Global warming: at least 31,000 short of consensus

The Star Tribune reported that on Monday, "the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine appeared before the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and announced that it has the signatures of more than 31,000 scientists...who agree that the human impact on global warming is overblown:"

We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto ... and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.

Among the notable Minnesotans who signed the petition: WCCO-TV meteorologist Mike Fairbourne. Fairbourne had some courage to publicly declare skepticism about global warming, since his colleagues, anchorman Don Shelby and fellow meteorologist Paul Douglas, are noted believers in man-made global warming/climate change.

The Global Warming Petition Project is much more than just another Internet petition drive. It's a serious rebuttal to the junk science of global warming. The web site includes a summary of peer-reviewed research on the science of so-called global warming.

It's time to take a step back from flawed computer models, the gospel of global warming and its prophet Al Gore and his Hollywood disciples, and the very real economic damage being caused in the name of this myth.

First, get endorsed

Spotted on the north side of Highway 12, west of I-494:

All about Terri Bonoff

On April 12, at one of the most anticipated DFL endorsing conventions in years, a 30-year-old, ex-Republican, ex-U.S. Marine attorney from Plymouth with a compelling, immigrant American Dream story came out of political nowhere to win the Third Congressional District DFL endorsement after an eight-ballot showdown, over incumbent state Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka), the early-on presumptive nominee with name recognition, union support, and proven fundraising chops. The venue was Wayzata Central Middle School in Plymouth, in the heart of Bonoff's Senate District 43.

Yet curiously, in the post-endorsement issue of the Plymouth newspaper of record Sun Sailor, it was all about Bonoff.

The local weekly ran Bonoff's post-election letter-to-the-editor (in its own box, complete with three-column headline, pull-quote, photo, and prominent by-line), thanking supporters and her opponent, plus a news story of the endorsement. The news story by Joe Keiser covered the endorsement, but from Bonoff's point-of-view, featuring quotes from her but not from the endorsee, illustrated with a second copy of Bonoff's Senate mug shot but no photo of the endorsee.

It's as if the Sun Sailor narrowly avoided its own DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN moment.

I assume that Bonoff's endorsement opponent will eventually get some ink in the Sun Sailor. In the meantime, perhaps Bonoff can give him a few pointers on getting earned media.

Iowa State prof "expelled"

From my friend Dave Eaton:

A few weeks ago a very talented scientist at Iowa State University was denied tenure because he approaches science in the same way as the greatest scientists in history. Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Gregor Mendel, Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo ALL approached science with the assumption that they were studying the works of an intelligent creator, God. Historians have observed that it was exactly this perspective that enabled the start and advancement of modern science.

Today when scientists take that approach to science they are ridiculed and stripped of their careers.

Now for a little history. In the 1500's Copernicous' conclusion that the earth went around the sun was enabled by his Christian approach to study and considered controversial by many. However, few realize that it was Christians who rallied to his side, encouraged his work and financially underwrote the publication of his controversial scientific work.

Today, you can be part of history by helping fund the work of Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, an accomplished scientist that has been "expelled" from the public university system for his Christian approach to studying science. A group of ISU alumni have developed a web site that allows you to learn of Dr. Gonzalez's work and make a donation towards his research. Please go to www.freegonzalez.com to learn more.

Note, too that Dr. Gonzalez is one of the persecuted scientists featured in the movie, Expelled, that is opening nationally tonight. You can get more information on the movie at www.expelledthemovie.com.

Sarah's choice

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) and her husband Todd are the proud parents of their fifth child, Trig, born April 18, 2008, one month before his due date. At birth he weighed six pounds, two ounces.

Although they discovered through prenatal testing that Trig has Down Syndrome, the Palins decided not to abort the pregnancy (80% of such pregnancies are aborted in the United States). The governor's official statement is a remarkable testimony of faith and courage:

Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.

Cuba libre

Both houses of the Minnesota Legislature have passed a resolution that "supports national efforts to remove all trade, financial, and travel restrictions to Cuba." Unfortunately, this resolution as written is silent on the suffering of the Cuban people and economy under the brutal dictatorship of Fidel Castro, darling of the socialist left. Calling for free trade without quid pro quo expansions of political, legal, and economic freedoms for the Cuban people amounts to not much more than the further exploitation of a people who have suffered too much. It would be like trading with Communist China for goodness sakes. (Er, wait a minute...)

I find it disappointing, but not surprising, that the corporate mass media did not bother to get any reactions from the Cuban expatriate community in Minnesota. A doctor friend of mine fled Cuba in the early 1960s after Castro became prime minister and began "nationalizing (confiscating with the power of armed force without compensation or legal recourse)" private property. We often have conversations about how the liberals in this country love Castro's Cuba so much that they are trying to recreate it in America.

