Palin Discussion [split]

[Crossroads Inc.]

note after what the republicans and diebold have done in the last 8 years, I find it hard to believe they can accuse others of rampant voter fraud.

I dont... page one of the Repub play book is Accuse the other side of doing what you;d do anyway.

[SirNitram]

note after what the republicans and diebold have done in the last 8 years, I find it hard to believe they can accuse others of rampant voter fraud.

Why stop? Their dominant lie for voting fraud was that somehow, fake registrations like Mickey Mouse, were generating false votes. When they got the DOJ good and politicized, they made it their crusade.. Enough that they had to start purging US Attorneys who wouldn't play along(Remember that scandal? Remember the recent report saying yes, Gertrude, it was all illegal? Remember the claim from Mukasey that not everything illegal is a crime?).

It was always coming. This time, at least, the Dems have SCOTUS kicking the blatant politicizing of reviewing registrations out for one state, and the Dems themselves calling for a special prosecutor into the mess.

McCain claimed ACORN, a group that does nothing more than register people to vote and flag phony registrations(By law, they must send them in), could be 'destroying the fabric of America'. This has two purposes: Challenge every vote possible to try and remove voters that are GOP Base, and invalidate Obama's presidency.

[The Yosemite Bear]

yeah, I know, it's the same shit all over again.

[Crossroads Inc.]

McCain claimed ACORN, a group that does nothing more than register people to vote and flag phony registrations(By law, they must send them in), could be 'destroying the fabric of America'. This has two purposes: Challenge every vote possible to try and remove voters that are GOP Base, and invalidate Obama's presidency.

The thing that gets to me is that I realize that the GOP is basically laying the ground for when McCain looses with ACORN... The will shierk SEE SEE!!! Those evil Liberals fixed the Elections! ACORN Rigged it! its FIXED! They will shierk and cry foul and Im simply terrified that someone may listen to them..

And of course what gets to me is that anyone could believe a small, tiny organization that only registers voters, could possibly rig the presidential election.

[The Yosemite Bear]

can someone tell me why this particular thread and other threads about McCain are considered unsafe by my ISP/Microsoft?

[Count Chocula]

Yosemite, if you're getting e-mail notifications the spam filter may be keying on the [ ] brackets in the subject line. Brackets and parentheses are often used in spam messages, if my Junk E-mail filter at work is any indication.

[The Yosemite Bear]

It's not an email thing, it's a web browser thing, my firewall is detecting someone trying to do an active search of people viewing this thread from time to time. I'm guessing someone's "Rickroll" prank a few months back has caused somebodies to look around here and they've discovered N&P. What ever is going on, my firewall and my browser freak out when responding to some threads in N&P at certain hours.

[Count Chocula]

AHA! I think I found it:

Users browsing this forum: Count Chocula, GeneralTacticus, Google Adsense [Bot], SiegeTank, The Yosemite Bear and 5 guests

The Googlebot may be setting off your alert.

[The Yosemite Bear]

possibly more bots are active when the flags get set off?

[wautd]

In lighter news

Palin Clothes Spending Has Dems Salivating, Republicans Livid

Since her selection as John McCain's running mate, the Republican National Committee spent more than $150,000 on clothing and make-up for Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband, and even her infant son, it was reported on Tuesday evening.

That entertaining scoop -- which came by way of Politico -- sent almost immediate reverberations through the presidential race. A statement from McCain headquarters released hours after the article bemoaned the triviality of the whole affair.

"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokesperson Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."

But even the most timid of Democrats are unlikely to heed this call for civility. For starters, the story has the potential to dampen enthusiasm among GOP activists and donors at a critical point in the presidential race. It also creates a huge PR headache for the McCain ticket as it seeks to make inroads among voters worried about the current economic crisis.

Mainly, however, Democrats (in this scenario) are not prone to forgiveness. After all, it was during this same campaign cycle that Republicans belittled the $400 haircut that former Sen. John Edwards had paid for with his own campaign money (the funds were later reimbursed). And yet, the comparison to that once-dominant news story is hardly close: if Edwards had gotten one of his legendary haircuts every singe week, it would still take him 7.2 years to spend what Palin has spent. Palin has received the equivalent of $2,500 in clothes per day from places such as Saks Fifth Avenue (where RNC expenditures totaled nearly $50,000) and Neiman Marcus (where the governor had a $75,000 spree).

Beyond the political tit-for-tat, however, the revelation of the clothing expenditures offers what some Democrats see as a chance not just to win several news cycles during the campaign's waning days but to severely damage Palin's image as a small-town, 'Joe Six-Pack' American.

"It shows that Palin ain't like the rest of us," Tom Matzzie, a Democratic strategist told the Huffington Post, when asked how the party would or could use the issue. "It can help deflate her cultural populism with the Republican base. The Plumber's wife doesn't go to Nieman's or Saks."

