Inhofe Still Insists 'We're In A Cold Spell': Is The Heat Getting To The Senator? (VIDEO)

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) reiterated his skepticism of climate change science during an outdoor interview at the Capitol this week, in the midst of the Washington heat wave.

"I say the same thing that I said back in January and February when we had the coldest winter that we've had in a long time," said Inhofe.

"But back then you said that we are in a cold spell, that we're nine years into it," the reporter interjected.

"Actually we are," said Inhofe. "I don't think that anyone disagrees with the fact that we actually are in the middle of a cold period that started about nine years ago."

During the record-breaking snowfall in Washington this February, Inhofe drew headlines for building an igloo outside the Capitol with his kids. The sign on it read: "Al Gore's Home. Honk If You Like Global Warming."

For years now, Inhofe has repeated the charge that global warming doesn't exist, calling it "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," and pointing to Washington's "Snowpocalypse" as evidence for the charade.

Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 2010 is globally the hottest year on record since record-keeping began in 1880.

Inhofe may not have many supporters on Capitol Hill for his cooling theory, but he can find support for his global warming doubts among his Republican counterparts. Last month Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), formerly the Democrats' best hope for an energy bill compromise, said at a press conference: "The science about global warming has changed... I think the science is in question... I think they've oversold the stuff."

But it is not likely Inhofe will get to vote on any climate legislation soon. Earlier this week, Democrats abandoned efforts to pursue an energy bill that would put a cap on carbon emissions.

Watch Inhofe's interview with ABC's Jon Karl below:

Comments

[Abram]

02:52 PM on 08/19/2010

He may think he's in a cold spell but actually he is in cloud cuckoo land. Global warming is not something that just affects the US. It is affecting the whole world. The US part in this is as the major contributor to the disaster.

[cyberfringe]

10:02 PM on 08/12/2010

If you have not already seen it, I strongly recommend you check out the website and iphone app called "Skeptical Science" at http://www.skepticalscience.com/skeptical-science-iphone-app.html The site makes it easy to find excellent scientific evidence (with links to primary resources) to counter the most commonly heard/seen claims of climate change deniers. Educational and useful, especially for those of us who go hand-to-hand with the deniers.

[SoCalHotOne]

10:59 PM on 08/12/2010

And don't worry if it fills your head with misleading information, there's also an app for that.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/07/29/new-our-climate-iphone-app-released/

[StephenBP]

10:28 PM on 08/14/2010

SoCal, cyberfringe gave you an excellent link, and you gave back one the equivalent of a bad comic book. It tends towards fiction, and, although it looks professional , it is only professional in the sense of providing professionally nurtured denialist misinformation.
I've caught Watt making stuff up out of whole cloth. What he does is criminal.

[Connery01]

12:32 PM on 08/07/2010

Well dam Jim...can you just imagine how its going to be when it warms up?

Lenny

[Publicola]

03:56 PM on 07/28/2010

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.): "I say the same thing that I said back in January and February when we had the coldest winter that we've had in a long time,"

NOAA: This past winter [Dec-Feb] was the 5th Warmest Winter on Record.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/?report=global&year=2010&month=2&submitted=Get+Report

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.): "we actually are in the middle of a cold period that started about nine years ago."

NOAA: "The 2000s decade (2000-2009) is the warmest on record for the globe, with a surface global temperature of 0.54°C (0.96°F) above the long-term (20th century) average. This shattered the 1990s value of 0.36°C (0.65°F)."

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/?report=global&year=2009&month=13

[Richard2]

02:06 PM on 07/28/2010

If you check the data from earth satellites, instead of the land based temperature sources, you find we are closer to a cold spell than a warm spell.

[Publicola]

03:38 PM on 07/28/2010

Do you understand statistical trend analysis - even basic linear regression statistical trend analysis - as it applies to the global temperature trend, R2?

I'm asking because if you do then you are intentionally disinforming again; otherwise you are simply disinforming again.

Who pays you to incessantly disinform about global warming, R2?

[lbsaltzman]

05:08 AM on 08/07/2010

I would assume he is scientifically illiterate. Professional global warming deniers would probably be slicker.

[maxwells]

03:54 PM on 07/28/2010

If you check the data on Richard2's roughly 1,400 HuffPo posts, which began ~Feb. 18, 2009, you'll find that nearly 100% of them are denials of anthropogenic global warming and its many impacts.

Ergo, he's often been asked by many whether he's in truth a paid troll, a corporate shill, i.e., a "paid, professional denier of anthropogenic global warming." He responded once as follows...

Richard2 05:19 PM on 7/18/2010 "Max, I am not, nor have ever been, a paid professional AGW denier...."

