WASHINGTON — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is beginning a bus tour of the eastern United States in the nation’s capital over Memorial Day weekend, the latest in a string of moves that indicate she may be moving closer to running for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Starting this weekend, Sarah Palin will embark on a One Nation tour of historical sites that were key to the formation, survival, and growth of the United States of America,” said Tim Crawford, treasurer of Palin’s fundraising group, SarahPAC, in a statement provided to The Huffington Post. “The tour will originate in Washington DC and will proceed north up the east coast. More information will follow.”
Palin will kick things off Sunday by taking part in the “Rolling Thunder” motorcycle ride — comprised mainly of U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War — that begins at the Pentagon and concludes at the Vietnam Memorial on the National Mall.
Pictures of the bus were released on the website for SarahPAC, Palin’s political action committee. Emblazoned in red, white and blue, the bus bears a large painting of the U.S. Constitution, with the words “One Nation” in large font. Underneath that is the rest of the closing line to the Pledge of Allegiance: “Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.” The back of the bus has a small banner that says, “Join the ‘Fundamental Restoration of America.'”
More than an hour after The Huffington Post and other outlets first reported the news of the tour, Palin added a short description of what she plans to do to her PAC website. Palin said that “through visits to historical sites and patriotic events, we’ll share the importance of America’s foundation.” There is no mention of politics.
Planning for the trip kicked into high gear only a short while ago. Palin has rehired two former advance aides to President George W. Bush, Doug McMarlin and Jason Recher, to plan the trip and execute logistics. The details of where the 2008 vice presidential nominee will go remain fluid, and have been closely held within Palin’s small world of trusted advisers. (read more)
Our nation is at a critical turning point. As we look to the future, we are propelled by America’s past. It’s imperative that we connect with our founders, our patriots, our challenges and victories to clearly see our way forward. A good way to do this is to appreciate the significance of our nation’s historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures, which we’ll do in the coming weeks on our “One Nation” tour.
We’ll celebrate the good things that bring Americans together; those things that will give us the needed strength to meet the heady challenges ahead. I’ve said many times that America doesn’t need a “fundamental transformation,” instead we need a restoration of all that is good and strong and free in America! So, together let’s prepare ourselves for the days ahead by reminding ourselves who we are and what Americans stand for.
We’ll celebrate the meaning of our nation’s blueprints, our Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, which are the threads that weave our past into the fabric necessary for the survival of American exceptionalism. Our founders declared “we were born the heirs of freedom”, and despite our difficulties and disagreements, we remain one nation under God in freedom, indivisible. Through visits to historical sites and patriotic events, we’ll share the importance of America’s foundation.
We encourage you to support the pro-America events we’ll be privileged to participate in during these coming weeks. Discover the ties that bind Americans, our history, our traditions, and the exceptional nature of our country!
Follow the One Nation tour at http://www.sarahpac.com/bus_tour
-Sarah Palin
