Bachmann fails geography

[R.Mackey]

A misspoken word is not on the same level as not knowing where the most important battle of the Revolutionary war was fought. Not even close.

[pedant] Technically the Battle of Concord was fought hours before the start of the Revolutionary War, at least according to David Hackett Fischer... so it's disqualified.

As for which is most important, many opinions. I'd pick Saratoga, with honorable mention to Ticonderoga (1775), but it's subjective. [/pedant]

anyone who doesn't know that the Battle of Long Island was fought in Brooklyn, NY.....ain't know nuthin' about nuthin'.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

I had a disturbing thought. Since she's in New Hampshire, it seems she might be considering a presidential run. That isn't disturbing to me. She'll never get elected President. The American people aren't that crazy. The Republican Party isn't even crazy enough to nominate her.

But, and here's the disturbing part, Vice President? Do you think she might be running for VP?

I doubt it, but stranger things have happened.

I wouldn't be disturbed by a Huckabee/Bachmann ticket--or better yet Palin/Bachmann.

Obama could probably spend a lot less time fund-raising then!

 

[Kopji]

What bothers me is the isolation that the mistake implies. I can understand someone confusing the two places, but does she just write her own speeches without anyone doing fact checking or review? The mistake involved a major point of her speech, it was not just a slip of the tongue, it was a lack of craftsmanship.

 

[Malerin]

I hate Bachmann and her band of useless idiots.

But, I have to admit, I too assumed that the Battle of Concord took place in New Hampshire. Its the more well-known Concord, as opposed to the one in Mass.

Plus, I am a New Yawkah, and we are famous for a lack of knowledge of New England history and geography.

I teach U.S. history and thought they were in Connecticut. People forget things sometimes (or, more likely, transpose places without realizing it).

 

[leftysergeant]

I don't know where Tricky gets this "fifty sovereign states" idea. If you listen to the clip, he's talking about the number of states he visited during the campaign. He clearly meant to say "forty-seven states."

Or that seven of them got double-tapped. 57 STOPS on a long tour.

 

[leftysergeant]

But, and here's the disturbing part, Vice President? Do you think she might be running for VP?

Please, God, YES.

 

[Meadmaker]

I wouldn't be disturbed by a Huckabee/Bachmann ticket--or better yet Palin/Bachmann.

Obama could probably spend a lot less time fund-raising then!

But what about a reasonable candidate for President, and a Bachmann VP pick to keep the base in line? Not very likely in my opinion, but not completely ridiculous, and not completely ridiculous that such a ticket could win, either.

Here's the "nightmare scenario" in my head. I don't think it's very likely, but it could happen.

She's in New Hampshire now, so she might be thinking about being a candidate. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that something happens which makes Sarah Palin decide not to run. Bachmann declares, and gets big support from the looney right wing of the Republican Party, which has sizable clout right now. The "reasonable" Republican candidates split the vote, and the Republicans' "winner take all" system gives her lots of delegates. Her price for unqualified support is a VP position, which she receives. The economy hasn't significantly improved by 2012, which leaves Obama looking more and more Carter-ish, and loses the election. Then, whatever reasonable candidate won the election dies, and it's President Bachmann.

There are a lot of events in that chain which combine to make it very, very, unlikely, but stranger things have happened. You young whippersnappers in the audience might find it hard to believe, but we all said similar things about Ronald Reagan once upon a time. When he got the GOP nod in 1980, there were a lot of people pleased as punch at the Democratic headquarters because Reagan was perceived as so crazy that even Jimmy Carter could beat him. Elections can take very odd turns in the USA.

 

[leftysergeant]

But what about a reasonable candidate for President, and a Bachmann VP pick to keep the base in line?

Are there that many raving lunaticseven now in the GOP? I know that percentage-wise there may be, but are there so many that it would make less sense to court normal people by picking two normal candidates?

