McCain thinks Spain is somewhere near Bah-raaaaaain. Or, Once a Pageant Contestant, Always a Pageant Contestant

More likely, he really just doesn't care where it is, who the president is, or much of anything else beyond getting his fat, pasty ass in the Oval Office. It might not be quite as bad as the current Disgrace in Chief thinking the Taliban was a rock band, but it isn't what anyone would've called 'presidential' until the 21st century (TPM has video):

"Would you be willing to meet with the head of our government, Mr. Zapatero?" the [Spanish] questioner asked, in an exchange now being reported by several Spanish outlets.

McCain proceeded to launch into what appeared to be a boilerplate declaration about Mexico and Latin America -- but not Spain -- pressing the need to stand up to world leaders who want to harm America.

"I will meet with those leaders who are our friends and who want to work with us cooperatively," according to one translation. The reporter repeated the question two more times, apparently trying to clarify, but McCain referred again to Latin America.

Finally, the questioner said, "Okay, but I'm talking about Europe -- the president of Spain, would you meet with him?" The Senator offered only a slight variance to his initial comment. "I will reunite with any leader that has the same principles and philosophy that we do: human rights, democracy, and liberty. And I will confront those that don't [have them]."

Encouraging, isn't it? And while McCain does his best to match Bush's idiocy and mendacity on the campaign trail, Sarah Palin keeps making a complete ass of herself whenever she has an unscripted moment. It's just like Miss (Teen) South Carolina's nonsense about maps and education that became such an Internet phenomenon a while back. Only Sarah Palin is in her forties, and running for the second highest office in the nation:

During a quick stop at a diner in Cleveland, Ohio, Sarah Palin was asked for her reaction to the AIG bailout.

“Dissapointed [sic] that taxpayers are called upon to bailout another one,” she said. “Certainly AIG though with the construction bonds that they’re holding and with the insurance that they are holding very, very impactful to Americans so you know the shot that has been called by the Feds its understandable but very, very disappointing that taxpayers are called upon for another one.” . . .

Though she has been on the campaign trail for nearly three weeks, Palin has yet to hold a press conference, and this morning’s stop marked the first time she answered a question from the press on the fly, prompting concerned looks from staffers.

The real stories here are, of course should be reported as "Presidential Hopeful Unaware Spain is in Europe," and "Vice-Presidential Hopeful Doesn't Understand Current Market Crisis." The reported stories will almost certainly be "McCain-Palin staffers say candidates 'misspoke.'"