With the DNC over and the temperamental limelight now hovering towards McCain’s more than slightly surprising VP choice and the impending (weather-based, obstacle ridden?) Republican National Convention, the GOP doesn’t seem to be having their expected grand old party lashing out against the Obama campaign…today. But the day is young and the elephants have not yet been wished happy hunting.

Over the course of the Denver-based convention, however, the McCain Campaign, National Review and folks such as Michelle Malkin, Mark Hemingway and Ann Coulter went to town with a bevy of nasty tidbits that “more than hinted” (cough) at a hope to subvert Obama’s influence (or to simply get a gleeful two cents in).

The Brief Breakdown:

Mon, 8-25: On Michelle Obama’s Speech:

In what can be shocking only to an earthworm lodged deep in the world’s core and away from the sensory-overload producing buzz of this election and American politics in general, we read that Ann Coulter did not like Michelle Obama’s speech.

Here’s an excerpt of her reaction:

The speech itself felt mechanical. There were some interesting quotes including:

“I love America!” [Note: As an aside, I feel like if you have to say it, you call it into question.]

“We will build the world as it should be.”

“Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling”–and this is a paraphrase–and changed the world for our girls. [I'm sure Hillary is happy to know she paved the way for Michelle's daughters.]

She also said some airy, fairy stuff about stellar education from cradle to grave, but no specifics other than by “bringing us together” and finding the “common thread”. Whatever the hell that means.

At the end of the speech, there was a staged moment where Barack was piped in via satellite and talked to his girls who were absolutely precious. To me, I think that part was the “winning” moment, if there was one. The all-American family. The all-American black family. Very powerful.

Tues, 8-26: On Hillary Clinton’s Speech:

Unabashed and hilarious hard-hitter Michelle Malkin pulled no live-blogging punches in describing Hillary as an “orange creamsicle,” in languishing in descriptions of Clinton as a liar and in highlighting the possible enmity between Hillary and Michelle Obama.

A portion of her writing shows:

She’s telling all her old campaign victim anecdotes. Gives a shout out to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits.

Ewww.

A nice tribute to the son of Stephanie Tubbs Jones and the widow of Bill Gwaltney.

A galling reference to Chinese dirty money and private profits over the public good.

Michelle O can barely get through this. Hasn’t cracked a smile yet.

Well, this will probably seal the deal. Another cutaway to the new ice queen, Michelle O….

Hillary gives her hubby a shout-out. Standing ovation. Michelle O and Joe B gingerly clapping again. Is that fear in their eyes?

A dig at Obama’s differences with her on health care: “I can’t wait until Barack Obama signs a law that covers every single American in this country.”

11:05pm Eastern. She’s quoting Harriet Tubman. “Keep going.” Almost lapsing into her Selma accent. “We’re Americans and we don’t quit…we don’t have a moment to lose or a moment to spare.” Her accent, whatever it is, is getting thicker.

Over.

Forced smiles all around.

Wed, 8-27: On Bill Clinton’s Speech:

Mark Hemingway’s answer to Mr. Clinton’s speech, published in the National Review was somewhat gentle and even quite flattering, if a portrayal of it as “rousing partisan screed” (see below):

Denver — The reviews are in, and Bill Clinton has given the best speech of the Democratic convention thus far. True, the bar hadn’t been set at a daunting height for the most talented politician of his generation — but credit is due where credit is due. Bill Clinton’s speech was an impressive display of partisan red meat at a convention that was showing signs of anemia. Watching the soporific John Kerry come out after Clinton was like watching Tiny Tim stroll on stage with his ukulele seconds after Jimi Hendrix had dropped his still-scorching Stratocaster.

That, however, is all the Clinton speech was — a rousing partisan screed. Alleged acrimony between the Clinton and Obama campaigns has been much buzzed about all week — and not for nothing. The on-camera denials have been as unconvincing as the off-the-record gripes have been frequent. Even when Barack Obama made his “surprise” appearance at the end of the night and singled out the Clintons for their support, you could almost hear Bill and Hillary restating their tentative endorsement through clenhed teeth: America deserves Barack Obama . . . good and hard.

Thurs, 8-28: On Barack Obama’s Speech:

Michelle Malkin took great pleasure in painting Obama as a holier-than-thou snot, or “Snobama,” or leader of a goon squad, from Harvard in her campaign-parodying images.

The McCain Campaign followed its presentation of Obama as a celebrity with alternate images of him, using the structure of the stage at the INVESCO field as an inspiration, as a self-proclaimed–but no less hallowed– Greco-Roman God-figure…much in the spirit of its delighted characterization of him as “The One” as well as of a novice simply “not ready” to fill the hot seat.

So. The dual-sided, putrefied mud-slinging ping pong of insult and injury continues in vivid form. After all, this democracy is red and blue in tooth and claw.