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Looking through Google Images today, I found this graphic at Chromaluna.com, which I think signifies where we are at as a nation on this Thanksgiving Day. As we give thanks for all that God has given us, let us remember to pray for the future of our country, a country proclaimed by its founders to be "one nation under God."
From all of us at the Sarah Palin Web Brigade and at Governor Sarah Palin's Accomplishments to all of you - Happy Thanksgiving and a prosperous year ahead!
We also want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving Day to Governor Palin and her family, who are sharing their Thanksgiving Day with others as they participate in the Turkey Trot, a 5k fundraiser for the Red Cross today in Kennewick, Washington. We wish them a blessed day and a great weekend as they relax before the Going Rogue book tour starts up again at noon on Sunday with a book signingin Richland, Washington.
Following is the complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook Note on Thanksgiving:
Over three hundred years ago, a group of settlers fleeing religious persecution decided to set a new course for human history in a new frontier. Those early pioneers chose a rocky shoreline to establish their way of life. Centuries later, America continues to set the example of what can come from a free and hardworking people. We truly remain the shining city upon a hill that the colonial leader John Winthrop implored us to be (Palin, 2009, ¶1).
What started as a small colony in the territory that would eventually become the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has progressed into the greatest and most prosperous nation in history. Americans remain the freest people on earth because of our cherished Constitution and the system of government it establishes (Palin, 2009, ¶2).
We have so much to be thankful for. We should recognize especially the sacrifices made on our behalf by those in uniform. Thousands of Americans will be spending Thanksgiving overseas in combat zones in order to protect our liberty and way of life. We should give thanks to those who willingly put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Where would we be without them (Palin, 2009, ¶3)?
We are also thankful for what God has granted us. We are truly blessed in America with rich natural resources, plentiful energy sources, fertile land, beautiful cities, and the talented and industrious people we call “our fellow Americans.” We pray that God will continue to bless us (Palin, 2009, ¶4).
In his farewell address to the nation, President Reagan reminded us that “all great change in America begins at the dinner table.” Thanksgiving is an opportunity to discuss where we are as a nation at this moment in our history and where we should be heading in order to remain prosperous and free. Take time to discuss these things with each other, and take time to teach the young people in your family about our nation’s history so that they may never forget all that we have to be proud of and thankful for (Palin, 2009, ¶5).
As some of you know, I attended Sarah Palin's book signing in Rochester, New York on Saturday (11/21). Let me tell you--it was definitely an adventure!
I was still away at school when I found out that Sarah would be coming to New York for her Going Rogue Book Tour. I was very excited! I was even more excited that I would be home in Buffalo the day before Sarah visited Rochester because Rochester is only an hour away from my home. So knowing that I was going to have to get to Rochester the night before the signing, I left Cortland, NY (school) at 2pm on Friday (11/20), arrived home in Buffalo at 5:30pm, had dinner with the family, and then headed to Rochester with my sister Katelyn at around 1:30am Saturday morning. During the car ride down to Borders Books & Music in Henrietta, the three things that ran through my mind were 1) I had been in a car for most of the day 2) I would be awake for more than 48 hours and 3) I was going to be able to see my inspiration once again--Sarah Palin.
My sister and I arrived at Borders at 2:30am. I was shocked to see so many people lined up this early to see Sarah! So we quickly scoped out a parking spot, parked, and then headed to the back of the line where about 200 Sarah Supporters stood in front of us. Once we claimed our spot in line, my sister pulled out some blankets, I wiped out the pillows, and then we immediately walked to find some type of caffeine whether it was coffee or soda. The caffeine hunt didn't take long since there were plenty of places to purchase it--Wegmans, Tim Hortons, and Panera. So we got our large coffees and headed back to meet and greet the people who were camping out around us.
From 3am until it was time to head inside Borders, Katelyn and I bonded with the many people who surrounded us. Most of them were much older then the both of us (my sister 17 and me 20) but our ages were what stirred up a lot of conversation. People were impressed and thrilled to see young Sarah Palin supporters and several people asked why we supported her. Since my sister was still a new comer to politics and to what Sarah stood for and believed in, I took the lead when it came to telling people what I love about Sarah Palin and why I support her. I even did an interview with a local news station and later, while standing in line, I did another interview with a news reporter from my home town. After doing a bunch of talking and two interviews, my sister asked me, "aren't you tired of talking?" My answer to her was, no! Every chance I get to talk about Governor Palin, I feel honored and it's so easy to talk about her to others because I know and admire so much about her! So it's always a joy when speaking about Sarah Palin.
So the sun rose and 9am came around much quicker than I expected! Our over night crew made it into Borders and received wristbands. At this point, not only were we psyched that we all had been given a chance to see Sarah Palin; we were also thrilled that we had a few hours to rest and get something other than coffee in our stomachs!
11am rolled around and my sister and I decided that we were just going to hang out in Borders for a while. We met up with Ron Devito, the author of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's Accomplishments and VidSweet, who is another Sarah Supporter and makes video tributes for Palin and other political figures. The four of us planted ourselves at a table for several hours, reading "Going Rogue", checking email, and making phone calls to family and friends, letting them know that we were still alive! While sitting in Borders, I also met a member of Governor Palin's staff, Russell. Russell worked during the election for the McCain-Palin Campaign. As we were talking, we came to realize that we went to school together! What a small world!
We heard that Sarah Palin would be arriving earlier than expected, so the line began to form around 4pm instead of 4:30pm. My sister and I found the people we were with earlier Saturday morning and secured our spot in line. The crowed started yelling--Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...and then we all decided to sing the National Anthem. At around 6pm, a group of protesters showed up. I just laughed and wondered why they decided to show up now. Where were they at 3am!?! And the funny thing was that they were protesting Governor Palin's views on gay marriage, which are the same as Obama's! They were still there screaming and shouting but the large crowd of Sarah Supporters began to yell "Sarah Palin chants" again to over power them.
FINALLY, it was our turn to head inside. On top of the excitement of seeing Governor Palin again, I was so happy to be inside where it was cozy and warm! As we walked passed the Borders employees who checked our wristbands, I could see the table where Sarah Palin was sitting at, and as I walked a little further, I looked, and there she was! As others saw her, their hearts began to beat faster and they became much more nervous than they were when they were standing outside. This was not the case for me because I had met Sarah Palin before. Instead of becoming nervous, I got excited and the biggest smile grew on my face because I was so happy to see her again.
The line wrapped around shelves and shelves of books. When the line came to a halt, people took pictures to capture the moment. I was mesmerized by the music playing. It was country music and I knew right away that Governor Palin picked that music to play while she signed books!
While enjoying the great country music that was playing, my sister and I inched closer and closer to the book signing table. I stopped to take a picture with Adrienne, the author and editor of Motivation Truth and Jason Recher, a member of Sarah Palin's staff. Then it was our turn to see Governor Palin. I let my sister go before me because I wanted to see the happiness that formed in her eyes when she spoke with Sarah Palin, because that's what happens when you meet her. A feeling of such happiness and joy runs through your body when you first meet Governor Palin. She makes you feel so special and important. It's almost like your the only person who exists at that very moment. Governor Palin shook my sisters hand, asked her name, complimented on her shirt that said, "Going Rogue with Sarah!", she asked how old she was and what she planned to do after she graduates in June. My sister walked away from Sarah Palin with the biggest smile on her face. I had never seen her smile like that before!
Next was me. I walked up to Governor Palin and put my hand out to greet her. She shook my hand and told me she remembered meeting me in Auburn, NY! She asked how I was doing and from there the conversation grew. I choose not to share the words that were exchanged between Sarah Palin and I because what I shared with her was personal, but the short moment that we shared together will remain forever in my heart. One thing I will share with you is that before I walked away, Governor Palin thanked me for getting my sister into politics and for educating her about who Sarah really is. I was confused as to how she knew Katelyn and I were sisters. I later found out that my sister told Sarah Palin that I was the person who educated her about who Governor Palin really is. And as Katelyn said that, she pointed to me.
After speaking with the Governor, my sister and I had the privilege of staying in Borders to meet some of Sarah Palin's family. We spoke with one of Governor Palin's aunts who was also holding baby Trig at the time. I said hello to Trig and he grabbed my thumb and held it for a few seconds and then let go. Her aunt couldn't thank us enough for supporting Sarah! After speaking with Governor Palin's aunt, we spoke with her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath. They are probably two of the most kind, loving, and caring people I have ever met. First off, Mr Heath told me, "I absolutely love your sweatshirt!" Then Mr and Mrs Heath asked us about school, our family and why we supported their daughter. After we told them, they both gave us a warm hug and said thank you, thank you, thank you! And before they walked away, Mr and Mrs Heath came back and told us that it was nice to meet two beautiful, nice, and intelligent girls.
The day quickly came to an end and all the energy that had been running through our bodies all day long began to wear off. That's when we started to realize how tired and sore we were! We decided that getting a bit to eat and off our feet was wonderful idea!
So as Adrienne, Ron, VidSweet, Katelyn and I were about to leave Borders, a man walked straight through the main doors and said, "Sorry, I missed you, Sarah!" and threw an egg at the display of the Governor's books and left. None of us really knew how to react because we couldn't believe that something like this happened. Katelyn and Adrienne looked around to see where the egg had splattered while the rest of us glanced to see where this man went. Once we realized he was gone, I made sure everyone else was ok. I noticed that Adrienne had gotten some of the egg all over her clothes. So Adrienne went in the back to change while the rest of us tried to replay what had just happened in our heads. Ron had gone outside to see if he could spot the "egg-man" and when he came back inside, he informed us that the police had caught him.
When Adrienne came back from changing her clothes, I filled her in on the news that we had found out. Immediately, Adrienne walked outside to where the police was holding the egg-man. We followed because we wanted to hear his reason as to why he did what he did. So when Adrienne asked him what his deal was, he answered back saying that his intent was to hit Sarah with the egg, but he was too late! He also apologized for hitting Adrienne and wanted her address so that he could pay for dry cleaning. Don't worry--Adrienne didn't give the egg-man her address. As Adrienne said, "Don't even ask a dumb question. Y'all know I did not give that man my address!." This man was a complete nut case and the reason he wanted to egg Sarah arose from something that he watched on TV. So he let his emotions get to him and came to Borders with hopes of hurting the governor! How crazy is that!
I am blaming the media on this one! They have done everything in their power to make Sarah Palin seem like she's this horrible person, but the reality is that, these so-called journalists are the horrible people! Instead of reporting the facts, instead of reporting the truth, they are reporting all of these false rumors and lies, and these rumors and lies are what fill up many Americans heads! This needs to change!
Adrienne had the option of pressing charges, but it would have been so inconvenient since she would of had to stay later and fill out paper work and then come back for a court date (she lives four hours from Rochester). So the egg-man was left with the police and several copies of Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue". I thought since the egg-man would have to pay for over ten copies of Sarah's book, maybe he could read one of them and find out who Sarah Palin is unfiltered instead of through the media!
