On a personal note: My lovely wife Louella

On Friday Louella and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary.

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Rep. Marsha Blackburn, along with Reps. Wilson, And Price Discuss Importance of Conservatism

"In Tennessee we believe when it comes to taxes if 10% is good enough for God on Sunday, it's for damn sure good enough for the government on Monday." -Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

Marsha Blackburn for Senate! (to replace Bob Corker when he is elected President)

Marsha Blackburn is principled, smart, and so darn cute.

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British university to probe integrity of climate date

Phil Jones the director of the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia stepped down on Tuesday. Thursday the university announced it would investigate whether scientist at CRU manipulated data on global warming. (link)

When institutions investigate themselves I am suspect. Does anyone see a whitewash coming? Will anyone be surprised if the University concludes that the information revealed in the leaked documents and email reveal no significant malfeasance that would invalidate any of the CRU’s research? Will you be surprised if Phil Jones is reinstated? I will not be reassured if this is the outcome.

To have confidence in the outcome of any inquiry, the inquiry needs to be conducted by a high-level blue-ribbon panel of respected scholars and statesmen and the inquiry needs to be conducted in the light of day. There also needs to be a vigorous skeptical press keeping the players honest. If left up to the mainstream press this story would never have seen the light of day. I suspect the MSP will assist in the whitewash.

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Climategate is not the final word on global warming

While I have been concerned if not outraged about the climategate scandal, this leak of documents and emails showing conspiracy and scientific fraud is not the final word. There is still a large body of evidence to support the theory of anthropogenic global warming.

For those who want to know more about the climategate issue and see how global warming scientist explain and put in contest this most recent scandal please visit RealClimate. RealClimate describes itself as “a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists.” The scientists who are associated with this site are highly educated and credentialed working scientist.

While the climategate scandal looks like proof of fraud and deceit, it has only moved me from the “believer” to the “undecided” column. I am not yet a full fledged “skeptic.” If climategate is simply ignored rather than addressed then I think one would be justified in joining the ranks of skeptics.

We need to know the truth. I would like to see a high-level panel of respected scientist and academics conduct hearing on the climategate scandal and rule on the value of current climate science. They should address the body of evidence and issue an opinion on the validity of the current science. They should issue a statement on the strength of the “consensus.” They should address whether or not contrary viewpoints from reputable scientist were silenced or if open inquiry and seeking scientific truth was permitted and encouraged. They should rule as to what extent the manipulation of data at CRU corrupted the current understanding of climate change.

I would not expect this panel of respected scientist to resolve the issue for everyone. I don’t care what the evidence shows I don’t think I will ever hear Rush Limbaugh say, “Maybe there is something to this global warming stuff,” nor do I think I will ever hear Al Gore say, “Maybe we overstated the case.” Nevertheless, I think a formal, public inquiry into the climategate scandal and its significance for the current understanding of climate change would be beneficial to those of us who find this recent scandal disturbing and are open to discovering the truth.

If the proponents of the theory of global warming are correct, then the implications of that theory are too important to have the issue derailed by a few bad scientists. If global warming is real, we need to address it. There is not a lot of time to waste. On the other hand, if the global warming theory is based entirely on junk science we should not support policies that could curtail economic growth and possibly wreck the economies of the world. This issue is too important to stop seeking the truth.

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Climate Research data

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Climategate Professor racked in $22.6 Million in Grants

by Frank Beckman, Detroit News, November 27. 2009

[Excerpt] It turns out that our planet has been safe from man all along, and the climate change alarmists knew it.

That's the conclusion to be drawn from the disclosure of e-mails -- authenticity not disputed -- between so-called climate experts involved with the University of Anglia's Climate Research Unit in Britain, which had been the center of the anthropogenic global warming universe.

[Excerpt] As Jones wrote to one-time United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead author John Christy in one of his e-mails, "I would like to see the climate change happen, so the science could be proved right, regardless of the consequences. This isn't being political, it is being selfish." (link)

Comment: I can hardly contain my outrage over this. As one who believed the science of global warming for many years, I feel I have been deceived. I am outraged not only over the deception but outraged at the general conspiracy of silence on this issue. Why is no major network digging into this story? Are there no people of integrity who feel they were betrayed and who want accountability? Should the White house, members of Congress, Heads of State, and the General Secretary of the UN not be calling for an investigation? Should not this be the topic under discussion at Copenhagen? Did these scientist not break some laws? Taking vast amounts of money and doctoring data to produce predetermined outcomes should be a violation of some law. This makes me question other scientific research. This makes me inclined to never trust my government again on anything. This makes me think that science is for sale to the highest bidder. We deserve answers.

