Scott R. wrote: "Why is Sarah less qualified than other governor candidates, say Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter? Categorically, I would think someone with executive experience would be more qualified to be president than someone who only has experience as a member of a committee."
Good question Scott. Here is a letter to the editor of our local that was published a few weeks ago that asks some of the same questions. (I think the author this letter must be a genius). Dear Editor, I am writing to you after having read the editorial by Davis Merrritt. His editorial is distorted, lacking in intellectual honesty, and ignorant of history. Mr. Merritt criticizes Governor Sarah Palin because she lacks foreign policy experience. In fact, after hearing the Charlie Gibson interview, Mr. Merritt concluded that the choice of Governor Palin was "reckless and cynical." I think, despite Mr. Merritt's former role as Editor of the Wichita Eagle, that he has failed to pay attention to last 50 years of presidential elections. No sitting senator since Kennedy has been elected President. Now, presumably Mr. Merritt believes that Senators gain foreign policy experience while serving on various committees and making campaign trips to foreign lands. For the sake of argument, let's ignore the fact that Governor Palin is the candidate for Vice President and compare her credentials to previous candidates for President. Let's begin with President Clinton. Bill Clinton graduated from Law School in 1973 and returned to Arkansas as a College Professor. A year later, he ran for Congress and was defeated. Then he ran for and won (without opposition) the position of Attorney General of the State of Arkansas. Then two short years later, he ran for Governor. He won the office and was quickly defeated in his re-election effort. He took two years off and won re-election as Governor. He served in that capacity for 10 years. He then spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 1988 and ran for President in 1992. President Clinton had no foreign policy experience or expertise when he ran for President. In fact, he had served as Governor of a state that ranks at or near the bottom in every positive category and at or near the top of every negative category. President Reagan was the Governor of California for 8 years and had no foreign policy experience. Yet, President Reagan was the architect of the end of the Cold War and arguably the liberator of Eastern Europe because of his policy of bankrupting the "evil empire" into extinction. President Reagan had several summits with the various Soviet leaders and signed the most remarkable treaty in the history of modern warfare - the INF treaty. President Carter was a farmer and former Commissioned officer in the Navy. He was elected to the Georgia State Senate and ran for Governor and lost. He was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970 after having served for four years in the legislature. He served as Governor of Georgia and then was elected president (also without any foreign policy experience). Regardless of any other criticisms of President Carter, he was moderately effective in negotiating treaties between Egypt and Isreal - known as the Camp David Accord. Presidents Bush (41) and Nixon had well developed foreign policy resumes when they were elected President. President Bush had served as Ambassador to China and of course, President Nixon had served as Vice-President under Eisenhower and had been heavily involved in the foreign policy of the 1950's. President Truman was a Senator from Missouri for 10 years prior to becoming Vice-President. President Roosevelt was the Governor of New York for 2 years. I do not want to belabor the point that very few of our presidents have had significant foreign policy experience. But, it is worth noting that Governor Palin has as much foreign policy experience as Presidents Clinton, Carter, Reagan, and possibly as much as FDR. If she has as much foreign policy experience as many former Presidents, how does she compare to Barack Obama. When did Obama gain his foreign policy experience? At Harvard Law School? Or back in the south side of Chicago as a community organizer? Or as a Illinois State legislator? Perhaps it was during that trip overseas this year after he had served 6 months as a Senator before launching his campaign for President. I am going on vacation out of the country this week. Perhaps, I will have as much foreign policy experience as Senator Obama. Donald H. Snook _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
