Entrenched rhetorical positions

This morning, I came across this article which continues the debate over the issue of "global warming". The overall intent of the article is made abundantly clear with the chosen headline. The rhetorical position of Gore, per the author of the article, is twofold:

1. global warming is radically affecting critical elements of our environment manifesting itself via melting glaciers, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc
2. those who try to argue in the opposite position are nothing more than alarmist claims of "cynical and pseudo-studies known to be false for the purpose of intentionally clouding the public's ability to discern the truth."

The rhetorical position of the article's author (James Taylor) is also twofold, yet it argues in the opposite direction:

1. the so-called effects of global warming are not consistent with recent scientific data
   
2. the claims of Gore (and implicitly those who are associated with him) are themselves alarmist at best, which is made evident by the first point.

One has to wonder, first of all, if Gore would see the sources[1] noted (that supposedly refute his claims) as being a part of the "cynical and pseudo-studies" that he opposes. One also has to wonder of Taylor realizes the "alarmists" tendencies implicit in his own presentation.

The final concern, for me, at least, is whether or not such an implicit polarization of positions is ultimately beneficial. It appears as though more time is spent on defending one's arguments (and subsequently undermining the other's) than on finding the necessary (and crucial) common-ground that could usher in valuable results.
___________________________________________

[1] The sources noted in the article: American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate, Nature, United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geophysical Research Letters, New Scientist, Journal of Glaciology, Danish Meteorological Institute, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Series A: Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences