In a testament to just how little executive experience he possesses, Barack Obama has stated, “Well, my understanding is that Governor Palin’s town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We’ve got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. So I think that our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the last couple of years” (source).
If “executive experience” is nothing more than managing large numbers of people and large amounts of money, wouldn’t that make H. Lee Scott, CEO and president of the world’s largest company with billions in assets and millions in employees, more qualified for an executive job than, well, just about anyone else?
I think that maybe, just maybe, Obama is bothered by the fact that his opponent’s running mate not only has more governmental executive experience than he, but that her executive career has been overwhelmingly positive.
On a positive note for Obama & his worshipers supporters, he is leading McCain by eight points in the polls (source). I actually just now got off the phone with a polling group — first time I’ve ever been polled on political issues. Neat.
Rich Beckman: Palin’s executive experience is a lot more relevant to a position of Vice President than experience garnered from running a campaign is to being President.
So, you’re saying that Palin’s experience doesn’t count for anything??
Then what is the criteria for experience to be President?
You didn’t answer my question.
Rich Beckman: First question: No.
Second question: As far as I know, there isn’t an “experience requirement”… It’s just a very good thing, and Palin’s would seem to be a bit more relevant than Obama’s.
It’s interesting that Obama compares his campaign to Palin’s mayoral experience. What about her governorship over the past two years. While she’s been busy about the work of government, he’s been making irresponsible speeches on foreign soil
Obama has great leadership experience and he is a good Christian.
celeste w: Depends entirely upon how you define “Christian,” I suppose. Anyone supporting legalized abortion or homosexuality shows a gross misunderstanding — if not a blatant rejection — of the Law of God, a Law which Jesus Christ not only fulfilled and exalted but, well, wrote. Jesus’ constant admonition to people was to “Go, and sin no more” and to “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” That’s far removed from the Left’s seeking to remove any and all barriers for sinners to do what they want.
Rich Beckman: In the same way as my experiencing managing inventory at a general merchandise store is more relevant to a job managing inventory at a grocery store than someone who who has experiencing managing supplies for a traveling trapeze act.
The person working for the trapeze act may still trump my experience if he has significantly more experience at his job than mine, but that isn’t the case.
Eighteen or so months on the campaign trail is significantly less than the twelve years of executive experience Palin is bringing to the job.
“Palin’s executive experience is a lot more relevant to a position of Vice President than experience garnered from running a campaign is to being President.”
It is? How so?
The presidency is a political job. The most effective presidents are the ones who are good politicians.
Palin’s experience as mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska doesn’t mean much on it’s own. You said yourself that “If “executive experience” is nothing more than managing large numbers of people and large amounts of money…”
If that is true, then it is clear that managing a smaller number of people and a smaller amount of money also does not constitute adequate experience.
It is not that executive experience that qualifies her for the office.
Rich Beckman: You’re right, executive experience isn’t about people or money managed, it’s about what is accomplished, and from everything I’ve read, Palin has been a strong proponent for positive change and reform in Alaska, all the while maintaining an 80%+ approval rating. Seems like a positive mark of experience to me, whether or not it outweighs Obama or not — at this point, it may be possible to compare apples to oranges, but I’m not versed enough (thank goodness) in politics to do so.
Again, sorry about my confusion over my name!!
You’ll note that I never argued she didn’t have the necessary experience (though I’m not arguing that she does, much too soon to tell).
She is a great pick for McCain in that she has energized the base. McCain really needed to energize his base.
It appears that she was not vetted very well. This isn’t her fault, but could hurt McCain.
If she ends up in trouble over the troopergate thing, McCain is finished.
But then, it is well documented that McCain loves to gamble.
Senior: Regarding “troopergate,” I am thankful I’ve never been in any position to hire or fire anybody.
Scandal, on any side, sucks.