Palin vs. Obama: Line by Line Resume Comparison
Submitted by Nick D on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 8:12am.
(H/T Daily Kos)
1980 - 1984
Obama: B.A. in political science with a specialization in international relations from Columbia University.Palin: Wasilla High School, captain of the state-champion basketball team. Miss Wasilla, runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, also Miss Congeniality, although that is now disputed.
Him: Ivy League degree. Her: tiara.1985 - 1990
Obama: moved to Chicago; became a community organizer as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization on Chicago's far South Side. During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from 1 to 13 and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization.Moved to Boston to attend Harvard Law School. Selected as an editor and then elected president of the Harvard Law Review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.
Palin: Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism, with a minor in political science from the University of Idaho. Brief stint as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations; left to join her husband in commercial fishing.
Him: sterling legal education. Her: sportscaster.1991 - 1995
Obama: graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School; received contract and advance to write a book ("Dreams from my Father") as well as a fellowship at the University of Chicago Law School. Directed the Illinois Project Vote from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive with a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, leading Crain's Chicago Business to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be. Appointed as a Lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. Active in several community organizations, usually as a board member.Palin: member of the Alasaka Indepence Party which advocates "Alaska First". Elected to Wasilla city council.
Him: Expert on our nation's fundamental legal principles. Her: plotted to leave the Union; thinks Pledge of Allegiance was written by our founding fathers.
1996 - 2000
Obama: promoted to Senior Lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Elected to the Illinois Senate. Sponsored more than 800 bills. In 2000, lost a Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives to four-term incumbent Bobby Rush by a margin of two to one.Palin: elected as mayor of Wasilla (population 5,470), defeating the incumbent by a total of 616 votes to 413. Town budget, $8 million (3 millionths of the Federal budget), approximately 100 employees. Reduced property taxes but increased sales taxes. Fired the Wasilla police chief, citing a failure to support her administration. (He then sued Palin on the grounds that he was fired because he supported the campaign of Palin's opponent, but his suit was dismissed when the judge ruled that Palin had the right under state law to fire city employees, even for political reasons.) Hired a DC lobbyist to bring $8 million in earmarks to the city.
Him: sponsored 800 bills. Her: swayed 616 voters.2001 - 2004
Obama: reelected in 2002 and became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.Publicly spoke out against the invasion of Iraq BEFORE the congressional authorization in 2002, and then again before the actual invasion in 2003.
Wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
November 2004: elected to the US Senate, receiving over 3.5 million votes, more than 70% of total.
Palin: elected president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. Unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor, coming in second in a five-way race in the Republican primary, receiving 19,000 votes. Appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, served as chairman from 2003 to 2004 and also served as Ethics Supervisor. Resigned in protest over the "lack of ethics" of fellow Republican members. Exposed the state Republican Party's chairman, Randy Ruedrich, for doing party work on public time and working closely with a company he was supposed to be regulating. Director of Ted Stevens' 527 group.
Him: demonstrated the wisdom to oppose the Iraq folly before it even began. Her: hasn't really though much about it - despite the fact that 17 Alaskans have died there2005 to present
Obama: Sworn in as the fifth-ever African-American U.S. senator. Worked with Republican Senator Lugar to author and implement a program to locate and dismantle stray Russian WMD's. Designated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as the party's point man on ethics. Worked with Russ Feingold to pass a major ethics/lobbying reform bill. Cosponsored, with John McCain, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. Called for increased fuel efficiency standards (3 percent every year for 15 years). Assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Veterans' Affairs, and Homeland Security. Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. Waged a tremendous battle to become the Democratic presidential nominee. Currently manages 2,500 campaign employees and a budget of $40-$50 million/month.Palin: 2005: board member, Valley Hospital Association, which runs the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Wasilla.
Became youngest and first female Governor of Alaska, taking office in December, 2006. Auctioned off the Governor's jet on eBay. Took on fellow-Republican Senator Ted Stevens to come clean about the federal investigation into his financial dealings. Promoted oil and natural gas resource development in Alaska. Helped pass a tax increase on oil company profits. Formed a sub-cabinet group of advisers to address climate change but does not accept that it is man-made. Objected to listing polar bears as an endangered species because it might hurt oil and gas development in the bears' habitat. Was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it. However, Alaska kept the federal money. Denied her daughter was pregnant before she confirmed it. Supported abstinence-only education.Currently under a bipartisan investigation for abuse of power for dismissing Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner. Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard, but has played no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. (The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.)
