Palin clothes spree bigger than we knew

When you consider she has looks and no sense I suppose the expenditures were an attempt to make up for her shortcomings. Which explains the high level of spending.

How sexist can the RNC be? It's not the clothes that make the woman....it's the qualifications.

Note to Republican leaders: You picked her.

I wonder who shoved the Palin selection down McCain's throat. I have always felt he was an honorable kind of guy and that decision just doesn't square with who I thought he was. The same goes for all the Rovian tactics someone suggested was the way to get elected. Had he been elected, I hoped he would have reverted to the old McCain. The thought of Palin as VP gave me the chills, however.

The biggest jaw-dropper for me in this article was the comment that she asked to speak along with McCain at the concession. Are you kidding me? This woman's ego knows no bounds! Did she not realize this this was NOT all about her?
* shakes head *

"Governor Palin was not directing staffers to put anything on their personal credit cards, and anything that staffers put on their credit cards has been reimbursed,"
'
Whaaaaaaaaht!! They were not directed to put anything on their cards....but they were reimbursed for anything that they put on their credit cards????? It's becoming clearer each day why the RNC is not fit to govern.

She had no qualifications bill r. Letting her play dress-up and having her parrot endless talking points was all the McCain campaign could risk with her once they learned who they picked. You saw how her interviews turned out. They weren't being sexist. They were in damage control mode, hoping the press would focus on her Nieman Marcus clothes and ignore her. Since that didn't work, the McCain GOPers want to pin the blame on her and pop her 2012 bubble now before she loses another election for the Republican party.

These revelations are nothing of the sort. The American people already knew she was a phony and demonstrated by their voting power. Although they are entertaining, they are nothing new to behold.

There seems to be some sort of disconnect here. They parade Joe the plumber around in his tee shirt as a "cause". All the while they needed to purchase over 170K for clothes for Sarah and the "shadow Governor"?

Please, this women should be sent to host a hack "talk show" never to be heard from again. She should not be allowed to govern. I hope there are more audits done regarding her spending habits as both mayor and governor.

If even some of this is true it's sad. Republicans need to seriously regroup.

"These revelations are nothing of the sort. The American people already knew she was a phony and demonstrated by their voting power. Although they are entertaining, they are nothing new to behold."

Gus is absolutely right. A majority American public, with the assistance of a winking media, got this prom queen's number within a week of her appointment.

But while we've been spared as a country the lingering question in my mind is what in the WORLD are they thinking up there in Alaska?! I guess such long, dark winters changes the electorate's priorities up there.

The United States dodged a bullet – spending someone else’s money without repercussions. If I remember … Sarah Palin was elected Mayor, redecorates the mayoral office for $50,000 and needs to hire a City Administrator to help run the City. How much does redecorating an office cost? I could understand $50,000 for a kitchen, but a professional office? As for the City Administrator, these positions run between $75,000 and $125,000 typically. City Administrators are almost always the highest paid staff position in a City. Now for the yet to be determined clothing purchases – Carharts and shooting shirts will only get you so far. I would suspect that there was a lack of oversight, fiscal management and potentially common sense by the campaign managers. At least the clerks at NM & Saks made some nice sales and received a nice commission.

I really hope the pitiful 'pubs put her up in 2012. It would be another Obama landslide, only bigger! I'd feel sorry for republicans, but after what they've done to my country, I just can't...

I see that we are still scared of her are we?

Stop. Please stop now.

She was wonderful and you know it.
Why else are you still speaking of her? Still try to destroy her?

I see that we are still scared of her are we?...Still try to destroy her?

Posted by: M. McNamara | November 6, 2008 3:48 PM

She's already campaigning for 2012, so we have to start now too.

If you couldn't tell what kind of person she was by listening to her condemn everyone else and brag on herself, you deserve what you got. She didn't do nothing in the campaign except run down Obama. I said at the convention she is "not what Mccain needs."

Quoting author: "It seems pretty clear from all this that if Palin should try to run for the White House in her own right four or eight years ago, there are a lot of fellow Republicans prepared to stand in her way."
Seems like Frank James either needs a refresher course in English, or a better proofreader. Mixing future tense with past tense, "should try" and "four or eight years ago" in the same sentence is inconsistent verbiage, and makes an otherwise fair article look sloppy and rushed.

