Slog - Comments on Tanorexic in Chief?

Comment by Dubcek

Dubcek — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:48:01 -0800

I swear to god, if they can't make a back-breaking attack ad out of this I'm voting Barr.

Comment by Dougsf

Dougsf — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:49:17 -0800

A lot of American's vote for the candidate they most identify with - which is terrible logic - but it's true. A lot of American's are probably thinking, "I'd sure like a big house with a tanning bed."

Based on her politics, well, actually, just about everything I know about her, I think she'd be an awful person in the White House. But I think crazy anecdotes like these actually might resonate with a lot of people.

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:51:04 -0800

No kidding. I never would've guessed.

But using a tanning bed during an Alaskan winter isn't necessarily a bad idea.

Comment by Jen

Jen — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:52:51 -0800

Are people really surprised that this woman is vain to an excess?

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:56:17 -0800

The reason that movie Idiocracy wasn't very funny is that it was too much like real life.

Comment by N

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:56:50 -0800

...So? If she "paid for it with her own money" I don't see how this matters.

Comment by Angelika

Angelika — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:58:03 -0800

#6 - In agreement with you completely.

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:10:49 -0800

@6: Uhm, because tanning beds are ridiculous? For people who think that cigarettes don't give you cancer fast enough?

Comment by Louis

Louis — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:10:53 -0800

Vain, hell, the Alaska winter is deadly when it comes to sunlight. Some substitute that is close is really needed. Bet hubby and the kids used it too.

And since when is vanity not cool in good looking women, or men?

Eli, beyond trivia. Half the gay men I know in Seattle, where we have some sun, do tanning all the time. Good for the skin and the look. She paid the bill, so what is the issue?

Cheers, going to the sun, workday over.

Comment by Brian

Brian — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:14:28 -0800

Dear Stranger,

Who cares. This isn't news. This is retarded.

Sincerely,

Brian

Comment by W.T. Foxtrot

W.T. Foxtrot — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:14:45 -0800

That'll look great in the oval office paired with McCains melanomas.

Also what 5 said, Mike Judge is looking more and more prophetic with every press release.

Comment by Me

Me — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:20:51 -0800

I'm sorry, but this just seems like a good idea... and if she could afford it on her own dime, then good for her. Had she made the state pay for it, then we'd have issues... but I know dozens of people around here who tan religiously in that long gray season we call Winter. I imagine that Winter is worse in Alaska.

Comment by partychief

partychief — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:23:05 -0800

In all seriousness, Seasonal Affective Disorder, which many of us Puget Sounders are familiar with, is truly a killer up there. Don't these things work just like the light boxes they prescribe for SAD?

Comment by Eric F

Eric F — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:34:29 -0800

@13 They work just like those lightboxes, except with extra cancer. So probably the lightbox is a better idea.

Comment by Gitai

Gitai — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:40:08 -0800

She's got Blayne's vote.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:06:54 -0800

A skilled politician would have discreetly gone to a private tanning salon. A public record of something so elitist and decadent being placed at the 24-hour, on premise disposal of a "woman of the people" is not politically wise. It's like John Edwards letting them find out how much he paid for a haircut. Obviously the guy's hair needs to look great, but you don't let your enemies dangle the details of how that happens in the voters' faces.

Sara Palin is a horrible politician. She became Governor because the oil companies went looking for someone like her to deal with their image problems.

Comment by Deric in LA

Deric in LA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:25:45 -0800

See, this is both ridiculous.. AND an opportunity. You just have to think like a Republican.

Here's the proposed Obama line:
"See, if I get elected President, the taxpayers won't have to pay for a tanning bed to be installed for in the White House!"

Now, the Democrat in us says "Wait a minute, that's not accurate, cause she paid for it, not the taxpayers! Gotta be accurate."

But if it were a Republican ad, they would run it anyway, the media gives it lots of publicity, makes Palin look wasteful and vain, and then Obama only has to say that he was saying something hypothetical, not what really happened. That's how you use this.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:36:04 -0800

What with him already being black and all.

Comment by Jen

Jen — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:59:33 -0800

Actually, now that I think of it, a skin condition such a psoriasis is often alleviated by tanning.

#9 - I don't know anyone who thinks excessive vanity is cool.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:10:53 -0800

So Palin tans (cancer! bad!)

and

Obama smokes (cancer! bad!)

As long as they buy their own cancer I don give a rip.

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:31:05 -0800

@20: The difference is smoking makes you look cool while slowly killing you (I submit the films of Humphrey Bogart as proof) while tanning on a tanning bed makes you look like a kumquat. While slowly killing you.

You're right, however, it's a silly non-issue. Like flag lapel pins. Oh, wait.

Comment by Durbin

Durbin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:33:33 -0800

My GOD, Obama smokes and you want to trust him with health care issues? Kidding, but smoking the the single most horrible thing you can do to you health.

Bad odor, bad breath, but, even worse, bad long term effect on the bod. Diabetic smokers die young.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:55:50 -0800

@22

But it's a great way to keep the tobacco Lobby in your corner and writing big checks...

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:57:54 -0800

@19,

It can help with acne too, but Palin looks like a carrot most days. She has definitely gone above and beyond beneficial tanning.

Not that this has any bearing on her fitness as a potential VP; it's just gross.

Comment by Gloria

Gloria — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:33:27 -0800

@18: Yessssssssss.