Sarah Palin vs. Teddy Roosevelt

Okay, the republican-flavored emails have started arriving in my e-mailbox – some are funny, and some are just plain silly. Let’s begin with the email I received today


Who Am I?
I am under 45 years old,
I love the outdoors,
I hunt,
I am a Republican reformer,
I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,
I have many children,
I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office.

Did you guess?

Teddy Roosevelt (and by extension our own Sarah Palin)

So that got me thinking. Let’s really compare Sarah and Theodore, shall we? (P.S. I actually did some research and found these answers!)

I am under 45 years old,
Yep, both were under 45 years of age as vice president

I love the outdoors

• Palin just loves the sound of “Drill Baby Drill” more! Are we prepared for hand over the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to profit-making oil companies
• Roosevelt was the first American president to consider the long-term needs for efficient conservation of national resources and he created some nice national parks, refuges and green space, ummm like the Grand Canyon
  

I hunt,

• Palin: Hey, I love venison and all. but chasing wolves down by helicopter until they are exhausted and shot point blank is exciting to some, but I’ll definitely pass…- Alaska Daily News
• Roosevelt: Here’s the story on how Teddy Bears get their name - Roosevelt refused to shoot a poor old bear
  

I am a Republican reformer,

Palin's Republican Reformer Highlights:

• Flip-flopping Bridge to Nowhere Supporter - The Alaskan Daily News and Wall Street Journal
• ‘Alaskonomics’ - Highest Tax rate / highest Federal spending – Time Magazine
• Troopergate - Alaska Daily News, Wall Street Journal
• Federal Pork Barrel Lover - $27 milling in Federal Earmarks for Wasilla, population 6,000 – National Public Radio – AP/Yahoo News
• Made money while sleeping! - Over 300 ‘per diem’ charges to the state of Alaska for sleeping at home each night – Washington Post
• Demeaned the U.S. Constitution (Which the president and vice president swear to uphold! – Washington Post
• Oh and let us not forget Alaska First – Alaska Always! Palin and husband Todd are/were members of the Alaskan Independence Party – LA Times

Roosevelt’s Republican Reformer Highlights:

• He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved forty monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster".
• His "Square Deal" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen (through regulation of railroad rates and pure food and drugs) and the businessmen.
• He was the first U.S. president to call for universal health care and national health insurance.
• As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.
• After 1906 he attacked big business and suggested the courts were biased against labor unions.

Source: Wikipedia


I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,

Palin’s examples:

• Palin’s Former Chief of Staff is US Senator Stevens’ Campaign Manager -
• Palin “Counting on Her Lieutenant Governor Candidate… Former Oil Lobbyist” to Help Win Oil Industry Support.
• As Mayor, Palin Hired a Washington Lobbyist to Help Get Earmarks for Wasilla – Lobbyist Was Former Chief of Staff for Indicted Senator Ted Stevens. USA Today
• Palin’s Oil & Gas Appointee Is Former Lobbyist for TransCanada.
• In Her 2002 Campaign for Lieutenant Governor, Palin Raised ‘About 10 Percent Of Her Campaign Fund’ From Veco, An Oil Company At the Heart of Federal Investigation of indicted Alaska U.S. Senator Ted Stevens
  

Source: Alaska Daily News


Roosevelt’s Examples:

• Actually left the Republican party and formed with others the Progressive Party also known as the Bull Moose Party

I have many children –
- Yeah, well I can’t help that….. but what DOES that have to do with being vice president or the price of tea in China?

I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office.

Palin: is governor of the largest land mass state with lowest polulation (650,000)
Roosevelt: was governor of New York – with the largest population

• Prior to that he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy
• Organized and helped command the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment – called the Rough Riders
• Author of 35 books including work on outdoor life, natural history, American frontier, political and navy history

Hardly a comparison.

Sarah Palin is NO Theodore Roosevelt!

In my humble opinion, this is what we as Americans and our candidates should be discussing in the next 57 days until the election:

• The state of our economy today and into the future
• Healthcare coverage for Americans
• The highest unemployment rate in five years?
• The bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
• The mortgage crisis
• The stranglehold lobbyists have on Washington DC
• The ongoing occupation of Iraq and Afganistan

If you are at all worried about the state of our nation including social security, taxes, the economy and the planet to name a few– then please take a long look at the candidates.

You know I'll be voting for Barack Obama