Think Progress

Fort Bragg sales of Palin’s book are ‘weak’ in advance of her visit.

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is in Fort Bragg, NC today, for another stop on her “Going Rogue” book tour. Army officials initially banned the media from covering Palin’s visit, fearing the event would turn into political grandstanding “directed against the commander in chief.” But after objections from the press, the military relented. As a compromise, Palin “will not make a speech, pose for photos, or personalize notes in the books she signs.” Local WTVD-TV reports that bookstores around Fort Bragg were experiencing “slow sales” in advance of Palin’s visit, which is nevertheless supposed to attract “hundreds” of people. Watch it:



87 Responses to “Fort Bragg sales of Palin’s book are ‘weak’ in advance of her visit.”

  1. DNFP says:

    No shit sherlock.

    The trauma they’re still coping with is NO place for partisan small-minded cheerleading.

    I just don’t think they’re in the mood right now.


  2. DNFP says:

    Sorry, wrong “Fort”, but same message.


  3. Fritz says:

    I am sorry to report that my effort to set Failin’ Palin on fire with my mind has not yet been successful.
    The project will continue for the indefinite future.


  4. P.D. says:

    Sarah Palin is the most over-hyped person on the planet. MSM made her a ’star’. By constantly showlighting her and pimping her book. We all know that Conservative groups by her books in bulk and give them away. Coulter and Malkin did it for years to get their ‘Bestseller’ status.


  5. Shayne says:

    I thought she LOVED the troops. Why isn’t she GIVING AWAY copies of here “book”.


  6. Purple State says:

    Eh, she’s turning into a show host, not a politician.


  7. Papirini says:

    It makes sense. Palin is not a military hero, nor has she shown much initiative as a supporter of troops (especially when it comes to the VA). People in the military are not going to buy a book from someone who is willing to use them as political pawns for her own financial gain.

    Despite the bad rap most get due to the bad apples who get the publicity and who really are ‘ Republican grunts’ in spirit, a lot of military people are much smarter than the average bear. And most certainly ten times smarter than Sarah Palin.


  8. P.D. says:

    Shayne@5, Yeah, really. She SHOULD give her books away. In a way, this is sleazy. She’s hawking books after a tragety. Even the Army told her not to make a speech. This whole thing is unseemly.


  9. tom says:

    “my effort to set Failin’ Palin on fire with my mind has not yet been successful”

    That’s surprising. With all the sawdust between her ears, you would think she’d be merely a smoldering cinder by now.


  10. Chyron HR says:

    Army officials initially banned the media from covering Palin’s visit, fearing the event would turn into political grandstanding “directed against the commander in chief.”

    If you’re afraid that the event will turn into political grandstanding “directed against the commander in chief”, then shouldn’t you ban the person doing the grandstanding?


  11. EnnuiDivine says:

    This woman is an incredible failure. Can’t wait for that primary season to start…


  12. nastar says:

    Tom @ 9

    Wet moldy sawdust does not burn well. Keep her in the spot light long enough, she will dry up and burn spontaneously from within.


  13. tom says:

    I can imagine that sales of Quaylin’s book are already beginning to decline. Most Americans are waiting for her next book — “Going Away”.


  14. Zimzone says:

    Perhaps we should ‘up armor’ our soldiers & vehicles as a priority instead of allowing some harpy to sell her books on base.

    She’s a proven liar, an obvious dipshit and a fearmonger.


  15. mike from Arlington says:

    Too bad the Navy didn’t ban Giulliani from slamming Obama while on Fox and Friends from the deck of the U.S.S. New York on its maiden voyage to the harbor a few weeks back.

    I wish someone would bring up that footage and highlight the complete breech of military protocol Fox showed.


  16. livelongandprosper says:

    Chyron HR says:
    Army officials initially banned the media from covering Palin’s visit, fearing the event would turn into political grandstanding “directed against the commander in chief.”

    If you’re afraid that the event will turn into political grandstanding “directed against the commander in chief”, then shouldn’t you ban the person doing the grandstanding?

    They can only ban a person if said person is a liberal. Banning a conservative will get you boat loads of criticism from all over the political map. Banning a liberal will get buried in the MSM on page 50.


  17. tom says:

    Keep her in the spot light long enough, she will dry up and burn spontaneously from within.

