Palin's & Prada

Well, ok, more than just pants. Pantsuits, makeup, hairdressers, all the stuff necessary to look good during a campaign.

I'm referring to the 150K that the RNC shelled out to clothe Palin (and her family it appears) since she became the VP candidate.

While it appears this is legal, and 150K is a drop in the bucket of campaign financing anymore, it does raise other issues.

Palin is supposed to be "a woman of the people." Someone every American can relate too. While not every American isn't running for office, and that is expensive, I'm not sure how many average Americans can dream of dropping 10k on clothes in 2 months much less 150k.

Granted, that the RNC says it owns the clothes and will donate them to charity after the election. Also, I'm not expecting Palin to go shopping at Wal-mart.

But, when the economy is crunching, the average American scrambling to keep finances above water, and the economy playing a giant role in the race, this is something that doesn't look good.

Is it serious? Not really. But does it look bad? Oh, yeah. And I hate to tell people perception matters as much as substance does.

Is this Palin's fault? Not necessarily. But does it show her inexperience? I think it does. A more savvy political veteran would probably have questioned the need for spending that much (or more likely already had it because of "connections" that goes for both parties) which again leads me to question the RNC's leadership in a "what the heck were they thinking?" scenario. I mean, the RNC has been the kings of this sort of attacking...so they don't think it might happen back?

Oh well, the election is coming soon!

More Great Links

What can I say about the "culture of hate" being promoted by the Republicans right now that this doesn't already say?

Or here?

Thanks to Brian McLaren for these links. It shows the McCain is still a decent human being and that he is slowly realizing what the road he chose to take is leading him towards.

If McCain 2000 was running, I'd vote for him in a second. He's still in there, but he sold his sold his soul to the current Republican party and their politics of fear and hatred. This is NOT Christian and not something Christians should support.

Oh, and in that 2nd article, Congressman Ray Lahood got it RIGHT-
'Veteran Republican Congressman Ray LaHood criticized Sarah Palin in particular, saying her rhetoric did not "befit the office she's running for."'

Thanks Ray! Wanted to point out something you got right!

I've been avoiding this.

I don't care. Honestly, I don't. Its sad but true. I have given up caring about this election! Don't believe me? Well, you're right. I do still care, but not in the traditional "I'm backing my guy" sort of way.

This political season has been frustrating me more than most. Last election (rich white guy vs. other rich white guy) was bad enough, this cycle is sinking to lows not seen since probably the 19th century when fact checking was non-existant.

Our country is in a mess and I don't see either party saying what actually needs to be done to fix it. We are spending ourselves to oblivion. We cannot keep it up. You know how if you run your credit cards up and eventually its all you can do to make the minimum payments? Yeah, we're nearing that point as a nation daily. But does either candidate say the hard truths? Nope. They have some nice ideas and such, but most of which will actually cost MORE money.

Oh, and Republicans, please don't delude yourselves this is the Democrats fault. You've had the White House for 8 years, a majority in Congress for 6 of 8 years, and you've successfully passed two of the biggest entitlement/spending programs ever, the Medicare pill plan, and No Child Left Behind. Oh, and got the country into a war that has cost about 2 trillion dollars so far, give or take a couple billion.

I'm not a Democrat. I might vote for Obama, I might not. Living in Illinois means I don't have to worry about it much. But McCain's choice of Palin frustrates me on a number of levels.

First, it was an obvious desperation move (which just might work). Up until a few days before the Palin choice McCain was still considering Joe Lieberman, an independant Democrat but the party hacks convinced him that would sink him. So he gives up on his principles for the party, like he as so much this campaign season. (Obama has too, but McCain has a much longer record to go against.)

Second, Palin is NOT ready to run the country should McCain die in office. Obama is new, raw and under-qualified in many areas so he picks a running mate with lots of experience to shore him up. Biden can give advice to Obama if he is the president and if Obama would die in office Biden would step in ably.

