Democracy , just a thought

What bothers me most about politics is the fact that it doesn't depend on actual qualifications ( of a candidate for public office for example) but depends on the gutsy instinctive feeling or the "impression" people have of a candidate. This just explains why Sarah Palin is so popular. Don't get me wrong, its also why Barack Obama won.
Individual voters don't take their own votes too seriously, and therefore, neither do their candidates. This struck me when I was googleing "Why people like Sarah Palin", over the apparent frenzy caused by her book, and I got to this article published over a year ago :

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1001/p09s01-coop.html

Apparently she is not really knowledgeable, or doesn't care to show that she is... just like the millions of her lovers.
She is basically the middle character in a chic flick.... beautiful but down to earth; goofy but bullied by the evil elitist faceless media. They connect with her. I'm just trying to figure out why people like her so I can relieve myself of this heart ache every time I hear her talk.

Sigh. Democracy is far from perfect! Let me know if you can think of any alternatives.