The Face of Experience

Here's a shot of Republican Sarah Palin, posing at a recent photo-op.  

In the meetings which preceded this photo, Republican Palin used her extensive foreign policy experience to negotiate a reciprocal moose-hunting agreement with a group of fearsome looking Vikings. 

...and you doubted she had foreign policy experience? Oh ye of little faith!  Seeing is believing.

In a related story, Republican John McCain was overheard asking a member of his staff, "you mean there are still Vikings around? Do they really have their own country... you know, like the Czechoslovakians do?"

McGaffe

In case you haven't noticed, John McCain has a knack for inserting his foot.  Besides his constant confusion about the differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims and his self-acknowledged weakness on issues relating to the economy, it now appears McCain needs an education in geography too.

Here's the same guy who most people regard as strong on foreign policy, yet he couldn't find the Czech Republic on a map if he tried.  Apparently McCain's advisors still haven't clued him in.   He's defended Czechoslovakia (a nation that hasn't existed since 1993) on more than one occasion.  Why should any of us be surprised about McCain's latest gaffe?  

It's one thing for the average American to forget eighth grade geography, but candidates who are running for President should have at least some knowledge of national borders in regions of the world where American troops are serving.

There's only two explanations here.  Either McCain is just woefully ignorant of world geography or he's breathtakingly careless.  I don't think he's senile.  After all, you don't have to be old to be careless.  Either way, the end result equals the same incompetence we've witnessed over the last eight years.