McCain has the qualifications sure, but if something happens to him we would end up with a President who knows less about foreign affairs than I do! That terrifies me! Sarah Palin is a smart capable woman who has shown herself to be a quick study. But the way she talks, and it is only talk, of going to war with Russia to defend our ally Georgia is insane! I mean, I could understand a couple of old guys at the local diner saying things like that, but a VP candidate? I realize, she's raw, she's new, and she should have time to learn. But we've had 8 years of a president learning foreign policy on the fly. And he didn't surround himself with trustworthy advisors.

This is such an important election, I'm sad that I don't care like I should. Part of it is the fatalism that comes from living in Obama's home state. My vote, should it not go to him, will not matter as there is no percentage breakdown of votes. (No people, we do NOT want a popular vote. Trust me on this.) But it is also having to suffer through another Karl Rove led Republican sleaze session, that honestly McCain is better than. Obama has attempted to take the high road, and his attacks back have been whether through design or lack of experience not quite as sleazy. I just wish we could have a campaign on the real issues and have "straight talk" about the hard work that is necessary to get this country righted again.

(Oh, just a note for any conservatives out there that are happy that Palin is staunchly pro-life. Bush is too. He's appointed one of the most conservative courts ever. Have you seen a single step forward in that area? Abortion is a tragedy of massive proportions, but it is not going to go away by electing a Republican. Karl Rove just knows how to play you for your vote. Keep that in mind. You are being used. You don't have to vote for the other guy, but don't delude yourself into thinking the pro-life side will make any real changes at all. They won't.)

Whaaa???

(Just so's ya know, this isn't a blog saying how evil the Republicans are and that you should vote Democrat. Its just a blog musing on the hilarity that's been going on at the Republican convention. )

The Republican's have lost it. Lost what? you might ask. Their minds apparently. Somehow, the party that has had power in this country for the last 8 years, six of those years controlling both the White House AND Congress, can position themselves as the outside reformers. Its bizarre. And, are the American people dumb enough to fall for it?

No, I'm not calling you dumb if you vote Republican. I'm calling you dumb if you vote Republican because you think they're outsiders and not part of the Washington elite. They are. The Presidential candidate? He's been in the Senate for 26 years. Sure, they picked Palin to be the VP, but admit it, that was a desperation move because who else could McCain pick that wasn't going to get SHREDDED in the media? (Not that Palin is getting a pass, but here's a note to the media, NO ONE CARES OR SHOULD CARE IF HER DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT YOU IDIOTS!) Sure Palin as a reformer is being questioned, but that is fine. Focus on her politics, NOT her family.

What's funny is watching people like Guiliani and Romney (both multi-millionaires) rail at the "Washington elite." Cause they can relate better to my life? Being rich in and of itself is not wrong, but please, don't pander to me. (Again, Obama is FAR from poor, but he also hasn't been rich NEARLY as long as these guys. And working as a community organizer keeps you a bit closer to reality than most of these other jobs.) And its also funny hearing Guiliani and Romney talk about conservative ideals, since last I checked, their conservative credentials were a wee bit lacking.

The Republicans have had the power. They still have the (very quiet) Presidency. So, people, don't be duped that the Republicans are outsiders who will come in to save the day. They are not. If you somehow think the last 8 years have been a good thing, or believe that McCain would do a better job than Bush (it would be tough to do worse) then vote your conscience, that's fine. But don't buy the hype. They've been having a chance. You can extend it if you want, that's up to you.

A brief look at the other side. I am VERY unhappy with the Democrats who have held power in Congress the past 2 years. They keep saying they don't have the numbers to override a veto, which is true. So why have they not been sending bill after bill to Bush and forcing him to veto it? Where is the paper trail of "we tried but Bush vetoed it." instead of a bunch of whining soundbites on how they can't override the veto. Who cares. Show us you're trying. Its been pathetic and if they lose, they'll have no one to blame but themselves.