The Republicans have spent a lot of time trying to convince the American voter that all politicians are crooks. Then they either don't vote, or they vote for someone like Jesse Ventura or Arnold the Barbarian.
The great thing about it is, that when Jesse messed up, he got to blame the bad old politicians for his mistakes.
Arnold will do the same thing when he puts California on the skids.
I'm working on the Howard Dean campaign because I honestly believe Dean can change the political scene. But I've given up trying to convince my friends.