The Independent View

Copenhagen's political science (Washington Post)
Governor Palin again calls for Barack Obama to skip Copenhagen in this Washington Post commentary.  She points to the need for real science, balancing real-world costs and benefits, and the inequitable proposals and expections among nations.

New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill (New York Times)
Another attempt, this time by a state legislature, to legalize homosexual marriage is decisively defeated.  Traditional marriage stands in New York.

Searching in Vain for the Obama Magic (Der Spiegel)
Starting out with "Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America's new strategy for Afghanistan," this editorial admit "nausea" upon hearing Obama's speech.  They even note the instructions to West Point cadets to respond "enthusiastically" that was obviously ignored.

The Climate Science Isn't Settled, Confident predictions of catastrophe are unwarranted (Wall Street Journal)
A rather detailed discussion on global warming that looks at that the globally averaged temperature anomaly (GATA).  It is definitely worth a read but I'm not sure what point Lindzen is trying to make in the final paragraph.

When scientists behave like bullies (San Francisco Chronicle)
Debra Saunders writes about the damning corruption of science by global warming scientists.

Leaked emails won't harm UN climate body, says chairman (Guardian)
Chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says global warming is not debunk because of a few scientists.  For Rajendra Pachauri--check out the picture accompanying the article as this guy is a definite look-alike of the Unibomber and his the religion of  Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW)  is just as dangerous to civilization.  Anyway, he claims that despite everything, AGW is alive and well.  He even defended Phil Jones and said he should not resign.

Diplomacy 101 (New York Times)
New York Times editorial the president an F for diplomacy in the Middle East.  Obama "demanded that Israel freeze settlements, Palestinians crack down on anti-Israel violence and Arab leaders demonstrate their readiness to reach out to Israel."  Nine months later, Israel still says no, Palestinians refuse talks until they do, and Arab states refuse to do anything.  Obama achieved nothing, except a dismal 4% approval rating in Israel.

Sarah Palin, version 2009: Going rogue, getting even (San Francisco Chronicle)
Debra Saunders writes a review of Sarah Palin's Going Rogue, "She's folksy and quotable. She has delivered a book that will thrill a base that loves to shout, "They done her wrong."

We will release the data...
Climategate: University of East Anglia U-turn in climate change row (Telegraph)
We threw away the data...
Climate change data dumped (Times)
The Climate Research Unit says, according to the Telegraph, that they will release the raw data that global warming is based upon.  At the same time the Times reports that the same folks now admit that the raw data was thrown away.  All they kept was the manipulated data they created to support global warming.  As Roger Pielke, professor of environmental studies at Colorado University, is quoted in the Times, “The CRU is basically saying, ‘Trust us’."

Afghans Detail a Secret Prison Still Operating on a U.S. Base (New York Times)
According to this article, Obama continues to run at least two secret prisons--one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan--with reports of abuse and prisoners held without rights normally afforded prisons of war.  Surprising to hear that this continued after Bush left office.  This is a terrible stain on America's reputation and puts Americans at risk of similar mistreatment if captured.