The lads at Mother Jones have noticed we’re having a bit of a fundraising drive over the legal bills from fraudulent Nobel laureate Michael Mann’s lawsuit against us. Kevin Drum comments:

A judge recently ruled that Mann’s suit could go forward. I’m personally a little uneasy about this, since I’d normally think of Steyn’s post as hyperbolic and stupid, but still fair comment on a public figure.


Gee, thanks! As Voltaire said, I disagree with what you say, but I will personally feel a little uneasy when they take away your right to say it.


God save us from the bedwetter Left. As I learned during my battles in Canada, when it comes to free speech principled lefties are thin on the ground. But this shouldn’t be that difficult for Mr Drum. A victory for Dr Mann would be a significant blow against the First Amendment — and, if that prospect does no more than make you feel “a little uneasy,” you might as well just prostrate yourself before the commissars from the Bureau of Conformity Enforcement.

In Canada, I’m happy to say, Parliament wound up repealing a shameful and squalid law. We’ll win here, too — not just for NR, but for Mother Jones, too. Because, as I often said up north, it’s not a left/right thing; it’s a free/unfree thing. A pity Mr Drum can’t see that.

As for the graph he cites as evidence of his deference to science . . . enjoy!