Comparing the Credentials and Qualifications of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama

CJ, you obviously aren't familiar with the term "executive" experience.
It's the difference, and it is major.

Also, Obama has been about as ineffective a Senator as he could possibly be (can you say "present"?)

to me education is everything .i need someone to look up to and be inspired , someone i can use as an example for my kid . being mediocre seems to be unfortunately what some people relate to ....

"CJ, you obviously aren't familiar with the term "executive" experience. "

Go ahead, and illustrate the differences, alrighty? Let's see you illustrate the grand "executive experiences" that Palin has, that far outweigh Obama. What has Sarah Christ done, specifically, that makes Obama's record pale in comparison?




"Also, Obama has been about as ineffective a Senator as he could possibly be (can you say "present"?) "

Really? Compare his past two years records with McLamo's, and see what you have to say about it.

thanks for sharing..

A fantastic post Carla - concise, to the point, and very well written!

America wants change. They are tired of Ivy League lawyers. They want real people, not constitutional scholars. They want a woman who worked her way up from the PTA, not a wife of a President. They want someone who has had to manage people, manage a budget, take respsonsibility. Not someone who voted "present" most of the time.

I love reading all the agnst and bad bile the political left is throwing at her. I know she's the real thing.I hope the mainstream media keeps it up to. Because the people will side with Sarah.

Bush was no Ivy League Lawyer. A little law school might have done him some good. He might have a clue as to what a constitution is and what it does. So if American wants change, and that much I agree with, it isn't change to switch out your second generation C student from Yale who probably wouldn't have gotten a degree if it wasn't for who his parents were for a Naval Academy Graduate who graduated at the bottom of his class.

Change would be to switch him out for a brilliant Harvard Law Graduate who happened to be the first black to be president of Harvard Law Review and a person who actually likes the people he governs, not uses them and any calamity that comes along as a rallying call for more or permanent tax cuts for the rich and no bid contracts for his good friends.

No offense to all the PTA and community volunteers out there and people who govern hamlets, but they don't want small potatoes, Winston. This is a post 9-11 world. They don't want a set up for failure or a roll of the dice that maybe against all odds Sarah Palin who doesn't know much about the economy, either is up to it. They don't want any more gross incompetence.

Now somebody with money to be made (big oil?) may want a sock puppet, I'll grant you that. Someone they can invent. Someone they can brainwash and control. That would not be Barack Obama.

PsychRights Sues State of Alaska to Stop Its Massive, Harmful Psychiatric Drugging of Alaskan Children

"America wants change."

And, that means that they're going to vote for??? Republicans again? I don't think so, Capt. Delusion.



"They want real people, not constitutional scholars. "

Oh yeah...Bush was a real constitutional scholar, wasn't he? I thought his appeal to you morons was that he was "real people."

Btw, don't look now, but America doesn't seem all that thrilled about your "change" option, according to recent polls.

Bush has a Harvard MBA.

Change to what Clark? More socialism? More governement programs? More appeasement with Islamic terrorists?

The difference, Carla, is that Governor Palin has run a small business, has been a mayor and a governor. Each of those mean that she had executive decisions to make. What executive decisions has Obama ever had to make? And he really should not be proud of a voting record where he couldn't decide if the vote was yes or no. Seriously. There is no comparison. Governor Palin wins hands down.

And we do have to remember that she's up for VP and Obama is up for President. Having seen McCain's mother - who is 96 and looks 75 - and knowing what McCain has physically survived (and that he doesn't look his age either) - and knowing that his doctors say his heart is that of someone much younger (etc...1000 pages of medical records released in May), I doubt McCain is going to die in the next 4 years. And by then, Palin will be an excellent choice for President. Can't wait.

You are an absolute lost cause, Carla. You don't get it and you most likely never will.

Maybe you should read what libramoon put up there...

