What Palin And Bart Simpson Have In Common

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/021918.php

WHAT PALIN AND BART SIMPSON HAVE IN COMMON.... About 12 years ago, there was an episode of "The Simpsons" in which Bart was supposed to deliver an oral report on Libya. Bart, of course, hadn't done his homework and had no idea what to say. He stood up, cleared his throat, looked at the blank page in front of him, and winged it.

"The exports in Libya are numerous in amount," Bart said earnestly. "One thing they export is corn, or as the Indians call it, maize. Another famous Indian was Crazy Horse. In conclusion, Libya is a land of contrast. Thank you."

None of this made any sense, but Bart couldn't just stand up and say, "I have no idea what I'm talking about because I'm unprepared." He had to say something, so he made up some silliness and got the ordeal over with as quickly as possible.

Every time I hear Sarah Palin try to answer any question on any subject, it immediately reminds me of Bart's classroom presentation. Take yesterday, for example, when Glenn Beck asked Palin, "Who's your favorite Founder?"

This isn't the former half-term governor's best subject. Palin did, after all, boast not too long ago that the Founding Fathers wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. But like Bart, she couldn't just take a pass, so she told Beck, "You know, well, all of them, because they came collectively together with so much ... so much diverse and so much diversity in terms of belief, but collectively they came together."

She eventually said, "And they were led by, of course George Washington." I kept waiting for her to say, "Or as the Indians called him, George Washington."

If "all of them" sounds like a familiar response, it's because Katie Couric asked Palin about which newspapers she reads. "Um, all of them," she replied.

I realize right-wing activists adore the former governor, but her conspicuous unintelligence should be obvious to anyone above the age of 4.


—Steve Benen

[livetohike]

1. What in the hell does Palin have to contribute other than

comedy relief :shrug:? But I don't think she realizes how ignorant she sounds. I can just see the eyes roll on the set at Fox. What an embarrassment.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. LOL! That's exactly right!

I'm also reminded of an episode where Barney asks Homer which president is on the bill he has and Homer goes "Uh...all of them...?They're having a party."

[flvegan]

3. It's truly unsettling how close she came to being the VP.

One facepalm after the next.

[tammywammy]

4. Thanks for the giggle

Recommended. :)

[JBoy]

5. A few other Bart Simpson quotes I could imagine Palin saying:

“Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.”

"Good-bye, Japan! I'll miss your Kentucky Fried Chicken and your sparkling, whale-free seas."

"What a day, eh Milhouse? The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them... as is my understanding."

"Dad, thanks to TV, I can't remember what happened eight minutes ago. No, really, it's a serious problem. Ha, ha, ha! What're we laughing about?"

"I am through with working. Working is for chumps." *I think Palin did actually say this

[gmoney]

10. The ultimate Bart-channeling-Palin quote:

Bart: Sharing is a bunch of bull, too. And helping others. And what's all this crap I've been hearing about tolerance?
Homer: Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[90-percent]

6. their respective creators

Their respective creators are both hardcore Frank Zappa fans, maybe?

-90% jimmy

[Enrique]

7. I was impressed she remembered the citizen soldier thing with Washington

that myth is from advanced grade school American history.

I would have expected her to go with the cherry tree, but I guess I underestimated her. :thumbsup:

[TlalocW]

8. I noticed the, "All of them," non-answer again

And was surprised Beck called her on it. I guess maybe he is disappointed in her not jumping on every crazy thing he wants her to. Anyway, it was pretty much the Couric interview, "All of them," which she then supplemented with George Washington as that's the only founding father she probably knows anything about so if she needed to talk more about Washington, she probably could spout off a few things like Valley Forge, etc. Of course, she would probably begin with the whole cherry tree myth...

TlalocW

[mrbarber]

9. Palin? Make a fool of herself?

That's unpossible!