I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here. Sarah ran for public office under the former understanding that children were off limits. Pres. Bush’s daughters were sniped at, but it was not too out of control, bad though it was. What they’ve done to Palin’s family should be a crime, and people should serve prison time for it.
This is much like the former understanding that partisan politics ended at the waters edge. Nothing is off limits for the bolsheviks. Nothing. And must not be for us, distasteful though that may be.
The internet has allowed cowards on the Left a place to attack from. Like you said, here’s hoping there are some “Riddick”-like gladiators on the right who can take on this battle.