Palin fans brave cold to meet her at Tulsa book signing

"She fascinates people"
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Gov. Palin arrived at the Mardel Christian Bookstore in Tulsa Friday nearly 25 hours after the line began forming. About 500 hardy souls had braved the cold weather and camped out in the parking lot overnight. Inside the store, the line snaked around the aisles, according to a Tulsa World report:

Some wore Palin buttons and hats, while others stood on bookshelves trying to get a glimpse of her.

"She fascinates people," said Gilles Mingasson, a French photographer for the magazine Paris Match.

Mingasson and Match's U.S. bureau chief, Oliver O'Mahony, followed Palin from her book signing earlier this week in Arizona to Friday's appearance in Tulsa. They'll continue to follow her into Nebraska and Iowa and perhaps longer, Mingasson said.

At Friday's signing, Palin sat at a table in the rear of the store. She sounded cheerful as she chatted with supporters, often asking their names and how they were doing. Her daughter Piper handed out bookmarks.

[More]

Tulsa's Fox 23 also covered the event. Ian Silver's story and video package are here.

- JP

Tulsa retailer hopes Gov. Palin brings Black Friday crowd

In Tulsa, Mardel Christian & Education is hoping a lot shoppers will bypass the malls today and visit their store at 9725 E. 71st Street instead to meet Sarah Palin. And while they are in the store, Mardel wouldn't mind a bit if they would purchase two copies of Gov. Palin's America By Heart to get personally autographed by the former Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate:

"We've already got people asking to camp out," Kelly Black, Mardel's marketing director, told USA TODAY.

This is the first time that Mardel, a 34-store retail chain that sells Bibles, educational materials and gifts in six states, will be holding a book-signing event with Palin. Black says Mardel wanted to get into the act because Palin's memoir, Going Rogue, did well last year. Besides, Mardel says, each Mardel store is big (average size is 28,000 square feet) and has plenty of free parking.

She is scheduled to sign copies of her second book from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. today, also known as Black Friday, traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

- JP

In Oklahoma, Gov. Palin urges unity among Republicans

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Sarah Palin told a Tulsa audience of 1,000 tonight that it's time for the GOP establishment to put aside their differences with the grassroots and make the most of a series of victories by tea party-backed candidates going into the November election:

She told the enthusiastic crowd that voters have six weeks to turn things around and "reign in the federal government."

Palin also cheered Tuesday's political upsets by candidates affiliated with the tea party movement, including Christine O'Donnell's surprise win in Delaware over veteran Rep. Mike Castle for a U.S. Senate seat.

Gov. Sarah Palin also cheered the success of Oklahoman Mary Fallin:

Palin, who endorsed Fallin's candidacy for governor in mid-summer, said the 5th District Congresswoman "is ready to shake things up in the governor's mansion."

Wednesday's event was a fundraiser for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative organization based in Oklahoma City.

During her speech, according to Tulsa television station KOTV, Gov. Palin discussed the need for fiscally responsible limited government and the importance of the free market as keys to reinvigorating the economy.

Video of Sarah palin's speech, courtesty of Palin TV:


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- JP

Gov. Palin speaks tonight at the Tulsa Convention Center

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Sarah Palin is in Oklahoma today, and she will deliver a speech in Tulsa tonight:

Palin is the featured speaker at the annual Liberty Gala held by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs at the Tulsa Convention Center. The council says they brought her to Tulsa because her message of free market, entrepreneurship and individual liberty is one that resonates with all Oklahomans.

Palin's trip comes less than 24 hours after her political clout was on display Tuesday night, when Christine O'Donnell won the Republican Primary in Delaware after being backed by Palin.

This is Gov. Palin's second trip to Tulsa and her third visit to Oklahoma. She was in Tulsa in March with Glenn Beck on the "Taking Back Our Country" tour. The 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate also made a stop in Norman last December as part of her Going Rogue book tour.

Other appearances where she has been the speaker this week have been pro-life events. We expect tonight's speech to be more politically focused, as OCPA deals with public policy ideas, according to its mission statement, "consistent with the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and individual initiative."

