Former Partial Term Governor and Aspiring Celebrity to Kick Off Reality Series on TLC November 14

If being the face of the Tea Party Movement and its far-right agenda wasn’t enough to satisfy Sarah Palin’s unquenchable desire to be in front of a camera, then something must be wrong, right? Turns out, this assumption is correct.  And we should be afraid.

Sarah Palin is launching a new reality television show this fall.

“Sarah Palin’s Alaska” is set to run for eight weeks, offering viewers the opportunity to see more of “Mama Grizzly” on the TV screen—this time, in her natural habitat.

Palin is the latest self-proclaimed “grizzly” to gain their own television show, preceded by Gentle Ben (left) and Grizzly Adams (middle).

In a sharp twist of irony, the show will air on The Learning Channel (TLC).  However, there may actually be a few lessons to glean from exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the one-time Alaskan governor’s family life.

First of all, the show promises to dispel the notion, once and for all, that political figures in the U.S. must possess a distinguished track record in public office to be taken seriously in campaign efforts.  It will underscore this fact even greater as it hits airwaves following November’s election, in which several candidates’ projected success will be due to a belief that little-to-no previous experience trumps prior accomplishments–especially when we agree with their socio-religious views.

Playing off this theme, we get unbridled footage of Palin in the great outdoors to see firsthand how hiking, fishing, camping and riding four-wheelers qualifies one to potentially vie for the highest political post in all of the land.

In the trailer below, Palin quips, “Oh gosh, we are somewhere people only dream about,” as she hikes through snow capped mountains. The video goes on to feature Palin fishing—with obligatory footage of bears fighting—and spending time with her family. “I’d rather be doing this than in some stuffy old political office. I’d rather be out here being free,” she says.

We can only hope she remains true to her word. At first glance, the latter quote seems self-evident given her decision to spurn public office and “go rogue” in July 2009, citing the need to protect her family from public scrutiny and save herself from ongoing ethics probes. The choice to throw her family into the public spotlight adds to mounting confusion as to what her political and personal motives truly are.

Looking closer, she offers the audience an air of suspense by implying that she may not choose to run for Grizzly-in-Chief in 2012.

I remain optimistic that Palin is simply cashing in as much as possible while her stock remains high and will fade into a chilly Alaskan sunset. However, the realist in me tells me otherwise. Launching a “reality” TV show as a potential presidential candidate should not be a a good idea, but for some reason, seems like an effective way to further bilk the blue-collar working class into propping up the wealthy yet again, and bolster Palin’s chances in 2012.

While we will probably not know her decision in the short term, we can rest assured knowing that Palin will not be shying away from the public eye any time soon.

The program will air for eight weeks starting Sunday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. on TLC.