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Climategate: The video and some thoughts

With the revelations of massive scientific fraud within the global warming community, dubbed "climategate," I have moved from the column of "Global warming believer" to "undecided." I do not make this move lightly. I am not uninformed. I have read extensively on the topic. I was not always a believer; I was once a sceptic. I did not let my political views guide my decision on whether or not to believe the theory of Global Warming. I tried to honestly evaluate the available information and be guided by the facts. Over a period of time, I gradually moved from sceptic to believer and I have been in the "believer" column for at least the last five or six years. I have been convinced that the preponderance of the evidence indicates that global warming is a fact. (See, My Conversion on Global Warming.) Now, I am not so sure.

I am not in the "sceptic" column, yet. There is still a massive body of scholarship that supports the theory. However, this revelation of widespread scientific fraud makes me call into question the whole body of science on this subject. The revelations in the released data puts the burden of proof on those who advocate the theory. The whole topic is again an open question as far as I am concerned.

The main stream media has failed to cover this story and has downplayed it when they have reported it. This can not be allowed to be swept under the rug. This is a smoking gun. Those who believe global warming is a reality need to address this scandal and remake their case for the science supporting the theory.

Below is some of what is revealed from the hacked documents from Britain’s Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia:

The participants in the climategate scandal were a who’s who of climate scientist.

They reveal the destroying of evidence of fraud.

They show the using of “tricks” to modify data that shows the earth is cooling.

They reveal the corrupting of the peer review process.

They reveal the withholding of data.

They reveal the conspiring to pressure and punish skeptical scientist.

They acknowledge the urban effect.

This is serious stuff.

I was with some relatives over the holidays who are true believers who have never doubted global warming. They had not heard of the climategate scandal and were not interested in leaning anything about it. Just as the scientist involved in this scandal had a conclusion and then developed their data to support their conclusion, many people, both sceptics and believers, are locked into a position and don't want any new facts that may make them question their assumptions. To get to the the truth, one needs to be open to considering new data.

I am not asking anyone to accept my opinion of the importance of the climategate scandal, but please be open to evaluating this new revelation and learning more about it and demand answers.

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Shaking hands with the enemy

Libertarian Republican Congressman Ron Paul (right) shakes hands with left-wing comedian Bill Mahar (left).

Matt Collins on Refusing to shake Zack Wamp's hand:

"Representative Wamp extended his hand to me to shake it and I absolutely refused; I am not interested in being friendly towards those who violate the Constitution. To be fair he said that he was very supportive of HR1207 and that "we ought to do more than just audit the Fed....it's the cause of a lot of our problems". While I agree with the Congressman on that specific issue I honestly wanted to vocalize that the other cause of our problems were big-government Republicans acting like big-government Democrats such as himself. However in the spirit of, at minimum, being cordial, I held my tongue. But prior to walking away I did thank him for and told him I appreciated his support on HR1207. I still did not shake his hand." (link)

President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev

President Richard M Nixon shakes hand with Chairman Mao Zedong

General Robert E. Lee shakes hands with General Ulysses S. Grant

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George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

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The Party and Matt on the ousting of Matt Collins

Comments from Chairman Starnes:

The removal of Matt Collins from his position as First Vice Chair and as a member of the Davidson County Republican Party’s Executive Committee on November 24th, 2009 was not easy, nor one we took lightly.

However, DCRP Board members must be able to function as a team and not place a personal agenda above the Party’s agenda. When that happens, coupled with behavior and words that are disrespectful to Republican candidates or elected officials, the focus becomes on a person rather than the important issues at hand.

The vote of 14 members to five for the removal of Mr. Collins affirmed an earlier vote establishing a motion for removal and also demonstrated the Board’s commitment to maintain a standard of professionalism and civility among its leadership.

Kathleen Starnes
DCRP Chairman

Comments from Matt Collins:

As reported in the Nashville Post, immediately following the executive session hearing Collins made the following statement:

It is unfortunate the DCRP has chosen this destructive and divisive path booting members for standing up for principle and the Constitution.

It should be noted that I have broken no bylaws (even Chairman Starnes has admitted this) and this was a personal vindictive move by some in the DCRP and the TNGOP to remove me because they did not want their fellow Republicans such as Rep Zigzag Zach Wamp, Mayor “Ban’em” Bill Haslam, Senator “Large Government” Lamar Alexander, and Senator “Bailout Bob” Corker held accountable.

Every effort was made by myself to reach a mutual understanding, however Chairman Starnes refused to work with me in the closed door session. This Soviet style purge will result in the further alienation of the grassroots activists not only in Nashville but across the country as it is becoming more and more apparent that the GOP is a Party of exclusion.

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On the ousting of Matt Collins

Last night the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Republican Party voted to remove Matt Collins from the Committee. I attended the meeting not knowing the Committee would go into executive session and require everyone except voting members to leave the room. In addition to my wife and I there were about a dozen other people who were also removed from the room, most of them were obviously supporters of Matt. Initially I was annoyed that we were forced to vacate the room, but can see the wisdom of conducting the hearing in closed-door session.

