Mark Steyn is crazy or something... You may remember the ludicrous defamation suit brought by Professor Michael “Hockey Stick” Mann brought last year against Steyn, the National Review, and sundry others. One of the alleged defamatory writings was by Steyn, published in the National Review, and as you might expect, Steyn was being defended by the National Review's legal team.
Here's where things get a little strange. On January 8th, Steyn severed his defense from the National Review, for reasons he briefly explains here. Yesterday, he filed a motion – one that some quite respectable lawyers don't think too much of. Steyn is defending himself, and he's not an attorney (though he is perhaps more familiar with the legal system than most non-lawyers).
Apart from the wisdom of his move, Steyn has set the table for something potentially very entertaining and enlightening: discovery on Mann's research. The general wisdom seems to be that Mann is completely out of his mind for putting himself in a position where this discovery was a possibility. Yesterday, the judge in the case denied the defendants' motion for dismissal, and he lifted the stay on discovery in the case.
Wow! Time to stock up on popcorn, folks. And we wish Mr. Steyn all the best on this. While we worry about the (considerable) gamble he's taking, we can't help but admire the cojones he's putting on display...
I just bought 3 colorful "Viva Steyn!" tshirts from Steynonline, and since Mr. Steyn has said he would prefer not to set up a legal defense fund, I encourage others to help him out with a purchase. Personal recommendation: "Goodnight Babies of Broadway".
ReplyDeleteMann has been blocking access to the data and research regarding the years 1980 onward. If he's so right, why hide it? It truly is fishy on his part.
ReplyDeleteI say the judge threw chum in the water. Steyn is circling and the hull of Mann's unstable boat is warn thin by encounters with thickening polar ice caps.
ReplyDeleteworn thin, not warn...
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ReplyDeleteStick it to that climate fraud! While your at it, make your mark in the historic fight for free speech and open, honest debate.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the papers Mark submitted on his own behalf, you will understand why he dumped his lawyers- he is by far a better writer and communicator. In fact, he is so much better than 98% of the $500 and hour attorneys, that he could actually have a career in that field if he so desired. Also, after reading his column today, it seems that Mark disagrees with the strategy that was laid out by the lawyers for him and his co-defendants, i.e. keep quiet, don't rock the boat, let the courts do their job, etc. etc. Now how did that work out, trying to play straight in the crooked casino that is the American legal system? It doesn't because the house always wins. So let the trial begin, and let Mark defend himself better than anyone else possibly can.
ReplyDeleteViva ein Steyn. No, really. Colonel Neville.
ReplyDeleteLive free or die ;o)
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty clear to me that the judge in the case is firmly in the "warming" camp and would immediately rule against Steyn and NR if this case was not getting so much public scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this, because I think Mann is the one who is going to have a lot of fun at the expense of the climate deniers!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, based on recent sun activity (you know - that big yellow ball in the sky that people like Mann think has no effect on climate) we are much more likely headed into a period of global cooling than global warming. We are long overdue for another ice age.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to revisit The Fountainhead and The Howard Rourk trial. Thank you Mark Steyn!
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