From the Investor’s Business Daily editorial page:

“Not every scientist is part of Al Gore’s mythical ‘consensus.”

“Kenneth Tapping, a solar researcher and project director for Canada’s National Research Council, is among those looking at the sun for evidence of an increase in sunspot activity. Solar activity fluctuates in an 11-year cycle. But so far in this cycle, the sun has been disturbingly quiet. The lack of increased activity could signal the beginning of what is known as a Maunder Minimum, an event which occurs every couple of centuries and can last as long as a century. Such an event occurred in the 17th century. The observation of sunspots showed extraordinarily low levels of magnetism on the sun, with little or no 11-year cycle. This solar hibernation corresponded with a period of bitter cold that began around 1650 and lasted, with intermittent spikes of warming, until 1715. Frigid winters and cold summers during that period led to massive crop failures, famine and death in Northern Europe.”

Scientists are now worried about a new Ice Age because the sun’s activity is slowing down. Sun activity is cyclical. We have always maintained here, as common sense scientists, that the sun has to be the predominant factor in global warming.

Go figure…

Prev. Post:
The real cause of global warming finally defined

Global Warming; Starting with a general premise

Reference:

The Sun Also Sets

Candidates and pundits keep talking about “bringing the country together.” Yes: According to an AP story, this has left Americans wondering “if divisiveness will again prevail or if — just maybe — a window is open for a more civil, constructive era” in politics.

Well, for you “wondering” Americans, I have the answer for you:

It’s a capital “NO.”

Regardless of the outcome, the November elections will not mark the end to “divisiveness.” The notion that after an election — which by definition is divisive — we’re all somehow going to come together and sing Kumbaya? That’s sophistry.

Discord is the nature of politics. Those who take the future of the nation seriously aren’t going to stop competing in the marketplace of ideas; they’re not going to abandon principles, or retreat into some fairy-tale world for the sake of going along to get along.

Anybody wishing for “an end to divisiveness” exhibits a woeful misunderstanding of our history. Partisan debate was essential to our founding; it was present during George Washington’s tenure as president, and it will be around long after we’re gone.

The freedom to dissent, to oppose, to persuade, to defeat political opponents — even sometimes in your own party — it’s our birthright, it’s our blessing. This very freedom nurtured America’s rise as the world’s superpower, dwarfing nations that existed thousands of years before us.

All that said, if you liberals want to have harmony, here’s how it can happen:

Just stop pushing your leftwing agenda
— and come join us in the glorious pursuit of conservatism!

Reference:
AP: Uniting America — Easier Said Than Done

While Super-Duper Tuesday dominated coverage, news about the war on terror was largely ignored. CIA Director Michael Hayden, testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, acknowledged three Al-Qaeda terrorists — Kahlid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, and Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri — were subjected towaterboarding shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Hayden told the committee that waterboarding was used “against these three individuals because of the circumstances at the time. There was a belief that additional catastrophic attacks against the homeland were inevitable… and we had limited knowledge about Al-Qaeda and its workings.” Since then, things have changed; we know more, and we don’t need to waterboard.

Well, reaction to this was swift, my friends. The Senate’s second-ranking Democrat, Dick Durbin, immediately called on the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation. He threatened to hold up a Justice Department nominee if his demand isn’t met.

Now, we know that as a result of the CIA interrogations of these Al-Qaeda terrorists, several attacks on America were thwarted. This is not in dispute. But why did we know so little about Al-Qaeda in the first place?

Well, a key reason is since the Carter Administration, Democrats have systematically dismantled our intelligence capabilities.

Now Democrats want to punish the Bush Administration and our intelligence agencies for saving countless American lives and doing what was necessary to disrupt Al-Qaeda with criminal prosecutions.

If you’re looking for criminality, Senator, look in the mirror
— if you can stand it…

Reference:
AP: US Acknowledges Use of Waterboarding

I don’t know what’s going to happen down the road.

Look, one thing I don’t do is assume in February that things today are going to be like they are in November. I just don’t. Do you realize how much could happen between now and then? I don’t even want to go through all the possibilities.

Some want me to be realistic in pessimism, say, okay, we’re cooked, we’re doomed, what do we look forward to, and I’m not prepared to go there yet.

What we look forward to is what we always look forward to, and that is being who we are and attempting to change our culture as best we can. Stand up for our values and empower them wherever it’s possible.

By the way, some talk about the election cycle as over, don’t forget the House, don’t forget the Senate. The White House is one thing, but it doesn’t exist by fiat. What goes on in the White House, whatever the executive decides, does not always happen, so there’s plenty of stuff to stay focused on here.

We have to stop looking at this is a lost cause and how we don’t have any possibility of anything good happening until 2012.

That’s ridiculous.

Lots of stuff here still ahead. You never know what’s going to happen. One of the reasons, I’m so optimistic, is I love waking up every day because I don’t know what’s going to happen, and it’s always exciting.

Not just in the news, in my life. I don’t know what’s going to come crashing into it, wanted or not. — I certainly am not going to pretend it’s November the 20th in this year and I’m down in the dumps.

From The Politico today: “Race, Sex Divide Democrats; Ideology Splits Republican Party.”

The Politico guys get it right. That’s exactly what’s been going on. There’s a big war going on in both parties.

Ours is over ideas. Theirs is over race and sex.

Race, sex divide Dems; ideology splits GOP