Slog

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

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.

No kidding. I never would've guessed.

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

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

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

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

#6 - In agreement with you completely.

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

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.

Dear Stranger,

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

Sincerely,

Brian

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.

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.

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?

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

She's got Blayne's vote.

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.

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.

What with him already being black and all.

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.

@8

So Palin tans (cancer! bad!)

and

Obama smokes (cancer! bad!)

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

@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.

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.

@22

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

@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.

@18: Yessssssssss.