Teleprompter? Pshaw. Go low tech, use the Handprompter!Follow

Imagine large numbers of laughing faces here, because the unintentional pun is wonderful.

So your measurement is that he spent more time in a classroom. I don't agree that working in the academic world as opposed to the real world really makes you more prepared or qualified to be in a leadership role in politics. But at least you've told me what measurement you're using.



Interesting how you stopped your discussion of Palin at her education and job(s) in journalism. Why not mention that she was elected to city council in 1992, won re-election in 1995, then ran for mayor in 1996, winning that election (and two more) and serving until 2002. Why not mention that she then ran for lt-governor in 2002, came in second but was given an appointment in which she served until she realized that the existing administration was involved in shady deals, called them out and got canned. Why not mention that she worked in a political organization for the next 3 years with a charter to help women get involved in politics? Why not then mention that she ran against the guys she'd cried foul against and won the governorship in 2006. Realize that she had to defeat her own party's incumbent governor (a pretty rare event) and then go on to beat the other party's candidate as well.


But hey! Let's just gloss over the 14 years she spent serving in various political offices, a year serving in an appointed capacity, and the 3 years she spent working in a behind the scenes capacity. Nope! None of that counts. She apparently just walked out of the "weather girl" position and into a VP run. Are you freaking kidding me?!


Look, if we're looking at on-paper experience she beats Obama hands down (at the time of the 2008 election). If you add up all the time he spent in the State Senate and the US senate, he served several fewer years than Palin did in terms of actually being in an elected position. Both of them spent time in political advisory positions. Palin is the only one of the two to serve in an appointed government position I believe (not sure if any of the foundation boards Obama sat on counted, but I don't think so).



I'm not the one ignoring information in order to make a point. Obama was less qualified than Palin in terms of numbers of years in elected office. He was less qualified in terms of numbers of years in an executive rather than legislative position. As a law professor, and with his experience in both the state and US senates, Obama was clearly more qualified for a legislative position. But Palin's experience was entirely executive. She was a city council member, then a mayor, then a state government appointee, then governor. All of those positions are executive. None of Obama's were.


It still basically comes down to you assuming he must be more qualified than she simply because he's the guy you like. Switch their resumes around, and you'd be arguing the exact opposite position. Suddenly, the black man who bucked his own party, called them out on ethical issues, and struggled and fought his way to become governor of his state would be the most qualified person in the world, and the white woman who spent most of her time in academia, hooked up with the right people and got propelled into a state legislature and then the US senate is clearly just a hanger-on with no executive experience who's always just been a yes-woman voice working with or for others and is clearly not qualified for president.


Don't you agree?

Based on Palin's resume She would be as qualified to be president as any number of past presidents, as time has indicated great presidents don't need to have super qualifications. However that doesn't change the fact that she was not at all ready for it. The experience she had apparently in no way prepared her for the big leagues, and that was obvious. I imagine it has something to do with the fundamental difference of an isolated area such as Alaska. I imagine as well, that given that she wasn't prepared, hadn't thought through big picture stuff it would have been incredibly hard to be shoved into the limelight the way she was.

If I didn't already think she was a putz, my biggest concern is her seemingly inability to stick with anything. How many schools did she go to? And quitting the governor's job really seemed like she was just running away because things were tough.

Don't worry guys. If she gets elected to be president, she'll just resign in two years!

Sorry I couldn't resist going there. Being I live in her "Home" State, I have varying views on what the hell is going on with her.

When she was Governor of Alaska. She managed to undo a lot of damage the previous Governor did to the state (Buying things the people of Alaska had turned down, dropping taxes on Oil Companies and letting them keep leases to land they kept promising to develop [At least till election year and he knew he was getting the boot, then revoked said leases], cuddling up with people who bribed legislatures, etc.) that caused a lot of problems with our economy. She did give all of us a bit extra (Known as an energy rebate) to our PFD (That's Permenant Fund Dividend for you people down in the States). which gave us a lot more to throw back into our states economy. She went after the Oil companies and helped raise Tax Rates at a much more competitive rate compared to other countries and states (Which the Oil Companies are trying to guilt trip us into lowering), and finally got the Natural Gas Pipeline into more of a reality (As opposed to 30 years of governorship promising to get one built). After a boat load of bogus ethics complaints filed (By a butthurt nobody) that did shed some light on razor thin ethical procedures which did get her slapped with a censure, she figured to get the spotlight back on helping Alaskans and resigned. Some may say it was because there were backhanded things going on with the Governor (Some of which are starting to come to light now, such as her Husband having a hand in some of the State dealing, which is no different then when Hilary was helping her husband as President, and using private e-mail to conduct state business which was not covered by Right to Know) which may be correct. But we here are appalled by the Palin we are seeing on the National stage. This is not the same woman who came out on the State scene two years ago promising to be not another Good Ole' Boy who followed the party line. This is the Typical Partyline Palin.

So I hope she doesn't run for President (I'll vote Mickey Mouse if she does) because god knows we need more people thinking we are just the Deep South up North, and we are actually normal everyday people who do know how to think and don't live in igloos and drive sled dogs all day.

Under any definition of qualifications, I wouldn't let Palin run so much as a Pez dispenser.

Edited, Feb 8th 2010 10:44pm by Kaelesh

My own suspicion is that you were fed this "suspicion" by some Righty pundit because it lets you say "Oohhh... they're being sexist!!" rather than needing to acknowledge any legitimate criticisms.

Coming from rural Maine where the main community activity was hunting, Palin offends me b/c she claims to be a real hunter but shoots wolves from a helicopter or a plane like a little *****. That's not not a necessity, she's not even doing it as a sport. Any hunter worth his or her salt would frown on that kind of ********* Then she acts like she's one with the people. Palin. Jesus, she sucks.

Yeah, I was at a loss about what he thought you missed.

I think my favorite was that she had to remind herself to "lift American spirits."

I admit to being a little disappointed that she didn't hold up a pack of cigarettes at that point.









She didn't, did she?