    I am not sure how that’ll work. She’s one neuron short of a synapse so she lacks an ignition system. We need to keep Fritz on-task.


  18. RUCerious says:

    Is she going to give it up to get some books sold? I know she’s about the best panderer around, just sayin…


  19. fergus says:

    ” supposed to attract “hundreds” of people.”

    Yeah, like a car wreck attracts rubberneckers.


  20. NinerFan says:

    Come on, people. Amazon was discounting it from $29 down to $9 before it was even released. Free Republic is giving it out for free with memberships.

    It was never going to be a big seller. The media loves to center itself on irrelevant crap.


  21. AIO says:

    FOX news hasn’t had their say yet; according to them there will be thousands upon thousands with video to prove it.


  22. Shayne says:

    Most celebrities visit the troops and don’t even want publicity for it. Only this b#t(h is trying to make money off of them while garnering publicity. The nerve.


  23. Squash says:

    She was in Rochester, NY on Sat night for a book signing. The local news article said that she stayed until 9:30pm to make sure everyone in line got through, over 1000 people. Then she was flying to VA for two signings on Sunday. I guess the bus only shows up at some places.


  24. sscncturn64 says:

    I saw an interview with some clown who stood in line for 17 hours just to meet palin. These people would actually vote for this dunce. I dont get it, where do these people come from.


  25. Shayne says:

    If she had any class she’d bring 1,000 signed books with her and shake hands and give them away at the base.


  26. mauman says:

    Congratulations, Jimmie Johnson, for winning another NASCAR championship. You were 25 years old when we were attacked on 9/11. You chose to continue driving around in circles instead of fighting for our country. Before each race, NASCAR proudly presents the military colors, performs a fighter jet flyover, and thanks God for being on our side with a religious (sometimes in Jesus’ name) invocation.

    Fort Bragg could have used you; instead you chose to drive around in circles, just like the rest of your NASCAR buddies. Again, Jimmie, congratulations.


  27. zxbe says:

    Isn’t it ironic (don’t you think) that Palin was all over Obama for being a “celebrity.” Well here she is in all her hypocritical glory.


  28. P.D. says:

    Shayne, your right. Many celebs do tours, and entertain for free with NO publicity. In fact, alot of them travel on their own dime overseas to see the troops.


  29. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Squash says:
    She was in Rochester, NY on Sat night for a book signing. The local news article said that she stayed until 9:30pm to make sure everyone in line got through, over 1000 people.

    I guess she is capable of weighing damage to her public image against her personal whims and deciding that the bad press isn’t worth getting to her massage ten minutes earlier.


  30. ralph the wonder llama says:

    P.D. says:
    Shayne, your right. Many celebs do tours, and entertain for free with NO publicity. In fact, alot of them travel on their own dime overseas to see the troops.

    Among them: Senator Al Franken (D-MN)


  31. NinerFan says:

    ZXBZ: “Isn’t it ironic (don’t you think) that Palin was all over Obama for being a “celebrity.” ”

    Thanks for the reminder. Unbelievable.


  32. Bob says:

    Do military bases have a lot of promotional book signings and I just haven’t heard of any? This seems like political grandstanding anyway.


  33. P.D. says:

    ralph@30, I thank God Al won. He has done a wonderful job. No matter what the Righties say, Frankin will ALWAYS care for the average American.


  34. pastcaring says:

    Fort Bragg sales of Palin’s book are ‘weak’…

    Correction: Palin & Palin’s book are weak…


  35. P.D. says:

    Bob@32, Good question. I have no idea. This whole thing feels so wrong.


  36. Dirty Hippie says:

    Going over like a fart in a spacesuit.


  37. coskibum says:

    She’s Not a Member of the Armed Forces
    She’s Not a Veteran
    She’s Not a Governor
    She’s Not a Official (in any capacity)

    She should not be aloud to use the base for any purpose.


  38. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    Why in gods name are they having a book signing on a military base? Who authorized it?


  39. PatrioticLiberalChristian says:

    If “best seller” status for books was based on dollars generated (like movies) then either many conservative books wouldn’t make the list or those who try to jack up the statistics would have to pay full amount like regular folks.


  40. P.D. says:

    I think this whole thing should be cancelled. She won’t be making a speech (We’ll see about THAT), no photos and no personlized notes. What’s the point? This is what the Righties ALWAYS accuse Obama of. The ultimate Photo-Op. Ironic no? Why aren’t the Righties assailing Palin? I need a drink.


