CNBC Host Apparently Unaware Ireland And The United Kingdom Are Different Countries
Why it’s important to pay attention in Geography class:
KERNEN: What about Scotland? I was using Scottish pounds.
SHANAHAN: Scottish pounds, yes. They use sterling.
KERNEN: They use sterling?
SHANAHAN: They use sterling. But we use euro.
KERNEN: WHAT? Why would you do that?
SHANAHAN: Why wouldn’t we do that?
KERNEN: Why didn’t Scotland? No wonder they want to break away.
SHANAHAN: They’re part of the UK, we’re not.
KERNEN: Aren’t you right next to …
SHANAHAN: We’re very close, but entirely separate, as you know.
KERNEN: It’s sort of the same island, isn’t it?
SHANAHAN: And in the North of Ireland, they have sterling …
KERNEN: THEY DO?
SHANAHAN: … but we have euro.
KERNEN: It’s just too confusing.
I watched this halfway through and then had to shut it down on the grounds that I suffer too badly from vicarious embarrassment.
All of Ireland used to be part of the UK. Maybe he took geography back then. 🙂
My first thought was that the Irish guy must think these are a pair of prize yokels, but I would bet this isn’t the first time he’s seen this with Americans.
I’m American and I know that Ireland (exempting Northern Ireland) is not part of the UK.
No I confess I might not be able to tell you what kind of currency various European countries use but Inwould not have been confused about Scotland, Ireland and the UK. I also think the answer about sterling vs Euro was easy to understand but clearly the geography challenged reporter couldn’t gradp it.
Well, clearly our nation should be run by business people, because they are the wisest and best educated among us.
Thank you, CNBC for proving that to us.
Disgusting.
In the movie “King Ralph”, John Goodman plays the American suddenly thrust into the monarchy- he becomes the ruling King of “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. He messes up his own title several times (he must speak it at ceremonies, etc)…by the end of the movie, I sadly realized that this movie has solidified my personal geography of the British Isles.
Geography is hard!
I think Kernan is trolling the guest, which they do from time to time over there.
…was the last day my tube transmitted TV. I never went Digital. Its 13″ CRT has presented only DVD reproductions since then.
Thanks Doug for reminding me that I haven’t been missing a thing.
C’mon guys. PD is right, and you’ve all been punked.
maybe they’ll bring in some guests from scandinavia next….that could really screw up his geograpic wizardry.
@wr: um, our current prez (with no business background) is no geographical whiz either- should i go on about that?
@bill: “um, our current prez (with no business background) is no geographical whiz either- should i go on about that?”
Yes, bill, because nothing proves how clever you are like dredging up crap that was repeated ad infinitum on every moron right wing site six years ago. It shows us exactly what an original and important thinker you are.
@wr: Nor proves how few gaffes Obama makes like dragging out six year old examples.
@wr: 6 yrs, that was just then- he’s been “less than smart” since. the dreaded “gulf ports” of charleston, savannah, jacksonville……was just last year. maybe they don’t teach geography in school anymore…..?
but of course the msm can’t call out a black guy for saying stupid stuff, unless he’s a republican- otherwise it’s “racist”!
i’m sure you’re feeling mighty sore today since the overthrow of the gov’t by the same people who put obama in office twice. yes, dumb people vote for dumb stuff- hence he got elected twice.
enjoy the grapes, however sour they are now.
Stay classy, Bill!