Let's hope James Inhofe goes quietly.  From a scientific perspective, what he is saying is so wrong as to sound almost warped.  And yet he says it with so much conviction.  I'm sure many people believe him.

I've come to feel that the scientists whose ideas run counter to the scientific mainstream on this subject - those few who do not yet believe that global warming is caused by humans - are simply very conservative.  It's not that they believe that it's NOT caused by humans.  It's more that they feel the verdict isn't in yet.  And scientists are by nature conservative.  They don't like to go out on a limb.  It's a testiment to the courage of those who have finally stood up and said "yes, it's happening, and we humans are causing it," that any of them have spoken out at all.  They wouldn't have done it, I'm sure, if the evidence hadn't become so overwhelming.  It's just not in the nature of scientists to make that sort of leap.

But those on the other side - the global warming skeptics - are seeming to me to be becoming weary as well.  I had an email exchange with well-known global warming skeptic John Christy of Alabama a week ago (he's one of those used in the media for years now, to present the "other side" of the human-caused global warming issue).  He mentioned being "hurt" on account of standing up for his belief that the verdict isn't in yet on human-caused warming ... after being shot down in the media for that.  These guys - these global warming skeptics - are only human, too, after all.  They are trying to be true to their science, and they just don't believe the evidence - or their own data runs counter to the evidence - for human-caused warming.  

Inhofe is another story.  He's using his power and position to, as you've said, Kate, "muddy the waters."  He's using our tax dollars to do it!  It's truly shameful.

Deborah Byrd
Earth & Sky
"A Clear Voice for Science"

Deborah Byrd Earth & Sky Radio Series "A clear voice for science."