Circular firing squad!!

BOGUS! Every woman knows someone can't go buy you a slew of clothes you've never seen, without your knowledge, and just hope they'll all fit right--especially designer duds. I'm not buying it for a minute.

I believe in the fifth paragraph you mean "Barnes said" not "Wallace said."

i guess i shouldn't be surprised at this point that the $150,000 wardrobe malfunction would have legs that palin's abuse of power finding apparently doesn't.

Are they trying to change the subject from Troopergate?

I guess this political marriage at first sight between two "soul-mates" isn't going so well. How will they split the 8 houses, (14)? cars, and $150,000 wardrobe when it's over?

Two committees cooperating? Hmmm. Isn't there a law that prohibits that?

Anyhoo, if the McCain campaign directed the expense it's a violation of the law.

And Palin said that the clothes were bought for the convention, but IIRC the dates on the credit slips indicate the purchases were made AFTER the convention. Strange. Maybe the Republicans are planning a 2nd convention that they haven't told us about.

What John Downy said.

And I have to say that with the way these clothes fit, unless Sarah went along they had a body double. They hug her curves a little *too* well to be totally off-the-rack.

I'm guessing the subject is bubbling up because of complaints from Republican candidates. As in, "$150,000 is a lot of money that could have been better spent elsewhere-- like on TV ads for my re-election".

If your opponent is busy fighting within, stand back and don't interfere!

Fred Barnes once seemed a reasonably intelligent political writer. He's become a party hack.

This just shows John McCain's wisdom. If he had picked Rudi, $150,000 would barely have paid for the acceptance-speech dress.

You're being awfully unfair to junior high-school students with that comparison, Steve.

"Saks and Neiman Marcus -- where she was not asked to go by Sarah Palin, where Sarah Palin has never set foot "

How much do you want to bet Saks is about to become the new France. It will become the new poster child for right wing hatred.

I'm not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but I shop at Saks when I want something nice to wear.

Is it really a shock that someone in a high profile position such as Sarah palin has found herself would be outifitted in designer clothes from exclusive stores? Its the excessive amount of money spent that raises eyebrows and suspicions.

I have a holiday dinner coming up in the next few months. I'll be stopping in Saks to buy something new. I have a feeling that will make me "anti-American" in the eyes of the "pro-american" areas of the nation.

I think people were astonished at the amount of the expenditures, but I don't get the sense that it was such a big deal they would change their vote over it. I doubt if anyone, Palin or McCain, benefits from drawing it out. This is another example of Palin the political novice.

Ditto re Palin knowing about the purchases: Did she not let herself get measured? Did they take all the price tags off before she even tried them on?

Wouldn't it be nice if someone in the media pointed out that the reason this story has any interest whatsoever is that our Mavericks-in-chief claim to be fiscally responsible. Palin got rid of a plane on E-bay, fired a chef, and fired Monehan because os his spending. McCain wants to freeze all programs that help the poor and keep consumers safe. So $150,000 from public donations seems like a really odd way to prove their sense of priorities. It doesn't matter who did the shopping. It does matter who approved the invoices.

They've got to actually be enjoying this draw away from Troopergate. Frothy Palinistas don't give a shit how much her clothes cost, as long as she's got that MILF appeal. They see it as a sign of her "classiness."

[For the record: I find the term MILF, which I've heard applied to Palin a LOT, to be one of the most degrading slurs around. I knew you'd want to know.]

Did everyone see Michell Obama on the Tonight Show last night graciously decline to pile on over the wardrobe malfuction.

I would be curious to know who made Palin wear the clothes!

Palin got rid of a plane on E-bay, fired a chef, and fired Monehan because os his spending.

They can't talk about that because everyone knows it's crap.

Palin didn't get rid of a plane on E-bay — McCain just said she did. Everyone else knows this.

She didn't "fire" a chef — she moved the chef to a different position. Everyone else knows this too.

She didn't fire "Monehan" (assuming that you meant Walt Monegan) because of his spending — her story was that he was reassigned because he wasn't "a team player" and his story, which the bipartisan investigators thought was more credible, was that he was reassigned because he wouldn't fire Sarah's ex-BIL without cause. Everyone else knows that too.

Try and keep up.

Nicole Wallace is apparently guilty until proven innocent. Welcome to the GOP.

And Palin admitted that this image we have been subjected to, of a together woman, ready to participate with the "big boys" on the world stage, well dressed and comfortable with it, was really just another prop in the set, bought and paid for by the RNC like the lights and the staging.

She might as well just have said, "It's all fake."

The "Real Sarah Palin" wears hand-me-downs from a consignment shop. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

As much as I loathe Palin, I don't begrudge her a couple of very nice new outfits from Saks to wear to the convention and for major appearances. Ditto a fashion advisor to help her with makeup and choosing the best look for her. The problem is the totally over-the-top expenditure of $150,000. Plus, the reality that this is a person who needed a total makeover (as opposed to a few tweaks) as soon as she was picked. Given that there were only 2 months until the election, it shows some real idiocy on the part of McCain. Just another example of his incompetence and lack of judgement. Now they're all falling all over each other pointing fingers. Quite amusing really!

