I've been lurking somewhat, and I have been appalled at the meanness and the level of misogyny here -- not just the usual trolls, but this group of ideological Borg.

My hope is that Obama's campaign considers them "useful idiots" and discards them after the election. Having the rug jerked out from under me in the 1970s was awful at the time, but it taught me more about Realpolitik than this jumping up and down and holding their breath until they turn red states blue.

I have little to say when I see few people I respect or the prospect of an interesting fight. These people are not interesting yet.

I have a responsible job at a good company. Among the mommy princesses, the Angry Males, the brats, and the post-feminists, I find the need to take care for myself overwhelming. I have also had friends who have needed my help and friends I've been having a life with.

I do regret, however, not backing you, although you looked as if you were doing fine.

Were you talking to me, Greeneyedkzin, or some Straw Kzin who said the stupid things you're attributing to me?

Pathetic. East German judge gives it a 2. If you don't remember the East German judges, Google it.

As I recollect when I entered this particular fray, I cited my demographics. I was speaking as me, not as an icon: I'm no Byzantine; I am an individual.

Now, you don't like being called a Borg. Well, let's think back (I'm assuming your attention span is better than your attempts at poetry) to some of the names thrown at women on this particular thread, not to mention the others during this whole hate-fest of a primary season. If you want to say that this lot is united in misogyny and resentment, I may agree. And "Borg" is considerably milder than some of the terms people have used.

Including your last little jab about being an "elitist." Oh, whatever shall I do? Pry my Phi Beta Kappa key off my charm bracelet and turn in my crimson doctoral gown so Klytus won't be upset? I don't think so. I mean, if I'm all these terrible things the Bamatrons have called women, how can I be an elite anything?

HOW are you going to take over from Boomers if you can't even get your logic straight?

Can you write meter, or is it just I'm SUCH a Special Snowflake free verse? Let's see you do a sonnet. Petrarchan or Shakespearean, your choice.

Bristol Palin, if she has to "grow up much faster" than her parents would have expected, is in an ideal situation: she has two parents and a fiance who love her; the best of medical care; and a mother and two presidential campaigns that will leave the kid alone.

She had a choice. Her mother had a choice.

We all should be so lucky.

Lonewolfy may think he's Baby Boomer karma, but I also think he's jealous.

I remember what the Greatest Generation said about us. That one day, we would have the likes of Lonewolfy to treat us just the way we treated them.

Not quite true: even when we were the most annoyed at them, we respected their accomplishments.

Good grief, didn't you learn that "overgeneralization" was a BAD thing?

Guess not. Must be all that thwarted entitlement.

'Fraid I have to thwart you one more time. I don't want your respect. I don't need your respect. I don't KNOW you, and from your rants, I don't want to.

All I wanted was what I got: a grin on a very stressful day.

This isn't the first time I've been told to die and get off the planet (so to speak) by an angry-man wannabe. THAT one had the power to buy or not buy my books. And it was still a stupid thing to say.

"PC" is the term people use to compensate for having said something hateful and hurtful.

The difference between calling someone a "retard" or someone any one of a number of words that manners and Miss Manners forbid me to regale people with is that, although the others can and probably should punch you one -- so much for PC -- the mentally retarded individual may not be able to and may know only that s/he has been insulted.

Lynn, I can't believe you spent two pages justifying verbal cruelty. Your sister-in-law is a dwarf: she can tell you what she finds acceptable. Can most of the mentally disabled?

I thought better of you. Guess mental disability just isn't a chic enough cause.