It's a simple equivalency. You may laugh, scoff, ridicule, or attempt to dismiss it instantly on first thought..... but that second thought.... Think about it. Who was Reagan? How did he get elected? He wasn't a great political leader, he wasn't even a great actor, but he was a celebrity.
A well known, loved celebrity, who played the part of politician very well.
And that's exactly where Palin comes in. She's a down home "Aw shucks!", "You betcha!" American, playing on the public sympathies as her modus operandi with her whole "I'm being persecuted by the Lame Stream Media" routine. And America loves underdogs.
The "Republican mindset" should be an interesting study group for Sociologists. They praise the Republic yet fully rely on Authoritarianism in implementing it. They emulate the wrong side of Orwell's novels, for example in using "double-speak" to somehow label Liberals as "Freedom hating dictators," and they got the American people to think National Health Care is exactly what Nazis tried to do. They instigated years of hype about Russia that got us into the whole cold war arms race. They were so good at it, that they even began to believe their own propaganda. Kinda like what's happening now.
In 2008, Republicans dismissed and accused then Presidential candidate Obama of being nothing but a "Celebrity" who lacked the experience to be the President. But he got elected. So what will they do now that he's President? I know.
They'll run a candidate who's biggest asset is that she is a celebrity and lacks the experience to become the President.
Or at least some of them will. There is a divide in the Republican party, but the Republican mindset is moved by whatever hype they happen to be peddling. And with them having practically their own Republican Fox Network in operation 24/7, our American Idol raised Nation may be in for a whole new period of Idiotocracy rule.
So if we can't start acting like grown-ups and start calling them on this whole vapid "Paris Hilton Celebrity for celebrity's sake" candidacy, we're gonna have the dumbest and most dangerous President in the history of our country. Because even though Republicans make great evil-minded puppet masters, President Palin, would be a whole new level of stupid.... Maverick stupid.