I totally agree with Emily. No one can criticize a person's taste in clothing. However, an observer can examine whether one's taste is coherent with one's personal/political ideology. If arugula defines the cultural elite, then shopping at Saks (with a personal shopper) certainly defines, less arguably, a high-earning elite. Gov. Palin had the option of asking to shop at Talbot's or Macy's or even Ann Taylor rather than Sak's. Some would even argue that that would have provided her with another anecdote to reaffirm her small town bonafides. However, what we are seeing here is a small-town, small-minded need to get something for nothing. Her clothing, her kids travel expenses, her tanning salon. . . They all speak to her sense of personal entitlement that is specifically conferred by elective fiat. We saw some of this in the Clinton's (remember the gifts that accompanied their exit from the White House). It was tacky then and it is tacky now.

because she's funning for veep. heck, i might even get a new tie for such an occasion.

'We saw some of this in the Clinton's (remember the gifts that accompanied their exit from the White House). It was tacky then and it is tacky now.'

Don't tell me you have forgotten about Nancy Reagan's "gifts" that she took with her when she left? The Clintons "gifts" pale by comparison.

Wal-Mart or Target would have made her more accessible. It might have even worked better than the "wink".

"because she's funning for veep. heck, i might even get a new tie for such an occasion."

As Ezra Klein points out, Sarah Palin was not a beet farmer before she was picked for VP. In fact, she was a governor of Alaska. She's given stump speeches before. She's attended conferences. It's not like she's hasn't owned a pantsuit in her life. Plus, she pulls down a 6-figure salary as governor - it's not like she was shopping the clearance rack at TJ Maxx before September.

Anyway, I have no problem with the RNC buying her campaign-worthy clothes. She's doing more traveling and public appearances than she's ever done in her life. I don't even care that the RNC spent $150,000 dolling her up. It's their (or their donors') money. But the idea that she *needed* someone to spend $150,000 is utter complete bullshit.