Not sure why this thread has become active. In the OP I stated:
"This thread is for discussion of the underlying principles of political management of scientific research..... a sort of discussion of why "political science" is corrupted by grantmaker's motivations or organizational imperatives."
Alt's graphic in post #17 might be considered off-topic, as it doesn't relate to the topic. An interesting graphic, pictorially, without any analysis of the data presented to introduce the question "Can this be Real". Maybe assumes man-caused, or CO2-related.
It is my impression that the data is generally accurate, but with some reasons to believe most errors will be on the positive side of the real. Not many measurement stations are under sprinklers set to run at mid-day. A lot may be near buildings, parking lots, bare ground, highways, in cities and many other positive heat reservoirs.
The political uses of the issue are concerning, and the so-called solutions are damning. The Climate treaties do nothing to actually curb the presumed "cause", with major polluters like China and India actually subsidized for continued bad policy.
Overall, the "Science" has neglected at least several important concurrent variables in order to stack the "blame" solidly on CO2 emissions. I think that is prejudicial or biased overall, and suggestive of political corruption.
I do, however, believe there is a warming event ongoing, as has been the case immediately preceding previous ice ages. If we were willing to insist on good science, and examine all the possibilities, I believe, it would result in a conclusion that there is nothing we need to do, really, but prepare for lower oceans and more polar and mountain ice packs.
And buy real estate in the South.