Dear Lexi,

Are you Foxy (long story)? If so, why change? You weren't exactly unpopular as Foxy.

"The problem with climate change ... so thoroughly politicised ... conservative voters don't believe Australia's top scientists."

Anytime a top scientist says anything coherent it opposes climate science. Some buffoon arrogantly dismissing objections by saying temperature is changing (on a planet that has fluctuated from hot to ice ages) doesn't exactly help. Could you please give people some leeway.

"They really do see a sincere attempt by the Government ...conspiracy to withdraw liberties and increase taxation."

Does this require any input from conservative leadership? Rudd didn't accept Monkton's challenge to debate the issue. That gave the obvious appearance that he wasn't confident to. Yet his government had a climate change department and they are determined to introduce a climate change related tax. Reputable scientists keep saying it is bunk. Plimer keeps saying that the geological evidence is that current carbon levels are comparatively low. Life on earth is carbon based. Carbon dioxide is released from just about anything. It is hard to reframe thinking to consider it a villain. Climate change enthusiasts keep making empty comments about how it is accepted by the government's scientists (in other words those on the gravy train). Conservative parties have traditionally marketted to the better educated groups who have some general knowledge. ALP traditionally markets to the working class. Yale did a study finding that knowing more about science, and being better at mathematical reasoning, was correlated with climate science skepticism. The researchers tried to dismiss the findings by guessing that "people who are conservative in nature use their intellect to support their “conservativeness”, and those who liked “communitarian” values did the same".

"Mr Abbott ... few qualms ..."

The proposed carbon tax is almost universally condemned by voters. He is the leader of the opposition. Wouldn't taking the opportunity to ride the issue be almost part of the job description rather than something involving qualms (unless he was a climate change enthusiast which he has never appeared to be)?

"none of Australia's top scientists do."
None?

PS.

The other thing conservative voters see are the predictions and the climategate. As regards predictions Bolty did an item on it that supports rather than hinders skepticism:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/it-pays-to-check-out-flannerys-predictions-about-climate-change-says-andrew-bolt/story-e6frfhqf-1226004644818

"Tim Flannery has had years of practice trying to terrify us into thinking human-made climate change will destroy Earth, says Andrew Bolt.

TIM Flannery has just been hired by the Gillard Government to scare us stupid, and I can't think of a better man for the job.
This Alarmist of the Year is worth every bit of the $180,000 salary he'll get as part-time chairman of the Government's new Climate Commission.
...

This kind of work is just up the dark alley of Flannery, author of The Weather Makers, that bible of booga booga.

He's had years of practice trying to terrify us into thinking our exhausts are turning the world into a fireball that will wipe out civilisation, melt polar ice caps and drown entire cities under hot seas.

...we're now able to see if some of the scariest have actually panned out.

And we're also able to see if people who bet real money on his advice have cleaned up or been cleaned out.

...In 2008, Flannery said: "The water problem is so severe for Adelaide that it may run out of water by early 2009."
Check Adelaide 's water storage levels today: 77 per cent...

In 2007, Flannery predicted cities such as Brisbane would never again have dam-filling rains... "

...
In 2007, Flannery predicted global warming would so dry our continent that desalination plants were needed to save three of our biggest cities from disaster...

"In ... Brisbane , water supplies are so low they need desalinated water urgently, possibly in as little as 18 months."
One premier, Queensland 's Peter Beattie, took such predictions - made by other warming alarmists, too - so seriously that he spent more than $1 billion of taxpayers' money on a desalination plant...

But check that desalination plant today: mothballed indefinitely, now that the rains have returned."

You get the idea.

Dear Eclipse Now,

You said:

"Dr Evans is not a climatologist and has never published in a peer-reviewed climate journal. He belongs to right-wing think tanks and is mainly published and promoted by Denialist think tanks like the Lavoisier Group."

The story put out in support of him is that he consulted full-time for the Australian Greenhouse Office (now the Department of Climate Change) from 1999 to 2005, and part-time 2008 to 2010, modelling Australia’s carbon in plants, debris, mulch, soils, and forestry and agricultural products. Is that correct or incorrect?

"He's not even a 'rocket scientist' as he has claimed to be"

The term is often used broadly.

"but instead has a Phd in electrical engineering."

You seem to be suggesting that he lacks relevant qualification. What are the required qualifications?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_engineering

"Electrical engineers typically possess an academic degree with a major in electrical engineering. The length of study for such a degree is usually four or five years and the completed degree may be designated as a Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology or Bachelor of Applied Science depending upon the university. The degree generally includes units covering physics, mathematics, computer science, project management and specific topics in electrical engineering."

What skills are needed for climate science?

"Electronic engineering involves the design and testing of electronic circuits that use the properties of components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and transistors to achieve a particular functionality."

Does training in dealing with testing the feedbacks in a system and analysing complex systems relate to understanding the climate system? Is the climate system about feedbacks? Is it complex?

"And he was not even responsible for climate modelling!"

I'll be interested in your answer to my question above as this seems to relate to it.

You seem to be on top of this issue and willing to discuss it so you are uniquely placed to address the appearances that undermine the points you are trying to make. That can only assist your attempt to explain things.

Dear mjpb,

Thanks for such a detailed response to my post.
You've raised some very valid points and it
made me realise that I was not presenting the full
picture. - Thank You for providing the balance.
It's appreciated. I'm sure not only by me but
by many others. We may not agree but presenting
another side of the coin and doing so intelligently
and without any personal abuse - is quite refreshing.

Lexi,

Thanks for the response. Are you or aren't you?

I'm hanging out for Eclipse Now to answer my burning questions. I fully admit that most things I have seen have been one sided. The media haven't overly sided with the skeptics. It is just that the support has been arrogant and insubstantial.

Eclipse Now,

Here is an item where Evans is claiming the modelling credentials publically.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/no-smoking-hot-spot/story-e6frg73o-1111116945238

What do you think about the photos that Evans puts forward?
http://jonova.s3.amazonaws.com/corruption/climate-corruption.pdf

Obviously the public seeing them wonder why the climate scientists take measurements at such locations if they believe in climate change themselves.

On the credentials of Evans that you questioned I note that following your links points to Professor Barry Brooks. He is the Director of the Director of Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability (and thus has a living dependent on Climate Change being accepted). He has an undergraduate science degree in biology and geology with a PhD in computer science. Is that the appropriate qualification to become a Director of official bodies but Evans' qualification not suitable? Can you give a detailed explanation of the relevance or irrelevance of the qualifications?

Dear mjpb,
I'm Lexi - simple as that!