[mikeash]

As long as politicians insist on playing science, scientists must play politics. If we could have a nice clean separation that would be great, but we’re far from it. If scientists don’t get political then they’ll just be trampled.

[danieltillett]

But if they do get political they ruin the perception of their objectivity. We have very few climate scientists and many other people who can be politicians.

[mikeash]

Politicians have already ruined the perception of objectivity for climate scientists. They have nothing to lose now.