Who is this Democratic Governor? Considered Presidential Timber after being Elected to Public Office for the First Time…But It’s Sarah Palin Who is “Inexperienced” ?

Posted on September 12, 2008 by insightanalytical

With all the outrage over Sarah Palin’s supposed “inexperience” I thought I’d take a look at a certain governor who was touted as a potential Presidential/VP material almost as soon as they were elected.

Within months of ___ election, bloggers were clamoring for a presidential run, and ___ popularity transcended the wonk journals to include coronation as “Hot Governor” by Rolling Stone magazine… (NY Times)

Take a look at the list below and decide if anything in this resume strikes you as being much different from the level of experience  compared to Sarah Palin’s experience in elected office and what this person would bring to the table as a possible Presidential or VP nominee versus Palin.   I’m not talking about detailed policy issues, just the broad strokes of the type of experience in government the person has had.

HERE ARE THE CLUES!

  • From the West; raised on parent’s registered cattle ranch
  • Learned to fly  own plane
  • …folksy charm and true-grit swagger…Shot guns, rode horses, took his dog to work and decimated opponents with off-the-cuff one-liners heavy on the bull-and-horse metaphors.
  • Worked overseas on agricultural projects including major irrigation projects, construction of the world’s largest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia (but no mention of meeting any heads of state…)
  • Served on USDA Farm Service Agency Committee
  • Served on the National Drought Task Force and the ________ Rural Development Partnership Board.
  • In 1999, decided to run for the U.S. Senate as an unknown candidate, against a strong incumbent and almost won.
  • Started campaigning almost immediately for governor
  • Elected governor in 2004
  • Lt. Gov is a Republican and they are running again together in 2008
  • Veers right on many economic and social issues: he opposes gun control, favors the death penalty and preaches about lowering taxes and balancing budgets.
  • Quotation from this person’s website:
  • “Governor __________is a farmer and rancher who held no elected office prior to being elected as the first Democratic Governor to serve _______________ in 20 years.”

Enough said!

Sources:

National Governors Association

New York Times, October 8, 2006

Meet ?

Person’s Website

Governor’s Site

Filed under: Current Politics | Tagged: , | 9 Comments »