Allergies? The warm weather makes it tough on people with fall allergies? Is that really the best GMA can do when it comes to wringing its hands over the warm winter weather people in the Northeast have been enjoying?
Except for fleeting references to January bouquets and falling oil prices, GMA's segment this morning was one long whine-a-thon about the mild winter. I do mean long. GMA led with the segment and devoted over six of its precious first-half hour minutes to the subject, more than it spent on the historic takeover of Congress by the Dems.
Robin Roberts kicked things off by fretting: "Animals are not hibernating; people are still suffering from fall allergies."
ABC reporter John Berman took it from there, repeating that "the warm air is bad news for people with allergies" and bringing in a doctor to explain: "there's still plenty of mold in the air left over from the fall because it hasn't been cold enough, long enough, for that mold to go away."
Oh, and New Yorkers could be on the verge of dying of thirst: "last year at this time around the cities reservoirs, there were 50 billion gallons of water stored up in the snowpacks. This year: zilch, zero, nothing." OK, but has it simply been warm, or is there a drought, too? If not, then wouldn't at least some of the water normally stored up as snow have already fallen as rain and be in the reservoirs?
When Berman threw it back to the studio, Diane Sawyer reacted with an alarmed "oh my goodness," and maintained that tone of concern for the remainder of the segment. Sawyer brought in Jay Gulledge, a scientist at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
Rather than asking an open-ended question, Sawyer posed a series heavily-loaded queries:
- "What's the number one, most worrying thing to you right now?"
- "Is this the irreversible part of global warming?"
- "Are you saying for instance that mosquitoes will not be killed off. Beetles. Are there other pests, and therefore we're going to see a bumper crop come summer?"
- "Have you seen insects, in numbers and I guess in predatory behavior, that really scares you?"
- "Polar bears. At this rate have we lost them?" For the record, there are many more polar bears today than 50 years ago. While numbers might be declining in one limited area they are increasing in others. Details here.
While the scientist generally took his lead from Diane, he was actually less alarmist than Diane herself.
Throughout the Gulledge interview, ABC editorialized with its screen graphic: "January Heat Wave - Is Global Warming To Blame?" Blame? Here in Ithaca, I'm not blaming global warming, if that's what it is. I'm cheering it! Isn't it good for millions of those "working-class Americans" that the MSM loves to champion that the cost of heating their homes and filling their gas tanks is down as a result of the warm weather? And aren't many more lives being saved as a result of snow-and-ice free roads and sidewalks [no shoveling-induced heart-attacks] than are being lost to the unspeakable depradations of hayfever?
But ABC didn't want us to hear from anyone not toeing the Al Gore/impending-doom line.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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I watched this garbage this m
January 5, 2007 - 10:54 ET by alcatrazI watched this garbage this morning. OMG, I thought Diane was going to stroke for a minute. She just kept on and on and on. Her guest was like, ummm Okay, yeah, whatever you say... Oh know, does this mean that someone in NY is sneezing right now because of alergies? And the cherry blossoms blooming early...what will we do? Is this the beginning of the end? If the Dimocraps don't get a handle on this soon, I'm moving to Canada.
EPA to Mandate Reductions in
January 5, 2007 - 10:59 ET by donsalesEPA to Mandate Reductions in Emissions from Volcanoes
(Mt. St. Helens, Washington State) Under new rules that are part of the Clean Air Planning Act, volcanoes, long responsible for more particulate and sulfur dioxide pollution than all human-caused emissions, might not get a pass any longer.
The volcanic emissions portions of the legislation was finally agreed upon by congressional negotiators after congress decided to allow states in which eruptions occur to come up with their own enforcement mechanisms.
"We realize that it might be difficult for the states to come up with efficient and cost-effective measures for achieving volcanic emission reductions", said EPA Assistant Administrator Dr. Susan Vulcan. "That is why the reduction requirements are implemented gradually over time...only 5% each year".
