Sarah Palin

[Dan]

I know - I read the stories too. What I'm asking for is a reasonable explanation of how this is a solely Sarah Palin driven event and not a campaign driven one that Palin didn't object to?

 

If she didn't do the actual shopping - how exactly did she dictate the spending? Did she put money floors under all these requests?

IMO - she couldn't have done the actual shopping. I could see her telling some staffer to go to store X and buy me something and maybe she did that to excess. But, even then, don't they have campaign directors and handlers and such that do most of that stuff? I find it odd that a person maintaining the schedule that one of the candidates had could be that involved in something as relatively mundane as clothes shopping. So, I'd think it was more of a larger campaign management issue.

 

If you believe some of the reports that people have said she often ignored her handlers (what a bad word) and threw tantrums, then who knows what happened. But, again IMO, this is all a sidetrack as to why McCain lost the election. If this is what the RNC is worried about, they're in worse shape than anyone might imagine.

[RkFast]

There is some delicious irony with supporters of a campaign that collected and spent about half a BILLION dollars and threw huge lavish parties at their convention and acceptance party getting all twisty becuase the "other" side spent 150K on good clothing for their VP pick.

[Kelly the Dog]

I know - I read the stories too. What I'm asking for is a reasonable explanation of how this is a solely Sarah Palin driven event and not a campaign driven one that Palin didn't object to?

 

If she didn't do the actual shopping - how exactly did she dictate the spending? Did she put money floors under all these requests?

The person, IMO, with the most validity here is Nicole Wallace, who is the person the reports say was originally responsible for the idea, which wasn't a bad one, for Palin to get three new suits for the convention (it was three days long) and three new suits for the ensuing campaign. There seems to have been a few reports that this is what happened. And then that Palin went hog wild herself with the purchases. Wallace (IMO the very best of the McCain team all along) is the one that originally

got the blame for this, but who took the brunt of the criticism nobly, saying that if she is going to be thrown under the bus, the graceful thing to do is lie there.

 

In retrospect, if these reports are true, that makes perfect sense. She ordered the 3-6 suits expecting it to be 20K and Palin went crazy and it turned out to be 150+K. But Wallace wouldn't toss around blame to Palin because her job is to support the candidate. Even now, Wallace continues to stick to her story, even though most everyone knows it's not true.

 

Ultimately, however, Wallace will be the one that survives and prospers, because future GOP candidates wanting surrogates are going to know that she is the ultimate team player, even at her own expense.

 

Usually it's sales people from those stores that meet you with all kinds of stuff wherever you are and you order it and they deliver it in your size if they don't already have it with them. She probably visited a couple stores along the way but most of the purchases were from people coming to her. Still, she would be responsible for most of the stuff that actually got ordered and delivered. It will come out in the final ledger of expenditures.

[YellowLinesandArmadillos]

I know - I read the stories too. What I'm asking for is a reasonable explanation of how this is a solely Sarah Palin driven event and not a campaign driven one that Palin didn't object to?

 

If she didn't do the actual shopping - how exactly did she dictate the spending? Did she put money floors under all these requests?

You raise some interesting points. I don't think this is a Palin driven event, but I believe that she pissed of the McCain staff and they have an agenda to both discredit her and combined with other potential competitors in the Republican party wanting to run in 2012... Romney, I am sure they are working hard to bring her back down to earth.

 

The more I think about it, it does sound like a Romney smear. He often had his minions do this up in MA.

[ExiledInIllinois]

There is some delicious irony with supporters of a campaign that collected and spent about half a BILLION dollars and threw huge lavish parties at their convention and acceptance party getting all twisty becuase the "other" side spent 150K on good clothing for their VP pick.

 

I am not bent. The Obama campaign raised their own money... Now if the McCain camp did that, fine... I have no problem on how people spend.

 

What I have a problem with is the way she cries poor mouth and then lives it up.

 

Do you see the hypocrisy here?... She says she loses 20k in her 401k (most likely only about 200k in the account) and then gets 150k in clothes.

 

What is wrong with this equation?... Somebody isn't on the up and up.

[Dan]

I am not bent. The Obama campaign raised their own money... Now if the McCain camp did that, fine... I have no problem on how people spend.

 

What I have a problem with is the way she cries poor mouth and then lives it up.

 

Do you see the hypocrisy here?... She says she loses 20k in her 401k (most likely only about 200k in the account) and then gets 150k in clothes.