What we get is that our taxes money is spent and wasted and stolen with republicans while they pocket the kick back from oil.
Our infrastructures need fixing, our scholl need more teachers, we are 24 in the world in education.They have not balanced a budget in 30 years and you the worker are paying for the excesses. We should be first in everything and look at Germany, they lost the war and they ahead of us.
I am tired of doing charity abroad while our people cannot get health insurance, or a decent job.
You really believe Obama wants your money? Well if he gets it he will put it to work for the country, to benefit us not some other country or a big military budget.
American do not want charity they want to work and have opportunities.
A social agenda that traines people and puts them to work will be better than have failing children and gangs in the street.
Not to mention the woman I was talking to, she is 81 and has a small social security check..should we tax her money while the price of food goes up?

A nation who cares little for the young and old is doomed.

She was also on the local news as a sports caster. TMZ showed a clip earlier this week. She was not very impressive.

Oh yes, I forgot the sportscaster experience. That makes all the difference.

And Marilyn, maybe it impresses you (what small business by the way?) but it doesn't me. And from what I've heard from some people up in Alaska, she has spent money like crazy and can't seem to balance a budget.

"Bush has a Harvard MBA."

Bush ran as a commoner, remember? He even bought a fake ranch and pretended to be a cowboy, even picking up a fake southern drawl for the show.



"Change to what Clark? More socialism? More governement programs?"

Yes, as a matter of fact. The American people are sick and tired of republican fascism and failed government. Sorry.



" More appeasement with Islamic terrorists? "

You mean like how Bush has allowed Osama and al Qaeda to just roam freely since 9/11, and how he's hired terrorists to antagonize Iran, and is now paying them to not kill our soldiers? Is that the appeasement you're talking about?

"The difference, Carla, is that Governor Palin has run a small business, has been a mayor and a governor."

Why is it that all of the wacky wingnuts can repeat this rightwing talking point, but not a single one of them can name a single executive decision that's she's actually made, nor name a single piece of legislation that she spearheaded and fought through her congress to sign into law?

It's awfully easy to regurgitate those rightwing talking points, but not so easy to actually prove them, is it?

Meanwhile, Obama has been successfully running a massive (and hugely successful) presidential campaign that has shattered funding records, blazed a trail on the internet, and shocked the political world. Obama wins, hands down. Unless you're a loony toon wacky wingnut.

Carla Carla Carla,

Why would you put down your favorite candidate by pointing out his weaknesses. Voting present over 150 times instead of taking a decisive stance on an issue is not a quality I would have pointed to. And attending an elite Ivy league school which puts him way out of touch with the common man he is trying to reach is hardly a positive trait to hold up. His attendance record in the US Senate is abysmal. Another negative. And I certain comparing a political campaign to the Governorship of a state with an 11 Billion dollar budget can't be considered a positive point. I don't think you've pleased the Democratic or Obama with this post. Better dig a little deeper for some better examples of his experience to tout.

It's scare tactics. A steady stream of be afraids. That's not change.

The Obama camp is posting an $8 M infusion of cash from donors since the Palin pick was announced. They expect it will be $10 M by tonight. Cha-ching.

The fact that Obama has studied and taught constitutional law represents our greatest hope for change. Bush and the republicans appear to have so little regard for the constitution that I wonder if they've been using their copies for toilet paper.

What has happened to our rights and freedoms over the past eight years has made me frightened over what could happen to this country if the republicans win the election.

" Voting present over 150 times instead of taking a decisive stance on an issue is not a quality I would have pointed to.

Care to venture a guess as to how many times your boy has even bothered to show up over the past 2 years? Probably not, I'm guessing.




"His attendance record in the US Senate is abysmal. Another negative. "

Wanna compare? Nah, thought not.




"And I certain comparing a political campaign to the Governorship of a state with an 11 Billion dollar budget can't be considered a positive point."

From what I've heard, the state isn't doing all that way after two years of fiscal mismanagement. Ooops. You probably don't wanna talk about that either, do you?

