McCain Gaffe: Confuses Spain with Hostile Latin American Countries

[Limelight]

Source: Talking Points Memo

This story doesn't have a unique link yet on TPM (just on their front page), but here's an earlier version of this story:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217702.php

-------------------------------

To recap, tonight we've been discussing Sen. McCain's bizarre interview in which he appeared not to know who Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero was and, in an effort to wing it, assumed he must be another left-wing, anti-American leader from Latin America. In the Spanish press analysis of the interview, at least, many seem uncertain whether McCain even knows where Spain is, though that strikes me as a bit excessive.

-------------------------------

All of the Spanish language speakers I've heard from who've listened to the interview think there's no doubt that McCain just got confused and didn't know who Zapatero was or possibly didn't even know where Spain was.


No link yet.

---

Good Lord... First he doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia and now he can't even figure out which country is which? And let's be clear, this interview as conducted in ENGLISH and TRANSLATED later into Spanish. We gotta digg and recommend the crap out of this one!

[truthisfreedom]

1. Ridiculous twit!

[cjsmom44]

21. RE: Twit

Yup a Twit and an idiot....not deserving the Office of the Presidency....seriously...he is losing it...

[EnviroBat]

108. It's worse than that. This guy shouldn't be allowed in public.

He should be locked up in some assisted-living facility. He's a dangerous threat to our national security.

[L0oniX]

154. "Oh Magoo you've done it again"'

[Lucky 13]

158. Bwahahaha

:rofl:

[rooboy]

2. Since he's a veteran of the Spanish-American war it's an understandable mistake. n/t

[EFerrari]

3. Are you kidding? I bet he has some good stories about the Armada.

The sad thing is, there are no Latin American countries hostile to the US. They are only hostile to corporate rapine.

[cosmicone]

4. He looks like

he is a veteran of the revolutionary war and rode with Paul Revere to Concord!!

[Chulanowa]

5. I think it's high time to put the horse to pasture, then.

[EFerrari]

6. Maybe he'd be happy doing one of those historical re-enactments.

:rofl:

[aquart]

9. Every time you think of an age joke....

Ask yourself how many seniors do the Democrats need at the polls.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

53. Should we put "Advance a humorless society" in the party plank?

Seniors are among the first to make fun of their own age and infirmities and have as good, or better, a sense of humor than anyone else.

[Pete2069]

72. I has seen senior McCain's age which were quite sharp ,,, BUT

Not McSame.  His memory looks shot....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

142. Seniors are just as diverse as anyone else.

I hate demographic bullshit.

[RaleighNCDUer]

59. My mother is older than he is, and she thinks he is too old to

be running.

The idea of him kicking off and leaving Palin in charge is...oh shit, I lost the word. A senior moment of my own.

[happygoluckytoyou]

124. McCain played ROCK ROCK ROCK until they invented paper and scissors

[mcg]

164. Oh, there's no word to describe that,

one would have to be invented.

It's not just a matter of chronological age. People who are advanced in years differ greatly in how functional they are. John McCain wasn't all that bright to begin with, and he does seem to be affected by old age. On the other hand, there have been pianists still active in their 90's, and there is Frankie Manning...
http://www.frankiemanning.com

[gauguin57]

71. Absolutely, we need seniors. But there are old-old people and young-old people.

I mean that there are 72-year-old people who are sharp as a tack, who don't get winded that easily, who are in great shape, etc. John McCain seems like an "old" 72. I'm not saying a senior citizen running for president has gotta be zero-body-fat-running-all-over-the-stage-Mick-Jagger. But come ON, he needs to be a SHARP 72, not a seemingly confused, tired 72.

Especially with Sarah Palin, Nominee for Vice President of Phonyland, nipping at his heels with her be-lipsticked, pit-bull teeth.

[FirstLight]

82. My dad is 75

I remember when he was sharp...now, well. He is sitting in his chair mostly, sorta, waiting to die. Has no interest in things, because he can't understand or folow along anymore. My mom is typical 1950's wife, and won't "challenge" him by pursuing it with doctors...

and I know he is in NO shape to run the country...

[caseycoon]

120. LOL! Us seniors are laughing at the stupid imbecile

as much as anyone else. I'm 66 & hubby is 81. Hubby is in better shape physically & mentally than the 'old geezer'
We are both human & we don't think he is....
:rofl:

[happygoluckytoyou]

123. ---- so i heard MCDONALDS named their new Senior Citizen Happy Meal....the McCain

old people have a sense of humor..... they laugh at him too..... my grandma thinks he is a putz waiting to happen---

[Earth Bound Misfit]

18. McSLIME would be the 6th Civil War veteran Pres...

[AlbertCat]

87. veteran of the revolutionary war

If that were true, he'd have gone with George III. I mean seriously. He' pro status quo and would obviously be FOR taxation without representation.

[dflprincess]

128. Oh please.

McCain was with Cornwallis - none of that revolutionary stuff for him. Status quo was good enough in 1776 and it's still good enough for him today.

[moggie]

7. How hard is it?

Someone with a genuine interest in international politics could be expected to know of Zapatero: remember the news when Span withdrew its troops from Iraq? Remember the general election six months ago? Spain isn't an insignificant country: it has the eighth largest economy in the world. Even if you don't have a good grasp of international politics, shouldn't you spend some time getting up to speed if you're aiming to lead one of the world's most powerful countries?

I'll bet McCain's creaky old brain dredged up Emiliano Zapata, the Mexican revolutionary. At least he didn't think they were talking about Zorro!

[EFerrari]

8. I wouldn't be too sure.

:rofl:

[blayne]

133. "McCain Meant To Reject Spain Meeting, Adviser Says"

The McCain campaign insisted Thursday morning that the Senator meant what he said when, during an interview on Spanish radio, he refused to commit to a meeting with Spain's prime minister, Jose Luis Zapatero.

