Why do you hate Sarah Palin?

[intothewoods]

Btw, so, you pay no taxes whatsoever in Alaska? Like no sales, no income tax? Daaamn. I think I may move there.

 

[midwestyankee]

Btw, so, you pay no taxes whatsoever in Alaska? Like no sales, no income tax? Daaamn. I think I may move there.

Hope you like the cold.

 

[intothewoods]

Hope you like the cold.

I like it better than heat. But actually my friend told me it was kind of swampy. Ick.

 

[Netzach]

I hate Bay Buchanan, and I don't get that pissy about commentators. She makes me want to snuggle with Pat, frankly.

I can't believe that much was spent on clothing, although it explains a lot. I was thinking wow, she's got a decent wardrobe, recently.

You will enjoy the clip if you can find it. Roland Martin is laughing because what else can you do, and Gergen looks like he's going to reach into her pundit box and whack her.

Honestly, between steamy pundit on pundit action lately and the Daily Show, at least I can laugh.

 

[midwestyankee]

I like it better than heat. But actually my friend told me it was kind of swampy. Ick.

Exactly. Read anything in depth about Alaska (think a John McPhee piece) and what you come away with is the image of a place where no one would live voluntarily if there weren't ridiculously valuable stores of natural resources like gold (so 19th century!) and oil (so 20th century!).

Just as a quirky aside, I know that whenever I run in bad weather such as a hard rain or during a snowfall or when the temperature is ten below zero, I always have a sense of moral superiority when I finish. It's as if I'm somehow a better person than all those other sham running buffs who choose to run on a treadmill indoors under those conditions. Maybe if you live in Alaska long enough you develop a permanent case of cold-weather-runner moral superiority.

 

[Netzach]

Just as a quirky aside, I know that whenever I run in bad weather such as a hard rain or during a snowfall or when the temperature is ten below zero, I always have a sense of moral superiority when I finish. It's as if I'm somehow a better person than all those other sham running buffs who choose to run on a treadmill indoors under those conditions. Maybe if you live in Alaska long enough you develop a permanent case of cold-weather-runner moral superiority.

No. I don't think it's just that. I mean talk to some Canadians from Thunder Bay or something.

 

[Xelebes]

Courtesy of Matt Yglesias:

The Republican National Committee appears to have spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.

According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.

The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.​

Amazing that such things are even legal.

Perfectly legal.

 

[Netzach]

Perfectly legal.

Yes. And utterly absurd and unheard of.

An outlier. Like paying yourself a per diem for staying in your house. If I do it in MN I go to jail, and I'm sue the self employed designer.

 

[Xelebes]

Yes. And utterly absurd and unheard of.

An outlier. Like paying yourself a per diem for staying in your house. If I do it in MN I go to jail, and I'm sue the self employed designer.

How would you pay yourself to stay in your house? Where exactly is the money coming from?

 

[Netzach]

How would you pay yourself to stay in your house? Where exactly is the money coming from?

I'm assuming if you are a governor it comes from the treasury and your own requisition - acting as though you are traveling when you are not.

As a private person, it would be a good tax dodge. Not only am I writing off the space I use for my work, but the time spent as well, the meals I eat, a whole mess of things not deductible under non-travel circumstances.

It's illegal as hell unless you are in Alaska apparently.

 

[intothewoods]

Exactly. Read anything in depth about Alaska (think a John McPhee piece) and what you come away with is the image of a place where no one would live voluntarily if there weren't ridiculously valuable stores of natural resources like gold (so 19th century!) and oil (so 20th century!).

Just as a quirky aside, I know that whenever I run in bad weather such as a hard rain or during a snowfall or when the temperature is ten below zero, I always have a sense of moral superiority when I finish. It's as if I'm somehow a better person than all those other sham running buffs who choose to run on a treadmill indoors under those conditions. Maybe if you live in Alaska long enough you develop a permanent case of cold-weather-runner moral superiority.

I hear it's absolutely beautiful, actually. But maybe you meant the people. Wasilla actually doesn't sound that different from my small home town, crazy preachers included.

