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"a state that has less population than many of the counties I have lived in." This is such a red herring. Like the population is somehow important. Are the rights, safety, and welfare of 700,000 people less important than those of a state with more people? The job is the same. More people doesn't make it harder. Many of the things listed below are relevant to the job of governor of the LARGEST state in the country. Far more important than the number of people. All states have large numbers of people, some just have more. It doesn't diminish the importance of their job. Palin has 2.5 years experience as governor of the LARGEST, by far, state in the union. (Alaska is 586,400 square miles...very big!) Alaska accounts for 25% of the oil produced in the United States. The state of Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times. Prudhoe Bay, on the northern Alaskan coast, is North America's largest oil field. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline moves up to 88,000 barrels of oil per hour on its 800 mile journey to Valdez. The fishing and seafood industry is the state's largest private industry employer. Most of America's salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska. Alaska is a geographical marvel. When a scale map of Alaska is superimposed on a map of the 48 lower states, Alaska extends from coast to coast. The state's coastline extends over 6,600 miles. (including island shores, Alaska has 33,000 miles of coastline...more than the rest of the lower 48 combined) Alaska is the only state to have coastlines on three different seas... Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea There are more than three million lakes in Alaska Alaska is the United State's largest state and is over TWICE THE SIZE OF TEXAS. Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1,400 miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2,700 miles wide. Alaska has an estimated 100,000 glaciers which cover almost five percent of the state....More than in the rest of the inhabited world The nations two largest forests are located in Alaska. The Tongasss in Southeast includes 16.8 million acres, and Chugach in Southcentral has 4.8 million acres. (The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States). 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska. At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley, located in Alaska's interior, is the highest point in North America. More: World Records Highest Concentration of Bears: 100,000 - Grizzly, Black, and Polar Largest Brown Bear: 1,400 pounds - 11 feet tall Largest Polar Bear: 1,400 pounds - 11 feet tall Largest Eagle Population: 3,000 gather to fish at Chilkat River. Largest Moose and Antler Rack: 1350 pounds - antler rack 72 inch span Largest Seal Colony: About 1 million - Pribilof Island Largest Salmon: 97.5 pounds - Kenai River Largest Halibut: 459 pounds - 6 feet 5 inches long Over 1/2 the World's Glaciers: around 100,000 North American Records Highest Mountain: Mount McKinley - 20,320 feet Largest Glacier: Malaspina - 1500 sq. miles Grizzly Bear: 800 pounds - 9 feet tall. Largest Earthquake: 9.2 - Good Friday 1964 - Prince William Sound U.S. Records Largest State: over twice the size of Texas - 586,400 sq. miles Most Fresh Water: 40% of the nation's fresh water Highest Tide: 38.9 feet - upper Cook Inlet Longest Day: starts May10 and continues for 3 months - Barrow, Alaska Longest Night: starts Nov.18 and continues for 2 months - Barrow, Alaska Only State touching 3 Seas: Pacific and Arctic Ocean; and Bearing Sea The 8 Largest US Earthquakes: 8.0, 8.2, 8.2, 8.3, 8.3, 8.7, 8.8, and 9.2 Largest US National Forest: Tongass National Forest - 17 million acres Largest Coast Guard Station: Kodiak Island CGS, Alaska Lowest Population Density: 614,000 people - that's about 1 per square mile! More Coastline than the Entire US: 33,000 miles of coast Highest Percentage of Males: 52 % ...... use to be 90% Most Western AND Most Eastern State: Sits in both Eastern and Western Hemispheres Additional, Interesting Facts Lowest Temperature: Prospect Creek Camp 1971 ..... - 80�F (no wind chill) Highest Temperature: Fort Yukon, 1915: 100�F ....... imagine, 100�F in Alaska. North Pole, Alaska: The Official Home of Santa Claus ... that's no joke. Snowfall in 24 hours: 62 inches Snowfall in 1 year: 974 inches 49th State: In 1959 Purchased from Russia: 2 cents an acre Miles from Russia: 55 miles Distance North to South: 1,400 miles Distance East to West: 2,700 miles Volcanoes: 29 National Parks and Preserves: 16 http://www.decorphoto.com/ak-facts.htm http://www.shgresources.com/ak/facts/

WOW, what happened to all my paragraphs?

“a state that has less population than many of the counties I have lived in.” This is such a red herring. Like the population is somehow important.”

Duh, it IS important. It’s a measure of the complexity of issues that a leader has to deal with. grizzly bears dont cut it. Palin has dealt with TWO budget cycles in a state smaller in population than the county I live in, with a budget probably not much bigger than LA county.

“Alaska is a geographical marvel.”
Great, but irrelevent to Palin’s experience level.

If you dont think most folks will be unimpressed with that experience, quitting as gov after 2 years, well, check the polls.