"The questioner asked several times about Senator McCain's willingness to meet Zapatero (and id'd him in the question so there is no doubt Senator McCain knew exactly to whom the question referred). Senator McCain refused to commit to a White House meeting with President Zapatero in this interview," the Senator's foreign policy adviser Randy Sheunemann told the Washington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/18/mccain-meant-to-reject-sp_n_127449.html

[mcg]

163. General Emiliano Zapata is still dead. 'Viva Zapata!' is McCain's favorite movie.

He took the name of the movie too literally.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Good lord..

Didn't Reagan once say he was in one Latin American country when he was in another? And didn't someone (I think it was Helms when he was Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee) think Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of *India*?

[DeeDeeNY]

28. Reagan misidentified a member of his own cabinet

I can't remember the name, but he was an African American he had probably been talked into appointing to his cabinet, and when he bumped into him at some social function he said something like "And how are things doing in your city, Mr. Mayor?"

[LeftishBrit]

40. Gerald Ford once gave his good wishes to Anwar Sadat and 'your great country of Israel'...

this was some time before Camp David, when Egypt and Israel were still deadly enemies.

And I think an American politician once called Brian Mulroney, the then-PM of Canada, 'Mr. Muldoon', apparently mixing him up with the PM of New Zealand.

[Xipe Totec]

51. And Ford also tried to eat a tamale, corn-husk and all nt

[JPZenger]

73. It was Sec. of HUD Pierce - true story

[JPZenger]

74. Jimmy Carter called Humphrey Hornblower

Jimmy Carter made a speech with a tribute to Hubert Humphrey. It may have been at the 1980 convention. The speech was talking about this great guy and built up to the high point when Carter was supposed to say the guy's name. He yelled out "Hubert Horatio Hornblower ... I mean Humphrey."

It was a Freudian slip because Humphrey could be verbose and full of hot air.

[LibertyLover]

114. Nah, that mixup was because Carter had been in the Navy

and was flashing back to the Horatio Hornblower book series by C.S. Forester. :evilgrin:

[Politicalboi]

131. At least he didn't

Ask him to get him a drink or shine his shoes.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

112. He was in Brazil, and saluted "the people of Bolivia" in a speech.

Did wonders for diplomacy, that.

[meowomon]

11. This is what happens when your blackberry fails to remind you to take your meds.

[Shae]

62. and he has only himself to blame . . .

since he invented the thing in the first place.
:P

[flamingdem]

12. I hope the Spanish language media has the COJONES to play this one GRANDE

because they need to let people know that McCain no sabe ni mierda about their countries or concerns.

[reggie the dog]

13. Come on John

try to invade a member of the European Union, or do covert ops to lead to a coup d'état and just see how quickly we put you under trade sanctions and cut off our 500 million people from your goods. Just try and see what your already overdeployed army would do against the EU and our armies. That would be more stupid than invading Iran.

[Diclotican]

46. reggie the dog

reggie the dog

I for one would not be surprised if mr McCain, and his "friends" in the US want to take down an european nation, just for the fun of it.... Many american believe that every european country as they se at it, are weak, soft and no match for the mighty US marines.. Even that the US Marines regularly is been beaten by even the Norwegian conscripts on our joint winter drills....

If mr McCain "win" the elections and are president elect.. I would hope that the EU, and the rest of Europe wake up, and work hard to get the act together so ve are safe... And even get our "new" NATO members in the east european nations into the fold, so ve can be toghter when the war is coming.. Or at least the trying of an coup d'etat against european country.. I would not for a second doubt that the US would do a covert ops, a coup d'etat or a regular war against an european country Not after 8 year with mr "smartass"...

On the other hand, mr Bush, who was seen as a dumb ass when candidate for the presidency, was also elected president, sort of elected then... And he had no clue about the world outside the US either... Sometimes I am not sure he know where US are on the map.. I does look like that... And it looks like many american do like their leaders to be as uneducated and stupid as them self..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[reggie the dog]

88. no need to be sorry

thanks for communicating in my native language, I hope you are wrong about McCain, but he represents the worst in my American culture. I now live in France and am a French/European Union citizen and I think that The E U, and the EEC should work to be a rival force to the USA, rival in military, economy, research, culture, literature, everything.

[Diclotican]

97. reggie the dog

reggie the dog

I do believe that Europe, specially the European Union, and the EEC must take a far more grasp of our own future than we have been doing today.. Because it look like we can't fully trust the US any more.. I hope we still can be friends, but EU/EEC have to work harder to get our house in order... Economical, cultural, literature research and military.. Not first as a direct rival to US, but rather as an force to be recognized, and respected by the rest of the world.. I doubt so many in europe want to build up an military force the like of the US, who today is using twice the sum the 20 next country on the planet is using... That is a horrible waste of resources if you ask me... I believe we have to build a stable, peacefully and democratic Europe, instead of using our resources to murder each other.. That is something we are pretty good at, if you read our history... But if we work hard to work together, and maybe even get the russians into the fold in some way, we would be a strong rival to the US.. Whiteout the use of billion of waste to military pet project.. Off course it would be some military project, if we was to stand alone more tha we are doing today.. But we can use our military to the benefit of europe to.. Not to attack others, but to do it clear, that if we are attacked inside our Continent we would answering it - but we would not use our military as first resource - that i something the US are likely to do.. If we have a decent diplomatic corps, then man wars in the future would be stooped before war broke lose..

And most important, we have to trust our own instinct, and be more independent of the americans.. Traditionally the US have been our friend, our ally, and in many ways also our military Saviour if the USSR ever was to go to war against us in the west.. Thankfully that ever happened, but the though that US would defend us raggedness of what was something I really believed in - to mr Bush was there then... Today I am not that sure about that anymore.. Maybe better to safeguard us, and work closer even in military terms with the rest of the EU then.. Even that I voted NO last time the EU was put forward in 1994.. Sweden got in, but Norway was not willing to do it.. And today many in Sweden regret the membership in the EU... But again, that is another case we may talk about another time;)..

