Rick Perry: He's no Galileo

[nofurylike]

Rick Perry: He's no Galileo
The GOP presidential candidate's resistance to science, especially on climate change, is no way to win the White House.
September 9, 2011

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/envi...ronment%29

-snip-

Perry went on to compare himself, or those who agree with him, to 17th century astronomer Galileo Galilei, who in Perry's words also "got outvoted for a spell" when he adopted a minority opinion on a scientific issue. It would be far more accurate to compare Perry to Pope Urban VIII, who put Galileo on trial for heresy in 1633 because his conclusions that the Earth revolved around the sun contradicted Scripture. All scientific theories have doubters, but what is remarkable about climate science is the degree of certainty and agreement among researchers. Huntsman's numbers are about right: In a survey last year by the National Academy of Sciences, 97% to 98% of climate researchers agreed with the premise that humans are causing climate change. At this point, the empirical evidence for warming, like the evidence for a heliocentric solar system or for evolution, is so strong that denial reflects a faith-based approach to public policy.

And that seems to sum up Perry's response to any number of threats. In the midst of a punishing drought that is turning his state into a tinderbox, Perry's answer has been to issue proclamations urging people to pray for rain* and to slash firefighting budgets. Heaven help us if he wins.

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* -snip-

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on those days for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal way of life.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 21st day of April, 2011.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

[jaxx]

I love the headline! He's not presidential material either.

[nofurylike]

(09-09-2011 05:04 AM)jaxx Wrote:  I love the headline! He's not presidential material either.

me too!

"He's not presidential material either."

thank you, jaxx!

[Cha]

No, but he is a world class quack.

[nofurylike]

(09-12-2011 12:52 PM)Cha Wrote:  No, but he is a world class quack.

absolute FACT.

thank you, Cha!

[Ikonoklast]

Rick Perry is not even comparable to a cheap bottle of Gallo Fortified Wine, let alone one of the finest minds the human race has ever seen.

[nofurylike]

(09-17-2011 07:52 PM)Ikonoklast Wrote:  Rick Perry is not even comparable to a cheap bottle of Gallo Fortified Wine, let alone one of the finest minds the human race has ever seen.

to say the least.

very well said, thank you, Ikonoklast!!