 

What is wrong with this equation?... Somebody isn't on the up and up.

I think that's why it was so blown up in the first place. She billed herself as a candidate for Joe6Pack, small town, I'm just like you, I have your problems, I'm losing money, we're in this together - and then it comes out her wardrobe cost more than most Joe6Packs make in 2 or 3 years. That's the rub there.

[ExiledInIllinois]

The person, IMO, with the most validity here is Nicole Wallace, who is the person the reports say was originally responsible for the idea, which wasn't a bad one, for Palin to get three new suits for the convention (it was three days long) and three new suits for the ensuing campaign. There seems to have been a few reports that this is what happened. And then that Palin went hog wild herself with the purchases. Wallace (IMO the very best of the McCain team all along) is the one that originally

got the blame for this, but who took the brunt of the criticism nobly, saying that if she is going to be thrown under the bus, the graceful thing to do is lie there.

 

In retrospect, if these reports are true, that makes perfect sense. She ordered the 3-6 suits expecting it to be 20K and Palin went crazy and it turned out to be 150+K. But Wallace wouldn't toss around blame to Palin because her job is to support the candidate. Even now, Wallace continues to stick to her story, even though most everyone knows it's not true.

 

Ultimately, however, Wallace will be the one that survives and prospers, because future GOP candidates wanting surrogates are going to know that she is the ultimate team player, even at her own expense.

 

Usually it's sales people from those stores that meet you with all kinds of stuff wherever you are and you order it and they deliver it in your size if they don't already have it with them. She probably visited a couple stores along the way but most of the purchases were from people coming to her. Still, she would be responsible for most of the stuff that actually got ordered and delivered. It will come out in the final ledger of expenditures.

 

Good explanation!

 

I take... Many well off people live that way everyday. Just like the "good ole days" when that service was more the norm.

[YellowLinesandArmadillos]

I am not bent. The Obama campaign raised their own money... Now if the McCain camp did that, fine... I have no problem on how people spend.

 

What I have a problem with is the way she cries poor mouth and then lives it up.

 

Do you see the hypocrisy here?... She says she loses 20k in her 401k (most likely only about 200k in the account) and then gets 150k in clothes.

 

What is wrong with this equation?... Somebody isn't on the up and up.

All lipstick and no pit in the Bull!

[ExiledInIllinois]

I think that's why it was so blown up in the first place. She billed herself as a candidate for Joe6Pack, small town, I'm just like you, I have your problems, I'm losing money, we're in this together - and then it comes out her wardrobe cost more than most Joe6Packs make in 2 or 3 years. That's the rub there.

 

Exactly!

 

What is 20k in the market to her? She should have just kept her mouth shut about that chump change... BUT... She couldn't!

 

[SDS]

The person, IMO, with the most validity here is Nicole Wallace, who is the person the reports say was originally responsible for the idea, which wasn't a bad one, for Palin to get three new suits for the convention (it was three days long) and three new suits for the ensuing campaign. There seems to have been a few reports that this is what happened. And then that Palin went hog wild herself with the purchases. Wallace (IMO the very best of the McCain team all along) is the one that originally

got the blame for this, but who took the brunt of the criticism nobly, saying that if she is going to be thrown under the bus, the graceful thing to do is lie there.

 

In retrospect, if these reports are true, that makes perfect sense. She ordered the 3-6 suits expecting it to be 20K and Palin went crazy and it turned out to be 150+K. But Wallace wouldn't toss around blame to Palin because her job is to support the candidate. Even now, Wallace continues to stick to her story, even though most everyone knows it's not true.

 

Ultimately, however, Wallace will be the one that survives and prospers, because future GOP candidates wanting surrogates are going to know that she is the ultimate team player, even at her own expense.

 

Usually it's sales people from those stores that meet you with all kinds of stuff wherever you are and you order it and they deliver it in your size if they don't already have it with them. She probably visited a couple stores along the way but most of the purchases were from people coming to her. Still, she would be responsible for most of the stuff that actually got ordered and delivered. It will come out in the final ledger of expenditures.

 

The part in bold is what drives me nuts. What does that actually mean to someone who was plucked out of her home state a billion miles away and all of a sudden has to become VP material?

 

I may have to turn in my man card for pointing this out, but a woman's wardrobe is not like a man's. 3 suits for the convention and 3 suits for the campaign? For a female? They were following her look in the Style sections in major newspapers. It's not like she can have 6 suits and 20 ties.

