My one major take-away from the Republican Convention was simple: the Republican Party hates me.  I know for many of you this seems has seemed obvious for eight to 30 years, but as a former Republican, and a long time McCain supporter (prior to the beginning of this election season), it came as a surprise to me.  It came as a surprise because I expected the Republican Party would be trying to court my vote, rather than piss me off.  

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing they could have said that would have changed my mind during this convention.  Yet, it is surprising how well they know this.  My profile would be an educated white male, whose main issue is foreign policy and doesn't really think either side has it exactly right.  I'm pro-choice, but abortion isn't an issue that I'm likely to vote on (although after this convention, you can just add it to the list).  

More importantly though, I'm willing to listen.  I've switched parties in the past four years and am not totally comfortable with all Democratic positions.  I agree with the Republicans on stressing nuclear power, on the idea that teacher's unions are holding back progress in education, on most issues of free trade and am skeptical of both sides' plans to get us out of Iraq.  

And like most voters in the middle, I hate negative campaigning.  I hate seeing my candidate do it, and hate it even more when it comes from the other side.  I think negative campaigning is for dumb people and I don't think I'm dumb.  I've seen where the negative campaigning mindset leads while briefly working for McCain's 2000 campaign, and being stung by what happened in South Carolina.

Yet, at the Republican National Convention, which I watched closely, there was absolutely no effort made to woo my vote.  All I heard was them trying to belittle every reason I support Senator Obama.  They told me I was dumb for following a cult celebrity.  They told me I was dumb for thinking that Obama being a community organizer is an extremely positive indication of his character.  They told me I was dumb for thinking that we need a more reasoned direction in our foreign policy.  They told me I was dumb for thinking that drilling isn't an answer to our energy problems.  They told me I was dumb for wanting some real solutions to our economic crisis.  

It's not only that they told me I am dumb, they obviously genuinely thought so.  They pretended like the media frenzy around Sarah Palin was anything new.  As if I don't remember Rev. Wright, Bitter-gate, "for the first time in my life ..."-gate.  They told me left wing bloggers were trying to destroy an innocent woman by finding facts about her.  As if I haven't spent the past year and half seeing the "Obama is a Muslim" emails or reading right wing blogs that happily pass on any fantasy that might scare one more voter.  

They pretended like I wouldn't notice when they continuously attacked Senator Obama, while laying out no new solutions that might show they've chosen a new direction.  They pretended like there was any logic to the idea of them retaking Washington from themselves.  As if their convention somehow existed in a time vacuum that didn't include the last eight years.  

They lied to me about Senator Obama's tax plan.  They lied to me about Senator Obama's record in the US and Illinois Senate.  They lied to me about Senator Obama's energy plan.  They lied to me about Senator Obama's health care plan.  They lied to me about Senator Obama's views on foreign policy.  They lied to me about the reality in Iraq.  They "forgot" to mention there's a war in Afghanistan.  

They told me I was sexist for wondering who the hell Sarah Palin is.  They lied to me about the "Bridge to Nowhere."  They told me I was unpatriotic for ever questioning America's perfection.  They told me I should love their candidate based on one speech, but that I should dismiss mine because of hundreds of speeches, policy proposals and interviews.  They told me the media doesn't need to talk to the possible future vice president, while unabashedly using the media to spread this message.  

They tried to use Sarah Palin's family to make me relate to her character, while crying foul at any mention of her family outside their talking points.  They told me John McCain was a POW every few minutes, while forgetting to tell me about his 26 years in Congress.  They pretended like there is no person named Dick Cheney.  

They blatantly tried to reignite the "culture wars" that were the first thing to push me away from the Republican party.  As if any social issue is going to make me forget that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are about to be taken over by the government, as the Dow and dollar continue to drop.  They blamed the Democrats for high gas prices.  As if I don't remember who held secret meetings with energy companies that led us down this road.  

They told me that experience isn't a big deal.  As if I don't remember the last three months of them screaming at the top of their lungs, "no experience."  They told me judgment mattered most, but wouldn't answer a single question about the judgment of the Bush administration, the judgment of the Iraq war, the judgment of Republican economic policies, the judgment of picking a vice presidential candidate in two days, or the judgment of vetting a potential future president of the United States.  

Finally, they told me that the Republican party of the future is going to be the Republican party of the past by proclaiming Sarah Palin as their future.  As if I don't realize this means a greater focus on social issues, a continuation of neo-con foreign policy and continued disregard for anyone who has need of help from their government.  They passed the torch to a new leader, while bringing in the same handlers who ran their last two hate-filled campaigns.  As if I can't recognize their tactics from South Carolina in 2000.  

So I guess what I'm saying is (and don't take this the wrong way), I always knew they hated most of you.  It came as a bit of a surprise to see how much they truly hate me.  Well, I don't hate.  Their example shows so well how that emotion clouds out reality and common sense.  But man, I'm sure a whole lot more pumped up to beat the the hell out of them on November 4th!