Sarah Palin vs. Biden abridged (Obama/McCain to follow)

Sep 05, 2008 11:01

What would happen if you removed all of the political attacks, meaningless platitudes, and biographical tidbits from Sarah Palin's convention speech and left only her statements about her verifiable record as mayor and governor, McCain's verifiable record, and both of their specific policy proposals for a hypothetical McCain-Palin-Bush III administration? Here you go: 

I came to office promising major ethics reform to end the culture of self-dealing, and today that ethics reform is the law. While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the Governor's Office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.

That luxury jet was over the top. (Cheers, applause.) I put it on eBay. (Laughter, cheers, applause.) And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef, although I got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. (Laughter.)

Our state budget is under control. We have a surplus. And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending, nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes. (Cheers, applause.)

We suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks" on that bridge to nowhere. (Cheers, applause.) If our state wanted to build a bridge, we were going to build it ourselves. (Cheers, applause.)

When oil and gas prices went up dramatically and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged: directly to the people of Alaska. (Cheers, applause.)

And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists who kind of liked things the way that they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources. As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people. (Cheers, applause.)

I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. (Cheers, applause.) That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are open, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.

Americans -- need to produce more of our own oil and gas.

Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines and build more nuclear plants and create jobs with clean coal and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources. (Cheers, applause.)

That's 19 sentences, and I left in a lot of sentences that don't have any specific content but connect other specific statements. Many of those statements boil down to a few basic achievements and proposed policies, summarized as follows:


  • Ethics reform
  • Got rid of governor's jet and chef
  • Budget surplus with veto of half a billion dollars in wasteful spending
  • Suspended fuel tax
  • Championed earmark reform
  • Opposed bridge to nowhere
  • Oil and gas revenue rebate
  • "Broke oil lobby monopoly" (whatever that means)
  • $40 billion natural gas pipeline
  • Lay oil and gas pipelines
  • Build nuclear plants
  • Produce clean coal
  • Develop alternative energy sources

Palin's focus was on the past, and she lied about at least two of her supposed achievements. She claimed opposition to the bridge to nowhere and an opposition to earmarks. In fact, she supported the earmark for the bridge, and then when there was an outcry switched her opposition to the bridge but kept the earmark money. It's also worth pointing out that $2.5 billion of her $12 billion state budget comes from federal subsidies, more than doubling the state's surplus for fiscal 2009. It's easy to balance your budget when you're dependent upon a huge federal welfare program. Her claims of ethics reform are dubious at best, leaving only her oil industry dealings (pro and con) as relevant experience.

I was going to compare the speech to Obama's, but decided that wasn't a fair comparison. Instead, what about Biden? 
Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He’ll cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck.

Barack Obama will transform our economy by making alternative energy a genuine national priority, creating 5 million new jobs and finally freeing us from the grip of foreign oil.

He’ll invest in the next generation of teachers. He’ll make college more affordable.

Barack Obama will bring down health care costs by $2,500 for the typical family, and, at long last, deliver affordable, accessible health care for all Americans. That’s the change we need.

Barack Obama will put more cops on the streets, put the “security” back in Social Security and never give up until we achieve equal pay for women.

We will hold Russia accountable for its actions, and we’ll help the people of Georgia rebuild.

Barack Obama...called for sending two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan?

...said we must talk and make it clear to Iran that its conduct must change.

...says shift responsibility to the Iraqis and set a time to bring our combat troops home?
Summary: 3 previous actions, 9 proposed policies, including Obama's energy policy that encompasses everything specific mentioned by Palin, and 8 additional policies not mentioned by Palin at all. Even in a speech noted as a Democratic attack speech, there was far more substance than in Palin's screed. It's worth noting that Biden felt no need to mention his own accomplishments, and was focused on the future and what an Obama-Biden administration would do for Americans.

palin, biden, 2008, republicans, democrats, politics

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