 

Now, think about this - what was the crack used against her in these anonymous reports? Wasilla hillbillies invading NM, etc...? Well, the non-slanderous way to look at this was that they are from a remote, rural region of the country and they indeed needed to be "re-made" to counteract that criticism. I'm pretty certain her North Face fleece pull-overs weren't going to cut it.

 

As far as I've read, she has no history of been a fashionista. I seriously doubt that she just let loose of all that pent up shopping demand once in the lower 48. IMO, the campaign wanted her to look a certain way and she didn't object to it. She may have even advocated it as part of the make over strategy. What I don't buy is that she, and she alone, went crazy and the rest of the staff went along with it kicking and screaming, disagreeing with her choices all the way.

[bills_fan_in_raleigh]

Dont pick on the hero of the right wingers. When will folks learn that the Sarah Palin's are what is wrong with the GOP.

[Kelly the Dog]

The part in bold is what drives me nuts. What does that actually mean to someone who was plucked out of her home state a billion miles away and all of a sudden has to become VP material?

 

I may have to turn in my man card for pointing this out, but a woman's wardrobe is not like a man's. 3 suits for the convention and 3 suits for the campaign? For a female? They were following her look in the Style sections in major newspapers. It's not like she can have 6 suits and 20 ties.

 

Now, think about this - what was the crack used against her in these anonymous reports? Wasilla hillbillies invading NM, etc...? Well, the non-slanderous way to look at this was that they are from a remote, rural region of the country and they indeed needed to be "re-made" to counteract that criticism. I'm pretty certain her North Face fleece pull-overs weren't going to cut it.

 

As far as I've read, she has no history of been a fashionista. I seriously doubt that she just let loose of all that pent up shopping demand once in the lower 48. IMO, the campaign wanted her to look a certain way and she didn't object to it. She may have even advocated it as part of the make over strategy. What I don't buy is that she, and she alone, went crazy and the rest of the staff went along with it kicking and screaming, disagreeing with her choices all the way.

All you have to do is look at the speeches she gave during all this time, and all the footage of her while she was governor of Alaska, and what she wore the last couple weeks on the campaign. It's startling.

 

She dressed quite well as governor. In fact, IMO, she always looked great. Starting at the convention she looked even better, meaning the clothes were a little better but they weren't extravagant. After the campaign she started coming out in serious high fashion stuff, every day it was a new suit that was far different than what she had been wearing. Jon Stewart made a great crack about, "What'd you go out and buy the original "Thriller" jacket?" Every day she had a different one and she looked a LOT different. This went on a couple weeks.

 

Then as soon as the controversy hit, she scrapped all those Neiman Suits and went back to wearing her own, and continued to wear them through the end of the campaign. It was, again, startling. She still looked and dressed well, they just weren't $5000 designer suits.

 

The actual controversy is stupid, and doesnt deserve this much thought or discussion or ink. But I do believe that it shows what kind of person she is. I don't have a high opinion of her. I think she's a phony. Others do think highly of her and that's their choice.

[The Big Cat]

The part in bold is what drives me nuts. What does that actually mean to someone who was plucked out of her home state a billion miles away and all of a sudden has to become VP material?

 

I may have to turn in my man card for pointing this out, but a woman's wardrobe is not like a man's. 3 suits for the convention and 3 suits for the campaign? For a female? They were following her look in the Style sections in major newspapers. It's not like she can have 6 suits and 20 ties.

 

Now, think about this - what was the crack used against her in these anonymous reports? Wasilla hillbillies invading NM, etc...? Well, the non-slanderous way to look at this was that they are from a remote, rural region of the country and they indeed needed to be "re-made" to counteract that criticism. I'm pretty certain her North Face fleece pull-overs weren't going to cut it.

 

As far as I've read, she has no history of been a fashionista. I seriously doubt that she just let loose of all that pent up shopping demand once in the lower 48. IMO, the campaign wanted her to look a certain way and she didn't object to it. She may have even advocated it as part of the make over strategy. What I don't buy is that she, and she alone, went crazy and the rest of the staff went along with it kicking and screaming, disagreeing with her choices all the way.

 

So because her style was being reported on she had a heightened awareness for what she wore? To the extent that she had by expensive jewelry and shoes as well? To the extent that she would have lost voters if she would have only purchased 3 suits? Seems to me that if she was attacked for wearing the same thing over and over, it would have been a bonus for her- she could have played that simple, folksy hockey Mom card a bit more.