So much for the myth of fiscally conservative and responsible Republicans, if the Shub's actions in office (inheriting a surplus, departing with the biggest budget deficit in history) didn't already smash that fallacy to smithereens.

I think it's fabulous! If the Republicans want to spend a fortune on new outfits for Caribou Barbie and the First Dude then let them! In fact, spend even more! They can dig their party's political graves as deep as they want.

Sheesh, I hope they run this lady again in 2012! It will be a great candidate for the Democrats to beat.

"According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill."

Did anyone ask whether this exceeded the $2,300 limit on campaign contributions?

... & this is the one who bitterly condemned Obama for wanting to "redistribute wealth"? She worked overtime doing it to herself. I can't wait to see the "charities" that the used clothes go to ... Ha!

We're giving them all to charity!!!!!!!!

OK...I do think that Palin is a closet Socialist.

You know, "oh, gosh darn, Mr. Gov'ment, can't I have another designer outfit?"

It's OK for her to get these "freebies"
while us 'soccer moms' live on a clothing budget of under $2000 per year? (according to a U.S. research study for retail stores)

According to one report, that much money could have clothed 80 people. Talk about disconnect.

I watched her one day speak, with the sound turned off...just watched her mannerisms and said to my family that she was an egotist in the worst sense of the word.

She proved me right!

Palin and Joe the Plumber in 2012!

I thought conservatives were all about fiscal responsibility. So how does a republican vp candidate blow nearly a quarter of a million dollars on clothing/accessories/& make-up in two months? What's worse, is some of that has to be paid with tax money!

Palin 2012?? Seriously. If that's the best, most qualified conservative republican you can come up with, what chance have you got?

So, let's see, Democrat candidates aren't concerned about image? Is that what you're all saying? Please. Tribune, you don't have to run the derogatory headlines about about Republicans anymore, it's over! Obama won! Your plan to ignore negative Obama news worked like a charm.

I'm warming up for an aria to Sarah Palin.

Hey, what's that? Stocks have plummeted since Obama was elected? No matter. Let's talk some more about how stupid Sarah Palin is. Gotta keep our priorities straight here.

How many of you remember "The Beverly Hillbillies"? Remind you of anyone?

Wouldn't it be fascinating to be let in on John McCain's thinking process before making the obviously suicidal choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate? Like him or not, the man is an experienced politician - assuming he was in his right mind, how could he do what he did?

Who cares really? Its over. We are in a tough spot right now. Please let the Senate stop any additional tax burdens for my family. Making $250k in DC is not the same as making that amount in nowhere Indiana. Please stop Obama from killing the urban middle class.

Yes folks, and this 'thing' actually wants to run for president in 2012. Judging from this fiasco, i have a feeling that the republicans will still welcome her with open arms. As one of my neighbors here in florida commented 4 years ago, when asked why he was voting for Bush, the answer was 'he looks presidential'.

Give it up!!!!! Are you obsessed with throwing everything negative you can find on this woman into the newspaper. She is no longer running for vice president. Give it a rest.

JB, How can you blame Obama for something that your party's policies have caused? For god's sake, he's not even President yet!!!! Wall Street is to blame for much of this mess anyways. Not until the system gets leaner with expectations (like 5-10% gains), will it start to be better. Also, companies that have gone public are a big reason this country is in the current shape it is in. Companies should remain private.

Palin obviously lacks the judgment to realize that she is not qualified to be vice president or president.

I am 43 years old and honestly am not sure I've spent $170,000 on clothes in my entire lifetime. It takes a special person to do it in a matter of weeks.

She's just a gun totin', Joe the plumberin', mavericky, soccer mom, ya know?

Hey.

I have a great idea. Saturday Night Live should do a skit depicting some of these claims.

There ratings might go up.

I think everyone who is sick of hearing about Palin and seeing her on TV should send a picture postcard from their city or state to the RNC telling them Palin killed their vote for McCain. Maybe then all consideration for her for 2012 will go away and we can go back to the days when we had never heard of her.