Dr. Vulcan said that state officials will have a much easier time than some countries will have if the United Nations Volcanic Emissions Negation Treaty (UN-VENT) is ratified. She explained that volcanoes in the United States are not nearly as explosive as volcanoes in other countries. For instance, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Phillipines in June of 1991 emitted millions of tons of sulfur, a pollution event that is well beyond what can be cleansed by scrubber technology now widely used at coal-fired power plants.
Because of the recent reawakening of the Mt. St. Helens volcano, Washington is likely the first state that will have to abide by the new emission reduction targets if they become law. Several companies have already submitted bids to Washington State to build and install massive "mountain scrubbers" that are expected to remove hundreds of tons of emissions per day during a major eruption.
While the new mountain scrubber technology is expensive, most states with volcanic hazards have indicated that they will increase the state sales tax rate on tobacco products in order to raise the additional revenue necessary to pay for the mountain scrubbers.
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
OMG! "There are two t
January 5, 2007 - 11:06 ET by MightyMouthOMG!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Dr Vulcan---volcanic emissions
January 5, 2007 - 11:13 ET by misterbillDr Vulcan--volcanic emissions. Can Al Gore control these emissions??? Will these scrubbers be electrically powered or steam powered? (Perhaps coal-fired?)
Can we direct the emissions out over the Pacific?? If not, over Hollywood? What effect will the sulfur have on Nancy's complexion?? What happens if the eruption occurs on a day with large amounts of cow flatulence in the atmosphere? Can we use the lava to heat the northwest in the winter? How many polar bears will suffer??? What effect will this have on the minimum wage? Wht don't we just put a cover on it?(Mt St Helen).
A cover over Mt St Helens?
January 5, 2007 - 17:35 ET by FishFace222A cover over Mt St Helens? Al Gore's mouth should do it.
Wow, and investment opportuni
January 5, 2007 - 11:14 ET by FastEdWow, and investment opportunity! Who's going to making the scrubbers? GE, Haliburton? How about RJ Renolds, they already make filters!
Is this the Dr. Vulcan you were quoting? - http://www.comicboards.com/xmb/attachments/060503011143/Vulcan.jpg
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
FastEd comicboards
January 5, 2007 - 11:25 ET by misterbillFastEd comicboards--Nothing on screen when I go there. Their banner at top the rest is blank.
Bad link - this should work -
January 5, 2007 - 11:51 ET by FastEdBad link - this should work - http://www.comicboards.com/xmb/view.php?rpl=060715072718
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
lol....Nowhere to Run....Nowh
January 5, 2007 - 11:54 ET by donsaleslol....
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
Be afraid
January 5, 2007 - 11:07 ET by iveseenitallBe afraid. No, not of global warming. Fear the moronic liberals on your t.v. Hide your children!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Mark, why does everyone look
January 5, 2007 - 11:11 ET by FastEdMark, why does everyone look to the downside of warming? With warmer temps, we, as the biggest polluter (I heard that on the news, so it has to be right) will be using LESS of the polluting hydrocarbons to heat our homes this winter, which, as we'ver been told to do, is a GOOD thing.
As far as water levels for NY, specifically NYC, the NYC DEP calculates normal for this time of year to be 78.2% of capacity, while the actual, right now level is 95.5%.
Seems I'd never get a job with the msm (Lsm) 'cause I look for facts.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
Ed, It's the MSM who repo
January 5, 2007 - 11:15 ET by Chris NormanEd,
It's the MSM who report the downside of winning a lottery. They can find the dark cloud over any silver lining, everytime. Of course, it's even better when they can tie it in as a negative for the Bush Administration...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
With warmer temps, the media
January 5, 2007 - 17:41 ET by FishFace222With warmer temps, the media can't run the predictable stories they run year after year about people having to turn the heat off due to the high cost of heating oil. These stories are used merely to fill that alotted time. No sense in running anything positive.