I hope the US would vote another president than today, but i would not be surprised if McCain was voted into office, og shall we say "voted" into office.. If something happened in the US just before the election... And then some waiving with the flag.. Then the american are willing to go to hell and beyond if the loudest speaker is telling them to do it... And the republicans have traditionally been very clever of using the "patriotism" and the american flag to lie to the american public.. Very good indeed..

I hope for the best, but I have to say, I fear the worst... I really do

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[kmdemqueen]

14. It is starting

Or is ending. I mean really. Is Sarah palin the smart one. Is that why they picked her???? It was dumb choice.

[StClone]

15. One of five meds he's on

Causes confusion and irritability?

[DFW]

16. I found out why McCain is making all these stupid mistakes!!

He's being coached by Dan Quayle!!

No wonder..........

[OakCliffDem]

17. Age does not have anything to do with it either

:sarcasm:

[DFW]

19. Dan Quayle was that dumb in his forties

[OakCliffDem]

20. It must be something in the Kool-Aid that Republicans drink

[DFW]

29. Someone needs to to do a genetic analysis

[crossroads]

166. LOL! nt

[phycomycetes]

22. English version of the interview

Here's the link to the interview, I don't know why, but I can't hear it. Perhaps someone here is more lucky or competent:

http://www.cadenaser.com/internacional/audios/interview-to-senator-mccain-english/sernot/20080918csrcsrint_1/Aes/

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. Transcript of the Zapatero section:

The preceding questions were about Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba - McCain said none of them respect human rights or democracy, basically, and said he wouldn't sit down to talk with their leaders unless he could make pre-conditions (not sure if he'd talk to Raul Castro under any circumstances, but that was his attitude to Chavez and Morales).

Radio Caracol Miami: Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you are elected President, would you be willing to invite President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to the White House to meet with you?

McCain: I would be willing to meet with those leaders who are friends and want to work with us in a cooperative fashion. And by the way, President Calderón of Mexico is fighting a very tough fight against the drug cartels. I'm glad we are now working in cooperation with the Mexican government on the Merida plan, and I intend to move forward in relations and invite as many of them as I can of those leaders to the White House.

Would that invitation be extended to the Zapatero government, to the president, itself?

Obviously I'd have to look at the relations and the situations and the priorities, but I can assure you I will establish closer relations with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to do harm to the United States of America. I know how to do both.

So you have to wait and see if he is willing to meet with you - will you be able to do it in the White House?

Well, again, I don't - all I can tell you is I have a clear record of working with leaders in the hemisphere that are friends to us, and standing up to those who are not, and that's judged on the importance of our relationship with Latin America and the entire region.

OK, what about Europe - I'm talking about the president of Spain?

(pause)
What about the what?

Are you willing to meet with him if you're elected president?

I am willing to meet with any leader who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy that we are for human rights, democracy and freedom, and I will stand up to those that do not.

He's a confused old man, who was primed with some soundbites about Latin America, and didn't think that the Hispanic radio station might show some interest outside the western hemisphere. So he was just winging it, thinking "too many leaders down there to keep track of - I'll just give a generic 'I like our friends, and hate those who don't brown-nose us' reply".

[jeff30997]

32. What about the what?

He sounds like Grandpa Simpson.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_nVkz0fDKz2s/Rp81wj5uqWI/AAAAAAAAAFg/fipMwq3aPCI/s320/grandpa+simpson.jpg

[underpants]

127. (pauses....shifts to the right) In what respect Senor?

:wow:

[Bette Noir]

37. I can no longer say he's losing it.

It done got lost.

He's confabulating-- making stuff up to hide that he can't follow the conversation. It's a sign of dementia.

We're in a world of hurt, if he manages to steal this election. Excuse me-- if his handlers manage to steal the election. It's clearly beyond him.

[Peggesis1]

48. His reaction to his error concerns me more

Anyone can misunderstand something in a conversation, but when the interviewer politely redirected him and reminded him that they were talking about Spain, he didn't act like a normal adult in his response to that. That's where it was clear that he was a grumpy confused person who had to fake it. We call that confabulation when we see it in demented patients. Not a good sign.

[panAmerican]

121. BRILLIANT: "I can no longer say he's losing it. It done got lost."

:applause:

[frogcycle]

57. oh damn

this really is damning

other posters are spot-on

this response is so typical of someone just in a fog, trying to fake their way through

it is not always dementia - people hard of hearing will do the same thing. I'm not saying that was his problem, mind you, but it is the same phenomenon. I've done it myself. Someone says something sotto voce in a crowded room; I say "what did you say?"; they repeat it; I still have no clue; rather than continue to belabor something I at least hope was a trivial remark, I just sort of half smile and nod. Assuming it was something like "your hair is on fire" I probably look like an idiot. This is what McCain is doing, but his fog is not a hearing issue; it is a comprehension issue.

[SaveAmerica]

95. That could have been an interview with W, that is so messed up. Just say no to WII.

[happygoluckytoyou]

23. VIVA ZAPATERO ! ! ! Long live the President of Guatemala, our neighbor to the north!!!!

[jeff30997]

31. Viva Zapatero indeed !!!

I knew I made the right choice in the last election. :)

[LynneSin]

24. well they all speak Spanish so they must all be the same

:grr:

[PA Democrat]

25. He didn't even have the right friggin' CONTINENT.

I can't believe he didn't know who Zapatero was, especially after how much coverage the Spanish elections got in 2004, just days after the Madrid train bombings.

