Seriously...actually happened...well, he didn't hold an anti-Bush rally, per se, but he was invited there to speak, and he did go on and on about the concept of "just war," which would seem a pretty serious indictment of President Bush.
Watch:
http://www.alternet.org/...
Okay, I'm only writing this in support of a diary currently on the rec list regarding Sarah Palin appearing at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Hood.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
There's a lot of misinformation out there, and misunderstanding. I tried to clear some of it up in the comments of the original diary: http://www.dailykos.com/...
that started the...whatever it is.
Follow me for first-hand, honest information.
Writers go on booksigning tours. I know. I've been on more than 20. They suck, by the way, other than those moments when you're actually with the readers and booksellers, but that's another diaries.
The folks in the military buy books - lots of books. I can't begin to tell you how many letters I get from Iraq and Afghanistan, or from the spouses of soldiers serving.
Therefore, authors go to military bases to sign books quite often. I've been to Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Fort Lewis and others many times. I've been to bookstores near the bases as well, in Fayetteville, in New London, CT, and on and on. In fact, I insisted to my publisher that a couple of my stops be at the military bases. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman did the same thing. We feel that it's important, and the least we can do.
After I went to Ft. Lewis a couple of years ago, I called Terry Brooks and told him to go there (he lives in the northwest). He told Chris Paolini to go there, and yes, they both went. It's an amazing place to sign books; I've gotten to know many soldiers and their families, seeing one or the other year after year. It has given me an incredible appreciation for the sacrifice these folks have made.
The last time I was there, last year, they had something on the order of seven booksignings set up THAT WEEK. This is on the base, right there in the commissary (which is really just a giant store in a giant mall, like in any other community).
Let me add that a few years ago, I had the privilege of going to Walter Reed AMC to meet some of my "fans." It was one of the most poignant and humbling days of my life - a day I'll never forget as long as I live.
The story in the intro is true, of course. Noam Chomsky, one of the most acerbic, blunt and brilliant critics of US foreign policy, addressed West Point, and engaged in a question and answer session with them. I think that says a lot about our military leadership, by the way, and all of it good. Very, very good.
So please stop the outrage about Sarah Palin going to a military base, or at least recognize that it's really nothing out of the ordinary. In addition, I find the insinuation, or outright claim, that she's holding rallies against the Commander-in-Chief rather insulting to our soldiers. These guys and gals aren't stupid, nor are they monolithic in their political leaning, nor are they ignorant. Far from it, I mean, if spending months in Iraq or Afghanistan hasn't molded the clay, I highly doubt that Sarah Palin will.
Please spread this word around the community. It's perfectly okay to question Sarah Palin's motives, of course, but come armed with facts instead of outrageous conjecture, supposition and froth.
Peace,
Bob