That is hilarious about the running, because I always have the exact opposite reaction when I run in extreme humidity - this is not natural.

You will enjoy the clip if you can find it. Roland Martin is laughing because what else can you do, and Gergen looks like he's going to reach into her pundit box and whack her.

Honestly, between steamy pundit on pundit action lately and the Daily Show, at least I can laugh.

Roland Martin is always laughing! Except when he wants to slug Bill Bennett. I thought they were going to kill each other at the last debate.

 

[Netzach]

I hear it's absolutely beautiful, actually. But maybe you meant the people. Wasilla actually doesn't sound that different from my small home town, crazy preachers included.

That is hilarious about the running, because I always have the exact opposite reaction when I run in extreme humidity - this is not natural.



Roland Martin is always laughing!

So am I lately. Or yelling, mostly laughing.

 

[midwestyankee]

Perfectly legal.

Not exactly. Marc Ambinder took the time to locate the relevant statute in federal election law:

See 2 USC 439b(2)(B)


(a) Permitted uses
A contribution accepted by a candidate, and any other donation received by an individual as support for activities of the individual as a holder of Federal office, may be used by the candidate or individual--
(1) for otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with the campaign for Federal office of the candidate or individual;
(2) for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with duties of the individual as a holder of Federal office;
(3) for contributions to an organization described in section 170 (c) of title26;
(4) for transfers, without limitation, to a national, State, or local committee of a political party;
(5) for donations to State and local candidates subject to the provisions of State law; or
(6) for any other lawful purpose unless prohibited by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Prohibited use
(1) In general
A contribution or donation described in subsection (a) of this section shall not be converted by any person to personal use.
(2) Conversion
For the purposes of paragraph (1), a contribution or donation shall be considered to be converted to personal use if the contribution or amount is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the candidate's election campaign or individual's duties as a holder of Federal office, including--
(A) a home mortgage, rent, or utility payment;
(B) a clothing purchase;
(C) a noncampaign-related automobile expense;
(D) a country club membership;
(E) a vacation or other noncampaign-related trip;
(F) a household food item;
(G) a tuition payment;
(H) admission to a sporting event, concert, theater, or other form of entertainment not associated with an election campaign; and
(I) dues, fees, and other payments to a health club or recreational facility.[/b]


Note that the law specifically prohibits the purchase of clothing.

 

[00Syd]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-palin-wardrobe-pg,0,7259896.photogallery

 

[midwestyankee]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-palin-wardrobe-pg,0,7259896.photogallery

Perhaps you or ITW might avail us of some play-by-play announcing here. It would be interesting to know which designer did the outfit and how much the outfit cost (in the way, I guess, that it's interesting to learn what ever driver was doing at the moment that he or she ended up in a foggy California ninety-car pile-up).

 

[00Syd]

Perhaps you or ITW might avail us of some play-by-play announcing here. It would be interesting to know which designer did the outfit and how much the outfit cost (in the way, I guess, that it's interesting to learn what ever driver was doing at the moment that he or she ended up in a foggy California ninety-car pile-up).

I don't know what designer did what, but I sort of like the jacket in the first photo.

 

[Netzach]

Perhaps you or ITW might avail us of some play-by-play announcing here. It would be interesting to know which designer did the outfit and how much the outfit cost (in the way, I guess, that it's interesting to learn what ever driver was doing at the moment that he or she ended up in a foggy California ninety-car pile-up).

I see some things that *look like* Akris or Armani. Akris is expensive. It's about 3 grand for a suit. Armani collezioni will go about 1500. It's like Brioni and Armani or Boss. Only this kind of budget is outside the norm. Way outside the norm.

 

[intothewoods]

Perhaps you or ITW might avail us of some play-by-play announcing here. It would be interesting to know which designer did the outfit and how much the outfit cost (in the way, I guess, that it's interesting to learn what ever driver was doing at the moment that he or she ended up in a foggy California ninety-car pile-up).

No problem. So the first one is clearly Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein suit will run you about - bitch please! I know I fuck around on the internet a lot (and by fuck around, I mean waste time), but I can't spot an outfit and call out the designer and the cost!

