December 10, 2009 in City, Idaho

Palin fans weather cold, lines for chance at autograph

900 estimated at Coeur d’Alene book tour stop

Alison Boggs The Spokesman-Review

Video: Palin fans brave cold, long lines

Kathy Plonka photo

Ed Schaefer of Coeur d’Alene showed his support for Sarah Palin in the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. He was in line to get his book signed at Fred Meyer in Coeur d’Alene.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)

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Krista Woodruff arrived at the Coeur d’Alene Fred Meyer store on Wednesday night to wait for a chance to have Sarah Palin autograph a copy of her memoir, “Going Rogue: An American Life.”

Woodruff left Palin’s table Thursday afternoon with tears streaming down her face.

“I’m so awed I can hardly put it in words,” said Woodruff, who lives in Spokane.

Many of the estimated 900 people who spent hours in bitter cold for their chance at seeing Palin, former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, declared the experience worth the wait.

“You feel that she’s genuine, 100 percent, real-to-the core,” Woodruff said. “I told her we would do anything we could for her and there are five people in my household that would be voting for her.”

But Palin was mum on whether she plans a 2012 presidential campaign — clearly the hope of many people attending the book signing. She did not grant interviews to journalists, only allowing photographers and videographers close enough to capture images.

The stops at the Coeur d’Alene Fred Meyer from noon to 3 p.m. and at the Sandpoint Business and Events Center on Thursday night were the latest in Palin’s cross-country book tour. Each stop has drawn hordes of people, waiting in line for hours to have their books signed.

“I actually started cruising the parking lot at 7 a.m. (Wednesday),” said Tom Howard, 53, of Athol. “My hope is that she’ll run in 2012 for president. I’m going to tell her I’d love to see a Palin-Ron Paul ticket. I know that’s not real popular but I’m still going to ask her.”

Palin was born in Sandpoint but moved with her family to Alaska as an infant. She attended North Idaho College briefly and graduated from the University of Idaho. On Wednesday night, she stayed at The Coeur d’Alene Resort with her mother and father, Chuck and Sally Heath, husband, Todd, and son, Trig, Sally Heath said. Other friends also traveled with the family and were watching Trig on Thursday, she said.

Palin signed books at Fred Meyer until everyone in line had her autograph. “She stayed until 3:30 and got everybody through,” said Melinda Merrill, a Fred Meyer spokeswoman, who estimated the crowd at 900 people. The store provided free coffee and doughnuts beside the stacks of “Going Rogue,” on sale for $17.39.

The first person in line, Mary Ann Porter, of Spokane, showed up at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and eventually was joined by hundreds who camped overnight in the store’s outdoor garden center. The evening took on a party atmosphere, with strangers going in on pizzas together, and watching each other’s belongings during warm-up breaks. Ages ranged from senior citizens to children as the crowd bundled in down parkas, heavy boots and sleeping bags. Shotzy’s coffee shop next door stayed open all night, offering Palin-themed specials like the “Alaskan Mudslide,” and “Roca Rogue Latte.”

Others, like Susan Sunderland of Hayden, showed up Thursday morning, hoping it wouldn’t be too late. Arriving at 8:45 a.m., Sunderland secured spot No. 564 in line, with the first 700 guaranteed an autograph. “I watched it on the news this morning,” Sunderland said around 11 a.m. Thursday. “I didn’t expect to get on line.”

But she did and had two books signed, one for her and one for a co-worker.

Outside the book-signing area, where Palin and her husband signed books, Sally Heath greeted and hugged patrons in a purple blazer adorned with a pin designed to look like a “Vogue” Magazine cover, except it said ROGUE and “The Freedom Issue,” with her daughter’s picture. Heath said she and her husband try to visit North Idaho every couple of years to see friends. Katie Ebbeson, 26, said she strategically planned a business trip from Seattle to Spokane so she could attend the book signing.

“I like that she’s fiscally conservative and she doesn’t spend money that she doesn’t have,” said Ebbeson, who also stayed at the Resort and was able to greet Palin there Wednesday night as well. “I think she’s redefined the role of women in society. I like that she not only is a mom and works but is a real leader. I think that’s awesome.”

