Courtesy of Redstate.com.
Sarah Palin
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Barack Obama
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| Office being sought | Vice President | President of the United States and Leader of the Free World |
| Full name | Sarah Louise Heath Palin | Barack Hussein Obama II |
| Nickname | Sarah Barracuda | Barry Obama; “The One” |
| Public opinion | Smoking hot in a “naughty librarian” sort of way | May be The Messiah |
| Age | 44 | 48 |
| Children | 5: two sons, three daughters | 2: two daughters |
| Religion/Church attendance | Evangelical Christian;
attends Juneau Christian Center when in Juneau and grew up attending Wasilla Assembly of God |
Attended Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years, a “black liberation theology” church formerly led by Rev. Jeremiah Wright and governed according to the Black Value System |
| Current Job | Governor of Alaska | Junior Senator from Illinois |
| Previous Public Jobs | Mayor of Wasilla, AK (1996-2002); President of Alaska Conference of Mayors;
City Council member (1992-1996) |
State Senator (1997-2004);
Community Organizer |
| Executive Experience | Governor for 2 years;
Mayor for 10 years |
None |
| Foreign Relations experience | Governor of state that borders two foreign countries (Canada and Russia) | Chaired Senate subcommittee on Europe but never called it into session;
once gave a speech to 200,000 screaming Germans |
| Military Affairs experience | Commander in Chief of Alaska National Guard;
Son is enlisted Infantryman in U.S. Army |
None |
| Private Sector Experience | Sports reporter;
Salmon fisherman |
Associate at civil rights law firm |
| Speaking ability | Beautifully executed initial stump speech in Dayton, OH hockey arena without a teleprompter | An enter…wait–did you say without a teleprompter?? |
| Spouse’s name | Todd Mitchell Palin | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama |
| Spouse’s occupation | Salmon fisherman;
Former North Slope production supervisor for BP Oil |
Vice President for Community and External Affairs at University of Chicago Hospitals;
former Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago; former Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies; former Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago; former associate at Sidley Austin law firm |
| Reaction to spouse’s political success | Quit 17-year BP oil job when BP became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with wife’s administration | Promoted and given 160% pay raise by UofC hospitals within months of husband’s election to U.S. Senate;
Employer received $1,000,000.00 federal earmark, requested by husband, after her promotion |
| Coolest thing about Spouse | Tesoro Iron Dog Snowmobile race champion (longest snowmobile race in the world);
In 2008, while defending his championship, was injured when he was thrown 70 feet from his machine. He was sent to the hospital but still finished in fourth place |
Sister of Oregon State University head basketball coach Craig Robinson |
| Most Courageous Moment in Public Service | Resigned in protest from position of Ethics Commissioner of Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in order to expose legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders, including the former state Attorney General and the State GOP Chairman (who was also an Oil & Gas Commissioner), who was doing work for the party on public time and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail. | Gave an anti-Iraq war speech to a crowd of anti-Iraq war demonstrators in Hyde Park in 2002 |
| In Current Office Because… | Upset sitting Governor in GOP primary due to public support for her efforts to clean up corrupt government establishment | Republican opponent, who was leading in the polls, was forced to leave race after unsealing of divorce records exposed a sex scandal |
| Theme: | Change and Clean Government | Hope and Change;
“Bringing Change from Outside Washington” |
| What they’ve done to live that theme: | Replaced entire Board of Agriculture and Conservation because of conflict of interest;
Resigned from position of Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in order to expose corruption among members of own party |
Selected 36-year incumbent Senator as running mate |
| Family Affairs | May have removed State Public Safety Commissioner as part of effort to protect sister in messy divorce and child custody battle | Often says, “I am my brother’s keeper”;
Brother lives in a hut in Nairobi on $12 per year |
| Union affiliation | Union member, married to Union member | Endorsed by a union |
| Iraq and Troop Support | Formerly (pre-surge) critical of apparent lack of long-term strategy for Iraq;
Visited wounded U.S. soldiers in Germany; visited AK National Guard soldiers deployed to Kuwait; Son deploying to Iraq on 9/11/08 as Army infantryman |
Gave an anti-Iraq war speech to a crowd of anti-Iraq war demonstrators;
almost visited wounded troops in Germany, but decided to go shopping in Berlin instead |