I don't think you pleased McBush or the GOP with this post. Care to try again? Probably not, eh? Best just run along then, I guess. Perhaps, nobody will notice.

"The Obama camp is posting an $8 M infusion of cash from donors since the Palin pick was announced. They expect it will be $10 M by tonight. Cha-ching. "

Ooooopsies...another nasty little bit of blowback that McBush/Rove hadn't calculated, no doubt! Live and learn, huh?

Kathy S..."The fact that Obama has studied and taught constitutional law represents our greatest hope for change."

You are talking about the Democratic senator who voted WITH the Republicans FOR the recent FISA legislation. THIS from a Constitutional scholar? Hmmm.

I will not vote Republican, but please...consider what you parrot when you post "facts". In my opinion, Obama is as willing to "customize" the Constitution as the Republicans are.

I was very disappointed with him for that, too, Michael. There are no perfect planets. I am thinking with enough votes in Congress after November they will amend it to make the law more consistent with the no search without a warrant protections that should have been drafted in there. The GOPers would have exploited the gap in national security had Congress not acted before the election. These same GOPers don't see any hypocrisy or vulnerability in appointing Sarah Palin (who they only heard of on Friday) as Commander in Chief.

Despite the fact that some people will never change their minds, thanks for offering a balanced view of what Barak Obama's experience is. As a community inovled volunteer I even had to keep tabs on a budget. The paid professional staffs I worked with at two different social service organizations had even more to manage. I was awed that as a team (!) we were able to raise over $3.6 for a much-needed new facility, and today continues to provide over $5 million in food and services to the community. Many of those served are senior citizens and people working two jobs each to care for their families. What the "organizers" do is heroic. it is hard work managing a staff and being responsible for a fair-sized budget. Community Organizers have every bit as much executive experience as a small-town mayor.
> 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.

As President of the Harvard Law Review, Obama had a staff > 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.

About The Harvard Law Review

The Harvard Law Review is a student-run organization whose primary purpose is to publish a journal of legal scholarship. The Review comes out monthly from November through June and has roughly 2,000 pages per volume. The organization is formally independent of the Harvard Law School. Student editors make all editorial and organizational decisions and, together with a professional business staff of three, carry out day-to-day operations. A circulation of about 8,000 enables the Review to pay all of its own expenses.

The Review publishes articles by professors, judges, and practitioners and solicits reviews of important recent books from recognized experts. All articles—even those by the most respected authorities—are subjected to a rigorous editorial process designed to sharpen and strengthen substance and tone.

I thought I was going crazy that others cannot see that experience deals not only with funding, but also with purpose. Thanks again.

so somehow Ivy league but no executive decision making experience as opposed to 'progressively more responsible' actual WORK is superior because of what???

also BOTH of the gop candidates spent their childhoods in AMERICA or on American bases.

something here don't add up.

Yes Obama did get a degree. yes he did work on the community ogranization, although he accomplished nothing. It was all accomplished by other people as he left it without completing anything. Hmmm pattern here, no completing of anything? Seems like it.

I found it interesting that on 08/04/2008 in a press release Governor Palin said: I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska's natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs, Governor Palin said. The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.

http://gov.state.ak.us/archive-59841.html

Sarah Palin is all about oil, gas and the state of Alaska becoming rich from it.


In another public statement Governor Palin stated on 7/14/08
"I want to congratulate Alaska's oil industry and our Department of Natural Resources for these pro-development achievements," Governor Palin said. "Our state has the resources and the people to address the nation's energy needs. Alaska remains an attractive and inviting place for oil and gas industry investment. I look forward to more good news in the future."

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1285

We are talking about a Dick Cheney in a skirt.

Clark,

How about filling in the blanks Clark or do I have to reseach your side of the argumnet myself.

Scott,

Great resume for a position as a social worker or community supervisor. I'd hire him in a minute. But not even close to what I want on a resume' that's going to fill the position of commander and chief of the largest and most powerful military in the world and sit in the chair that demands commitment to lead the greatest free nation the world has ever known.

