In case you were still searching for a reason to be thankful on Thursday, the Daily Show has given you a present a few days early. Here’s a compendium of the very best of Sarah Palin’s greatest slips/hits. Don’t watch before bedtime: It might give you nightmares!

Almost immediately after the venom-spewing session that was Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention wrapped, an email came across from David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager.  Here’s an excerpt:

Both Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin specifically mocked Barack’s experience as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago more than two decades ago, where he worked with people who had lost jobs and been left behind when the local steel plants closed.

Let’s clarify something for them right now.

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.

And it’s no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. That promise is what our campaign has been about from the beginning.

Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America’s promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women’s suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it’s happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

This seems to be just the window the Obama campaign is looking for to really hammer home the “McCain and the Republicans are out of touch” message. Not only was there thinly veiled sneering at the term “community organizer” as any sort of legit leadership experience by Guiliani and Palin, the audience was eating it up as well.

While the MSM has been overflowing with general praise for her performance, the blogosphere was quick to react.  Marc Cooper’s sarcasm-laden response to Palin’s speech can be found here.  P+P’s own Tricia Romano offers her take on Palin and everyone else here.  And the website SameFacts has done its own analysis of Palin’s speech vs. “reality” here.

Perhaps most poignant, however, is the comment that was left on Ms. Romano’s piece by “karimah,” an impassioned former community organizer:

I listened to Gov. Palins’ speech last night. For the past few days, I’ve tried to avoid the spins and sound bites that were unfairly whirling around her and her family. I wanted to hear Palin breath of fresh air and respect what was a historical moment. I was inspired last night by her presence when she approached the podium. She was poised, confident and ready. She had a tough job, as would anyone. She was being charged with inspiring and motivating her party. I clung to her every word. I tried to filter her mockery and insults and I saw a woman rising to the occasion. As a woman, I felt proud. Good for her!!

But….

I was absolutely shocked that she would use her moment of introduction to disrespect Community Organizers so profoundly. I have worked as a Community Organizer in every region and almost every state of our country for the past 18 years including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. I was offended and deeply hurt by the context and content of her references to Community Organizers. Giuliani was made accountable by organizing efforts for many issues in NY prior to 9/11. Maybe that was his motivation. What in the world was hers?? There are so many Americans that give up more “elite” options to follow their convictions of helping to create positive changes as Community Organizers They work side by side with good, hard working Americans who are often left out, pushed aside and left behind. If she wants, someday I’ll share with her what the job entails.

Last night Palin and Giuliani mocked the struggles of people all over this country to survive, thrive and make their communities better. These folk are working with organizers to prevent foreclosures, improve the community’s façade, leverage millions for affordable housing, train for jobs, create job opportunities, work with young people to get them committed and excited about learning. These folk are “mavericks” speaking truth to local power in they’re cities. Community Organizers are knocking on doors getting people registered to vote and inspiring them to engage in the political process. As before, we will be there helping in the aftermath when the lights go out in St. Paul and go back on in New Orleans. Hope is not just a word for organizers. It is the light that shatters apathy and ignites a spirit of participation. With seemingly whimsical comments Palin and Giuliani disregarded the legacy of organizing movements that are held dear in the hearts and minds of many Americans. At least two movements from which I dare say she has benefited….. The Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Movement. Community organizing efforts paved the way for her to speak on a national stage last night at a RNC. You might say she did not have to “earn” that podium because of the work of organizers. They owe an apology to the countless number of people who do this work. Is organizing a legitimate qualification for our Commander-in-Chief? Palin has a right to question. My guess is Obama can and will answer her. But to make a mockery of an honest and noble American profession and to discount it by the use of your body language and tone is shameful. It was an authoritarian posture. It was a misuse of the platform and the power the she and Giuliani has as public officials. I found the references to Community Organizers careless, unnecessarily nasty, divisive, and elitist.

I am an educated woman, a mother of two beautiful young boys, a wife, a National Trainer and a very proud Community Organizer. I know I’ll talk, text, chat blog and email with other Community Organizers from all over the country today about the references made by both Palin and Giuliani. Not knowing about someone’s work and/or not liking the work they do does not grant Palin or Giuliani the privilege to do what they both did with no regard for fellow Americas who happen to be organizers. Thanks but no thanks!

God Bless the Obamas and God Bless America