 

I think the Hillbilles remark is apt because it's a blatant demonstration of something the GOP has developed a habit for: patronizing rural Americans during an election (with religion, guns, "values", et al) then slamming the door in their face once the votes are counted.

 

Well, her history as a "fashonista" may not be documented to the extent that YOU would have heard about- but consider her decision to install a tanning bed in the governors mansion. To me that points to a specific POI which would be in line with her supposed shopping lust.

[SDS]

All you have to do is look at the speeches she gave during all this time, and all the footage of her while she was governor of Alaska, and what she wore the last couple weeks on the campaign. It's startling.

 

She dressed quite well as governor. In fact, IMO, she always looked great. Starting at the convention she looked even better, meaning the clothes were a little better but they weren't extravagant. After the campaign she started coming out in serious high fashion stuff, every day it was a new suit that was far different than what she had been wearing. Jon Stewart made a great crack about, "What'd you go out and buy the original "Thriller" jacket?" Every day she had a different one and she looked a LOT different. This went on a couple weeks.

 

Then as soon as the controversy hit, she scrapped all those Neiman Suits and went back to wearing her own, and continued to wear them through the end of the campaign. It was, again, startling. She still looked and dressed well, they just weren't $5000 designer suits.

 

The actual controversy is stupid, and doesnt deserve this much thought or discussion or ink. But I do believe that it shows what kind of person she is. I don't have a high opinion of her. I think she's a phony. Others do think highly of her and that's their choice.

 

The controversy is stupid because today's politics are entirely formed by image and symbolism. Each campaign poured money into "image". What did it cost to construct that phoney greek temple in Colorado? Is it a suit? No. Could it have just been a lectern? Yes.

 

Regardless, nothing you said above disputes my claim that this was just as much a responsibility of the campaign than a shopaholic diva going crazy. After the convention, she received a tremendous amount of press for her "look". I have no doubt that the campaign seized on that and tried to make political hay. Obviously, it didn't work.

 

My only point in continuing this is that there is plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize anybody. There's no need to make stuff up or exaggerate.

[ExiledInIllinois]

I may have to turn in my man card for pointing this out, but a woman's wardrobe is not like a man's. 3 suits for the convention and 3 suits for the campaign? For a female? They were following her look in the Style sections in major newspapers. It's not like she can have 6 suits and 20 ties.

 

Yes she can... Put her foot down... Even if they would have chewed her up and spit her out... She would have sacrificed for the ladies to follow.

 

No?

 

Why keep the stereotypes between the sexes alive.

 

Just be honest... I would respect her more!

 

What bothers me about McCain is that he fought against the Repub establishment, then minute they accepted him, he came running back like a whore to the party.

 

Will Palin do the same... Or will she stand up to them? I hope she stands up. She won't, she can't, she is a wacky righty wing-nut.

 

Never sell you ideals down the river (like I think McCain did)... You would think of all people he wouldn't...

[ExiledInIllinois]

Are looks really that important... Seems the same Repubs that blast Hillary's pant suits and the way Chelsea went through her teen years are being very hypocritical with Palin.

 

Hillary's pant suits paved the way for Palin to not fall into this sexist trap... And like a dolt, she falls into it.

 

Palin has been given so much even starting off with Title IX sports when she was young and she stills acts dumber than a stump about it all.

 

And these idiots run right back to the Repub party the minute they get a wink.

 

One can mock out Dems all they want... But, the Dem majority had the balls to stand up and beat the Hillary faction and re-invent their party in "real time"... That is "real time" meaning: during an election.

 

I don't fault anyones ideology... It is a personality thing IMO... Most mock out the Dems and libs for being lemmings and what not... How else can you explain what happened right before our eyes with John McCain as he "sold out" to the Republican establishment. The real disease is John McCain for picking her.

 

Flame away.

[Kelly the Dog]

The controversy is stupid because today's politics are entirely formed by image and symbolism. Each campaign poured money into "image". What did it cost to construct that phoney greek temple in Colorado? Is it a suit? No. Could it have just been a lectern? Yes.

 

Regardless, nothing you said above disputes my claim that this was just as much a responsibility of the campaign than a shopaholic diva going crazy. After the convention, she received a tremendous amount of press for her "look". I have no doubt that the campaign seized on that and tried to make political hay. Obviously, it didn't work.

 

My only point in continuing this is that there is plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize anybody. There's no need to make stuff up or exaggerate.

