More on AEI, and "how science really works"

More on AEI: A recent article in The Guardian led off with strong accusations against the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington-based think tank (which, contrary to the Guardian's lead, does not do lobbying, in fact AEI is forbidden to do so). The opening paragraph:

Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today.

The Guardian's charges have been widely rebutted, but an interesting perspective comes from David Frum -- columnist for the NY Times, commentator at the liberal-leaning National Public Radio (NPR), advocate of carbon taxes, and since 2003 a resident fellow at AEI. In a recent David Frum's Diary entry Frum discusses what really happens inside the American Enterprise Institute -- how much money comes from ExxonMobil (the company cited by the Guardian in its article), whether AEI dictates policy positions to its scholars, and how outside experts are paid. A good perspective from someone in a place to know.

Meanwhile, on the editorial pages of the London Times, former New Scientist editor Nigel Calder explains "how science really works" and mentions some interesting findings on the effects of solar activity on global warming.