Coldest December Since 1800?

I'm sure this will somehow turn into a flame war somewhere on the Internet, but I couldn't help but mention a recent comment by AccuWeather.com Professional's Joe Bastardi (which ended up in a "Global Warming" article):

As proof I offer up the month-to-date December temperature departures from normal (official government stations -- click to see full U.S.). Notice nearly every station in the nation is below normal (under zero).

And even though our forecasts now show some milder air returning to part of the country next week:

"Milder" could still be below normal and it's hard to turn around a below-normal month when you're this far below normal three weeks in.

DIS'CLAIMERS:

If you really want to debate climate change, don't email me -- instead you can engage in a (hopefully rational) public discussion via our Climate Change Forum where you can post your thoughts/arguments/flames.

If you want AccuWeather's official opinion on it, you'd better ask someone more official than me.