Sarah Palin

In this designer-look-for-less day and age, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's $150,000 wardrobe seems to wear the label of excess. In addition to nicking her image of a hockey mom feeling Joe the Plumber's pain. But truth is, the bespectacled governor was thrust onto the political runway - straight into the polished arena of power suits and pumps - to campaign for the second-highest position in the land. "As vice presidential candidate, she had to be professional and exude confidence," said Sara Canuso, owner of A Suitable Solution in Center City, who herself is a Republican.

By now, it's become a familiar joke, but it was only weeks ago that Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska first made the distinction between mothers of hockey players and pit bulls. When Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, said she was "just your average hockey mom," it was shorthand, a way for her to say she was dedicated, as anyone would be who wakes before dawn to take a kid to the ice rink. It showed she was feminine but tough, a fighter who would check an opponent into the boards if she had to - traits she'll need to muster after a botched Katie Couric interview, two Saturday Night Live spoofs and a looming vice presidential debate.

ANYONE who underestimates Sarah Palin is a fool. The political landscape is full of self-proclaimed rogues. In politics, it's perception that wins or loses. Castro was a "revolutionary. " Che was seen as his thug. Wrong! Backward, in fact. Lenin and Trotsky are similarly transposed. Sarah Palin may not be able to see Russia from her house (which she never said), but she can spot a hole in the system like an addict peeps his next score. Hillary: "I hear you're running. " Sarah: "Yup.

ALASKA GOV. Sarah Palin should have no trouble being President if McCain can't fulfill his term. There are so many Republicans that could come to her aid with advice, and they have recent experience. For example, there's George W., Cheney, Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, to mention a few. So what's the problem? Mayer Krain Philadelphia

SOMETHING about Sarah Palin, John McCain's pick for vice president, makes me want to break into song: Lay that moose gun down, Babe, Lay that moose gun down. Moose-gun packin' Mama, Bill Keough Chalfont

IF MICHAEL Vick really wants to show he's a changed man, I say take on a difficult challenge: Mentor Vince Fumo, teach Brett Myers some new alibis (or how to duck), maybe propose a national health-care program - for dogs. Just run the draft through pit-bull Sarah Palin's office. We don't want any "death panels" included. Richard Iaconelli, Philadelphia

TV Review Game Change 9 p.m. Saturday on HBO. In the political docudrama Game Change , Sarah Palin is dealing with the whirlwind of being named John McCain's running mate in 2008 with unearthly assurance. Until, that is, she sees Tina Fey spoofing her on Saturday Night Live . Seeing herself held up as an object of ridicule on national TV plunges the Game Change Palin into a bitter spiral of withdrawal and anger. Thanks a lot, Tina! The real-life Palin, now a commentator for Fox News, has already expressed her ire with this HBO film.

NOW THAT Sen. John McCain has suspended his presidential campaign to focus on the nation's financial crisis, it's time to free Sarah Palin . In other words, while McCain's off in Washington, Palin should be allowed to step in and act as his surrogate on the campaign trail. And that includes finally giving reporters a chance to interview her. It would be about time, if you ask me. Up until now, the Republicans have been holding back reporters, denying most interview requests and treating Palin as if she were Chelsea Clinton circa 1995.

THE TWO BEST parts of the election: 1. We can finally say good-bye to the idiotic chatter of Sarah Palin as she crawls back into the woodwork, only to be occasionally seen when she comes out to give depositions in her ethics-violation cases. 2. We don't have to look at that ugly bald head of Joe the Plumber anymore. Perhaps now that he won't be attending those McCain rallies, he can find the time to return to trade school and actually learn become a real plumber! Marc Golde, Bala Cynwyd

Sarah Palin certainly drew some votes in The Inquirer's online sports poll. The Republican vice-presidential candidate will drop the ceremonial first puck tomorrow before the Flyers' season opener at home against the New York Rangers. Readers were asked in the online poll yesterday if they liked the idea, and 7,858 had responded by 5:30 p.m. That total is among the highest in the poll's five-year history. A total of 4,965 (63.2 percent) said they did not like the idea; 2,893 (36.8 percent)