Palin book signing at Elmendorf Air Force base.

I have to imagine that when Sarah requested that this book signing be closed to the public it was probably people like myself and my fellow Alaskan bloggers that she had in mind. Unfortunately for Sarah she seems to not be aware that we are the "new media" and keeping us out is simply not an option. You betcha! Nice try though.

So let me start off with a compliment. I am not always looking for the negative after all.

I thought Sarah looked quite fetching today. Her hair looked good and she was smartly dressed.

It even looks like her surgery scars were completely healed. See I can be nice.

I looked around to see who all had come with her. I saw Mama and Papa Heath, big brother Chuck Jr., Willow, and a very bored looking Piper.

No Bristol. No Todd. And even favorite Palin prop Trig was nowhere to be seen. Hmmm odd.

If you look in the picture above you will also see that there was still no wedding ring. (Haven't they dredged that lake yet?)

Here is the whole famn damily. Chuck Sr., Chuck Jr., and Sally Heath were showing their support and posing for pictures with the teabaggers and Palinista's after they had received their autograph.

I talked to Chuck Sr. and he said that Billy Graham's plane had flown Sarah and family to a "few places" along the book tour, but that Harper Collins had flown them up here for this event. Since when do "bus tours" involve multiple planes as well?

Today Piper got to play "Fidel Castro hat wearing socialist" instead of mom.

I think it looks cuter on Piper. But boy was this kid bored.

And so was this kid. Willow looked like she wanted to be just about anyplace else in the world rather than standing in this mall watching people fawn over her mother. You and me both kiddo.

I talked to a number of people in the line. Every single one of them were gaga over Sarah.

I asked them what they liked best about Sarah, and almost every one cited the fact that she was "honest". No I did not type that wrong, they actually believe her to be honest! Then I followed up by asking if they had read her book. NONE of them had actually read the damn thing yet. I wish I could go back for a follow up interview after they finish it, and ask them "Do you think she is honest NOW?"

I tried to find out from the very cordial female soldier in charge of this event if Palin had been invited or not, but she did not know. I also asked if it was common for the base to have authors on to sign their books. She said that it sometimes happened and cited Mary Tillman, Pat Tillman's mom, and C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger as two examples. However she said they had never had a crowd as large as this one.

I kid you not, some of these people waited outside this place for up to four hours to have their book signed by Caribou Barbie. Almost all of the people in line were from out of state, but I did find three Alaskans from, you guessed it, Wasilla. And pretty much each and every one of them thought having Palin run for president in 2012 was a great idea.

I bet this guy felt the same way.

Damn, what is wrong with these people?

(Photos courtesy of Dennis Zaki)