In preparation for the many discussions I will have with the Republican "twenty-seven-percenters" here in Dallas Texas, I did my own research on the experience and qualifications of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin. I originally thought I would create a little cheat sheet, similar in size to a postcard, that I could have handy in my purse to give out to those who had only heard that Sarah Palin’s "executive" experience was vastly superior to Barack Obama’s experience as a "community organizer" without a seeing a real resume. I must say I believe that federal senatorial experience encompasses greater knowledge than gubernatorial experience, especially from the least populated US state.
I was very surprised at the depth of Barack Obama’s resume that is rarely ever mentioned in the media. Barack Obama is nowhere near as inexperienced as the pundits portray. In fact, the comparison of the two, shows more strongly the inadequacy of Sarah Palin to represent the US with foreign heads of state. Without being condescending, eating mooseburgers would be laughed at by Putin, Merkel & Sarkozy.
I wanted my cheat sheet to be a skeletal resume for both without getting more deeply into details of the actions and decisions taken at each step on the ladder of their careers. I will be adding depth to this career outline of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama in the near future.
There is one policy supported and promoted by Sarah Palin as Governor that so overwhelmed me with disgust that I can’t keep myself from telling it to nearly everyone I see. Governor Palin spent $400,000 of taxpayer money to promote the state policy to reduce the grey wolf population in Alaska. The grey wolf is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 13 states but not in Alaska. The policy and action promoted is aerial hunting of wolves and in 2007 Sarah Palin authorized a $150.00 bounty to be paid for a dead wolf. From low flying private aircraft, wolves are chased until they can run no more and then they are shot. A leg is cut off and taken to the Alaska Board of Game to collect the money. This hunting occurs during the wolf breeding season so after the adult has been killed, the hunters go to the wolf den and kill the wolf pups by shooting them in the head. Though the Federal Airborne Hunting Act was passed in 1971 specifically to prevent this sort of aerial killing, the Bush administration is unwilling to enforce the law. I am not a member of PETA, I like shooting and own a gun, eat lots of steak and have no problem with leather jackets but I believe in the protection of endangered species like wolves, elephants, whales and dolphins. I find this type of aerial hunting behavior to be indicative of a cruel & vicious personality.
But, back to the original subject, the resume and experience of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama.
SARAH PALIN
College #1 - Hawaii Pacific University a freshman during the fall of 1982,
College #2 - North Idaho College, a community college in Coeur d'Alene - A general studies major for two semesters, in spring 1983 and fall 1983.
College #3 - The University of Idaho from fall 1984 to spring 1985. ; majored in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast news.
In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla Pageant, then finished Second in the Miss Alaska pageant
College #4 – Attended Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer, Alaska in fall 1985
College #5 – University of Idaho; Spring 1986, Fall 1986 and Spring 1987
In 1987 Sarah Graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism
In 1988, Sarah was a Sports Reporter for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska.
Palin served Two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996
Palin served Two terms as Mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002
Unsuccessful campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska in 2002
Palin Appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Chaired the Commission from 2003 to 2004
November 2006, Palin was elected the Governor of Alaska,
BARACK OBAMA
Obama entered Harvard Law School in 1988.
In 1989 Obama was selected as an Editor of the Harvard Law Review based on his grades and a writing competition.
In 1990 Obama was elected President of the Law Review, editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.
Obama graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991
A summer Associate at the Chicago law firms of Sidley & Austin in 1989 and Hopkins & Sutter in 1990.
In 1991 was Awarded Fellowship at the University of Chicago Law School
Published autobiography - Dreams from My Father in mid-1995.[21]
From April to October 1992 Obama directed Illinois Project Vote, 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
Crain's Chicago Business names Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.
Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, as a Lecturer for four years (1992–1996), and as a Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996–2004).
In 1993 Obama joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. An Associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then Counsel from 1996 to 2004.
Obama was a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of Public Allies in 1992, non-profit organization dedicated to youth leadership development
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, a philanthropic organization devoted to poverty relief and the promotion of social mobility, founded in 1941 which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund Obama's DCP, from 1993–2002
Obama served on the Board of Directors of The Joyce Foundation from 1994–2002, a charitable foundation based in Chicago with Assets of $986,172,775.00.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge from 1995–2002, as founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1995–1999. A public-private partnership founded in 1995 with a focus to improve school performance.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.
Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996
Obama reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, and again in 2002
Unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000
Obama announced his Campaign for the U.S. Senate in January 2003
In January 2003, Obama became Chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee
In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history.[
Obama was sworn in as US senator from Illinois on January 4, 2005
Obama held Assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs through December 2006.
In January 2007, Obama took additional Assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Obama became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs.
2008 - Obama is currently the Junior United States Senator from Illinois.
More to come about what they’ve done.