Indeed, the story could not come at a more inopportune time for the McCain campaign. During a week in which the Republican ticket is trying to highlight its connection to the working class - and, by extension, promoting its newest campaign tool, Joe the Plumber - it was revealed that Palin's fashion budget for several weeks was more than four times the median salary of an American plumber ($37,514). To put it another way: Palin received more valuable clothes in one month than the average American household spends on clothes in 80 years. A Democrat put it in even blunter terms: her clothes were the cost of health care for 15 or so people.

There are, in these cases, legal questions surrounding campaign expenditures. Though, on this front, Palin and the RNC seem to be in the clear.

"I don't think it's taxed," said David Donnelly of Campaign Money Watch. "I don't think she can keep it. It's owned by the RNC. They had to use coordinated funds to pay for the clothes."

And certainly the possibility exists that this issue can be effectively swept under the rug. Palin is not known for taking impromptu questions from the press. Moreover, the media, at this juncture, has other major story lines (see: upcoming election) to grapple with, thus denying the piece the relative vacuum that accompanied the Edwards story. Finally, there is little desire among conservative writers or pundits to litigate the matter, even if they were more than happy to jump on board when a Democrat was in the spotlight.

Several hours after Politico posted its findings, the topic remained nearly untouched by the major right-wing outlets. Though as Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic opined: "the heat for this story will come from Republicans who cannot understand how their party would do something this stupid ... particularly (and, it must be said, viewed retroactively) during the collapse of the financial system and the probable beginning of a recession."

[apocolypse]

Maybe Palin's clothing purchases will help stimulate the economy?

[wautd]

Maybe Palin's clothing purchases will help stimulate the economy?

I dunno. I would assume she rather buys foreign clothes. You know, to enhance her diplomatic experience and international relationships somehow.

[Count Chocula]

Her closest neighbor (Russia) ain't a hotbed of international fashion, at least not on the Kamchatka peninsula!

Canada? Where's that?

[Surlethe]

Different site

The Republican National Committee has 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.

The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.

Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.

Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the vice presidential nominee was ongoing.

“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent," she said.

But hours after the story was posted on Politico's website and legal issues were raised, the campaign issued a new statement.

"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."
Slideshow

Palin Fashion



The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles.

In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was ribbed for two hair styling sessions that cost about $3,000.

Then, there was Democrat John Edwards’ $400 hair cuts in 2007 and Republican McCain’s $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.

A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.

But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor whose expensive, designer outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.

What hasn’t been apparent is where the clothes came from – her closet back in Wasilla or from the campaign coffers in Washington.

The answer can be found inside the RNC’s September monthly financial disclosure report under “itemized coordinated expenditures.”

It’s a report that typically records expenses for direct mail, telephone calls and advertising. Those expenses do show up, but the report also has a new category of spending: “campaign accessories.”

September payments were also made to Barney’s New York ($789.72) and Bloomingdale’s New York ($5,102.71).
See Also

* As clock ticks, hope dims for McCain savior
* Democrats' gloom deepens
* California gives most to Obama camp

Macy’s in Minneapolis, another store fortunate enough to be situated in the Twin Cities that hosted last summer’s Republican National Convention, received three separate payments totaling $9,447.71.

The entries also show a few purchases at Pacifier, a top notch baby store, and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., suggesting $295 was spent to accommodate the littlest Palin to join the campaign trail.

An additional $4,902.45 was spent in early September at Atelier, a high-class shopping destination for men.

Jesus. "Small-town hockey mom?" Yeah, right. No way she's in touch with the lifestyle of poor families.

[Darth Wong]

This is true; Sarah Palin keeps touting her "Main Street" credentials, but there are two kinds of Main Street graduate: the kind who never forgets his roots, and the kind who can't wait to leave his old life behind. You see the latter case all the time in (for example) the rap music industry, or professional sports, or the movie business, where people may come from humble origins but it doesn't take long for them to get swelled heads and a flashy entourage. The problem is that they didn't earn it the old fashioned way, by working their way up to it. They were suddenly catapulted into it.

[General Zod]

"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."
Slideshow

Maybe they should consider spending that $150,000 towards more productive things for the McSame campaign, like public speaking lessons for Palin. I'm sure that would help her image far more than a $2,000 blouse.

[Darth Wong]

I would love to see someone make a Barbie-themed commercial making fun of Palin for her $150,000 wardrobe shopping spree.

[Count Chocula]

Wong, if SNL's writers are on the ball they'll be all over that!

The "suddenly catapulted into it" appellation would also apply to freshman Congressmen. Washington, DC is a whole lot bigger and more sophisticated than the home towns of many Representatives, and larger than many state capitols. Being in DC as a legislator, when you were a small-town lawyer or perhaps state senator, is pretty heady stuff.

[Vendetta]

$150,000 is a lot of lipstick on that pig.

[Haruko]

You know, I actually thought Obama had a good probability of winning, but then the following article released today informed me of just how dire Obama's situation really is.

