Chris Mooney is a freelance writer and the author of two books, 
Well, I have done some quick research, in anticipation of the State of the Union address tonight. I think you folks will get a kick out of this:
2002 SOTU: Mentions of "God": 2. Mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.2003 SOTU: Mentions of "God": 4. Mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.
2004 SOTU: Mentions of "God": 3. Mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.
2005 SOTU: Mentions of "God": 1. Mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.
2006 SOTU: Mentions of "God": 2. Mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.
Total mentions of God: 12. Total mentions of "global warming" or "climate change": 0.
The mentions of God were actually a lot fewer than I expected, perhaps in part because Bush uses synonyms. The mentions of "global warming" and "climate change" are exactly what I expected.
So don't get too excited if Bush actually does use one of these phrases tonight. Keep it in context.
Comments
what would be additionally interesting - and perhaps more representative of the systemic problem at hand - is to count how many times he uses the words "science" or "technology". while climate change may have never reached status as a hot-button issue, i.e. that he's had to address publically due to external pressures, there are plenty of other scientific issues that have received some level of political excitement over the past couple of years (e.g. stem cell research). a paucity on a more global level would probably be more indicative of ignorance and/or neglect of the entire scientific community, no?
unfortunately, even mentions of the latter haven't resulted in much forward movement in the field. but, maybe by putting one more thing on the plate of this administration during the SOTU will force a national awareness that will carry over into the next, more effective (??) administration
Posted by: Kate | January 23, 2007 1:57 PM
what are the synonyms for God? doesn't that count?
Posted by: anonymous | January 23, 2007 2:05 PM
Whoa! Chris, you got to warn people, I almost threw up when I clicked on the link and that picture came up! What about putting: NSFUS (Not Safe For United States)? I am afraid to even think what they might be smiling about, but I don't think I'll like it...
Posted by: J-Dog | January 23, 2007 2:41 PM
Check out Salon for a discussion with Frank Luntz on tonight's SotU. They touch on climate change at the very end of the interview.
Posted by: Ian Hart | January 23, 2007 2:52 PM
An industrious person created tag clouds from hundreds of presidential speeches, including most (if not all) of the SOTUs.
Posted by: df | January 23, 2007 3:51 PM
Going by that tag cloud (Neat idea!) link, none of GWB's SOTUs have included even the word "environment."
Posted by: chezjake | January 23, 2007 4:29 PM
hm, the words 'iraq' and 'terrorist' are largest and brightest... though 'economy' is almost as big.
Posted by: llewelly | January 23, 2007 5:20 PM
Bush uses synonyms!? I guess he finally figured out how to use a thesaurus.
Posted by: Baratos | January 23, 2007 5:28 PM
I don't know what he will say tonight, but I can guess what he might be thinking right now:
"God, I hate giving this stupid address, 'specially if I have to say them danged communist scientist conspiracy words that start with 'g' and 'w' -- 'ceptin my name, of course. I just lovvvvve saying that GW Bush. GW Bush. GW Bush.....GW Bush..."
Posted by: Dark Tent | January 23, 2007 5:45 PM
Brilliant
he said "...help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change. "
the far right hoax people can say he didn't say global warming
he had a good speech writer
Posted by: richCares | January 23, 2007 11:39 PM