Todd Purdum made this same point in that Vanity Fair hit piece a few weeks ago, as I recall; media types get off on it (no pun intended) because it gives them a chance to blather pseudo-cerebrally about the nexus of politics and sex. In fairness, there’s a superficial logic to it: How can being extremely telegenic hurt a politician? Half the job is commanding the stage in order to advance your agenda, and if people are more drawn to you, the stage is that much more easily commanded. Sarahcuda herself seems to buy it or else, I assume, she wouldn’t be dropping atomic hotness like this. And yet I’m skeptical. Beauty will get you a first (and second, and third) look that others might not get, but once you’re in the door and have to deal with objectification, cattiness, and “bimbo” stereotypes, it’s probably more of a liability in being taken seriously than an asset. You tell me, ladies: Do you feel like your ideas are being taken with utmost seriousness when a guy’s busy checking you out?

I don’t think the real key to Palin’s appeal is any great mystery. She’s the most convincingly unpretentious, small-town pol to come along in ages. She’s religious, she’s got five kids, she likes to hunt — she could be the mom in your car pool if she wasn’t, you know, Sarah Palin. No wonder so many people picked homemaker when asked what her best job would be. Liz Cheney has much the same vibe, except that Cheney’s been inside the Beltway for long enough that she’s prone to wonk-speak. Not true of Palin (at all). It’s the authenticity, stupid.