There are a lot of events in that chain which combine to make it very, very, unlikely, but stranger things have happened. You young whippersnappers in the audience might find it hard to believe, but we all said similar things about Ronald Reagan once upon a time. When he got the GOP nod in 1980, there were a lot of people pleased as punch at the Democratic headquarters because Reagan was perceived as so crazy that even Jimmy Carter could beat him. Elections can take very odd turns in the USA.

Reagan was not a sane person but he played one on TV.

I don't think Bachmann can even pull off an act as a mildly eccentric person. People would be too clearly reminded of why they didn't vote for Grampy and Caribou Barbie. I think the cute has worn off that act.

 

[Cleon]

But what about a reasonable candidate for President, and a Bachmann VP pick to keep the base in line? Not very likely in my opinion, but not completely ridiculous, and not completely ridiculous that such a ticket could win, either.

That's what McCain was trying with Sarah Palin. I'd rather they not do that again.

 

[TragicMonkey]

That's what McCain was trying with Sarah Palin. I'd rather they not do that again.

But thanks to the eternal movement of the political spectrum (similar to celestial precession, but faster and more alarming), Palin is now the reasonable candidate and Bachmann the wacky one. And in another four years, Bachmann will be the reasonable candidate and her VP candidate will be Charlie Sheen.

 

[Spindrift]

Bachmann may run but will never be nominated for president or VP. She's a walking malaprop. Bachmann is a fringe candidate who may draw a small but rabid group of supporters a la Ron Paul. She may make a lot of noise but that's about it.

 

[eeyore1954]

Yes an egregious error to be sure. This is a very important fact the most everyone in the US knows. Other famous politicians from both parties never make equally stupid mistakes.
Instead of insignificant things like this bring up truly important things about her. My understanding is there are plenty.

PS Actually I would consider it missing one question on a history exam not the first one she has mised. Not flunking geography.
Is missing a question on which state is closer to Kentucky (Illinois or Arkansas) more like flunking geography. Although I personally would consider it missing one question and also not an important mistake.

 

[Alferd_Packer]

How did Bachmann miss Concord, California?

There is even a Concord, Minn.

 

[Alferd_Packer]

Bachmann may run but will never be nominated for president or VP. She's a walking malaprop. Bachmann is a fringe candidate who may draw a small but rabid group of supporters a la Ron Paul. She may make a lot of noise but that's about it.

She's good for drawing off the crazies.

 

[WildCat]

This will backfire on her, just like when Martin Van Buren tipped over the canoe William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were riding in. Van Buren lost the 1840 election for this stunt, but falling in the river gave Harrison pneumonia and he died right after taking office.

Why are you all staring at me?

 

[TragicMonkey]

This will backfire on her, just like when Martin Van Buren tipped over the canoe William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were riding in. Van Buren lost the 1840 election for this stunt, but falling in the river gave Harrison pneumonia and he died right after taking office.

Why are you all staring at me?

Because a) you can't catch pneumonia from just falling in a river, and b) Harrison didn't die, being a vampire meant he was already in a state of undeath and thus no longer mortal. Tyler had to stake him, and it took some doing, too. But they couldn't charge him with murder because of the undeath thing, so he got off with a fine for desecrating a corpse.

 

[Frank Newgent]

Tippecanoe and Tyler too

 

[hgc]

There is even a Concord, Minn.

There are lots and lots of them, to be sure. But the main point is the pronunciation. You wouldn't confuse Concord, MA with Concord, NC if you heard the names spoken by locals.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I understand one Concord is famous for grapes, and another for airplanes. Which is which I don't recall, and what either item had to do with the Revolutionary War I can't imagine.

 

[eeyore1954]

I understand one Concord is famous for grapes, and another for airplanes. Which is which I don't recall, and what either item had to do with the Revolutionary War I can't imagine.

Clearly it was the airplanes that gave the Continental Army the upperhand. Although history also mentions that the continental army was kept happy by the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (using Concord Grape Jelly).