Princess Palin: Spas and bras

So, the RNC finally filed the paperwork for its coordinated campaign expenditures today. The goal was to bury the spending on Sarah Palin's extravagant wardrobe until after the election. The subterfuge annoyed me.

So, I decided to publish the highlights from the records in a Google-accessible format.

Let's let RNC donors know where their money is going.

The pattern of expenditures suggests deliberate subterfuge.

Almost all the expenditures are dated Oct 17 or Nov 20. Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live Oct 18, which explains the first orgy of consumerism.

The Politico broke the Palin wardrobe story on Oct 22. Katherine Coughlin spent over $600 at Dillard's on Oct 28.

Palin claimed that all the shopping was for the RNC when was held during the first week of September.

It's unlikely that any items were purchased after the election. RNC lawyers were dispatched to Alaska to collect Palin's trousseau by Nov 8.

So, what's with the Nov 20 date? Is the RNC deliberately misstating the dates of the purchases--perhaps to explain why the outlays weren't disclosed prior to the election?

So, here are the highlights from the RNC's latest Schedule F:

Jeannie Etchart made two purchases worth $339.67 and $611.64 at Brooks Brothers in New York City on Oct 17. She also ran up bills $1162.56 and $200.21 at Macy's in Orlando that same day. Etchart also spent $302.72 at Dick's Sporting Goods that day and an additional $79.98 at Dick's on Nov 20.  At Kate Spade in NY she spent $146.31 on Nov 20. and another $774.68 at Macy's in McLean VA on Nov 20.

Etchart paid $484.74 and $188.51 at Nieman Marcus in Denver, CO on Oct 17. She spent another $2130.40 at Nieman Marcus in Dallas on Nov 20. She spent $702.00 at Saks 5th Ave. in New York on Oct 17, and $3360.21 at Saks in Cinncinatti, OH on Nov 20. She spent $44.00 at Victoria's Secret in Philadelphia on Nov 20.

Etchart bought $86.00 worth of "campaign accessories" at Zoe & Co., a custom bra fitting boutique in Rhode Island on Nov 20, slogan "the perfect pick-me-up."

Palin advance man Brennan Hart spent an additional $40.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods on Oct 17.

Chris Burt spent $151.71 at Toys R Us in New York on Nov 20. Bruce Goodwin dropped $74.90 at Once Upon a Child on Nov 20 in Pittsburgh.

Katherine Coughlin spent $620.23 at Dillard's on Oct 28.

Kristi Pulsfort dropped $350 at the Escape Skin Care and Day Spa in New York City on Nov 20. She also spent $160.00 at Mateos Salon and Day Spa in Colorado Springs, CO that same day.

Andrew Smith dropped $1788.13 at Bloomingdale's in Orlando on Oct 17 as well as $561.00 at Home Optics in Alaska, and $372.13 at Macy's in Orlando, FL.

Bexie Nobles paid a $230.64 bill at the Hanover St. Chop House Dining in Manchester NH on Nov 20, an expense that shows up in the records as a "campaign accessory." She paid $138.78 at Mark Pardo Salon-Spa in Albuquerque, NM on Oct 17. Bexie shelled out $104.37 to Victoria's Secret in Ohio on Oct 17. She spent another $324.00 on campaign accessories at Saks NY on Nov 20. 

New York Stylist Lisa Kline got $54,900.00 for "consulting" on Nov 20, and a mysterious New York-based Cora James got $15,000 for "consulting" on Oct 17.

Needless to say these outlays are dwarfed by the massive coordinated expenditures to FLS Connect (Jeff Larson's consulting company, he of the earlier Nieman Marcus spree) and Olsen Shuvalov, Karl Rove's old firm.

Comments

[Gabe]

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[Luke]

That's a lot of other people's money on obviously not campaign related stuff. I guess the fishwive got tired of smelling of fish.

[Another Chris]

Puts that $400 haircut in perspective...

[Luke]

It also proves that gay men run the RNC. No one else would spend money designer labels like that.

"Ich bin schwul und das ist auch gut so"

[M.J.]

The money is trivial. The real story about this limelight vampire is that she failed to engender loyalty among her staff. Any hope she has of seeking higher office depends on this. Until then she's just a pop icon.

[ThingsComeUndone]

Sarah has not returned the clothes I saw her campaigning in Georgia on the news. Plus how do you return make up and hair care?
Since she hasn't returned the all the stuff taxes come into question over $12,000 and the gift must be reported right?
Also I would like to know if those fancy stores gave the GOP full value on the clothes Sarah returned. Because shouldn't Sarah have to pay the difference between full price and the return value to the GOP?
Or she could pay taxes on the difference.

[Daniel]

Wow, no generosity in victory here. The claws come out. Seems that only women and gay men are worked up over Sarah Palin's accessory expenditures. Not surprised. Hey, you started it.

