Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Mr. Bluster meets Deadpan Dan

UPDATE:  By popular request the tale of Brave Sir Robin



Some time ago as these things go, Mr. Bluster, aka Christopher Monckton, accepted Tony Watt's offer to hold his coat for a written exchange with Peter Hadfield, known previously as potholer 54 who had published a number of videos questioning Monckton's claims about this and that, climate being among the this and also the that.

The exchange, the videos and the resulting challenges are illustrative of the two styles of British debate.  Monckton being an advocate of the big bluster,
 Various You-Tube videos by a former “science writer” who uses a speleological pseudonym “potholer54″ sneeringly deliver a series of petty smears about artfully-distorted and often inconsequential aspects of my talks on climate change. Here, briefly, I shall answer some of his silly allegations. I noted them down rather hastily, since I am disinclined to waste much time on him, so the sentences in quote-marks may not be word for word what he said, but I hope that they fairly convey his meaning.
 and Hadfield the toneless recitation which flays by small cuts
Mr. Monckton doesn’t claim to be an expert, and neither do I. All I can do is to check and verify his claims. So the question is whether Mr. Monckton has reported the sources he cites accurately in order to reach his conclusions. I have made it very easy for you to check by playing clips of Mr. Monckton making these assertions in my videos, then showing images of the documentary evidence he cites. Since this response is text I will write out Mr. Monckton’s assertions verbatim and quote the documentary sources verbatim (with references in the body of the text.)  References to the relevant video (linked at the bottom) and the time on the video where they are shown, will be shown in square brackets.
 As a game this is rock paper scissor, the goal of the blusterer is to bury the opponents under an avalanche of verbage and then anger them at which point a win is declared and the fans cheer, but if the bait is not taken then the blusterer is left twisting in the wind.  Monckton, of course, is not so much an embroiderer of the truth as an eliminator of context who ruthlessly edits necessary detail although he has been known to tell a few progies.  His is the oral platform, the written response being Kryptonite.



Although playing on a home field, Monckton clearly knew that he had a weak hand so he broke off the exchange.  Hadfield wants to play a bit more and sent an open letter to the Viscount, but Eli suspects that Scrotum advised against a positive response
Despite promising Anthony Watts that you would respond when you returned from Australia mid-February, you have not done so, and now you have written to tell me that you are, in effect, running away. Sorry, I don’t know how else to phrase your abrupt retreat from our debate as soon as I showed evidence that supports my allegations and starkly contradicts your claims.
I am referring to your e-mail to me dated March 22nd: I am on a very busy tour and will be still more busy when I return to the UK, so I do not know when I shall have further time to respond. Many people like to engage in debates on inconsequentialities and, while I try to accommodate them, other priorities must sometimes come first.
Let me address the first excuse first. I understand you are currently on a busy tour, but you promised Anthony Watts you would respond when you returned from your last tour, and you did not. Meanwhile I note that you have had plenty of time to respond to a university newsletter that criticized you, and you spent two hours talking on skype to a small classroom of students. I fail to see why these are “priorities”, while my 57,000 subscribers and the hundreds of thousands of subscribers to wattsupwiththat are not deserving of an answer from you concerning clear evidence that you seriously misled your audiences over a period of several years. The people watching this debate have watched you vacate your chair, and are still expecting to see you to re-appear from backstage at any moment with some incisive rebuttal after checking my evidence. I am sure they will be as shocked as I am to hear the squealing of car tyres as you make good your escape.
This death match has many who would be willing to watch, but Watts has figured out that this is a no win for him and his
 While I can’t hear what Hadfield is saying (he sounds like a British mumble to me) they seem totally infatuated with their manhunt, so much for Hadfield’s repeated claims of being “dispassionate and logical”. Thanks for posting this. When he starts colluding with that hateful “greenman”, all semblance of rational debate is destroyed.

This video then cements my decision not to provide any further space to Hadfield here. – Anthony
 Peter Sinclair, his pen name "greenman" having been taken in vain, has tubs of popcorn going stale

Monckton and Watts Cut and Run from Debate. Blame “hateful” Climate Crocks.

March 27, 2012

I normally ignore the inside baseball back-and-forth that occupies too many people’s time on the blog-o-sphere, but this is just too hilarious.
Barry Bickmore is also amused by the squeal of tires as Chris pulls out
Apparently, Monckton had promised to answer Hadfield’s criticism, but he has now responded to Hadfield’s requests by saying that he all of a sudden has far too much other stuff to do, and so he can’t possibly be expected to address such “inconsequentialities” as whether he misrepresented his sources to make all the major points in his public lectures.  This is quite amusing to Monckton watchers like myself, because for years His Lordship has been touting the fact that Al Gore refuses to debate him.  Al Gore would likely refuse to debate Jessica Simpson or the guy who played Screech on Saved by the Bell, too, but the fact is that Monckton has very publicly criticized certain points in Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth, and many, many people repeat those criticisms.  In my opinion, most of the criticisms are absurd, but I don’t think Gore would be remiss in assigning a staffer to do some kind of written response.  I’m all for ignoring fringe figures, but when fringe figures are testifying before the U.S. Congress as “expert” witnesses, maybe it’s time to take notice.
Eli? Eli is a fuzzy bunny

40 comments:

Ben said...