[DeeDeeNY]

26. He originally thought he was from Czechoslovakia

:shrug:

[Borgnine]

30. This is reminding me of Arrested Development.

One of the recurring gags from that show was that a great deal of the Bluth family thought that Portugal was in South America.

Actually, McCain and Palin do remind me a bit of George Sr. and Lucille

[Mnemosyne]

85. I really miss that show.

And there may be a movie, I heard it on Olberman. :woohoo:

[Julius Civitatus]

33. Unfortunately, this won't have any effect with most Republicans: they don't know either!

Sad to say, but I don't think this gaffe will make a difference with McCain supporters, as they don't know either (and don't care) where Spain is located.

In my experience, your average neanderthal has no idea that Spain is a major European country, that it is the 8th economy in the world, a NATO ally, a leading country in the EU, and its historical and political importance. Not a thing, and they wouldn't care much.

I'm not trying to make a blanket statement, but I know well from experience that the average Joe believes Spain is some province of Mexico or Guatemala. Most people couldn't locate Spain in a map. Many of my pupils couldn't get over that their exchange students from Spain were Caucasian. They couldn't get over it, and mentioned often how they were expecting some Latin stereotype, even though I explained well to them that Spain is in Europe. They couldn't get over that they had a vastly superior education either.

What's SHOCKING is that a US Senator wouldn't know Spain, where it is located, and whether it is a friend or a foe.
Absolutely SHOCKING! Even Bush knew this.

[The Woodpecker]

35. POW!!!!! POW!!!!! POW!!!! LEAVE HIM ALONE HE LIVED IN A BOX!!! POW!! POW!!

[yurbud]

106. If that qualified someone to be prez, we should have elected Perot-Stockdale

[mcg]

141. LEAVE JOHN ALONE! AND HOW DARE ANYONE OUT THERE MAKE FUN OF JOHN AFTER ALL HE'S BEEN

BEEN THROUGH!
HE LOVES HIS MONEY, HE WENT THROUGH TORTURE AND A DIVORCE,
HE HAS 7 KIDS AND 10 HOUSES, HIS WIFE TURNED OUT TO BE A USER AND STEALER,
AND NOW HE'S GOING THROUGH AN ELECTION BATTLE!
ALL YOU PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IS TELEPROMPTERS AND MAKING FUN OF HIM! HE'S A HUMAN!!!!!!!
WHAT YOU DON'T REALIZE IS THAT JOHN IS MAKING YOU ALL LAUGH
AND ALL YOU DO IS WRITE A BUNCH OF CRAP ABOUT HIM!
HE HASN'T PERFORMED WELL ON STAGE IN YEARS!
HIS SONG IS CALLED 'GIVE YOU FOUR MORE' FOR A REASON BUT
ALL YOU PEOPLE WANT IS NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE!!!!!!!
LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!! YOU'RE LUCKY HE EVEN TALKED TO YOU BASTARDS!
LEAVE JOHN ALONE!!!!!! PLEASE!
PUNDITS TALKED ABOUT ORATORICAL SKILLS
AND SAID IF JOHN WAS A GOOD ORATOR HE WOULD'VE PULLED IT OFF NO MATTER WHAT!
SPEAKING OF HONOR, WHEN IS IT HONORABLE TO PUBLICLY BASH
SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH A HARD TIME!? HE WAS A POW!!
LEAVE JOHN ALONE! PLEASE!
LEAVE JOHN MCCAIN ALONE RIGHT NOW!!!!!! I MEAN IT!
ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH HIM YOU DEAL WITH ME!
BECAUSE HE'S NOT WELL RIGHT NOW! LEAVE HIM ALONE!

[DeeDeeNY]

36. Great maps!

[Julius Civitatus]

39. Unfortunately, a vast number of Americans have a similar worldview

It could be the disastrous levels of public education, but it is sad how many people couldn't locate the US in a world map, according to a study performed recently.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

92. Shoot me now.

They couldn't locate the UNITED STATES on a world map -- the country they, uh, live in?!

[Julius Civitatus]

107. True. Recent studies show 20% of Americans surveyed can't find the US

in a map of the world:

http://www.american.com/archive/2008/may-05-08/don2019t-know-much-about-geography

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/0502_060502_geography.html

Just guess who these people vote for.

:banghead:

[rateyes]

34. Spain, Senator McHoover is the place where

the rain falls gently on the plain.

[Odin2005]

38. MALFICIÓN! LOL!

Somebody give that idiot an el mappa. :rofl:

[olegramps]

44. Eye site is failing

Unlike Palin who is an expert on Russia, he can't see Spain from his front porch. He couldn't fly planes too well either.

[YDogg]

41. Time magazine ahs a story about it; link here

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1842156,00.html?cnn=yes

Ouch. The question about Zapatero, clearly framed by the reporter as a question about Spain, came after inquiries on Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba. As a result, much of the Spanish press has decided that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain — a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism — with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El País put it, "In the best-case scenario, demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."

[renate]

91. thanks for the link... pretty damning

During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations, and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."

That's pretty much a "In what respect, Charlie?" answer.

And as the author of the article points out--McCain is trying to make us believe he's the one with foreign policy experience. :eyes:

[nradisic]

42. McCain has Alzheimer's...

I've been saying it for months and I'm sure of it. He is not at all there mentally.

[MindMatter]

55. I agree. People chose to ignore that with Reagan

By Reagan's second year, it was obvious to me. He could barely answer a question without some prompting from Nancy, who bravely stood by his side. There is a lot I dislike about both the Reagans, but I admire her loyalty.

McCain isn't that far gone yet, but he is clearly on the path. Show me one time this entire campaign when he has demonstrated even a modest command of any facts or any issues with some complexity. It is nothing but vague generic slogans from him. When he does try to get into factual situations, he comes with the Sunni-Shia mixup.

