True North

I’m not someone who enjoys jumping on people for petty little errors. Accidentally restating a few of someone else’s words while talking off-the-cuff in the midst of a gruelling campaign? Flubbing the odd number? Bobbling the state you’re in in the midst of a long trip where you haven’t seen yiour own bed in days (Obama, Obama, Algore)? Truly, I get as impatient with that as I do with people who yammer for years about pronouncing “Nuclear” noo-cyu-lar. Who cares?

I’m even inclined to cut Al Franken some slack over his tax problems (at least, I was when I originally wrote this post; reading Michael’s post this morning, I’m less sure); having done business in more than one state, let me tell you; the tax code is a minefield. (However, while you’re granting slack, please also make you never, ever vote for Franken. Let’s not get crazy here).

Still, Patterico wonders about Obama:

However, the more I think about it, the more it seems like - for a moment - Obama may have believed there are 60 states. Here’s what he said:

“It is wonderful to be back in Oregon,” Obama said. “Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it.”

Thus, Obama has been to “57 states.” He hasn’t been to Hawaii and Alaska - they aren’t big or important enough for any of the candidates to visit - so that’s 2 more states. And he has “one left to go” which makes 60.

It is to laugh.

Cross-posted at Shot in the Dark. Comments welcome.