| Bipartisan/”maverick” credentials | Married to a non-Republican;
Exposed corruption within own party; Campaigned for Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell against corrupt GOP congressman Don Young; Called out Sen Ted Stevens (R-AK) to “come clean” about financial dealings that are under fed investigation |
Talks about bipartisanship |
| Legislative Record | Passed a landmark ethics reform bill;
Used veto to cut budgetary spending; Prevented “bridge to nowhere” that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars. |
Voted “present” over 100 times as IL state senator |
| How they dealt with corrupt individuals in home city/state | Exposed legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders;
Campaigned against corrupt GOP Representative; Ran against and defeated corrupt incumbent governor in GOP primary |
Launched political career in home of unrepentant domestic terrorist Bill Ayers (and still refers to him as a part of “mainstream Democratic Chicago”;
Purchased home with help of convicted felon Tony Rezko |
| Guns | Lifetime member of NRA and avid hunter;
video can be found on YouTube of Palin firing an M4 at a military firing range |
Worked to pass legislation in Illinois that would prevent all law-abiding citizens from owning firearms |
| Earmarks | Opposed “Bridge to Nowhere” project;
Said Alaska should avoid relying on federal money for projects; Campaigned against porker Don Young (R-AK) in 2008 primary |
Secured federal earmarks for wife’s employer and for campaign bundlers |
| Abortion | Pro life;
gave birth to 5th child knowing that he would have Down’s syndrome |
Pro-choice;
only IL state sen. to speak against the Born Alive Infant’s Protection Act, which required medical care to be given to live infants who survived abortions |
| Energy | Believes energy independence is a matter of national security;
For drilling in ANWR, which is in her state |
Says Americans should “get tune-ups” and “check tire pressure”;
Says “we can’t expect the world to be okay with” our use of heating and air conditioning |
| Environment | Chair of Alaska Conservation Commission (2003-4);
Announced plans to create sub-cabinet group of advisors to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in AK |
Talks about the environment a lot |
| Athletic prowess | Runs marathons | Has reporters tailing him to the gym |
Comments (21)
But, Obama has never put a small little city up to their necks into dept.
He doesn't giggle when someone calls a fellow democrat a very offensive name
He doesn't have an ancient, trigger happy, neocon as his number 1
He, as his campaign has amply shown and to the scourge of the Hillary machine, a very well run organization.
He is steeped in constitutional law, from the same ranks that gave us Kissinger. Palin, wanted to be a sports
caster, and got a degree in Journalism.
His family values include raising their children.
Posted by Russ | August 31, 2008 3:55 PM
"May have removed State Public Safety Commissioner as part of effort to protect sister in messy divorce and child custody battle"
"Commander in Chief of Alaska National Guard;
Son is enlisted Infantryman in U.S. Army"
"Governor of state that borders two foreign countries (Canada and Russia)"
This is the best you've got?
[snip - FJB]
Posted by Al | August 31, 2008 5:23 PM
"He is steeped in constitutional law, from the same ranks that gave us Kissinger."
Yet thought killing infants born alive would violate Roe...
Posted by yarrrrrr | August 31, 2008 5:41 PM
Al said:
"it seems that Palin has a penchant for firing folks"
Seems she fired a few, but, she has no penchant for killing folks.
Posted by max | August 31, 2008 7:44 PM
Al:
I am deleting the second half of your comment since it is amazingly wicked. It's as if you couldn't find anything that I posted that was unseemly; so, you found a link twice removed about stuff that is below my pay grade. What you offered was not an argument; it was flatulance in the form of words.
And as far as firing folks, that's what you do when you are principled and you want to remove scoundrels. To put it another way: Webster Hubble would not have lasted long in Alaska under leadership.
Frank
Posted by Francis Beckwith | August 31, 2008 8:20 PM
After reading some of these comments, I'm not convinced that everyone fully understands, or has read, the mission statement to this blog regarding Jihad or why the authors have included the term in the mission statement at all.
At some point, would one of the authors mind terribly whipping something together to illuminate that spectacle?
In advance, I thank you.
Posted by Laura | August 31, 2008 9:01 PM
His family values include raising their children...while approving the family values of others who would kill theirs.
would one of the authors mind terribly whipping something together to illuminate that spectacle?
What spectacle?
Posted by William Luse | August 31, 2008 9:55 PM
WIlliam,
My post referred to the authors' reference to Jihad in their dedicated mission statement, not to Mr Obama's definition of family values.
