The Mercenary’s Cookbook

This was posted by bobcn in the comments of Swampland’s blog, and I thought it warranted its own post.

1983 - Obama graduates Columbia University with B.A in international relations

1983 - Obama works in NYC at the New York Public Interest Research Group

1984 - Palin wins Miss Wasilla beauty contest
1984 - Palin finishes second in the Miss Alaska pageant

1985 - Obama takes job as director of the Developing Communities Project in Chicago

1987 - Palin graduates University of Idaho with B.A. in communications-journalism

1988 - Obama enters Harvard Law School
1988 - Palin works briefly as a sports reporter for KTUU-TV in Anchorage

1989 - Obama selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review

1990 - Obama elected president of the Harvard Law Review

1991 - Obama graduates magna cum laude at Harvard Law School

1991 - Palin elected president Wasilla PTA

1992–2004 - Obama teaches constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School

1992–1996 - Palin elected to Wasilla city council

1993-2004 - Obama works in 12-attorney law firm specializing in neighborhood economic development

1996–2002 - Palin elected Wasilla mayor (pop. ~5500)

1997–2004 - Obama elected to Illinois state Senate - 13th district (pop. 781,037)

2002 - Palin loses race for lieutenant governor

2003-2004 - Palin appointed Chairperson, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

2004-today - Obama elected to U.S. Senate (committees: Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works, Veterans’ Affairs, Homeland Security, etc)

12/2006-today - Palin elected Governor of Alaska (pop. 683,478) (San Jose, Ca pop. 989,496)

A Not-So-Swift Choice - Swampland - TIME