(For a dramatization of what my friend and an entire generation of Cubans experienced during the Cuban Revolution, I recommend the film The Lost City, expat Andy Garcia's love note to his home country. Beautifully written and filmed, it's a Caribbean Casablanca.)

Kudos to reporter Hilary Brueck at the University of Minnesota's student newspaper, the Minnesota Daily, for her concise statement of what's wrong with the Cuban government (even as the rest of her article gives chief author Phyllis Khan (DFL-Minneapolis) a free ride to promote the resolution): "But many still say it will take more than the recent regime change to change U.S. policies on relations with Cuba. A need for free elections, open markets, more human rights, the restoration of political prisoners and property taken during the Fidel Castro regime are just a few of the lingering deal-breakers."

Governor Pawlenty should veto this resolution with apologies to the Cuban people and its expatriate community in Minnesota. As Minnesota Public Radio reported, "House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, questioned the value of spending time on a memorial resolution when the state's budget deficit still isn't resolved." The Legislature should stop wasting time on resolutions outside its purview and get back to the business of the citizens of the State of Minnesota.

A Christian nation

The United States may not be a nation of all Christians, nevertheless there is still no doubt that we are a Christian nation. This country has a rich Christian heritage that coexists with our traditions of religious tolerance and diversity (which includes atheism). On Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to this heritage in his remarks to President Bush and the nation. Some excerpts:

From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God.

The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time, too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideas and aspirations.

In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good. Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in Eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows time and again that "in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation," and a democracy without values can lose its very soul. Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.

Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.

Mr. President, dear friends, as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America.

Grogan to challenge Benson in 43B

Brian Grogan was endorsed by a unanimous voice vote at last night's House District 43B endorsing convention. The two other candidates for the endorsement, Ryan Shore and longtime Senate District 43 activist Paul Franson, both withdrew as candidates and delivered endorsement speeches for Grogan prior to the vote.

The "A" side of SD 43 has in recent years been the "power" side of the district, with David Gaither serving in the state Senate and Governor Pawlenty's office, Jeff Johnson in the state House of Representatives, and Judy Johnson serving on the Plymouth City Council and as mayor. With Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth) defending her HD 43A seat against DFLer Clint Faust, "B" side Republicans now have a candidate to challenge incumbent John Benson (DFL-Minnetonka).

In Brian Grogan, 43B Republicans have endorsed an articulate, well-organized, and committed conservative candidate. He has been vetted by the Senate District, and many if not most in attendance at last night's convention volunteered for his campaign committee. Grogan will file with the State of Minnesota as a candidate today, and then it will be off to the races.

43B to endorse tonight

Republican delegates from House District 43B (Plymouth-Minnetonka) will convene tonight to endorse a candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives, to run against incumbent John Benson (DFL-Minnetonka).

I am a delegate in this district, which judging from the turnout at our precinct caucuses is still fairly conservative. I have been contacted by two candidates so far, Ryan Shore and Brian Grogan.

Shore, a Minnetonka resident, espouses the right views, but his letter to delegates seems to have been assembled in a hurry, and contains very little background information on the candidate.

Grogan, a Minnetonka resident since 1991, is a financial services advisor. He first contacted me at the SD 43 convention, handing me a resume with a handshake and an introduction. On Saturday, he even dropped by my house to introduce himself again, answer questions, and ask for my vote. I have received a couple of mailings from him, including a well-written letter explaining why he is running and what he stands for:

I pledge my committment to fight for lower taxes, efficiently run government and legislation to address the growing illegal immigrant issue. I want to assure you that your support for me will be rewarded with my deeply held conviction that I will always stand by the Republican leadership and core Republican values. Lastly, I will run with vigor, enthusiasm and stay on message. Benson can be defeated but it will take a candidate with strong communication skills, outgoing personality, a strong message and leadership skills. These are my strong suits.

So Grogan contacted me roughly once a week over the last 30 days, and looked like a candidate while doing so. This tells me that this guy not only wants to represent 43B Republicans in Saint Paul, he just may have the wherewithal to get there. He is also active in the Hopkins public schools, Jaycees, and youth ministry. He is married with three school-age children.

I will be listening closely to the candidate speeches tonight, but unless David Gaither or Brian Sullivan suddenly move into HD 43B, I think I know whom I will be supporting.

House District 43B Endorsing Convention
Minnetonka Community Center
14600 Minnetonka Boulevard
Minnetonka
Tonight, Wednesday, April 16, 2008
7:00 p.m. (registration opens at 6:30 p.m.)