Article and video on Palin in Iowa here.More articles here and here.
This article talks about Palin getting a surprise visit from an old friend:
A high school basketball and track teammate from Wasilla, Alaska drove ten hours from North Dakota to have Palin sign her copy. “I know, you're in the book!” Palin said.
“Took her a second until I showed her my shirt and she was like 'oh my gosh'. It was fun, held up the line a little bit, but a nice reunion,” high school teammate Katy Port Allers said.
Port Allers makes an appearance in Going Rogue, complete with a photo with Palin from their high school days. “It was like wow, amazing, knew she was going to do something important and this is it,” Port Allers said.
Port Allers says she's had her copy of Palin's book since it was released and read it the same day. She says it brought back memories of a time when Sarah Palin was just another high school teammate. “It's true Sarah, it's all Sarah. It's honest and it's true, just like she is,” Port Allers said.
Whether it was ten hours on the road or ten hours in line, fans say their time was well spent. While Palin's autographs were the highlight of the book signing, dozens of people in line also asked her husband Todd Palin and former classmate Port Allers for their signatures.
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Ann Sexton drove three hours from Des Moines to see her hero face-to-face.
"I want to be sure that I get to meet her," Sexton said. "If that means staying up all night wrapped in a down coat. … I used to live in Central Minnesota. This is nothing."
"We are strong Republicans," Bob Hoeffer said. "We're kind of dismayed a little bit about where the party is going and we hope that Sarah becomes a leader."
"When we found out she was going to be here, we decided that we were going to camp out, bring all of our stuff, and make it a memorable event that we can tell our grandchildren about," supporter Cindy Rilling said.
"I am glad to see that there are women getting in the game," Sexton said. "I would love it if she would run in 2012. That is my fond and hopeful hope."
SIOUX CITY -- Fans lined up outside of the Barnes and Noble store as early as 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, braving frigid temperatures overnight in order to get a chance to meet former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Sunday afternoon.
The crowd was largely made up of Republicans, however there were also Independents and Democrats waiting in line. Kelsey Leonard, a Democrat and student at Northwestern College in Orange City, said that she intends on supporting President Obama in the 2012 election, but she was still interested in coming out to the Palin book signing. “I just kind of wanted to see the hype and I’m really interested in her book,” Leonard said.
One reporter did however ask Palin, “Why Iowa?” Palin responded by saying “Everybody wants to be in Iowa.”
There were no meetings with influential local activists, no contact with the state GOP, nor any time devoted to chit-seeking efforts to raise cash for other candidates.
They weren't the sort of party regulars who comprise the county GOP committees and always show up when a national politician comes to town. Many said they hadn't previously participated in the state's quadrennial caucuses and some indicated that they weren't even sure what the caucuses are. And while most were self-identified conservatives, there were also registered Republicans or independents who had previously backed candidates of both parties but who were drawn to Palin because of what she represents.
"I wish she was treated more fairly,” Mild said, noting the reports about her family and wardrobe. “She gets asked a lot of questions men don’t get asked.”
Jason Recher, who travelled with her on the campaign and is now with her on the book tour, suggested Palin had little interest in using the 32-city swing to bolster her presidential prospects, at least outwardly. "This book tour is about people - not politics," Recher said.
Some local Republicans – who are used to being courted by top national political figures – indicated disappointment that Palin only did the book stop.
“I guarantee we’d have 20,000 people show up for an event here,” Mark Lundberg, chairman of the Sioux County Republican Party told Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson.
With a mix of Midwestern hospitality and wariness for an out-of-town reporter they explained why they were so drawn to Palin. Patricia Anderson, a registered independent from Sioux City who hadn’t caucused, approached a reporter to make her case for the polarizing former governor. “She tells you what she believes,” Anderson said. “You don’t have to guess. It’s better to listen to her than the media.”
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Pictures are from yesterday:
And, of course, Tammy Bruce on Palin book-signings and David Frum's latest scumbaggery:
Here's my take on Frum:
Has this doofus seen the crowds at Palin’s book signings? Women galore, buddy. Grow up.
These idiots are blatantly sexist, and what do they have to say in their defense? “Well, she’s sexy. She sends off a strong sexual vibe.” All Frum is pointing out is that he's a sick, sick individual. Sarah Palin is beautiful; it’s his twisted brain that turns it into something that it’s not.
Sarah Palin has never worn anything slutty or inappropriate. What does Frum want her to do, uglify herself? Give me a break.
It always reminds me of the rapist who says, “Well, she shouldn’t have worn that outfit.”
For the sexists, it’s always the victim’s fault.
Let's end on a more positive note:
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