Donald Trump is reportedly having a tough time finding a vice president, but it’s unlikely that Sarah Palin will volunteer for a second shot at the position.
In an interview with Jake Tapper, Palin, who has been an outspoken surrogate for Trump, and an outspoken critic of the Republican unconverted, is encouraging Donald Trump to look elsewhere for a second in command. “I think there are so many other great people out there in America who can serve in this position,” she told Tapper. “I think if someone wanted to choose me, they already know who I am, what I stand for. They wouldn’t be in for any surprises.”
Palin says her decision hinged on public opinion, telling Tapper that she thought she’d “be a burden on the ticket” and that one person “telling it like it is” is enough for any campaign. Trump does Palin better than Palin does Palin, in other words.
But Palin may actually have bigger plans than following in Joe Biden’s esteemed footsteps. The former Alaska governor signed a deal with Warm Springs entertainment to produce a Judge Judy-esque courtroom television show, to premiere in 2017. Instead of dispensing homespun wisdom and off-kilter metaphors from the campaign stump, Palin wants to deliver them from the bench.
There’s already a production team in place, and it includes one of Judge Judy‘s original producers. And they’re not worried that Palin doesn’t have a law degree and lacks even the most basic legal experience. According to Larry Lyttle, who is heading the project, Palin will preside over the “courtroom of common sense.”
Palin has made a few attempts at reality-show stardom. Her show Sarah Palin’s Alaska ran for one season on TLC. She also had a show called Amazing America With Sarah Palin on the Sportsman Channel. Palin’s daughter Bristol competed on Dancing With the Stars and had a reality show on Lifetime. While there are no guarantees about the Judge Sarah show, it does seem like a better choice than playing second fiddle to Donald Trump—”common sense,” if you will.