EXCLUSIVE: Cheney on Global Warming

by Janet Ritz with Martin Muse

That's right. Dick Cheney has given ABC an exclusive interview on the big Climate Change question while in Australia (between insulting Nancy Pelosi and threatening China...), where, as I noted in a previous article, New Climate Change Warning for Sydney - Canary in the Coal Mine, OZ is MELTING.

So, what did the grimacing president in vice-chief have to say?

The vice president agreed that the earth is warming but, like President Bush, maintained there is debate over whether humans or natural cycles are the cause—a position that puts the administration at odds with the vast majority of climate scientists.

[insert exploding brain here]

So, what does Cheney propose as THE answer to climate change?

• Conservation?
• Reduce the use of oil?
• Slim down that carbon footprint?

[Cheney:] "But going forward, if we are going to have a policy, we've got to find ways to do that are not inconsistent with economic growth. You can't shut down the world economy in the name of trying to eliminate greenhouse gases. But there are some answers out there — nuclear power, for example, is one of them. And getting the United States back into the nuclear power game I think would be a significant benefit — both in terms of producing the energy we need, but at the same time not contributing to greenhouse gas emissions."

Go nuclear?

or was that

Go nuculer...

Oh, right, that's the word Cheney (watch out for that mushroom cloud) does know how to pronounce.

But, I digress.

Here's my favorite snip:

JONATHAN KARL: So you think the jury is still out about whether or not this warming we're seeing has been caused by human activity?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Some of it has, I think. But exactly where you draw the line? I don't know. I'm not a scientist. I talk with people who supposedly know something about it. You get conflicting viewpoints. But I do think it is an important subject, and it will be addressed in the Congress. I think there will be a big debate on it in the next couple of years.

Why is that my favorite? Because Dick Cheney has finally said the one thing I can agree with.

[Cheney:] "I don't know. I'm not a scientist."

So, Mr. THE VICE PRESIDENT, what say we leave it up to SCIENTISTS?

Oh, that's right, they've already weighed in.

Only, the hearings that congress has begun to hold about climate change are NOT BEING TELEVISED.

Guess the end of the world is not as important as [insert stupid story of the day here...].

Exclusive, exschmoosive...

I think I'll stick to realclimate.org and the web site for the Congressional Committee on Science and Technology, where they are broadcasting the hearings.

And for those who like to peer through the looking glass, here's a link to the "exclusive" Cheney ("I am not a scientist") interview: http://abcnews.go.com/...

Posted by Janet Ritz, Martin Muse