[gblady]

63. My father had dementia....

and it was a slow, 10 year decline...
very sporatic in the first few years and increased in severity.

There are several different types of dementia, which manifest in different ways.

I believe a person's personality comes into play in the progression.
My father was a school administrator and had excellent people skills.
He used those skills to try to hide his mental condition for years.
It actually was a fascinating, as well as heartbreaking, process to watch.

McCain's gaffes remind me of watching that process.

[pipi_k]

70. I hadn't actually thought of it that way, but

I suppose you're right...it's both fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time.

My MIL also had dementia, and who knows for how long before she died three years ago at the age of 93

She had been a schoolteacher for years and lived alone after her husband died. She tried to hide her dementia, and succeeded quite well for a long time, until she broke her second hip, after which she came to live with us.

That's when we realized that all the times she would complain about people "interrupting" her TV programs on the A & E channel...and various others...with phone calls and visits, was nothing but an attempt to hide the fact that she slept most of the day in front of the TV and wasn't as engaged in life as she made herself out to be. Pride. Fear that she would be put into a nursing home. Which I can understand.

Heartbreaking...yet interesting in the respect that this little old Southern lady with impeccable manners would, on occasion, turn into a perfect witch....or a sobbing child...for no apparent reason at all...

Dementia is so very cruel...

[MindMatter]

109. Great point about how different personalities adapt

It is tragic to watch this process in slow motion -- even when we are talking about a guy who has been a real asshole his hole life.

I worked side-by-side with a guy going through this. He had peen a very control-type, detail-oriented guy. For him the disease was devastating. He found his most cherished skills slipping away and it was enormously frustrating to him. He responded by being really mean to everyone around him. We though he was just being a jerk. We had to dismiss him. It was not until a year later that we learned he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It all made perfect sense.

Funny how we don't see it when it is right in front of us.

If your father was more of a people person naturally, maybe he was able to adjust somewhat more gracefully. There comes a time, of course, where the one can no longer adjust to any degree of normalcy.

McCain reminds me a lot of my coworker. He can't handle any details and he responds by lashing out at others. Yesterday's trash talking episode ("I've taken down better guys than him") is so typical. It is a guy losing it, clinging to his fighting instinct, which is a deep emotion to him.

This is a tragic disease that I certainly don't wish on McCain or his loved ones. But for the good of America, I hope that the intense pressure that McCain faces over the next 45 days will make this disease more apparent to the public. We cannot allow this many to take office.

[L. Coyote]

76. He certainly has no clue about Spain, or forgot what he did know.

He had to dance around the qustion because he is clueless about the politics in Spain and about Zapatero.

Must sound too much like Zapata! :rofl:

[happygoluckytoyou]

43. I THINK THESE LYRICS by Hoyt Axton SAY IT BEST------------------- ------------> ---------------->

Well I've never been to spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the president is insane there
And he sure knows how to lose it
Then he'll abuse it
Or we'll refuse it
He just can't use it

Well, I've never been to Alaska
But I kind of like the Mooses
So I headed for the white house
Only made me feel so useless
Can you feel it
You know she got tits
Oh so good... oh feel so good

Well I've never been to heaven
But I don't live far from Russia
Well, they tell me I was born smart
But I really don't remember
In south alaska or arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter

[MorningGlow]

49. Nice!!

:applause:

[a la izquierda]

58. Oy vey, I hate that song.

When you live in Oklahoma, it becomes an anthem.

[caraher]

45. C'mon, Sen. McCain... surely you remember Spain...

It's where you flew a plane into some power lines

[wishlist]

47. He called Putin the President of Germany several times too, not isolated gaffes

Mainstream news media have given him a huge break on all of his senior moment gaffes, including his remarks about Pres Putin of Germany so I don't expect any big repercussion over this, since far fewer Americans are familiar with Spanish politics.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

50. McCain definately knows where Spain is.

That's where he took out some power lines in the 1960's while flying.

"These days they talk about the day McCain turned the lights out in Spain."
-Timberg, Robert. The Nightingale's Song. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1995.



ETA: Or maybe he doesn't know where it is and that explains his disregard for Spain's infrastructure.

[SteveM]

52. How's he going to know who to bomb?

[jasonberlin]

54. I speak Spanish & listened to it...

...and it couldn't be more clear that he had no idea who Zapatero is. The interviewer asked him THREE TIMES if he would invite Zapatero to the White House. McCain repeated each time that he will maintain close relations with our friends and confront our enemies.

Umm.... John? I think Spain is our FRIEND. The answer is YES, John. Don't confront Spain, John.

Wow. Pass this around!

ALSO - in response to a comment here - we're not insulting senior citizens here! We're pointing out that McCain in particular does not have the mental steadiness to lead the free world. Let alone the policies...

[hisownpetard]

150. Which only goes to prove: McCain can be an a**hole in more than one language.

[cvoogt]

56. Picked up by TIME

Link: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1842156,00.html">TIME story

[MaineDem]

65. Thanks for the link

Hopefully this and the Klein article about McCain lying will be read by many. And not be ignored.

[mcjackson]

60. i thought..

..biden was supposed to be the gaffe machine? ooooooops! :-)

[Sam Ervin jret]

61. Tell McInane," Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

And it's time for his pudding and his meds.

[johnaries]

98. Ah, you beat me to it!

:toast:

[mcg]

169. "General Franco was a loyal friend ... " - Richard Nixon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo_Francisco_Franco_is_still_dead

After Franco's death, Chevy Chase, reader of the news on Saturday Night Live's comedic news segment Weekend Update, announced the dictator's death and read a quotation from Richard Nixon: "General Franco was a loyal friend and ally of the United States. He earned worldwide respect for Spain through firmness and fairness"; as an ironic counterpoint to this, a picture (similar to the photo shown here) was displayed behind Chase, showing Franco alongside Adolf Hitler.