LOL!
January 5, 2007 - 12:00 ET by Brian C. LedbetterSomeone probably ought to point out to GMA that it's not exactly at above-average temperatures over in Seattle and Oregon right now. Or Denver, for that matter.
El Nino, anybody?
;)
Now I can't remember where I
January 5, 2007 - 14:20 ET by taznarNow I can't remember where I saw that discussed. One of the issues was if we'd hear so much about it if more of the news reporters were located in the midwest/west as opposed to the northeast. Their experience is biased, which leads to biased reporting.
Extremely true. Imagine, if
January 5, 2007 - 14:39 ET by UnsaneExtremely true. Imagine, if you will, New York getting hit with as much snow as Denver has gotten. Do you think for ONE minute that they would EVER shut up about it?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
It's amazing how having a dif
January 5, 2007 - 13:00 ET by HypocriteHaterIt's amazing how having a different perspective of things will totally turn the MSM's negative into a positive. But as always, for them, if it bleeds it leads. I guess it doesn't make for a good news segment if Diane has to report that life is good for everyone.
I'm loving this warm upstate NY weather, although the weather reports say it's coming to an end on Monday. Of course, this won't make the news at GMA.
"Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong." - Ronald Reagan
I've changed my mind. Globa
January 5, 2007 - 13:19 ET by mattmI've changed my mind. Global Warming IS caused by humans: It's the direct result of the anal gases emanating from the oral cavities of environmentalists.
... then by direct inferenc
January 5, 2007 - 13:27 ET by MightyMouth... then by direct inference it must have something to do with the food they consume. Therefore, tree-hugging-granola-eating-vegans, should start eating big Macs to reduce global warming. Gee, this science stuff is easy!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Therefore we don't have to gi
January 5, 2007 - 13:32 ET by FastEdTherefore we don't have to give up our SUV's!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
Now if we could just somehow
January 5, 2007 - 13:47 ET by RunningBeerNow if we could just somehow harness that emanatining energy... hmmm
Excellent suggestion Runnin
January 5, 2007 - 14:02 ET by MightyMouthExcellent suggestion RunningBeer, how about miniture "ass scrubbers" that all enviromentalists are required to wear by federal mandate. Collection stations could be set up at gas stations for reclaimation. We are on to something here!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
With that amount of energy we
January 5, 2007 - 14:47 ET by RunningBeerWith that amount of energy we could have easily thawed Denver out in time for the holidays!
Winter isn't over yet Diane a
January 5, 2007 - 13:57 ET by bigtimerWinter isn't over yet Diane and all you global warming alarmist....things happen in cycles....for example, we are expecting a foot here in the next twenty four hours...I am just soooo looking forward to it.
People do not even know how to be happy when they have it good for a winter....buy hey...say what you will, they will eventually have to dig themselves out of another snowbank.
Repeat something that is untrue often enough and it must be a fact...look at how they manipulated the little lemmings during the last election....
Sheeeeeesh!
"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under." Ronald Reagan
Hello BT..Diane needs to look
January 5, 2007 - 14:05 ET by bassndudeHello BT..Diane needs to look on the bright side. Longer fishing seasons, more water to fish in. The ice caps melt and we get more lakes and deeper oceans. Besides, I got a new Diawa Viento reel for Christmas...the sooner it warms up some, the faster I can use it...:-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
THe UPSIDE as described by F
January 5, 2007 - 15:05 ET by JayTeeTHe UPSIDE as described by Fox news...may offset the "perception" by some..below..
Warm weather across much of the U.S. may help American consumers lower more than just their heating bills. It could also leave them paying less at the pump as mild temperatures continue to sink oil prices.
Price of Oil has dropped $2.73 Wed/Thurs....
These "global" warm
January 5, 2007 - 16:15 ET by jonathanandersonThese "global" warming idiots ... an ice shelf broke off in Antarctica (and it's not even a huge one) and they can't figure out that it's SUMMER down there ... ice sheets break off EVERY year.
