As I said above, I don't live in the US, so I can't claim to have a reasonable grip on the important discussion themes (I am slightly more informed on the actual problems on the agendas, but those play little part in the election game), but my two cents on this issue is that, after Bush's term, anyone fielded by the Republicans would have been a sure-loser. It also didn't help that, in a country whose social inequity wounds are opening again, the Republican fielded an annoying dick like Romney.
On the other hand, I can't suspect people like Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin of being smart enough (or of not being blinded by their sheer arrogance) of being able to dodge a puppet role. In fact, if I were an evil overlord and had to choose a set of figureheads to deploy as autonomous, but ultimately manipulable characters for my puppetmaster role, I'd choose people like them.
It's scary that folks also seem to vote for people like them, though.
On the other hand, I can't suspect people like Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin of being smart enough (or of not being blinded by their sheer arrogance) of being able to dodge a puppet role. In fact, if I were an evil overlord and had to choose a set of figureheads to deploy as autonomous, but ultimately manipulable characters for my puppetmaster role, I'd choose people like them.
It's scary that folks also seem to vote for people like them, though.