Doc --

Bush was governor of Texas. His executive experience as governor didn't benefit America after Katrina, or the impulsive decision to invade Iraq. There are plenty of executives out there without any vision, but they can make lousy snap decisions. Our country needs a leader that understands the issues and makes decisions based on information rather than impulsively selecting a running mate after only a one hour interview.

Sarah Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996, then won two terms as mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004 while also serving as Ethics Supervisor of the commission.

As governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin managed an $11 billion budget and 15,000 state employees, and manages the country's seventh largest economy.

What has Barack Obama done that compares? He's managing his own campaign? Obama has been campaigning the last year and a half....does that qualify as experience? In anything?

Obama won't acknowledge Governor Sarah Palin's experience as the chief executive of the state of Alaska. He has to deliberately steer clear of it because he knows he can't compete with her on that level, so all he can do is run against her experience as mayor of Wasilla and hope no one will call him on it. In other words, she has had to DO the job instead of RUN for the job.

That adds up to 16 years experience in management, local and state government.

//What has Barack Obama done that compares?//

Google, Aimee, if you really want to know. It's not like it is not out there if you really do have a curious and open mind.

You might also watch the Jon Stewart comedy clip giving you Karl Rove's unvarnished assessment of the value of a small town resume.

Aimee... "As governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin managed an $11 billion budget and 15,000 state employees, and manages the country's seventh largest economy."

Bush managed the budget of Texas...a budget more than ten times that of Alaska....look what we got.

By the way...Alaska has no sales tax, no income tax and more than 31 billion in it's permanent fund (an investment portfolio). There isn't really much no balance. Alaska has a huge budget surplus.

It's true that Palin wasn't willing to squander the state bank account. She did an admirable job of controlling spending and cutting waste and she could very well serve effectively as vice president...although Obama does have experience at the federal level, neither her experience nor Obama's experience is a guarantee of future performance.

Additionally, Alaska's budget isn't exactly in terrific shape after 20 months of the "Palin experience." You wingnuts might want to brush that aside, rather than focus on it.

well done!

There's plenty of historical examples of Presidents that should have been great and weren't and should have been lousy and weren't. The point is you try to elect one that has as many qualities and experience as possible and hope the crap shoot turns out OK. In this years case McCain is hands down the better candidate on all fronts for the office of President. It is sad to see a population that is so obsessed with their hatred for Bush that they turn away from what is right for America and themselves and their families and seriously consider {many will even vote for } a man that shouldn't even have surface on the radar.
How Hillary or others equally qualified and infinitely more qualified than Obabma were pushed to the side is astounding to me. And I can't stand the thought of Hillary in the White House.

Capt Seaweed...."It is sad to see a population that is so obsessed with their hatred for Bush that they turn away from what is right for America and themselves and their families and seriously consider {many will even vote for } a man that shouldn't even have surface on the radar."

Perhaps we are obsessed with our hatred for Bush and what he has done, but please remember...he had the help, aide and the endorsement of others....all Republicans. Bush is only a part of the reason for our national disgust and embarrassment. His whole administration is responsible. The Republican party is responsible. The lies, the blatant disrespect for our Constitution, the law breaking, the shear arrogance, the self vested agenda....who the f#*k wouldn't be sicked at the thought of the holier than thou crowd having another 4 years? New puppet...same string pullers.

Micheal,

You forgot to to mention the Democrats who have controlled congress for 40 out of the last 50 years and Bill Clinton's dispicable moral role model that muddy the waters and put the final nails in the coffin of Justice in this country. Congress has effectively push all responsibility for the state of the nation on to the office of the Presidency when in reality that office has little or nothing to do with the laws that govern our Nation and the people have bought into it hook line and sinker. And the sheep of this country wallow along wondering why the wolves are always a step ahead of them.

