She’s been hooked with a lot of nicknames: Caribou Barbie, the Wicked Witch of Wasilla, Gov. Mooselini and more than a few names unsuitable to print in a family newspaper. It’s hard for me to look at — or listen to — Sarah Palin without having Tina Fey’s “Saturday Night Live” character of the former Republican vice presidential candidate come to mind. Area residents of all political stripes will get the chance to see and hear the former governor of Alaskan for themselves on Wednesday, Dec. 2, when she is scheduled to speak during a community convocation at College of the Ozarks near Branson. Details are few, so far. On Tuesday, the Globe published a short, Associated Press story announcing the upcoming event.

I’m not surprised that news of Palin’s appearance started a contentious, partisan exchange in the comments forum, I had no idea just how spirited it would become at joplinglobe.com.

‘Hateful, mean, untrue’

While news of Palin’s visit kept the comments rolling in, the discussion eventually took a sharp turn. President Obama’s job performance and the treatment of Palin and Obama children during the campaign became the focus of the online exchange.

“It is the lowest form of cowardice to attack anyone by insulting their children. It is what unintelligent people do when they have nothing of value to use for their attack. The venom spewed against our president by the lunatic fringe sickens me. Whatever happened to respect for the office? It is no wonder our youths have no respect for authority if this is how the rabidly religious lunatic fringe is raising their children.”

— concerned citizen

“Concerned, where do I start with your statement? ‘It’s the lowest.’ Is your memory so very short that you don’t remember the untrue, hateful, hurtful, unnecessary things that were said about Sarah, her teenage daughter, and her physically challenged son. You people are so very unkind where this lady and her family are concerned but, let someone say anything against Obama and you go totally crazy. For some reason the words ‘jealous’ and ‘hypocrite’ keep coming to mind when I here and read these kinds of statements. And that goes for both sides. The Obama daughters are very attractive young ladies and, as such, do not deserve hateful statements made about them. You people hopefully can make your points without all the hateful, mean, untrue things that are being said here. If you can’t find a way to do this, then I feel very sorry for you and the people that have to have any dealing with you. Mean spirits do not become anyone.”

— Country Girl

‘I can hardly wait’

Dozens of Sarah Palin critics came out of the woodwork to add their two-cents worth to the debate, but many fans of the former VP wannabe quickly came to her defense.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to hear Sarah Palin speak and would love to take my teenage daughter with me. I hope the Globe will follow up with more information as the event gets near.”

— L.G.

“Not the role model I would want my three daughters to follow.”

— Dan Wilson

“I can hardly wait to get my free copy of Palin’s book! I want to read about all the points she made playing high school basketball. And then there is another chapter about her being third place runner-up out of 10 vying for the Miss Alaska contest. I believe she will have a copy of the music that she played on the flute to qualify.”

— Kristi

“Well, she’ll be speaking to her intellectual peers at that school anyway.”

— Rawhead

“I’m glad the governor gives you so much pain. I’d like to hear her speak.”

— theotherguy

‘Glad she’s a Republican!’

As is often the case in the comments forum, a few wise-acres managed to put a smile on my face.

“I would rather have my eardrums punctured with an ice pick, and my hair set on fire than have to listen to that woman give a speech.”

— The Infamous Rustybumperjack©

“‘I think on a national level your department of law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we’ve been charged with and automatically throw them out.’ Sarah Palin quote concerning accusations of unethical behavior. God, I’m glad she’s a Republican!”

— JS

“I’m sure this event will be well attended by S.W.MOs No. 1 demographic — those who love pro wrestling, NASCAR, rodeo, tobacco products, the KKK, lottery tickets, Rush, FOX, Keystone Light, chicken fights, guns, the Confederate flag, televangelists and Toby Keith, and who hate seat belts, higher education, gay people, motorcycle helmets, health care for all, and a woman’s right to choose.”

— Kristi Dawn (K.) L.

Dave Woods is the new media editor for The Joplin Globe.