I’ve mentioned in some earlier blogs that I’ve heard precious little discussion of temperatures or science here in Copenhagen but plenty of politics and money. Both in the streets (thousands carrying red flags of the Communist Party, complete with hammer and sickle, and flags of the International Socialists) and in the conference itself, these have been common.

Well, if nothing else confirms that, the official delegates’ response to the tirade by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez this morning does.

Chavez, who exceeded his five-minute time allotment by 20 minutes (assuming, I guess, that time as well as money could be redistributed!), told the crowd that the process here was “not democratic, it is not inclusive, but isn’t that the reality of our world, the world is really an imperial dictatorship . . . down with imperial dictatorships. The crowd applauded vigorously.

Then he said there was “a silent and terrible ghost in the room"--capitalism. The crowd applauded even more vigorously.

But when he concluded, “our revolution seeks to help all people . . . . socialism, the other ghost that is probably wandering around this room, that’s the way to save the planet, capitalism is the road to hell . . . . Let’s fight against capitalism and make it obey us,” the crowd of official delegates--no doubt sober, unbiased, evenhanded, objective public servants all--gave him a standing ovation.

And that--not science--is what’s driving the demand for a global climate treaty.