General Discussion

If Merit for a position in management is defined on how much you prefer to kiss ass instead of how competent you are in running a business, or on how you look and sound rather than how qualified you actually are when applying for a position that requires quantifiable, recorded talent, knowledge and experiance, then you aren't going to be the best qualified person that will actually get work done or can handle change and emergencies.

Sorry for the long paragraph, but the amount and type of qualifications for leadership in large, complex organizations is not the same qualification for leadership to get an immediate task done.
And honestly, just being a "pretty face" and sucking up to ideology or money is only a qualification to either be attractive enough to provide entertainment, sell worthless crap or be accepted into a particular ideological club to get money.

I find that in the above situation, providing entertainment to the most honest way to get ahead; one does need to exhibit a certain amount of native talent entertaining others and in most cases, one is doing less harm to society in general.

On edit - it is clear that Merit as defined by Prosperity Gospel Christianity and the Heritage Foundation types is defined by how much wealth you or your family have acquired and if you appear to have the right "genes".
Merit in MAGA has nothing to do with talent, knowledge, ethics, or positive personal characteristics.