A Tail Of Two Resumes

[The Coach]

A Tale of Two Résumés
Barack Obama versus Sarah Palin.
by Dean Barnett
09/02/2008 8:50:00 AM

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Having spent over a decade as a headhunter for lawyers in another life, I've seen many résumés. And every résumé tells a story. The stories told by Barack Obama's and Sarah Palin's résumés could hardly be more different for two people of roughly the same age and aspirations.

WHAT STORY DOES Barack Obama's résumé tell? Obama became the head of the Harvard Law Review in 1990 and graduated Harvard Law magna cum laude in 1991. These accomplishments suggest great intelligence and strong interpersonal skills. They also suggest limitless potential.

So what did Obama choose to do with his limitless potential after leaving Harvard? Not much. His first two years out of law school, he began writing a book, commenced lecturing at the University of Chicago Law School and returned to his old vocation of community organizing. Obama's résumé would probably advertise the fact that he eschewed big money options to better serve humanity in these various capacities. Many members of the legal community would view these claims of selflessness with skepticism. Some cynical readers of his résumé would infer that he spent the time "trying to find himself," and perhaps think of the old Bill Cosby crack that after two years of searching, he should have been able to find not just himself but a couple of other people as well.

All readers of his résumé circa 1993 would ask what Obama accomplished at his serial vocations. And there the story gets grim. He didn't finish his book during the two years in 
question. He didn't pursue any scholarship at the University of Chicago, so his career there stalled at lecturer and never advanced to the professor level. And as is ever the case with something as nebulous as community organizing, pointing to tangible accomplishments would be impossible.

Thus begins a pattern of under-achievement, or more specifically non-achievement, that has followed Obama since law school. In later years, Obama practiced law for a few years and then he had enough of that. His 1995 book, Dreams From My Father showed much promise, yet Obama didn't further explore his skills in this area until over a decade later with the best forgotten campaign tome, The Audacity of Hope. Similarly, Obama was a part time state legislator of minimal accomplishments. When Obama went to the United States Senate, he impressed his colleagues with his potential. But he again never attempted to tap that potential, beginning a run for president shortly after his arrival in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body.

Unlike Obama, one wouldn't look at the early years in Sarah Palin's résumé and necessarily see unlimited potential. A 1987 graduate of the University of Idaho, Palin's greatest accomplishments from her youth would come in the "Miscellaneous Information" portion of the résumé. The fact that she had won a beauty contest would impress some people. Her sinking of a critical free throw on a broken ankle in her high school state championship would impress others. Still, there would be nothing in Palin's résumé from her younger years that would suggest potential like Obama's.


 
And yet throughout her adult life Palin, again unlike Obama, overachieved. In 1992, she got elected to the Wasilla, AK city council. In 1996 she became mayor. She was by all accounts a very successful mayor. Her résumé entry for her mayoral years would have all sorts of bullet points for tangible accomplishments like reducing city property taxes by 40 percent. Similarly, Palin's time as governor has been distinguished. Both would starkly contrast with the various stops in Obama's career where he occasionally held impressive titles but accomplished little.

Two things would leap out from Sarah Palin's résumé--a pattern of overachievement and a pattern of actually getting things done. Two things would also leap out from Barack Obama's résumé--an undeniable wealth of talent and an equally undeniable dearth of accomplishments.

While it has become almost a cliché on the right to belittle Obama as a talker rather than a doer, his résumé suggests just that. Obama does have the requisite brain power to be president; it's unlikely that the intellectual demands of the job would overwhelm him. But his past work experience is unnerving. Obama had ample talent to excel at all the other positions he has held, and yet he accomplished little at each. So what would he do as president? Would his efforts in the Oval Office be as indifferent and irresolute as they've been at every other stop along his professional path? Could one imagine him making the political sacrifices and showing the fondness for bold action that characterized Harry 
S. Truman?

As for Palin, she lacks Obama's glittering Ivy League credentials. While that fact scandalizes vast portions of the Bos-Wash corridor, the scandalized neglect the most common purpose for an education--to develop one's abilities to such a point that one can actually begin accomplishing things. And there again is where Palin shines--she has gotten a tremendous amount done everyplace she has been.

In truth, Sarah Palin is the kind of employee virtually every enterprise seeks--the kind who gets things done. And Barack Obama is the kind of employee a company hires only when it's in the mood for taking a risk and willing to wager that the candidate's past performance isn't predictive of his future efforts.