While talking over dinner, we all mentioned that the egg-man incident could have been much worse than it really was. This man could have walked into Borders with something much more dangerous than an egg! So we were very grateful! We were also very happy that Governor Palin had left before the egg-man arrived at Borders. If he had shown up while Sarah was still signing books, well, lets just say it would have been one big mess! So after the incident, I made sure I prayed, thanking God for keeping us, all the other Sarah Supporters, and most of all, Sarah Palin safe!
Katelyn and I headed home after dinner, or I guess you can say breakfast, since it was already 12am, on Sunday morning! On the ride home, I had to keep telling myself to stay awake, but once I started to go back over the past couple of days, keeping my eyes open wasn't a problem. This weekend was absolutely amazing and nothing could change that--not even the egg-man!
I met so many wonderful people who love and support Governor Palin like I do! I was able to see Sarah Palin once again. Getting to see and talk to Sarah is always an honor and I cannot wait to see her again--hopefully in Alaska! I am so glad to have met some of Sarah Palin's family. They are such kind and loving people and you can see how proud they are of Sarah and how thankful they are of all her supporters.
One of the best things that happened this weekend was seeing a side of my sister that I had never seen before. She opened up to so many people and listened to their life stories and why they loved Sarah Palin. This allowed her to open her heart and mind to the wonderful person Sarah Palin is. Katelyn read "Going Rogue" and cannot stop talking about how much she loved reading it. She now understands why so many Americans support Sarah Palin and she is now one of us Palinistas!
This weekend was a long weekend and a cold weekend. But all that time, waiting outside in the cold and surviving on coffee was worth the time we were given to spend with Governor Palin--my inspiration! So thank you God and thank you Sarah.
Of all of the insanity that has come out of our current democrat/communist congress, this has to really take the cake. These dangerous loons have been spending us into oblivion for quite some time. The spending has been beyond irresponsible, it borders on treason.
This is a bi-partisan effort, by the way. Both parties are out of control, but the democrat/communist party is now out there where the busses don’t run.
We all know the far left loons that infect Congress, and the nation as a whole, hate our military, despise it, actually. The left’s contempt for our military is palpable, has been forever. Now they are really letting it all hang out, going for broke.
Congress is now saying they want to add a "war surtax" to everyone’s tax bill to pay for our national security. They are now whining that the cost of war is hurting their march toward turning America into a communist hell hole.
In a bit of political grandstanding Congressman David Obey (D/C-Wisc.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, warned that if President Barack Obama decides to send additional troops to Afghanistan, it should be funded with the new tax.
Don’t you just love how democrat/communists want to tax EVERYTHING?
Obie went on to say this:
"If we don't pay for it, then the cost of the Afghan war will wipe out every other initiative that we have to try to rebuild our own economy," he said. "I'm going to be fighting to get whatever they do paid for."
That’s pretty rich! Just what are they doing to rebuild our economy? I see nothing.
Really? A tax on national defense? I hear liberal Congressional proposals and I, like most Americans, wonder if they’re serious. We’re going to put a price tag on security?
With Congress and President Obama spending money on everything at breakneck speed, it’s interesting that they are only now getting nervous about spending – but only when it comes to providing the necessary funds to complete our mission in Afghanistan. They don’t need a new "war tax" to fund a strategy for victory in the war zone. They simply need to prioritize our money appropriately.
I find it telling that the Pelosi-Reid Congress is only cost-conscious when it comes to our national defense. Scary. Nonsensical. Unacceptable.
- Sarah Palin
I know most in Congress these days have either never read the Constitution, or have chose to ignore it, but the American people haven’t. Having read our Constitution front to back, I can tell you that as far as spending, and responsibilities go, national defense and funding for it, is talked about frequently. In fact, it’s one of the few responsibilities of the federal government that is actually, and explicitly, spelled out!
In other words, constitutionally, Congress has no authority to do things like take over our health care, private businesses, or even schools, but they are directed to defend the nation and the Constitution.
So here is where we are at. We have a Congress that is trying to fundamentally change America, take her in a direction that an overwhelming number of Americans, a super majority, do not want to go.
Congress has spent more money since Barack Obama has been in office than was spent in the previous 233 years of our nation’s existence, combined. From George Washington, to George W Bush, Obama and his thug Congress has spent more than all of the other 43 Presidents, combined.
And yet, with all of the trillions of dollars spent on social engineering, and "change," these evil little devils can’t seem to find the money to pay for the ONE THING they are actually REQUIRED to pay for constitutionally!
I think it’s well past the time we continue to give these people the benefit of the doubt. Congress is out of control, and their refusal to listen to the American people is bordering on treason. We must hold these thieves, these scoundrels, accountable.
We must stop Congress from throwing our money away on social engineering and programs like their so-called "heath care reform" that will collapse our economy and send America into bankruptcy. We must demand that Congress stop spending and start cutting the fat.
Sarah speaks more about these issues and other issues regarding Barack Obama’s inability to take care of our troops, and perform his duties as Commander-in-Chief to our armed forces in an interview with Greta. There is some serious red meat here, well worth watching every segment:
Congress Never Ceases to Amaze
Yesterday at 10:51pm EST
Really? A tax on national defense? I hear liberal Congressional proposals and I, like most Americans, wonder if they’re serious. We’re going to put a price tag on security?
With Congress and President Obama spending money on everything at breakneck speed, it’s interesting that they are only now getting nervous about spending – but only when it comes to providing the necessary funds to complete our mission in Afghanistan. They don’t need a new “war tax” to fund a strategy for victory in the war zone. They simply need to prioritize our money appropriately.
I find it telling that the Pelosi-Reid Congress is only cost-conscious when it comes to our national defense. Scary. Nonsensical. Unacceptable.
Governor Sarah Palin came to New York on Saturday. I have been looking forward to sharing the details with you, but I needed a little time. First, you have to understand how I function. I am wired as a thinker. Some say I think too much. It takes me time to process things. Then when I share experiences, I purposely leave things out. That is because I am also wired to feel that some experiences are cheapened when you try to put them into words. So much gets lost in the process. Also, for me, trying to write or speak about things that matter to me deeply is sometimes a rather painful experience--even if the experience was joyful. I know some of you just read that and thought, "What?!" But I know instinctively that there are a few who thought, "I totally know what you're talking about, Adrienne."
So here goes...
I was excited when I learned the governor would be in Rochester. Rochester is a four hour drive for me, a short drive as far as I was concerned. I went to college right outside of Rochester, so I have friends there. It would be a great opportunity to see Governor Palin again and visit with my friend, Paula, since I would be staying at her house.
The highlight for me was being given the opportunity to serve at the book signing. I use the word "serve" on purpose because that is exactly the way I saw it. I was glad that I would be able to do whatever needed to be done for Governor Palin. It didn't matter what it was. I wanted to get to spend time with her, but I also knew that if helping out meant otherwise, then so be it. I was just glad to serve someone who has served God, her family, and the American people so faithfully. That was my number one desire--and the Lord opened that door for me. It amazes me how good God is.
I got up at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning and drove to Rochester. When I arrived at the store prior to its opening, I saw the multitude of people outside. Wow! The line went all the way down and around. Many, if not most, of these people had camped out all night--in cold Rochester, NY.
I entered the store, and my work day began. I met up with the others who were working on the Palin team for this event. Marty and Russ were two of them. Between them there was incredible experience working for President Bush, with the McCain-Palin campaign, and doing advance work for years. It was interesting to be able to get to talk and share throughout the day.
We were responsible for various things, like setting up the book display, planning the route the crowd would take, deciding how things would flow, choosing the music that would play in the background during the signing. We set up the table where she would be signing and arranged the back room where she would be entering, getting it ready for pictures, etc., as we greeted her upon her entrance.
One responsibility was addressing people in the crowd when there were too many people and the wristbands were depleted. Of course, everyone was hoping that they would still get to meet Governor Palin, but with the crowds she's drawing, we just weren't sure. We told the people that if she was able she would surely sign for even those who did not secure wristbands, but there was no guarantee. The governor had sent autographed book plates, however, which made many people very happy.
Marty, Russ, and I went to Wegman's for lunch, and after eating we picked up a few things that the governor would need. As we gathered the items, I couldn't help but think back to the anonymous McCain staffers who called her a diva and said she was demanding things during the campaign. Her response to that had been that she didn't ask for anything except an occasional diet Dr. Pepper. Sure enough, that was about all that was on her list: diet soda, water, and some straws. Hardly a diva's demand!
A couple hours prior to the governor's expected arrival, everything was in place. I changed clothes and got to mingle with some more people outside. It was cool to meet people who knew who I was, some from Auburn in June, some from reading my blog, some from Team Sarah. Everyone was so excited about meeting Sarah Palin.
In the back room, I was privileged to meet Ms. Betina and her dentist, who had driven hours to be there. I knew she was a friend of the Heaths. Mrs. Heath had told me about her before, and I was looking forward to meeting her. We had a wonderful conversation, and I enjoyed her wisdom and strong Christian faith.
Two lines had formed outside: one for wristband wearers and one for those without who had lined up anyway, just in case she would be able to get to them before she had to depart. I had a desire to go talk to those without wristbands--just wanted to encourage them. I felt like being around them, as I had such respect for their perseverence. So I went out and talked to some people. Some tried to get me to tell them which way she would enter and if she would arrive on the bus. Everyone wanted to see the bus. No bus in New York, though. I laughed with those asking, but I gave no information, and we joked about that.
When word came that she was just a few minutes away, those who were going to greet her and work that night gathered in the back room to wait for her arrival.
I knew she would have Piper and Trig with her, and I was looking forward to seeing them again. I knew that Mr. Heath, the governor's dad, was also in New York, and I figured he and I would laugh about basketball again--and we did. He was talking about a game of H-O-R-S-E.
I was especially looking forward to seeing Mrs. Heath. Originally she did not expect to be in New York, so when I had learned she would be, I was so glad I would get to see her. Like her daughter, there is something very special about her. I couldn't help but remember the last words she spoke to me on July 26th in Alaska when I said goodbye to her at the Governor's Farewell Picnic.
I wrote (emphasis added):
At the end of the picnic when I went to say goodbye to the Heaths, Mrs. Heath said, "Oh, we will see you again." I said, "I know you will."
I remember blogging then that there was just something about the way she said it that resonated as truth within my spirit--whether she realized it or not. Read that full post here.
I was delighted to see her again.
The governor was greeted by everyone in the back who awaited her arrival. I was last in that receiving line, and she gave me a warm hug, and we conversed briefly before she went out to sign for over a thousand waiting people. It's funny because the first time I met her in New York, I felt like I did all the talking. This time she talked, and I was humbled by what she said. All I could do when she spoke to me was reciprocate her own words, for they were more of what I wanted to say to her than what I expected her to say to me. I especially cherish the last two words she spoke to me prior to heading out to the people. It wasn't like she spoke them to me; it was more like she spoke them into me. I thanked her and then said the same to her, for they so apply to her. I know you'd like to know what she said, but that's one of those things I will keep to myself. Sorry...