Excellent point Capt Seaweed...But the control of Congress has nothing to do with disgusting acts of the Republicans. Certainly the Democrats have little to brag about in the guts and action department. The Democrats have enabled some of the actions of the Republicans and the office of the presidency is a wooden puppet on a string...I have mentioned this.

But we were talking about the population of American being "obsessed with their hatred for Bush."

Still...I'm with you Capt Seaweed...the whole cesspool we call Washington could be burned to the ground and we would be better off as we begin from scratch.

Michael (re: your comment 9/4 @ 9:17pm):

Clearly, I'm not paying close enough attention. Now I'm really worried...

Thanks for the info.

Kathy..."Now I'm really worried..."

Me too.......

Micheal,

Well we are on the eve of another bloodless revolution. Lets throw all the bums out and replace anyone up for reelection!!

Capt. at least Billl Clinton balanced the budget and we had a budget surplus. Bush has given us the largest deficit and national debt in this country's history. And with McCain will get the McSame because he wants to continue the Bush practice of giving all the tax breaks to the rich and oil companies.

Carla,

As I'm sure you know the President doesn't balance the budget. Also taxing or not taxing the rich and the big oil companies or any other large corporation for that matter has little or no effect on said companies. As you also must know all business decisions are made primarily by what the tax impact will be and that impact is offset by either cutting cost or increasing prices. Cutting cost usually translates to people somewhere in the chain of production losing jobs and increasing prices effects the rest of us that are working consumers. Trying to punish the rich is a futile exercise that only hurts the common man.

Capt'n --

The federal budget surplus was $127 billion of fiscal year 2001. The federal budget surplus was $230 billion for fiscal year 2000. The federal budget surplus for fiscal year 1999 was $122.7 billion, and $69.2 billion for fiscal year 1998. With four years of surpluses, the US was on the right track.

With Bush and a Republican congress we went from a budget surplus (pick your year) to a budget deficit of $3.7 trillion. Borrow and spend Republicans spent wildly on pork and war and pushed the cost to the future. Our children will pay, and there is no political cost for their irresponsible actions.

We keep hearing how Republicans are the party of business. If you had as CEO that put your company $3.7 trillion dollars in the hole, you'd fire his ass and get a new team to run things. That's exactly what the American people need to do.

I like the way you think, Baby J. And amen to that.

It's good to see an article with factual information Carla.

Alaskans don't pay taxes by the way, the oil companies do. They pay us to live in Alaska. Sometimes they pay us more right before they are chosen as a VP candidate and get to pat themselves on the back for our "energy rebate". Sometimes they take credit for alot of lucky things that happen to them. Sometimes they sell the very, very unpopular ex-governor's jet because it would sort of seem unseemly to take it over and fly around the country. Especially when the alaskans are peeved about it.

Sometimes they get a job they're unqualified to even except. Night school for Sarah Palin. Will they ever let her speak on her own?

Sorry about the spelling "accept". I'm feeling a little edged over right now about this.

Scooter, Marilyn, Lera and the Captain without Tenille on the side of McCain and Palin but yet still no one can cite what McCain/Palin has done and definitely not any true executive decisions that Palin has made. Plus Lera says things like "You are ahopeless cause, Carla". Simply because Carla believes the Opposite of her but yet also cites the many factual reasons why she does so. So Facts, intelligence and a change over an 8 years that have destroyed this country aganist rhetoric, fables, earmark acceptance that she says she didn't and more of the same. I think I will take the change that is behind door number 1 every time.

Captain, So your point is that Congress has been controlled by Democrats for 40 of the last 50 years, what about the last ten where all of this mess has really taken place? Could it be Republican 8 out of ten and during the other two an idiot president that made such a big deal out of saying tht he would veto just about any worthwhile bill that the Democrats sent his way. It actually makes sense a frustrated "warrior" who sees himself as John Wayne but hid somewhere in Texas while boys were dying in Vietnam now thinks that he can be the great warior with a veto pen that he couldn't be with an airplane. Probably a good thing though that he didn't fly in the war. With the 5 planes the McCain crashed and who knows how many Bush would have crashed thay may havewiped out our whole fleet of fighter planes all by themselves. If McCain wasn't a POW he probably would have crashed at least 7 or 8 more.