Obtained her first passport in 2007 to perform visits to the Alaska National Guard in Kuwait and Germany. (Foreign experience so limited that a stopover in Ireland listed on her resume.)
Him: Impressive figure on the national stage who knows how Congress works and is engaged with foreign policy issues. Her: small state governor for 21 months; "next to Russia", but that is just 1 of the 190 countries in the world she has never been to.
Conclusion: the word "executive" is not some kind of magic force multiplier when placed in front of the word "experience".
The Essential Difference
Submitted by Nick D on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 12:45pm.
Couldn't answer this better than Nate Silver:
This embodies what is perhaps the essential difference between the qualifications for the presidency and the qualifications for the vice presidency. In a perfect world, we would all like a president who is Ready on Day One (TM); it is not uncommon for a newly-elected president to face a major crisis almost immediately upon taking office. But more commonly, a president takes the Oath of Office under relatively calm waters, allowing them something of a learning curve.
On the other hand, when a vice president takes over for a president, the nation is necessarily undergoing a crisis, because the death (or resignation) of a president is perhaps as traumatic an event as can reasonably be imagined (in the "best" case resulting from a slowly-developing illness, and the worst, an attack by terrorists or foreign adversaries).
From Lincoln though Clinton, Americans have frequently been willing to gamble on a relatively inexperienced President, exchanging some assurances of near-term readiness for longer-term upside (what might be described as "vision"). But the optimal skill set for a vice president is somewhat different. "Vision" hardly matters; a vice president taking over for a president will not get to name his own cabinet, and will initially at least be left to execute upon somebody else's agenda. Instead, the readiness component is rendered more important
(H/T FiveThirtyEight.com)
That Actually Is The First Legitimate Argument I Heard So Far
Submitted by JimDandy on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 3:01pm.
I can give that to you Nick. Biden has been to Washington enough to (probably) handle the Presidency should Obama become President.
But still, in these changing times, I don't want to have as President someone who can come in and take it easy for a couple of days because the country might not be that hectic. I need someone who can get things done and proven they can get things done. That's why I looking at McCain. What made me realize Barack wasn't one to take action was how he dodged a question during the Saddleback debate and then attacked McCain for his answer on the rich. If Obama feels someone making 100,000 or 200,000 is rich these days, he's mistaken. What, does he want everyone to make around 50-60,000 a year? My father only makes around 40,000 a year. I work three jobs during the year to pay for college. I want all my hard work to pay off so that I can make 6-7 figures and not have to be punished for being successful. That's my American dream.
Two Different People
Submitted by Nick D on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 3:17pm.
I need someone who can get things done and proven they can get things done. That's why I looking at McCain.
When you and I look at McCain, JimDandy, we must be looking at two different people. I see someone who can't get anything done and is only where they are because of connections. McCain only got into the Naval Academy because his father and grandfather were four-star admirals (then he graduated fifth from the bottom of his class). He's only in the US Senate because he married a young rich woman whose father got McCain started in politics.
McCain isn't a self-made man. Obama is.
Perhaps I'm more sensitive to this argument than most, because my father died when I was young, but nothing says "get things done" to me more than pulling yourself up by the bootstraps and making your own way in the world. Obama has done that, McCain hasn't. That's why I'm voting for Obama.
On the tax issue, Obama proposes a $1,000 middle class tax cut. He proposes going back to the Clinton tax plan that produced the greatest decade of prosperity since the 20s, along with the only balanced budget since Eisenhower. In Denver, he pledged to go through the federal budget line by line to eliminate wasteful programs.
30 years of GOP tax plans has gotten us a country that is crumbling from lack of maintenance to our airports, roadways, bridges, dams, levys, schools, hospitals, etc. etc. I'm willing to go with Obama's tax plan, despite being fairly well-off myself, because I know a solid infrastrcture is needed to compete in the world economy.
yer jus sex eest
Submitted by JMatthewL on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 3:34pm.