Well, okay, I could possibly if it weren't suit basics. Sadly.

Anyway, if they outfitted the entire family, and had regular hair and makeup people, plus paying for stylists, shoppers, etc., then I guess it gets up there. Kinda sucks for them that their investment will (god-willing) not pay off.

 

[Xelebes]

Not exactly. Marc Ambinder took the time to locate the relevant statute in federal election law:

See 2 USC 439b(2)(B)


(a) Permitted uses
A contribution accepted by a candidate, and any other donation received by an individual as support for activities of the individual as a holder of Federal office, may be used by the candidate or individual--
(1) for otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with the campaign for Federal office of the candidate or individual;
(2) for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with duties of the individual as a holder of Federal office;
(3) for contributions to an organization described in section 170 (c) of title26;
(4) for transfers, without limitation, to a national, State, or local committee of a political party;
(5) for donations to State and local candidates subject to the provisions of State law; or
(6) for any other lawful purpose unless prohibited by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Prohibited use
(1) In general
A contribution or donation described in subsection (a) of this section shall not be converted by any person to personal use.
(2) Conversion
For the purposes of paragraph (1), a contribution or donation shall be considered to be converted to personal use if the contribution or amount is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the candidate's election campaign or individual's duties as a holder of Federal office, including--
(A) a home mortgage, rent, or utility payment;
(B) a clothing purchase;
(C) a noncampaign-related automobile expense;
(D) a country club membership;
(E) a vacation or other noncampaign-related trip;
(F) a household food item;
(G) a tuition payment;
(H) admission to a sporting event, concert, theater, or other form of entertainment not associated with an election campaign; and
(I) dues, fees, and other payments to a health club or recreational facility.[/b]


Note that the law specifically prohibits the purchase of clothing.

I'm not at all versed in US election law, so apart from reading that as an employment income benefit (Canadian tax jargon here), I can only see a few problems arising unless further actions are detailed.

 

[Xelebes]

I see some things that *look like* Akris or Armani. Akris is expensive. It's about 3 grand for a suit. Armani collezioni will go about 1500. It's like Brioni and Armani or Boss. Only this kind of budget is outside the norm. Way outside the norm.

Personally, if I was looking for a really good suit, I'd go for that would be in the range of 2 000 and 5 000. This, of course, would be the finest suit and I would only have one of them. Any other suits would be in the range of 500-700 dollars.

 

[Xelebes]

So there's this website with limericks about Sarah Palin...

Sarah Palin Limericks

I saw too many terribly assembled limericks so I decided to piece this one together.... in EPIC LIMERICK FORM!!!




Old Crow's Creed

When the coffer lacks the copper, do cough up
Or the graces you embrace will be simply laced up
So beckon for a rattle
With your empty prattle
And an old crow with an issue will sooner proffer up
Lo, the copper in the coffer is for some new deed
You knot your nose and know you'll never sow that seed.
The prattle is emptying
And the crowd is tempting
To stow away the gifts of that old crow's creed.
You know your words hold little but you spy on your foe
To see he has as much empty words with more to show
You listen in and hone
Say you're more than a clone
But alas, your at a loss in that rhetorical glow

Times be changing for a time to choose a partner
You hew and haw and attempt to pick one like a hunter
You haven't got so much
With luck, you lack such
So you aim higher and go for that wide-eyed stunner
Hoping she'll be that lynch pin, you will seek to tether
Her smile greets crowds like sun after turbid weather
A careful ogle
Over words a-boggle
But a close eye shall keep her harmless like a feather
Time awaits for even the most solicited words from her mouth
Those waiting grow in unrest, having their hopes head south
With chains in tight grip
And muzzles that daren't slip
Not a single word would escape and prove her politan mouth

Eggs as rocks, tomatoes as cat-calls, you are hounded
In the debates, victory is near and the lectern is pounded
But you can not win
With your pick wanted in
And so on the pick's debut, words from her mouth are sounded
If expressions worry, then it be of greatest concern
That as you grab your brow, you are left to discern
Why has the Old Crow
Spoken through her now so?
Has the Old Crow coddled her way to enliven your girn?
As the days number down, you look at your coppers
Rattle 'em about and count what is in your coffers
Old Crow gave too much
Now you're blinded such
If you turned back and named that foe, to refuse her offers
Will you cut all ties with your pick and go seek shelter
From the livid furies that engulf in flame, to a swelter?
Mercy, courage and honour
Be granted for your valour
May your body come out all together, as a bellwether.
Ask the furies that consume you now for their master
What patterns form their plan and whom is their caster
For the blurs are oblique
And eyes turn to the bleak
That into the maelstrom we are headed so much faster.