Those who were in the hall after being evicted from the room assumed we who lined the hall were all supporters of Matt. I was not. I was on the fence. If I had been a voting member of the board, I still do not know how I would have voted. I would have had to hear the arguments on both sides in order to make a decision. I assumed I would have voted with the majority but it would have been with reluctance. If Matt had have been halfway contrite however, and pledged to behave differently in the future I would have voted to let him keep his seat. I assume there were other members on the board who think the same way I think, so I assume Matt was belligerent up until the vote. This is only an assumption however, I don’t know. Not knowing what went on behind closed doors, I can’t say for certain how I would have voted.

Matt is a libertarian Republican of the Ron Paul persuasion. I am not. I am what the Ron Paul Republicans often refer to as a RINO. I don’t see myself in that light, but RINO (Republican in Name Only) is the term used to denigrate anyone who does not see eye to eye with them on the issues. I was a supporter of the Party’s candidate John McCain in the last election. After our own favorite son Fred Thompson dropped out of the race, I was never tempted to support anyone other than McCain. I agree with McCain’s pragmatism and realism which some fellow Republicans find offensive. I was not a reluctant supporter of the Party’s candidate but an enthusiastic supporter. That makes me a RINO in the view of the more dogmatic Republicans of the Ron Paul persuasion.

This McCain Republican however does not want to purge the Party of Ron Paul Republican. The Party should be a big tent party with room for Ron Paul and John McCain supporters. If we agree on opposition to Obamacare, to higher taxes, to the explosion in the national debt then we should be in the same camp. We do not have to see eye to eye on all issues. If there is more that unites us than divides us we should be united in trying to defeat Democrats.

Matt has a lot of vocal people who are supporting him and are going to be angry that he was ousted. Matt was not ousted because he is the only Republican who supports the constitution. Matt was not ousted because he is a Ron Paul supporter. Matt was ousted because he acted like a jerk. In my view, one of Matts worse offences was his refusal to shake hands with Republican Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Zack Wamp and then bragging about it. I don’t personally know Ron Paul, but I would bet that if at a social function, Ron Paul himself would shake the hand of Zack Wamp. Refusing to shake someone’s hand and then bragging about it does not make you a principled person; it makes you a jerk.

To all the libertarian minded Republicans and Ron Paul supporters who are hurt or offended that Matt was ousted from the Executive Committee: Matt was not removed because of his libertarian leaning or his support for Ron Paul; he was removed because he acted like a jerk. Don’t give up on the Party. Don’t walk away. Stay involved. I believe that most Republicans welcome the energy and growth that the libertarian leaning Republicans are bringing to the Party. I believe most Republicans are not interested in shrinking the Party and purging people but in enlarging the party and welcoming people. Matt was not ousted because he was the lone voice standing up for principles and the constitution; he was ousted because of his behavior. A Libertarian leaning Republican with normal social skills would be welcome in the party.

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Another cancer drug too dear for Britain: Bowel cancer victims denied life-prolonging care.

By Jenny Hope, Daily Mail U.K., Mail Online, updated at 9:13 AM on 24th November 2009

Bowel cancer sufferers are to be denied a life-prolonging drug on the NHS which is available to patients across Europe and beyond.

Trials show Avastin can extend life by almost two years.

But the Government's rationing body, Nice, says it is not cost-effective. (link)

Comment

Is this the kind of health care we want in America? As explained in this article, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence follows a complex formula that evaluates quality of life and cost effectiveness to determine what medical treatments and procedures will be paid for by the government. This treatment was deemed too expensive. About 35,000 Britons develop bowel cancer each year, of which 4,000-5,000 with advanced cancer could benefit from this drug. This life-saving drug is too expensive for the British health care system. The UK has not raised the cost cap on individual care in ten years despite lifesaving advances in medicine and new but more costly treatment options.

It is true that the US spends more of our GNP on health care than most other advanced countries. If health care becomes a government service then we can hold down the cost. The cost will be held down by rationing, as is the case in the UK. Proponents of radically transforming our health care system deny that care will be rationed but every government service is rationed from police protection to education. Health care will consume less of the GNP under a nationalized health care system because the government will determine the amount spend on health care. Health care will be a budget item in competition with the Defence Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Agriculture Department and every other department of government.

I know that there are many Americans ready to accept having health care decision dictated by a government bureaucracy. There are many Americans who don't care if treatment is denied, as long as it is denied to everyone equally. If a particular drug was never approved by the government in the first place then they won't mind if they don't get it. They look at government decisions much the way a child looks at decisions handed down by a parent; the government is wise and knows best. They want someone else making decisions for them. Freedom is messy and stressful. They want someone to take care of them. They long to be subjects at the mercy of government dictates. They are also more concerned with everyone being treated the same and never think about what it takes to advance the human condition. They look around them and see the current deficiencies in the current system and never think of advances in health care that will not occur under a government bureaucracy. I am not one of them.

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