  41. katy says:

    … supposed to attract “hundreds” of people.

    did anyone see the crowd gathered this morning at the TODAY show
    to see and hear SUSAN BOYLE?



  42. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Fort Bragg sales of Palin’s book are ‘weak’…

    Hmmm… I’ve heard tell of people in theaters texting their friends during the movie to tell them thumbs up or thumbs down… word gets around soooooo fast these days.

    Are the ‘weak sales’ here a result of word ALREADY getting out:

    Save yer money… it sucks!!!‘ ???

    How long until outfits like ‘Teh Heritage Foundation’ are giving it away to new subscribers, bundled up w/ Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck’s latest opi*?

    *plural of ‘opus’… lest you t’ink it’s a typo… don’t wanna appear illiterate or anyt’ing like dat…


  43. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    Why in gods name are they having a book signing on a military base? Who authorized it?

    Ya know… that’s a really, really good question…


  44. geoman77 says:

    Do military bases have a lot of promotional book signings and I just haven’t heard of any? This seems like political grandstanding anyway.

    I know that Bill O’Reilly came and visited the troops in Kabul when I was in Afghanistan a couple years ago. Little speech, pressed the flesh, signed books. I stayed away from the base during his visit and hung out at the Chinese brothel out in town instead, drinking and playing pool. The poor military guys were restricted to base and did not have this option.


  45. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Perhaps sales are slowing because word has gotten out that it’s not:

    1. a coloring book…

    2. a pop-up, talking book…

    3. a cookbook featuring Sarah’s secret recipe for mooseburgers…

    4. or… a how-to sex book…

    5. has no centerfold…

    6. all of the above…


  46. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Zimzone says:

    She’s a proven liar, an obvious dipshit and a fearmonger.

    Geez… and you that as thought those were all BAD THINGS


  47. RUCerious says:

    Just wondering if Toddster or the baby boy are accompanying her on her tour?


  48. evangenital says:

    I am quite surprised.

    Isn’t the military supposed to be crawling with repiggies?

    The repiggies just love books like GOING ROGUE and MY PET GOAT.


  49. RUCerious says:

    I’m personally going to buy my $9.00 copy and leave it in the bathroom for those ‘emergency, out of TP’ moments.


  50. livelongandprosper says:

    snorlax says:
    Publisher HarperCollins says the first-day sales for Sarah Palin’s new memoir are among the best ever for a nonfiction book.

    Mass buying by right wing corporations and think tanks as well as bargain bin pricing will tend to skew the numbers.

    The Best Seller list is meaningless. Hell, Oprah says a book is good and the sales shoot up. Doesn’t really matter if the book is any good. It’s all about marketing. And marketing Sarah Palin will only work for people that cling to there guns.


  51. Shayne says:

    The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Perhaps sales are slowing because word has gotten out that:

    7. It’s a coffee table book that doubles as a coffee table.

    /Seinfeld


  52. Shayne says:

    snorlax says:

    Publisher HarperCollins says the first-day sales for Sarah Palin’s new memoir are among the best ever for a nonfiction book.

    The publisher reports that Palin’s book, Going Rogue: An American Life, sold 300,000 copies its first day out, says the Associated Press. Former President Bill Clinton’s My Life sold 400,000 copies the day it was released in 2004,

    You do know that 400,000 is more than 300,000 don’t you? So I guess Harper Collins is lying about the “best ever” for a nonfiction book thingy.


  53. Chyron HR says:

    Palin’s book, Going Rogue: An American Life, sold 300,000 copies its first day out, says the Associated Press. Former President Bill Clinton’s My Life sold 400,000 copies the day it was released in 2004

    So she’s 75% as popular as Bill Clinton? Is that really the kind of statistic you want to be throwing around?


  54. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    Man, she really is thin skinned isn’t she?


  55. morlock says:

    @51 RUCerious

    I’ll just spend the $9 on an emergency stash. I don’t want to expose my “regions” to anything from that woman. Seriously.


  56. toasterhead says:

    Dirty Hippie says:

    Going over like a fart in a spacesuit.
    November 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    __________

    I don’t think a fart in a spacesuit would be so bad, actually. The life support systems on the Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) used on the Shuttle and ISS are designed to suck air out of the suit at the feet and elbows, and blow in fresh air at the head, so your nose is always upwind of your behind. The suit also uses a charcoal filter to remove odors from the suit’s air supply. Of course, the food astronauts eat is formulated to prevent flatulence from forming, which is why you won’t find freeze-dried falafel or black beans & rice.


