When a high-profile government employee goes overseas claiming "The democratic process doesn't quite seem to be working," should the American news media take notice.
After all, such was uttered Wednesday by NASA's James Hansen, one of the world's foremost climate alarmists who is disgusted by the fact that democratically elected governments aren't completely buying into his junk science concerning anthropogenic global warming.
As a result, he's not only advocating acts of civil disobedience here in America, but he is also in England to participate in a protest at the Coventry headquarters of power firm E.ON.
Makes one wonder if our tax dollars paid for his trip.
As the British Guardian reported Wednesday:
James Hansen, a climate modeller with Nasa, told the Guardian today that corporate lobbying has undermined democratic attempts to curb carbon pollution. "The democratic process doesn't quite seem to be working," he said.
Speaking on the eve of joining a protest against the headquarters of power firm E.ON in Coventry, Hansen said: "The first action that people should take is to use the democratic process. What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.
"The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes. So, I'm not surprised that people are getting frustrated. I think that peaceful demonstration is not out of order, because we're running out of time."
Amazingly, Hansen even took a swipe at Obama:
He said he was growing "concerned" over the stance taken by the new US adminstration on global warming. "It's not clear what their intentions are yet, but if they are going to support cap and trade then unfortunately i [sic] think that will be another case of greenwash. It's going to take stronger action than that."
I'm sure American media will be all over Hansen's disturbing remarks real soon.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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Comments Policy
When a government scientist
March 19, 2009 - 10:24 ET by 10ksnookeron the government payroll, joins a bunch of wacko fruit cakes in a protest march against government, maybe firing the person and filling charges would be in order.
Isn't this the guy who lied
March 19, 2009 - 10:27 ET by mattmIsn't this the guy who lied about global warming just so he could get funding? He has ZERO credibility...
Still, he has a point, but it's not that the democratic process isn't working, it's just that the democratic process is being abused...by leftists like him.....
"The democratic process is
March 19, 2009 - 10:30 ET by dbo"The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes..."
It's time that environmental activist, political advocate and part-time scientist James Hansen take a look in the mirror. He's always been a bit of a loon but ever since he accepted a $250,000 award from Mrs. John Kerry in 2001 he's seems to have undergone a complete metamorphosis. Some of the things he said prior to 2001 almost seem quite rational.
Living Proof.
March 19, 2009 - 10:32 ET by CrashTrue Jimmy ... otherwise you'd be out a job!
NASA Administrator = another 'vacant' position
March 19, 2009 - 10:42 ET by SickofLibsThis JO is a loose cannon and needs to be reigned in. Especially since now he thinks he's also entitled to take his act overseas.
And who would be the logical choice to do that? The head guy, the NASA Administrator.
Guess what? The previous Administrator resigned effective Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 and NOW NOBODY IS IN CHARGE!
EDIT: Ever occur to anyone the democratic process may be impaired because half the effing government is missing?
Kick him out...
March 19, 2009 - 10:42 ET by ScrapironWhen Algorabge's AH returns he should find his office cleaned out (And prepartation H applied) or someone else sitting at the desk. If the head of NASA isn't a brain dead O'Dumbo clone that would happen. I think he has killed the support of millions for the NASA mission and they (NASA) wonder where they're money went.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
a last desperate cry
March 19, 2009 - 10:44 ET by wizardjrHansen et al have jumped the shark and they realize it. Even if their BS did reduce 'global warming', once the public finds out the costs to change the global temperature a degree or so (supposedly), the public opts out.
The wheels have come off the wagon and the screeching is just getting louder by the day. The alarmists have been ratcheting up the disaster scenario and shortening the deadline monthly. That should tell you a lot about the veracity of this gang of thieves and scammers.
Before you know it, tomorrow
March 19, 2009 - 10:51 ET by MrSnugglesBefore you know it, tomorrow will be doomsday. And when that doesn't happen, it will be the next day, and then the next day. Disaster will always be just a day away.
Always funny.
March 19, 2009 - 10:51 ET by Dave in TexasI always love the arguments these guys give: Because I'm not getting the results I want, the democratic process isn't working.
I never realized that a democratic process was supposed to guarantee results that made everybody happy.
Too bad it's NASA
March 19, 2009 - 11:22 ET by slickwillie2001I'm pretty sure that all the good people at NASA are horrified by the way this loon is sullying their formerly good name. I would rather Hansen and his group of wackbats be taken out of NASA and put into some kind of new organization. Then at least we would have a discrete target to vent at and eventually disband.
