Hi Tom,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m no expert on global warming or any other science but my own speciality (cognitive neuro-psychology), and even there I’m a pretty minor voice. No reputable scientist would claim to be an expert in everything.

With that said, from what I can tell, you’re right about the one degree increase in the last century, (with a projected increase of slightly more than that in the next). But apparently that one degree average increase can have a massive effect on ocean temperatures and sea level. The poles are warming faster, and the ice caps ARE melting. And you’re wrong about the hottest years being spread out - Nineteen of the twenty hottest years on record have occurred since 1980. Here’s a pdf file with some good information:

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~karowe/UCS%20global%20warming%20fact%20sheet%20January%202006.pdf

I’m not trying to speak as an expert scientist on this issue. I’m just a concerned American citizen, and I find the whole business as confusing as anyone else. We can’t know everything. We have to trust someone. I’m in favor of trusting the consensus of the world’s atmospheric scientists over a few dissenters in the employ of the very industries charged with causing the problem.

Take care.

Simple question David from Salinas Valley, California, is it true that since we have been recording temps (100 or so years) that the worlds average temp has gone up one degree?

And that the hottest decades or years on record have been spread out pretty much.

I heard that the other day and I thought it was interesting.

You hear so many conflicting reports from experts and frankly people become skeptical over time hearing so many differing views after all these scientific experts also said we were going to wiped out by "Killer bees" 30 years ago.

With all your advanced degrees you would know more about this than anyone else on this site and your expertise is welcomed.

Perhaps people in the "Ex-Gay Ministries" and that ilk should have a heart to heart talk with Senator Craig. Could anyone in their right mind believe that Senator Craig would choose to be gay at the risk of his entire career/life.

The episode of "Restroom Craig" illustrates the problem with the Senate, The upper class "money people" that have filibuster power to overturn the will of the majority is undemocratic! We need to change the money minority rule in out government.

RA from Aberdeen asks -

"Why doesn't Craig just become a Democrat? They embrace sexual perverts.
Posted By RA - Aberdeen, WA : August 31, 2007 10:39 am"

RA - who would be left in the Republican party?

I would really like to see America's own sweetheart get his job…Ann Coulter. And now that Rove is available, perhaps the two of them can team up somehow and bring a renewed credibility to the GOP. (Pigs do fly, don't they?)

No surprise Governor Otter will want to keep the religious right (extremests) happy and appoint another hypocrite to represent them…I think the religious right are as bad as the corrupt politicans they will use and do whatever it takes to get their message out, which is if you don't think, believe, and see things our way you are hell bound..which is so wrong

I'm are amused by the number of so-called family values candidates getting popped in compromising homosexual positions. . . .and I'm certainly no fan of Sen. Craig. After reading the police interview transcript, however, I'm not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Craig was guilty. Set up? Could be. If I was on a jury based on that alone, I'd give him the benefit of a doubt. But guess what? He already plead guilty. So, whatever really happened, it doesn't matter anymore. Either he just felt he could pay the fine and be done with it and no one would be the wiser or decided that even to go to trial and be found innocent would damage his reputation, who knows? But he certainly put the nails in his own coffin by pleading guilty.

Hey Bob From Texas,

Your lack of respect for science and reality is brought about by too much time in the sun. Your fried logic is simply exacerbated by global warming!

TO John Swanson from Chicago:

There are lots of folks that would love to kick handgun-banning and election rigging Chicago out of the union. There is no reason to remove Idaho from the Union, just Craig from the Senate. Written by a Conservative Republican

Bob of Houston, TX:

The scientists who make their living off climate research earn far less than those who take their paychecks from industrial polluters. (I do neuroscience research, but I could make a lot more money if I was willing to lie for a pharmaceutical company). There IS a consensus on global warming among real scientists working in the field. There is also a highly-paid set of global warming deniers in the employ of major contributors to the problem, and their deceptions trickle down to ordinary Americans who don’t want to give up their gas-guzzling SUVs. The same chemical, petroleum and industrial concerns that hire pseudo-scientists to write bogus reports also support anti-environment politicians like Senator Larry Craig.