Jason Recher, who has been alongside Governor Palin through every aspect of this tour, offers loyal assistance to her. Now, every person who was working the event was to be strategically placed. It was vital that the supporters knew where to go, that the line continued to move, and that everything went smoothly. I was going to sort of be floating throughout the store. However, Jason sent for me to stand next to him at the table with the governor. I was feeding the books to him, and he was then feeding them to her to sign. Sometimes he would have to go take care of something, so I would feed the books to the governor directly. The whole experience was so completely surreal for me. I totally believe in having a servant's heart, and here I was doing what I wanted to do: just serving.
Being up front like that allowed me to see what goes on, which made me so appreciate Jason, whom I had met in Auburn. Again, I just respect people who are not necessarily looking to be seen or be applauded, who simply see someone they can support and do so. Jason gained my respect back in Auburn, but it grew when he spoke out a few times in recent months to counter the attacks by McCain staffers who were trying to throw the governor under the bus with flat-out lies. He calls a spade and spade and does so in no uncertain terms. While some of these staffers were acting like children, Jason stood up for the truth like a real man.
I watched him sit next to the governor, give her books to sign, make sure she took a break to stand and stretch. I watched him hold her soda can for her so she could take a drink. I observed him get up from the table and come back with Trig in his arms, sit Piper on his lap at the table, and converse when necessary with Governor Palin. In case you cannot tell, I love people who have a heart to serve. I was impressed with Jason for that reason. I thank God that she has loyal people like that around her. That has been my prayer for a long time.
The best part of being at the table with the governor, however, was watching the people's interaction with her. I found myself overwhelmed at times. She has touched so many lives. People were approaching her in line, and as they came near, I could see some suppressing tears. Others just let them flow. One woman said she had told herself she would not cry. Others were shaking. Of course, over and over, people were staring and saying, "She's so beautiful!" I remember hearing that in both Auburn and Alaska. I will repeat what I said when I first met her: television and pictures do not do justice to how beautiful she is, and you could see that on the faces and hear it on the lips of those gathered. They were in awe. She possesses both an inward and outward radiance.
Governor Palin asked every person's name, shook everybody's hand, and never denied a request. Technically, she wasn't going to personalize anything, but she never said no when asked. Technically, she wasn't going to engage in too much conversation due to the number of people gathered, but she didn't rush anyone along. She listened to all the people--young and old--who said they loved her, that America needs her, and that she inspires them. She listened to veterans and reminded them that the book is dedicated to patriots like them. She listened as some spoke of her son, Track, and wanted her to give him something they had brought. She took extra time with those in wheel chairs and asked about their conditions. She encouraged a young woman headed to college who said she was nervous. I heard the governor say, "Don't be nervous. The world is your oyster." She congratulated newlyweds, and shook little children's hands. She commented on patriotic T-shirts and asked what people do for their life's work. She proclaimed, "God bless you," and repeatedly said, "Thank you." People told her to keep fighting, not to let them get her down, begged her to run in 2012, and one even said, "You are our country's last hope." Many told her they were praying for her and believing for God's best in her life. I was blown away.
I already knew people respect Governor Palin and appreciate what she represents. However, there was nothing quite like being right there, a foot away, seeing the tears, hearing the hearts, and feeling the love. It was real, it was tangible--and it was reciprocated. I say again what I have always said, and what I knew in my bones the first time I met her: Sarah Palin is the real deal.
What a joy it was to see a smiling Trig and Piper, tired but helping out at the table. I looked back a couple times to see Mr. Heath smiling at his daughter and Mrs. Heath looking on approvingly. At one point, as I was working with the books, Mrs. Heath came behind me with a hug and just said my name.
The governor came early to Rochester and stayed late, determined to greet everyone, even when it caused her to run late for her departure. I was so glad when the crowd without the wristbands got to meet her and have their books signed. I said to a couple of them as they waited to greet the governor, "Persistence pays off, doesn't it?" I enjoyed conversing with people as they approached. Some were voicing their excitement or wiping their tears. I told one who was trying to maintain composure, "I totally understand."
Much too soon, it seemed, Governor Palin was on her way, having made some avid supporters ecstatic, most of whom camped outside Borders in Rochester, New York all night long, many of whom remained there all day--just for a few seconds to tell her to keep on keeping on, to share her impact on their lives, and to express gratitude for what she represents and the sacrificial service she has given in spite of the abuse she has received. Her signing their copy of Going Rogue was just icing on the cake.
Shortly after she left, I went in the back to gather my belongings, and a few of us were going to go grab a bite to eat. That included Kristina from Inspiration Sarah, her sister, Katelyn, Ron from Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's Accomplishments, and VidSweet. I had been on my feet all day, and my dogs were barking, as they say. When I came out, ready to leave with the rest, a man stormed his way inside, threw eggs at a display of the governor's books, and said, "Sorry, I missed you, Sarah!"
I was in a bit of shock for a split second. When my brain thawed, my first thought was, "Did he get eggs on my autographed books?!" Eventually I thought of my clothes and asked if I had eggs on them. Sure enough, I did, for I had been standing right next to the display. I then went out after him and was told that he was gone. After standing around like, "What in the world just happened?" Kristina said, "Are you going to change clothes?"
I changed, and when I came out I was told that the cops apprehended him and needed to talk to me. When I saw him, I verbally lit into him and asked what the deal was. He admitted that his intent was to hit Sarah with the eggs. He was sorry that he hadn't gotten there sooner. When he realized he hit me with the eggs, he apologized repeatedly and asked for my address so he could send me money for the dry cleaning bill. (Don't even ask a dumb question. Y'all know I did not give that man my address!) He seemed to be a complete nut, and I got on his case about his trying to hurt the governor. He said he had watched something on television about her that made him upset and he let his emotions get to him. What in the world?!
It all boiled down to his having to pay for the several books he destroyed. I chose not to press charges, since I would have to stay there later to go through the process and return there to go to court (at least once). I live four hours away.
I was tired, and it was late. I wasn't sure what to do at first, but I made the decision to let him go. The police felt they had sufficiently scared him but left the decision up to me. Although I later regretted letting him go, I am back to believing I did the right thing. Legally, I was supposed to charge him for hitting me with eggs. However, I really couldn't have cared less about the eggs on my clothing. My real beef was that he wanted to hurt Governor Palin. So I really would have been pressing charges because of his intent, rather than what really took place. I let him go and let the cops deal with him. They had him in the back of the cop car.
The scary part was seeing that a person could just as easily have come in with something more dangerous than some eggs and done some real damage. The media needs to get its act together. Many in the mainstream media have done their best to demonize Governor Palin. They have painted her as anti-women, anti-books, anti-animal rights, anti-Black (MSNBC loves that one), anti-everything. They have said she is a liar, dangerous, and a religious nut. In my mind, their vile, biased, and demonic attacks against her hold some responsibility for the egg-attack. So-called journalists need to return to what they were hired to do--fairly report facts not push an agenda--or they will find they have caused more damage than some books and clothing splattered with yoke.
The Egg-Man certainly could not taint the day. I had rather it be me than the governor anyway, and I tell you what: dude should be very, very glad she was no longer there. If he had come a few minutes earlier and managed to hit her with eggs, he would have gotten jacked up. I will leave it at that. It seems like his tardiness was an act of God, not just for Governor Palin, but for him. Trust me; it would not have been pretty.
Sunday evening is when it all sort of hit me. The previous day's events came swirling back at me, and I was humbled beyond words. When I reflected, all I could do was thank God. In fact, even as I worked up front during the signing and looked over--listening to people, watching them--at times I was just silently praying--for her, for God's plan through her. At times, I just found myself quietly saying, "Thank You, Jesus." But Sunday evening and Monday morning as I prayed, it really hit me, and the cloud that had separated the full intensity of wonder from my consciousness lifted, and I was able to get a peek at the full picture. You all won't understand that because that is something between God and me, but the fogginess cleared--and I wept. Okay, there, I said it! I've never pretended not to be emotional!
I am so happy for Governor Palin, for Jason Recher, for her entire staff--all those who have worked so hard to make the Going Rogue book tour such a huge success. The American people have spoken. We appreciate a real leader. We're not using an Ivy League education, a law degree, and the praises of elitists as our measurement for leadership either. We're smart enough to have chosen--as our yardstick--integrity, common sense, intelligence, hard work, love for our soldiers, and a commitment to freedom.
People slept outside for just one chance to meet the woman who fits that bill. They went without food. They endured the damp, cold weather. They waited in long lines. And they hoped against hope that--even when the huge crowd made it look impossible--they would get a chance to see her and to say the same thing to her she has been saying to them, "Thank you."
Cops manning the outside of the store
Supporters waiting for Governor Palin
Russell, who worked for the Mccain-Palin campaign, posing with the Governor's book.
Eggs on my clothes
Governor Palin came around the table to visit with supporter in wheel chair
Crowd waiting in line
Eggs!
In back room with the Heaths, Ms. Betina, and others
Posing at the table the governor will use later to sign books
Following is the complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook post containing her photo spread from the Book Tour:
Met many wonderful Americans yesterday in Alabama and North Carolina (including some of our brave men and women in uniform at Ft. Bragg) and today in Florida. I also got a chance to chat with Greta Van Susteren along the way. Please enjoy the photos below (Palin, 2009, ¶1)!
- Sarah Palin
Gov. Sarah Palin shakes hands with a soldier at Ft. Bragg, NC, on Monday, November 23, 2009, during a “Going Rogue” book signing event. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a soldier at Ft. Bragg, NC, on Monday, November 23, 2009, during a “Going Rogue” book signing event. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin signs a book as she departs from her “Going Rogue” book signing event in Ft. Bragg, NC, on Monday, November 23, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Greta Van Susteren interviews Gov. Sarah Palin on Palin’s tour bus following a “Going Rogue” book signing event in Ft. Bragg, NC, on Monday, November 23, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Sarah Palin and daughter, Piper, sign books during a "Going Rogue" book signing event at Books-A-Million in Birmingham, AL, on Monday, November 23, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin signs books during a "Going Rogue" book signing event at Books-A-Million in Birmingham, AL, on Monday, November 23, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
A crowd outside of Books-A-Million cheers as Gov. Sarah Palin arrives for a “Going Rogue” book signing event in Jacksonville, FL, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Upon arriving for a “Going Rogue” book signing event in Jacksonville, FL, Gov. Sarah Palin addresses the crowd gathered outside of Books-A-Million on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Palin is joined by her family (from left) mother, Sally Heath; daughter, Piper Palin; father, Chuck Heath; and aunt, Katie Johnson. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin shakes hands and talks with people who walked through the book signing line during a “Going Rogue” book signing event at Books-A-Million in Jacksonville, FL, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Photo by Piper Palin. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin gets help signing a copy of “Going Rogue” during a book signing event at Books-A-Million in Jacksonville, FL, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
US Troops Must be Second to None Today at 6:30am EST
Can’t wait to meet our troops – and all those who love the U.S. Armed Forces – today at Ft. Bragg. Read my book’s dedication page. The book is for these Patriots who fight for freedom. They deserve our support and our government’s unwavering commitment to equipping them for victory.
The book tour is beyond all expectations. This feels like the time when a team comes together, gearing up before a major competition to show unity and supply strength and encouragement to each team member equally, regardless of the team member’s role or title.