"Globalwarmingtology" is a pseudo-science of fact-mining and data-sifting to create misinformation and fear about regional, seasonal, and historical temperature variations. It's Bigfoot, Area 51, and the Loch Ness Monster all wrapped up into a nice little doom's day scenario that the MSM can market to the masses. There will be a sighting here and a sighting there, accusations of a government cover-up, and plenty of wackos to say "These things really DO exist!!", but it's still just smoke, mirrors, and theatrics.
For a good laugh on the varying insanities of global warming watch these South Park episodes :
http://www.southparkx.net/episodes/1006-manbearpig
http://www.southparkx.net/episodes/1002-smug-alert
http://www.southparkx.net/episodes/908-two-days-before-the-day-after-tomorrow
And get a bit torrent client here : http://www.bittorrent.com/download.html
And a Real Player here (to play the .ram files) : http://www.real.com/
Be sure to download the (RM) torrent and not the (AVI) ... it can take 30 minutes or more to get the .avi file (even though it will play in Windows Media Player).
Pineapples, tomatoes - YES!
January 5, 2007 - 14:35 ET by Gary HallI'm happy as a lark - went out into the back yard and picked two pineapples for the Christmas season, and still getting a few tomatoes and jalapenos - Oh, but then again.. I do live in So. California.
And by the way - the cyclic drought that had stung many parts of the West for several years now, seems to be at least temporarily rather soggy - with deep snowpack in the mountains.
ABC is a big underwriter for
January 5, 2007 - 16:05 ET by jonathanandersonABC is a big underwriter for globalwarming-tology. They're going to short-stroke, a__-pound, and give the reach-around to this story angle for years.
They're going to take any seasonal anomaly they can find and turn into an Al-Gore-fest on "global" warming.
It's like my idiot neighbor ... she tried to convince me of global warming by showing me her patio thermometer at 105 degress. Well, that d_mn thing had been in direct sunlight for almost 2 hours.
I think ABC is simply reporti
January 6, 2007 - 00:46 ET by balboaI think ABC is simply reporting news. That's all. It's news that this winter is very mild. So, after you've reported that part of it, what other facets are there? Allergies, polar bears, etc.
Yes, this provides an opportunity to bring up the dreaded global warming, but the fact that it's a mild winter and there are ramifications therein, is news.
It's been a warm winter, huh?
January 6, 2007 - 05:36 ET by UnsaneIt's been a warm winter, huh? Try telling that to Seattle or Denver. And as warm as it has been here in TX (VERY shocking, right?), we DID get freezing rain right around 12 December.
And, as I pointed out in a post above, do you think for a second that if New York was getting clobbered the way Denver has been, that ANY of the networks would shut up about ot for longer than 10 seconds?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
I live in New England. I have
January 6, 2007 - 14:06 ET by balboaI live in New England. I haven't worn gloves ONCE this winter. I didn't turn on the heat in my apartment until mid-December. Today it's over 60 degrees.
No, this winter isn't warm at all...
Is it warmer? I'm not sure.
January 6, 2007 - 11:01 ET by danboIs it warmer? I'm not sure. Our 1st frost usually hits in December. Freezes start about Christmas.
This year. 1st frost was mid November. 1st mlid to hard freeze. Early December.
Yep the last few days have been warm. But we usually get a number of warm days in Jan. And Feb.
I guess we have to blame climate change for this years Hurricane season.
The end of the world has been posponed till after the taxes are collected.
Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." Albert Einstein
winter began 16 Days ago.
January 6, 2007 - 11:10 ET by Jack BauerIt's news that this winter is very mild.
the winter season began on December 21 in the Northern hemisphere. That was, like, all of SIXTEEN DAYS ago.
Don't you think it's slightly early to pronounce on Winter.
In like a lamb, out like a lion.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex