's 2004 novel State of Fear, whose villain falsifies scientific studies to justify draconian steps to curb global warming....Early in 2005, political adviser Karl Rove arranged for Crichton to meet with Bush at the White House. They talked for an hour and were in near-total agreement. The visit was not made public for fear of outraging environmentalists all the more.

Sigh.

My review of Crichton's book is here.

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

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  1. birdboy Posted 9:43 am
    11 Feb 2006

    Bozo in WonderlandI hope they do make the movie, and it's shown on TV so everybody sees just how stupid the whole idea is. What do they think that enviro's have to gain from getting their way? Are we going to get rich when environmental laws successfully enforce the protection of the Earth? Will the climate scientist-geeks become famous Hollywood stars, and outshine football 'heros'?
    Seriously, I think if the movie is as stupid as your description of the book, it will give enviro's something to point and laugh about, and will serve our cause by exposing the right-wing use-it-up-before-somebody-else-does ideology.

    a liberal in redsville
  2. Drew Posted 10:35 pm
    11 Feb 2006

    Jurassic CommentaryFICTION: something invented by the imagination or feigned; specifically : an invented story (Webster's dictionary)
    Criticizing this book as though it is a work of non-fiction only legitimizes the position of people who thumb their noses at global warming.
    This repetitive Bush bashing is really tiresome.  The election was over a year ago.

    "Wherever I go, there's my bicycle."
  3. odograph Posted 12:53 am
    12 Feb 2006

    crictonWell, when the guy (cricton) makes the tour of conservative organizations taking an overt skeptical (denial) view of global warming science, I think he opens himself to this.
    In my not so humble opinion, he has long since become the thing he claims to despise - an operative in the politicalization of science.
  4. Biodiversivist's avatar

    Biodiversivist Posted 1:58 am
    12 Feb 2006

    Lord help me, I'm just not that brightThis book reminds me of the Left Behind series of books by the bible thumper duo, where Jeebus returns to do battle with us sinners. They also made movies out of them. By the way, they were also on the New York times best seller list. Which suggests that getting a book on that list has only one meaning: you are making money off it.

    In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Help acquire and protect ecological hotspots, give to a conservation organization: http://www.saveourbiodiversity.com
  5. Captain America Posted 2:52 am
    12 Feb 2006

    Global Warming Hysterical FadThe Earth has warmed and cooled many times before the automobile.
    Bad hurricane cycles have occurred before as well (before the automobile had a chance to affect the atmosphere).
    This is all about a Globalist Anti-American, Anti-Nationalism, global village utopian One World Order, headed by the UN and EU.
    ..

    America First



    The World Second
  6. Captain America Posted 3:12 am
    12 Feb 2006

    What Do Enviro Fascists Have To Gain?ANSWER:
    Power over Middle Class Americans
    Empowering Unelected Global Government Elitist Officials
    Foisting Mandates on Americans via unelected Elitist Global Government officials.
    Furthering your hatred towards everything American.  Furthering the Leftist-Elitist war on America (Christian America).
    Let's face it.  Most of you have been brainwashed by your Campus Commie Professor into believing, that the worst things in the world are Americans and American business.
    ...

    America First



    The World Second
  7. amazingdrx Posted 3:49 am
    12 Feb 2006

    "worst things in the world "The worst is when one has any hint of sounding anything like this predictable, nonsensical  diatribe, makes the skin crawl.
    It is a good warning for all of us Bush opponents.  When you start to sound anything like this, stop..take  1000 or so deep breaths and come back later.  

    http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
  8. Captain America Posted 4:04 am
    12 Feb 2006

    Anything More Pernicious Than Bushwhacker?...Yes!

    Anything More Pernicious Than Bushwhacker?...Yes!
    A:  Leftist Enviro-Fascists.
    Bush is only one rung above Anti-American,  Anti-Commerce Leftism.
    ..