Let's note though: most women (and men) have no problem with Palin spending a little to look good. Isn't it good sense to spend a little money (perfectly legitimate and authorized expenditures) to make one and one's family look nice before an audience of 300 million? Anyway, what is $150,000 in comparison to the 500 million that the Obama campaign spent altogether? I think it money well spent, even the money for a few skirts and blouses for her daughters. Hey if $50,000/year apiece for the Obama girls at Sidwell Friends is not an unjustified extravagance (what, they got no PUBLIC SCHOOLS in DC?) then a few hundred for Piper, Bristol and Willow to look good for a few days in front of the nation is a small thing indeed.

And yes, Sarah Palin looks good. Very good. She has 5 children and 15 years on you all and leaves most of you hopelessly behind. Boo hoo. Hey, YOU started it.

Lastly. These expenditures are perfectly LEGITIMATE, by custom and by law. A better use of your time and efforts would be to explore what in fact Rahm Emanuel did to earn $18 MILLION in 2 years work at Wasserstein Perella after he left the Clinton administration. No experience in investment banking or finance, but he was able to take home $18 MILLION for just over 2 years work. New York Times implies that he was paid strictly for ACCESS to government officials. Nice work if you can get it. And he's the point man for the change we can all believe in.

Some change. Chump change.

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

The RNC and the Palin camp tried to hide how much they were spending and may have broken the law to buy a lot of these items. They certainly lied about what the clothing expenditures were for. Palin said they were just for the convention, which would make them a quasi-legitimate RNC expenditure. But the record shows that Palin and her aides kept spending, even after it was clear that the earlier extravagance was hurting the ticket politically.

[Luke]

No generosity in victory to people to who play George Wallace in pumps and then name doe eyes at the press--if the law is broken, the that makes her a criminal. More to the point, the quip about the Larry Craig homosexuals in the RNC was made in the context of Palin's belief in reprogramming gays with her obnoxious linoleum Christendom, and the fact that the GOP clings to a DADT policy; if we can't convince her to that we're people, the International Homosexual Agenda (and the Elders of Zion) will bring her down on corruption charges.

I did not object to spending money per se; the Obama campaign followed campaign finance law and expenditure, and did not use campaign donations to buy Michelle silk undergarents, or toys for hte girls (as happened for Todd Palin)--Sarah Palin and her aides clearly chose not to. Pulling an Imelda Marcos and accusing me of being cruel is, well, silly. More to the point, for all the designer chic, she looked the same as she did prior to the arrival of the couture--but to claim to be a Hockey Mom and a Fishwife, using that to wage war against a man who grew up on food stamps, while wearing the finer things in life and breaking the law is beyond profoundly silly.

I can hardly believe you could think that Sidwell Friends is comparable to an FEC Violation (and then claiming you 'lost' your trosseau in the hopes of keeping it). That's just being shrill and disingenuous. Sasha and Malia currently attend my alma mater, Lab, in Chicago; Sidwell is comparable. More to the point, in the years after the GOP's Presidential Nominee hoped to ride the whirlwind of racism and half-baked assassination plots to the White House, sending their children to a school that is famous for not only its quality education but also its talent for security, well, makes sense. More to the point, I'm manifestly underwhelmed, as their tuition will be paid by the Obamas' private accounts, not by the DNC.

I look forward to your support in the investigation and arrest of the majority of the Bush Administration, given your commitment to concerns of public corruption

[TB]

Sarah Palin, the face of the modern Republican.

Let's hope they stick with her.

[brown eyes]

Yes,you may see her in some of the clothes still...because Palin brought a long some of her own clothes that she wears from her stint as Governor of Alaska. For example, the pink blazer with the buckle closures down the front was bought at her favorite Alaska consignment shop. She does have some nice clothes of her own...and the RNC wanted her to look presidential and not like she walked out of the fashion aisle from Walmart or Target. I don't think that is so far-fetched. Politics is like show business...and noone expects their candidates to look crappy. Of course she had hair and makeup done. How many women would walk down the aisle for their wedding having done their own hair? Um, not many. It's a special occasion tha calls for professional hair since it will be immortalized in pictures forever--JUST LIKE PICS OF SARAH AS THE FIRST VP CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. C'mon...like they want their candidate to look less that professional. Give it a rest. It was a necessary investment because in politics, image is EVERYTHING. It's a known fact that men can get ready in 5 minutes and they don't need any prep. That's just one of the perks of being male.

[TB]

Give it a rest. It was a necessary investment because in politics, image is EVERYTHING.

Of course brown eyes, look at how far Obama got with his total lack of substance.

[Roger]

First, even though I know what subterfuge means, most average people have never heard of the word. Deception, evasiveness, etc, might have been a better choice. With that said: Hooray for you for knowing how to use a Thesauruses, YOU get a Bozo badge! Seriously though, do you really care, or, are you just upset that Mrs. Sarah Palin is a beautiful lady who got the treatment she got due to her busy schedule? However, maybe, just maybe it's due to your lack of taste in fashion. I mean shit, we ALL know just how cool one must be to wear a Cash T-shirt. That, topped with the fact that the Femocrats are not used to being around real ladies, but rather harlots and whores which the Kennedy's so deeply love. Of course when Hillary has to shop Home Depot and Lowes for her beauty supplies, that can certainly confuse a bunch of brain-wasted idiots like the Kennedys, Obamas and Clintons. On that note - I wonder how much Obama's wife spent on that mug of hers? Hell, a set of braces to pull those chompers back would be a wise investment. And lastly - how much did Obama spend on his campaign vs. McCain? Do you really want to go there? Gees, I've wasted about 250 words too many already!