Dean Barnett is a staff writer at THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

 



 

[240 is Back]

This belongs in Politics.

Really, let's compare Palin and Obama objectively, since the Republicans claim Palin is Obama's equal, or even that Palin is more qualified to possibly be President.

Undergraduate
Obama
-early undergrad at Occidental college, ranked 37th among liberal arts colleges by US News and World Report
-he did well enough to transfer to Columbia, the third most selective Ivy League college, Columbia being only slightly less selective than Harvard and Yale

Palin
-Went to the University of Idaho. While a decent school, it's considered a third tier school by the US News rankings.


Graduate
Obama
Harvard Law School.
-editor of law review in first year based on grades and writing ability. For those of you who are unaware, this essentially marks him as among the smartest and most able in a group full of very smart and able people.
-President of Law review in his second year. First black president of Harvard Law Review. Again, a very prestigious position, and marks him as both a leader, and as someone of exceptional ability.
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude (highest academic honors), again a significant achievement among a group of significant achievers.

Palin
N/A

Objectively then, Obama is either significantly smarter, harder working or both than Palin. His undergraduate education is objectively and provably better. His grad work proves that he was leaps and bounds beyond Palin in terms of intellectual and leadership ability. You don't get to be President of Harvard Law Review by being average, or a shrinking violet.

Advantage: Obama

Work, non governmental:
BIC-1983-1984
NY Public Interest Research Group-1984-85
Developing Communities Project, Director-85-88
University of Chicago School of Law-Constitutional law lecturer, 92-2004
(University of Chicago is ranked 7th among US Law schools. The fact that Obama got emplyment here, and then was able to continue, marks him as someone exptionally smart and able)
Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, 1993-2004, attorney

Palin
with husband in commercial fishing
and a brief stint as a TV reporter

Advantage: Obama His non-governmental work experience is more diverse, and objectively marks him as someone smarter and more able than Palin.

Governmental Experience

Obama
1997-2004 State senator of Illinois' 13th district. That district has nearly 800,000 people in it.

2005-present Illinois Senator

Palin
City councilwoman of Wasilla, a town of 6k, 1992-1996
Mayor of Wasilla, 1996-2004
governor of Alaska, 2006-present. Note that Alaska has 600k people in the whole state.

Advantage: Obama As both senator and state representative, Obama has experience representing more people, and larger districts with larger issues than does Palin.

Honestly, if you were on the search committee for, say, a board of director's position of a fortune 500 company, who would get the nod, Obama or Palin? It's Obama, if you have even a shred of honesty in your body. Given that, why is Palin even in the ballpark as number 2 in line for the Presidency? Don't get me wrong, Sarah Palin has some achievements, and she has a right to be proud of them. But realistically, in any category that matters Obama is better than Sarah Palin.


FOREIGN nations visited:

In August 2005, Obama  traveled to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. In a nationally televised speech at the University of Nairobi, he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and corruption in Kenya]

So let's see - discounting his campaign trips and meeting with World leaders of UK, Germany, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan - he has been on official business talking war stuff with the Senate Foreign Relations committe to:

Israel
Kuwait
Iraq
Russia
Ukraine
South Africa
Kenya
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Chad
Jordan
Palestinian territories
Kuwait
Azerbaijan

And Palin once left the USA and visted 1 country.

[Camel Jockey]

Coach is the biggest dumbfuck on Getbig.

lol... It is almost embarassing to even post on a forum with a midget who can't even distinguish between the correct uses of "their" and "there" and posts stupid shit like this.

[chaos]

Coach is the biggest dumbfuck on Getbig.

lol... It is almost embarassing to even post on a forum with a midget who can't even distinguish between the correct uses of "their" and "there" and posts sutpid shit like this.

What exactly is "sutpid"?

[James Phoenix]

Resumes don't mean anything when one person is clearly the better choice.
Plenty of great people, and this is especially true of politics, don't have a great resume, because why?
Politics!

Look at it as a boon.
It means these people are outside of the establishment.
Their ideas are fresh and innovative.

And anyway...

Just what is your point?
Obama is perhaps the most polarising American political figure in history.
Do you really think you are going to sway anyone from either side.

Just more right-wing cut-and-paste blustering.

[Camel Jockey]

What exactly is "sutpid"?

What are you talking about???

Seriously, Coach got owned.  