[quote"CNN"]Palin: God will do the right thing on election day

FINDLAY, Ohio (CNN) –- In an interview posted online Wednesday, Sarah Palin told Dr. James Dobson of “Focus on the Family” that she is confident God will do “the right thing for America” on Nov. 4.

Dobson asked the vice presidential hopeful if she is concerned about John McCain’s sagging poll numbers, but Palin stressed that she was “not discouraged at all.”

“To me, it motivates us, makes us work that much harder,” she told the influential Christian leader, whose radio show reaches tens of millions of listeners daily. “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

Dobson praised Palin's opposition to abortion rights, to which the governor affirmed that she is “hardcore pro-life.”

She said giving birth to her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, has given her the opportunity “to be walking the walk and not just talking the talk” in her long-standing opposition to abortion.

Dobson — who has never been warm to McCain — asked Palin if her “private conversations” with the Republican nominee had revealed a true commitment to the Republican party’s pro-life platform.

Palin assured Dobson: “John McCain is solidly there on those solid planks in our platform that build the right agenda for America.”

She also thanked her supporters — including Dobson, who said he and his wife were asking “for God’s intervention” on election day — for their prayers of support.

“It is that intercession that is so needed,” she said. “And so greatly appreciated. And I can feel it too, Dr. Dobson. I can feel the power of prayer, and that strength that is provided through our prayer warriors across this nation. And I so appreciate it.”

The interview was taped on Monday by phone while Palin was campaigning in Colorado Springs, where “Focus on the Family” is headquartered.[/quote]
Apparently the Real Americans (TM) have the Lord on their side.

Damn!

[ray245]

You know, I actually thought Obama had a good probability of winning, but then the following article released today informed me of just how dire Obama's situation really is.

[quote"CNN"]Palin: God will do the right thing on election day

FINDLAY, Ohio (CNN) –- In an interview posted online Wednesday, Sarah Palin told Dr. James Dobson of “Focus on the Family” that she is confident God will do “the right thing for America” on Nov. 4.

Dobson asked the vice presidential hopeful if she is concerned about John McCain’s sagging poll numbers, but Palin stressed that she was “not discouraged at all.”

“To me, it motivates us, makes us work that much harder,” she told the influential Christian leader, whose radio show reaches tens of millions of listeners daily. “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

Dobson praised Palin's opposition to abortion rights, to which the governor affirmed that she is “hardcore pro-life.”

She said giving birth to her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, has given her the opportunity “to be walking the walk and not just talking the talk” in her long-standing opposition to abortion.

Dobson — who has never been warm to McCain — asked Palin if her “private conversations” with the Republican nominee had revealed a true commitment to the Republican party’s pro-life platform.

Palin assured Dobson: “John McCain is solidly there on those solid planks in our platform that build the right agenda for America.”

She also thanked her supporters — including Dobson, who said he and his wife were asking “for God’s intervention” on election day — for their prayers of support.

“It is that intercession that is so needed,” she said. “And so greatly appreciated. And I can feel it too, Dr. Dobson. I can feel the power of prayer, and that strength that is provided through our prayer warriors across this nation. And I so appreciate it.”

The interview was taped on Monday by phone while Palin was campaigning in Colorado Springs, where “Focus on the Family” is headquartered.

Apparently the Real Americans (TM) have the Lord on their side.

Damn![/quote]

Let her words bite her in the ass. Reason? If Obama wins, then that means her campaign of going against obama is not right, as 'god will do the right thing'

I seriously want someone to ask her when she lost the election.

[McC]

You know, I actually thought Obama had a good probability of winning, but then the following article released today informed me of just how dire Obama's situation really is.
...
Apparently the Real Americans (TM) have the Lord on their side.

Damn!

Don't worry, things that don't exist can't change something's outcome.

And if anyone tries to derail the barb by saying something like, "Yeah, but people can change the outcome by rallying behind their imaginary sky-pixie," I will kick you in the jaw.

[CarsonPalmer]

I wish, I just wish, that some of the churches out there would make the right call and point out this hubris for what it is. I suppose Governor Palin has never read Luke, Chapter 18, verses 9-14 (looked it up right now).

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

So, from a Catholic voting for Barack Obama, I sure hope that she admits on November 3rd that God has done what is best for America. But she won't.

[apocolypse]

You know what's really fucked up about Palin's statement wrt God? Is that she's effectively endorsing dictatorship. Judging by the current electoral vote count, Obama's pretty much a done deal. So instead of the people having their say, God will step in and override it all. Between this fuck up and the one earlier with the masturbation of small town Americans being "real", she's about as pathetic a VP choice as you can get. Maybe you should muzzle your pet there John, she's doing you more harm than good.

[JLTucker]

Remember guys, the Vice President is in charge of the Senate.

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does, Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is “in charge of the United States Senate“:

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”
PALIN: That’s something that Piper would ask me! … [T]hey’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

I cannot believe that there are people out there who actually think this woman is intelligent.