Alberta Wildrose Party platform says no global warming

[TrogL]

[link:http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/16/danielle-smith-climate-change_n_1429850.html?ref=canada-politics|
Danielle Smith: Climate Change Science 'Not Settled' ]

EDMONTON - The woman leading a front-running party in Alberta's provincial election has cast doubt on the widely accepted scientific theory that human activity is a leading cause of global warming.

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith made the comment in an online leaders debate organized by two Alberta newspapers.

"We have always said the science isn't settled and we need to continue to monitor the debate," said Smith in response to a direct question from a reader.

I heard this on the drive into work and damn near caused an accident.

This woman and her party have completely lost it. The problem is, the polls are saying they may win a majority government.

[HereSince1628]

1. As Chris Mooney has said, it's the rhetorical exploitation of standard science narrative

Which often both readily and willfully admits understanding gained from any study is incomplete, that concepts supported by studies aren't proven as such (generally negation of competing ideas leaves one idea tentatively standing), and that "more study needs to be conducted."

When the scientific narrative moves from one venue to another, as happens with discussion of global warming does as it moves from science to politics, or from science to economics, the characterization of the narrative changes 'goodness.'

In the changed circumstance, 'need for more study' is captured as evidence of poor and inadequate understanding, and 'unproven' becomes too suspicious to act upon.

The advocates for fossil fuel aren't stupid, they are linguistic gymnists and simply take every opportunity to gain a rhetorical advantage for their own benefit.