From that point on, Chase made it clear that SNL would get the last laugh at Franco's expense. "This breaking news just in", Chase would announce - "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!" The top story of the news segment for several weeks running was that Generalissimo Francisco Franco was still dead. Occasionally, Chase would change the wording slightly in order to keep the joke fresh, e.g. "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still valiantly holding on in his fight to remain dead." The joke was sometimes combined with another running gag in which, rather than having a sign language interpreter visually interpreting headlines to aid the deaf, the show would provide assistance from Garrett Morris, "head of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing", whose "aid" in repeating the story involved cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting the headlines that Chase repeated. The line was also perceived as a slap at then-NBC Nightly News main anchor John Chancellor, who due to his background as a foreign correspondent, felt the network should weigh its news more heavily toward world events, keeping Franco's deathwatch at the top of the headlines. The gag ran until early 1977.

[L0oniX]

64. "Oh Magoo you've done it again"

[Earth Bound Misfit]

69. BWAAAAA...

[tpsbmam]

66. His monotone -- yet another sign of dementia.....

or something being very wrong psychologically and/or medically. Retired medical psychologist & neuropsychologist here who worked with hundreds of patients with dementias of various kinds. I'm seriously not trying to be nasty here -- I'm very concerned about McCain's cognitive & medical status.

The entire interview here is spoken in a monotone and quite slowly on McCain's part. Listen to just some of it and you'll hear what I'm talking about.

http://www.cadenaser.com/internacional/audios/interview-to-senator-mccain-english/seresc/20080918csrcsrint_1/Aes/

Now compare it to an interview he did with Wolf Blitzer in 2000 -- very, very different:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEkL0hMW7F8

[L. Coyote]

77. Medication side-effects include dementia!

What medications is he on?

[tpsbmam]

90. It absolutely could be medications.....

but if he's on medications that would have that kind of effect, that's equally bad -- do you want a president on medications that dull his cognitive abilities to the degree that may be happening here. There are just so many signs piling up here -- I have good reason for concern. It if were just the monotone I'd say that the hell is going on -- why is he speaking like that? Meds? What's going on medically? My guess at this point is this isn't medication -- this is a recognizable pattern of cognitive problems (to know what would mean an evaluation and medical records).

It it isn't just the monotone. When I evaluated people I looked, of course, at medical history, meds, and so on. And I paid as much attention to process as to content. The process part was how a person spoke -- the tone, the quality of speech, the pattern of speech, the pattern of thought processes and so on.

We saw very subtle signs of Reagan's dementia even when he was first running for office in 1980. People dismissed it then. (see article snip below -- note that there were no tests conducted on him for any kind of dementia until after he was president) I'm seeing similar signs here -- I have very real concerns and questions.

I'm not saying the guy has an early dementia -- I'm saying I see enough signs to be very, very concerned. Add my name to the 2000 docs who want McCain's medical records released.





http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE5D61030F936A25755C0A9629C8B63&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all

When Ronald Reagan ran for president in 1980, pundits and political opponents criticized him for making contradictory statements and described him as absent-minded and inattentive. The portrayals raised questions about the health, and particularly the mental faculties, of a man who at age 69 would become the oldest to be elected president. During the campaign, Mr. Reagan agreed to let me talk to all his doctors, examine his records and then interview him about his health.

[SheilaT]

143. What an interesting contrast.

Also, since the Wolf Blitzer interview is on camera, you can see that he didn't have the confused, deer in the headlights look that he so often has today. I am becoming more and more convinced that he is moving rather quickly down the Altzheimer's slope. I also watched my MIL succumb to Altzheimer's, and it wasn't pretty.

Surely his physicians are aware of this. They should be willing to go public with the information.

[shellgame26]

160. Yes I've noticed it too

Politics aside he's looking pretty bad these last weeks. The campaign is wearing him down and he seems to be in some kind of physical pain.

[yorkie]

67. McCain's memory

I am a Clinical Psychologist. McCain's behavior is very much like someone suffering from memory loss-referring people to his website, his books, etc.He just does not remember. Even his combativeness and refusal to admit to being confused. We all have made mistakes at times, but we usually will admit to them, especially in situations where we will be found out!
We must do what we can to find out about his cognitive functioning and memory.

[L. Coyote]

78. Welcome to DU. We need more psychologists here!! LOL.

[PatSeg]

139. Welcome to DU!!

[Haole Girl]

68. There is no excuse for someone who has been in Washington that long...

...not knowing the names of world leaders.

I bet he knows all the Lobbyists names, though. :grr:

[Aristus]

75. "I forgot where Spain was, my friends, during the five years I was held P.O.W. and tortured."

Care to lay odds this'll be his excuse?

[KansDem]

84. He wasn't "tortured." He was "enhancingly interrogated."

...by frat-house wannabees blowing off steam.

[bikebloke]

79. Remember when Zapatero Crossed the border, raiding Texas?

Black Jack Pershing then pursued him back into Mexico. McPhonyWarHero rode along.

[CTyankee]

and I loved the movie! "Viva Zapata" with Marlon Brando. Must be what McCain was thinking of.

Mon dieu...

[CTyankee]

134. and I loved the movie! "Viva Zapata" with Marlon Brando. Must be what McCain was thinking of.

Mon dieu...

[mcg]

162. "Viva Zapata!" is McCain's favorite movie, seriously.

I think hearing 'Zapat...' got him confused. It doesn't take much.

[Andrushka]

80. "Hostile"?

Your words? Can't see them on TPM.

Please don't add to the hysteria about Latin American nations rejecting the empire and neoliberal policies by throwing in such loaded wording. Put it in inverted commas, at least.

That said: completely agree with your comments below that! Rec'd!

