Obama is a Constitutional law scholar - who LED one of the most prestigious law publications in the world - and who has written legislation on the state and federal level for the past decade.  Before that he was a civil rights attorney, and before that he he graduated from one of the best universities in the world - in 1983 - with a degree in political science with a focus on international relations.  How is that not a deeper set of qualifications to govern...considering government is rooted in legislation?

He has lived and worked in diverse communities which represent ALL American people, as well as world citizens.

I think Palin seems like a lovely person, and I think her values are very admirable...but she was a journalism major in college and a TV sports reporter before she got into city politics in '92; and she hails from one of the most socioculturally narrow and low-populated areas of the nation...it makes her quite charming, but I can't see how that makes her ready to govern this country.

 The comparison really does not stand.

And the campaign Obama has run tells us amply about the wisdom of his leadership, management and teambuilding.  They crushed the dastardly CLINTON machine, for heaven's sake.  They, and the Bidens, may be progressive in their embrace of real world realities, but they personally embody traditional values the like of which is not often seen, even in the Republican Party.

BA Political Science Columbia, thesis on Soviet nuclear disarmament

JD Harvard Law, President Harvard Law Review

Visiting Law and Government Fellow/ Senior Lecturer in Constitutional law at U Chicago Law School

8 years Illinois State Senator, Chairman Health and Services Committee

4 years national Senator with seats on committees for foreign relations, health/education, homeland security, veterans affairs

That is the resume of a future president, whatever his skin color. And to compare his resume to Sarah Palin's would be more offensive if it wasn't so funny.

Mom-101

I don't think criticizing him is racist. I could care less. Did I say anything about race?  Did I mention Hillary?  You are arguing back with party line defenses to arguments no one here has made.

I do think comparing him to Palin is foolish.  She is not without experiences.  It just has nothing to do with governing a nation on the world stage.  This is my issue with her.  It makes me nervous because, though I won't be voting for her because no, I do not agree with her platforms, she could be elected to lead my country!  If John McCain dies, she would be President. 

Barack Obama has shown an ability to amass and manage an effective team with a campaign that has broken with historical precedent in fundraising and outreach.  I am not into a figurehead POV...I believe governance is a team effort, and management wisdom is key.  I personally think he has proven, throughout his career, that he is savvy, effective and no-nonsense in this - managing a huge team, picking world-class advisors and leading an operation on a national level.  He has already accomplished this, in the past 18 months and outsmarted a team largely believe to be worldclass and unbeatable.  I also happen believe the nuance of multicultural experience and a legislative mindset equips you to run a nation.  It takes a broadview and an ability to build coalitions and consensus,and command respect.

I don't agree with all of his platforms, either, but I think he is the one to effect the type of policies needed today.

Ms. Palin is untested outside of her community.  She will largely remain so now.  The idea she could suddenly be at the helm and relying on her knowledge of running a household and Alaska is terrifying to me. Part of my fear comes from seeing how well Bush's executive background aided him in leading us.

I think Palin could have been great in a focused position, cleaning up corruption...the idea that she could be in charge of everything...and EVERYONE...I find it disconcerting and upsetting. 

Alaska does not represent what will work for the American people as a whole. Neither did Texas. And conservatives charge in ready to impose these strict worldviews and this bothers me. That's why, though I am an Independent, I err on the liberal side...of compromise.

I would feel the same way about my Governor, a woman who has a similar personality and has been a politician for decades, quite honestly. And our little state is pretty diverse.

State governance is not the same as national governance.  That is a generalization that doesn't hold 100%.

I agree with you about the way HIllary was treated, but that's where it stops. This isn't about her anymore.

To say that Obama hasn't done anything is just not true (it cannot be stated looking at the facts of his life and career), and it is also untrue of Palin, who I wouldn't support on any ticket anywhere, because I cry just thinking about what a potential McCain and/or Palin presidency (should he not last out his term) would wreak on my world. It would be potentially worse than the past eight years and that's saying something.

But to say that Barack Obama hasn't done anything is not true, and it's unfair to say that those of us who had questions didn't share them for fear of being called racist. I criticized and evaluated him regardless of the fact that he is a black man, and I know many thousands of people did as well. It can't be argued that his output is impressive by any standard already and whether he wins the presidency or not (oh please I hope he does) it will continue to amass.

Palin has done plenty as a PERSON - it's hard enough work to raise a family, finish college and do the political work she's done. But her level of engagement with the world around her and activity within it is not presidential. (George Bush's wasn't either, but that is a function of his personality, I believe. I've seen where that got us - not going there again if I can help it.) Comparisons of Palin with Hillary are not fair to Hillary - Palin is nervy to make them and I choose to ignore them. Two women should not be compared as a matter of course any more than any two men white or black should be compared just because they are men. If she debated Hillary Clinton it would be an embarrassment for Palin, just as it will be when she debates Biden.

Obama has shown me - an initial skeptic - a grasp of the global condition that makes me finally comfortable with accepting him in place of HIllary Clinton. This is not a vice president vs. president campaign. It's time we return the focus to McCain vs. Obama, which is where it belongs.

Laurie

Palin is a fine, if short term, governor of a homogeneous state who has definitely scored some points in bringing her state's budget under control. I admire any Republican who will try to bring a budget under control considering the current Administration's plundering of the budget surplus under Clinton.  

Obama does have executive experience.  And more.   He has

• 20+ years in public service (11 years as an elected public servant),
• 5+ years of executive experience managing budgets/staff/volunteers and
• 12 years of interpreting and teaching constitutional law as well as acting as a lawyer for civil rights and neighborhood economic development.
• He has additional experience and a degree in political science and international relations, including work that he did with a company which supports American business overseas. 
• He has written and passed legislation in the Illinois Senate and United States Senate.  You can see his record here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR200801...

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

I don't mind that you are supportive of Palin. I do ask that you stop misrepresenting Obama's record of experience.  

Realize that you are voting more for McCain than Palin unless McCain does not survive his term in office.  Most past Vice Presidents haven't had all that much influence on the President's agenda.  They spend their time creating coalitions that help further the President's agenda by working both sides of the aisle behind the scenes or travel extensively to promote the President's stance on foreign policy.  Sometimes, they do very little (such as Dan Quayle).

The questions then become:

• Does Sarah Palin have the skills and relationships necessary to build coalitions in Congress to help pass the President's agenda?  Especially if it is a Democratic Congress?
• Does Sarah Palin have the foreign policy knowledge and experience necessary to travel internationally and promote the President's foreign policy agenda?
• If McCain doesn't survive his term in office, would Sarah Palin be effective sitting across from Putin or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? The question is not "does she have the guts?"  The question is does she have the shrewdness and negotiating experience?

In any case, promoting her experience as a governor is a detriment, not an asset, considering that George W. Bush was one of the most "experienced" Presidents ever to take office when he was sworn in (if you only look at executive experience gained through a governorship AND a corporate career).  He only had executive experience by the way, and not much else.  Not legislative experience, no experience with managing diverse groups, etc.

That hasn't worked out too well when it has come to his managing people ("Good job, Brownie!) or the budget (record deficit!) or any other of his executive responsibilities.

So, using experience as a governor as a measure of success doesn't really fly when it comes to the Executive Branch of government, I'm afraid.

Is she a fine governor of Alaska, though?  I'm sure many Alaskans think so (and I know quite a few of them).