Fox reports that Palin didn't know Africa is a continent

[mook]

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Yikes.

Can you imagine what it was like to be in the room when McCain's people suddenly realized what they'd got themselves into?

It'll be interesting in the days to come to see if there's more anecdotes like this.

 

[Dumpy]

She's really cute, though.

 

[RayDavies]

Thank goodness McCain/Palin failed... What a frightening person to have so close to the big chair!

She can now go back to shooting wolves from a helicopter!

 

[Денг Гордон]

Thank goodness McCain/Palin failed... What a frightening person to have so close to the big chair!

She can now go back to shooting wolves from a helicopter!

But she has more experience than Obama....well not anymore I guess, since Obama has already gotten his first briefing as president elect.

 

[Haakzilla]

...and it amazes me that some still mention her name for 2012 [are you fucking kidding me?]!

 

[drexlersdad]

haha i cant believe some people actually wanted her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

 

[44Thrilla]

Palin 2012, "Ignorance We Can Believe In"

 

[ToddMacCulloch11]

wow. I was hoping this would be some SNL kind of joke, but I guess not.

 

[julius]

The typical liberal media elites are just piling on Sarah Palin!

 

[Shapecity]

She should take a year or two off and travel the world.

 

[PapaG]

Unsourced gossip.

Yet now FoxNews is legitimate.

 

[PapaG]

The typical liberal media elites are just piling on Sarah Palin!

Carl Cameron "broke" the Bush DUI October Surprise in 2000.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Unsourced gossip.

Yet now FoxNews is legitimate.

Well they would certainly seem to have less of an axe to grind with Republicans than other news outlets (at least in the view of those who see the news media being biased against conservatives).

Ask yourself this: Is it more likely or less likely that she knows that Africa is a continent and not a country? I saw her rambling, nonsensical, incoherent answers in the Couric interview and based on that woeful display of ignorance I'd lean toward this being more credible than simple gossip.

 

[e_blazer]

Hey, what's the big deal? I didn't know Sarah Palin existed, much less was governor of Alaska, until the convention. Now we all know she exists. It's all about name recognition in politics. She has plenty of time to brush up on the "minor" details like this before the next election.

 

[Minstrel]

Hey, what's the big deal? I didn't know Sarah Palin existed, much less was governor of Alaska, until the convention. Now we all know she exists. It's all about name recognition in politics. She has plenty of time to brush up on the "minor" details like this before the next election.

Dan Quayle got a lot of name recognition after being tapped as Bush the Elder's vice president. I'm not sure it is all about name recognition...being famous for being stupid doesn't make you electable.

 

[e_blazer]

Dan Quayle got a lot of name recognition after being tapped as Bush the Elder's vice president. I'm not sure it is all about name recognition...being famous for being stupid doesn't make you electable.

But Quayle actually was intellectually challenged. Palin's problem seems to be more one of being yanked out of a small pond too soon. She has four years to get ready for stepping back into the national spotlight. Quayle also didn't have the ability to rally a crowd the way Palin does.

All of that said, my hope is that Sarah retreats to the land of the north and the Republicans look at reworking their brand more along the lines of true conservatism, without the "religious right" hoopla that Palin caters to.

 

[Minstrel]

But Quayle actually was intellectually challenged. Palin's problem seems to be more one of being yanked out of a small pond too soon.

How do you tell the difference? Both have made embarrassing mistakes that grade schoolers wouldn't. Dan Quayle was probably not a literal idiot. More likely, he just didn't think on his feet well, and Palin seems to have the same problem. She's definitely good at rallies, because she appeals to real partisans, but does she appeal to more moderate people? Her favourability ratings suggest not.

Personally, I'd be surprised if she ever contends for major national office again. I think she's been too embarrassed and too partisan. She was the sop to the rabid wing of the Republican party, to contrast with McCain's "too moderate" image. In addition, she appeared stupid (whether or not she is). I don't think that left her with a credible image outside of Alaska.

 

[MARIS61]

McCain has very similar problems with geography, but always gets a pass on it.

Sexism?

 

[PapaG]

Wow, huge news that Rick Davis is trying to cover his ass.

Meanwhile, Obama's new Chief of Staff sat on the Fannie board and was in charge of oversight. But let's obsess over anonymously-sourced Palin rumors!

