It?s an unfortunate scandal name, admittedly, but I?m going with it for the purpose of calling to your attention Iain Murray?s excellent summary of the issues involved. Murray is a vice president at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in D.C. and a blogging colleague of mine at National Review. Here?s the key graf of his thorough and measured Pajamas Media piece on the latest disclosures:

So what does this all mean? It does not mean that there is no
warming trend or that mankind has not been responsible for at least
some of the warming. To claim that as result of these documents is
clearly a step too far. However, it is clear that at least one branch
of climate science ? paleoclimatology ? has become hopelessly
politicized to the point of engaging in unethical and possibly illegal
behavior.

To the extent that paleoclimatology is an important part of the
scientific case for action regarding global warming, urgent
reassessments need to be made. In the meantime, all those responsible
for political action on global warming should stop the process pending
the results of inquiries, investigations, and any criminal proceedings.
What cannot happen is the process carrying on as if nothing has
happened.

This could prove to be climate science?s Vietnam.

UPDATES: CEI is now suing NASA in wake of Climategate scandal.

CBS reports that Congress may investigate the contents of the leaked emails.