[KansDem]

81. Don't we share a border with Spain?

:crazy:

[calico1]

93. Yes we do!

And those damn Spaniards keep jumping over the border fence to get in!

:silly:

[L. Coyote]

83. VIDEO: McCain Answers Question on Venezuela, Spain, Zapatero

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x192820

[Julius Civitatus]

86. This is VERY OFFENSIVE to Spaniards

Believe me, I lived in Spain many years.

Spaniards are very sensitive to how Americans (in general) don't know squat about their country, and how Americans tend to immediately lump them in Latin America. To Spaniards, that's like nails on a chalkboard.

Spaniards are very proud people, one of the oldest nations in Europe with a rich and complex history. Even though Spain colonized most of the Americas for centuries, and share a common language with most of Latin America, they are ethnically and culturally different. For them, to get lumped with Latin America is offensive, as it shows a lack of regard for their country and their place in history.

To have a US Senator running for the presidency dismiss the leader of the world's 8th economy and mistake him with any of the Latin American leaders that are hostile to the US (Chavez, Morales), it is a major insult.

McCain and his foreign policy experience...

PS: I mean, this gaffe is not even comparable to "Sunnis and Shias". Spain and Latin America are not even the same continent. They are culturally, geographically, racially, ethnically, economically different! It shows McCain doesn't know and doesn't give a shit.

[SheilaT]

144. Here in New Mexico there are many

who will say quite pointedly that they are Spanish, not Mexican. It's an important difference.

[reggie the dog]

89. someone should ask

McCain if he considers people from Spain to be white, or non white hispanic. This question is hard enough, with our racial categories in the USA I think the language impedes Spanish people from being white even though there are as pale as people from Italy or Portugal. I think it would blow McCain's mind.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

94. Unfortunately, I bet there are a lot of ordinary voters who would make the same mistake

I wonder how many American tourists turn up in Spain expecting it to be just like Mexico.

And by the way, what's a "hostile" Latin American leader? I'd say that most of the Latin American leaders who are "hostile" have very good reasons for it.

[nichomachus]

100. And we don't want them to be president either

[Lydia Leftcoast]

111. ¿Como?

No comprendo lo que usted dice.

[nichomachus]

145. Dije que

no quiero que un baboso sea presidente de los EeUu.

[L. Coyote]

151. Afortunadamente, no somos todos ordinarios.

Some people finish at the top of the class at Harvard Law, others at the bottom of the class in military schooling.

Some people come in less than ordinary at military school! And some don't know about the Bush Doctrine.

[AlCzervik]

96. C'mon fucking guy!

McCain has a problem for real.

[road2000]

99. By George, I think he's got it:

Disdain from Spain falls mainly on McCain.

[bobd0]

102. ONCE AGAIN PROVING THAT MCCAIN IS OUT OF TOUCH!

We already know McCain is unstable. Out of touch and unstable seems like a good recipe for a stay in a nice peaceful asylum BUT NOT FOR A STAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

McCain's candidacy, as well as his absolutely insulting choice of Palin for VP, are indicative of the low regard the Republican Party has for America and the American voter.

[mcollier]

110. Good GREIF!!!

To act as though they are not accountable to the American People....

We do have to vote for these republican candidates....

Funny to see so many republicans running for office who are ashamed to put that little R next to their names in political ads and on their signs.

How can you expect to get votes if you are ashamed of what you are and who you are and what you represent.

Mind Blowing!!!!

And the Dishonorable Discharge spewing out of the side of John McCain is about the foolish $hit I've seen in politics... No wonder republicans are ashamed... You have monkey see and monkey do McCain running as a 3rd term of the bush administration.

No thinking person believes the BS republicans are trying to spread about Barack Obama...

Obama/Biden 08
Honorable American Heroes...

[Ignis]

136. *golfclap* That's very punny! (nt)

[Politicalboi]

137. LOL!

That was great. :rofl:

[mascarax]

149. Oooohhh...excellente! (N/T)

[crossroads]

167. Kudos! Good one! lol nt

[nichomachus]

101. Note to John McCain:

Spain is just south of Gaul and a little to the west of the Holy Roman Empire. Got it?

[bobd0]

105. You'd better send that note to Sarah too

I've heard she thinks she can see Spain from an island in Alaska, and that makes her an expert on Latin American politics. :rofl:

[Cant trust em]

103. Gotta worry about all of those Spanish illegal immigrants

They just come across the border into Arizona. Let's build a fence!

[yurbud]

104. k & r

[ryanmuegge]

113. He's a fucking moron. This is not surprising.

He's a POW, though. Give the guy a break. Because of some bullshit he made about up about an incident that happened 40 years ago, we shouldn't hold him accountable for his mind-boggling incompetence.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

115. the man is losing it

Plain and simple, McCain's not all there anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP dumped him after the first debate!

[panAmerican]

116. Going out on a limb here - Could McCain have been thinking Zapatista when he heard Zapatero?

In Spanish language or Hispanic-oriented ads, McCain tries to portray himself as a friend to immigrants (avoids the word, "illegal" of course). He may have some superficial knowledge of the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico and thought that's what he was being asked about.

I know, it's a reaaaaallll stretch!

[ann_american2004]

118. OMG - jinx almost!

I just posted that like a minute after you. I totally think that was what he grabbed for, lol. Brilliant minds.... :)

[panAmerican]

122. Yup, yup

Great minds, and you're probably female too (similar names ann_american2004, panAmerican). We rock, sister! LOL

[mwb970]

157. I think it was something like the Zapatistas.

If you listen to the audio of the interview, the questioner does have an accent and the Zapatero name goes by awfully fast. If I hadn't been reading along onscreen I might not have known what the heck she said either, and I'm fairly good in Spanish!

[ann_american2004]

117. LOL. FUNNY

He probably grabbed onto Zapatistas from Chiapas, Mexico. There were in the news, what? Like 15 years ago? Lol. Silly man.

