Clinton closes book tour with Vineyard stop (Freepers protest mentioned)

Cape Cod Times ^ | 8-17-03 | JACK COLEMAN

[JulieRNR21]

VINEYARD HAVEN - The first two in line, sisters-in-law Kim and Marcia Quitadamo of Worcester, showed up outside the Bunch of Grapes bookstore at 5:30 - that's 5:30 a.m.

Within two hours, enough others had shown up for a 4 p.m. appearance by U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that Tisbury police asked bookstore manager Robby Bick to open his doors at 7:30 a.m., 90 minutes early.

"We have about 1,500 books in the store," Bick said early yesterday afternoon. "Or we had 1,500 books in the store," he said alluding to brisk sales.

The final stop on Clinton's book tour for her memoirs, "Living History," came yesterday on the Vineyard, a favorite vacation haunt of Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

The pair arrived by plane early yesterday afternoon, without their daughter, Chelsea. They are staying for a week at the Chilmark home of actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.

The former president did not attend the book signing.

By 3 p.m., the line from Bunch of Grapes stretched 50 feet north to Centre Street, then down the road at least 150 yards.

Several people were asked why "Living History," a book that drew lukewarm reviews but sells 50,000 copies a week, is so popular.

"She has been able to weather the storm," said Debra Bullock, a Democratic activist from Baltimore and one of a group of seven. "I just think she has strength as a woman that is incredible."

"I just give that woman a lot of credit," said Bernardine Urquhart of Mashpee, a retired nurse. "I don't know if I could have held up."

Urquhart's husband, Bruce, who had bought a book about the 1919 molasses flood in Boston, said he was not surprised by the success of "Living History."

"I think she is a very interesting woman and a lot of people want to learn more about her," he said.

But not everyone who turned out was so enamored of the junior senator from New York.

Across the street stood a half-dozen demonstrators wearing masks, holding anti-Clinton signs and blaring the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil" and Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart."

One of the protesters, Roger Bannon of Palm Key, Fla., wore a Satan mask and held a sign reading, "Bill Clinton married my sister."

But the Clinton foes were outnumbered, as evidenced by the huge cheer that went up when Mrs. Clinton arrived a few minutes late in a green Suburban.

Given the expected crowd, a few conditions were in place. A limit of 1,000 books would be signed, with no inscriptions and only two per customer. The store had been checked out several times since Wednesday by Secret Service agents, a protection accorded Clinton as a former first lady.

One thousand tickets had been printed to guarantee patrons a place in line.

At the head of the line was Oak Bluffs resident Bonnie Meras, Class of '53 at Wellesley College, Clinton's alma mater.

"I was a poli-sci major, just as Hillary Clinton was," Meras said.

"Yay, Wellesley," Clinton said after Meras introduced herself. "Have you been back?"

Yes, for her 50th reunion, Meras said.

Clinton recognized another woman from previous visits to the island and the two hugged. "How has your summer been? You look fabulous."

Bookstore clerk Avia Moore said she noticed several women wipe away tears after Clinton greeted them and signed their books.

One woman told Moore she bought two books for her granddaughters, "because I want them to have books signed by the first female president," Moore recounted.

Clinton was still signing shortly after 6 p.m. when the Secret Service intervened and called it a day, according to Jon Nelson, who manages the bookstore with his mother, Ann Nelson, the owner. By then, about 950 of 1,000 tickets were gone.

After the last book was signed, Clinton posed for photos with bookstore employees who had just worked what they described as the busiest day they've had.

[JulieRNR21]

Across the street stood a half-dozen demonstrators wearing masks, holding anti-Clinton signs and blaring the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil" and Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart."

[JulieRNR21]

You are mentioned in the Cape Cod Times.....PING

[JulieRNR21]

BRAVO BUMP for your FREEP of Hitlery in the 'belly of the beast'!

[demkicker]

One woman told Moore she bought two books for her granddaughters, "because I want them to have books signed by the first female president," Moore recounted.

Chills down your spine alert.

[FreedomPoster]

A devilish ping for our brother Race.

Where's the FReep report (I'll go look now)? Did she come through the front door, or slither in the back?

[JulieRNR21]

One woman told Moore she bought two books for her granddaughters, "because I want them to have books signed by the first female president," Moore recounted

The lefty loonies seem to be expecting this to happen.....they obviously know 'Hillary's Scheme!

Heaven forbide!!!

[metesky]

Great to know some of our more dedicated FReepers made the trip.

Race: no after FReep report, you big devil?

[Trteamer]

Way to go FReepers! Hillary's "Summer of the Devil" book tour ended in fine style. I'll be waiting for the pictures and after FReep report.

The lefties are banking hard on Hillary being president, they will be so let down when she looses.

[sgtbono2002]

Dansen and Steen burgen . not a brain btween the two of them. Make good hosts for Satan and his evil witch .

[anniegetyourgun]

My reaction exactly. May God forbid it.

[RaceBannon]

I just got home...

[NetValue]

Not being able to finish my dinner in the restaurant I asked the waiter for the "bill and a bag". He replied, "The Clintons are across the street." I darn near choked on my coffee.

[metesky]

I just got home...

Tiresome mingling with the Libs and Yuppsters ain't it?

Rest, food, beer, then a liesurely report.

I know you'll have something funny to say...

[Sacajaweau]

Women who vote for a woman just because she is a woman are ignorant sheep.

I remember a letter by Susan B. Anthony where she tells a woman WHAT TO WEAR or don't show up at the rally. Effectively, the SBA crowd were "uniformed". Ah, Freedom! Ah, Sheep!

[COUNTrecount]

When she makes her run let's remember that Hillary! was

sunning herself in Martha's Vineyard while her poor NYC

constituants suffered duing the worst blackout in the

history of America.Didn't she question why GWB didn't hurry

back to DC on 9-11? Where was Hillary! when the lights went

out?

[AF68]

Yep, the Clintons love the hoi polloi little people so much that they hobknob with Hollywood stars in Matha's Vinyard, The Hamptons and Vail.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Expect reports of "whale sightings" in the Bay-State area.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Do you think they remember to count the silverware after the Clinton's leave?

Regards,

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

sisters-in-law Kim and Marcia Quitadamo

What does the left always yell at freepers? Oh yeah, "GET A LIFE!"

[afz400]

"The store had been checked out several times since Wednesday by Secret Service agents, a protection accorded Clinton as a former first lady."
My tax dollars at work helping a bookstore sell books. What a joke.