posted 09-05-2008 03:24 PM                  

Don't forget, by the way, that they're running for different positions

Sarah Palin
Barack Obama

Office being sought
SP -Vice President
BO -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
SP -Smoking hot in a "naughty librarian" sort of way
BO -May be The Messiah

Age
SP -44
BO -48

Children
SP -5: two sons, three daughters
BO -2: two daughters

Religion/Church attendance
SP -Evangelical Christian;
attends Juneau Christian Center when in Juneau and grew up attending Wasilla Assembly of God
BO -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
SP -Governor of Alaska
BO -Junior Senator from Illinois

Previous Public Jobs
SP -Mayor of Wasilla, AK (1996-2006); President of Alaska Conference of Mayors;
City Council member (1992-1996)
BO -State Senator (1997-2004);
Community Organizer

Executive Experience
SP -Governor for 2 years;
BO -Mayor for 10 years
None

Foreign Relations experience
SP -Governor of state that borders two foreign countries (Canada and Russia)
BO -Chaired Senate subcommittee on Europe but never called it into session;
once gave a speech to 200,000 screaming Germans

Military Affairs experience
SP -Commander in Chief of Alaska National Guard;
Son is enlisted Infantryman in U.S. Army
BO -None

Private Sector Experience
SP -Sports reporter;
Salmon fisherman
BO -Associate at civil rights law firm

Speaking ability
SP -Beautifully executed initial stump speech in Dayton, OH hockey arena without a teleprompter
BO -An enter...wait--did you say without a teleprompter??

Spouse's name
SP -Todd Mitchell Palin
BO -Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Spouse's occupation
SP -Salmon fisherman;
Former North Slope production supervisor for BP Oil
BO -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
SP -Quit 17-year BP oil job when BP became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with wife's administration
BO -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
SP -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
BO -Sister of Oregon State University head basketball coach Craig Robinson

Most Courageous Moment in Public Service
SP-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.
BO -Gave an anti-Iraq war speech to a crowd of anti-Iraq war demonstrators in Hyde Park in 2002

In Current Office Because...
SP -Upset sitting Governor in GOP primary due to public support for her efforts to clean up corrupt government establishment
BO -Republican opponent, who was leading in the polls, was forced to leave race after unsealing of divorce records exposed a sex scandal

Theme:
SP -Change and Clean Government
BO -Hope and Change;
"Bringing Change from Outside Washington"

What they've done to live that theme:
SP -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
BO-Selected 36-year incumbent Senator as running mate

Family Affairs
SP -May have removed State Public Safety Commissioner as part of effort to protect sister in messy divorce and child custody battle
BO -Often says, "I am my brother's keeper";
Brother lives in a hut in Nairobi on $12 per year

Union affiliation
SP -Union member, married to Union member
BO -Endorsed by a union

Iraq and Troop Support
SP -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
BO -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
SP -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
BO -Talks about bipartisanship

Legislative Record
SP -Passed a landmark ethics reform bill;
Used veto to cut budgetary spending;
Prevented "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
BO -Voted "present" over 100 times as IL state senator

How they dealt with corrupt individuals in home city/state
SP -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
BO -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
SP -Lifetime member of NRA and avid hunter;
video can be found on YouTube of Palin firing an M4 at a military firing range
BO-Worked to pass legislation in Illinois that would prevent all law-abiding citizens from owning firearms

Earmarks
SP -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
BO -Secured federal earmarks for wife's employer and for campaign bundlers

Abortion
SP -Pro life;
gave birth to 5th child knowing that it would have Down's syndrome
BO -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
SP -Believes energy independence is a matter of national security;
For drilling in ANWR, which is in her state
BO -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
SP -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
BO -Talks about the environment a lot

Athletic prowess
SP -Runs marathons
BO -Has reporters tailing him to the gym

* *

Larry

"Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him." - Booker T. Washington