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Virginia AG Probing Michael Mann For Fraud

eldavojohn writes "Republican Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has requested receipts and research documents relating to nearly half a million dollars in state taxpayer money used to conduct climate change research at the University of Virginia while under direction of Michael Mann, originator of the famous 2001 IPCC Hockey Stick graph depicting rapid climate change. Mann appears to be a prime target for Cuccinelli — who has also requested hearings with the EPA to contest the grounds of their carbon dioxide studies. Mann's expenditures of taxpayer money may become problematic if Cuccinelli finds violations of Virginia's Fraud Against Taxpayers Act. Cuccinelli has been active in pushing conservative views in the past, including an effort to remove the titillating mammary from the beloved Great Seal of Virginia. No end in sight for the politicizing of the science and research surrounding climate change."

14 of 617 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by Penguinisto · · Score: 1, Troll

    Mann has credibly been accused (with evidence) of publishing fraudulent results (see also "hockey stick"). While I neither agree or disagree with your assertion, a more precise listing of what political reasons you think may be present would be nice.

    The reason I ask is simple: any political officeholder can be accused of acting on political reasons. The thing lies in what those reasons may or may not be.

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  2. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by DarkOx · · Score: 0, Troll

    I am sorry but those "academics" allowed themselves to become political and the consequences are they now get treated like politicians.

    No matter if you think the climate change theories have merit or if you are a "denier" you must admit there has been a great deal of poor scientific practices and fraud where climate change research has been concerned. Its provable that lots of data is coming from stations to close to man made radiators by standards set and then ignored by the same researchers. Some of the climate-gate allegations were true; even though most of the worst were not; and the hockey stick theory was shown to be total bunk and the people who put it forward knew it.

    The scientists and academics allowed themselves to become political; and now the existing body politic no longer sees them as off limits and will subject them to their rules. Welcome to the dark ages 2.0 regardless of who brought it on.

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  3. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by Barrinmw · · Score: 1, Troll

    The greater the Implications of your Discovery, the Greater Burden of Proof there is. The fact that the Climate Scientists came out and said that we are doomed unless we change now, with so many unanswered questions, is bad science.

  4. Asses all around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    The AG is an ass and a bigot. Mann is an ass at the least. They both need to be investigated.

  5. Re:It is very serious by Darkness404 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Climate science is the new 'snake oil', you can predict almost anything short term, get lots of funding, scare people and get more funding. How soon do we forget that 30 years ago scientists were predicting a second ice age.

    Do we need to look into it? Yes. But really, 'climate scientists' end up willingly or unwillingly become shills of large corporations selling their goods.

    With the lack of standards, ethics and real science, I can't help but not feel sorry for all these 'climate scientists' who now have their future called in question.

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  6. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by Barrinmw · · Score: 1, Troll

    You do realize that there is a large population of people who don't support the idea of climate change? And if its not able to stand up against political pressure, those people Will Never be coerced.

  7. If by fizzled you mean... by hsthompson69 · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...covered up by whitewash investigations that were less than a fig leaf, then, yeah, okay.

    Now, just because this particular brand of bunghole is wrong on gays, doesn't mean he's wrong on the whole AGW fraud. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

  8. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by Barrinmw · · Score: 0, Troll

    If we weren't doomed, then there would be no reason to change our behaviors. The focus would be on adapting to the changes instead of preventing them. And there were plenty of unanswered questions, like Solar Activity that had to be looked at AFTER they came out with their conclusions. And more questions are brought up all the time.

  9. Re:His Official Policy on Homosexuality Is No Secr by capnkr · · Score: 0, Troll

    "Flamebait"... lol

    Sometimes the Truth hurts. In this case, it hurts me, for pointing it out. I was halfway expecting that, actually, because I knew that however true, what I wrote wouldn't sit well with some moderator who has a partisan political agenda to push.

    So it goes! :)

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    "...there are some things that can beat smartness and foresight. Awkwardness and stupidity can." ~ Mark Twain
  10. As a matter of 'standing'... by WheelDweller · · Score: 0, Troll

    This whacko published a lie; he propogated it like any other not-quite-reviewed aspect of science.

    But see, Al Gore took this data, and started handing out pieces of paper because, when paid, Al would do (something, in theory) due to Mann's faulty science.

    Isn't Al Gore culpable for all kinds of liability? Hundreds-of-millions are involved.

    How about getting this lie pushed into grade schools around the planet? Something must be done about that, too.

    AND HOW ABOUT STOPPING CAP-AND-TRADE NOW THAT WE KNOW BETTER? Sheesh. Anything for power, these people.

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  11. Re:It is very serious by AK+Marc · · Score: 0, Troll

    Testable? There's a 400,000 period in there. That's may be "testable" in the theoretical sense, but it's not like we can really wait that long to settle a bet. And tilting the Earth ourselves just to see is a little on the untestable side. Even if we could, there wouldn't be a control.

  12. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by hkmwbz · · Score: 0, Troll

    Every single time I asked that question, the moderators deleted it.

    Maybe because you are an ignorant sheep parroting right-wing political talking points and lies. For a question to be relevant, it needs to be honest and based on fact. Your question was based on right-wing political lies.

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  13. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by hkmwbz · · Score: 0, Troll

    Look, you disgusting right-wing fascist and liar: First of all, your misquoted Jones. Worse yet, your question was nothing but parroting of right-wing, anti-science lies. Like creationist idiots, AGW denialist idiots always lie, deceive, and take quotes out of context to misrepresent science and scientists. You are truly disgusting assholes.

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  14. Re:Ken Cuccinelli by hkmwbz · · Score: 0, Troll

    So... you?

    No, you, as a matter of fact.

    I've read the primary documents, fuckwit. You haven't, apparently. I'm sorry if truth conflicts with your tightly-held ideals.

    Yes, you have read the same old creationist bullshit propaganda. The context of the e-mail you are linking to is that they were being flooded with FOIA requests, and since they were just a small group of people, the people who DoSed them with FOIA requests would bring the science to a halt if they were allowed to keep up the flooding.

    You may also want to take a look at the text, which clearly states that they were acting on the advice of the Information Commissioner. Furthermore, the CRU were cleared of all wrongdoings. If they had broken the law there would have been consequences, but several investigations have turned up nothing damning.

    But hey, never mind facts, eh, creationist? Keep quoting e-mails you do not understand. Creationists always do quote-mining.

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