"...adviser Carly Fiorina said she was 'appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin's experience. The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a Mayor and Governor than Barack Obama has made in his life. Because of Hillary Clinton's historic run for the Presidency and the treatment she received, American women are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Governor Palin.'"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/mccain-camp-levels-charge_n_123257.html
Barack Obama
Submitted by Muffet on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 5:11pm.
made more important executive decisions in one year as president of the Harvard Law Review than Palin ever did as a mayor who actually hired a lobbying firm to get more earmarks for her town.
response: nuh uh!
Submitted by JMatthewL on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 6:53pm.
"Ignore The Chauvinists. Palin Has Real Experience."
"A McCain-Palin administration will not tolerate pork-barrel spending. In Washington, Mr. McCain spoke out against the 'Bridge to Nowhere,' a $400 million waste of the taxpayers' money that led to an island with a few dozen residents. In Juneau, Alaska, Ms. Palin made sure the bridge went nowhere, canceling the earmark. She wasn't afraid to use her veto pen, and Mr. McCain won't be either."
-Nancy Pfotenhauer, Wall Street Journal Online
JMattt
Submitted by walter66 on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 10:00pm.
you think she maybe vetoed the project only after public opinion came out against. I could almost gaurentee you that if the democrats didn't make such a dust-up about earmarks that there would be a bridge built in Alaska that went exactly nowhere.
Kept the Money
Submitted by Nick D on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 10:08pm.
The $223 Million "Bridge to Nowhere" was to build a bridge connecting the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, population 7,368, to its airport, located on a neighboring island, a journey that must currently be made by ferry.
While Palin killed the project, she kept the nearly quarter of a billion bucks. She didn't send it back to Washington, she spent it on something else.
go figure
Submitted by JMatthewL on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 7:41am.
Given that's what actually happened, yes, that's what I think happened. You'll note that she's dropped the Bridge to Nowhere spin from her "I'm a reformer!" spiel.
At least the leftist-media will finally take responsibility for causing Palin so much trouble in the first place.
But
Submitted by Muffet on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 9:28pm.
she was for it before she was against it. She took the $ for other projects, instead. Where is she these days, anyway?
Palin's Small Alaska Town Secured Big Federal Funds
Submitted by JeanLR on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 9:13am.
...ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group. ...
...In introducing Palin as his running mate on Friday, Sen. John McCain cast her as a compatriot in his battle against wasteful federal spending. McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, hailed Palin as a politician "with an outstanding reputation for standing up to special interests and entrenched bureaucracies -- someone who has fought against corruption and the failed policies of the past, someone who's stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." ...
... Palin has also railed against earmarks, touting her opposition to a $223 million bridge in the state as a prime credential for the vice presidential nomination. "As governor, I've stood up to the old politics-as-usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies, and the good-ol'-boy network," she said Friday.
As mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska's most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm. ...
...Palin and the Wasilla City Council increased Silver's fee from $24,000 to $36,000 a year by 2001, Senate records show. ... In fiscal year 2002, Wasilla took in $6.1 million in earmarks -- about $1,000 in federal money for every resident. By contrast, Boise, Idaho -- which has more than 190,000 residents -- received $6.9 million in earmarks in fiscal 2008....
...
It gets even better Jean....
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 9:47am.
The L.A. Times has a story today about how Senator McCain picked on three of the earmarks to Palin's city while she was Mayor as an example of wasteful federal pork.
Palin is hardly the defender against earmarks she falsely portrayed herself in Dayton last week. Instead, she's a champion for earmarks! So much so that her running mate actually criticized some of the money she obtained as examples of government waste!
Hard to be a champion against wasteful government spending, when the chief prosecutor is citing your mayoralship as Exhibit A!
(On a side note, it's nice to see us together on an issue Jean!)
Oh, Modern :-)
Submitted by JeanLR on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:11am.
Of course we're on the same side! We both love the Constitution and our country :-)
Darn It, I won't Be Voting For Palin to Be President