Actually, the whole controversy to me could be summed up in the words "hockey mom". That is the image that Palin herself chose to project. Her entire persona and platform was based on the idea that I am a regular person, a working mom, that is going to take down these fat cats and elite. Her huge appeal is in small town and rural America, the regular folk, and those were the people that made up these huge crowds she was able to attract. Those were the people she spoke to in all her speeches about "the real America". She had total disdain for urban areas and the coasts and the Hollywood and Washington elite as she called them. It was a huge culture war and she played upon it all day every day. The Joe the Plumber stuff fit right into it. It's a significant portion of the country, and there is nothing wrong with either appealing to that subgroup or speaking to them.

 

$5000 Neiman Marcus suits and 150K spending sprees spits in the face of that, and those people. It's a total farce. It really has nothing to do with the fact that women politicians have to look good and dress well, and under higher scrutiny than their male counterparts. I completely believe that and have some sympathy for female politicians and workers in a lot of vocations, including sympathy for Palin. That's not what we're talking about here, though, IMO. It's that she's a complete phony. And the first shot she got at spending and dressing like a star she not only leaped at it, she took an Evel Kneival sized jump.

[X. Benedict]

That this stuff emerged from staffers is the real story.

 

McCain proved to be very good on the stump himself....but the fact that staffers were disgruntled

with a VP choice seems to me indicative of lack of campaign cohesion and strategy.

 

Ultimately, Palin was probably a drag on the ticket.

 

We'll see if she has a future career on the national stage. Generally VP candidates have to

serve up the red meat and stay in character and on script.

 

Is there more to her? If there is, it would be in her best interest to go on Meet the Press or something like

that as soon as possible to try and articulate the future of her party. If in fact she has very little interest in

policy - as her campaign staffers seem to indicate - she should never go near it.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Actually, the whole controversy to me could be summed up in the words "hockey mom". That is the image that Palin herself chose to project. Her entire persona and platform was based on the idea that I am a regular person, a working mom, that is going to take down these fat cats and elite. Her huge appeal is in small town and rural America, the regular folk, and those were the people that made up these huge crowds she was able to attract. Those were the people she spoke to in all her speeches about "the real America". She had total disdain for urban areas and the coasts and the Hollywood and Washington elite as she called them. It was a huge culture war and she played upon it all day every day. The Joe the Plumber stuff fit right into it. It's a significant portion of the country, and there is nothing wrong with either appealing to that subgroup or speaking to them.

 

$5000 Neiman Marcus suits and 150K spending sprees spits in the face of that, and those people. It's a total farce. It really has nothing to do with the fact that women politicians have to look good and dress well, and under higher scrutiny than their male counterparts. I completely believe that and have some sympathy for female politicians and workers in a lot of vocations, including sympathy for Palin. That's not what we're talking about here, though, IMO. It's that she's a complete phony. And the first shot she got at spending and dressing like a star she not only leaped at it, she took an Evel Kneival sized jump.

 

Good post!

[SDS]

Actually, the whole controversy to me could be summed up in the words "hockey mom". That is the image that Palin herself chose to project. Her entire persona and platform was based on the idea that I am a regular person, a working mom, that is going to take down these fat cats and elite. Her huge appeal is in small town and rural America, the regular folk, and those were the people that made up these huge crowds she was able to attract. Those were the people she spoke to in all her speeches about "the real America". She had total disdain for urban areas and the coasts and the Hollywood and Washington elite as she called them. It was a huge culture war and she played upon it all day every day. The Joe the Plumber stuff fit right into it. It's a significant portion of the country, and there is nothing wrong with either appealing to that subgroup or speaking to them.

 

$5000 Neiman Marcus suits and 150K spending sprees spits in the face of that, and those people. It's a total farce. It really has nothing to do with the fact that women politicians have to look good and dress well, and under higher scrutiny than their male counterparts. I completely believe that and have some sympathy for female politicians and workers in a lot of vocations, including sympathy for Palin. That's not what we're talking about here, though, IMO. It's that she's a complete phony. And the first shot she got at spending and dressing like a star she not only leaped at it, she took an Evel Kneival sized jump.

 

 

Again, I don't think you made the case that this was Palin driven and not campaign driven.

 

If you are trying to sell me on the fact that this campaign was mishandled and all over the map on message, well... duh. Surely it was. It was one contradiction after another. The fact that it was extended to Palin is not a surprise to me.