  57. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    RUCerious says:

    I’m personally going to buy my $9.00 copy and leave it in the bathroom for those ‘emergency, out of TP’ moments.

    In that case, you’re better off buying the book through Newsmax. They’re selling it for only $4.97. If you get a subscription to Newsmax, the book is free (but that may be too high a price to pay for toilet paper.)


  58. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Shayne says:

    7. It’s a coffee table book that doubles as a coffee table.

    /Seinfeld

    Hoooooookay… thas a valid one…

    How about…

    8. it’s NOT a comic book!

    However… I suspect “Sarah Palin For Complete Dummies” would be a surefire money maker…


  59. STORM says:

    This comment has been voted down. Click to read.


  60. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    snorlax says:

    Publisher HarperCollins says the first-day sales for Sarah Palin’s new memoir are among the best ever for a nonfiction book.

    Of course, this does beg the obvious question… how many of those 300K were bulk orders placed by mysterious (Heritage Foundation et al) entities, simply for the sake of making it look like it REALLY, REALLY is a hot number!™… hmmm???

    BTW… 300,000 represents… lemme see… less than .1% of the population…

    Whoa… that’ll put her in office…


  61. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    snorlax says:

    Publisher HarperCollins says the first-day sales for Sarah Palin’s new memoir are among the best ever for a nonfiction book.

    Quite impressive… seeing as it actually fiction!


  62. Xisithrus says:

    Correction: Lynn Vincents Book.


  63. Bobwurst says:

    Storm, how many copies of palin’s book will have a cracked spine compared to Hillary’s?


  64. NinerFan says:

    Storm: “The year before, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s “Living History” started at 200,000.”

    Well, 300,000 at $9 or free with Free Republic memberships is actually less revenue than 200,000 at $24.95, but who’s counting.


  65. Bobwurst says:

    Seriously Stormy Monday, if Hillary sold 200,000 books and Palin sold 300,000 books, and Hillary is a horrible person, doesn’t that make palin one third more horrible?


  66. NinerFan says:

    Conservatives do this every time. They bulk buy, give out free copies, discount down to bargain prices… and then bray and honk about how the book sales numbers represent consensus in our country. They’ve done it with Man Coulter’s books, Bill O’Lielly’s books and Glen Becks offerings.

    Hey conservatives: win an election again and we’ll talk about consensus.


  67. Hoodathunk says:

    Someone really should revamp the rating of these books. Books purchased in bulk by a non-reseller (ie Borders or Barnes & Nobles) should have a separate listing versus individual book sales.


  68. Hoodathunk says:

    This also applies to the practice of ratings for TV. There should be a separate category for the number of sets that Faux pays people to have tuned to their channel.


  69. pastcaring says:

    First Day sales don’t matter more than the total number of hardcover sales over a certain time period; that will eventually determine the total print run as well as the paperback issue…

    Now if you want to tally the number of copies of Failin’ Palin’s books that will end up on the bargain shelf at 4.99 or less you might be on to something…for example, I couldn’t give away a signed first edition copy of Rush Bimbo’s book, Rush is right…that was a real stinker…I eventually had to use it for firewood…sheesh…


  70. smidget says:

    If book sales are directly related to the popularity of the ideas contained therein, what does it say that the “Selected Quotations from Chairman Mao” is second only to the Bible in all-time sales, with over 800 million copies sold? I guess it says that way more people care what Chairman Mao had to say than what Sarah Palin has to say. Or is it time to rethink our logical inferences, such as assuming that sales and ratings and the like are the only statistics that matter?


  71. smidget says:

    Wow, I looked at the completely wrong number. Approximately 2.2 BILLION copies of the aforementioned book have sold. My bad. :)


  72. MapleStreet says:

    Corporate buy outs affect the sales the first few days. I wonder how the sales figures will be for the next couple of weeks ????????

    Too bad the soldiers are in a tenuous situation should they tell Palin what they really think.


  73. Shayne says:

    Well considering the probability that anybody is a supporter of Palin is too stupid to read that is a huge amount of books sold to illiterates. Probably a record.


