I prefer to think of them as skiers that are weak-kneed.
As for the lady with the piercings, politics in our ill-informed, under-educated, and increasing lack of fellow-feeling democracy, such appearances matter. It's a fucking popularity contest. The only reason the system doesn't collapse is that the bureaucracy, as bloated and cumbersome as it is, actually has some smart people all through the ranks, that keep the ship on an even keel despite the ineptitudes of our elected leaders. And remember, when money or policy is moving really fast in government systems as large as our western democracies take a good hard look at the process - there be corruption in there somewhere.