07-01-2007, 06:20 AM
Science is not made up of a bunch of people shouting "nya nya, I'm right so you're wrong."
As we accumulate more facts, we refine our hypotheses. Models change. The studies that Gore cited supported a conclusion that still has validity under the current model which also includes the study from Nature.
As an aside, I find it interesting that among the author's distortions, he made one particular bold and obvious lie about a statement by Gore and that lie -- which has been popularly propagated and debunked many times in the past -- was not cut out by the editor of the Sun Times. I wonder what legal liability they incur when they let such things pass with full knowledge of their falsehood. First Amendment protection does not extend to false statements of public concern. To my lay-person's eye the author's reckless disregard for the truth clearly meets the minimum threshold for a libel action by a public figure and the Sun Times publication of that libel implicates them as well.
As we accumulate more facts, we refine our hypotheses. Models change. The studies that Gore cited supported a conclusion that still has validity under the current model which also includes the study from Nature.
As an aside, I find it interesting that among the author's distortions, he made one particular bold and obvious lie about a statement by Gore and that lie -- which has been popularly propagated and debunked many times in the past -- was not cut out by the editor of the Sun Times. I wonder what legal liability they incur when they let such things pass with full knowledge of their falsehood. First Amendment protection does not extend to false statements of public concern. To my lay-person's eye the author's reckless disregard for the truth clearly meets the minimum threshold for a libel action by a public figure and the Sun Times publication of that libel implicates them as well.