[Alon Levy]

I don't know if you've ever met Lindsay, Roger, but I have. That's just how she speaks.

[TB]

Gees, I've wasted about 250 words too many already!

I'll agree with you there Roger.

[Roger]

Yep, every letter is a waste on such rhetoric as this. I think TB and Alon likes the drooling, blood seeking fangs as long as they are biting the Republicans, much like the raging, Cash T-shirt wearing "FREELANCE WRITER OF THE WORLD" blog of Lindseys does, but when the Dems get it handed back to them they get their panties in a wad. Hey, if you want funny, stupid and ridiculous, just keep reading the story of how Miz Caroline Kennedy is planning to seek a senate seat, and how her drunk, prostitute frequenting, uncle Teddy "wants her to have it." Get over it already. As the old saying goes, "don't dish it out if you can't take it!"

[The Phantom]

Roger

You sound like one of the angry get a life lefties, only inside out.

As a card carrying member of the vast right wing conspiracy, I hereby invite you to convert to the leftist side of the house. Your anger would fit in better at moveon.org and places like that.

[Roger]

Angry? How about truthful! I'm grinning from ear to ear. In fact, I am a strong moderate who generally supports the Democrats on the local political scene,however, it's that "vast ring wing conspiracy" bullshit that got me started on the card carrying demos several years ago. The truth is the truth and facts are facts and it seems that no one here likes any of it, unless of course it's their own stones which are being thrown. I wish you guys wouldn't respond to me. It's causing me to leave more on such an undeserving piece of "freelance journalism" than I want. Freelance journalist meaning, "Internet Blogger," but I guess the freelance journalist thing sounds better, just like the Kennedy's and Clinton's are womanizing, cocaine sniffing, drunks! What's Caroline gonna do in a world dominated by her male family members? Buy a strap-on and start harassing other women I guess.

Later!

[TB]

Hey Roger, if you don't like Lindsey's blog, then what the fuck are you doing here?

Later indeed ...

[cfrost]

the Femocrats are not used to being around real ladies, but rather harlots and whores

Hold on there Roger, some of my best friends are harlots and whores who are, incidentally, easily as qualified for V.P. as the Wasilla muskeg mom.

[Jack]

Roger:

Who urinated in your Wheaties this morning?

Jack

[bmovies]

"So, the RNC finally filed the paperwork for its coordinated campaign expenditures today."

What do you mean finally? The RNC filed this as often as required by law. How else would "politico" have done their story back in October?

"The goal was to bury the spending on Sarah Palin's extravagant wardrobe until after the election."

There was NO such goal. The paperwork is public info, and was filed as required by law.

"The subterfuge annoyed me."

There was no subterfuge.

"Let's let RNC donors know where their money is going."

They ALREADY know.

"The pattern of expenditures suggests deliberate subterfuge."

Huh? That makes no sense. How does a purchse from say, Victorias secret, suggest a subterfuge of sorts, much less a deliberate one?

"So, what's with the Nov 20 date? Is the RNC deliberately misstating the dates of the purchases--perhaps to explain why the outlays weren't disclosed prior to the election?"

These kind of expenditures go year round. Not just before the elections.

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

These kind of expenditures go year round. Not just before the elections.

Ah, the RNC is stockpiling bras.

Phase 1: Collect bras
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: electoral victory!

It all makes sense now.

[B-Money]

Doesn't this silliness pale in comparison to real issues, like, oh let's see, a Democrat governor being indicted! Probably not huh? Let's focus on the important issues like Palin's shopping. Who the f*** cares!! Obama won. Move on for Christ's sake!

[cfrost]

Doesn't this silliness pale in comparison to real issues

The problem is that the Republicans saw fit to place a spectacularly ignorant and vapid product within a few melanoma cell’s distance of the most powerful office on the planet. A very few Republicans were appropriately appalled at the recklessness and cynicism of their party’s pandering to the basest streak of American Neanderthal knownothingism. Most however seem to think the take home lesson is that McCain lost because he’s some kind of Neville Chamberlain at Munich wimp and the cowards in his campaign hadn’t let “Sarah be Sarah”. She or some equivalent atavistic clone from the GOP’s Lee Atwater Memorial Laboratory will certainly be back for the next election cycle.

The fact that a Palin or a stinky diarrhea squirt like Rod Blagojevich could get anywhere past dogcatcher is proof that American politics is in very, very deep trouble.

Democrat governor
It’s “Democratic” not “Democrat”. That pun has gotten old and extremely tired. Yes, we get it - the ‘Democrat’ party is not ‘democratic’ because they’re Stalinists. It’s as puerile as the wearisome term ‘Rethuglican’.

f***
The word is “fuck”. Euphemisms are lies.