Posted by Laura | August 31, 2008 10:11 PM
That first italics was directed at a different commenter, Laura.
I understand your comment was referring to the mission statement. I'm still waiting to hear what "spectacle" you're referring to.
Posted by William Luse | September 1, 2008 5:12 AM
William,
I can't tell you, but I'll post what I meant by the spectacle of Jihad: I am asking the authors to explain why they have chosen to include it in their mission statement; the definition of Jihad; what comprises Jihad and why we should pay more attention to the notion of it. In other words, why Americans should be very aware of just what Jihad is all about and why we would very wise not to allow its proliferation in the United States.
Will that do, or no?
Posted by Laura | September 1, 2008 9:32 AM
Laura, we have a number of posts about this. You are welcome to browse our author archives. I would recommend mine and Paul Cella's for posts on Islam, the jihad in history, and so forth. (Paul is very well-informed on the history of the jihad--far more so than I.) I'm not quite sure why that would come up in this thread, though. I think there is also a way to use technorati tags to search the posts on a site, and if we've tagged our posts correctly, you should find them under tags like "Islam," "sharia," "jihad," etc. It is really just chance that you do not see as many of such posts going up just now--it's chiefly the result of, for example, Frank's high interest in the election and perhaps busyness or weariness among other contributors.
Posted by Lydia | September 1, 2008 10:21 AM
Thank you, Lydia. I'm very interested in those archives and will start reading them shortly. I brought up the subject on account of remarks aimed at the war in Iraq and the 'helter-skelter' reasoning many seem to believe were behind the administration's decisions to send troops as well as to have our troops remain. My sense is that not many Americans have a clear understanding of the relationship between Jihad and our presence in Iraq, and being reminded of that fact, if not being made aware of it for the first time, might diminish some of those criticisms.
Naturally, the election is your priority and I certainly hope I didn't sound as though that shouldn't be. Just thought a reminder, at some later time, might be a consideration.
Posted by Laura | September 1, 2008 10:48 AM
This column by William Rees-Mogg shows more insight into the ramifications of McCain's choice than most of the chatter -- left and right -- that I have seen online so far.
The "experience" argument was never one that moved me when the Republicans were using it against Obama. Now people will be trying to invert it, trying desperately to compare Palin with Obama even though they're at different places on the ticket. But even this may backfire. Palin has been governing a state, taking responsibility for her actions in a way that Obama has not had to. Obama is a Harvard-trained lawyer -- but does anyone think that another Harvard lawyer is just what we need on Capitol Hill? Obama has taught constitutional law -- but since he appears to believe that the constitution forbids the protection of infants actually born alive, it is clear that with the majority of voters his con-law credentials would actually be a drawback.
The spur-of-the-moment talking point generated by panicked Dems when McCain announced his pick runs like this: "Do you really want this person a heartbeat away from the Presidency?"
Speaking for myself, and based on what I know now, no, I don't. I want her in the presidency. I find that of the four people now on the (presumptive) tickets, Palin is the only person with the principles that are a conditio sine qua non for being president.
Posted by Tim | September 1, 2008 11:18 AM
I rather wish it weren't. It isn't mine, personally. I think we've made this election season _way_ too long. :-)
Posted by Lydia | September 1, 2008 11:36 AM
Best bumper sticker seen so far ...
Posted by Tim | September 1, 2008 1:43 PM
Francis - this is funny and did make me chuckle at times. But it is also
so biased and slanted and untruthful in nature.
Why not do the same for Mr McCain, who is actually the individual running
against Barack?
Or did you forget that once the Palin announcement was made?
I have too much respect for you. You're better than this, sir.
Posted by The Black Avenger | September 1, 2008 2:40 PM
I think the word Laura was looking for was "specter", and that's what confused me. Paul gives a pretty good explanation of Jihad in the mission statement, and if it will ease Laura's mind, I can assure her that the contributors to this site hate it. Jihad, that is.
