Years ago, as a lawyer in a lost cause, I found myself forced to make a closing argument that was a sure loser. The evidence was against me. The law was against me. The judge knew it. Opposing counsel knew it. I hadn't been able to negotiate out of it. So I was stuck.
I gave it my best for 10 minutes and then submitted. Opposing counsel wisely declined to respond. The judge promptly ruled against me.
Outside the courtroom, two people rushed up to me and asked me for my card. They thought I was brilliant. Apparently, they liked my presentation and didn't care, or didn't understand, that I was desperately spewing utter bullshit.
I'll bet these same people just love Sarah Palin.