  74. NinerFan says:

    Smidget: “what does it say that the “Selected Quotations from Chairman Mao” is second only to the Bible in all-time sales, with over 800 million copies sold?”

    Fun fact: conservatives who were so outraged that Obama bowed too low for them seem to have forgotten that Richard Nixon bowed even lower…. to Chairman Mao!


  75. USCKitty says:

    snorlax says:
    This comment has been voted down. Click to read.

    Publisher HarperCollins says the first-day sales for Sarah Palin’s new memoir are among the best ever for a nonfiction book.

    The publisher reports that Palin’s book, Going Rogue: An American Life, sold 300,000 copies its first day out, says the Associated Press. Former President Bill Clinton’s My Life sold 400,000 copies the day it was released in 2004, and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Living History moved 200,000 copies one year earlier.

    How many of those copies were mass-bought by right-wing groups like NewsMax?


  76. USCKitty says:

    STORM says:
    PALIN SELLS 300K ON FIRST DAY; TOPS HILLARY

    Publisher HarperCollins said Friday that Sarah Palin’s memoir sold 300,000 copies its first day, among the best openings ever for a nonfiction book.
    The year before, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s “Living History” started at 200,000.

    Snorlax already made that point…of course it just shows the power of right-wing groups who manipulate the numbers in order to make authors on their side look better…Of course this just shows that you are a mindless follower, is this the talking point of the day? You don’t offer anything new, but tired old right-wing talking points. Try to come up with something original.


  77. slappy magoo says:

    I wonder why on-base sales of the book are considered “weak.” I mean I”m GLAD they’re weak, but I wonder if it’s because people on base don’t want the book, or are getting it elsewhere (like Newsmax). Part of me thinks (hopes) the real reason is that, while many in the military possibly like Sarah as a person, or like her opinions or her moxie or whatever the hell it is people find interesting about her, they realize that as a politician, as a possible Presidential candidate, she’s toxic, and they don’t want to do anything to indicate that her continued presence in the political arena is a good idea.


  78. bemusedmuse says:

    I’m surprised she didn’t ask for a registration fee of some sort, just to show up and bless the troops with her presence and book.


  79. smidget says:

    NinerFan

    It was okay when Nixon did it, because he was a Republican. Of course, Nixon would roll over in his grave if one made the mistake of assuming that he and today’s Republicans shared anything more than the name of the party. But that’s another discussion altogether.

    slappy

    I tend to think that book sales are weak there because they’ve got other things to do. Not that reading isn’t worthwhile, but these guys have a long list of things to do other than read the vitriolic rantings of a ridiculously overhyped moron. And they probably don’t take too kindly to people who go out of their way to make up vicious lies insulting the President, either.


  80. TeleMan says:

    sscncturn64 says:

    I saw an interview with some clown who stood in line for 17 hours just to meet palin. These people would actually vote for this dunce. I dont get it, where do these people come from.

    And these are the same folks that claim (project, actually) that we worship Obama as the Messiah.


  81. web_geek says:

    Sorry if this has already been posted. (I’m still making my way through the thread.) There’s a whole lot of stupid to witness in this video.

    SARAH PALIN BOOK SIGNING – Interviews with Supporters


  82. Xisithrus says:

    Sales?

    Newsmax then goes on to explain that it will provide the book free of charge or at 70% off the cover price

    They are giving away the massive amounts of books thru, hopefully, new subscribers to Newsmax.


  83. CP says:

    Soldiers being deployed from Fort Bragg probably contributed to the low sales as well.


  84. majii says:

    I think members of the military have a new found respect for President Obama because they know how serious he is about making decisions where their deployment is concerned. They also know about the new military benefits bill. The fact that they wouldn’t allow Palin on base to do political grandstanding to attack President Obama speaks volumes as to where they feel their loyalty belongs. Boy, I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall of the room she was in when she found out about this. She probably needed another Atkins bar and diet pepsi fix to calm her down.


  85. jawnyfive1 says:

    All of the news I’ve seen/read/heard today all said that there were about 4,000 people that attended the book signing…I thought it was supposed to be “hundreds?”


  86. CarmanK says:

    Sarah Palin solicited donations for SarahPAC on the base at the book signing. She asked members of the military and their families for money!!! Palin has no shame or personal integrity. Somehow, she must have learned more magic tricks from her witch hunting pastor than we gave her credit.



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