I would think that Obama would be able to upgrade the computer system in about a day, given enough resources. He could install a system complete with e-mail capture and instantaneous backup. The technology exists - it's being used by major corporations right now. He's supposed to be hitting the ground running, not crawling.

The technology exists and can be purchased and installed in about a day, given enough manpower. And the technology will be far superior to whatever they are using right now. I suspect that the problem is that most of Obama's staffers are elite users who think they understand computers but don't actually know how to set up a system.

I really don't understand why this is so difficult for some to comprehend. Global cooling is real. It is a separate phenomenon from Global warming/global climate change. It is caused by different factors. It has different effects. Understanding it is important, because it effects the rate of global warming.

Telling people that global cooling doesn't exist is a dangerous path. They need to understand that the effects of global cooling have been mitigating global warming, and as those effects wear off (as we clean up air to prevent lung diseases) global warming might accelerate.

You may be right. Global climate change may just be a big urban legend. But none of those impending catastrophes, with the exception of the thinning ozone layer, was widely supported by scientists. Generally, the people who say "the sky is falling" are fringe elements. Climate scientists support the idea that global warming is occurring. As I said, scientists are just now beginning to understand how climate works, but the people who know the most about this issue are virtually united in saying that there is a serious problem - and the people who oppose it have presented no convincing evidence. How bad the problem is, how badly it will change things, how quickly it is occurring, how to most effectively address it... those can be debated. But the fact of human induced climate change is not up for debate.

This is just the whole "creation/evolution" problem all over again. Scientists conduct studies, find evidence, propose ideas, test them, and then modify the ideas to fit the results of the tests. But some people think that every time an idea is changed that proves that the original concept was entirely wrong. The only "real", unchanging truth for them is in the bible. It's not true, though. Science moves toward the truth, clumsily, haltingly, slowly. Scientists are human beings, and are thus subject to bias, but the scientific method weeds out bias until scientists can reach a consensus. As they have on the issue of global warming/climate change.

Try this:

Most people think that "global warming" means that temperatures will rise a little bit each year everywhere on the planet. It doesn't. Because of the various factors (including land mass, the earth's rotation, ocean and air currents, etc.) that effect climate, a slight overall warming trend can result in cooler weather in some places and warmer weather in others. That is why what matters is the overall global temperature, not local temperature trends.

If you ever have a chance, take a climate class, or just stop by your local college bookstore and pick up an introductory text on Climate. Fascinating subject.

Did you bother to actually read my post?

"This trend has served to partially neutralize global warming." and "Therefore (more bad news) the effect of global cooling is wearing off just when we need it most." (Source: Me)

I agree, however, that "Half truths are almost as bad a outright stupidity."

The trend is well documented. There was a PBS Nova episode on it a few years back. It was called "Dimming the Sun". Fascinating. The cooling trend, which is well-documented, was caused by massive particulate pollution actually blocking sunlight, as well as other factors. This trend has served to partially neutralize global warming. The bad news is that the same particulates that shield us from sunlight also cause major respiratory damage in humans. The good news is that governments have acted to clean up these particulates on a massive scale. Therefore (more bad news) the effect of global cooling is wearing off just when we need it most.

Nature is far more complicated than most people can appreciate. Climate is a fairly new field, and scientists are only now beginning to understand the complex factors that cause weather and climate patterns.

I've seen liberals make the same argument that Bachmann is making, in reverse - using a warm day in winter to "prove" that global warming is real. Of course it doesn't prove anything, but we have to guard against thinking that the complexity of climate change can be explained in a newspaper article or blog post.

The problem is that the Republican Senators that Obama was talking to actually WON their seats. They didn't lose, and they know that given the makeup of their states they would probably win again today. They have the power to mess up this plan, and the right to do so, because they WON. It sucks, but that's the way it is.