Dueling climate specials (FOX/CNN) 20Dec

[HarpoSpoke]

Sun 20Dec09

I believe the CNN special "Planet in Peril" (gee...wonder which way that one will lean with a title like that?) comes on at 8:00pm est while a FoxNews special comes on at 9:00pm est. The Fox special has a much more interesting name and actually hints that it will lean to the skeptical side (every passes out at the thought of it).

[HarpoSpoke]

As expected, the CNN special was all about keeping the religion safe.

I couldn't believe they actually trotted out polar bears and repeated some of the same distortions Al Gore used. Wow....

They also used the "sea level is swamping islands" thing...but actually admitted to the possibility (barely) that the islands are sinking naturally. I couldn't believe they would actually mention that after the polar bear thing. Perhaps the polar bear is so iconic to the cause it must be defended at all cost.

All in all, a good workout for my gag reflex.

The Fox special was a gathering together of some of the names I've been dying to see in one spot. Steve McIntyre, Ross McKitrick, Patrick J. Michaels, Bjorn Lomborg. James Inhofe was there also. Everyone was given time to finish their thoughts for once. Poor Lomborg was marginalized horribly on a CNN panel discussion last week at any point he started making a good point. Here he was allowed to speak.

Thanks to Michael Mann and Phil Jones refusing to appear (and they were asked), the special was not polluted with their presence. (If the EPA can arbitrarily transform CO2 into pollution I can do the same here.) Ed Markey was given ample time also, but it was fair instead of filled with setup questions slanted for him to succeed.

Fox actually addressed climategate and asked some real questions. Thank god there is one news network that will cover this stuff. I'm sure the other networks continue to not get why Fox kills them in the ratings.

And speaking of...it's nice to know that so many saw the Fox special while so few saw the CNN version.

[Sunsettommy]

I never saw either show because my wife is deep into Karaoke,thus the TV is unavailable.

[Richard111]

I looked at CCN and changed channels in disgust. I can't get FOX because the only useable signal in my location is via SKY satelite and they are now charging for FOX.

[JohnWho]

The FOX show was somewhat "fair and balanced", although it didn't focus enough on "bottom lines", in my opinion.

For example, while it discussed the problems with the "hockey stick" (and it's importance to the AGW assertion), it didn't stress that since the hockey stick is wrong, the entire basis of the recent temperature rise being unprecedent is false.

Same thing regarding atmospheric CO2 - I felt the FOX program left the viewer thinking that CO2 remains a primary cause of the warming, since neither the narrator nor any of the guests stressed that it may not be.

[HarpoSpoke]

(12-21-2009 07:00 AM)JohnWho Wrote:  The FOX show was somewhat "fair and balanced", although it didn't focus enough on "bottom lines", in my opinion.

For example, while it discussed the problems with the "hockey stick" (and it's importance to the AGW assertion), it didn't stress that since the hockey stick is wrong, the entire basis of the recent temperature rise being unprecedent is false.

Same thing regarding atmospheric CO2 - I felt the FOX program left the viewer thinking that CO2 remains a primary cause of the warming, since neither the narrator nor any of the guests stressed that it may not be.

That's fair. They may have been trying to walk a fine line. Dumbing it down for non-scientists may mean leaving things out at times. There was also a lot to fit into one hour.

I think my favorite part was after the typical spin on "nature trick" Mckitrick quickly stressed "trick" isn't the big problem...."hide the decline" is. I said aloud almost the same thing just moments before he voiced it.

[Sunsettommy]

It appears that CNN wants to continue losing viewers when they still cling to the AGW propaganda that is now being hammered by Climategate among other things.