John McCain's recent admission that he doesn't remember how many homes he owns has been fodder for a lot of late night jokes. McCain's vagueness about his property is far from a one-off lapse. His forgetfulness has fueled gaffe-prone tendencies and resulted in a number of embarrassing mix ups.
During an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, McCain referred to a non-existent 'Iraq-Pakistan border.'
His campaign people try to pass this stuff off as simple misspeaking, but for a presidential candidate McCain has moments when he comes across as bizarrely out-of-touch, under-informed and even confused - and it's a pattern, not just a couple of lapses.
The list of McCain gaffes is extensive and growing.
He has mixed up the Sudan and Somalia, confused Sunnis with Shias, and during one exceptionally impaired moment referred to Vladimir Putin as the "President of Germany."
He has made repeated reference to "Czechoslovakia" - a non-existent country (in 1993 it split into two states, Slovakia and the Czech Republic).
Despite his alleged expert knowledge of Iraq, he seemed unsure when asked how many US troops are on the ground in that nation.
He has been known to forget his own voting record. When asked why insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control, he hummed and hawed before offering up his staple - 'I'll get back to you on that.'
He admits to being computer challenged, and claims to be merely "aware" of the internet. When he wants to check out a site, his wife or kids do the Googling for him. Even then his quaint understanding of modern tech falls back into the TV idiom. He has referred to "watching" the Drudge Report, much as one might watch the news.
He has on occasion appeared confused about economic issues - with little apparent clue how the social security system works. He even seems vague about the details of his own energy policy.
The fact that he drew a blank on how many houses he owns shouldn't come as a surprise. During a 2007 interview he didn't know what kind of car he drove. An aide had to remind him that it was a Cadillac CTS.
During an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, McCain referred to a non-existent 'Iraq-Pakistan border.'
His campaign people try to pass this stuff off as simple misspeaking, but for a presidential candidate McCain has moments when he comes across as bizarrely out-of-touch, under-informed and even confused - and it's a pattern, not just a couple of lapses.
The list of McCain gaffes is extensive and growing.
He has mixed up the Sudan and Somalia, confused Sunnis with Shias, and during one exceptionally impaired moment referred to Vladimir Putin as the "President of Germany."
He has made repeated reference to "Czechoslovakia" - a non-existent country (in 1993 it split into two states, Slovakia and the Czech Republic).
Despite his alleged expert knowledge of Iraq, he seemed unsure when asked how many US troops are on the ground in that nation.
He has been known to forget his own voting record. When asked why insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control, he hummed and hawed before offering up his staple - 'I'll get back to you on that.'
He admits to being computer challenged, and claims to be merely "aware" of the internet. When he wants to check out a site, his wife or kids do the Googling for him. Even then his quaint understanding of modern tech falls back into the TV idiom. He has referred to "watching" the Drudge Report, much as one might watch the news.
He has on occasion appeared confused about economic issues - with little apparent clue how the social security system works. He even seems vague about the details of his own energy policy.
The fact that he drew a blank on how many houses he owns shouldn't come as a surprise. During a 2007 interview he didn't know what kind of car he drove. An aide had to remind him that it was a Cadillac CTS.
McCain isn't renowned for his intellectual acuity. He took a certain perverse pride in graduating rock bottom in his Naval Academy class. He was 894th in a class of 899.
Now in his 70's and with memory more of a challenge, you have to wonder what role medication has played in his memory lapses.
McCain has been a user of the sleeping pill Ambien. Taken with alcohol, Ambien has been known to result in amnesia, so-called 'fugue states,' and may even be a factor is sleep walking episodes.
An ABC News article describes other side-effects of the drug:
Medical professionals tend to play down concerns about Ambien, and stress that if it is taken responsibly there is little risk. Most agree though that it can have an effect on the memory.
McCain is a performer. He has the moves down pat - the tone of voice, the gestures, that phony 'say-cheese' smile and yes, most of the time he manages to read the teleprompter without squinting. When he's not performing a rote routine with all the props, he's in most danger of memory lapses and 'misspeaking.'
Do Americans really want a president who is info handicapped, with an oddly regressive cold war warrior-like view of the world? McCain is not a man for the times.
Recently when asked about his candidacy he said he was 'old' but 'good for two terms.' Scary thought.
Now in his 70's and with memory more of a challenge, you have to wonder what role medication has played in his memory lapses.
McCain has been a user of the sleeping pill Ambien. Taken with alcohol, Ambien has been known to result in amnesia, so-called 'fugue states,' and may even be a factor is sleep walking episodes.
An ABC News article describes other side-effects of the drug:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has uncovered more than a dozen reports of sleep-driving - all linked to the drug. Partly in response to such reports, the FDA urged sleep drug manufacturers on March 14, 2007 to strengthen their package labeling to include warnings of sleep walking, "sleep driving" and other behaviors.
Medical professionals tend to play down concerns about Ambien, and stress that if it is taken responsibly there is little risk. Most agree though that it can have an effect on the memory.
McCain is a performer. He has the moves down pat - the tone of voice, the gestures, that phony 'say-cheese' smile and yes, most of the time he manages to read the teleprompter without squinting. When he's not performing a rote routine with all the props, he's in most danger of memory lapses and 'misspeaking.'
Do Americans really want a president who is info handicapped, with an oddly regressive cold war warrior-like view of the world? McCain is not a man for the times.
Recently when asked about his candidacy he said he was 'old' but 'good for two terms.' Scary thought.
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