[LostInBayport]

1) What drives this fear and loathing?

Fear and jealousy. Liberals fear Palin because she is one of those dreaded "average people" who got where she did in life without using the nepotism, victim or diversity cards. She did not attend an Ivy League school and did not kiss the appropriate rings within the GOP party machine. She is not part of the incestuous politics/media/money club...and doesn't need to be part of it.

Liberals are jealous of Palin --- primarily liberal women --- because she has achieved the goals they sought for themselves and could not achieve: family, career, self-confidence. The fact that she is a Christian (which undoubtedly helped her accomplish all of that) is just salt in their wounds. As for liberal men, they hate Palin because their liberal women tell them to...

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Fear and loathing of everyday people going about their lives trying to raise their families and make some money to provide for them. That bothers the hell out of the whack left! She can fish...she's o.k.by me!

[Daisyjane69]

The best answer I heard so far was from Bernie Goldberg, on O’Reilly Monday night. I think I have the quote almost right. Maybe someone has the exact video.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The most famous policial woman in the nation was supposed to be one of them. A liberal.”