Science and scientists give long, complicated answers, rather than short entertaining ones. More importantly, they give answers that are nuanced and authoritative. That's bad.
Saying "Its happening, we just aren't sure what all the effects will be" doesn't provide the continuing drama of two people yelling at each other over polar bears and socialism.
He's always been cantankerous. Back in the 50s he 2 cops who tried to arrest him for DUI. "I was ahead on points, until they pulled out their nightsticks." As the face of dying Dixiecrat conservatism, we could do a lot worse.
An excitable southern Colonel would be better, but Pat's good too.