Of all the media commentators I've heard so far following Sarah Palin's speech last night at the Republican National Convention, Joan Walsh is the only one who called it for what it is. But more than being a bareknuckle attach against Obama and the media, the speech was chilling. Her remark that while Al-Qaida terrorists want to harm America, Obama is worried about reading them their rights showed more than anything else she said last night that electing her and John McCain would indeed be a continuation of the Bush-Cheney contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law, and their willingness to destroy both in order to preserve them. I hope the Obama camp will take off the gloves and respond vigorously to these scurrilous and alarming attacks rather than leaving it to others like Joan Walsh to do so.

I'm not watching the convention because I was pretty sure that if I did, my head would explode. After reading the comments here, I know it was the wise move.

"You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick." You know what? That's true. Sarah Palin represents everything that I despise about suburbia, middle-class self-satisfaction, the religious right, and hunters. Hockey AND soccer moms are narcissistic little ninnies with nothing better to do than shore up their own sagging egos by ensuring that junior or juniorette have The Best of everything material and never, ever, ever experience a moment of disappointment or loss. If you live in Massachusetts, then you're used to the annual news reports about hockey moms beating the crap out of referees, or even other kids. Nice people, hockey moms.

And apparently, life is sacred only so long as it's in the womb. If it's born with impairments, feel free to drag it around like a dirty blanket as you go about grabbing for all the power you can get your perfectly painted nails on. If it's born in Iraq or Iran, well, that's just too effing bad, isn't it? It's perfectly fine to fry living Iraqi children into crispy critters, just don't, whatever you do, don't abort a clump of prenatal tissue. Also, life is sacred so long as it's human. Save the fetus, but feel free to kill the caribou for the sheer fun of it. Because after all, that's what sanctity of life means, right? killing things that are weaker than we are, just for the fun of it, the ego-gratification of it.

One of the headlines in today's Boston paper says, "Hold Your Head High" -- Message to Bristol from Gloucester Pregnant Teen. These are the teenagers who recently made headlines for having a pregnancy pact in high school. Okay. I can't wait to hear the Right bleat about how the media is making our children "grow up too soon." I'll tell you what makes kids grow up too soon: having babies and being shipped overseas to fight and die.

What strikes me about the Republican candidates in general is their hostility toward anyone else who might hold different opinions. The contrast between Obama's frank, open, and empathic approach and the savagery of the Bush/McCain/Palin attacks makes it clear that they are still embracing anger and aggression and are not currently open to rational, bipartisanship government -- something that our country desperately needs in order to heal the wounds of the past eight years.

People are fundamentally peace-loving. Most of us want to live in peace and prosperity, and most of us wish that for our fellow human beings around the world. Most of us do not believe that hostility and war will solve the world's problems. Most of us want our leaders to rise above pettiness and have the skills to negotiate with those who disagree, rather than simply attack them and attempt to force them to bend to our will. Most of us want to show the world that we are a caring nation, but how can we do that, if we elect leaders who seem incapable of reaching out to others who are not like them?

I watched the prime time coverage of the GOP convention with a moderate Republican. He was appalled at the absolute lack of class shown by everyone on the stage Wednesday night, in particular, the derision shown for Obama's community service (as was I). If the traditional Republican agenda is less government, more private sector picking up the slack, then the hypocracy couldn't have been more clear: community service is a job for someone else.

I don't see Palin appealing to the middle, nor most women, and mostlikely went a long way toward alienating them (they already have the base so the drubbing is completely bewildering to me). The contempt for Obama and glee in the Democrat bashing was evident on the faces of every convention delegate shown on camera. There will be a push by some Democrats for a response in kind. My hope is that they stick to the high ground as much as possible, lest they come off looking as vindictive as last evening's speakers.

Not pit bulls. But hey if being a bitch who's smug condescension wins you friends then go with it. Being an ex sports parent from way back I can tell you that the Sarah Palins of the world are the people who don't get what they want for their kids, they just get heard as they scream and threaten everyone. But they go right being asshole tyrants.

Too bad she was too busy to monitor which man was ejaculating in which orifice of which of her children.

The first thing the next President of the United States will do is take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. That is Obama's expertise and absolutely relevant to the "experience" we all shall have as a result of this election. Why aren't the "unitary executive" and the Constitutional separation of powers being discussed as fundamental issues?

I think I know this type of woman. She is the type that looks down on everyone who isn't like her.

Denigrating anyone who goes to a top school on scholarships is one thing compared to working your way up. But she hardly, HARDLY, worked her way up. 20 months as a governor is not working your way up.

I read a defense of her experience today, that anyone who can organize a girl scout cookie sale and be a room mother has the key organizational skills to be President.

That may be, but that doesn't mean you have a clue what to learn. She has what, 8 weeks?

Of course she has the dittoheads. God help us if this absolutely unqualified ELITIST of another type gets into office. She will be surrounded by the old guard of Republicans who are all oil people. She is Bush.