[chaos]

Resumes don't mean anything when one person is clearly the better choice.
Plenty of great people, and this is especially true of politics, don't have a great resume, because why?
Politics!

Look at it as a boon.
It means these people are outside of the establishment.
Their ideas are fresh and innovative.

And anyway...

Just what is your point?
Obama is perhaps the most polarising American political figure in history.
Do you really think you are going to sway anyone from either side.

Just more right-wing cut-and-paste blustering.

Don't kill yourself over it emo-boy, it's just the internet, turn on some "Cure" and paint your nails black....

[timfogarty]

Look at it as a boon.
It means these people are outside of the establishment.
Their ideas are fresh and innovative.

How did that work out with GW?

Obama is perhaps the most polarising American political figure in history.

you must be very young

[Camel Jockey]

[240 is Back]

Damn i love that glock.

[chaos]

Damn i love that glock. gh elbow

[James Phoenix]

How did that work out with GW?

you must be very young

GW isn't part of the establishment?

You must be old and senile.

[Alpine]

Comparing Obama to Palin? You have to be kidding me.

Although McCains strategists have kept her hidden away she has still managed to sound like an idiot every time she got a chance. Did you see her interview with Charlie Gibson? Sounded like a cheerleader who just crammed for an exam. When quizzed on the middle east she fell back on the same answer (only thing she could remember) three times. " We cant count out Israel" or some blanket statement like that. It was hilarious. She is truly and ignorant hick from Alaska who fit the bill as a women that could revitalize a stale ticket to match the energy of the nontraditional Obama campaign. She goes to a fucking church where people "speak in tongues" - are you fucking kidding me? I loved seeing idiots in cowboy hats chanting "Drill Drill!" at the Republican convention. People who understand the system know better but they also know this bs will work on the average American. It has already been proven that opening up more domestic drilling locations will have NO IMPACT ON OIL PRICES. The oil companies control every level from drilling to refining. The supply demand forces are removed and it is completely artificial pricing by now. For every new refinery that's approved another will be scaled back or closed. This is a fact. http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/media/2008/07/16/Criticism-of-Medias-Energy-Coverage

. “The bottom line for the oil people is, How much can I make while spending the least I can get by with on refineries, synthetic fuels, and for exploration and drilling on the vast, unused acreage in existing oil leases?” Barlett says. He notes that Canada has become the United States’ No. 1 oil supplier by funding joint government-­industry exploration of the tar-sand fields of Alberta. “The most chilling statistic is Exxon Mobil’s. It spent twice as much last year to buy back stock as it did on exploration.”

Oil-friendly members of Congress like to blame environmental regulation for the lack of refinery capacity. But the oil companies themselves choked supply by closing more than half of their 300 U.S. refineries in the past 25 years. (Business Journalism 201: You can reinvest in manufacturing capacity or ride the demand curve to higher profits.) Studies by Cambridge Energy Research Associates, a respected, oil-friendly consulting firm, indicate that even if all environmental regulations were removed from refinery construction, few would probably be built right away because of a 75 percent rise in construction costs since 2000, largely driven by the increased fuel cost of transporting building materials.  Thats right, closed down U.S. based refineries by the oil companies themselves Yet you have this smokescreen that we need to drill more pristine American land. DRILL, DRILL, DRILL... dipshits. I couldn't help but laugh at the hordes of mindless cattle at the convention.

Back on target:
Comparing Obama to Palin is a joke and you look like an ass clown for reposting this garbage. I'll probably ignore every other post you ever make because you're clearly a fucking dipshit. Stop spreading this misinformation and propaganda.

By the way, getbig. While I'm at it - 95% of Americans will receive a bigger tax break under which candidate? Most would say McCain since many falsely believe Dems are all about higher taxes. No its actually Obama. Stop being fooled and wake the fuck up you uneducated protein slurping dumbfucks. Obama will benefit all of you with your lousy salaries. The only talking point the Republicans have is taxes and even that is false. You will not pay higher taxes under Obama, with McCain you will. What are some other notable Republican ideals? Religion, slowing stem cell research, a cozy relationship with big oil and big pharma, 4 more years of failed Bush economic strategy, imperialistic war mongering agenda to feed the military industrial complex and finally a redneck conservative ideology. Sounds awesome...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

