Netlets for Friday, Oct. 24

Palin's pricey apparel I laughed out loud when I read that the Republican National Committee was going to donate Sarah Palin's wardrobe to charity after the election (Star Tribune, Oct. 23).

Even the charities that seek out professional clothes to help women find jobs are likely to shy away from $2,500 jackets and $500 shoes. I doubt any one of these organizations would advise a client seeking an entry-level job to show up in designer clothes when the interviewer probably has on a suit she bought on sale at Penneys for $79.99, $34.99 pumps from DSW and a blouse that cost $24.99 purchased during Macy's one-day sale.

Most working women can't afford to spend $2,500 in an entire year for their wardrobes. Maybe Joe the Plumber's wife could use these duds.

JANET BATES, EAGAN

Awaiting the Independence Party's decision The Star Tribune's powerful and sweeping endorsement of Ron Erhardt for reelection (editorial, Oct. 23) was great to see. It should also be noted that Erhardt previously received the endorsement of the Independence Party of Minnesota (IP).

The IP endorses candidates based upon their public policy positions and governing ability, rather than peripheral issues. It will be interesting to see whom the IP endorses this coming Saturday at its presidential endorsement convention.

CHARLES MALKERSON, GOLDEN VALLEY

Because of the havoc that will be wreaked in confronting the issue, Congress looks away. And consistently raising taxes will not sustain these government programs. All government spending requires a hard look coupled with the approach that individually we need to make decisions, long- and short-term, that will secure our future.

BARBARA MCCARTHY, EDEN PRAIRIE

Maybe Obama would be better off without Powell That Colin Powell has come out in support of Barack Obama isn't as surprising as Barack's statement that Powell would have a place in an Obama administration! Only more surprising would be if Donald Rumsfeld was offered secretary of state under Obama.

Powell is a prime architect of the war in Iraq. He went to the United Nations with pictures of WMDs and convinced the world that Iraq must be stopped. That led to the very U.N. resolution that provided cover for the U.S. invasion. Furthermore, it was Powell who, upon visiting Darfur, declared it "genocide" and then did nothing in his power to stop it.

Exactly what does Colin Powell have to offer a Barack Obama administration?

Robo-calls: How low can we go? Fear-mongering and mudslinging are not new, and go back as far as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in this country. But this election year we have seen and heard political ads that have set the bar at a new low. Both political parties can be faulted in this regard, though the Republicans seem to be better at this sort of thing, given the examples set by such people as Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove in recent years.

A new insect has crawled out from under the political rock these people have turned over, however, in the form of random phone calls telling the listener that the call is on behalf of "John McCain" to let the listener know that "Obama consorts with terrorists" (which is not true) or that "the Democrats are weak on crime" (which is unverifiable). These claims can easily be disproved -- if they make any sense at all-- and one would hope that those who receive such calls (as I have) will be repelled and vote sensibly in the coming election.

This sort of thing breeds fear and hatred at a time when clear thinking is required above all else.