What mat1492 said... Who made her wear them?! This whole thing never mattered to me; Cindy spent more on one outfit - it's all relative. But if they are going to complain about poor Sarah being coerced into getting the clothes, why not talk about who put that gun to her head so she would put them on?

Slightly OT, but read Richard Cohen's column in today's WaPo on Palin. Key quote:

"What followed, once everyone returned to the lower 48, was a gusher of mush -- praise, love notes, sweet nothings and, altogether, the sort of mooning one does not usually hear from the likes of William Kristol, Fred Barnes, Rich Lowry, Dick Morris and my Post colleague Michael Gerson. In short order, important writers set themselves the task, in print and on television, of promoting Palin and, in the process, making perfect asses of themselves. They succeeded at both."

Oddly enough, the Republicans seem far more anxious to talk about this embarrassing flap than the Democrats. Who knew?

I find this absolutely hilarious. The Democrats themselves didn't really want to make an issue of it - because really, if the RNC wants to spend money on giving Palin a shopping spree instead of on campaign ads and GOTV for struggling House and Senate seats, by all means let them. Plus the Dems have actual issues that they want to talk about - the $150K for a shopping spree makes a nice little hit when you're talking about struggling families, but that's all it is - much like McCain's 9 houses.

But the GOPers - this has become their new cause. I imagine some low-dollar donors are righteously pissed about this and that's part of what's firing them up about it. Palin keeps bringing it up because she's trying to do damage control to her image - if she loses the down-home folksy person "just like you" image she's got nothing left to run on. Meanwhile the old guard of the GOP wants to blame it on Palin run amok because they're trying to figure out a way to get the rabid base back under control, and Palin is a threat to that control.

Pass the popcorn indeed - the fallout from this election is probably going to be pretty ugly for the GOP.

This sider sure is comic relief, in addition to revealing more about the Palin. The lame excuses she gives for the $150,000. worth of couture clothing make no sense, like everything else that comes out of her lying mouth. I particularly love this one ... Palin is giving her ass kickin' couture wardrobe to charity! WTF is a charity going to do with Palin's couture clothing? I am sure it KILLS her to give up those clothes. It's hilarious. Also amusing is how the Palin is reacting to public opinion of her. So let's review ... what have we learned about Sarah (can I call you Sarah?) since she has blasted onto the scene? We have learned that not only is Sarah Palin dumber than a post, she has no taste, also. Arrogant, dumb and poorly dressed is no way to go through life Sistah Sarah. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

This sider sure is comic relief, in addition to revealing more about the Palin. The lame excuses she gives for the $150,000. worth of couture clothing make no sense, like everything else that comes out of her lying mouth. I particularly love this one ... Palin is giving her ass kickin' couture wardrobe to charity! WTF is a charity going to do with Palin's couture clothing? I am sure it KILLS her to give up those clothes. It's hilarious. Also amusing is how the Palin is reacting to public opinion of her. So let's review ... what have we learned about Sarah (can I call you Sarah?) since she has blasted onto the scene? We have learned that not only is Sarah Palin dumber than a post, she has no taste, also. Arrogant, dumb and poorly dressed is no way to go through life Sistah Sarah. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

As much as I loathe Palin, I don't begrudge her a couple of very nice new outfits from Saks to wear to the convention and for major appearances.

She isn't a shop girl: she's a sitting governor with nice clothes already, and she and her family have a net worth of over $1,000,000.

Two committees cooperating? Hmmm. Isn't there a law that prohibits that?

No, party committees are specifically allowed to make coordinated expenditures with their candidates campaign, though there are some restrictions which I don't remember the details of off the top of my head, aside from the fact that coordinate expenditures come from "hard money", rather than "soft money" contributions to the party committee.

statements by her that she hasn't worn most of the clothes are not correct (read: lie). closest friend works at Neiman Marcus, where half of the clothes were purchased-- she's worn pretty much nothing but designer clothes since the convention- it's become an ongoing game to play guess that designer with her outfits-- and for the record, she's been wearing Akris-- swiss-made couture-- easily $2,000-3,000 per jacket (the red michael jackson thriller jacket she wore to ground zero- Akris)-- the statement that the clothes didn't cost $150,000 is complete bs.

duBois:

I don't begrudge her couture clothes and I don't care how much her clothes cost.
BUT she should pay for them herself because it's unethical, not to mention, illegal for her to accept such lavish gifts.
But mavericky Palin is used to accepting pricey gifts.
Who paid for her dream house in Alaska?
I'm just askin'?

I think Sarah Palin has been hung out to dry. The GOP used her expense account to hide some slush money somewhere, and now they can't exonerate themselves. What are they going to do? Say that somebody "made a mistake" on her expense report or something?

Yes, I thought it would all be swept under the rug too. Typical GOP shenanigans. But it doesn't look like SP is following the script. She doesn't want her image to be tarnished with a 150K clothing expense.

So, somebody is going to have to fess up or you can forget about "Sarah in oh-twelve". Pass the popcorn!

