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

[PapaG]

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.

Yes, just a "gaffe". The best part is how he prefaces this idiocy by stating that a leader should know what they are talking about.

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[Minstrel]

Yes, just a "gaffe".

What would you call it? Personally, I think Biden knows how to count, he simply confused himself by saying the plural when he was thinking about the singular.

To me, that's a gaffe. Not an indicator that he doesn't understand something fundamental.

 

[PapaG]

What would you call it? Personally, I think Biden knows how to count, he simply confused himself by saying the plural when he was thinking about the singular.

To me, that's a gaffe. Not an indicator that he doesn't understand something fundamental.

Fundamental understanding such as knowing the FDR wasn't the President when the market crashed, or fundamental in knowing that there was no TV in those days?

 

[Minstrel]

Fundamental understanding such as knowing the FDR wasn't the President when the market crashed, or fundamental in knowing that there was no TV in those days?

Are those fundamental misunderstandings? Or screwing up details? If you feel they are fundamental, what specific policy issues do you think it would cause him to make mistakes in?

 

[e_blazer]

Ah, Minstrel, the election's over. The Democrats won big time. It's okay now to admit that Democrats aren't perfect all the time. Obama suggested in his initial response to Russia sending troops into Georgia that he thought that the issue should be brought before the UN to get a resolution asking the Russians to withdraw. Apparently, he was forgetting that Russia holds a veto right and that such an approach was a non-starter. I suspect that as President, his cabinet and staff will help him avoid such booboos.

 

[Minstrel]

Ah, Minstrel, the election's over. The Democrats won big time. It's okay now to admit that Democrats aren't perfect all the time.

I think you're confused; I've never suggested that any Democrats are perfect. In fact, I've often had a great contempt for the party over the past decade or so. Saying that Biden's misspeaks were "gaffes" and not "fundamental misunderstandings" seems pretty reasonable and far from claiming he's perfect (and, again, I didn't even want Biden as VP).

Obama suggested in his initial response to Russia sending troops into Georgia that he thought that the issue should be brought before the UN to get a resolution asking the Russians to withdraw. Apparently, he was forgetting that Russia holds a veto right and that such an approach was a non-starter.

Both he and McCain said that the issue should be brought before the UN, seeking a resolution, actually. Neither suggested a resolution could actually get through. Both were making generic "we should handle this with the international community" comments.

 

[e_blazer]

I think you're confused; I've never suggested that any Democrats are perfect. In fact, I've often had a great contempt for the party over the past decade or so. Saying that Biden's misspeaks were "gaffes" and not "fundamental misunderstandings" seems pretty reasonable and far from claiming he's perfect (and, again, I didn't even want Biden as VP).

I'm perfectly willing to admit that I'm often confused.

I'd agree that Biden's foot-in-mouth disease does not indicate a lack of knowledge. I think he just doesn't always get his brain fully engaged before talking.

I also don't think that Palin is anywhere near as dumb as many in the media have made her out to be. I think she's not ready for prime time and woefully ignorant about many important issues. I think she was an awful choice by McCain (and I suspect that if you could get him alone, he'd admit that himself at this point). Still, she has her supporters and, if she spends the next four years educating herself on international issues and schmoozing with supporters, I suppose she could mount a viable campaign. In my opinion, she's the wrong direction for the Republican Party to go and I hope they come to that realization. I suspect they will.

Both he and McCain said that the issue should be brought before the UN, seeking a resolution, actually. Neither suggested a resolution could actually get through. Both were making generic "we should handle this with the international community" comments.

I don't recall McCain saying that, but I could be wrong. My recollection is that he used this as an example of Obama's inexperience on the foreign policy front. At this point, I don't care enough to go digging around the web to find out.

 

[Minstrel]

I also don't think that Palin is anywhere near as dumb as many in the media have made her out to be.

I also don't. I just think she showed an inability to think on her feet and, as barfo mentioned, a general ignorance. The second can definitely be addressed, given more preparation time before running. The first, I have no idea. Maybe.

In my opinion, she's the wrong direction for the Republican Party to go and I hope they come to that realization. I suspect they will.

That's my opinion, too, though I hope they don't realize that.

I don't recall McCain saying that, but I could be wrong. My recollection is that he used this as an example of Obama's inexperience on the foreign policy front. At this point, I don't care enough to go digging around the web to find out.

Well, the reason I know it is because I had a long-ish debate about it on this forum. I could dig it up, but I can't bring myself to care. It basically boiled down to a semantic argument, about who's words conveyed more belief that it could pass.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Here's what Republicans think of your mealy-mouthed Palin-bashing:

 

[MickZagger]

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.

Spread blame whichever way you like. It doesn't matter who was campaigning for him, the better candidate won as they generally do.

 

[Haakzilla]

Here's what Republicans think of your mealy-mouthed Palin-bashing:

 

[Денг Гордон]

Do the Republicans really want to send Sarah Palin into a debate against Barack Obama in 4 years? In no way can that end positively for them.

 

[Haakzilla]

Do the Republicans really want to send Sarah Palin into a debate against Barack Obama in 4 years? In no way can that end positively for them.

...EVER [never ever would that end positively in favor of her]!!!

