A Tour Bus Back into the Spotlight

Whether she will run in the primaries to be the Republican candidate for president is uncertain; so are her chances against Obama.

She’s sitting in the bus once again. It’s on the road like a rolling billboard, the bus that Sarah Palin is riding back into the spotlight after a five-month break. The bus is plastered with powerful symbols: Philadelphia’s liberty bell, Alaska’s snowy mountains and, in old-fashioned script, the three legendary words from the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, “We, the people.”

Bus trips symbolize solidarity with the common people, as Palin’s mentor, John McCain, most recently showed us as his “McCain Express” scoured even the remotest of hamlets during the primaries. She used such a bus two years ago to promote her book, “Going Rogue.” Now she’s back with patriotic slogans and barbs aimed at Barack Obama.

Palin said, “America doesn’t need a ‘fundamental transformation’; instead we need a restoration of all that is good and strong and free in America!” That was also the theme song the tea party used to good advantage not long ago in expressing their frustration over unemployment and record deficits before last fall’s midterm elections. Palin climbed aboard her bus in Washington on Sunday to the roar of thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Graying Vietnam-era vets rattled through the city’s streets on their polished machines. It was no coincidence that the ex-governor planned her itinerary to coincide with the mass biker demonstration. Her destination, New Hampshire, could also be a not-too-subtle hint since that’s where the White House aspirants will continue to assess their strength after the opening shots in Iowa. Her appearance in New Hampshire’s forests alone will be a sure sign that she will take part in the 2012 campaign.

Off on the Wrong Foot

It’s been silent around her recently — uncharacteristically silent. Now and then, a Tweet from Alaska or a commentary on “Fox News,” the home broadcaster for conservatives. Nothing headline worthy. In January, when a mentally disturbed gunman seriously wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Alaska’s “hockey mom” from Wasilla seriously got off on the wrong foot with her comments and lost a lot of prestige.

Since then, Republicans have found it difficult to get into the starting blocks for the presidential duel — so difficult that the base is starting to grumble. The candidacy of the divisive-but-never-boring icon of the tea party is expected to get the tired troops back on their toes, although even her biggest fans don’t seriously believe she can win.

A few days ago, she purchased a mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona, for $1.7 million. The real estate deal has churned up the waters of imagination. Arizona makes a far better election campaign headquarters than far-away Alaska. It’s also interesting that a documentary film about Palin will premiere in June in those states where the first primary elections will take place the following January: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Recently, in a “Fox News” interview, the former beauty queen said, “I do have the fire in my belly.” All indications are that she’s serious, even if it’s all only to get people talking about her again.