Republicans eat dog food

By GottaLaff

We always knew they were dogs:

Reid Wilson has the bizarre FEC find of the day: "Someone at the RNC spent $15 at a pet store on 8th SE and listed the expense as meals."

Apologies to dogs.

Quickie: House Expenses Go Online for First Time

By GottaLaff

Today's Quickie:

For the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to release their quarterly expenditures online later today.

From the site:

On June 3, 2009 Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested the Statement of Disbursements (SOD) be published online, as part of her continued commitment to increase governmental transparency and accountability.

That was today's Quickie. Was it good for you?

"Frugal Conservative" Sanford Took Expensive Flights in Europe

By GottaLaff

Sing along, EVERYone! "Don't fly for me, Argentina-a-a!"

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), "already facing scrutiny for expensive taxpayer-funded flights, relied on charter jet services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two state business trips," an Associated Press investigation has found.

"Throughout his political career, Sanford has cast himself as a frugal conservative, known to demand that state employees use both sides of Post-It notes. His 2002 gubernatorial campaign included attacks against other state officials for what he called wasteful travel expenses."

Hyp. O. Crite.

Li. Ar.

The $150,000 (IWRC* Palin) question

By GottaLaff

What the puck is going on with the IWRC* Palin wardrobe receipts? Yes, folks, it's time to play, "$150,000 Wardrobe Malfunction!" Whoever answers the mystery question gets a tax break:

About that wardrobe …

There are still aspects of the Republican National Committee’s shopping sprees on behalf of Gov. Sarah Palin and her family that are murky.

Some of the fashion experts consulted Wednesday, for instance, about the $150,000 in purchases that appeared on Federal Election Commission records were puzzled by where all of that money had gone, given what they had seen of Ms. Palin’s wardrobe.

Consider also the $4,902.45 charge at Atelier New York, a high-end men’s store, presumably for Ms. Palin’s husband, Todd, the famous First Dude.

Karlo Steel, an owner there, said he had gone through the store’s receipts for September, twice, and found no sales that matched that amount, nor any combination of sales that added up to the total. Because the store carries aggressively directional men’s wear, he caters to a small clientèle and knows most of his customers by name, as well as the history of their purchases.

When The Caucus called Mr. Steel back to ask him to also check August sales just in case, Mr. Steel said he found one purchase that came close to the amount in the campaign finance reports but said that he knew who that customer was and it certainly was not Mr. Palin. Neither was it Jeff Larson, the Republican consultant who showed up in campaign finance records as the one who footed the initial bill before being reimbursed by the R.N.C.

The store carries expensive cut-up T-shirts and tricky suits from avant-garde designers, like Raf Simons, Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester, none of whom typically create beltway-appropriate attire.

“We have no recollection of that sale and no idea what they are talking about,” Mr. Steel said.

There was similar confusion when The Caucus spoke with Jon and Wing Witthuhn, owners of Pacifier, a high-end children’s boutique in Minneapolis [...]

“Sounds like somebody is using [the credit card number] for personal use,” Mrs. Witthuhn said.

You have 15 seconds to answer the $150,000 question, starting ri-i-i-ight.... NOW! ::tick, tick, tick:: Five seconds...

::BUZZ!:: Oh-h-h-h-h, sorry, times up. But you'll be receiving a Caribou Barbie, a six-pack of bulls**t, and a faux plumber's tool belt as parting gifts. See you all next week! Good night, folks!

There's more here.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?", or, as One of the Many Versions of Legal Alien puts it: "I Want Ridiculous Clothing".

Republicans Disgusted By $150,000 IWRC* Palin spree

By GottaLaff

Pantsuits and blouses and heels, oh my!

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

There is already an attempt to blame the media -- as in, the liberal media would have looked askance at Palin if she wasn't clad in Neiman Marcus, but this won't wash. Republicans, RNC donors and at least one RNC staff member have e-mailed me tonight to share their utter (and not-for-attribution) disgust at the expenditures.

This sort of spending is without precedent -- the closest approximation for any campaign I've ever covered is make-up expenses for television interviews and commercial shoots -- , and Schmitt's weakly defensive response tonight indicates that the campaign is deeply embarrassed by it and has nothing to say in their defense. Spokespeople have clammed up, a sure sign that they're trying to figure out who authorized the expenses and who knew about them. Did Palin wear all of the clothing? Where is it kept?

[T]he 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.

Ambinder said it so well, all that there is left to do is nod in agreement.

UPDATE (via Kerry), IWRC's newest accessory supports the wrong party:

H/t: Bucky

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

Caribou Barbie: $150,000 + to clothe and accessorize IWRC* Palin

By GottaLaff

Who's the elitist again?

The Republican National Committee appears to have 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. [...]

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.

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. [...] 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.

Let's not forget the young 'un!

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

What would Joe the Plumber say?

And while we're on the subject of IWRC*'s wardrobe, I wonder what she'll wear to her latest deposition:

The investigator conducting a second inquiry into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused the powers of her office by firing the state’s public safety commissioner is scheduled to take depositions from her and her husband, Todd, on Friday, the McCain-Palin campaign said this afternoon.

She really ought to stick to sterling silver accessories. They go much better with handcuffs.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

AP Investigation: Alaska paid for travel expenses of IWRC* Palin's children

By GottaLaff

Ruh roh!

Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. In some other cases, she has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.

Alaska law does not specifically address expenses for a governor's children. The law allows for payment of expenses for anyone conducting official state business.

Doggone it, IWRC, that's just not straight-up, above board vice presidential behavior, ya know? What would Joe the Plumber, Jane the Hairdresser, Jake the Handyman, Tito the Builder, Millie the Homeless Woman, and Jack the Poverty-Stricken say!?

As governor, Palin justified having the state pay for the travel of her daughters — Bristol, 17; Willow, 14; and Piper, 7 — by noting on travel forms that the girls had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor's schedule.

But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.

Several other organizers said the children merely accompanied their mother and did not participate. [...]

After Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain chose Palin his running mate and reporters asked for the records, Palin ordered changes to previously filed expense reports for her daughters' travel.

In the amended reports, Palin added phrases such as "First Family attending" and "First Family invited" to explain the girls' attendance. [...]

When Palin released her family's tax records as part of her vice presidential campaign, some tax experts questioned why she did not report the children's state travel reimbursements as income.

IWRC the Cheater, you have some 'splainin' to do.

The organizer of an American Heart Association luncheon on Feb. 15 in Fairbanks said Palin asked to bring daughter Piper to the event, and the organizer said she was surprised when Palin showed up with daughter Willow and Bristol as well.

The three Palin daughters shared a room separate from their mother at the Princess Lodge in Fairbanks for two nights, at a cost to the state of $129 per night.

The luncheon took place before Palin's husband, Todd, finished fourth in the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, also in Fairbanks. The family greeted him at the finish line.

When Palin showed up at the luncheon with not just Piper but also Willow and Bristol, organizers had to scramble to make room at the main table, said Janet Bartels, who set up the event. [...]

The state is already reviewing nearly $17,000 in per diem payments to Palin for more than 300 nights she slept at her own home, 40 miles from her satellite office in Anchorage.

Tony Knowles, a Democratic former governor of Alaska who lost to Palin in a 2006 bid to reclaim the job:

"There was no valid reason for the children to be along on state business," said Knowles, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. "I cannot recall any instance during my eight years as governor where it would have been appropriate to claim they performed state business."

Knowles said he brought his children to one NGA event while in office but didn't charge the state for their trip.

The fun never ends.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

H/t: Hilary