 

[Real]

Rift between McCain's people and Palin? Believable.

Sarah Palin dressed in a towel in front of McCain's people? Believable

Sarah Palin going rogue on the campaign trail? Believable

Sarah Palin not knowing Africa was a country? Has to be bullshit IMO. There are a lot of people out there that are dumber than Palin that know Africa is a continent.

 

[barfo]

Sarah Palin not knowing Africa was a country? Has to be bullshit. There are a lot of people out there that are dumber than Palin that know Africa is a country.

Hmm.

Do they know the capital of Africa? The name of the President of Africa?

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

Sarah Palin not knowing Africa was a country? Has to be bullshit IMO. There are a lot of people out there that are dumber than Palin that know Africa is a continent.

It's believable to me. Not because Palin is the dumbest person in America (she isn't), but because I think there are a lot of people with a great ignorance about Africa. It's one of the least-discussed populated areas of the world. The Middle East, Europe and Asia (beyond the Middle East) are known well enough for people to know and understand them as individual countries. By and large, when Africa is talked about, it's as a single entity (Terrible about what's happening in Africa. We need to end hunger in Africa. What's to be done about all the warlords and killings in Africa?). Palin, a person who couldn't name a single newspaper she reads and didn't even have a passport until recently, seems like exactly the type of person who could be afflicated by this monolithic Africa idea.

It would be amazing, but I also thought it was stunning that given quite a few seconds to think, couldn't even name a newspaper to lie about having read.

I'm sure she's not an idiot. I do think she has a profound ignorance.

 

[Real]

It's believable to me. Not because Palin is the dumbest person in America (she isn't), but because I think there are a lot of people with a great ignorance about Africa. It's one of the least-discussed populated areas of the world. The Middle East, Europe and Asia (beyond the Middle East) are known well enough for people to know and understand them as individual countries. By and large, when Africa is talked about, it's as a single entity (Terrible about what's happening in Africa. We need to end hunger in Africa. What's to be done about all the warlords and killings in Africa?). Palin, a person who couldn't name a single newspaper she reads and didn't even have a passport until recently, seems like exactly the type of person who could be afflicated by this monolithic Africa idea.

It would be amazing, but I also thought it was stunning that given quite a few seconds to think, couldn't even name a newspaper to lie about having read.

I'm sure she's not an idiot. I do think she has a profound ignorance.

You're absolutely right in there's a lot of ignorance about Africa, but almost everyone knows Africa is one of the seven continents; North America, South America, Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Asia, Europe. That's just something you learn in the second grade and it's drilled in to your head (no pun intended).

She wasn't handled well IMO. They should have let Palin be Palin if they were going to put her on a national stage.

In the end, she followed the script and looked manufactured and dumb for it, when in reality she is a bright, independent, reform minded woman.

You can't blame the loss on her. With this economy John McCain never had a chance, but I think if she wants to take another run at elected office she needs to go to Washington as a Senator and carve out a reputation for herself as a leader, as intelligent, and as a reformer. Work with Democrats on energy independence and fiscal matters, pass legislation. Otherwise I don't see how she could ever win the Presidency.

 

[Dumpy]

In the end, she followed the script and looked manufactured and dumb for it, when in reality she is a bright, independent, reform minded woman.

You can't blame the loss on her. With this economy John McCain never had a chance, but I think if she wants to take another run at elected office she needs to go to Washington as a Senator and carve out a reputation for herself as a leader, as intelligent, and as a reformer.

There are many different types of intelligence--and many ways to measure it--and quite frankly, there is absolutely no evidence that she should be considered "smart" in any of them. Regardless of the type of intelligence that a person has, there are some things that you can look at for evidence that they are bright: speaking style (how complex are the sentences? What types of words are used? Can you string together a cogent argument on the fly); writing style (much of the same); how fast you pick up new ideas and concepts, particularly in areas in which you have no expertise; use of analogies to understand and explain phenomena; intellectual curiousity; acceptance of other ideas and cultures; and who you surround yourself with.

How has she demonstrated any of these things? She's a good public speaker, which (in her case) consists of reading a speech that someone else wrote and having a presence. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no reason to even suspect that she is smart, intelligent, bright, etc.

 

[STOMP]

I also don't think that Palin is anywhere near as dumb as many in the media have made her out to be.

the difference is that this isn't "the media" making her out to be dumb (among other unflattering things). Reportedly this is her own campaign throwing her under the bus. Knowing the type of politics played by those in charge of the McCain-Palin campaign, I don't think this was a random aide speaking out of turn. This was a calculated move by the Republican powers that be, nipping the Palin 2012 talk in the bud.

STOMP

 

[mook]

In the end, she followed the script and looked manufactured and dumb for it, when in reality she is a bright, independent, reform minded woman.

What is your evidence that she's any brighter than any person who has risen to the position of governor in a backwater state?

She can recite a speech with some conviction and nice delivery, but half the people in Hollywood can do that.

 

[lukewarmplay]

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." Real, the reason you can't believe that she wouldn't know Africa isn't a country is that she's so much dumber than you it's hard to even fathom. You need to go out and meet some genuinely stupid people to understand her.

In any case, Romney is almost certainly the 2012 nominee. He's next. That's how the Republican Party works.