"Those whose income is under $67,000 - 60% of all American taxpayers - would see substantially larger tax cuts under the Obama plan. While McCain's plan concentrates 58% of its benefits to the wealthiest 1% of Americans, Obama's rollback of the Bush tax cuts above $250,000 produces tax increases for that group.  Sadly, Obama's story is not getting through, despite analysis showing that 95% of American taxpayers would see savings under the Obama tax plan, 53% of the Gallup respondents wrongly believe their tax burden would increase under President Obama.  Meanwhile, despite the same analysis showing McCain's plan to make permanent and expand the Bush tax cuts would produce a staggering $2.8 trillion in red ink for the federal budget, the Republican still claims the mantle of fiscal discipline. "

WASHINGTON POST GRAPH BASED ON BOTH TAX PLANS



This is your wake up call dipshits. Vote Obama if you value this nations future (and your own pocket book). Dont take my word for it, go do some reading. Being stupid is what has led us to where we are now you slack jawed meathead fucks. I'll make twice what most of you make and they can tax the shit out of me till kingdom come if its for the greater good of the nation. Rich people should get taxed more - period. Republican ideals are archaic, out of touch, and most of all based on self preservation and one's own pocket book and greed. Remove the Tax myth and what else is there? Nothing....  Inform yourselves and stop dragging down my country. Our forefathers are rolling over in their graves.

I don't browse this retard pit much anymore but occasionally I stop by for a good laugh at your expense. The Coach has just won biggest FailPost for the year of 2008. Congratulations. Epic fucking belly flop. All aboard the failbot you stupid fucking pleb.

In summary, UP YOU DOSE, Brosef.

[timfogarty]

GW isn't part of the establishment?

he sold himself as an outsider, a simple country boy from Texas, even though he was born in Connecticut and went to Yale.   he also had a very light resume, failed in the oil business, failed in managing baseball

big question back then was "Who would you rather have a beer with?"  Sorry, I don't want my beer buddies running the country.

[James Phoenix]

he sold himself as an outsider, a simple country boy from Texas, even though he was born in Connecticut and went to Yale.   he also had a very light resume, failed in the oil business, failed in managing baseball

big question back then was "Who would you rather have a beer with?"  Sorry, I don't want my beer buddies running the country.

My point still stands:

he was part of the establishment.

How he was 'perceived' is just part of his political machine.
 

[timfogarty]

what should really scare you is McCain's health insurance plan.  he wants to remove the tax incentive from employer provided group plans, and give it to the individuals as a $5k tax break.  may sound good on paper, but you'll have to do all the work your HR department is now doing.   And see if you can find an individual plan that you can afford, especially if you have any medical history.    then there is a little clause in the plan that allows the insurance company to only follow the laws of where they're located, not the laws of the state you're in.  so of course all companies will move their headquarters to the state with the most favorable laws.

[timfogarty]

My point still stands:
he was part of the establishment.
How he was 'perceived' is just part of his political machine.

and Palin isn't part of or won't be manipulated by the radical right/evangelical political machine?

[Alpine]

The only chance of getting the health care system back on track is Obama. Dont even get me started on health. The republicans will leave the middle and lower class so ass fucked it wont even be funny.

[chaos]

The only chance of getting the health care system back on track is Obama. Dont even get me started on health. The republicans will leave the middle and lower class so ass fucked it wont even be funny.

Go Independent.

[Alpine]

Go Independent.

Look Assclown. I would love to see someone like Nader get in the house. That shit just isn't going to happen in the near (or remote) future. I'm sick of all you ignorant drop out stoner mother fuckers saying "vote Independent" like its some trendy movement. Nader is my fucking hero ok. If he got elected the juggernaut corporations would be trembling with fear across the country. I could write a god damn biography on him but I wont be throwing away what would normally be a Democratic vote to "make a statement" - At least not until more of the country catches up and it can actually matter. This is going to be an extremely close election that comes down to one or two states. Every vote counts.  Do yourself a favor and vote Obama. That is "independent" enough for this election. We need to take baby steps here, welcome to reality. 

[Dreadlord]

This belongs in Politics.

Really, let's compare Palin and Obama objectively, since the Republicans claim Palin is Obama's equal, or even that Palin is more qualified to possibly be President.

Undergraduate
Obama
-early undergrad at Occidental college, ranked 37th among liberal arts colleges by US News and World Report
-he did well enough to transfer to Columbia, the third most selective Ivy League college, Columbia being only slightly less selective than Harvard and Yale

Palin
-Went to the University of Idaho. While a decent school, it's considered a third tier school by the US News rankings.


