Repeating an experiment

[yendi]

So, I tried the same experiment with Elayna that Scalzi tries with Athena here. The major difference -- and arguably either the difference between a nine-year-old and a thirteen-year-old, or the difference between having Scalzi as a dad and having me as one, is that Elayna's assumed I must be asking a trick question, instead of a stupid one. But otherwise, yeah. She also knows more about Africa than the vice-presidential candidate of a major political party.

And yes, Elayna was very amused by the video accompanying the story above. Appalled, but also amused.

Comments

[mister-wolf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my number one fear about the election was that McCain would win and then die. A McCain presidency I could have dealt with; at least the guy is intelligent. A Palin presidency? *shudder*

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

One of my friends told a story about how there were two women behind him in line to vote, a middle-aged women and her elderly mother. The mother was saying that she hadn't decided for sure who she was going to vote for when she actually got to the booth but was leaning toward McCain. The daughter immediately said "But, Mama, McCain could drop dead any minute and then we'd have that crazy lady for President!". The mother immediately agreed and stated her intention to vote for Obama :)

[pkthunder.livejournal.com]

And what in the hell is "knowledgability"?

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Actually, knowledgeability is an accepted word. It's in both Mirriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary. Sorry, it's the librarian in me.

[pkthunder.livejournal.com]

I'll accept that. But why would that be the correct word to use? Why not just say that she "lacked the knowledge necessary" than the "degree of knowledgeability necessary"? I guess it reinforces the point that politics are all a show. But to me it's just another example of the news media using big words and long phrases and sounding pretentious. Words words words we need more words to fill up 24 hours a day on 3 different channels.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with you there. It was the correct usage of the word, but other words would have been clearer. Besides, word or not, 'knowledgeability' does sound awkward :)

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

I can't see the video at work and John doesn't restate this.

What did Palin supposedly answer to the question?

Because her HS education might've taught her that Africa, Asia and Europe were one Continent and why should she ever question what she learned in school?!?

If you went with the dictionary definition of continent btw, there are 100s of them. With a planet that is 85% water and land as scattered as it is. ;)

[clawfoot.livejournal.com]

I find it fascinating that left-wing liberals will damn Fox News for being biased and unashamedly partisan, but will hold up a news clip as "truth" when that "truth" suits them.

Doesn't anyone suspect that Fox News might just be twisting the facts and hyping unsubstantiated rumors to serve an agenda?

Is there anyone in the world who DIDN'T expect the Republican party to turn on Palin like a pack of sharks when they lost?

I don't want to defend Palin; I think she was one of the Republican's biggest mistakes, but I'm actually kind of feeling ill about how often I'm seeing this clip posted by people as some kind of vindicating truth. IT'S FOX NEWS.

FOX. NEWS.

WTF.

[amokk]

Because they're eating their own, and that's always amusing.

[clawfoot.livejournal.com]

Fair point, but most of the commentary I've seen on this so far hasn't been "hurr hurr, lookit the implosion of the Repubs" but "hurr hurr, Palin is soooo dumb."

People who've condemned Fox News for seriously misrepresenting the truth are now taking what they report at face value. That is what I'm finding sits ill with me.

[amokk]

They're fair and balanced when the viewer agrees with them. ;)


I understand the frustration, and I honestly wish it was the implosion of the Republicans. They need to jettison the dead weight of neocons and theocons; make them form their own new party, let the Republicans get back to core Republican values.