On this tour I hear the grave concerns Americans have for our children’s future. I also feel the hope so many of you want to cling to – hope for those on Capitol Hill to see the light, hope for politicians to be humble enough to acknowledge that growing the federal government isn’t the answer to our economic challenges, hope that it won’t take another terrorist strike to wake us up to continued threats by those who hate America and our allies.
At every stop on this tour I see Americans coming together to say, “Enough. We love our country too much to just sit down and shut up while politicians take us for a ride. We shall be heard.”
We see a united team.
Now, I want to give you more hope: We are Americans. Anything is possible in America. Anyone can make a positive difference. You don’t need a title or a political position or a pedigree. We can take our country back from those who think growing national debt will grow prosperity for us, the little guys. We can take it back from those who think shrinking military power will make the homeland safer for us, the little guys.
We can take it back because we’re fired up, and we’re all about telling our government to listen to us, trust us, get back on our side… or politicians: you’re fired.
Plunging our country deeper and deeper in debt; borrowing billions from foreign countries; relying on foreign nations to supply us with energy; talking about sanctions against dangerous regimes but not following through; hesitating to surge aggressively to stop terrorist strongholds from growing; allowing government to take over health care, banks, the auto industry, and who knows what else they’ve got up their sleeves... it’s all too much and we’ve had enough.
Ronald Reagan knew it took a united team to right the wrongs of Washington. He told his team in essence, “Gentlemen and Ladies, I hate inflation; I hate taxes; I hate terrorists. Do something about it.”
America, you’re doing something about it! Thank you for standing up and speaking out. Thank you for holding on to hope, for loving America so passionately and supporting our troops who fight for freedom. Keep the faith!
- Sarah Palin
PS: Please continue to follow the tour’s progress by following me on Twitter at SarahPalinUSA. Enjoy the photos below!
Gov. Sarah Palin greets a crowd at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009, upon her arrival at a “Going Rogue” book signing event. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin works from her BlackBerry prior to a “Going Rogue” book signing event at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin reacts to a photo given to her during a “Going Rogue” book signing event at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin greets two soldiers during a “Going Rogue” book signing event at the Borders bookstore in Columbus, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin receives a Buckeye necklace from a new friend, Meredith, during a “Going Rogue” book signing event at the Borders bookstore in Columbus, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin looks through a copy of “Going Rogue” that was inscribed with personal notes and messages and given to her as gift from a new friend, Brendan, and others who camped out overnight at the Borders bookstore in Columbus, OH, on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a new friend, Brendan, and his family at the Borders bookstore in Columbus, OH, on Friday, November 20, 2009. Brendan was among a group who camped out overnight at Borders to hold a place in line for that evening’s “Going Rogue” book signing event. He and others signed and wrote personal messages in a copy of “Going Rogue” as a gift to Gov. Palin. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
The crowd camping outside of the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Saturday, November 21, 2009, get a surprise visit when Gov. Palin stopped by to say hello. The crowd was camping out that night to get their books signed at the event scheduled for the next morning. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
The crowd camping outside of the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Saturday, November 21, 2009, wave to Gov. Palin’s bus as she stopped by for a surprise visit. The crowd was camping out that night to get their books signed at the event scheduled for the next morning. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin takes advantage of a quite moment to sign some books before the start of her “Going Rogue” book singing event at the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Tito Munoz (“Tito the Builder”) and Mrs. Munoz greet Gov. Sarah Palin during a “Going Rogue” book singing event at the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Also in the photo is Gov. Palin’s 8-year-old daughter, Piper Palin. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin and her father, Chuck Heath, greet people, while Gov. Palin’s mother, Sally Heath, takes photos during a “Going Rogue” book singing event at the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin and her parents, Sally and Chuck Heath, react to a photograph that was presented to Palin by a person passing through the “Going Rogue” book signing line at the Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, VA, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin; Chuck and Sally Heath, Palin’s parents (standing); and Rev. Billy Graham (center) pose for a photograph prior to dining at Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin; Chuck and Sally Heath, Palin’s parents (standing); Katie Johnson, Palin’s Aunt (right); and Rev. Billy Graham (center) pose for a photograph prior to dining at Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with Rev. Billy Graham at Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Ann Graham (left), daughter of Rev. Billy Graham, talks with (from left) Gov. Sarah Palin; Rev. Billy Graham; Chuck Heath, Palin’s father; and Franklin Graham III, during an evening at Rev. Billy Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin and Rev. Billy Graham converse prior to dinner at Rev. Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin and Rev. Billy Graham converse prior to dinner at Rev. Graham’s residence in Montreat, NC, on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
I awoke, showered, cleaned up, packed up, had breakfast and while eating saw my Palin Power button on YNN Rochester. Click this link and go to 2:04 in the 3:33(a providential, lucky number of mine) video:
After breakfast and before my flight, I had to do one more thing. I went to Borders, drank a white mocha latte, then walked to the area where Governor Palin was signing...and went to the space she occupied and spent a few minutes there. I saw a couple of copies behind me near the floor were a little disarrayed. I knelt down, made them correct, left the space, came back again, left, came back a third time, then left -- forever. I drove slowly out of the lot, then picked up speed after Borders was out of sight.
Slipping the Surly Bonds...
I was seated in 1A of the US Airways Dash 8 100. I shut the iPhone off after a strategy-related email exchange with Fay, Editor and Publisher of the Sarah Palin Information Blog and an author on Accomplishments. We departed Runway 22 and arced to the left. I found the mall right out the window where Borders is. Just as I bid farewell silently, the plane slipped into the overcast and re-emerged a few seconds later.....
Glory
When the light from the sun strikes an airplane, if you are sitting on the side opposite the sun and are flying over an under-cast, you will see a circular rainbow. The phenomenon is called a glory. Immediately after crossing the cloud layer, the shadow of the plane was encircled in a glory. Soon, the shadow disappeared, but the glory remained moving ahead of then behind the left propeller.
Aerial Tour
As the trip progressed, the solid under-cast went broken, then scattered. We broke out of the clouds in an area unfamiliar to me. Finally, I saw water...then a city below and to the left...Stamford, CT....what was about to unfold would be one of the most beautiful flights of my life. With Stamford to our left, we turned westward and followed the coast of Connecticut and Westchester. I saw Mamaroneck. Again, I remembered some of the Edison sites I've worked at over the years....I remembered another Sarah....my great aunt, Sarah Hackman who died in 2005. She lived in Tuckahoe, and her daughter Barbara had special needs, being crippled from Polio (this was in the pre-vaccine days).
We crossed the Bronx with Westchester now to our north. My mother's Yonkers home would be off the right wing. I saw the George Washington Bridge and the plane turned left. More Edison sites, both Yankee stadiums. I could see clearly the de-construction of the former Yankee Stadium...we crossed into Manhattan. I figured we were going to turn left over 125th St. and land on Runway 13. We were not....we flew right over Central Park and through Midtown. All the skyscrapers below passed in striking detail. I saw Harper Collins at 10 E. 53rd St, and all the familiar landmarks: Met Life, Empire State, NY Life -- Con Ed Headquarters, Zeckendorf Towers...the Federal Building, I sat spell-bound as my life's memories flooded through....I could see Queens and Brooklyn clearly....
We continued over NY Harbor...as all the familiar Edison sites passed by. The Verrazano Bridge came into view...we were overflying Staten Island!!!! My home! I saw the rented house Elsy and I spent our first four Staten Island years in....but there was more to come...we flew all the way down to Great Kills tracking the Island's core. I saw the little pizzeria where I have my second job. We took a descending left turn, out over Lower NY Bay and another descending left to parallel Staten Island's south shore. Now...our approach to LGA was underway.
I could see the Bayonne Bridge on the other side and could see the general area where my house is. Once again, the Verrazano Bridge and we tracked through Brooklyn, passing the accursed BQE and the streets I dodged through just two days before. I saw Daisy's Diner...were a fellow customer and I talk politics and Governor Palin each time I'm there. We flew right over the apartment Elsy and I rented in the first four years of our marriage. My childhood home in Flushing NY was off the right wing. We landed on Runway 4 and as we pulled into the terminal area, all of Flushing was in my direct view.
By juxtaposition, Governor Palin touched every aspect of my life.
In these six posts, you may wonder why I would include material that on the surface has absolutely nothing to do with Governor Palin or Going Rogue.
So...what does this all have to do with her? Everything. Simply go to the bottom of Page 8 in Governor Palin's book.
The impact of the egg striking the stack of books resounded like a gunshot in the nearly empty Borders. I was behind the display stack talking with Kristina, Kate and Rachelle. JD had already gone home. Adrienne and I had our backs turned. Adrienne was right next to the display stack, which was in the center of the store as you walked in the front door.
Following the sound, I heard a voice proclaim, "Sorry I didn't hit you Sarah!" The egg thrower then sauntered out of the store as if victory was his. I ran toward the stack and saw several books covered in yolk and egg white. Adrienne's outfit was splattered too...collateral damage from his attack.
I screamed out to the Borders staff..."get him...he destroyed several of Sarah's books, and Adrienne's been hit!" The staff told me they'd take care of it...don't get involved! I waited...and I took pictures of the damage:
Photography by Ron Devito: Adrienne Ross -- collateral damage from egg attack on Going Rogue display.
Photography by Ron Devito: Overall shot of the display. The more highly reflective covers have egg white on them.
Photography by Ron Devito: Close-Up. At least eight books were destroyed.
Photography by Ron Devito: Close-up. Yellow on the second book in the stack is egg yolk.
Photography by Ron Devito: Target of hate.
Photography by Ron Devito: Note the wet spot on the carpet and the egg shells. These books were located behind Governor Palin's display.
Throw the Book at Him?
The egg thrower was caught and arrested. He came to realize that his form of "political protest" did not exactly serve him well. Borders chose not to prosecute him, because he opted to pay for all the destroyed copies of Going Rogue. In essence, this brilliant Obama Kool Aid drinker now bought the largest number of copies of Going Rogue for a single customer in the entire day!
Also ironic and providential: Governor Palin was accused of trying to ban books as Mayor of Wasilla...except for one minor detail: the books she was accused of trying to ban did not even exist at the time. But, book banning is a lie Obama's followers continue to perpetuate. Adrienne Ross risked her job to protest a display at her school perpetuating this falsehood.
Ironic that this man wanted to not just ban...but destroy Governor Palin's book....and since he indicated that the egg was intended for Governor Palin herself, I was loudly pushing for him to be prosecuted...but Borders accepted reimbursement. Now it was up to Adrienne.
Mercy and Forgiveness? Or Pursue a Pyrrhic Victory?
The arresting officer told Adrienne, she had a choice to make. Prosecute him for criminal mischief and harassment; which meant she would have to stay the night, then drive four hours from her home each way to be present at his trial...or have him released.
I was pushing for prosecution. Kristina and Kate calmed me down and told me to defer to Adrienne -- it was after all her decision to make....and they were right. It was her decision.
Adrienne chose the path of mercy and declined to press charges. She did not pursue him for the soiled outfit...she wanted nothing more to do with him...rightfully so.