Graduate
Obama
Harvard Law School.
-editor of law review in first year based on grades and writing ability. For those of you who are unaware, this essentially marks him as among the smartest and most able in a group full of very smart and able people.
-President of Law review in his second year. First black president of Harvard Law Review. Again, a very prestigious position, and marks him as both a leader, and as someone of exceptional ability.
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude (highest academic honors), again a significant achievement among a group of significant achievers.

Palin
N/A

Objectively then, Obama is either significantly smarter, harder working or both than Palin. His undergraduate education is objectively and provably better. His grad work proves that he was leaps and bounds beyond Palin in terms of intellectual and leadership ability. You don't get to be President of Harvard Law Review by being average, or a shrinking violet.

Advantage: Obama

Work, non governmental:
BIC-1983-1984
NY Public Interest Research Group-1984-85
Developing Communities Project, Director-85-88
University of Chicago School of Law-Constitutional law lecturer, 92-2004
(University of Chicago is ranked 7th among US Law schools. The fact that Obama got emplyment here, and then was able to continue, marks him as someone exptionally smart and able)
Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, 1993-2004, attorney

Palin
with husband in commercial fishing
and a brief stint as a TV reporter

Advantage: Obama His non-governmental work experience is more diverse, and objectively marks him as someone smarter and more able than Palin.

Governmental Experience

Obama
1997-2004 State senator of Illinois' 13th district. That district has nearly 800,000 people in it.

2005-present Illinois Senator

Palin
City councilwoman of Wasilla, a town of 6k, 1992-1996
Mayor of Wasilla, 1996-2004
governor of Alaska, 2006-present. Note that Alaska has 600k people in the whole state.

Advantage: Obama As both senator and state representative, Obama has experience representing more people, and larger districts with larger issues than does Palin.

Honestly, if you were on the search committee for, say, a board of director's position of a fortune 500 company, who would get the nod, Obama or Palin? It's Obama, if you have even a shred of honesty in your body. Given that, why is Palin even in the ballpark as number 2 in line for the Presidency? Don't get me wrong, Sarah Palin has some achievements, and she has a right to be proud of them. But realistically, in any category that matters Obama is better than Sarah Palin.


FOREIGN nations visited:

In August 2005, Obama  traveled to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. In a nationally televised speech at the University of Nairobi, he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and corruption in Kenya]

So let's see - discounting his campaign trips and meeting with World leaders of UK, Germany, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan - he has been on official business talking war stuff with the Senate Foreign Relations committe to:

Israel
Kuwait
Iraq
Russia
Ukraine
South Africa
Kenya
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Chad
Jordan
Palestinian territories
Kuwait
Azerbaijan

And Palin once left the USA and visted 1 country.

Damn- Another 240 analysis sets the record straight.
Pretty hard to argue with facts.
Very nice

[wes mantooth]

Look Assclown. I would love to see someone like Nader get in the house. That shit just isn't going to happen in the near (or remote) future. I'm sick of all you ignorant drop out stoner mother fuckers saying "vote Independent" like its some trendy movement. Nader is my fucking hero ok. If he got elected the juggernaut corporations would be trembling with fear across the country. I could write a god damn biography on him but I wont be throwing away what would normally be a Democratic vote to "make a statement" - At least not until more of the country catches up and it can actually matter. This is going to be an extremely close election that comes down to one or two states. Every vote counts.  Do yourself a favor and vote Obama. That is "independent" enough for this election. We need to take baby steps here, welcome to reality. 

bingo...
more than likely, a vote for an independent is a vote for McCain...which is exactly what your trying NOT to do as an independent supporter

for the most part, indys just take away from the Dem #'s

[Busted]

Im not sure if this is fact or not, but I read somewhere that Palin went to 4 different colleges before she ended up at Idaho...


and Obama has been to the Phillipenes as well... he lived there for a short period

[Red Hook]

Coach =

[Busted]

Lets compare the Spouses... Id say ones choice in spouse reflects you as a person doesn't it?

Spouse
Michelle Obama,
Princeton Undergrad and
Harvard law School Grad
Law firm of Sidley Aualstin
Staff of Mayor of Chicago Richard M Daley
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Hospitals

Todd Palin aka "First Dude"
High School Graduate (he is CCed on all of Sara Palin's state business and attends all of her meetings according to the Local Anchorage Press)
Champion Snow machine racer
Works in Alaska oil Fields
Commerical Fisherman