Sarah Palin draws a crowd of 4,000 to Fort Bragg book signing

It was the largest crowd for a Sarah Palin Going Rogue book signing event yet -- an astounding 4,000 people! Given the former governor's unwavering support for our troops, it should come as no surprise that such a crowd should turn out at a U.S. military base. Still, it is an impressive display of our soldiers' admiration and affection for the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate. From the FOX News story:

Sarah Palin drew a crowd of over 4,000 on Monday to her book signing at Fort Bragg, though the former Alaska governor kept her appearance from turning into the kind of "political platform" that some military officials were concerned about.

Palin did not give a speech during her three-hour stop at the North Carolina Army base, apparently living up to her pledge to tone down the event after Fort Bragg officials expressed concern that the visit could prompt grandstanding against the Obama administration.

"It was just a peaceful crowd -- orderly, no one making any strange comments that I know of," a Fort Bragg official told FoxNews.com. The official said close to 4,500 people showed up, many braving the cold and rain as they waited for hours to meet the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. The official said about 500 people had to be turned away when Palin had to leave.

"It was a very excited crowd," the official said.

We betcha it was! Read the full FOX report here.


- JP

Army does about face on media acess to Fort BraggPalin book signing

The Associated Press is reporting that the Army has revised its policy regarding media access to Sarah Palin's Monday book signing event at Fort Bragg.

At first, Army brass had ordered that no press coverage would be allowed of the former governor's on-post stop on her Going Rogue Book Tour, claiming that it could turn into a political pasting of President Obama. But the AP and The Fayetteville Observer raised objections, and the military retreated a few inches, at least. The Army announced Thursday night that it will permit a pool of reporters to have limited access to the book signing scheduled for November 23.

Fort Bragg spokesman Col. Billy Buckner said under revised guidelines, reporters will not be allowed to interview the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate and cannot talk to Sarah Palin supporters on the post. According to the colonel, the Army's fallback position will grant the media its right of access while keeping the event from "turning political."

Update: Seems the Army's rules for book signings aren't exactly uniform...

- JP