The current rate of change is only steep when compared to the last thirty years. We had similarly steep rises (and falls) in the last century and far steeper rises in the geological record. If you look at fine enough detail, you can always find high rate blips, but longer period averages tell a better story. Also, the high rise is only seen in the surface data, and it is the troposphere where real warming ought to show up (it hasn’t). Rate of rise is not an indicator of anything more than warming was steep the last couple of years.

Here is how AGW is presented by its proponents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming). Note in the very first chart that temperature rise is steeper for the period 1910-1941 than for the period 1976-2004; despite greenhouse gases cannot explain this earlier sudden rise. By cherry-picking your data, you can always make it seem you are onto something.

Maybe some of these will help you out:

The science:
http://www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse/index.html
http://www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse/cause.html
http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/subject/g/globalwarming.jsp
http://sitewave.net/news/s49p1835.htm
http://www.weatherquestions.com/Roy-Spencer-on-global-warming.htm
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G3.html
http://mysite.verizon.net/mhieb/WVFossils/ice_ages.html
http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/HL758.cfm

Impacts and case for skepticism:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1041
http://www.cato.org/speeches/sp-jt011698.html
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speech-ourenvironmentalfuture.html

Note that we aren’t saying there is no warming or that human-emissions aren’t playing some (probably negligible) role. All we are saying the case for anthropogenic global-warming (AGW) is grossly overstated.

Our sun is a variable star – its energy output is variable over time. Maybe that has something to do with global warming.

As a fellow Conservative who considers himself to be at least somewhat of an intellectual, I have a bit of a problem with your article. I am new to this site, so perhaps I am unaware as to where I can find your references, but from what I understand, you just pulled “facts” out of random places and fit them together to make a less-than-convincing argument. Your main point is that climate change is a natural occurrence and has happened since the beginning of time. Have you heard of paleoclimatology? I have only minimal knowledge of this field, but from what I’ve studied, it is quite possible to put together a fairly accurate record of past climate changes. It is true that the global climate has warmed (and cooled) many times over time. However, the rate of change is what’s different. The rate of warming since the Industrial Revolution is faster than ever before. I suggest that before writing articles about topics in which you are obviously highly unschooled, you should do a little reading. Although I agree that crazy environmentalists are exaggerating the problem of global warming, I disagree with misrepresenting data and research by not backing up your arguments with facts. There is no place for opinion in science, and it seems you feel as though what you think makes a difference. The facts are there. Human-induced global climate change is real, and no matter how much you make fun of dopes like Al Gore, your opinion is irrelevant. I was disappointed in your article and hope other articles I read on this website will make me proud to be a Conservative.
Sincerely,
Dale R. Jenkins, St. Paul, MN