Farewell Dinner
Our tired band of Rogues went to Uno's right across from Borders to have our farewell dinner. We discussed the incident...the pros and cons of prosecution. For a few minutes, we wondered if the right thing was done not pressing charges. "Sorry, I didn't hit you, Sarah" played in my head over and over again like a broken record. Could he be motivated to attempt to harm her in some way later on? Would Borders' and Adrienne's act of mercy embolden him? Conversely, what was to be gained by Adrienne prosecuting him for harassment? To appear before a judge and say "this man harassed me as a byproduct of destroying several copies of Going Rogue"? With the primary case disposed of, there really was little point in pursuing it further.
Finally, the conversation shifted to more joyful subject matter -- some related to Governor Palin, some of it not. We enjoyed our meals and conversation.
It was nearly midnight. We all exchanged hugs and the band of Rogues broke up. Having Gone Rogue, now it was time to Go Home.
I did a media interview with Entertainment Tonight. The reporter was very friendly. He asked me to explain why I supported Governor Palin -- and why I would wait over 24 hours to see her. "I support her Reagan Conservatism, her positions on the Second Amendment and oil drilling. I admire her 17 years of executive experience and Transformational Leadership. We have not seen a leader like this in 150 years." Do you want her to to run for President in 2012?, he asked. "YES! I believe she was summoned to carry Reagan's torch. But I will support her no matter the path she chooses," I said. We agreed to do a second interview after the signing. The first interview was completed at 1516 EST. My second interview with Entertainment Tonight took place at 1759 EST.
The same questions were asked in my interview with the Hamburg, Germany with my responses mirroring what was said to Entertainment Tonight. The Hamburg interview was completed at 1656 EST.
Ron Devito Going Rogue with Governor Palin
Finally, the time had come. I deposited my jacket and gift card on the table. I threw Adrienne a salute and passed her the books to give to Governor Palin. It was Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the seventeenth hour and the fortieth minute.
"Governor Palin...Sarah....it's nice to see you again." We locked eyes...she shook my hand, said "Hi, what's your name." "I'm Ron Devito, from Staten Island. You signed my heart in Pennsylvania." She smiled...I could tell she remembered. "I like your buttons," she said. But...I saw her looking at the Palin Power button, I had been selling. Pointing to the button, I said, "Today, I prototyped this one. And I will be giving it to you in the gift box. It is yours." "Thank you," Governor Palin said. It was time to leave....I turned back...."It was nice to see you again" -- followed by a pregnant pause -- "my President." She ended the conversation with a final thank you and I took my signed books.
There was no time for personalization, and for collectors, non-personalized signed books are worth more money (mine is NOT for sale at any price). My fleeting time with Governor Palin went by faster than a Concorde flying overhead at Mach 2.2.
When SarahPAC photographer Shealah Craighead releases the photos, I will acquire. She may or may not grant me permission to post, but I will ask.
I went to the main shopping area, finished off the gift card and took what was now Governor Palin's property off my heart, put it in with the card, sealed it and left it and went outside to work the crowd, and wait for my colleagues....
Photography by Ron Devito: (iPhone Camera) Crowd awaiting entry to the store following my signing.
Photography: Ron Devito. Trig Paxton Van Palin. Photo re-touched to remove red-eye.
Photography: Ron Devito. Sally Heath, with whom I shook hands and had two brief conversations. When I told her I'm from Staten Island, her eyes lit up. "We worked on Fresh Kills." "I know...it's only 8 miles from my house." We exchanged some pleasantries, and then I said, "Your daughter is going to make history."
Photography: Ron Devito. Chuck and Sally Heath announce to the overflow crowd that Governor Palin will sign their books. Mrs. Heath hugs a supporter. Photo re-touched to remove red-eye.
From the Outside Looking In
Having had my books signed and awaiting my colleagues...we were going to eat dinner together after the signing, I took some potshots with the camera of Governor Palin signing books....
Photography: Ron Devito. A shot of Governor Palin with the back of her head facing the window. Piper Palin is to her right.
Photography Ron Devito. Profile view of Governor Palin.
Photography: Ron Devito. A blurred view, but one where Governor Palin's face is visible.
From Going Bust to Going Rogue
As the evening progressed, jubilant supporters emerged with their signed books. One small boy was ecstatic: "she touched me! She actually touched me." The little child wasn't expecting Governor Palin to shake his hand. JD Merkel returned after the Heaths' announcements. I told him to get on that line NOW....his book was going to be signed....JD went Rogue, not Bust after all....
Farewell
Governor Palin and her staff left through the back of the store, they same way they entered. I ran to try to see her along with the crowd, but only saw the motorcade pull away. The store re-opened, the crowd dispersed, and I went to meet with my colleagues. We were all exhausted and hungry. Governor Palin had been gone 15 minutes, when an ugly act of hatred unfolded....an act reminiscent of the days not of banning books, but of burning them...
After cleaning up and showering and getting dressed, I checked my iPhone. Governor Palin had published a Facebook Post regarding health care. It was not covered. I launched into action, got the item on Accomplishments, did my Buzz, Digg, Fark, and Delicious, and put aside the laptop.
Not wanting to wait for the condensation to clear off my car, I wiped the driver's side mirror with my hand, turned on the rear defroster and drove with the windows down in the freezing cold. Borders is only two miles from the Day's Inn Henrietta, and my bee-line got me there in two minutes.
Back to Hustling...
I greeted Amy, Ed, Barb and the others. I went back to working the crowd with the business cards and buttons. I met Kristina, Kate, and Rachelle. Within the hour, the rest of my buttons were sold or given to those promised. All I had left was Adrienne's and mine. Another generous soul brought coffee, bagels, and donuts. It was like a huge tailgate party -- just as Governor Palin would Tweet in reference to her next stop. Like earlier, I whiled away the rest of the time reading Going Rogue -- continuing to laugh or cry as the story continued to unfold. The time to 0900 -- the opening of Borders -- flew. I made it to page 105 and stopped.
Wristband Secured...
I got my Blue A wristband and immediately went outside and put on my right wrist. I wanted it there along with the red shirt I now wore -- for Reagan Conservatism. I met Adrienne and gave her the promised button. Now, only the one over my heart remained....
Houston, We Have a Problem....
I alternately went in and out of Borders holing up in the cafe and returning to the camp post just outside the door. While talking with Kristina, her sister Kate, and Rachelle, we heard a commotion outside.
Apparently, the store did not get all 1,000 wristbands. They got 500. The second group of 500 were angry. But they got stickers...they became the overflow group. If Governor Palin had the time after the first 500, the overflow would be taken in. JD Merkel, Rochester Organizer, 2012 Draft Sarah Committee was in that second group. He resigned his fate to Going Bust....
Adrienne and the store's staff had to deal with the crowd. Everyone calmed down, but I did not find her to be in an enviable position at that moment....Adrienne handled it like a skilled professional -- as if she had been doing this all her life.
The Final Hours
The final hours were spent continuing to read Going Rogue, charging devices, going in and out of the store and learning about the structure of the event. A gift box was placed. I took out a business card and chicken-scrawled a message of support. But going into that box, it would get lost.
So, I opted for a greeting card and wrote my message. I emailed a trusted colleague for review. She loved it. I left the card envelope unsealed....The content of my message will remain private; however, I will state that it is based very strongly on the bottom half of Page 8 of Going Rogue.
A Sarah Palin look-alike -- Sharon from PA -- came in. I posed with her:
Then, Adrienne, Kristina, Kate, and myself posed at the book signing table.
Adrienne Ross
Front: Kate Lazzaro. Rear: Kristina Lazzaro
Ron Devito
The time drew nigh...We all left the bookstore and assumed our new positions to the left of the door...
After over an hour of fooling around with my wife Elsy's five-year-old laptop with a broken PCLinuxOS implementation (Synaptic will not update), I settled on leaving Accomplishments, and the promotion/news announcement sites up and leaving my other accounts alone. They would just have to wait until I got home.
Being near Lake Ontario and having some time to kill, I wanted to see my other love -- the water. So, I hopped in the car and made the 30-mile one-way trip. I questioned my sanity for doing this after spending the morning battling traffic, but the road was open, drivers were mostly courteous and I was seeing something new and exciting. Ominous cumulonimbus clouds were forming to the north. Bad weather appeared to be approaching.
The area fronting Lake Ontario was all private property, so I could not venture out. Karl Strohmeyer called me. One of my two copies of Going Rogue that were to be signed was destined for him. We discussed how he wanted it personalized -- if Governor Palin was going to -- and just generally shot the breeze about politics. I met Karl in Scraton, PA in the final 72 hours campaigning for the McCain-Palin ticket -- not with my own party, the GOP, but with Democrats for McCain.
Base Camp...
By 1600, I was back at Borders. I stopped in for a pretzel and a beverage, checked email, and charged the iPhone. No one had been camping outside like in other venues. Rochester, being rather liberal, I figured turnout would be lighter. I would go back to my hotel room, then check Borders every few hours. I emailed Kristina, Rachelle, and JD Merkel the non-news. Adrienne had secured a position as part of Governor Palin's event team for the day, a job should would perform with expert professionalism, so I did not bother her with my updates.
At 1645, I met Amy, who had set up a chair and a gentleman named Ed who set up one behind her. Camping had begun!!! I sent a text message to my colleagues and told them to get here NOW! Then, I introduced myself, got my bag and set up behind them as number 3. Barb was number 4. Amy was generous and let me borrow a camping chair (yeah, I did not think to take one of those). I did bring a NASA foil emergency blanket. While it was effective at protecting the front of me, the wind whipped from behind. I needed more protection. I asked Amy and Ed to stand guard and ran to Dick's Sporting Goods to get a cheap sleeping bag.
I did not drive. I ran across. The cold wind whipped my legs. In my business casual pants minus thermals, I might as well have been naked. I started to second-guess myself. The bag cost almost as much as the room for night -- a hotel room I would now not be using. I questioned my own sanity. I had never done this before. Was I now some kind of groupie? Returning the bag and opting for the critter comforts of the hotel room was tempting. But I would not dare! Not being number three on that line! I wanted the front spot? I wanted to be here? I spent this effort to have these books signed? Well...I got re-focused! I had work to do....
Time to Hustle...
As campers began to secure their positions, I went to work, handing out business cards promoting Accomplishments. I also had pinned to me a button I created with the help of a colleague. I ordered 10 and the batch was not in front of my house; so I raised Cain and a replacement was sent to the hotel. Meanwhile, the original batch turned up the night before I left. So, I now had 20. The mission: test-market this logo. If people liked it and bought it, my online store would be promoted and I'd start selling. If there was little interest, I'd abandon the effort.
I had a happy problem: I sold almost the entire batch of 3.5-inch buttons at $6 each before the night was over. I had to save Adrienne's, Kristina's, Rachelle's, and mine. So, I started hand-writing the name of my new store on the back of the blog business cards. North Star Promotions was born...
The atmosphere was very festive....and the generosity exchanged among strangers was amazing. One man brought in a big Sicilian Pepperoni pie. Starving, I dived into that box, and being the chow hound that I am, six slices were gone in no time. I offered to pay for what I took. He wanted a Palin Power button instead. Done deal.
