Some Right-Wingers are just way too full of themselves....

Take Francis W. Porretto.

A fella wrote a short letter to the editor in my local newspaper urging folks to see the disgraced and deceptive video "The Great Global Warming Swindle." I remembered reading something about that, but I couldn't remember exactly what, so I did a little Googling. One of the returns that came up was to Porretto's site, specifically, this essay that he had written. Porretto writes glowingly of the video, but of course spends most of the screed yammering on about how the Left [insert scary music here] is trying to suppress it, censor it, etc. I had earlier visited a couple of articles on The Independent's website, in which the dishonesty of the claims in the video were pointed out (here is one example). So, I left the following message at Porretto's site:

You folks might want to read this:
http://www.medialens.org/alerts/07/0313pure_propaganda_the.php
Then again, probably not....

Terrible, right?

I guess so. Well, 'Fran' replies:

I could refute those claims about fifty different ways, Doppelganger. So could anyone who actually knows a shred or two about atmospheric physics. (I hold a Ph.D. in physics.) For one thing, CO2 is not the most potent greenhouse gas, water is.
But leaving trivia such as technical accuracy to the side for a moment, why should conservatives treat with respect the assertions of a writer—yourself—who positions himself as against “right-wing nuttery?” Or those of MediaLens, which claims to oppose “the distorted vision of the corporate media?”
Show a little respect for your political opponents if you want your opponents to take your views seriously. Among other things, some of us are brighter and better informed than you think—or are.

Well, I guess he told me, eh? A PhD in physics.... Well, I guess I am not as bright or as informed as Fran Porretto, but I do know how to use scientific journal search engines. And lo and behold, not a single return for Frannie the Physicist. I suppose I should not have expected any - such a towering intellect as Fran cannot waste his precious time doing scientific research. Istead, he busies himself writing 4 star book reviews for Ann Coulter - whom Fran the Physicist admires - on amazon.com.

But anyway, let's revisit Fran's hysterical reply to me:

I could refute those claims about fifty different ways, Doppelganger. So could anyone who actually knows a shred or two about atmospheric physics. (I hold a Ph.D. in physics.)

Well, I replied and asked Fran to refute the claims. I said I'd settle for one, not the 50 he boasts of being able to do. In fact, I am going to alter my reply to him thusly:

Just refute this:

"My [Carl Wunsch's] appearance in the ‘Global Warming Swindle’ is deeply embarrassing, and my professional reputation has been damaged. I was duped---an uncomfortable position in which to be."

You see, the video that you liked deceptively edited snippets from their interviews with Wunsch, for example, to make it appear as though he did not accept global warming on some level. So please, Fran, refute away! In fact, just refute that one way. I'm sure you can, what with your software engineer background and your PhD in physics! I mean, you DID read the article, didn't you?

For one thing, CO2 is not the most potent greenhouse gas, water is.

Great! Funny thing is, the article I linked to was not even about global warming per se, it was specifically about pointing out some of the deceptive, dishonest claims made in the video that you liked and defended. You did see the video, didn't you? You did read the article I linked to, didn't you, such that you just know you can refute the claims 50 ways? Or was that just the usual right-wing hubris gurgling up?

But leaving trivia such as technical accuracy to the side for a moment, why should conservatives treat with respect the assertions of a writer—yourself—who positions himself as against “right-wing nuttery?”

I did not realize that leaving a link would be considered an assertion. But hey - you are brighter and better informed than poor little me! Oh - by the way, your near hysterical response is a very nice example of right wing nuttery! Thanks! And as far as respect, well, I'll get to that in a moment...

Or those of MediaLens, which claims to oppose “the distorted vision of the corporate media?”

Yeah, OK... Did you have a point? I mean other than making it clear that you did not read the article I linked to that you will soon refute 50 ways even though it was not even about global warming per se?

Show a little respect for your political opponents if you want your opponents to take your views seriously.

OK - how is this:

Next time I talk to you, I'll use a baseball bat!

If you had a brain, you'd be a liberal!

You're a traitor!

Is that showing respect for you Fran?

Say - that really IS easier than thinking! And you CANNOT be upset by it - after all, I just borrowed a couple of oh-so-clever and witty phrases from right-wing pundit Ann Coulter, of whom you approve and admire!

Among other things, some of us are brighter and better informed than you
think—or are.

I am sure there are conservatives who are brighter than me, and liberals, too. I am also sure that there are better informed folks than me on all sides.

But I don't think it is you, Mr. Porretto. Not by a long shot.