- JP

Tulsa World: Sarah Palin returning to Tulsa September 15

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The Tulsa World is reporting that Sarah Palin will return to "Green Country" next month:

Former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will return to Tulsa on Sept. 15, it was confirmed Thursday.

Palin will be the keynote speaker for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Liberty Gala at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Gov. Palin was last in Tulsa at a March rally sponsored by talk show host Glenn Beck.

From OCPA's news release:

“Governor Palin’s message of free market entrepreneurship and individual liberty resonates not only with the core values of OCPA, but with all Oklahomans,” said OCPA President Michael Carnuccio. “She has transformed the landscape of American politics and is the most powerful movement conservative in our nation.”

Palin is also a vocal supporter of the special needs community. Her appearance comes on the heels of Oklahoma’s passage of the most important school choice measure in state history. House Bill 3393, which was signed into law in June, will provide scholarships to students with special needs that will allow them to attend any private school of their choice where their needs are better served.

Palin will join a prestigious group of past OCPA speakers, including Congressman Paul Ryan, Justice Clarence Thomas, General Tommy Franks, former Speaker Newt Gingrich and the late conservative icon William F. Buckley, Jr.

The 2010 Liberty Gala will be held at the Tulsa Convention Center on September 15 at 6:00 p.m. located at 100 Civic Center in Tulsa.

For ticket information, download the OCPA registration form or call (405) 602-1667.

- JP

Suzy Parker: Sarah Palin in Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Suzi Parker's perspective on Saturday's kickoff event for the "Taking Our Country Back Tour" before a Tulsa crowd of nearly 5,000 is up at The Daily Caller. Here are few excerpts:

In her Oklahoma speech, Palin was less fiery than in more recent ones including a February event [in] Little Rock, Ark. – her first at a political fundraiser.

She quoted Reagan’s “less government, more common sense” approach frequently to applause.

“He did not apologize for America,” she said.

[...]

Three things she wants Washington to understand: tax cuts, energy independence and lifting America’s spirits.

She loves to scold nemesis Obama, too: “No, thank you, Mr. President, you can keep that change.”

[...]

Palin grabbed the hand of a grieving mother who lost her son in Iraq last year and walked off stage with her. And she didn’t leave after her speech. During Rich and Wilson’s set, Palin stood slightly off stage enjoying the show while the nearby crowd snapped photos with their cell phones, especially during “Barracuda.”

In her speech, Palin said that America needs to hang on until November. But the Palin fans can’t wait until 2012. When her black SUV rolled out of the convention center with police escort, about 50 admirers – many holding her best-selling book – waved good-bye to her.

“We need Sarah Palin,” one woman said to another.

“Amen,” she said.

Read the full Suzy Parker op-ed at The DC here.

- JP

Tulsa World: Palin criticizes expanded government, federal spending

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Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck spoke at the Tulsa Convention Center Saturday to kickoff the "Taking Back Our Country Tour." Gov. Palin talked about "a growing movement across this country" and said that Americans need to keep in mind that government should work for them and not the other way around. Shannon Muchmore covered the event for the Tulsa World:

Palin told the packed crowd that regular, everyday Americans are standing up to politicians in Washington who don't listen to what the people want.

"We understand what they're trying to do to this country," she said. "We understand it and we don't like it. That's why we're taking our country back."

Palin took a few shots at President Barack Obama - whom the crowd booed - and the leadership in Congress.

Expanded government and continued federal spending will hurt the country, she said.

"There is no need for a fundamental transformation of America," she said. "No thank you, Mr. President, you can keep that change."

During his speech, Beck said that if the country doesn't change its direction, Americans will be remembered as greedy, corrupt and riddled with debt.

"If we don't change our course, that's what will be written into the history books," he said. "The winners write the history books, and if we don't change, we are losers."

Read the TW full story here. A report from Tulsa station KOTV is here.

- JP

Sarah Palin's Tulsa Speech on Twitter

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Gov. Palin is at the podium in Tulsa. Follow the tweets on the Palin Twibe Twitter page here.