The minstrel's song of "Brave Sir Robin" comes to mind...

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

Monckton seems to enjoy being introduced as " Prime Minister Thatcher's Science Adviser, ' a self-invented title that would certainly shock to the real ones, Fairclough and Zuckerman.

One former Minister of the Environment recalls Monckton's 10 Downing internship duties ran to carrying Baroness Thatcher's bags- he owed his place to his delightful sister's father in law, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Lawson.

It's a shame Monckton should pad his resume so, as i have only praise for the service he rendered me as my London neighborhood haberdasher in the '90's--


http://vvattsupwiththat.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-hope-that-its-manufacturer-will.html

Anonymous said...

And let's not forget that Anthony supports the Viscount running away (Oh brave Sir Robin!), because, gasp!, Peter Hadfield had himself an interview with Peter Sinclair. Aligning with such a lowly character as Peter Sinclair surely shows the Viscount is right to run away...bravely?

Marco

J Bowers said...

Monckton regains his dashery, without the habery.

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

However dashing the pink portcullis, Monckton's wardrobe may not contain a coronet to match ,as he was not born a lord, but a commoner like his father and grandfather before him.

His grandfather was made a peer in 1956 for legal services rendered Edward VII during the run-up to his abdication.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Jay Cadbury, phd.

Eli you sure can sound tough hiding behind the computer screen. You're all for ignoring fringe figures, except when they are on your side, like Al Gore, Bill McKibben and Joe Romm.

And that's fine. As long as you sit there and burn coal at your computer screen, nobody is going to take you seriously, except John Mashey, JBowers and A_ray_true_believer. Congratulations, an entire 3 people accept your twisted worldview.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Jay Cadbury, phd.

Additionally, the name of the actor who played Screech was Dustin Diamond.

You here the tires screech? No, it ain't Dustin Diamond.

h/t Celph Titled

a_ray_in_dilbert_space said...

Jaybird, Have I thanked you recently for being on the other side?

Anonymous said...

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Slightly pixellated webcam capture of Dr. Jay Cadbury, phd at his keyboard.

Cymraeg llygoden

Anonymous said...

@a_ray

no you have not thanked me. But I will gladly continue to argue with you and make you burn more coal because I don't think it matters.

I will say that Mr. Bluster is a sweet nickname for the Lord Monckton.

Anonymous said...

"Lord, he was born a dissemblin' man"
-- Horatio Algeranon does the Allman Brothers (and Dickey Betts)

Lord, he was born a dissemblin' man
Trying to make a flat-line and doing the best he can
When it's time for deceivin', I hope you'll understand
That he was born a dissemblin' man

His father was a Viscount down in Brenchley
He wound up on the right end of a sum
He was born in the back seat of a Mercedes Benz
Rolling down highway A-21

Lord, he was born a dissemblin' man
Trying to make a flat-line and doing the best he can
When it's time for deceivin', I hope you'll understand
That he was born a dissemblin' man

He's on his way to Georgia Tech this morning
Leaving out of Kent in Ye Olde Kingdom
Always having a good time down on the Mann oh, Lord
Them Georgia women think the world of him.

Lord, he was born a dissemblin' man
Trying to make a flat-line and doing the best he can
When it's time for deceivin', I hope you'll understand
That he was born a dissemblin' man


~@:>

a_ray_in_dilbert_space said...

Jaybird,
There is no need to argue with you. Your posts are so absurd they are self-refuting.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Cadbury:

Please watch Monte Python- The that's not an arguement; merely contradiction sketch.

You are not arguing merely denying.

John McManus

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

Next, a picture of a Cadbury with a stoat through his head.

Utahn said...

Horatio, I am in awe of the artist in his prime...

For those who haven't seen or heard the recent masterpiece, here is a link, follow the trail down and you will find two linked versions, one haunting vocals only version, one with guitars/backup, and horns...

http://tamino.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/mathturbation-king/#comment-60246

J Bowers said...

Now I thought Al Gore used to be Vice-President of the USA, and Joe Romm was Acting Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. Who'd have guessed them there was "fringe" activities? Clearly Anthony Watts is super-mainstream.

bill said...

Yep, if they're the 'fringe' then that makes the rest of us about as hopelessly obscure as the Kuiper Belt!

But the redoubtable Dr. Chocolate's name is famous the world over, so he's alright! ;-)

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

What's obscure about the Kuiper Belt ? --

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p68646l114q71827/

bill said...

I've never been able to make head nor tail of it with my Toys-R-Us telescope!

Now, mind you, I'm not claiming to be an Astrologer... ;-)

Anonymous said...