"[Nicolle Wallace] went and bought the clothes, [she], went to Saks and Neiman Marcus -- where she was not asked to go by Sarah Palin, where Sarah Palin has never set foot -- and bought these clothes and brought them back

So they bought $150.000,00 worth of clothes without checking if they would fit?????

I am doubtless in the minority who think it is a really big deal. Look at the juxtaposition for God's sake. Most clothing sold in America is made in sweatshops that steal America's income while they deplete the welfare check.

The designer clothes binge is just so tone deaf, like everything else they have done to the Middle Class. Virtually everything Republicans say is a projection of their true selves. Calling Obama a Nazi when their supporters include skinheads and fascists. Calling Obama an Elitist (from a broken home, raised by grandparents, and about as self-made as any candidate has ever been), when you have Palin wearing elitist designer glasses and clothes, and the McCains? Jiminy. I think the Democrats should hammer on this every day until 2078. "If they spend $150,000 on summer wear; let's talk about how they SPREAD the wealth. Sounds like the Nottingham Forrest candidacy. It resonates. Kansans barely make a fifth of the Palin clothes budget, are forced to wear Chinese outlet sweatsop "fashions," and they pull this elitist garbage. We want our jobs back, our dignity back, and real conservatives with which to spar. For those who trust Republicans, look at that damned Rolex watch and tailored suit and back the Hell away.

10-28-08
Beijing, China
Unassociated Fictional Press

The Government of The Peoples Republic of China has unanimously
endorsed McCain/Palin for President of the United States.

"They are our kind of leaders!" says a Government spokesperson.
"They understand that business and the government should be in control,
not the silly workers, or 'people' as they sometimes call themselves.
Also, we understand the Republic concept. It is Democracy we find
distasteful."

A leading General, who wished to remain anonymous, had this to say
about President McCain: "We planted many post-hypnotic suggestions
in our former P.O.W.'s mind and we are beside ourselves with
anticipation at having the opportunity to trigger them and have control
of the white house without even having to wage a war..."

"And if that fails," a second anonymous official pipes in "it's not like
George W. Bush did not already sell it to us anyway."

P.S. We sure hope that Sarah Palin and her corrupt comrade Ted Stevens dream of
a free Alaska comes true someday so we can do serious business.

Someone made this point above, but don't you have to try on clothes before you by them?

Yes- and Larson just happened to be the same size as Palin so he could try on the clothes to ensure a good fit. More B.S. from the McCain camp.

I think the reason it is still a problem in the Republician circle is that the donators to the Republican Party are the ones paying for that wardrobe ... not us Democrats. We can giggle about it but for those who sent thier monies to the RNC, they are taking it a little different.

it doesn't necessarily follow that she didn't try on the clothes-- Palin "never set foot in the store" and did not ask [them] to go to those stores. no doubt. not uncommon for these stores to send out clothes for approval-- a stylist likely pulled the clothes they thought appriate for her, brought them to her hotel where she could try them on and pick which ones she liked. then the bill is calculated and charged to client.

And again, the GOP strives to win the day's news cycle.

Go get 'em!

Yes, the whole wardrobe thing is really amazing, every detail: that it happened, the amount of money spent, the denials, the teeth gnashing. But what has puzzled me from the start is that this woman is rich and a governor! She didn't have a suitable wardrobe already?? My guess is that the "Washington elites" didn't like her North Pole taste.

The way these things work is that someone (the personal shopper) picks out a whole bunch of clothes, takes them to the customer, and waits while the customer tries things on and makes selections. Then the shopper writes up the bill of sale for the selected items and returns everything else to the store. So our Alaskan diva was intimately involved in the selection of this wardrobe.

AND, she wore the stuff. She could have refused.

Sorry, Sarah, you ignoramus. Your argument is nonsense.

In a few days, we can load Her and her Wardrobe on a plane and send the whole lot back to the frozen north. What a forgetable experience all that was.

That the Obama campaign has kept silent (AFAIK) on the subject is just another indication of the cleverness and wisdom with which they've run the whole campaign.
Keeping their focus on the very real and very big problems facing our country says, loudly and clearly, that the Obama administration will be dealing with the things that matter, in an adult and professional manner, and not playing petty political games. The contrast with both the W cabal and the McCain machine couldn't be clearer. Both candidates have made noises about "changing the tone," "reaching across the aisle," and "working together to get things done" (and all the other nauseating Broderisms) -- but now it's very obvious who's more credible with such claims.
The fact that the Rethugs ARE keeping the story alive by blaming one another (and lying thru their teeth) not only furthers the contrast -- it lets the larger truth of the whole Rethug enterprise, and the total deceit with which they present themselves as more "authentic" and "in touch with the real America," become more and more clear, even to the "low info voter."
And it does so without anyone from the Dem side ever having to lower themselves, or leave people with the impression that "it's all politics," or "they'll say anything to get elected."
Finally, all the accusations are infinitely more credible coming from Repuke sources than they could ever be coming out of the mouths of any Dem at all, which would clearly be dismissed by the 'thugs (and their accomplices in the media) as "negative campaigning" and the "politics of personal destruction."
It's a win-win-win-win-win move, and very encouraging sign for what the reality of the Obama years should, God willing, look like.
GObama!