As far as I'm concerned,
March 19, 2009 - 11:27 ET by fitzfongAs far as I'm concerned, James Hansen, Al Gore and the other eco-Marxists are nothing short of economic terrorists. It is their brand of intimidation and trumped-up propaganda that dried up energy supplies in a great time of need...effectively triggering the current global economic crisis. He's already been discredited as a joke, but the damage he continues to do is every bit as harmful to the economy as a terrorist attack.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Liberalism gernerates the opposite of its intent
March 19, 2009 - 11:43 ET by Franklins_LockeDoesn’t he realize we will revolt louder and in larger quantities if these lame brained policies would be instituted. So, go ahead and push this farce. We will march—in opposition.
http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/
Maybe Hanson should have
March 19, 2009 - 12:02 ET by ThisnThatMaybe Hanson should have joined the Global Warming Expedition currently stranded in the artic due to cold weather, down to it's last day of supplies. “We’re hungry, the cold is relentless, our sleeping bags are full of ice,” expedition leader Pen Hadow said in e-mailed statement. “Waiting is almost the worst part of an expedition as we’re in the lap of the weather gods.”
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
I have never seen anyone
March 19, 2009 - 12:10 ET by CaligulaI have never seen anyone skate so closely to the Hatch Act and not get fired... The rule of thumb for me (both as a member of the military and federal government employee) was always if you have to ask the question whether someone will see it as inappropriate, it probably is, so DON"T DO IT OR SAY IT. Or risk getting fired..
"The democratic process is
March 19, 2009 - 12:27 ET by Dan The Man 2"The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes. So, I'm not surprised that people are getting frustrated. I think that peaceful demonstration is not out of order, because we're running out of time."
Does this idiot realize the USA is a Republic and not a Democracy? There is not one person one vote, it is our representatives we vote for that are supposed to make the laws. And yes money is power no matter where you go and most times it is not the people but the corporations and capitalism that decides what is and is not.
But, a start woul be for this clown to recognize how things work. Democracy through representation is working,, he just doesnt see it or ecognize it as such.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
He got his vote, Mother Nature vetoed it.
March 19, 2009 - 13:18 ET by CobraManI think his problem is that, along with the rest of the AGW theorists, he GOT his vote on the reality of global warming (that consensus we keep hearing about), but the climate doesn't run on "consensus" so Mother Nature vetoed it.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Off the Island!
March 19, 2009 - 13:09 ET by CobraManWhat's the matter, Hanson? Did you get voted off the Credibility Island or something?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Hansen has
March 19, 2009 - 13:44 ET by danboHansen has spoken!!!!!
Too bad he's wrong.....
Thanks to Icecap and Climateaudit.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Regarding your "spoken" link
March 19, 2009 - 14:01 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarLet me guess ...
Hansen A was when he first started pettling his shlock. Hansen B was when he saw something just wasn't matching up. Hansen C is when he realized he better start spewing anti democracy cr@p.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
As I recall.
March 19, 2009 - 14:22 ET by danboAs I recall. Hansen's "A" prediction, was business as usual. That there were few if any changes in how we used fossil fuel. "B" was if we made moderate changes. "C" was if we made draconian reductions in how we used fossil fuels.
Quite a scientist. We really need to listen to him.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Lifting the rock
March 19, 2009 - 13:58 ET by IgnatzJFahrquar<while looking at Hansen and pointing to said rock>
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
Messenger boy
March 19, 2009 - 14:28 ET by PewahI see Hansen's comments today as a wet index finger held aloft to check the wind. Hansen feels safe making this kind of comment because it is likely that he was given the OK to do so. The Obama cabal wants to see just how far they can shove emergency edicts (not voted on by the public), such as global warming countermeasures, down our throats before it would backfire on them.
Global warming
March 19, 2009 - 22:30 ET by Joe CamelI told a couple of guys who believe in this "stuff", that if only those who believe would stop driving cars, living in houses, and using products, the issue would be solved. Then, those who don't can go on living a real life, and they could feel good about what they had done. They seem to not like that idea very well.
Better yet, retroactive abortion could help out..maybe fix what should have happened to begin with..but they don't like that idea either..Darn, hard to please them.
Our version of Trofim
March 19, 2009 - 23:47 ET by RR GOPOur version of Trofim Lysenko.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Hansen is absolutely correct! Democracy is not working.
March 20, 2009 - 02:24 ET by JWFIt has not affected the sun one wit.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Leave it to a government official......
March 20, 2009 - 20:06 ET by fastfoodLeave it to a government official to not understand that we are not a demacracy.