One of the Sarah-bashing allegations coming out of the McCain camp is that she thought Africa was a country instead of a continent. The MSNBC pundits - esp. Matthews - have been scoffing at that. They keep asking how could any adult, college-educated person in the U.S., the governor of a state, not know that Africa is a continent.

Frankly, I didn't have any trouble believing it. American high schools aren't known for producing well-rounded individuals and many colleges don't have geography, history, politics or sociology requirements for graduation. With the xenophobia and racism that runs rampant in this country - esp. among right-wing Republicans - as well as the Republican penchant for anti-intellectualism - is it really a shock that a governor from a low-population, conservative, and "maverick" state like Alaska would be so ignorant?

And now, Palin has inadvertently confirmed her own gaffe:

If there are allegations based on questions or comments I made in debate prep about Nafta -- about the continent versus the country when we talk about Africa there -- then those were taken out of context.

The continent vs. the country? So she thinks there is a country called Africa? At the very least, she's confirmed she said something that could be construed that way.

And why would Africa come up in debate preparation about NAFTA? Maybe because she didn't know which countries are part of NAFTA? That was another allegation coming from McCain's camp.

During the same spontaneous press conference, Palin denied the RNC had sent anyone up to Alaska to repossess her $150,000+ wardrobe. But she confirmed there were, in fact, RNC representatives doing an inventory of her wardrobe. Hmm.

Remember, this is the same chick who, the day after the Alaska legislature's Troopergate report came out, saying she had done things that were illegal and unethical and enumerating those things, she told the press she was glad the report said she'd done nothing illegal or unethical.

I guess nothing's true until Sarah says it's true.

Girlfriend needs to shut up. Maybe she's never heard of this advice, sometimes attributed to Lincoln:

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

I've been feeling sorry for her because I think she's being scapegoated. She is not the reason McCain lost. McCain choosing her might be one reason he lost but it's not the only one, and she's not the one who chose her.

But now I'm thinking - karma's a bitch.  After all the attacks she made on Obama, she's got it coming.

Next time someone asks her if she wants to run for national office, maybe she should blink.

(cross-posted on my site)