EDITED FOR CONTENT: Good for you, Mcfly. You seem to have arrived at a lot of the same gut conclusions I have. But for me it's not just about Palin, but the whole modern conservative movement as it seems to be taking form in this country.

No, it's not ideological. I never felt this way about people like Bob Dole or even Bill Buckley or Pat Buchanan or Barry Goldwater. And as far as basic ideology, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the core conservative program of small government, lower taxes, strong defense, unfettered individual enterprise, and the rest. My objections to their policies have never been one of kind, but of degree.

But this new arrogance, this in-your-face, bully-boy, tough guy, screw-you-because-you-aren't-a-real-American-like-me attitude repulses me on an emotional level, even more so than their most extremist politics or ideology. Coupled with this is a self-righteousness, a holier-than-thou moral certainty that God is on their side and their enemies are tools of the devil and not to be countenanced. In fact those who question them must be destroyed; no, worse than that, humiliated. The new right seems to have confused abrasiveness with commitment, rudeness with consistency.

Yeah, I freely admit these are not carefully reasoned intellectual arguments based on detailed analysis. But neither can one ignore the instinctual wave of revulsion one feels when in close personal contact with these people. In public discourse they seem perfectly reasonable and normal until the conversation shifts to the political. (And it always does, they are obsessed with it.) Immediately, you feel it. They just don't disagree, they hate, they have utter contempt for their opponents and for anything they stand for, not because of what they think, but because of who they are. They feel they have a moral right, even an obligation, to despise their enemies. And what's worse, they don't seem to have a clue they come across this way to others.

No, it's not just Palin. Look at her followers, her allies, the hangers-on, the Becks and Limbaughs, (to pick on the most easily recognized stereotypes). This is the worst America has to offer, and they want it all for themselves.