Those are fighting words!

Towards the end of Sarah Palin's acerbic acceptance speech, she drudged up the war hero rhetoric (for about the millionth time during the convention) by describing John McCain as:

"a leader who's not looking for a fight, but is not afraid of one either...(blah-blah-blah)...there is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you...in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain."

(The blah-blah-blah was her ranting diversion about Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader).

McCain himself ended his snoozer of a speech with a plethora of "fight" references, whipping his war-mongering base into a tizzy (at least it woke them up).

When it comes down to it, McCain's political fighting record stands on its own. Here's how Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) reacted to McCain's fightin' words:

"Last night at the Republican National Convention, John McCain used the word "fight" more than 40 times in his speech. In the 16 years that we have served together in the Senate, I have seen John McCain fight.

I have seen him fight against raising the federal minimum wage 14 times.

I have seen him fight against making sure that women earn equal pay for equal work.

I have seen him fight against a women's right to choose so consistently that he received a zero percent vote rating from pro-choice organizations.

I have seen him fight against helping families gain access to birth control.

I have seen him fight against Social Security, even going so far as to call its current funding system "an absolute disgrace."

And I saw him fight against the new GI Bill of Rights until it became politically untenable for him to do so.

John McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time in 2007 and 100 percent of the time in 2008 -- that's no maverick. We do have two real fighters for change in this election -- their names are Barack Obama and Joe Biden."

And here's what Sen. Boxer said about Palin's speech:

"Last night, Sarah Palin proved that she can throw a punch -- one packed with sarcasm to divert attention from her lack of experience. Palin didn't even attempt to make the case to the American people that she is ready to be Vice President or President, should that become necessary. Sarah Palin is a great candidate for the far right, but after examining her slim record in office, I cannot imagine mainstream Americans would support a Vice Presidential nominee with such extreme views."

Couldn't have said it better. So get out your lipstick Sarah and brush up on those pitbull instincts, you're going to need more than a reliance on McCain's war veteran status and sneering wit to win this fight.