26 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

empyrius on December 10 at 12:37 p.m.
That is way too funny! In the above picture of “Ed Schaefer of Coeur d’Alene”, I thought it was a gag by David Letterman making fun of the typical Palin supporter; but it simply really is a Palin supporter!!!
Wow. Now that is scary! Well, maybe Palin will “go rogue” on the Pentagon and the dreaded military-industrial complex . . .
Yeah right.
Har har har
spokanada on December 10 at 12:52 p.m.
Oh Palin, only in America can someone as ignorant and misguided as yourself garner thousands of followers and countless hours of national press.
It makes me proud to be Canadian.
SugarShane on December 10 at 1:17 p.m.
Thats why they call it the American dream spokanada, because any idiot can be successful, even president. Its not about what you know, its about who you know. Have to agree with empyrius, I thought it was a gag picture and was shocked that it was a real palin supporter.
Megan_B on December 10 at 1:39 p.m.
…she’s making millions…
cormac123 on December 10 at 1:47 p.m.
I would wait for hours in the rain and cold just to get an autographed copy of “The Road.”
speakers on December 10 at 1:47 p.m.
Can Palin supporters actually read? Now that would be a real story.
GuyFawkes on December 10 at 1:49 p.m.
Actually, most of these folks just got the wrong date for “Black Friday.”
MrNatural on December 10 at 2:00 p.m.
What an interesting view of the world these folks have…espousing “the way things ought to be” as festooned on buttons, t-shirts, and bumper stickers. I wonder what it is like to get into a deep philosophical intellectual discussion with Ms. Palin…I wonder if it’s even important to her and followers.
Got to admit she knows how to capitalize on her celebrity
force_vector on December 10 at 2:26 p.m.
ok, so the picture used for this article is rather goofy. But really, you guys have managed to comingle intelligence with a political philosophy. Not only that, but you assume to know more than you do about people based on what others would have you believe. Perhaps a better test for intelligence would be of the latter, rather than the former.
Palin, along with McCain, were judged by the voters as to their ability to function as President. Judgment was passed, nearly a year ago. Palin has managed to do well for herself by selling books and I wonder; what’s wrong with that? And what’s wrong with people liking her? I in no way agree with many of her positions, but I don’t assume to know them all nor do I pretend to know her mental capabilities based on interviews during the campaign.
lewis8457 on December 10 at 2:58 p.m.
If Palin is the looser most of you think she is, how did she have enought ompa to write a book? Before you throw mud at others i suggest you look in the mirror
speakers on December 10 at 3:43 p.m.
“If Palin is the looser…” ha ha my point is made. I assume you meant to say “loser”. But keep supporting your “looser” of a person :)
force_vector on December 10 at 3:55 p.m.
speakers - I wouldn’t neccessarily say your “point is made” . One illiterate person is, im hoping, an anomaly rather than the norm. Although, he/she does make a point: how would any of those who are so judgmental have faired under than same scrutiny? I am not a dumb person. However, if put in a position to respond to questions I may know nothing about, or perhaps if I was in something over my head based on experience, I have no doubt I would be capable of saying some dumb things. I imagine we all would be. She wasn’t ready, that much was clear. Her true intelligence however cannot be based upon that. She was asked by McCain to run with him. Who would have said no? Now if she chooses to run for President in 2012, then we will need to get a good idea of how smart she is, especially considering she now knows what she’d be getting in to. But until that happens, it’s all speculation and assumption. She doesn’t seem to be a “bad” person, unworthy of the benefit of the doubt to me.
empyrius on December 10 at 4:05 p.m.
Force_Vector states, “you guys have managed to comingle [sic] intelligence with a political philosophy”.
So “intelligence” and “political philosophies” are mutually exclusive? I suppose that would explain how people like Gregoire, Bush, Bush II, and Osama could be elected eh. Good point!
I don’t assume anything about a person based upon what other people say (Clemmons, Hitler, Stalin, et. al., could have been really good people for all we know right), so I try to take the measure of the individual under scrutiny by their worlds and actions, which brings us to your next point; “I don’t assume to know them all [?] nor do I pretend to know her mental capabilities based on interviews during the campaign”.
So what informs your opinion of her rather than interviews? An autobiographical book crafted by advisors? A political speech crafted by professional speechmakers? Something about “I don’t know Charlie” is far more revealing of a person than an image being presented in books and speeches.
Screwball writes, “If Palin is the looser [sic] most of you think she is, how did she have enought [sic] ompa [sic] to write a book?” And you couldn’t write a book? You may be surprised how helpful a few million dollars and some publicists can be! Products and images bro, products and images . . .
Which brings me to the part of utilizing some grand know-nothing reasoning.
It would be the irony of ironies that the Antichrist comes not as a massively intelligent Jewish dude, but as a plain, but quite beautiful, Gentile Jane (or Sarah), who beguiles the masses not with eloquent speeches and an imperial demeanor, but instead simply with a wink and a smile; that would be most ironic indeed.
