Del Boy The Turd Polisher

[Updates, two so far, at end of post]

As I observed recently, the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) project, part funded by the Kochs, pored over recent temperature records, alert to the possibility of distortion due to factors such as the “urban heat island” effect. Their conclusion was, effectively, that the data was sound and that warming of the planet was indeed occurring. And that might have been that.

Sadly, for the climate change denial lobby, that could not be allowed to be that, and BEST was subjected to a deluge of opprobrium. Some showed a significant level of distress at the news, especially James “saviour of Western civilisation” Delingpole, who passed adverse comment on the whole project, which was interesting for one who admits he is merely an “interpreter of interpretations”.

But Del Boy is never down for long: now there has been another release of illegally obtained emails from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit (CRU). As Stephan Lewandowsky has observed, the timing of the release is similar to that of the original “Climategate” one, just before a UN climate conference. But Del Boy is, at least, a very happy bunny.

Sadly, the language is as so many times before: “global warming loons” [Del’s been watching Bill O’Reilly, top rated host on his favourite Fox News Channel (fair and balanced my arse)], “caught red-handed ... scam ... bomb the global economy back to the dark ages ... politicised, disingenuous junk ... charlatans ... game was well and truly up”. But he has to get A for effort.

But clearly not enough of the world outside Del Boy’s adoring echo chamber at Telegraph blogs (Sid and Doris Bonkers) has paid attention to his news, so he has returned to the subject today, telling of “warmist trolls” who he knows are out there because Anthony Watts’ blog tells him so. So readers are treated to yet another outpouring from his mountainous intellect.

Put directly, however, this is just so much steaming by-product from the northbound end of a southbound bull. The only reason Del Boy got away with his previous attacks on the CRU was that they couldn’t afford to sue, and the spineless Press Complaints Council (PCC) allowed Del to deploy the “Littlejohn Defence” and say it was justifiable comment. And where’s your sense of humour?

As Lewandowsky has pointed out, after the first release of emails, there was a series of investigations into the CRU, and every one ended up exonerating those concerned of any wrongdoing. But the attacks continue, with the language as before: the science is “unravelling”, “the game is up”, it’s all a “scam”, there “isn’t any warming”, and even if there is, it’s “not significant”.

But it keeps Del Boy occupied, so that’s all right, then.

[UPDATE1 November 25: Del Boy, clearly aware that very few people are listening, has tried to garner more attention by ratcheting up the abuse, smearing one message as "most toecurlingly awful, damning, vile, reprehensible, stomach-churningly dreadful email – the one that shows the Warmist junk-scientists in a light of such festering syphilitic repellance".

And just in case this, too, failed to generate any column inches, he followed up with another pile of abuse directed towards the CRU's Phil Jones, citing his PCC "victory" and asserting dishonestly that someone was trying to "bully me into silence". The Delingpole attacks are looking more desperate by the day, and that should suit most folks just fine]

[UPDATE2 Nov 25 later: Del Boy is trying to keep the pressure up by citing a letter from Lords Lawson and Turnbull to Chris Huhne, sent on behalf of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, another Astroturf lobby group that refuses to reveal who funds it. This is held to be "Lawson squishes Huhne", but sadly is just another pile of unsubstantiated guff. Oh well, keep whistling to keep those spirits up, eh Del?]