No amount of preparations have prepared you for the tempest
And as time pares down and the call comes in, as if to jest
Repent, repent, repent
For this storm will not relent
Until the time has come and time to work, all so that you may rest,
And you shout, "Old Crow's Creed! Why is it all about greed?
Why live as a hawk when the field mice right down below read
You as a withered crow
Whose thoughts never will grow
For new thoughts don't grow with copper. They grow with a seed."

Phillip "Xelebes" Siebold

 

[Netzach]

Personally, if I was looking for a really good suit, I'd go for that would be in the range of 2 000 and 5 000. This, of course, would be the finest suit and I would only have one of them. Any other suits would be in the range of 500-700 dollars.

That makes total sense to me.

Like I said, if it was 5-7 grand, I wouldn't find it alarming. It's not that a suit might cost 2-3 grand it's that we need to outfit the whole family similarly. Apparently 13,000 of it went to her makeup artist. I'd love to get a gig like that for the one month.

 

[midwestyankee]

That makes total sense to me.

Like I said, if it was 5-7 grand, I wouldn't find it alarming. It's not that a suit might cost 2-3 grand it's that we need to outfit the whole family similarly. Apparently 13,000 of it went to her makeup artist. I'd love to get a gig like that for the one month.

I think that it's getting some legs because McCain and company sold her as America's bestest and most frugal governor. If they hadn't spent so much pr capital on persuading the voters that Palin was the overspending bureaucrat's nightmare by "selling that plane on e-bay" and by "firing that executive chef" then folks might not have made such a big deal out of this item.

I've since seen an opinion posted by a lawyer versed in campaign finance law. His view is that the crucial factor is who keeps the clothes, both during the campaign and after. If a roadie cares for the clothes and makes one outfit at a time available to Palin the way an actress might in a travelling stage show, then most of the expenses might pass as legitimate. However, if the clothes are travelling in the Palin family suitcases for now and end up in their closets back home in Alaska, the governor may have a problem.

 

[Netzach]

I think that it's getting some legs because McCain and company sold her as America's bestest and most frugal governor. If they hadn't spent so much pr capital on persuading the voters that Palin was the overspending bureaucrat's nightmare by "selling that plane on e-bay" and by "firing that executive chef" then folks might not have made such a big deal out of this item.

I've since seen an opinion posted by a lawyer versed in campaign finance law. His view is that the crucial factor is who keeps the clothes, both during the campaign and after. If a roadie cares for the clothes and makes one outfit at a time available to Palin the way an actress might in a travelling stage show, then most of the expenses might pass as legitimate. However, if the clothes are travelling in the Palin family suitcases for now and end up in their closets back home in Alaska, the governor may have a problem.

What?

WTH? Who cares what happens to them? They're going to be auctioned for charity as "Sarah Palin touched this" holy relics? That's assuming a lot. They kept the tags on 'em and they're going to return them? What?

 

[midwestyankee]

What?

WTH? Who cares what happens to them? They're going to be auctioned for charity as "Sarah Palin touched this" holy relics? That's assuming a lot. They kept the tags on 'em and they're going to return them? What?

From the lurching, barely articulate reactions to this story from the McCain campaign, it's pretty clear that they were not expecting this to become a story. BTW, Netz, the Neiman-Marcus in Minneapolis figured in big-time: the very same N-M that seems to have been the source for much of Norm Coleman's wardrobe. Some wag opined that N-M might soon start billing itself as "the place to outfit your up-and-coming wingnut politician."