And, so I worked the crowd, passing out cards, belting out SA-RAH! chants, just because. Barb told me about her Thompson Contender with interchangeable barrels. Another lady I met was a huntress. The 9/12 Project was there. A Gadsden flag was erected on a column of Borders.
And to while away the hours, I continued reading Going Rogue, but I had a problem....every other paragraph I had to stop. I was either laughing with Governor Palin or found myself on the brink of openly crying as the story of her life unfolded word for word.
Barb, Amy and I reached an agreement. They would watch my chair. I would go back to the hotel room, and come back in the morning. After we got our wristbands, they would sleep in their cars, and I would watch their setups.
I went back, tried to call my wife, but could not get through. I emailed her my position report, and went to sleep. Amy and Barb said I could be back by 0700. But there was no way I was going to come back that late....
Accomplishments author Adrienne Ross (the editor and publisher of Motivation: Truth and a Board Member, Media Director, and NY State Organizer for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee). and myself were exchanging some text messages a couple of weeks ago. "I have this really crazy idea," I wrote. I figured she was going to write back, "Again?" But, Adrienne was too kind for that. I went on..."You live upstate...Kristina Lazzaro (editor and publisher of: Inspiration Sarah, and the Buffalo, NY Organizer for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee, and Accomplishments author) lives upstate....Governor Palin's going to be in NY...you going to see her?" Of course they were...I went to Google Maps on my iPhone and banged in the address of the Borders store in Henrietta, NY, where she was to sign the books. It would be a 340-mile trip one way. Nearly seven hours driving. I calculated gasoline costs and figured I might be better using Amtrak or even flying up.
My head was spinning. Adrienne is not one to tell others what to do, and always emphasizes that ultimately, the decision on anything is yours to make. But, she looked at my texts and and listened on the phone as I egged myself on. "I want to do this...let me get back to you when I have the logistics worked out...."
Going Rogue, or Going Bust?
I plowed my 2007 Honda Pilot through the streets of Brooklyn and Queens from 0700 to 0900 the morning of Friday, November 20, 2009. I had some "Sarah music" going, but then switched to my "flying music" -- the switch would prove to be very providential. Driving like a fighter pilot hopped up on caffeine and sugar, the morning's trip devolved into desperate race against time to make it from Staten Island to LGA. I had opted to fly, because the traveling time would be much less and the costs not much more than driving up all the way. But, now I was angry and giving new meaning to the term "road rage.". Here I was two hours in and now in danger of missing my flight. I could have been out of the Island through NJ, and back into NY...almost a third of the way to Rochester by now I thought....
Finally, I made the parking lot, dumped the truck (literally), grabbed my iPhone with the car charger still attached and my bags and lit out of there in the shuttle. It wasn't till after I checked in that I realized I left my iPod in the truck, and a nice leather bomber jacket. I had no outer jacket for Rochester! Both my uncle and a trusted colleague said that Governor Palin should see the jacket on me.
Darn it! I haven't even left the city and already I was well on the way not to Going Rouge -- but to Going Bust! I choked breakfast down, and I started on the unsigned reading copy, leaving the two treasure copies to be signed well alone in the suitcase.
Governor Palin's first words immediately soothed my frazzled nerves. I read on.
I nearly started blubbering when I came to the bottom of page eight. There, she told a story of something so providential in her life -- and mine -- something that was the basis of a rally sign I made 13 months ago...something that was the basis of a video I made a month after that...something that would be the basis of message I left in her gift box....something that would define this entire trip.
A surge of joy swept through me when I saw the Piedmont Dash-8 100 sitting on the apron. Being an IFR private pilot, I am most familiar with Cessna 172s, but the last time I had flown in a turboprop was 1992 when I went to visit my uncle who lived in Meadville, PA at the time.
I was amazed at the power of the turbo-props as my body snapped back into the seat on takeoff and the the aircraft lifted off with an amazing rate of climb. I love those snap-backs. They're a big hoot. We arced over western Queens and I could see the Con Ed sites that have been my home for nearly 10 years now. We flew to the east of both the old and new Yankee Stadiums, past my mother's house in Yonkers, and entered a thin overcast, which became an under-cast. Memories of all the places I'd been in the area flowed through...already Governor Palin was touching every aspect of my life by juxtaposition.
My flight instructor, Don Eck has logged thousands of hours for Piedmont. Some people fear turboprops. I love them. You get a greater feeling of flight in them. Flying lower and slower, you get to see the landscape below in greater detail. The windows are larger and you feel a closer connection with the sky as you are flung through the proverbial footless halls of air...while some found the loud drone of the spinning props annoying, it was music to my ears.
The combination of reading Governor Palin's words and the flight itself mollified me. I concluded that there was a reason I left the jacket and the iPod behind...and as the trip progressed, I would learn that my conclusion was right. I put the book away and kept my face pressed to the window for the duration of the flight.
The under-cast became broken and we slipped through the layer, the plane gently bouncing as it entered the clouds -- a normal occurrence. I didn't know it then, but the Borders Governor Palin would be signing at was directly to my left and in plain view....
We touched down in Rochester, and I grabbed my gear and went to the car rental. Discover card declined... after I had paid it a few days ago to make room. Here we go again...Going Bust. I went for the debit card and accepted the $300 hold. Ugh. It worked. Success! The black 2008 Hyundai Tiburon became my Sarah-Mobile. I stopped down to see the bookstore, then went to Burlington Coat Factory and picked a warm hunting jacket for $20, and checked into the hotel to start up the Accomplishments command and control center.
I was here and established. I was ready to Go Rogue....
Governor Sarah Palin is sounding the alarm on Twitter this morning about the vote on the healthcare bill tonight. She appeals to voters to call their Senators and oppose the government takeover of healthcare tbrough this bill.
Following is the complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook Note pertaining to the Senate's motion to move on the latest attempt at government-controlled health care:
The Senate is set to vote Saturday night, right before the holiday, on a motion to proceed on its latest health care government take-over bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing for yet another weekend vote (commonplace now for the party of “transparency”) because he knows that the American people will be none too happy about the Democrats’ proposal the longer they have to look it over (Palin, 2009, ¶1).
A vote against the Democrats’ motion will help stop Obamacare before it gets any closer to becoming a reality. While this Saturday night vote might seem like a procedural matter, at the end of the day a vote against Senator Reid’s motion is a vote against massive new government spending and a take-over of 1/6th of the U.S. economy; it’s a vote against billions in tax increases and penalties; it’s a vote against federal funding of abortion; and it’s a vote against ignoring responsible tort reform (Palin, 2009, ¶2).
And in case you hadn’t heard – just a reminder that you’ll start paying higher taxes to fund this scheme in 2010 even though it doesn’t start up until 2014. Only in Washington does that make any sense. Among the provisions in this bill will be a $2500 cap on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). The IRS allows families with special needs children to use FSAs to cover educational expenses. This new $2500 cap will hit these families especially hard and cost them hundreds of dollars in new taxes every year (Palin, 2009, ¶3).
Contact your senators and tell them to vote against the motion to proceed tomorrow night. The American people don’t support this – we support the commonsense solutions that have been proposed, but totally ignored by (at this point) some out-of-control Washington politicians. Let’s put a stop to Obamacare before it goes any further (Palin, 2009, ¶4).
Cancer is a vicious killer, and one that hits home for me, having lost my dad at an early age, and several close friends to the dreaded disease. The good news about cancer though, is through innovation and research, by top scientists, survival rates have soared.
One of the really important developments that have lead directly to more cancer survivors is early detection through screenings. But if the communists in Congress, and Obama have their way, this will come to a grinding halt.
You see, screening costs money. Not only do those tests cost money, but so do the follow up tests as well treatments. Many cancer treatments are highly successful, but highly expensive, as well.
One thing we know, for sure, when the federal government unconstitutionally takes over health care, there will be a finite amount of money to be spent on caring for the sick. To make these dollars stretch, expensive treatments and many tests will have to be stopped, or postponed. Decisions to do this will be made by unelected and unaccountable boards of so-called experts, or as Sarah Palin has labeled them, death panels.
These "experts" won’t necessarily all be doctors, but they will be bean counters.
We’re seeing a couple of issues already, and ObamaCare hasn’t even passed. The first is in breast cancer screening. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has made the recommendation that we no longer do mammograms at age 40. It is their idea that 50 is the proper age to start, and those self exams? Forget about ‘em!
The standard schedule of starting screening mammograms at age 40 may soon change, and breast cancer prevention strategies would be improved, according to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Women may not begin to have screening mammograms until they are 50, and they may cease doing breast self-exams altogether, if the newest guidelines for breast cancer screening from the USPSTF are widely adopted. In Canada and the United Kingdom, 50 is already the age at which screening mammography is begun. These new guidelines may have an impact on what health insurance providers will pay for.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening. After using computer simulation models to project the results of different screening strategies, the task force said that they recommend the changes because they want to cut down on the "harms" and risks of testing, which they believe do not outweigh the benefits. They cite too many false positives, unnecessary biopsies, anxiety, or in short, overdiagnosis. Their November 2009 guidelines suggest:
* Women between 40 and 49 years old should not be having routine screening mammograms. Instead, they say that women should make an informed decision about screening mammography before 50, and weigh their potential risks and benefits with their doctors.
* Women who are 50 to 74 years old should be having a screening mammogram every other year, because the risk for breast cancer increases as you age.
* Women over 74 years old are not given specific guidelines about routine screening mammography - as their risk of death from heart disease and other ailments is greater than from breast cancer.
* Women of any age should not be taught to do breast self-exams, but BSE is not forbidden.
* Clinical breast exams will not be required before screening mammograms, because CBE appears to add no benefit to the information gained from a mammogram.
In 2002, the USPSTF guidelines for breast cancer screening stated that women 40 and older should have annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have also agreed on screening mammograms for women ages 40 to 70. The The American Cancer Society will maintain their recommendation to start screening mammograms at age 40.
Mammography is not a perfect tool and neither is a breast self-exam. But it seems odd to take away these two tools, which we have been told are important, for women aged 40 - 49. This same battle has been fought before, in the mid-1990s. It was resolved by 1997, when the National Cancer Institute agreed to support mammograms for women in their forties.
In an editorial published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Karla Kerlikowske says that the focus should shift from screening and early detection to breast cancer prevention interventions. But for this to be effective, Dr. Kerlikowske says that we need a better risk model, more research on prevention, and standards "for routinely assessing risk factors, calculating breast cancer risk, and reporting risk to women and providers in an easily understandable format." Couldn't we wait, until more research has been done, before we change screening guidelines? Won't women be more at risk for ten years of their lives, if they are not having a mammogram and doing their self-exams?
This sentence hit me like a ton of bricks, just because of the wording:
Women of any age should not be taught to do breast self-exams, but BSE is not forbidden.
Are you kidding me? "BSE" stands for breast self examination. And this government death panel is telling women they shouldn’t learn how to do them, but are not "forbidden" from learning how and doing them. How generous of them.
