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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
"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.