    America First



    The World Second
  9. Captain America Posted 4:26 am
    12 Feb 2006

    Corn To Ethanol....... by Brilliant MoronsCorn To Ethanol

    ......Pushed by Brilliant Morons
    It takes more energy to convert a kernel of corn into a atomized droplet of ethanol.
    The ethanol propaganda (solution)is in high gear, due to Archer Daniels Midland stake in Washington ramming this nonsense down our throats with government mandates.
    Ethanol = Huge Profits for Archer Daniels Midland
    More Ethanol = Less food at the marketplace, and more expensive food for people
    Just what we need now:  Turning our food crops into ethanol on a vast scale.
    ..

    America First



    The World Second
  10. David Roberts's avatar

    David Roberts Posted 8:22 am
    12 Feb 2006

    Our very first bona fide troll!I'm so proud.

    www.grist.org
  11. jdhlax Posted 9:04 am
    12 Feb 2006

    The Trolls' Achilles HeelWhen light is shed on them, trolls turn to stone.

    Jeff Hoffman
  12. birdboy Posted 1:29 pm
    12 Feb 2006

    see?Let the likes of this make their movie- it would be hilarious, and the laughter would spread the good word, and all would bow down to the great enviro-elitist-politico-ethanol-lovin aniti-nationalist, America-hating commie-pinko tree-huggin liberals.
    wow, that was fun.

    a liberal in redsville
  13. Captain America Posted 1:18 am
    13 Feb 2006

    French Nuke PlantsHow many (dozen) Nuclear Power Plants does France have?
    Is France a sensible Leftist society?
    Why can't you learn from your Leftist friends in France?
    Perhaps Leftist European Nuke Plants are safer than American Nuke Plants?...If so, then incorporate French Nuke Plants in the USA, if it will make nuke plants more acceptable to Europe loving Enviro-bots.
    ..

    America First



    The World Second
  14. GoodCheer Posted 8:27 am
    19 Sep 2006

    Energy production.Boy, Captain America you seem to be a man of strongly held opinions.
    From what I've heard, corn based ethanol produces about 1.3 times the energy required to make it (in other words, the margin is only about 30%).  Not a really good ratio.  That is using modern, energy intensive production techniques.  I do not know the statistics for corn grown without extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers.  There are other crops like sugar cane and switch-grass that can make 2-3 times as much energy as they require to produce (100-200% margin).  Brazil is now famously running more than half it's cars on ethanol made from sugar cane.
      As for nuclear energy, construction of nuclear plans is massively subsidized by the government (I'm guessing, dear Captain, that you would prefer to leave these matters to a free market).  Nuclear energy production is also massively subsidized by the act of exempting the plant operators from all cost or liability associated with the disposal of the "spent" fuel.  If neither of those subsidies existed it is not at all clear that anyone would want to be in the business of producing energy that way.
      I am eager to hear the Captain's thoughts on these matters.

    Bikes can save us!!
  15. bookerly Posted 11:01 am
    19 Sep 2006

    Wow!

       Oooo!  Ooooo!  Oooooo! (Think Curly of the Three Stooges!)  Can I play the Commie Campus Professor in the movie???  ROFLMAO!!!
       Meanwhile I have to figure out how to explain guest etiquette to my Chinese Students.  Beware!  They are coming to America to teach....... Chinese!
    patrick
  16. elcomputo Posted 3:12 am
    26 Sep 2006

    EthanolI would be interested in hearing more about ethanol. I'm afraid I am not that well-versed on it, so I have a lot of questions about it:


    Is sugar cane an environmentally good crop? There are some crops -- tobacco being a good example -- that, when cultivated, ultimately drain the soil of its ability to support any kind of crops.
    Does growing sugar cane involve using the same kind of massive infusions of fertilizer and pesticides that growing corn demands? (My understanding is that any kind of monoculture ends up requiring the use of pesticides.)
    Can sugar cane be grown any place in the USA other than Florida?
    How much carbon does burning ethanol put into the atmosphere vs. oil?
    Ethanol production from sugar cane would seem to be a natural for Cuba to improve its economy. Why aren't we hearing about Cuba building refineries?
    Sugar cane grows in tropical climates. Tropical climates feature a lot of sun and heat which would seem beneficial to setting up solar heating systems. Sugar cane has to be cooked, fermented, and run through a still to get ethanol (I think I have drunk ethanol in Mexico; it's the cheapest booze you can buy). Has there been any thought given to combining solar heat and energy production and ethanol production?

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