John Kerry challenges George Will on climate change on Huff Post

[beachmom]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/facts-are-stubborn-things_b_170657.html

To paraphrase the conservative columnist's favorite president, "There you go again, George."

George Will has been one of my favorite intellectual sparring partners for a long time, a favorite more recently because he had the guts to publicly recognize the disaster that was George W. Bush's presidency.

But in his latest Washington Post column, George and I have a pretty big loud disagreement.

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to see Will embracing the idea of recycling, but I'm very troubled that he is recycling errors of fact to challenge the science on global warming.

I'm even more troubled that Will used his February 15th column not only to cast doubt on sound science, but also to denigrate the work of two fine scientists.

At the end, he challenges George Will to a debate. Too funny.

[MBS]

1. good job, Sen. Kerry!

And, miracle of miracles, the comments are actually quite supportive for once. (BTW, one can still comment there. . )

[karynnj]

2. It won't happen - largely because Will would be way out of his element

speaking on global warming. The Kerry/Gingrich debate was great - but not really a contest. I like the humor Kerry uses - making this call to debate. He clearly is angry that the Will attacked the credibility, swiftboating to some degree, of the scientists in such a dishonest way. That point comes through - even though it is hidden in this challenge to debate.

By the way - great to see you again!

[ProSense]

3. That's something.

It's great that Kerry did this. Will knew he was being disingenuous, it was his intention to mislead.

Hi beachmom.

:hi:

[ProSense]

4. ThinkProgress

John Kerry Challenges George Will: Let’s Debate Your Recycled ‘Errors Of Fact’

[YvonneCa]

5. This is a debate I would LOVE ...

...to see. But I agree with others here that it's probably unlikely. Thanks for the link, beachmom.

And welcome back. You were missed.:grouphug:

[JI7]

6. i would love to watch that, a debate among 2 intelligent people

on issues.

[JI7]

7. did anyone watch Limbaugh's stupid speech ? he went after Kerry on a few things

said Kerry was being mean to that people who took bailout money and then spend millions on luxury. then asked where Kerry got his money as if that had anything to do with anything.

also when he brought up Kerry serving in vietnam his loser audience thought it was funny.

i guess Kerry said some things about Limbaugh that he didn't like.

[globalvillage]

8. I'd rather have a root canal.

Didn't watch it, and now I'm not watching CNN until they stop covering Oxy-Rush.

So, wealth is bad when it's come by honestly? And military service is ridiculed? Are these CPAC's 'conservative values'?

[karynnj]

9. I liked when David Wade in reference to some dumb

Limbaugh comment referred to him as the doughnut eating Limbaugh and said he needed to pick up a history book rather than a doughnut. (The funny thing was Rush took the debate and complained about being called a doughnut eater - which was pretty hilarious - and had to make people think of how grossly fat Rush is.)

The funny thing is that this shows how little he has to use against Kerry - he did go to Vietnam and he was a war hero compared to Rush who had an embarrassing physical reason for not going. As to Kerry's money, he inherited some and he has worked as a public servant and he married Teresa. Not exactly Ted Stevens. Gee I wonder why he didn't go all the way to the crime of windsurfing - something it would be amusing (or disgusting) to see Limbaugh try.

[YvonneCa]

10. I had CNN on...not really watching it...

...when they went to full coverage of Limbaugh's speech. Almost in a reflexive action, I turned off the TV in disgust. At the time, I was disgusted at CNN for thinking...dispite my belief in free speech... that they should broadcast anything Rush has to say. (I have the same reaction to seeing Ann Coulter anywhere.)

Now that I know he said something about John Kerry, I may have to watch it.


This whole CPAC thing just reminds me of where the GOP is, these days. Think about the 'Bush era'...2000 to 2008. His GOP base had three parts...Religious Right/fundamentalists, the military/industrial PNAC ers, and wall street/corporations 'trickle down' economy folks. All three have been proven incompetent.

The only thing they had in common was their cheerleaders (Bush, Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity). These are the guys that sold Americans these failed policies for the Bush Administration. They did it by making things up, twisting truth, name-calling, and generally behaving like 10 year olds (body humor, low level behavior).


Now, the Bush Administration is gone. (YAaay!) Rush has nothing left. Economists have left. The PNAC ers have left. Sane religious folks are leaving. All that remains are the small group that likes what I call 'six-grade jokes.' CPAC seems to want to cater to them.


The amazing thing to me is that CNN thinks Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity are still relevant enough to cover. Explain that one. :)