I first wrote about Green Wackos back in November of last year. In so doing, I added a small blurb about the Weather Channel’s supremely-irritating “Climate Expert,” Dr. Heidi Cullen.
Oh, and for the folks at The Weather Channel: stick to your knitting and spare us the global warming sermons. You’re very good at what you do, which is weather reporting. On the other hand, I find Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Expert, and her "commentary" annoying as all get-out. Stop it.
Well, the good doctor has become more than irritating. She is now threatening, as in advocating certain professional certifications be revoked for meteorologists who just might be skeptical about the human causes of “global warming.” (I’ve removed certain links in the quotes below because they were originally posted in a ham-handed way and screw up the formatting in this post.)
The Weather Channel’s (TWC) Heidi Cullen, who hosts the weekly global warming program "The Climate Code," is advocating that the American Meteorological Society (AMS) revoke their "Seal of Approval" for any television weatherman who expresses skepticism that human activity is creating a climate catastrophe.
"If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of Approval. Clearly, the AMS doesn't agree that global warming can be blamed on cyclical weather patterns," Cullen wrote in her December 21 weblog on the Weather Channel Website. [Note: It is also worth taking a look at the comments section at the bottom of Cullen’s blog, very entertaining.] See: (link removed) This latest call to silence skeptics of manmade global warming has been the subject of discussion at the annual American Meteorological Society’s Annual conference in San Antonio Texas this week. See: (link removed)
"It's like allowing a meteorologist to go on-air and say that hurricanes rotate clockwise and tsunamis are caused by the weather. It's not a political statement...it's just an incorrect statement," Cullen added. [Note: Hurricanes (Cyclones) in the Southern Hemisphere do rotate clockwise. Also, Cullen and the media have ignored the growing climate skepticism by prominent scientists see: (link removed)
Cullen’s call for decertification of TV weatherman who do not agree with her global warming assessment follows a year (2006) in which the media,
[…]
Broadcast meteorologists (TV weatherman) skeptical of climate alarmism have -- up until now -- been unburdened to speak out on climate issues. Cullen’s call for decertification by the AMS can only serve to intimidate skeptics and further chill free speech in the scientific community. Stripping the "Seal of Approval" from broadcast meteorologists could affect their livelihoods, impact their salaries and prestige. TV weathermen are truly the last of the independent scientists and past surveys have shown many of them to be skeptical of manmade global warming claims. Their independence is being threatened now.
If you can’t convince dissenters with the logic of your arguments, backed up by facts, then intimidate them. Above all, silence them. There’s no need for further debate, the issue has been decided, right? Sarcasm doesn’t really work here…the whole approach is simply despicable.
My original post about Dr. Cullen was more of an aside than anything else. I didn’t give specific reasons for finding her and her show objectionable. But the article I’ve quoted above hits all the bases, not the least of which is her obvious star-struck demeanor and promotion of the ecological views of Big Hollywood Stars, as if those frickin’ idiots have anything informed and meaningful to say on the subject. Oh, yeah… and Algore, too.
Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Expert Green Wacko, First Class.
Update: There are 438 (!) comments to the post on Dr. Cullen's TWC blog , the one where she calls for the de-certification of meteorologists who don't toe the line. And they're pretty damned funny. I am NOT alone...
Update II (1000 hrs, Jan 20): Dr. Cullen has posted a response to this brouhaha on her blog. She says, in part:
I've read all your comments saying I want to silence meteorologists who are skeptical of the science of global warming. That is not true. The point of my post was never to stifle discussion. It was to raise it to a level that doesn't confuse science and politics. Freedom of scientific expression is essential.
Many of you have accused me and The Weather Channel of taking a political position on global warming. That is not our intention.
Our goal at The Weather Channel has always been to keep people out of harm's way. Whether it's a landfalling hurricane or global warming.
I looked for (but couldn't find) the part where she says "never mind" about decertifying meteorologists who do not agree about the human impact on climate change.
Dr. Cullen's response has generated 1193 comments in two days; the comments form has a message stating "** Due to the tremendous recent response to Heidi's blog, posts may take up to one business day to appear. **" Ya think?
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