That one word, "forbidden," when talking about what one can and cannot do with their own body, in the privacy of their own home, tells you all you need to know about the entire process that is coming down the pike, and the mentality of those who will sit in judgement on these death panels.
You will notice too, that in making this recommendation, this death panel references the UK and Canada as their model of inspiration. Two counties that have such great health care, because of government control, that those who can, leave the country for treatment of anything more complex than a head cold.
Compare America’s system with Canada’s and Great Britain’s. The latter are single-payer, universal health-care programs in which medical treatment is free at the point of service (Yay!), although citizens eventually pay for it through higher taxes (Boo!).
According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data, there were 26.6 MRI machines in the U.S. per million people in 2004. In Canada, there were 4.9 such devices, while Britain enjoyed 5. For every 100,000 Americans, 2006 saw 436.8 receive angioplasties. Among Canadians, that figure was 135.9, while only 93.2 Britons per 100,000 got that cardiac procedure.
Maybe that’s why, among American men, heart-attack deaths in 2004 stood at 53.8 per 100,000. In Canada, 58.3 men per 100,000 died of cardiac arrest, while coronaries buried 69.5 of every 100,000 British males.
The fatality rate for breast cancer, according to the National Center for Policy Analysis and Lancet Oncology, is 25 percent in the U.S., 28 percent in Canada, and 46 percent in Great Britain.
Among those diagnosed with prostate cancer, 19 percent die of the disease in America. In Canada, 25 percent of such patients succumb to this disease. And in Great Britain — an Anglophone NATO member and America’s closest ally — prostate cancer kills 57 percent of those who contract it. That is triple the American fatality rate.
Here’s an interesting chart, for those who like charts:
Male Heart MI death(per 100K)..................53.8…..…..58.3…...…..96.5
Female Heart MI death(per100K)…............29.5…...….28.1.…..…..33.4
Breast Cancer fatality%)……………...........25……......28…………...46
Prostate Cancer fatality(%)…………….......19…..…….25….………..57
Male all cancer fatality(%)…………….........33.7…...…47…………..56
Female all cancer fatality(%)………............37.1……..42………......44.2
Notice, there is a serious lack of medical equipment in Canada and the UK, specifically, MRI machines and CT scanners, equipment that American hospitals use extensively on a daily basis to save lives.
You will also notice that breast cancer is slightly more likely to kill you in Canada, and probably will kill you in jolly old England. And if you are a guy, you really don’t want to live in either Canada or the UK. In the UK prostate cancer is death sentence for most.
Sarah has weighed in again on this craziness, as now the death panels are recommending changes in other screenings:
Cancer Screenings - Rational Advice or Rationed Care?
Today at 1:10am
It was a breath of fresh air to finally hear the Democrats admit to their health care bill as "a lot of show and tell and razzmatazz," (see Democrat talking points, in reference to my book). At least now we’re all on the same page when discussing the problems with their monstrous government health care "reform" plan.
Now, tonight, more disconcerting news – the New York Times reports of new guidelines to scale back cervical cancer screenings. The recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists comes on the heels of another recommendation to limit breast cancer screenings with mammograms. There are many questions unanswered for me, but one which immediately comes to mind is whether costs have anything to do with these recommendations. The current health care debate elicits great concern because of its introduction of socialized medicine in America and the inevitable rationed care. We need to carefully watch this debate as it coincides with Capitol Hill’s debate and determine whether we are witnessing the early stages of that rationed care before the Senate bill is rushed through as well.
Another question is why these women-focused cancers are seemingly receiving substandard attention at a time when proactive health and fitness should be the message. Every woman should encourage rigorous debate to ensure that our collective voices are heard. We are paying attention to Washington’s health care proposals, and we want to hear what helps patients the most.
We need answers: Is early screening not saving lives? Why do doctors’ groups disagree? Did costs play any role in these decisions to change the recommendations on breast and cervical cancer screenings? We need assurances that everything we’ve heard this week about fewer tests for women’s cancers is a result of patient-focused research and providing the best care for the right reasons, and not because of bureaucratic pressure to control costs.
Obviously the first thought that comes to mind when hearing of these new recommendations from bureaucratic panels is "rationed care." It’s fair – and healthy – to ask if that’s what Washington has in mind with a government-controlled takeover of a health care system.
- Sarah Palin
The rationing of health care is the only way ObamaCare will work. Again, there will be a finite amount of money budgeted to the nation’s health care. Our "benevolent leaders" will "generously allow" only a certain amount of the money they confiscate from us to actually be used to keep us in good health.
I mean, look, some of this money is desperately needed for more important projects, like keeping ACORN and SEIU in the "community organizing" business. How else will the
democrat/communists keep the glorious people’s revolution alive?
I promised you more still on death panels. (Like this ain’t enough!) Here’s an alarming report from the BBC:
Liver cancer drug 'too expensive'
A drug that can prolong the lives of patients with advanced liver cancer has been rejected for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the cost of Nexavar - about £3,000 a month - was "simply too high".
But Macmillan Cancer Support said the decision was "a scandal".
More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year in the UK and their prognosis is generally poor.
Only about 20% of patients are alive one year after diagnosis, dropping to just 5% after five years.
'Disappointed'
Campaigner Kate Spall, who won the right to have two months of treatment for her mother, Pamela Northcott, in 2007, said it had prolonged her life by four-and-a-half "precious" months.
It had allowed her 58-year-old mother, from Dyserth in Denbighshire, "closure" and "peace", she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"The problem in Mum's case is it took a year for me to fight for the treatment, so we'll never know how well she could have done," she said.
Prof Jonathan Waxman: "I'm very unhappy about the way these decisions are made"
"We had extra time, which was very precious to us all, her symptoms were helped greatly. And, more importantly, for Mum it was a case of getting some closure and peace.
"The psychological feeling when a group of people decide that you cannot have a treatment that can help you is really devastating."
Cancer Research UK's chief clinician Peter Johnson said the decision was "enormously frustrating" because there was no doubt about the drug's effectiveness.
He said: "There's no alternative treatment and there are no other places for people to go. It is expensive, but the only issue is cost and the number of patients affected are quite few - there's probably only six or seven hundred patients a year."
Nexavar - also known as sorafenib - had already been rejected in Scotland, despite studies showing it could extend the life of a liver cancer patient by up to six months.
'Devastating disease'
The Scottish Medicines Consortium ruled that "the manufacturer's justification of the treatment's cost in relation to its benefit was not sufficient to gain acceptance".
Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, agreed: "The price being asked by [the manufacturer] Bayer is simply too high to justify using NHS money which could be spent on better value cancer treatments."
And the group's clinical and public health director, Peter Littlejohns, added the drug was considered "just too expensive" by its advisory committees.
Nexavar is routinely offered to cancer patients elsewhere in the world, and Mike Hobday, head of campaigns at Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was "extremely disappointed" at NICE's decision.
"It is a scandal that the only licensed drug proven to significantly prolong the lives of people with this devastating disease has been rejected, leaving them with no treatment options," he said.
Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "The decision to reject a treatment for advanced liver cancer is a huge blow for patients.
"This is a treatment to extend life for people where all other options have run out.
"It is particularly hard for people with liver cancer given that treatments for many other advanced cancers have been given the green light by NICE.
"People with liver disease often face stigma and discrimination and sadly this decision feels like a further disadvantage to them."
Earlier this year, a government review of end-of-life treatment said NICE should give extra weight to drugs that could extend a patient's life.
The Department of Health said NICE was not ignoring that recommendation, but the NHS could not just pay for any drug at any cost.
The UK is a very totalitarian system when it comes to patient care. The system also strips it’s citizens of many basic liberties and freedoms we take for granted in America. As I wrote in an earlier piece, not only do they have death panels in the UK, these government monstrosities have evolved into what I am calling "lifestyle panels."
Kerry Robertson, 17, and Mark McDougall, 25, haven’t broken any law. But they are on the run from the authorities, and from their home in Dunfermline, Scotland.
Less than eight weeks ago the couple were excitedly planning their wedding. They had booked church ceremony for the 5th of September, a Saturday. She had already chosen and bought her wedding dress. They had bought the rings, and invited 20 guests. Two days before the big day, however, social services told them that their wedding would have to be cancelled. Fife Council wrote a letter, objecting to the marriage, to Dunfermline Register Office, who consequently refused to marry the couple.
Social services claim Kerry cannot understand what marriage means, because she has learning difficulties. They are mild, it seems. She is able to read and write, and is going to college to "catch up." Her partner Mark told the Daily Mail: "'I didn't even know she had learning difficulties until we'd been dating for two months."
Kerry is 29 weeks pregnant – with a boy they have named Ben. "Although Ben isn't born yet," Kerry says, "I already love my baby and know I will be a good mum. Mark and I talk to him inside me every day and tell him we love him. We've already bought him clothes and my cousin, who recently had a baby, has handed down a beautiful crib for him."
Social services say that Kerry – a college student – isn’t intelligent enough to bring up her child with Mark. They plan to allow the couple only a few hours with Ben after he is born. Then Ben will be taken from Kerry and Mark, and placed with foster parents.
I went on to add:
Let’s think about this for a minute.
Here are a couple of young kids in love. They were excited and planning a nice wedding, when all of a sudden, a Big Government drone steps in and through their own "expertise" decides they are not fit to be parents because the girl is a little "slow."
Under those guidelines, if adopted in America, would Barack Obama be allowed to keep his kids? I mean this is the guy that thought he had traveled to 57 states on the campaign, and had 1 or 2 to go. Would that make Obama a little "slow" in the eyes of the almighty bureaucrat?
Can you imagine?
My point? Allowing the government control over anything can be dangerous, even for the most noble of reasons. It’s why our founders wrote a Constitution that was design to allow the several states and all citizens, great freedoms, while restraining the federal government. In the past 100 years we have seen a rapid shift to the exact opposite, as "progressives" both democrat/communists and Republicans have grabbed more control, and wrestled many freedoms from the several states, and the American citizen.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
____Ronald Reagan
All of these new "recommendations" that are suddenly coming down from these faceless panels are the canary in the coal mine for what is to come if we allow Obama and his radical communist agenda to succeed., if we allow ObamaCare to become law.
This is can all be stopped, but you must be willing to put every single ounce of effort you can muster to achieve that goal. We are at war in this nation. Oh, it’s not a shooting war, but it is a war nonetheless. We are war with radical communists who want to "fundamentally change" America into something it was never meant to be.
It’s a failed prescription. Communism, socialism, Statism, whatever "ism" you want to call this evil, has destroyed nations world wide every time it has been tried. Just because this group of radicals think they are the ones smart enough to make it work doesn’t make it so!
The surest way to lose most, if not all, of your most fundamental freedoms and rights is to allow the Obama regime to continue along this path of certain destruction.
As I write this on an early Friday afternoon, I realize the U.S. Senate is about to vote on a 2000 plus page piece of liberty destroying garbage that absolutely no one has read, or understands.
This multi-trillion dollar affair will raise taxes, destroy our quality of health care, and give the government powers that will, for all practical purposes, void our Constitution, completely usurp it.
