Of all his many goofy gaffes, Biden calling Bosnians “Bosniaks” during last night’s debate was one of the goofiest. If Palin had done that, the chatter-mongers would have feasted on it until dawn. [Maybe Biden was channeling his inner George Lucas. He wants to do another "Star Wars" sequel.-ed. That is so over.]
UPDATE: I stand corrected. Bosniac or Bosniaks (alternative spellings) do exist although, as Wikipedia notes, “In the English-speaking world, Bosniaks are most commonly known as Bosnian Muslims….”
[I didn't know Biden was such a cosmopolite.-ed. Moi non plus.]
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21 Comments
1. Barry Dauphin:Roger, given your culinary interests, I’d have thought your favorite would be his eating at the restaurant that no longer exists.
Oct 3, 2008 - 11:48 am 2. Bill Walsh:Roger,
That wasn’t a mistake. “Bosniak” is a legit demonym for Bosnians (and has been back into the 19th century). It’s often used to specifically denote South Slavic Muslims (as Croat is South Slavic Catholics and Serb South Slavic Orthodox).
Bill Walsh
Oct 3, 2008 - 12:11 pm 3. David Thomson:(I gotta master’s in Ottoman history, so I’ve been reading about them for freakin’ ever.)
More questions should be asked concerning Joe Biden’s sanity. Is able to distinguish between reality and fantasy? There is little doubt in my mind that if Biden were a Republican—the demands that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation would be ceaseless. This is the same guy who weirdly claims his wife was killed by a drunken driver while the evidence completely contradicts this theory. What am I missing?
Oct 3, 2008 - 12:18 pm 4. Denise:Actually, Biden was correct. Bosniacs is the term for Bosnian Muslims.
He made lots of other mistakes though!
Oct 3, 2008 - 12:21 pm 5. MIke Reynolds:Umm, it sounds silly, to be sure–but that is how they say it over there, or so I’ve read. Michael Totten could probably verify.
Oct 3, 2008 - 12:28 pm 6. Zhombre:Yes, but I’m still wondering when American forces joined with the Frenchiaks to chase Hezbollah out of Lebanon and into Equatorial Guinea, where they now reside.
Oct 3, 2008 - 1:02 pm 7. Charlie (Colorado):Frenchiaks
I’m saving that word.
Oct 3, 2008 - 2:42 pm 8. Mikey NTH:I’m not surprised that Sen. Biden would know that word. At some point on the foreign relations committee he had to have heard it used.
Oct 3, 2008 - 2:51 pm 9. Lem:Biden’s botox becons Vulcans votes
Oct 3, 2008 - 3:53 pm 10. Barry Dauphin:So what does Biden call the citizens of Maine?
Oct 3, 2008 - 4:23 pm 11. LSD:One thing’s for sure; he’s dancin’ like he’s never danced before…
Oct 3, 2008 - 4:34 pm 12. srlucado:Biden blathers so much that even by accident, something has to be correct now and then.
Okay, he got one right. But are there any other instances Biden referring to “Bosniaks”?
Let’s not forget, this is the same Biden who condescendingly reiterated that more money is spent in Iraq in one month than has been spent in 6-1/2 years in Afghanistan. What? Only off by 2000%, Joe.
He’s so often wrong without knowing it that no doubt he was right without knowing it either.
Scott
Oct 3, 2008 - 4:38 pm 13. Barry Dauphin:Biden has been in Senate for 32 years. His mistakes are more than gaffes, they are glaring problems. At this point in his career Biden is incapable of learning. Palin’s mistakes are correctable, because she can be educated. She knows she makes mistakes and is willing to learn. Biden’s arrogance and experience prevent him from learning. In other words, the Biden of last night is as good as it gets.
Because Biden is uneducable, Palin is actually the safer choice.
Oct 3, 2008 - 5:15 pm 14. jillbryant:“Let’s not forget, this is the same Biden who condescendingly reiterated that more money is spent in Iraq in one month than has been spent in 6-1/2 years in Afghanistan. What? Only off by 2000%, Joe.”
Oct 3, 2008 - 6:24 pm 15. Herb:I think he said more money was spent on combat in Iraq than building in Afghanistan but – I can’t figure out how much you are saying it is…What is the figure he is off by 2000%?
Doh! That’s what you get for letting Glenn Reynolds do your thinking for you.
Oct 3, 2008 - 7:36 pm 16. Barry Dauphin:Oh yeah, Herb, the guy from those old Burger King commercials. And just as successful in political analysis as he was selling whoppers. Well, have it your way.
Oct 3, 2008 - 7:48 pm 17. Paul:Roger, that you would acknowledge that Biden’s use of “Bosniak” is not a gaffe after all is very generous of you.
No doubt you’re taking your cue from all those in the media who acknowledged that it was no gaffe for Sarah Palin to ask “In what respect?” when asked about the Bush Doctrine.
After all, since it didn’t occur to them that the Bush Doctrine has many facets and many meanings, what else could they do and still maintain their integrity?
Oct 3, 2008 - 8:45 pm 18. Roger L Simon:“Roger, that you would acknowledge that Biden’s use of “Bosniak” is not a gaffe after all is very generous of you.”
Thanks, Paul, but that’s not particularly generous, only common sense. When you make a mistake, admit it. If Dan Rather had done that, he’d still be anchorman.
Oct 3, 2008 - 9:49 pm 19. srlucado:jillbryant: From Jim Geraghty at National Review:
IRAQ-AFGHANISTAN SPENDING: Biden said that the U.S. spends more in Iraq in one month than it has in Afghanistan in six or seven years.
That figure is off by 2000 percent.
(http://tinyurl.com/3k95os)
And from the Western Standard (Canada):
According to the Congressional Research Service, spending on the war in Afghanistan since 2001 has been $172 Billion. Spending in Iraq is, as the Democrats repeatedly mention, a little under $10 Billion a month.
In other words, Biden’s number is off by, oh, something like 2000%.
(http://tinyurl.com/3j3a8e)
Oct 4, 2008 - 7:27 am 20. El Cid:He has class and we could all learn from him.
“Roger, that you would acknowledge that Biden’s use of “Bosniak” is not a gaffe after all is very generous of you.”
Oct 4, 2008 - 10:53 am 21. mojo:And people in Maine are called “Maniacs”…
What’s yer point?
Oct 7, 2008 - 12:59 pm