Double double doublespeak

MITT ROMNEY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: "I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America I love."

Amerigo Vespucchi, a member of the Hall Of Retired Explorers, must be busting a gut laughing. Leif Erickson, the Viking who actually landed in Newfoundland and explored the Americas coast along what is now Canada about 450 years before either Vespucchi or Columbus, no doubt isn't amused.

One wonders what the Americas would have been called had Leif got lucky and had his names adopted. His earlier choices, Vinland (Greenland) for an island which is 95% ice, and Iceland for an island which is 90% green, gives us a clue: North American would have been called Southland and South America, Northland.

--BAS