Borders Books Tries to Recall 'Unfit for Command'

Useless Knowledge ^

[GulliverSwift]

Well, it’s happened, folks. As I predicted in my August 11, 2004 article “John Kerry’s Media”, the Kerry campaign is strong-arming booksellers into banning “Unfit For Command”. Today’s Drudge Report has it as the headline story. Kerry is afraid…very afraid of the truth. Myriad books, filled with patently false statements, have been written about President Bush and his administration. These books, however, have been praised and pushed by our “mainstream press” and on-air media Kerry surrogates. It was reported, yesterday (by a caller to Sean Hannity’s radio show that Borders will no longer carry the book and is “attempting to recall the books already sold”. If you have read George Orwell’s “1984”, this is precisely what Big Brother affected. Book burnings were a regular course of action.

[showme_the_Glory]

It's where the peaceniks hang out when there's no WTO.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Same here in Augusta; they sold out rapidly, are filling special orders for people, and hope to have more books in stock soon. Sounds like an urban legend.

[BlueHorseShoe]

Well, I did not hear that and I just called Borders a few minutes ago to have them reserve two copies for me when they get their next shipment. I also asked if they were indeed hiding books. He chuckled and told me, no, they are not hiding books and simply that there was such a small number printed for the entire nation. He at first thought they'd be back in stock next week but then could not give me the date. I still had the books reserved and expect them to call me when they arrive.

I did tell him if he find a copy inadvertantly stuck in fiction or children's to please nab it and give me a call! :o) I cannot believe I did not get this preordered.

Notice on Amazon that the lead time to get the book is now at 5 - 7 weeks!!! That is not from hiding the books but it is from not getting enough to begin with.

If anyone knows a store where I can find these books in stock please let me know as I would love to call and order.

[schaketo]

Just called these knuckle heads. They said it’s a malicious rumor and they would love to get more copies to sell. It’s their #1 seller right now. Stated they are waiting for another printing and are aware of the internet fed rumor mill. Trying to figure out how to fix the PR problem. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that’s their story.

How many books were published in the first run? Is it a marketing strategy to create buzz and desire?

[Captain Peter Blood]

It doesn't make sense for Borders or any other bookstore or chain to try and suppress a book.
They are in business to make money not moral or ethical judgments about a specific book, etc.
When you have a book like "Unfit for Command" or any book that is hitting the bestseller list you want it in your store to sell because it brings people into your store and they may buy other books also.
I live in Little Rock, Arkansas and we have a very lefty book store in the area called Wordsmith. They carry every pro Clinton, Kerry, etc. book. I am going to go over tomorrow just to see if they are carrying the Swiftboat book.
But my main point is that a bookstore cannot afford to look a gift horse in the mouth like a bestselling book that is bringing customers into the place. If so what are they in business??????

[truthandlife]

I just called Regnery and spoke with a gentleman there. He said that yes, the original release date was September 1. But they wanted to just get "a few" copies out earlier (I think he said their initial run was 30,000 copies). However, the demand far exceeded what they expected.

He also said, directly to me, that "there is no conspiracy."

I guess we just have to be patient.

posted on 08/20/2004 10:51:21 AM CDT by rudy45

[misterrob]

The publisher can't get these out the door fast enough and by the time the election gets here a few million people will have read it. The kicker in all of this is that the profits are going to Vet causes and into no one's pocket.

This has got to be one of the best marketing campaigns out there. And, given the "Don't You Dare Read That Book" respomse by the democrats even more people will read it.

Yes, there will be people who will believe whatever you tell them based on their ideology but too many people are going to find questions about Kerry that they will not be able to reconcile and that's what counts.

[coconutt2000]

I think the caller was a Kerry campaign troll.

[Rastus]

I just did a Borders store inventory search, and three of the local stores are said to have the book in stock right now. The description of the book is what was given from the publisher (ie, not attempt to make an editorial comment or distort the actual content).

http://www.bordersstores.com/search/title_detail.jsp?id=54512158&srchTerms=unfit+for+command&mediaType=1&srchType=Title

[weegee]

September is Banned Books week/month. I'll have to ask why this book is not in their display of such materials.

[beaversmom]

Called another Borders--said the same thing--publisher didn't make enough copies. Didn't know when they would be getting there shipment in. The guy on the phone didn't know anything about Borders pulling the book. Local Barnes and Noble also sold out.

[My2Cents]

There is a Doubleday Bookstore (a subsidiary of Barnes and Noble) down the street from where I work. I've walked down to the bookstore every couple of days over the past two weeks, to see if they have UNFIT FOR COMMAND in stock. This past Wednesday, they had two copies...TWO...in the store (I checked the "Current Events," "Military," "Biography," "New Releases" sections to make sure). The next day, the books were gone. This store had 20 copies of Michael Moore's latest book (I counted), and last month had a mountain of Bill Clinton's chronicles of lies.

I suppose one way the stores are controlling this is by ordering very few copies. The nearest Borders said they had UNFIT on back order, but had only ordered a couple of copies.

[omniscient]

This just gets better and better and better. The TRUTH is their enemy and they know it, and they know that we know it, and they know that the voters are about to know it. Critical mass is rapdly approaching, folks ...

[mhking]

You can check the inventory at your local Borders' (at least to within the past 24 hours) on any title at http://bordersstores.com/

When I checked the stores local to me I found:

		Store Availability
		Austell				Yes
		Atlanta - Parkway Pointe				Yes
		Atlanta-Brookwood Place				Order
		Atlanta - Midtown				Yes
		Douglasville				Yes

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The Border's near me is always biased. I always have to ask for the conservative book I am looking for and all the liberal books that have been published over the past few years are right out front. They are awful. Now it might vary from store to store, but I believe the people being told the book is on backorder and will not be in for weeks are being fed a bunch of crap.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Okay. Order it and see how long it takes to actually get the book.

[Dog Gone]

I imagine my local Barnes & Noble has a copy. I'll check this afternoon. I figured out their tactics. It won't be with New Releases. It won't be with Best Sellers.

It won't be at the front of the store.

They will have a couple of copies at the back of the store, spine out, perhaps in the biography section, or the military history section, or possibly the current events section.

It sure as heck won't be on the big table out front with all the Bush-bashing books.

[GulliverSwift]

I actually heard about it from two different places. I think probably the person mistook what was said by the bookstore employee.

I'm glad to hear the Kerry smear campaign to suppress the book is failing.

After all the Farenheight 911 (pounds) promotion, it would be shameful for the establishment to not allow the other side to do the same.

[My2Cents]

Did you suggest to Regnery that they ship a complementary copy to Chris Matthews?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ahem!

Me, Brad's Gramma...I ordered 50 from the publisher this morning. They cost (I think) $16.99 by buying that many.

I'm trying to recoup my cost, that's all. The cost of the book, the shipping TO ME (which he didn't know when I placed the order) and my cost to mail to you.

FRmail me and let me know. Honest to gosh, we'll get this thing out one way or another.

I have 35 left......going once, going twice....HAHAHAHAHA