Barack Obama on Anderson Cooper’s 360 made the following statement comparing his experience and that of Governor Sarah Palin:

In an interview on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 Monday night, Obama was asked about whether his experience in the U.S. Senate dealing with weather-related situations compares to Palin’s executive experience running the state of Alaska and as the small town mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees. We’ve got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year – we have a budget of about three times that just for the month,” Obama responded.

To quote the old Laugh In show, “Very interesting, but stupid.” Did Obama have a staff of 2500 people working for him while Governor Palin was Mayor of Wassila? Governor Palin became Mayor of Wasila in 1996, the same year Barack Obama was running for the Illinois State Senate. Somehow think 2500 might be a tad much for an Illinois State Senate campaign. Illinois Senators have district offices, so I assume once he was elected, he had a  small staff, but certainly not 50 people.

In 2004 Obama was elected to the US Senate. U.S. Senators have staffs of 40 people. How long has Barack Obama had a cast of thoustands working for him? It’s only been this year that the campaign has ramped up to that level when Sarah Palin has been governor, not mayor of Wasilla.

Try 15,000 people or six times the size of Obama’s campaign. In addition, the State employees work in diverse areas such as labor, law enforcement, and highways while Obama’s 2500 are dedicated to electing him. The only crisis they’ve had to deal with lately is getting caught flat-footed on Ms. Palin being picked as well as a misprint on buttons for the Idaho Democratic delegation that suggested an unfortunate bi-partisan ticket. Palin has 15,000 employees to cover one of the largest states in the union where inclimate weather is a way of life.

Also, should Obama really be setting expectations for his executive style based on his campaign?

“Campaigns start getting these hair triggers” doesn’t quite have the ring of “The Buck stops here.”

Podcast Show Notes

The U.S. Government hands Anbar over to the Iraqis.

Why the Democrats are losing pro-lifers.

Connecticut Republicans attacked entering the Republican Convention. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

More ACORN voter fraud from Wisconsin.

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Word came out that Bristol Palin, the Governor’s 17-year old daughter is pregnant. The Statement from Governor Palin:

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”

Senator McCain knew about this and didn’t disqualify her from the ticket. Good for him. This has nothing to do with Governor Palin’s ability to serve as Vice-President of the United States. It is a personal detail about Governor Palin’s daughter that has become public because of insulting insinuations against her, alleging that  Governor Palin’s latest child is actually her grandchild. Rubbish and bull, stop watching so many soap operas.

I think what it does say is that the Palins respect the value of human life. The baby is a gift from God, not a punishment as the other party would tell us. My prayers are with the Palin family and the upcoming marriage, as Bristol seeks to give her child a home with a father, and  for that she should be commended.

I also hope and pray that Bristol’s decision and the support her mother is providing will be an example to encourage women in similar situations to choose life. Who knows how many lives will be saved by this high profile decision to choose life and personal responsibility, no matter what the cost.

Also, the Palin family is releasing information that the Governor’s husband, Todd Palin had a DUI when he was 22:

Sources close to Sarah Palin tell The Brody File that the husband of the GOP Vice-presidential choice, Todd Palin, was arrested and charged with Driving under the Influence of alcohol back in 1986. He was 22 years old at the time. He was driving in a truck with some friends in the small southwestern Alaska town of Dillingham when he was pulled over for the DUI.  As is customary, he was taken to jail briefly. Sarah and Todd Palin were high school sweethearts so they were dating at the time. The Brody File can also report that there was no accident or injuries.

Sources close to Sarah Palin also tell The Brody File that Todd Palin has been “forthcoming about the situation and has indicated that it was a lesson learned from when he was younger.”

Given that this didn’t involve the candidate and occurred more than two decades ago before the two were married, this seems irrelevant, but could have been sat on by the Lamestream Media for another October surprise-2000 style even though Todd Palin isn’t the candidate.

I don’t find either disclosure disturbing or in any way calling into question the fitness of Sarah Palin. What I do find sad is any family forced to air dirty laundry because a media whose thirst for juicy news includes no bounds of decency, and people who spread hateful rumors across the Internet.

Things like this are why it’s so hard to get good people to run for office.