Who cares really? Its over. We are in a tough spot right now. Please let the Senate stop any additional tax burdens for my family. Making $250k in DC is not the same as making that amount in nowhere Indiana. Please stop Obama from killing the urban middle class.

Since they can no longer beat up B.O. the Republican hacks will start eating their young so to speak. Get over it as well as the news media who are like vultures. Let her go and do her elected job. By the way, being an independent, I voted for the other guy.

Why was this article even written? Why isnt the media questioning the 700 million spent on his campaign? 700 million > 150k. The left wing media bias strikes again. Pathetic.

[[Why was this article even written? Why isnt the media questioning the 700 million spent on his campaign? 700 million > 150k. The left wing media bias strikes again. Pathetic.

Posted by: Matt B | November 7, 2008 12:28 PM]]

Matt -- It's not a "left wing media bias" ... It's just the truth ... Those pesky "facts" keep getting in the way, again ...

BTW, clothing purchases are PROHIBITED under the McCain Feingold Act ... So this is also a violation of another pesky thing ... THE LAW.

...and Michelle Obama drops $450 for a light luncheon snack and not a critical word is to be heard.....

What does her wardrobe cost? Will the press say how much her inaugural gown costs?

So phony

What a bunch of crap. Republicans and the narrow minded liberal media are looking for someone to lay the blame for the Republican loss. The media has had it in for Paliin since day one becuase she was not An insider from within the beltway. ANy way that makes her and easy target to blame. Just like the president a lmae duck but an easy target as well.

Can and will the media ever get off this woman's back.. ENOUGH ALREADY! lets moev onto more serious stuff, like the economy of this great country

As we face, according to Barack Obama, one of the most serious financial crises in our country's history we can count on The Chicago Tribune to follow this important story. How ridiculous that this yellow journalism still is around, days after the election. Hey, Trib...if you want to rake mud, how about telling us more about Rahm & Tomczak. Geez!

A long way from walmart !!! The Clampetts needed clothing

I agree with several other bloggers. Note to Palin supporters and the RNC: If you think these allegations are false, and she is so great, PLEASE SLATE PALIN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!!! There is nothing that could do more to assure a second term for Obama!

The difference between Sarah and George is of course the lipstick! Yes siree, Jed! whiteagle38

You all really shouldn;t offend the hillbillies by refering to Governor Palin as one!

A long way from walmart !!! The Clampetts needed clothing

Posted by: Harold | November 7, 2008 7:45 PM

There are plenty of Walmart stores around. Ask me, I know, however, something tells me the Palins would not be caught dead shopping there, except perhaps the sporting goods department.
I voted for Obama like the rest of the sensible people did. Enough of the rank hypocric republicons. Good riddence.

Neddie -- you say, It's not a "left wing media bias" ... It's just the truth ... Those pesky "facts" keep getting in the way, again ...

What are the facts? It has been proven that Palin NEVER went shopping at these stores with staffers as stated in the article. And with 24-hour cable, don’t you believe we would have pictures of that? The clothes were bought for her and the family to wear at events the same way the were for Obama and his family. Apparently a standard practice in a campaign. Unfortunately, the story states that sources told them Palin went shopping and told staffers to charge this and that on their personal credit cards. If researching sources stories is not a requirement and has become the new standard of Journalism; I need to get into the business. I have a lot of people who tell me things I can print about politicians, none would be true, but who cares, I would just say "Sources state" and I will be correct with my reporting!

Has anyone noticed the large black pearl ($500-$5000) a pearl) neckless and designer jean (what $300+?) that Sarah Palin was wearing in the last couple of media clips, before she left? Seems she may have kept a few things? Accounting now?

WHY ALL THE FUSS OVER
SARAH PALIN--AND NO ONE
CHECKS OUT MICHELLE OBAMA'S DESIGNER CLOTHES???
DOUBLE STANDARDS STINK!

Still hillbillies from Wasilla - family selling clothes bought with matching funds ( our tax dollars ) Guess the GOP missed some during their repo trip - Check it out - amazing http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270333037673&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=&salenotsupported

I really admire how Palin dress up. She really has a fashion sense. As a designer, i'll give her an A for her fashion sense. rel="palin clothes">Australian fashion designers