Is there a word for uninformed people who don't think, but vote anyway?  The closest I can come is two words: Authoritarian Followers.  People who follow blindly and have compartmentalized, unreconciled beliefs.


Palin’s background constitutes much of her star power and the media is not entirely ridiculous for examining her personal life. A mother of five from Wasilla, Alaska, Palin is the type of atypical politician that attracts disaffected voters in the type of anti-incumbent environment that has fallen upon us. From her folksy charm to her status as an unabashedly conservative woman, Palin defies a variety of conventional features of American politicians. It is this overarching contrast from the conventional American politician that has maintained Sarah Palin’s relevance since her unsuccessful bid for Vice President.


Since last November, however, Palin has evolved beyond a relevant political figure and into a spokesperson for the GOP’s conservative base. As the memory of Ronald Reagan fades, Palin has established herself as the preeminent face of grassroots conservatives. Her ascendance since Senator McCain selected her, however, is not merely the by-product of a politically frustrated electorate that demands a radically different alternative to the status quo. Unlike any other Republican, Palin appeals to the mythically revered values of rugged individualism that characterize the American West while simultaneously carving out an equally significant niche among racially anxious Southerners. Her ability to enthuse both of these regions is what makes her a superstar that has the ability to influence the upcoming midterms.


Unfortunately, backlash politics is at the heart of Palin’s appeal to such different areas of the country. It exploits culturally conservative voters who feel threatened by a dominant class of cultural progressives.  While many of these voters are deeply embedded in the ongoing cultural wars that emphasize social issues, their cultural conservatism targets a wide array of institutions that operate within the so-called "liberal elite."  This mindset triggers a rebellion against left-wing economic policies when social welfare programs become implicitly associated with cultural progressives.


The truth of the matter is, if Palin caused an exodus of this contingent of the Republican party, she'd be doing them a favor in the long-run.  The Republican brand is damaged, and Palin is doing them no favors whatsoever.