I noticed you put Al Gore’s name in quotation marks. Is that because you think he doesn’t exist either?

No slowing down,if you can't take the speed,get out and walk.

I listened to the audiotape of the police interview. Craig sounded pretty confident and adamant about his innocence. Cut him some slack and let him work it out through the legal system.

Part of the problem with the immediate worldwide availability of news (and in so many different media)is the concurrent expectation of immediate resolution. Things like this used to take months; now people want an answer yesterday.

Slow down, world…

I am really tired of all these people being "tried" in the Media. If the Newsrooms are the new Courts in this Country, then get rid of all the Judges and other judicial servants in the United States. Furthermore, with the Media "trying" all these cases, Vick, Gonzales, Craig, etc. where are they ever going to get jurors that do not already have an opinion form? Or jurors that can fairly render a verdict in any of these cases?

David,

That is because global warming IS a trumped up joke. If you think "Al Gore" is one of the top 100 people and deserves to be in Time Magazine as a "scientist" then you are delusional.

Climate change and the people studying it are hardly the best and brightest from the field of science. Trusting the 2000 people (politicians and scientists) at Kyoto more than the 20,000 scientists and engineers that have signed petitions against the Kyoto protocol is absolutely absurd.

There is NO scientific concensus on global warming. Only the people who stand to make money off of "climate research" suggest it exists. Does that tell you something?

Had Craig been in his office with a cigar and a female intern there would have been a community *gasp* followed by a bunch of giggles. Craig's wife would have made a public statement that she loves her man and all is forgiven. That's where the true hypocrisy lies.

It also explains why Vitter still has his job.

As far as who is appointed to take Craig's place that is up to Governor Otter and the people of Idaho for whom the person will represent. If you don't like the way Craig voted in the past blame the voters of Idaho. They are the people who put Craig in office.

As a voter I accept my part in the debacle that has become American politics because I voted for George Bush. We love to point and blame. It's time we look in the mirror and accept our own responsibility for the part we play in this political "game."

BUTCH WILL JUST NOMINATE ANOTHER BUSH YES MAN,

Larry Craig is just the latest example of the hypocrisy rampant in the Republican party. Talk about a circular firing squad, the GOP is it.

Seems to me, nowadays, that all the sexual perverts are coming from the republican party.

They will find rightest, reddest, republican they can find and they will make sure his closet is locked.

it will be very interesting to find out who it is that would replace Larry Craig. and I agree 100% with the posting from Mike, these names Butch Otter and Mike Crapo don't even sound like they're REAL!!

Craig should stay in the Senate, because he is not gay, and he has good Christian values. And that is all that is important to us: not homosexual, and god fearing.

The difference between Vitter and Craig isn't much different. Vitter did not plead guilty whereas Craig pleaded guilty and then tried to reposition himself. Vitter's involvement in DC madam's prostitution ring is like behind the doors hypocracy whereas Craig's soliciting sex in public bathroom seemed outrageous and ugly. But, as the members of the "Moral, Family values" republican party, both of them should be removed from the office.

Can anyone explain to me the huge difference in reaction to Craig's getting caught, versus the virtual lack of concern over Louisiana senator David Vitter getting caught frequenting prostitutes?
To me, neither one is in itself grounds for firing, but the Republican leadership is falling all over itself pushing Craig out the door, whereas I don't remember hearing even a whisper of censure over Vitter. It just seems like a glaring discrepancy, doesn't it?

Larry Craig’s biggest lies weren’t about his sexuality, but about the environment. Senator Craig is among the leading deniers of global warming science, and his votes have matched his rhetoric. Ontheissues.org lists these votes for Senator Craig:

Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Voted YES on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997)
Voted NO on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994)
Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994)

Here’s a typical quote from Craig on the environment: "A rush to climate change at this moment … is about an '08 election. I am not at all frightened about our future and I'm not going to wring my hands and play politics with this issue. I'll vote for the right kinds of technologies, I'll not vote to penalize the consumers."

