1,000 flock to Palin’s book signing in Roanoke
Traci White/twhite@registerbee.com
Former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin smiles during the book signing at Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Sunday in Roanoke.
In the brisk early morning air, a few shouts among a crowd of more than 1,000 grew to an echoing cheer as a striking blue tour bus rolled into the Barnes & Noble Booksellers’ parking lot in Roanoke on Sunday.
Stepping off the bus in a vibrant purple fleece jacket with her baby on her hip and husband by her side, the former governor of Alaska and rock star of the Republican Party beamed as she waved to the
masses.
“We love you, Sarah!” people shouted. Spending a few seconds greeting fans outside, a perfectly-coiffed Sarah Palin solidified her place in the hearts of her faithful supporters during the only Virginia stop to promote her bestselling memoir, “Going Rogue.”
Among those supporters were Pittsylvania County residents and sisters Wanda Worley, of Gretna, and Jewel Mattox, of Hurt, who had been waiting outside the bookstore since midnight — up all night because they were “too excited to sleep,” Worley said.
Bundled in heavy coats for hours before Palin arrived, the sisters — along with Mattox’s grandson, Josh — snacked on steaming breakfast biscuits, eagerly awaiting the chance to meet a polarizing force in national politics.
“I just believe in everything she says,” Worley said. “She’s kinda like somebody you’d want to have as your next door neighbor, your friend…”
“Your president,” Mattox added.
Josh, 6, sat on the yellow curb paying no attention to anything but his handheld game console.
“My granny knows her, but I don’t know her,” he said, indifferent to the fervor around him.
Palin’s book tour included stops in areas of the country where her party’s ticket generally succeeded in 2008. In Roanoke County, for example, then-presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and running-mate Palin won with 60 percent of the vote. In the 5th Congressional District, the McCain-Palin ticket won with 50.6 percent, despite Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello unseating Republican incumbent Virgil Goode in the same district.
The Republican ticket also won Pittsylvania County with 61.5 percent of the vote, although President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden won Danville with 59.1 percent.
“She’s got common sense,” Mattox said. “She’s for the little people.”
Palin’s book hit the top of the bestseller list immediately, and although it has been met with intense scrutiny — on her Facebook page, Palin criticizes the Associated Press for assigning 11 reporters to fact check the book — there were no apparent dissenters at the Roanoke appearance. Many people in the crowded lines said they would support Palin if she ran for president in 2012.
Inside, Palin sat at a table with her daughter, Piper, her father, Charles Heath, and staff as visitors breezed through the line for a brief encounter and an autograph. When fans told her how far they had traveled or how long they had waited to see her, Palin responded with an earnest, “Oh, bless your heart.”
“Fifteen hours for five seconds,” one person said as they walked away from the table.
When Mattox and Josh arrived after nearly 12 hours in the cold, Palin greeted them with a bright smile and a handshake.
“It was well worth it, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Mattox said afterward, somewhat star-struck. “(She was) everything I expected and more.”
A tired Josh shrugged his shoulders, unimpressed. Mattox laughed, saying that she’d heard someone inside compare the book signing to The Beatles.
“This is better than The Beatles,” she said.
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Reader Reactions
Gawwwwwwd ravencottage. You do have some very weird fantasies - licking sand off of someone’s boots? To each his or her own, but you may be fit do do that, but as for me, no thanks. I’ve heard of some strange fantasies, but that beats them all.
‘Nuff said. Peace.
SayWhat, the only thing that is obvious is the depth of your ignorance and bias. Really amazing. This area seems to be replete with idiots.
JP is not fit to lick the sand off BIGron’s boots.
Bigron. You are the one who missed the point. I know where you stand - I was using the Fox News/Rush Limbaugh method of discourse - take everything out of context, repeat it, and then it become the truth.
Now all I have to do is repeat it:
Bigron. Finally you get it . . .
“We get the point. It’s all Bush’s fault. Our Congress has had nothing to do with the runaway spending that we have seen through both the republican and democrat controlled years,“
It’s about time.
‘Nuff said. Peace.
Amen to that BigIron. Glad to see one can view things as they are, and not through the smokescreen that DC is pushing out at us.
