Monday
Feb212011
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill An argument with George
Feb 21, 2011 Greens George Monbiot invites everyone to come along for an argument on his spring/summer speaking tour of the UK. Dates are here.
It would probably be a cheap shot to make too much of the fact that one of the dates is at the Glasgow Comedy Festival.
Reader Comments (20)
M: I came here for a good argument.
A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
A: It can be.
M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
A: No it isn't.
M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
A: Yes it is!
M: No it isn't!
A: Yes it is!
M: Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes.
A: No it isn't.
M: It is.
A: Not at all.
M: Now look.
bit of an ego on show.....
"In the first half of each session, I’ll start by choosing a topic, lay out my case for a few minutes, then invite people to try to knock it down. In the second half, the floor will be thrown open for any subject you want to raise, and any argument you want to have. Come and test your wits at the following venues:"
Barry Woods
Sounds gripping, but I am washing my hair on all the scheduled dates
Just watch the The Video .
Humber Mouth Festival.
Tee Hee
Cheap shot? He wants money! Seems like less of the 'left hook', and more like 'the strawman cometh' though.
Nothing's too cheap and comedy's a key factor in the unravelling, I've felt it in my bones for many a month, Josh has proved the point on many a dark day and news of The Heretic has strongly underlined it. I just don't think George is that good at stand up. Which reminds me, we must remember Ben Miller in all this. Another key man. His Horizon piece wasn't a bad start really. How will he turn? The HSI or something else entirely?
I suspect this is not going to be good for GM. I fancy that he needs some peace and quiet, some time to think away from the hurly-burly of provocative journalism, and a time to reflect more deeply on the writings of those with whom he chooses to disagree, such as Lindzen, Plimer, Carter, Spencer, Monckton, and Lawson. Merely mentioning such names in his presence might get him agitated and upset. I fear this tour will merely agitate and disturb him even further, and will reduce his chances of thinking more deeply about that can of worms known as 'climate change'.
I think we will find that George's tour (the clue is in the title) is a tour revolving around political (party-political sort of political) argument rather than the politics of "climate change".
George is gently and almost imperceptively edging away from the doomsday schtick of AGW. He is not a stupid man and he does not want to be left holding the baby when the scare evaporates. Expect fewer and fewer opinion pieces from him on carbon dioxide and many more on corporations and the Tories.
I hope people will go and shout at him along the lines of : "Why are you bothering with party politics when the WORLD HAS A FEVER! WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHEEEEELDREN!"
Having watched George debate, I can categorically state he is piss-poor at it. Prone to excruciating toe-curling antics such as the one shown here at about 1 minute 50 seconds in. (I wish I was clever enough to produce a proper link )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsgl-Emp-Q
This is from a Munk debate in Canada to which George " flying-in-an-airplane-is-the-same-as-child-abuse" Monbiot jetted off immediately before Copenhagen COP 15.
The evidence is clear. I rest my case.
P.S. In line with the Bishop's sensitivities, I try not to get too "ad hom" but I merely suggest that viewers might like, for their own edification, to keep in mind the word "punchable" while watching this clip.
If you are reading , George, I can only use the immortal words of AGW Scare-monger-with-book-to-peddle Mark Hertsgaard, who could only come up with these after having been embarrassingly hoist with his own petard during his "ambush" interview* of Senator Inhofe recently...." Nothing personal!"
*P.P.S. For those of you who have not seen this, be sure to watch BOTH versions as shown here.
http://forgottenliberty.com/sen-inhofe-owns-global-warming-scammer/
P.P.P.S. Not my ideal choice of site but the only one where I could quickly find both versions together.
It sounds that there is to be lots of hot air and CO2 released this Spring !
Shouldn’t George be in Wales planting vegetables during spring?
OT:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/17/live-blog-libya
5:54pm: The London School of Economics - where Saif al-Islam Gaddafi attended university - says it is reviewing its links with Libya. The university says it has previously "delivered executive education programmes to Libyan officials, principally from the Economic Development Board". It has also received funding for scholarships in return for "advice given to the Libyan Investment Authority in London".
It is not expecting any further funds, the school says, but "intends to continue its work on democratisation in North Africa funded from other sources unrelated to the Libyan authorities".
(The London School of Economics is also known for the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.)
I trust that he will not be polluting his ,oral purity by charging any money for these events. Or that if he should make a bob or two it will be donated to a good cause.
Since he is so keen at casting aspersions on other's motivations and ethics, would it be churlish to demand a public statement of intent, and then publication of audited accounts for this touring gab- and ego-fest?
Churlish or not, it'd be bloody good fun.Sauce for the goose etc....
I hope he's going on his bike.
Alas Poor George
He fouled his well.
With verdant shades
his vision veiled.
Seductive warmth
is never cold.
Remember him, the sad Cuckold!
As a political journalist GM is an entertaining read, but does he understand anything about science?
The only public spectacle involving Moonbat that I would pay to see would also involve the resurrection of the late Mr Pierrepont to demonstrate his most famous skills.
Not meaning to get off topic, I was wondering, Andrew, if you are aware of this new "Synthesis Report" from the PIK.
Are they really that naive?
http://www.european-climate-forum.net/fileadmin/ecf-documents/Press/A_New_Growth_Path_for_Europe__Synthesis_Report.pdf
I watched a video of GM 'debating' Dr Plimer, with the aid of a ver Warmist meeja 'personality' who didn't appear to have one. GM's debating skill set consisted of being rude, being rude and being egregiously rude. He shouted, he interupted, he hectored, all with the aid of the so-called chairman. It was nothing more than an assault and I would never give GM the time of day. Even If I was wearing two watches.
@Jack Savage
"(I wish I was clever enough to produce a proper link)"
Let me show you how to be as clever as Bill Gates. ;-)
A simple address is good enough. One can just copy&paste the link/url inside the address bar. That means the reader must do some extra work (approx 5 to 10 secs) to see where the link takes them to.
Clickable link (hyperlink or "proper link") makes it as easy for the reader as simple mouse click, but it requires extra work (approx10-20 secs) from the commenter.
I tend to create clickable links only when I want to further encourage the reader to go to the source. For reference purposes, a simple web address will do.