RNC shells out $150K for Palin fashions During Financial Crisis

Jeanne Cummings - Politico.com

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.


Makes John Edwards' 400 dollar haircut seem like pretty small potatoes, dunnit?

And it gets better. They actually spent more money on makeup for McCain's old mug than they did for makeup for Caribou Barbie:

The make-up artist to the wannabe-stars is getting paid beaucoup bucks to make McCain, 72, more telegenic.

Tifanie White, who reportedly has done makeup for the shows "So You Think You Can Dance" and "American Idol," was paid a total of $8,672.55 in September by the McCain-Palin campaign, according to the campaign's latest monthly financial report filed this week with the Federal Election Commission. She was paid $5,583.43 the previous month, records show.

We asked McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers whether McCain was happy with the American Idol make-up artist's work, and whether Ms. White also does makeup for McCain's naturally telegenic vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin. Rogers replied via email, "No comment."

Oh, and as it turns out, the reports of Mrs. Obama's lobster dinner at the Waldorf? Hoax.

The source who told us last week about Michelle Obama getting lobster and caviar delivered to her room at the Waldorf-Astoria must have been under the influence of a mind-altering drug. She was not even staying at the Waldorf. We regret the mistake, and our former source is going to regret it, too. Bread and water would be too good for such disinformation.

See, guys, there's this thing called "Fact-checking" that you might want to look into before you print something some campaign shill whispers in your ear. I know it's a lot like work, but it's kind of important.

Liberal media my ass. Our biggest problem is lazy media.

Al-Qaida: We Want McCain!

Not that we should give a rusty damn what these murdering bastards want, but this will be good to remember the next time some wingnut starts babbling about how terrorists want Obama to be President.

And they will. You know they will.

The Associated Press: Al-Qaida-linked Web site backs McCain as president

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al-Qaida supporters suggested in a Web site message this week they would welcome a pre-election terror attack on the U.S. as a way to usher in a McCain presidency.

The message, posted Monday on the password-protected al-Hesbah Web site, said if al-Qaida wants to exhaust the United States militarily and economically, "impetuous" Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is the better choice because he is more likely to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier," the message said. "Then, al-Qaida will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush."

We Interrupt Our Election Coverage for Another Fit of BSP.

Bookreporter.com reviews BREAKING COVER

The money quote:

Reading BREAKING COVER is one of the few times I’ve become short of breath from turning pages so quickly. I kid you not. You should get a note from your doctor that your cardiovascular system is in shape before you beginning reading this. But it’ll be worth every minute on
the treadmill.

Thanks to Joe Hartlaub for this great review!

John Cole Nails It

This Is Why Balloon Juice (a blog run by John Cole, a reformed Republican) is one of my favorite blogs:

Over the past few years, we have watched major corporations dump their pensions and move hundreds of thousands of people off private health insurance on to medicare and medicaid at the government’s expense (Delta Airlines comes to mind, I believe United was another one from the 2005 PBGC mess), we have doubled the national debt and passed the MASSIVE prescription drug plan, we have watched the government nationalize several industries, the government is currently nationalizing the banks, the Republican party candidate is proposing spending near a half trillion dollars allowing the government to buy private mortgages, and the right wing is running around screaming “SOCIALISM” because Obama is proposing increasing the top tax rates a few percentage points.

That is funny. Sad and depressing, but funny.

The Good Americans

Free Republic: Who Will Save America?

I’ll say it. I would support a military coup against an Obama/socialist government. Those of us who have sworn an oath to defend our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic will have a choice to make. A temporary military government would be far preferable to the tyranny of an Obamunist State.

posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 7:48:25 PM
by Noumenon
(Time for Atlas to shrug - and to pick up a gun)

McCain Campaign Chair: Vote Early, I'll Use My Powers As D.A. to Investigate You

Deters subpoenas voter records | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, who serves as John McCain’s Southwest Ohio campaign chairman, has requested personal information for some individuals who registered and immediately cast a ballot during a weeklong period that ended earlier this month.


Deters issued a subpoena on Friday for complete registration records for roughly 40 percent of the 671 voters who registered and cast a ballot between Sept. 30, when early voting began, and Oct. 6, the deadline for voter registration.

The subpoena, obtained by The Associated Press, is part of a grand jury investigation initiated by Deters in the county.

“We’ve had widespread complaints of fraud but we do not discuss investigations at all,” Deters said. He said the complaints came from “a variety of sources.”

It was unclear why the subpoena – which also calls upon the county’s election director and deputy director to testify before the grand jury – doesn’t ask for records of all voters from the weeklong window.

Gee, I don't know. Maybe because new voters are reputed to be overwhelmingly for Obama? Does the term "conflict of interest" mean nothing to these people? How many people are likely to be intimidated out of registering and then voting, knowing their personal information will then be immediately delivered to the D.A.?

None dare call it fascism....