@jbowers

hahahaha. Okay Bowers, Will Happer was head of the department of energy and Eli slanders him all the time. He also thinks Naomi Oreskes is more intelligent than Fred Singer.

Also, let me get this straight, you live in Australia right? So I guess I should start telling you how to live since you've decided that your opinion is applicable to U.S. policy.

Please give me an address of a local coal plant near you that I can donate money to.

Anonymous said...

@utahn

Tamino. He's another one of these brilliant minds that Eli heralds, yet this man has never been seen before away from his computer screen, or unless he is flanked by the likes of Heidi Cullen or Gerald Meehl. Oh ho ho Bowers, there's another one of your experts Heidi Cullen.

a_ray_in_dilbert_space said...

My, but the melted chocolate bunny must be nervous. You can tell by the way he "ho-ho-hos" and "ha-ha-has" through his emails.

If he doesn't watch it, he'll move so far to the right he comes back around from the left and disappears up his own arse.

J Bowers said...

"Okay Bowers, Will Happer was head of the department of energy and Eli slanders him all the time."

But I don't recall saying Happer was fringe. He's just wrong.

"Also, let me get this straight, you live in Australia right? So I guess... "

...again.

"...I should start telling you how to live since you've decided that your opinion is applicable to U.S. policy. "

But denialists are trying to force me how to live according to their dogma; in far worse fashion and possibly unable to afford my heating bills when I reach old age.

J Bowers said...

"Oh ho ho Bowers, there's another one of your experts Heidi Cullen."

Dr Cullen (AGU, AMS) is 1000 times more expert on climate than Will Happer. She has a PhD in climatology and atmospheric dynamics, you see. But, unlike Happer, she's actually published on the subject, not just a single paper on policy.

Anonymous said...

Dear Eli,

Thank you so much for hosting Dr Nutclusters (I forget who coined that one but my hat is tipped) here for our entertainment. He is the funniest thing since the whoopee cushion and reminiscent of a clown punching bag.

arch stanton

Anonymous said...

Clearly Anthony Watts is super-mainstream."

Watts is jet-stream...which is why he's up in the stratosphere all the time.

~@:>

Anonymous said...

@jbowers

Heidi Cullen claimed that a flood in Tennessee was a 1 in 3000 year event.

I suppose Jose Canseco is also 1,000 time smarter than Will Happer.

@arch stanton

Arch Stanton! Are you sure Blondie?

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

Thanks DrPhd Cadbury .

Now that folks know Will Happer has been a political appointee, like John Holdren , they will never again question the objectivity of his op-eds.

Anonymous said...

@Russell

excellent deduction, Russell. The government appoints government jobs. And what a jerk, he was withholding taxpayer money because he didn't want to fund bogus global warming research.

EliRabett said...

Happer was the Director of the Office of Energy Research of the US Department of Energy, roughly three to four levels from the Secretary.

For the Bunny's sake if you are going to troll do your homework so you don't look like an idiot.

Rattus Norvegicus said...

Eli,

Even if he does his homework, he'll still look like an idiot.

Anonymous said...

The bgood Dr. Nutbar must have recorded the Monty Python sketch in question. One option was abuse and he seems to be a practitioner.

John McManus

Neven said...

We are the knights who say "Oh ho ho" and we want...

A shrubbery!

bill said...

Surely, Neven, the Knights demand? Our friend would be just the man for felling tall timber with a herring...

And Dr. Choccy - no need to donate to an Aussie Coal Company, I'm sure they already appreciate all you've been doing for them!

Anonymous said...

Jay Cadbury wants to donate money to a coal company?

Even a rusted-on denialatus would be calling the white-coated guys with butterfly nets.

Eli, I think that your troll is broken.


Bernard J. Hyphen-Anonymous XVII, Esq. (with lashings of whipped cream, and quite a few real bona fides that don't need listing in a listing signature...)

Anonymous said...

@eli

"Happer was the Director of the Office of Energy Research of the US Department of Energy, roughly three to four levels from the Secretary.

For the Bunny's sake if you are going to troll do your homework so you don't look like an idiot."

Okay fine but I never said he was the secretary so your point is nullified.

a_ray_in_dilbert_space said...

Jaybird said above, "Will Happer was head of the department of energy "

So, Jaybird, either you are hoping we're all to lazy to scroll halfway up the page, or you are sufficiently stupid to think the "secretary" of energy makes coffee.

Which is it?

Anonymous said...

Our boy Tony is back beating on the UHI drum. Old guys , like me, will remember the dead parrot.

John McManus

bill said...

...or horse (flogging thereof)...

susan said...

What a wealth of material here, thanks. I'm particularly fond of Algeranon's ditties, thanks.

For those in service of misrule, you provide a lot of entertainment to people who know and understand a lot more than you do. That includes something like 97%, last I heard.

Monckton always gives value in the department of snide but why anyone believes a word he says is beyond me. What whoppers and if anyone dare provide specifics, poof, he's off to pen some new insults rather than bother to admit he's goofed.