 

[barfo]

How do you tell the difference? Both have made embarrassing mistakes that grade schoolers wouldn't. Dan Quayle was probably not a literal idiot. More likely, he just didn't think on his feet well, and Palin seems to have the same problem.

She has another problem, which is ignorance. She's never learned anything about the world outside of Alaska, probably because things that don't affect her personally aren't interesting to her. That's the impression I get, anyway.

barfo

 

[barfo]

Wow, huge news that Rick Davis is trying to cover his ass.

Davis and Schmidt chose her, so it doesn't do him any good to attack her now. Besides, where is this story attributed to Davis?

barfo

 

[PapaG]

How do you tell the difference? Both have made embarrassing mistakes that grade schoolers wouldn't.

You were saying?

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[PapaG]

Davis and Schmidt chose her, so it doesn't do him any good to attack her now. Besides, where is this story attributed to Davis?

barfo

Where is the story attributed to anyone?

 

[mook]

How do you tell the difference? Both have made embarrassing mistakes that grade schoolers wouldn't. Dan Quayle was probably not a literal idiot. More likely, he just didn't think on his feet well, and Palin seems to have the same problem. She's definitely good at rallies, because she appeals to real partisans, but does she appeal to more moderate people? Her favourability ratings suggest not.

Personally, I'd be surprised if she ever contends for major national office again. I think she's been too embarrassed and too partisan. She was the sop to the rabid wing of the Republican party, to contrast with McCain's "too moderate" image. In addition, she appeared stupid (whether or not she is). I don't think that left her with a credible image outside of Alaska.

I think we will see someone as hyper-partisan as her on the ticket again, so I don't agree with that point. Otherwise, I think you're right.

The Republican Powers That Be will likely have in the back of their heads what I call "The George Will Sneer Test." George Will sneers at everybody, but if you are considering a Republican candidate he will sneer at more than the Democratic candidate, find somebody else.

There are lots of charismatic, female partisan Republicans out there. Find one that's clearly smart too. The anti-intellectualism of the Joe-The-Plumber/Dubya/Palin wing has got to go. It's fun making fun of Ivy Leaguers, but in the back of our heads we all know we don't want somebody who took 6 years to get a BA from the University of Idaho running our country.

 

[barfo]

Where is the story attributed to anyone?

As far as I know, nowhere. So why did you attribute it to Davis?

barfo

 

[barfo]

It's fun making fun of Ivy Leaguers, but in the back of our heads we all know we don't want somebody who took 6 years to get a BA from the University of Idaho running our country.

It would be nice if we all knew that in the back of our heads, but I think there is clear evidence that a whole lot of people actually think stupidity is not a disqualification for President.

barfo

 

[lukewarmplay]

But Quayle actually was intellectually challenged. Palin's problem seems to be more one of being yanked out of a small pond too soon. She has four years to get ready for stepping back into the national spotlight. Quayle also didn't have the ability to rally a crowd the way Palin does.

All of that said, my hope is that Sarah retreats to the land of the north and the Republicans look at reworking their brand more along the lines of true conservatism, without the "religious right" hoopla that Palin caters to.

Quayle was and remains infinitely more qualified than Sarah Palin to hold public office. He was more reasonable, and not the mental midget everyone thought he was, whereas she is actually dumber and pettier than we thought.

 

[PapaG]

As far as I know, nowhere. So why did you attribute it to Davis?

barfo

He headed the campaign, campaign sources are blaming Palin, and Davis is silent. He's at least culpable in not standing behind his pick. I'm not saying he is the anonymous source, but by his silence and own refusal to admit he sucked I will affix blame to him as well.

 

[Minstrel]

You were saying?

Yes, Biden is known for gaffes. He also seems to have problems thinking on his feet. But less so than Palin. Biden makes to ocassional silly comment, while Palin seemed to embarrass herself in basically every interview.

 

[Minstrel]

I think we will see someone as hyper-partisan as her on the ticket again, so I don't agree with that point. Otherwise, I think you're right.

It was the combination, not that each alone would disqualify her. Not only does she have intellectual credibility problems, she appeals to a narrow band of the electorate. Bush had intellectual credibility problems, but knew how to appeal to a broader segment of the nation.