1.26.2011

Gem of the day


 Who says this guy doesn't know how to use Excel? If that graph isn't proof, I don't know what is.

For context, his name is Patrick Michaels, he's a fan of infinite profit and free unregulated markets, probably thinks there is some kind of unassailable objective truth in the world, is heavily funded by the oil industry, says accepted science is stupid and lies frequently to Congress. If you haven't already figured out that this guy is a Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies for the Cato Institute, I can't help you.

Anyway, he's in trouble now. Democrat Henry Waxman is on his case for allegedly--I'd rather say 'obviously'--misleading Congress in 2009 when testifying against the sad excuse for a climate bill which was passing through. Read the entirety of Waxman's masterpiece of a letter to Fred Upton here.

Michaels told the House energy and commerce committee in 2009 that only 3% of his $4.2 million in funding came from the oil and industry. But several months later in a CNN interview--ay, there's the rub--that figure blossomed into a far more magical 40%. Funding is such a grey area, isn't it? If only he had an advanced educational background and professional experience to prove he was capable of doing basic math--oh wait:

"The curriculum vitae that Dr. Michaels submitted with his written testimony is lengthy, listing over one hundred publications and speaking engagements before audiences ranging from the United States Congress to academic institutions to local Rotary Clubs and high school students."

Strange. My favorite part of Waxman's letter is the part where he basically calls Michaels a liar, it's beautifully worded:

"It is difficult to reconcile what Dr. Michaels reported to the Committee on his CV with the estimate of his industry funding reported by Politico."

You better go call the Koch brothers, Dr. Michaels. It's gonna hurt.

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