I sat next to what I would consider a fairly typical birther on the plane home last night. Typical in that she was only vaguely aware of birtherism, no Vattel, just Kenya and Trump, but still rather strident and of course, ignorant.

What I found especially funny was that she was birthing on a flight that went from Chicago to Dulles to Accra, Ghana and was surrounded by people not likely to share her dismay about African blood in the White House. Then again, when her young daughter asked her where Accra was she thought it was in India or Morocco.

This is what mp3 players with big honkin' headphones are for!

I gave her about a 5 minute "education", which likely made no difference at all, then opened the kindle and turned on my ipod.

From speaking with Mmm about her short birther conversation with this lady, what came to my mind is she seemed typical of birthers who answer the polls indicating they're "not sure" if Obama is Merkun, or eligible, or however the questions are posed.

She basically knew nothing about Obama/birtherism/citizenship except what she'd "been told" by "someone," except she'd heard and apparently believes Trump's nonsense. She certainly did not believe Trump's "pit bull" Cohen had stated he was certain Obama was born in Hawaii, and it was suggested she Google it, but... I doubt she will.

Also typical was her knowledge of geography.

I have yet to meet a real birther in person. I found very few people who knew anything about it until Trump. A few Republicans I know in CA didn't recognize Orly Taitz's name even though they said they voted in the CA primary last year. I get some really strange looks when I talk about birther debunking.

I've met two. One is a neighbor 2 doors down. He believes in the Kenyan birth.
The other is an attorney in TX. He believes in the two citizen parents theory, though he'd never heard of Vattel. He maintained that's what the 14th Amendment sez.

I have yet to meet a birther in person, but I did spend Saturday with a relative of my wife's who is the spitting image of professional Seditionist Sharon Rondeau. Right down to the hair. And given my history with the harpy, you can imagine why I caught myself giggling a lot.

I have a lot of Arizonan friends who are Republican, but none of them are birthers and never were. I did meet one at a party, when my "friends" abandoned me on a balcony alone with her. (No, she wasn't hot. That would be something only real friends would do.) But I really think she had some sort of mental illness. She was very much into FEMA camp theories etc., and didn't seem... er... balanced.

The other was a firefighter whose family adopted me for Thanksgiving when I was volunteering in Mississippi a couple years ago. I had a wonderful time and the family was lovely and we all struck up a great friendship. Until I came back to Arizona and the email exchanges began. He was about as racist and angry as "Pissed Off Vet," and we ultimately wound up telling each other to eff off.

I didn't meet a birther, but at the library today I saw a woman with Laura Ingrahams' book The Obama Diaries. She looked to be in her early 60's with jet black, died, helmet hair, a turquoise mini dress more suitable for a high schooler and a loud, braying voice.

Lady: I want to order the Jerome Corsi book.
reference Librarian with polite smile: ok.
Lady: (looks around, then stage whispers) He''ll be gone by September...he's not even an American. (smiles wide)
Librarian with polite smile: OK.
Lady: thank you

Librarian: you're welcome.
Lady: turns to leave
Librarian:

Jerome Corsi's previous book, Obama Nation, is one of the dozen or so selections in the book rack at the 99 Cents Only store in my area -- and has been for months.

I

OK, not me, but my DS just got home from the grocery store and said there were two "rednecks" in line in front of him talking with the checker about Obama being on vacation again. Then they said "he's not a US citizen, either"... DS said they looked just like "rednecks" are supposed to look, too.

Bad thing was the bagger was a Black kid.

Of course DS didn't say anything. He's 6' 9" (size 18/19 shoes!) but would never cause any kind of a scene. (Stems from being accused of stuff when he was little, just because he was so big.)

Now that's just cowardly birfer bullying. The bagger was an employee and in no position to make a scene if he wants to stay employed. I hope your DS reconsiders his position. A scene was necessary and there was nobody else around to make it. There are times when you gots to make a stand, IMO.

Naw, the big guy won't unless it involves endangerment of life or limb - then he's right there. He's very into politics but not interfering in that of others. Really big guys have had to be sure to never appear at all thuggish.