Don't even try putting lipstick on this pit bull...

If the goal was to fire up hard-core conservative Republicans, Sarah Palin's speech was a tour de force. If the goal was to tick off mainstream and progressive independents and moderates, Sarah Palin's speech was a tour de force. If the goal was to appeal to voters based on small-town values and motherhood, Sarah Palin's speech was a tour de force. If the goal was to give an electrifying and bellicose oration with little in the way of substance and decorum, Sarah Palin's speech was a tour de force.

Most objective observers, however, realize that there's a whole lot more to running this country than degrading one's opponent, and distorting his positions. I could have been more inclined to look at the Republican ticket as a legitimate choice if they could focus on issues and how they would address them. Instead, this convention has solidified my opposition to this ticket. I would have warmed more to Sarah Palin if she would have focused less on mocking Barack Obama's laudable experience helping the poor and downtrodden on Chicago's South Side and his remarkable rise in Democratic politics, and more on why she believes him to be unqualified. Attacking him on the issues would have endeared her more to a voter like me--a voter who doesn't take kindly to personal attack politics, from wherever it may come. Of course, now that the Republicans have opened the door to attack politics, I fully expect the Obama campaign to come out with all guns blazing.