In 2003, the League of Conservation Voters gave Craig a rating of 0% on environmental issues.

Idaho is one of the most beautiful states in the union. I hope the true conservatives there will act to conserve that beauty. But it’s unlikely anything is going to change anytime soon in Idaho. The population of 1,393,262 is 68% Republican. Big agriculture, lumber, chemical, and mining will undoubtably find another representative for their special interests.

I feel sorry for Senator Craig as he copes with his personal crisis. I only wish he cared about our global one.

what? are these names real; Butch Otter and Larry Crap-o?????

A standard "screening" tool for all possible male replacements should be a plethysmograph test (look it up) while viewing "nasty, dirty" male porn.

Addendum:

Maybe I just did not realize our American people’s future and our 2008 elections are considered as contest and had too rely on hope for the best when involving my children and grandchildren.

Are the leaders of our country thinking this is some type of legal (game); conflicting boxing match?

If so; maybe all the contenders should get out the boxing gloves and let the American people see them physically wearing boxing gloves and make our government sporting spectacles.

The American people should expect more from our future leaders too bring action to the table!

Together they all should disapprove or invalidate issues by disputing their arguments with the gloves on at their upcoming debates.

So the American people will have the opportunity too enjoy them selves as an entertaining event just like any race, game debate etc. Capture all the people’s attention!

To fight and struggle for the people of our countries ground as if the parties were jousting for military poison in finding solutions for issues that are most important too instill strong leadership for generations to follow.

I am not American. I cannot vote.

If Senator Craig resigns, it will be a major distraction removed from the political stage during an election year. He should have gone public on June 9, when arrested.

The major winner in this is the American public. Hopefully, every one is now convinced that sex in public washrooms is not "safe sex" for this one more reason.

This could be the best move to ensure that Craig's seat stays in Republican hands come next November. Imagine if Craig stuck around to face a Democratic challenger.

If I where Craig I'd say, "I'll resign when William 'Cold-Cash' Jefferson resigns."!!!

Hopefully, Gov. Otter will go out of his way to chose a man or woman who can be a breath of fresh air. In my opinion, this would be a person who wishes to be a true representative of the people they serve and one who does not use religion or sanctimonious "values" arguments to divide the electorate and the two parties into "good vs. evil!" We have had quite enough of that sort of hypocricy!

Why doesn't Craig just become a Democrat? They embrace sexual perverts.

Hmmm…One of their senators appears to be gay, the other is named "Crapo," and the governor calls himself "Butch" (presumably overcompensating for something)?

Is Idaho the new San Francisco?

Another "I'm not gay", self-righteous,christian fundamentalist no doubt.

They'll make sure his replacement knows how to use the toilet on the airplane itself.Or they could get Mr. Potato head or some other lacky robot.
Since that governor has rumoured drinking issues, you would think the replacement would be a hard drinking frat boy.

Yea, good idea. They should keep that position "in house" since that policy seems to be very effective in weeding out the scumbags in government…

So can we kick Idaho out of the Union or what's the deal with that? I could re-write Fifty Nifty United States for free.

Craig's actions are inexcusable. He shouldn't stay. Idaho needs its most influential voice in the Senate to get things done. Dirk Kempthorne is the most likely man for the job. He was in the Senate before, and then governor before Pres. Bush appointed him to be Sec. of Interior. Of coarse the president doesn't want to fill two cabinet positions at the same time, but this is what is in Idaho's best interest. I'm sure several western Republican governors and senators have already thought ahead and have recommendations prepared for a new Sec of Interior. Everyone is always thinking two steps ahead in the chess game of politics.

Another win for intolerance and hypocrisy in the Grand Old Party…Make sure to distance yourself from the self-hating closet-case and replace him with another bastion of "morality" and "family values." Gee, ain't America grand?

I just can't believe they are saying Senator Craig is gay..!!

Rubbish…!!!

I was dancing with him last week; he not once blew on my ear.

Bob