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Sarah Palin Goes Rogue In Sandpoint
12/11/2009
Hundreds of Sandpoint residents
stood outside in temperatures near
20° last night for a chance to meet
Governor Sarah Palin and have their
book autographed during the last
stop of the “Going Rogue – An
American Life” Book Tour 2009. The
event, which was sponsored by
Vanderford's books and the Sandpoint
Events Center, was very well
organized and held at the Sandpoint
Events Center on Euclid Avenue.
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"Going Rogue" Moose
Horn in bus window |
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The
event kicked off at about 5:30 p.m.
when the “Going Rogue” tour bus
(with the moose antler in the
window) pulled up in front of the
event center. Sporting her Idaho
Vandal's sweatshirt, Sarah was quick
to enter the building and, while
leaning over the second story
balcony railing, greeted the excited
crowd gathered below, sending the
group into a roar! |
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The crowd
waits to get in to see Sarah
Palin at the Sandpoint
Events Center |
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Todd and Sarah take
time to talk to a
fan |
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It was fitting that the book signing
tour ended in Sandpoint, because
Sarah was born in Sandpoint on
February 11 1964, and her
father, Chuck Heath, was
born and raised in Sandpoint
and was a high school
teacher and track coach at
the old Sandpoint High
School, which is now the
Sandpoint Events Center, the
location of the book
signing. |
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Her husband, Todd,
and her parents joined Governor Palin on the book tour. Todd
greeted people getting their book
signed by Sarah, while Sarah's
father, Chuck, could be seen shaking
hands with old friends and new fans
of his daughter.
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Todd and Sarah greeted each
person with a warm
handshake, and seemed to
truly engage in short but
meaningful conversations
with each one of them.
Todd stopped one fan that
was going by after they had
spoken, and said, “I’m sorry
I missed your name”, a
gesture that made him feel
like they actually cared. |
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Lori Eddings and
Verna White show off
their books!
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The fan
stated “I know he won’t remember my
name, but he truly acknowledged me
and didn’t just blow me off as
someone he wouldn’t see again or
need to remember.” |
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Eric Skinner and
Chuck Heath (Sarah's
Father) |
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At
about 8:30, and 700 +/- people
later, the Palin team started
loading up the bus, as I am sure
they were excited about getting home
to Alaska. The thirty-six-city book
signing tour was coming to an end,
and as Sarah was leaving, a small
child next to me yelled out “Thank
you for visiting us Mrs. Palin”. |
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Sarah walked over to the child, got
down to his level, looked him in the
eyes and said, “I remember you and
what we talked about inside. Thank
you for coming to visit me”.
Sarah then thanked everyone for
coming out, said some goodbyes and
loaded up! |
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Sarah takes a minute
to speak with a
child
on her way to the
bus |
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Sarah loading up on
the bus at the
conclusion of the
"Going Rogue" Book
Tour.
Last stop -
Sandpoint, Idaho |
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