Thus, I've asked him repeatedly the very simple follow-up question: "What does AGW mean to you, Richard2?" Rather than answer that very simple question and put the matter to rest, his only response was on Jul 19, 2010 at 10:07:38

Richard2: "“Does anyone not know what the "A" in AGW stands for? Does anyone not know what AGW is an abbreviation of?””

What's the problem, Richard2? Why can't you answer such a simple question? Would it bother your handler and their legal staff?

[affidavit]

07:14 PM on 07/27/2010

Like a good Republican, when the facts do not agree with his ideology, throw away the facts.

[cyberfringe]

10:04 PM on 08/12/2010

Logic and rationality have never been their strengths (or interests).

[DAVROS1]

08:39 AM on 07/27/2010

Senator James Inhoffe. You can just call him Jack.

[Murphdogg]

02:45 PM on 07/26/2010

I'm tired of the flat earthers. If this guy doesn't believe scientists, take away his heart meds and let him pop.

[cslib]

08:17 AM on 07/27/2010

Don't forget his little blue pills.

[cslib]

08:19 AM on 07/27/2010

Also, I didn't know they had pills that GOPers could take to grow a heart.

[SoCalHotOne]

12:06 PM on 07/26/2010

Uh oh. Lost another one.

http://allpainnogain.cfact.org/default.asp

[chrisd3]

02:59 PM on 07/26/2010

No, it's not "another one". CFACT is just another free-market conservative think tank with Sallie Baliunas as an advisor. It's a clone of all the other conservative free-market think tanks with Sallie Baliunas as an advisor.

And if you're referring to the Rancourt video, Rancourt is neither a "liberal environmentalist," as the blog post title claims, nor a "climate researcher," as the onscreen graphic claims. He's a crank with no climate science background who was chucked out of the University of Ottawa on his ear.

[Publicola]

03:40 PM on 07/28/2010

Uh oh. SoCalHO is disinforming about another one.

[LarBear]

11:20 AM on 07/26/2010

TO: Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)

For years now, Inhofe has repeated the charge that global warming doesn't exist, calling it "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," and pointing to Washington's "Snowpocalypse" as evidence for the charade.

OH MY! I, along with many others, have always considered YOU, one of the "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people"... But, YOU are in "Good Company" with other Just say NO to America, TEA Baggers and Republicans... John McCain, Sarah "Quitter" Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, Bachmann..... and the list goes on and on....

[cyberfringe]

10:05 PM on 08/12/2010

Fanned for this and other good posts!

[dax49]

11:20 AM on 07/26/2010

Is this guy crazy-turning what could be a catastrophe of global proportions into a joke to mollify his oil company masters!

[Okiemama]

10:51 AM on 07/26/2010

A recent survey in Oklahoma showed that 42% of Oklahomans with a high school diploma could not pass the test given to naturalized American citizens. The test was done over the phone and only ten questions from the naturalization test were asked. Getting 50% (five questions) correct was considered passing. Only a third of all respondents knew for how many years a U.S. rep serves. They also had trouble naming two of the rights given in the Declaration of Independence. The question with which 78% did well was name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1800's. Interestingly, Native Americans performed best and whites performed the worst. Higher income earners did not do as well as others. I realize other states probably have some of the same problems, but this may explain why Inhofe does so well in Oklahoma.

[cyberfringe]

10:07 PM on 08/12/2010

I suspect you would find similar results in most states, weighted more heavily in the red ones.

[maxwells]

05:49 PM on 08/16/2010

People running for public office (those who make the rules we're forced to follow) should at least be able to pass a U.S. citizenship test.

[JimShanor]

10:05 AM on 07/26/2010

More examples of Inhofe's disdain for the common people who make up both the majority population of Oklahoma and of the USA. His concept of "global" is skewed. His focus is riveted on maintaining his political position, no more, no less. He sides with a wealthy sliver of Oklahoma businesses that support him handsomely so he will support them with legislation and obstruction, he panders hypocritically to the "belt buckle of Evangelism" based across the State of OK that is knee-jerk in its political reactions, and his personal history (business and family) is shameful. But leave his kids and wife out of it. They did nothing to deserve attack.

[serialcoma]

09:26 AM on 07/26/2010

Is there anything more beloved by GOP Senators than their ignorance...oh wait... their greed ....

[DAVROS1]

08:42 AM on 07/27/2010

It's a toss up.

[R U Sirius]

09:17 AM on 07/26/2010

These "deniers" deserve to have their air conditioning go out for a couple of weeks. NO VISION of the future whatsoever.....