There you go using your scholarly intellect to miss my dripping sarcasm again, but I completely understand your handicap. Scholars usually don’t have a common sense receiver in those big brains they claim to have. Considering Gen. McChrystal (the anointed one’s handpicked commander in the field) requested 40,000 additional troops by the end of the year or the war in Afghanistan would be lost, a proposed 30,000 troop increase there over a two year period sounds pretty lame even for a Jimmy Carter wanna be. Of course, we still have to wait until December for the anointed one’s official announcement. That’s my definition of “immediate priority,” waiting three months to make a decision and giving less that asked for (sarcasm again JP). I’m glad to hear you guys are acting so concerned about our greatest generation and the sacrifices they are making. I figured you would be onboard with the “cut and run” strategy that most progressives employ in these situations. Sadly, I wish the anointed one would utilize that strategy now. Not much he can do to screw up Iraq at this point, but all this indecision and not providing the support requested is putting the men and women of our armed forces in Afghanistan in danger. You do know troops are dying there, right? Not like we are getting the nightly body count from the lame stream media for those games you progressives like to play. We all ready know the messiah doesn’t use words like “win” and “victory.” Must be from all that social justice programming he acquired under the tutelage of Ayers and Wright. I’ll be the first convert to the progressive way of thinking, let’s “cut and run” in Afghanistan before another life is lost needlessly. So what if the taliban takes over that country again, under the anointed one’s watch, we can’t even weed out a peace-loving muslim terrorist serving in the US Army.
Bigron. Finally you get it . . .
“We get the point. It’s all Bush’s fault. Our Congress has had nothing to do with the runaway spending that we have seen through both the republican and democrat controlled years,“
It’s about time.
‘Nuff said. Peace.
Yeti,
In response to your nit-wit questions…Anyone with a half a brain knows Robert Hurt nor Little Nancy’s BOY PERIELLO will get my vote. I do not claim to be a democrat or republican. I vote for whom I think will do the best job to represent the people. NEITHER of these candiates are worthy of my vote. They both suck, and Periello sold us out! Now, for Mr. Robert Hurt according to many posts by others locally he sucked as a attorney and the people that posted these comments stated they would have been better of to go in front of the judge alone. Does that tell you anything? You are kidding yourself if you think for one minute that he would not support URANIUM MINING. THIS URANIUM WILL BE HIS INHERITANCE! He will support HIS FATHER. GET your head out!
Miles Davis,
I have a right as an AMERICAN citizen to call it anyway I see it. I can honestly say this president is CLUELESS! HE is a disgrace to all black Americans. Obviously you are a avid supporter of OBAMA regardless of how stupid and neglectful he is of our country. We are at the closest step to communism that our country has ever been. Is this O.k. with you. Is it o.k. that the deficit is higher than ever in history? Is it o.k. that this so called president has put our troops in harms way not supporting them? Is it o.k. that he elects to ignore all of this and so much more? You can blame BUSH all you want, but BUSH inherited (HOW MANY YEARS) of The CLINTONS? You need to do your homework Mr. Miles. It’s funny when the kettle calls the kettle black isn’t it? HA HA And you have the balls to call me a dummy. what a Joke!
Yeti, I don’t sell cars, nor anything else except for timber or firewood. I am a pipefitter. WTF are you talking about? Are you on drugs again? I do not listen to Rush, nor watch Fox. Period. So wtf are you talking about? Obamasama has multiplied all the money that Bush2 was spending times 4, and things have gotten worse. Much worse than under Bush. You may try to ignore it, or deny it, but it is true. Use google search, and try to educate yourself. I just tell it the way it is.
Bigron:
You might want to check the news today. Probably not on Faux, but any others. Imagine that, having a plan before committing the lives of our soldiers?
RandyD:
Your issue has been addressed by Gordie in “Tea Party Snuffs Bonfire” article (search it above). Repeating a lie does not make it true, although that is what you have learned from your mis-information sources(Rush & Faux). I understand you are having a hard time selling those fine high quality used cars, but the blame goes to Bush/Cheney. Face it.
You guys should be thankful for what you have. You appear to be pretty miserable and really paranoid. Happy Thanksgiving.
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