[Kirkwood]

"When I first took a Science course many years ago, I was taught that the first rule was...REJECTION OF AUTHORITY."

That is not a requirement or a part of the scientific method. Much of the time authority is correct. However, one should feel free to reject authority if the results suggest or demand it.

[Rodney Kings Brain]

I think he meant reject arguments from authority (logical fallacy) when the person making them (e.g. Al Gore) is not an authority on the subject they are talking about.