Don't worry, there is no downside room on my opinion of either, as people or political figures. Both have a certain amount of talent, I believe. I loved Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He virtually gained perpetual ownership over the role of a dumb blonde California surfer dude. he was that good.
I think there was a time where I might have agreed with you on that totally, I still see that they do have some talent. But I would pose that Sean Penn was just that good at surfer dude because he was surfer dude. He did steal the show. Madonna, I just found annoying, could barely suffer through the only movie I saw of hers, Desparately seeking Susan. Again, I would pose that she was that character. For instance, Tim Robbins, while a real die hard leftie, was quite chilling in some of his roles, equally mesmerizing in Antitrust as he was in Shawshank and Truth about Charlie. I don't care for his politics, but I do recognize his talent. Ridgemont High was just on the other day, Sean Penn was indeed really good in that.