[happygoluckytoyou]

126. IRAQ....IRAN....IDAHO....come on LETS BOMB SOMEONE !!!

[Maestro]

119. Hey, leave him alone.

He actually visited Spain. Well, actually, he just flew over it on his way to the French Riviera but that is close enough.

In all seriousness, this just further shows how out of touch he is and how he probably considers anyone with a Spanish surname an enemy. Stupid P.O.S.

I've read the Spanish version from El Pais and I can confirm that he alluded that he would not, with certainty, meet with Zapatero or at the very least his answers were vague and evasive.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/candidato/republicano/compromete/ver/Zapatero/gana/elpepiint/20080918elpepiint_9/Tes

En medios diplomáticos se atribuía ayer la actitud del candidato republicano a una confusión, pues la entrevista se centraba en las relaciones con Latinoamérica y la periodista tuvo que recordarle que España es un país europeo cuando insistió en poner como ejemplo a México. En el mejor de los casos evidenciaría su ignorancia respecto a Zapatero.

Here it states, and I am paraphrasing, that in diplomatic terms McCain was confused because the intereview revolved around issues of Latin American and the journalist had to remind McCain that Spain was in Europe! :eyes:

It's making news in Spain because in other parts of the article it states that he had said in an interview in April that he certainly hoped to meet with Zapatero and now says that he'll only meet with those who share the same philosophy as he does with respect to human right, democracy and freedom and he will confront those that don't. That answer seemed strange to the reporter from Spain since in April McCain seemed to have no problem meeting with Zapatero.

[happygoluckytoyou]

125. even HERVE V. KNOWS WHERE THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS.....

de plane, de plane

[Hulk]

129. "America first".....just WTF is that supposed to mean??

These right wing neocon types are enough to make me want to go to war against my own fellow citizens.

Honest to God...what the hell is that supposed to mean? They hang their hat on this silly ass little slogan as though the Democratic ticket is all about "self and greed". Don't they have this totally ass backwards??

I hate to say they are good at anything, but they are certainly good at taking truth and twisting it ass backwards to take their weakness and make it into a hollow chant "strength". What a bunch of buffoons.

If this team of dunces get elected...this country certainly deserves to be flushed down the toilet. We had better beat these lying, deceiving, sacks of shit by 30 points in the election. I already have next to zero faith in our election process, but I have just as little faith in our moronic population of religious zealots, blinded repug/neocon/fascist types, and geriatric flag waving, "we're #1 brain dead".

We take brilliant scholar and thinker and turn him upside down into "an elitist", and we take a college flunky FIVE-colleges=1 degree "hockey mom" and the near dumbest graduate from the Naval Academy and turn them into our "guiding light".

We are a fucked up nation, and we really are dumber than shit per capita.

[Politicalboi]

130. You can hear the interview here

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=eqb21

MaGoo needs Lilly. LOL!

http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons/viewtopic.php?p=79691

Be sure to watch the Bush/McCain voters below that video.

[SheilaT]

146. Oh, my.

The Lily video reminds me of when my son was in a Montessori school, and at age three or four he started reciting the states and their capitals. It was delightful. And how delightful to have a map of the world in a child's room and spend time teaching her where countries are.

The incredible ignorance of some Americans is appalling.

[Politicalboi]

148. Yes Little Lilly

Is a smart little girl. The first time I saw that I couldn't believe it. And it takes gaffe's like this to bring her back to mind. That's great about your son my niece does that too but she nor I could do what this one does.

[ooglymoogly]

132. I'm Gumby dammit nt

[ClusterFreak]

135. Just listened to the audio of the interview.

McCain does not know who the president of Spain is, nor that Spain is not in Latin America. The interviewer repeated that she was talking about Spain and not Latin America. Either he doesn't know where Spain is located, or he was having such an enormous senior moment, that he got his chocolate mixed with his peanut butter.

And foreign policy is supposed to be McCain's strength? You gotta be kidding me. This is a farce.

[tocqueville]

138. give the man a break

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition !

[The empressof all]

140. Jeeze....Give the guy a break

He can't even see Spain from his window.

[crossroads]

168. lol nt

[FVZA_Colonel]

147. And yet the media thinks it's more important to misrepresent Biden's comments on patriotism

then report on a huge gaffe like this.

[L. Coyote]

152. If Palin was a moose in the headlights, what's McCain? A rattlesnake?

The moment is recognizable. We all know the feeling from some experience or another, like when you got caught trying to answer a school teacher's question when you did not read the assignment. That deer-in-the-headlights moment!

[trthnd4jstc]

153. Those so-called hostile countries are not hostile. They do not want the BS that the Us has given in

the past to ever return to their nations, and I support that. We should have never been involved in the political activity through the CIA, DEA, and other US governmental agencies, as our government has. I have lost 2 friends of mine, in Columbia, and Nicaragua, both beautiful souls, who only wanted social and political justice, and both disappeared, one whose mother was so grief stricken, refused to talk with me about it. What our country has done to back the killings of thousands of leftist is a War Crime and a shame against G-d.

Sen. McCain is on his way to retirement, and it is a shame that he is embarassing himself and our nation with his ignorance.

[LaStrega]

155. And he thought Putin was 'President' of Germany! k+r

[BearSquirrel2]

156. Foreign Policy "Experience" ...

Boy those guys sure are "experienced". It's not McCain's fault though. There was no Lieberman there to whisper the facts into his ear.

Lieberman may be an asshole, at least he is well informed and in control of his own faculties.

[Az_lefty]

159. Too bad Johnny-boy never learned to speak Latin..

how else you gonna talk with them Latin countries.

[Botany]

161. ¿Dónde está España?

:rofl:

[crossroads]

165. Keep talking you senile old idiot! nt