Climate Deniers: Stupid or Evil?

It’s an interesting psychological question, actually.  Fox News’ climate change “expert,” the appropriately-named Joe Bastardi, claims that the theory of anthropogenic climate change cannot be true because it

contradicts what we call the 1st law of thermodynamics. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed. So to look for input of energy into the atmosphere, you have to come from a foreign source.

Uhh…that “foreign source” of energy would be the sun.  The theory of human-induced climate change is that carbon emissions trap this energy in the atmosphere.  Does Bastardi really think that the meaning of “human-caused” climate change is that human beings are creating energy?

So — back to the original question.  Does Bastardi, and Fox News, really believe this?  My first thought is that they must, because no one would make a fool of themselves on national television just for the money.  But see, e.g. The Jerry Springer Show.  I think it’s more like: 1) your ideology tells you that anthropogenic climate change must be a liberal hoax; 2) you look around for evidence to show this; 3) since you know that anthropogenic climate change must be a liberal hoax, you just don’t look too carefully at the evidence.  It’s sort of like: you know that the guy is guilty, so you don’t mind framing him.  Stupid?  Evil?  Something else?  We report, you decide.

But wow.  This is pretty incredible.

In order to not fall into my own trap, I am now going to look around for evidence that this report, from Media Matters, is itself a hoax, and never really appeared on Fox News.  But don’t hold your breath.