More on Santorum on climate change

[jeaniebueller]

From Chris Wallace's interview on Fox News Sunday...(clips of the interview are available at the link)

www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/07/fox_host_to_santorum_if_only_scientists_can_talk_climate_change_shouldn.html

Fox News Host to Santorum: If Only Scientists Can Talk Climate Change, Shouldn’t You Shut Up?

Fox News host Chris Wallace pushed Republican presidential candidate to expand on his criticism of Pope Francis for talking about climate change. On Monday, Santorum had criticized Francis for pushing action on global warming, saying the pontiff should leave “science to the scientists.” “Two points,” Wallace said Sunday, “if he’s not a scientist, and, in fact, he does have a degree in chemistry, neither are you … And the second point is somewhere between 80 percent and 90 percent of scientists who have studied this say that humans, men—human activity, contributes to climate change. So, I guess the question would be, if he shouldn’t talk about it, should you?”

To that Santorum essentially said that politicians have to talk about things they’re not experts in all the time so anything is fair game. “But you’re not a scientist,” Wallace insisted. “You said leave the science to the scientists.” And Santorum pushed back that fighting action on climate change is about defending American jobs. “The point is that politicians, whether we like it or not, people in government have to make decision with regard to public policy that affect American workers,” Santorum said. Although the “pope can talk about whatever he wants to talk about … there are more pressing problems confronting the Earth than climate change,” the presidential hopeful added.

At one point, Wallace notes that “somewhere between 80 percent and 90 percent of scientists” who have studied the issue agree. But Santorum is having none of it, calling it a “speculative science” and saying that he doesn’t believe anyone who is so sure of their facts. “Any time you hear a scientist say the science is settled, that’s political science, not real science, because no scientists in their right mind would say ever the science is settled.”

[josieposy]

I really want someone to ask these folks why climate change and jobs can't be talked about at the same time. Even have similar solutions. I mean, is that just crazy talk that solving one could also solve the other?

[sushi]

Actually it's more like 99.9%

[ttt]

Jun 8, 2015 10:03:30 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Although the “pope can talk about whatever he wants to talk about … there are more pressing problems confronting the Earth than climate change,” the presidential hopeful added.

 

LOL there are more pressing problems confronting the Earth than mass extinctions and the possibility of global starvation. 

[dawnzersong]

Jun 8, 2015 10:03:30 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

 But Santorum is having none of it, calling it a “speculative science” and saying that he doesn’t believe anyone who is so sure of their facts. “Any time you hear a scientist say the science is settled, that’s political science, not real science, because no scientists in their right mind would say ever the science is settled.”

I hope he never needs open heart surgery or anything like that- wouldn't want to have a doctor who is sure of his facts or confident that all of the research guiding his practice is accurate. I hope he never drives a car or travels via plane or crosses a bridge, since engineering is apparently all based on speculation.

[ttt]

I mean yeah, global civilization could collapse as our food supply drops so far that mass starvation takes place, and humanity descends into a state of permanent civil war and chaos over fresh water turning the planet into a desolate, post-apocalyptic wasteland BUT what's even scarier is that Adam and Steve are getting married.

[pixy0stix]

He doesn't even have to listen to the scientists. He could just listen to our own military. Fuck.

[dawnzersong]

This is especially rich coming from someone who is so rabidly convinced that his perception of God is objectively correct and his personal religious beliefs are actually facts that should dictate how everyone else lives.

[sparrowsong]

Jun 8, 2015 10:17:51 GMT -5 sushi said:

Actually it's more like 99.9%

That stood out to me too. Where's this 10-20% that don't agree? But I guess this is a faux news interview, so even when they are getting it right they have to get it wrong.