Posted by William Luse | September 1, 2008 3:07 PM
Let's see...an ex-beauty pagent winner...with a undergraduate degree in jounalism...who does not believe in global warming...who does believe a woman should have no control over her own body and for 9 months should be viewed as nothing more than a baby container...who's main attributes seem to be stubborness and vicious competiveness... who has had next to no experience in goverment...who has a currently very messy family situation given that she had recently given birth to a downs syndrome baby, has a 17 year old daughter who is unwed and pregnant and is facing investigation for using her political office to smear her ex-brother-in-law and get him fired (he is in a custody battle with her sister)...who seems to be in bed with big oil...who is running for VP...whose running mate is 72 and is a cancer survivor...who has no foreign policy background and in fact has only been out of the country twice...who may become President of the country I love at a time when it faces the most complex foreign policy issues, economic issues and domestic issues it has in decades...Why does this sound like a totally unbelievably bad novel???? I for one am terrified and can not understand what Mr. McCain was thinking!!!!
Posted by Rebecca Burt | September 1, 2008 4:00 PM
Rebecca:
Some comments on your rant:
"Let's see...an ex-beauty pagent winner..."
Irrelevant. What matters is not how she looks but who she is.
"with a undergraduate degree in jounalism..."
Largely irrelevant. Beyond basic competence, what matters is not her degree but whether she is reasonably well informed and has a brain -- and that she not be another Harvard lawyer, which is not change we can believe in on Capitol Hill.
"who does not believe in global warming..."
Strong positive; she actually is reasonably well informed and has a brain!
"who does believe a woman should have no control over her own body and for 9 months should be viewed as nothing more than a baby container..."
Straw man ... er, woman. Palin is a member of Feminists for Life.
"who's main attributes seem to be stubborness and vicious competiveness... "
Okay, now we all want to know where you got your talking points. Daily Kos?
who has had next to no experience in goverment...
Two years of governing a tetchy state is experience enough. Some of us actually like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and think it would be a good idea to put it into action. Her principles are what matter. Think Thatcher.
who has a currently very messy family situation given that she had recently given birth to a downs syndrome baby, has a 17 year old daughter who is unwed and pregnant ...
A consideration. In the best of all possible worlds, she would be free to spend the time with her family to take care of these things. Last time I checked, this wasn't the best of all possible worlds.
and is facing investigation for using her political office to smear her ex-brother-in-law and get him fired (he is in a custody battle with her sister)...
She took on the corrupt leadership in her state and embarrassed them. The Republican leadership. She auctioned off the jet that the Murkowski administration had bought with public funds -- on Ebay, where she got $2.1 million for it. Randy Ruedrich, whom she exposed for conflict of interest, had to pay a $12,000 fine. He is now the Alaska Republican Party Chairman. It would be a miracle if she were not under investigation.
who seems to be in bed with big oil...
Which is why she slapped them with a big tax and turned down their proposals when she felt they were trying to exploit the state of Alaska? This doesn't even make good nonsense.
who is running for VP...
Yes, this is a problem. If she were at the top of the ticket it would be a much more attractive proposition.
whose running mate is 72 and is a cancer survivor...
I wish John McCain no ill, but his demonstrated principles (think McCain/Finegold, amnesty, and ESCR) disqualify him from being president. He'll likely be healthy enough for the next four years. But if he were to get into office and then takes a turn for the worse, I'd feel a lot better with Palin in line than I would with Biden in line in the parallel scenario for Obama.
who has no foreign policy background and in fact has only been out of the country twice...
It baffles me that anyone would think foreign policy competence could be measured by the number of times one has been out of the country. If it comes to it, I'm not impressed by Obama's foreign policy credentials. Good judgment and good advisors are what anyone in that situation needs. Palin seems to have the judgment; the advisors we would just have to wait for.
who may become President of the country I love at a time when it faces the most complex foreign policy issues, economic issues and domestic issues it has in decades...
All extremely good reasons to have Sarah Palin in line instead of people like Obama and Biden, who will be unmitigated disasters in all of these areas. My only serious regret there would be that she's only in line, not actually running for POTUS.
Posted by Tim | September 1, 2008 4:48 PM
...with a undergraduate degree in jounalism
I'll bet her journalism studies taught her what kind of an article goes before a word beginning with a vowel, and how to spell her major.
Posted by William Luse | September 2, 2008 2:28 AM
Oops, I think I know what happened; my points still hold as the list is still flawed regardless of who compiled it (we know know she flat out lied on the "Bridge to Nowhere" and the whole bordering Russia and the National Guard thingees have become jokes). Still my bad and Dr. Beckwith, you are of course correct that one of my points was quite wicked.
Posted by Al | September 3, 2008 1:51 PM