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.

[mountaineer]

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

It's not just the Detroit groupies who are reduced to tears over Hillary's presence.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In the year 2525.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This is why it was so important for me to infiltrate her book signing.

We are up against a cult. This Hillary phenomenon is totally bizarre. It is truly a mindwashed cult.

I have never seen this type of behavior with people around Bush, Cheney, Laura, Condi........ People around those people act like normal humans. I never saw any crying or fan worship.

Beating Hillary will be much harder than anyone will admit.

[mountaineer]

I was going to say it was reminiscent of girls screaming and crying over Elvis or the Beatles, but there's a lot of Eva Peron in Queen Hillary, too:

[mountaineer]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton - wearing the latest in a long line of godawful unflattering outfits - signs a copy of her book, "Living History," for fellow Wellesley College alum Bonnie Meras yesterday at the Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven.

[Sacajaweau]

Is it my imagination or is Bubba NOT supporting Hitlery? His little anti-Dem speech (shut up about WMD) seemed to be a real stab in the back. Ah, REVENGE!!

Or is Hillary trying to find out if she really needs HIM. Will he have a Foster moment? Will she try for a win on a "sympathy" vote?? Is his new-found Irish residence another clue?? No matter, she would be an unknown without Bubba.

[Sacajaweau]

Boy, Hitlery's jewelry really goes with that outfit. Who dresses her?? It looks like a combo that a 3 year old puts together playing "grown up". I can imagine the shoes.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

HILLARY in Cleveland Wednesday =

POWER Blackout starts in Cleveland Thursday..?

[Saundra Duffy]

The former president did not attend the book signing.

What a coward - not to mention he's a rapist. THANKS TO THE FREEPERS WHO FREEPED THE QUEEN OF THE CREEPS!!!

[Tunehead54]

Ted better keep a close eye on Beelzebubba!

---

[RobFromGa]

The former president did not attend the book signing.

I sure he has many fond memories from the Bunch of Gropes bookstore.

[Eala]

All (other) FReepers who wore the devil mask who've not already heard from me, please FReepmail me... >8^]>

[deadhead]

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

Excellent! Happy that Freepers were in Martha's Vineyard to Freep Hillary.
Looking forward to report and photos.

[freeperfromnj]

HILLARY in Cleveland Wednesday = POWER Blackout starts in Cleveland Thursday..?

+ Hillary first to attack President Bush = who knows what!

I'm trying hard not to go tin foil on all of this but it's not easy. They raised the alert status to orange in February due to chatter similar to the chatter that occurred before 9/11. The February warning specifically cited the power grids being at risk of attack via computer hacking.

[JulieRNR21]

We are up against a cult. This Hillary phenomenon is totally bizarre. It is truly a mindwashed cult.

I have never seen this type of behavior with people around Bush, Cheney, Laura, Condi........ People around those people act like normal humans. I never saw any crying or fan worship.

Beating Hillary will be much harder than anyone will admit.

Exactly....it's like a voodoo spell....or demon possession! There are women who will vote for her just because her husband cheated on her.....those lunatic lefties!

[JulieRNR21]

HILLARY in Cleveland Wednesday =

POWER Blackout starts in Cleveland Thursday..?

The Queen of Darkness.....??? You may be onto something....hmmmmmmmmm..

[Trteamer]

You nailed it! Hillary's supporters are indeed a CULT. They worship at the alter of feminism, having a woman for President.

My oldest sister is such a cultist. She thinks Hillary is the greatest. At a family picnic the other day she gave me trouble about FReeping Hillary. She told me "I don't think you bothered Hillary one bit", to which I responded "We didn't do it to bother Hillary, we did it to sway public opinion". That set her back.

I see a lot of people that are convinced that Hillary will win the Presidency hands down. I don't agree at all. I think the right will be galvanized against her like no one has ever seen before. People who sit on the sidelines and don't even vote will step up and say NO to Hillary. I am confident of that. I will do my part ot FReep her every time she shows her ugly legs anywhere near Denver. I consider it my duty to energize the Conservative base against her socialist agenda. As an added bonus we can FReep Bill Clinton's book signings next summer. Should be one heck of an election year. I expect Hillary to announce she's running late this year or early next. It should be interesting to say the least.

[FreedomPoster]

On an encouraging note, had dinner with a (somewhat) liberal friend last night. He hates Hillary, as does his wife, would never voter for her.

[FreedomPoster]

On an encouraging note, had dinner with a (somewhat) liberal friend last night. He hates Hillary, as does his wife, and would never vote for her.

[FreedomPoster]

On an encouraging note, had dinner with a (somewhat) liberal friend last night. He hates Hillary, as does his wife, and would never vote for her.