Joanne is from Alaska and perhaps we ought to listen to what she has to say about her governor.

There is one very big personal reason I have been going on in here about Sarah Palin. This may be repeated with verification from the Anchorage Daily News. It is very personal and important to me.

First and foremost, I'm a mother and an environmentalist. I am practical and I know what is happening in my home state. Several years ago I became aware that Northern Dynasty was planning on opening an enormous open pit mine for gold in the headwaters of Bristol Bay. There are very few undisturbed, pristine, salmon waters in the world and this is one of them. The Nushagak River is where I honeymooned with my husband and learned there are places so close to heaven they should never be sacrificed to man. How can it not take your breath away to see the moose grazing the river, or the fox wandering the dry stream beds, or the stars so bright your fingers reach toward them and can almost touch.

Bristol Bay has fed and nourished its residents since the beginning of time. We worked to present a water initiative that would slow the possibility of this mine. Alaska has a policy of rape, scrape, drill and kill. It was a bloody battle. The mining industry with its millions of dollars worked hard to brainwash the public, but we were being successful at informing the public. This was the peoples initiative, it was not about MONEY.

Sarah Palin came out only a few days ahead of the initiative and stated, "I am taking off my hat as a governor" and do not endorse the water initiative. She is popular, she had just given every man, woman and child in Alaska an extra $1200. in the guise of an energy rebate. They barely voted the initiative down.

It was unethical, and I think illegal but I have not researched that aspect of it completely. There are no laws about this for morality, but this was immoral.

Ask Montana how they feel about large open pit mines. Poor South American countries say no to them, but not our governor, but I'm sure her children won't be drinking the polluted water or won't be affected when the fish are no longer there. The natives who make it there home will, but it belongs to all of us and Sarah Palin has just aided the mining industry in destroying it.

"They want real people, not constitutional scholars."

I think a few constitutional scholars in the White House is the kind of change we need right now.

Amen JoAnne, but you got one thing wrong about Sarah Palin. She doesn't want that land to look at the Moose Population. She would rather have them moved to a more confined area. That way it is easier for her to shoot them.

You know how stupid can one woman be. All you said was about education. Nice, but no cigar. He has never run anything or owned anything. He was a community organizer for 3 years and that was before law school. He has no executive experience of a small town, large town, or a lemonade stand. You know what was meant. Oh, and before you diss Palin, remember she is the Governor of a state. So while you are haling Obama's educational accomplishments, I will applaud her actual work.

Delores,you probably should read a little bit about Palin. She is my governor, and our country is in deep trouble if she becomes a world leader. She is overreaching and out of her league. Stop being taken in by speeches written by other people. You haven't heard her speak yet and you're ready to place her in the driver's seat. We're not electing the prettiest girl in the class here.

Delores, her state is the size of Austin, Texas in terms of population. Listen to Joanne. She actually LIVES there.

Joanne, if you haven't done so, please share your experience as an Alaskan as an article in addition to your comments. People need to know.

It's been a bit of a shock to see how little factual information is being printed about her. I mean honestly in these times of the environmental concerns this woman is a zero. That is not invisible. As well as the truth about how she is completely unaware of anything but passing the pipeline. I don't think she spends five minutes a day thinking about anything except the pipeline.

Barack actually spent time in his career getting to know the concerns of the people, about improving life in a community with the population of our entire state. This was about the lives of people not about oil.

It is to me too, Miss Havisham.

Sarah Palin gets a great laugh line from comparing her work as mayor with Obama's community organizing. However, looking at their compared resumes, the mayor job for her would be comparative to his time representing Chicago in the Illinois State Legislature. The community service job for him would be comparative to her time as a hockey mom on the PTA.