Speaking of the Constitution, it only took four sheets of paper to write the most significant and enduring political document in the history all mankind. Our Constitution is the envy of the world, and the absolute blueprint for the freedom of all mankind. Four sheets of paper.
By contrast, the lunacy that is our current radical communist controlled Congress, has produced bills in the House and Senate of a combined total of nearly 4100 pages. Incredible.
Here’s a good time to remind everyone the words of the Great Ronald Reagan on the dangers of allowing these radicals to take over our lives through health care. This is from the successful Operation Coffee Cup Campaign against socialized medicine in 1961:
Isn’t it time that all of America listens to one of our greatest leaders in history?
You can read more about the horrors in Canada and the United Kingdom here and here.
Complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook note:
Not Enough Hours in the Day Today at 5:16pm EST
The response on this book tour has been overwhelming. We are truly humbled, and I thank you.
I've been told that yesterday there were supporters in Noblesville who stood in long lines for hours in the cold and rain, and the book signing event ended without a chance to say hello to everyone who showed up. I am so sorry. We are working on a solution for those who were left behind.
I apologize.
- Sarah Palin
Governor Palin is apparently responding to this situation that developed in Noblesville last night. You can hear Governor Palin in the background trying to reason with the crowd, which turned from adoring to unruly after the signing session, for some yet unknown reason, finished before all the books were signed. Although their disappointment is understandable, the behavior of these people bespeaks the fickleness of human nature.
Following is the complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook post on cancer screenings, why cancers specific to women receive sub-standard attention, and the relation of screenings to the current health care debate:
It was a breath of fresh air to finally hear the Democrats admit to their health care bill as “a lot of show and tell and razzmatazz,” (see Democrat talking points, in reference to my book). At least now we’re all on the same page when discussing the problems with their monstrous government health care “reform” plan (Palin, 2009, ¶1).
Now, tonight, more disconcerting news – the New York Times reports of new guidelines to scale back cervical cancer screenings. The recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists comes on the heels of another recommendation to limit breast cancer screenings with mammograms. There are many questions unanswered for me, but one which immediately comes to mind is whether costs have anything to do with these recommendations. The current health care debate elicits great concern because of its introduction of socialized medicine in America and the inevitable rationed care. We need to carefully watch this debate as it coincides with Capitol Hill’s debate and determine whether we are witnessing the early stages of that rationed care before the Senate bill is rushed through as well (Palin, 2009, ¶2).
Another question is why these women-focused cancers are seemingly receiving substandard attention at a time when proactive health and fitness should be the message. Every woman should encourage rigorous debate to ensure that our collective voices are heard. We are paying attention to Washington’s health care proposals, and we want to hear what helps patients the most (Palin, 2009, ¶3).
We need answers: Is early screening not saving lives? Why do doctors’ groups disagree? Did costs play any role in these decisions to change the recommendations on breast and cervical cancer screenings? We need assurances that everything we’ve heard this week about fewer tests for women’s cancers is a result of patient-focused research and providing the best care for the right reasons, and not because of bureaucratic pressure to control costs (Palin, 2009, ¶4).
Obviously the first thought that comes to mind when hearing of these new recommendations from bureaucratic panels is “rationed care.” It’s fair – and healthy – to ask if that’s what Washington has in mind with a government-controlled takeover of a health care system (Palin, 2009, ¶5).
Following is the complete transcript of Governor Palin's Facebook post with a photo spread from the Going Rogue Book Tour:
The first three stops on the Going Rogue book tour have been exhilarating (Palin, 2009, ¶1)!
I am humbled by the outpouring of support and have so enjoyed meeting and hearing from such great Americans in Michigan and Indiana. Our next three stops will keep us in the Heartland, and we hope that you can make it to one of our events in Cincinnati or Columbus, Ohio; or Washington, Pennsylvania (Palin, 2009, ¶2).
Enjoy the pictures and go rogue with us (Palin, 2009, ¶3)!
- Sarah Palin
Gov. Sarah Palin greets a crowd of people outside of a suburban Grand Rapids, MI, shopping mall, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, prior to kicking off the first stop of the "Going Rogue" book tour. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a soldier who waited in line to have his book signed at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Grand Rapids, MI, Wednesday, November 18, 2009. This is the first stop on Palin's "Going Rogue" book tour. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin shakes hands with a family who waited in line to have their books signed at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Grand Rapids, MI, Wednesday, November 18, 2009. This is the first stop on Palin's "Going Rogue" book tour. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin signs a book and talks with a woman who waited in line to have her book signed at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Grand Rapids, MI, Wednesday, November 18, 2009. This is the first stop on Palin's "Going Rogue" book tour. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin at the Fort Wayne, IN, book signing, Thursday, November 19, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin at the Fort Wayne, IN, book signing, Thursday, November 19, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin at the Fort Wayne, IN, book signing, Thursday, November 19, 2009. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
After 4 hours of signing books during the third "Going Rogue" book signing event, Gov. Sarah Palin greets a crowd of media and fans waiting outside of Borders bookstore Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Noblesville, IN. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a woman who's looks resemble that of Gov. Sarah Palin at Borders bookstore during the third "Going Rogue" book signing event Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Noblesville, IN. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin shakes hands with a young woman who waited in line to have her "Going Rogue" book signed at Borders bookstore Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Noblesville, IN. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
A bird's eye view of Gov. Sarah Palin talking with fans and signing her book "Going Rogue" at Borders bookstore during the third "Going Rogue" book signing event Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Noblesville, IN. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a family who waited in line to have their "Going Rogue" book signed at Borders bookstore Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Noblesville, IN. Photo by Shealah Craighead. Copyright SarahPAC.
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All previously cited and referenced content from Governor Palin's state page has been archived by the Alaska State Library:
Prior reference URLs went invalid on July 26, 2009. The archive is organized by month and year. If you are seeking a gubernatorial release, you will find it in the archive.
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Ron Devito is a LAN infrastructure engineer/project manager for Con Edison of New York. He manages CAT-5e and fiber optic cable installation projects; designs and builds LAN rooms; and works with battery backups (UPS), automatic transfer switches, and environmental monitoring equipment.
Mr. Devito is an instrument-rated private pilot and uses Microsoft's FSX and X-Plane 9.0 to stay proficient. He is also a recreational saltwater fisherman. Mr. Devito is married without children and lives in Staten Island, NY. He has an MBA from University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor in Journalism from St. John's University.
Mr. Devito analyzes Governor Palin's accomplishments from the perspectives of an MBA and through the lens of Reagan Conservatism.
Mr. Bazar is a black conservative from a black conservative family. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and finally settled in New Jersey. Throughout his life he knew he did not share many of the common beliefs of other American blacks. For starters, he never took to the term "African-American." He has meet too many real Africans who are now Americans, to ever with a straight face say we share something in common other than skin tones. Their history and culture is truly a unique and is a completely different experience from his own. His culture is distinctly American, from the way he speaks, thinks, dresses and acts and you know what else? He loves it! So for him, he will always be an American who just happens to be black. He puts himself and his beliefs out here in cyberspace, to show his fellow blacks that there is something more. That one need not accept the false promise of the next social program, the belief in government as savior or the next Democratic candidate will right all wrongs. That true Hope and Change comes from belief in yourself, in a nation that allows dynamic movement if you are bold enough, smart enough and brave enough to make it happen.
Pamela Geller is the editor and publisher of Atlas Shrugs and is a team member of Jewish Mothers for Sarah Palin. She is a former associate publisher of the New York Observer. Her op-eds have appeared in the Washington Times, WorldNetDaily, The American Thinker, Israel National News, and other publications. She writes extensively about Israel and Islam. Some of her work appears on World News Daily.
Her guiding philosophy is: "A man whose ability and independence leads others to reject him, but who perseveres nevertheless to achieve his values. Man as an individual, as a creator. What's the most depraved type of human being? Not a sadist or a murderer or a sex maniac or a dictator; "The man without a purpose." Yet most people seem to go through their lives without a clearly defined purpose."
Gary P. Jackson, Author
Gary P. Jackson is the editor and publisher of: "A time for Choosing." Mr. Jackson provides hard-hitting analysis of liberal attacks against Governor Palin through the lens of Reagan Conservatism.
BettyJean Kling, M.D., M.Ed, Author
BettyJean Kling, M.S., M.Ed is a retired Special Education teacher and business owner. She owns and operates the site: http://www.free-us-now.com/, which hosts four blogs and the BlogTalkRadio program Majority United. She is the editor and publisher of: FreeMeNow, a blog which focuses on supporting candidates by principles, not merely party; R.I.D.sNOW, which focuses on voting out corrupt, ineffective, or otherwise bad politicians; Our ERA Blog, which advocates for the Equal Rights Amendment; and FreeUSNow, which focuses on ending sexism, misogyny, and violence towards women.
Ms. Kling is also involved in the Democrats for McCain and PUMA movements – Hillary Clinton supporters who are staunchly against Obama and who are hard to the core in their of support of Governor Palin. Democrats for McCain and PUMA were at the forefront of warning Americans about Obama’s nefarious connections and past, an activity the McCain campaign and the Republican party refused to undertake. Ms. Kling and her associates are dedicated to ensuring that Governor Palin will finish what her predecessors started – smashing glass ceilings – from above.
Kristina Lazzaro is a student at Cortland State University where she is studying to become an athletic trainer and physical therapist. During the 2008 Presidential election, she became inspired by the great governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin because of her personal integrity and determination to make the United States the best country it can be. Ms. Lazzaro is a huge support of Governor Palin and believes that it is her job to get people to become inspired by and support her.
Ms. Lazzaro's work will focus on the inspirational aspect of Governor Palin's Transformaional Leadership - inspiring followers is at the core of this leadership methodology.
Dee Reynolds, Author
Dee Reynolds currently teaches high school bands in Nashville, TN. She formerly worked as a professional musician; singing, writing, producing, and touring throughout North America and around the world. She has written and produced several children's plays, and is currently working on her first novel.
Ms. Reynolds is active in local politics, supporting conservative ideals and candidates. She works with teens in a leadership forum, encouraging young people to be active and engaged in conservative politics.
Ms. Reynolds has been inspired by Governor Sarah Palin, because she has served with courage and integrity and is an inspiration to all Americans. "Governor Palin" is a rising star, and undoubtedly will be a strong voice in the future.
Adrienne Ross, Author
Adrienne Ross is the editor and publisher of Motivation: Truth and a Board Member, Media Director, and NY State Organizer for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee. Ms. Ross met Governor Palin in Auburn, NY in early June, 2009 as part of celebrating Alaska's 50th Year of Statehood. She met Governor Palin a second time during a month-long trip to Alaska.
Ms. Ross is a born-again Christian who is madly in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. She is also a middle school English Language Arts teacher. She chooses to use the gifts God has given her to be a voice of truth in this crucial time in our nation. She is taking a stand for righteousness and for leaders, like Sarah Palin, who stand for righteousness because, as the Bible declares, "Righteousness exalts a nation." It's time for people of integrity to stand up, speak up, and make a difference. Her sole motivation? The TRUTH!
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