Har har har har
empyrius on December 10 at 4:11 p.m.
Force_vector at 3:55. But it is not like whe would make any important decisions anyway, the Pentagon and corporate America will make the important decisions; but she could be a pretty mouthpiece!
misjustice on December 10 at 6:07 p.m.
I think it’s amazing that so many of you think Sarah Palin is dumb.
How many of you have made millions of dollars, been chosen to run for vice president at a young age (or at any age), been elected as a city council member, been elected and re-elected mayor of a city & then go on to be a governor with an 80% approval rating from her public?
Wow! If she’s dumb, or a loser, then you must take the cake! I think she’s pretty intelligent to be in the position she’s in and be a wife, mom to five kids, a grandma & work the hours she does. You all should be so lucky!
Go Sarah 2012!!!!!!!!!!
Uptight_Spokanite on December 10 at 6:54 p.m.
Sarah failed miserably as a VP candidate. Sarah quit during her term as Gov to hit the road to make money. Sarah had an affair with her husband’s former business partner. Sarah foisted a huge lie on America by pretending Trig was hers and not her daughter Bristol’s. Sarah ripped off the GOP racking up excessive clothing purchases for her and her family prior to the convention. Sarah left the Univ of Hawaii as a freshman because there were too many Asian-Americans there. Sarah thinks it’s fun to shoot innocent wolves out of helicopters. Sarah calls dinosaurs “Lizards of Satan” and believes they are only 6ooo years old.
She’s a winner. She’s commensensy! Go Sarah.
fisher2469 on December 10 at 6:58 p.m.
I have 2 rotten tomatoes that I will eat saying she does not have the intelligence to withstand another half-intelligent interview from the likes of Couric. She will wilt under a hollow shell of cuteness later while she thrives now in all things scripted. It’s sad how poorly people will reflect Palin toward women; it’s not fair to women. I hope Hillary Clinton continues to be a role model and inspire others.
wsu1983 on December 10 at 8:09 p.m.
Just goes to show you how many sheeple we have in this country! Leave it to redneck, backwards, Idahoans to fall for and give allegiance to a quitter and fake! This woman is dumber than lint but what does that say about the people who blindly follow her and financially support her? Suckers!!
Fuschia on December 10 at 8:33 p.m.
It should be noted that more idiots and morons voted for Bush…TWICE.
She isn’t that high on the Clownette Totem Pole..
and any of you people got anyone better stuffed away in the closet? Then bring them out to the light of day.
force_vector on December 10 at 9:19 p.m.
Empyrius- Hitler, Stalin et al. (et is latin for and, no period is needed) showed by killing millions that the were undeserving of doubtful benefits. To my knowledge, Palin has done no such thing. Did she perform badly in her interviews? Yes. Did she earn my vote with her responses? No. But honestly, would any of us have done much better in her place, under that pressure with limited experience and/or knowledge? Probably not. Doesn’t make her, or us, dumb. She is no longer in any public office and hasn’t announced a run for 2012 yet. So, relax man. Save the hate for those that have personally wronged you, and thus deserve it.
skierdc1 on December 10 at 9:49 p.m.
These are the same idiots who voted in George W. As far as her intelligence goes, I do know that Africa is a continent (she didn’t), I do know of more than one Supreme court case than Roe vs. Wade (she didn’t) and I can name at least 4 newspapers that I read regularly, over a dozen of monthly periodicals read monthly and books by the dozen (as opposed to Ms P’s blank stare to Couric, who she later claimed was “badgering” her for asking if she was well read. No, as stated by “force-vector”, I am not lowering my standards for either intelligence or education. She is both uneducated and misinformed. This is as about as close to dumb as it gets.
spokanecougar on December 10 at 11:28 p.m.
Sorry, am I the only one to find it funny that she held this at a Fred Meyer in North Idaho. The only other way that this could have been more white trash was if this held it at a Wal-Mart.
je9je9 on December 11 at 6:55 a.m.
But honestly, would any of us have done much better in her place, under that pressure with limited experience and/or knowledge?
Um, she was running for Vice President, not class president.
kodeman on December 12 at 7:40 a.m.
Are all of these comments really by one person with various names? Because I would not want to think that there are this many mean spirited people in the Spokane area. If Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi,the Clintons , Oprah or BHMO himself showed up around here for anything , I would not attend. Nor would I make any derogatory comments verbally or in writing . To do so shows a lack of manners among other things. Maybe that is why you dont like Sarah Palin so much . She has what you so obviously lack.
philamatic on December 15 at 9:32 a.m.
Ed (Sarah Palin fan in photo) represents the voters of Idaho and eastern Washington well and I’m sure was representative of those who braved the elements to be involved in her book signing tour.
cme on December 17 at 3:25 a.m.
Fact is… Palin “gave” Obama the election. Not McCain, Not Biden. She set the standard by opening her mouth.
Not only that, she is a quitter. She quit her job as governor because this book pays more,
Why on Earth anyone would support her after such facts is mind boggling. Why not support Donald Duck?
Fact is… she lives off of the “republican” manifesto. Which is that money is more important than public service, or its laws.