Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's Dismissal

http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch Act is grounds for media
darling's firing.

By Jeff Poor, Business & Media Institute, 3/11/2009 10:56:19 AM


Is it possible that one of the most outspoken figures of the global warming alarmist movement has
violated ethical, if not legal boundaries in his job? John Theon, a retired senior NASA atmospheric
scientist said he believed so.


Theon an audience at The Heartland Institute's 2009 International Conference on Climate Change
(ICCC) in New York on March 11 that the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James
Hansen, should be fired. Hansen is widely known for his outspokenness on the issue of manmade
global warming.


"I have publicly said I thought Jim Hansen should be fired," Theon said. "But, my opinion doesn't
count much, particularly when he is empowered by people like the current president of the United
States. I'm not sure what we can do to have him get off of the public payroll and continue with the
campaign or crusade. I think the man is sincere, but he is suffering from a bad case of
megalomania."


In 2001, Hansen received a $250,000 Heinz Environment Award for his research on global warming, an
award named for deceased Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa. His widow, Teresa Heinz Kerry is now married to
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who ran for president in 2004. Hansen later publicly endorsed Kerry for
the presidency and according to Theon, that's a problem for Hansen.


"Yes, that is absolutely illegal," Theon said. "There is a law called the Hatch Act, which prevents
any civil servant, including Jim Hansen from endorsing any political cause publicly and he
certainly did that. That alone is grounds for firing, and if not imprisonment or fine."


But Hansen has avoided retribution for violation of the Hatch Act, a law that restricts the
political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, because he is
well-connected, according to Theon.


"People have complained to me, the inspector general of NASA, and they say because of Hansen's very
powerful political connections, it has had no effect to date," he said.


Theon explained that Hansen rose to prominence in the global warming debate when he was invited by
former Vice President Al Gore to testify before Congress when Gore was a member of the U.S. Senate.


"In 1988, then-Sen. Albert Gore, Jr. invited Dr. Hansen to testify before a congressional committee
concerning his carbon research," Theon said. Hansen blindsided his supervisors by contradicting
NASA's official position on global warming.


"Dr. Hansen stated that global warming is here now - that's my paraphrasing - and [we] had to do
something about it. At that time," Theon explained, "I was working at NASA headquarters. Between
the years 1982 and 1994, I was responsible for all NASA weather and climate research, except those
dealing with the stratosphere.


"Dr. Hansen's revelation came as a surprise and an embarrassment to me and my superiors at NASA
headquarters," Theon said. "The official NASA position at that time was climate change - we did not
know enough to understand the climate system and more research was needed. The official policy was
that NASA does not and did not know as scientists."


Hansen has been the recipient of media accolades as the anthropogenic global warming alarmist
movement has gained steam. He was listed as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in
2006. Recently, Hansen was awarded the 2009 Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal, the highest honor
bestowed by the American Meteorological Society. But despite all this attention, Hansen has said
NASA has tried to silence him.


In 2006, Hansen told Andrew Revkin of The New York Times that "NASA headquarters had ordered the
public affairs staff to review all his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard Web site
and requests for interviews from journalists."


"In his more than 1,000 speeches, interviews, publications and public appearances since 1998, it is
difficult for me to believe that Dr. Hansen has even been bothered," Theon said.

It is long overdue.




"Eric Gisin" wrote in message
...
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's
Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch
Act is grounds for media
darling's firing.

By Jeff Poor, Business & Media Institute, 3/11/2009 10:56:19 AM

James wrote:
It is long overdue.

Everyone who checks finds out you are lying. But then, you already know
this, because this article is a repost. lol






"Eric Gisin" wrote in message
...
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's
Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch
Act is grounds for media
darling's firing.

By Jeff Poor, Business & Media Institute, 3/11/2009 10:56:19 AM

Eric Gisin wrote:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch Act

Lie. Theon was never Hansen's supervisor.

"Bill Carter" wrote in message ...
Eric Gisin wrote:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch Act

Lie. Theon was never Hansen's supervisor.

Sez who? Hansen certainly isn't sane since in mental breakdown 20 years ago.

Eric Gisin wrote:
"Bill Carter" wrote in message
...
Eric Gisin wrote:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's
Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch Act

Lie. Theon was never Hansen's supervisor.

Sez who? Hansen certainly isn't sane since in mental breakdown 20 years
ago.

Since in mental breakdown? Real zinger there.

Oh, and another thing. The Hatch Act doesn't prohibit a federal employee
from "endorsing any political cause publicly", that was a lie too.

On Mar 11, 10:21 pm, Bill Carter wrote:

Oh, and another thing. The Hatch Act doesn't prohibit a federal employee
from "endorsing any political cause publicly", that was a lie too.

Actually), it does. However, the restriction is only for employees of
specific agencies, like the CIA, DIA, FBI and several others. NASA,
however, does not seem to be on the list. See: http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm#agencies

As for federal employees of other agencies:
These federal and D.C. employees may not-

* use official authority or influence to interfere with an
election
* solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business
before their agency
* solicit or receive political contributions (may be done in
certain limited situations by federal labor or other employee
organizations)
* be candidates for public office in partisan elections
* engage in political activity while:
o on duty
o in a government office
o wearing an official uniform
o using a government vehicle
* wear partisan political buttons on duty

Hansen might be argued to have run afoul of several of these, if he
did his politicking on government time. But he was not prevented from
endorsements.

On Mar 12, 9:20*am, "
wrote:

As for federal employees of other agencies:
These federal and D.C. employees may not-

* * * use official authority or influence to interfere with an
election
* * * solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business
before their agency
* * * solicit or receive political contributions (may be done in
certain limited situations by federal labor or other employee
organizations)
* * * be candidates for public office in partisan elections
* * * engage in political activity while:
* * * * * o on duty
* * * * * o in a government office
* * * * * o wearing an official uniform
* * * * * o using a government vehicle
* * * wear partisan political buttons on duty

Except for the third point, this simply is a reasonable prohibition of
government employees, while on duty, or using government property, to
make it look like the government supports one party.

So it does not appear that civil servants are prohibited, on their own
time as private citizens, from participating in the American political
process. Indeed, they should not be disenfrnachised.

John Savard

Eric Gisin wrote:
"Bill Carter" wrote in message
...
Eric Gisin wrote:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's
Dismissal Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC
that Hatch Act

Lie. Theon was never Hansen's supervisor.

Sez who? Hansen certainly isn't sane since in mental breakdown 20
years ago.

A completely insane lie.

On Mar 11, 10:12*pm, "Eric Gisin" wrote:
"Bill Carter" wrote in . com...
Eric Gisin wrote:
http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...311105122.aspx

Former Hansen Supervisor Calls for the Global Warming Alarmist's Dismissal
Retired NASA atmospheric scientist John Theon tells ICCC that Hatch Act

Lie. Theon was never Hansen's supervisor.

Sez who? Hansen certainly isn't sane since in mental breakdown 20 years ago.

"By the numerical system used to denote rank in NASA, Hansen ranked
higher than Theon. "

Also

"Gavin Schmidt writes:

Dr. Theon appears to have retired from NASA in 1994, some 15 years
ago. Until yesterday I had never heard of him (despite working with
and for NASA for the last 13 years). His insights into both modelling
and publicity appear to date from then, rather than any recent events.
He was not Hansen's 'boss' (the director of GISS reports to the
director of GSFC, who reports to the NASA Administrator). His "some
scientists" quote is simply a smear - which scientists? where? what
did they do? what data? what manipulation? This kind of thing plays
well with Inhofe et al because it appears to add something to the
'debate', but in actual fact there is nothing here. Just vague,
unsubstantiated accusations."