[quote author="Nude" date=1226113098][quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1226108919]Did anyone see Hardball last night? Chris Matthews was discussing a story leaked to the press from people inside the McCain campaign about Palin's ignorance to basic civics issues. For instance, she reportedly could not name the countries in North America. She believed Africa was a country and not a continent. She truly did not understand the role of the Vice President as outlined in the Constitution. This extreme ignorance put the McCain campaign at a disadvantage because Palin's handlers either had to sequester her from the public, in particular question and answer interviews, because she is embarrassingly ignorant, or they had to coach her so much that her answers appeared canned and memorized.</blockquote>
I don't know how much credence I am going to give an anonymous source in a losing campaign. I find it hard to believe that, if she was really that stupid and uneducated, it wouldn't have come out in a campaign for Governor that included a primary fight in which she was running againt the incumbent Governor and a general election in which she was running a former Governor. I think she was woefully unprepared and uninformed for a rabid national press corp, but the kinds of charges being made now strain credulity and certainly would have been exposed by either Murkowski or Knowles.</blockquote>
I too find it hard to believe that she really is that uninformed, but I can't help but to go back to the Katie Couric interview. Look, I know she was nervous and all, but when she couldn't name a newspaper or magazine that she reads, I really believe that she hasn't been outside of her little Alaska bubble. I know that a lot of people think Africa is a country, particularly people without passports. Geez, I helped my mom plan a safara it and was shocked that she thought the continent was one big country rather than 52.
I don't think Palin is stupid, but I think she lacks curiosity, which is why she doesn't know a lot of things that she should even in the position of governor of Alaska. If you are not curious, you are not going to seek out information. This is ditto on Bush. Both of them have been comfortable surrounding themselves with only those that have the same beliefs and lack the curiosity to know much outside of their comfortable bubbles.