As a collective insult to the better nature of America and its people, the tragic spectacle of the Republican Convention in Minnesota represents the nadir of the political process, highlighted by back to back demagogic speeches long on invective and insults and devoid of truth and reason.

Here was Rudolph Guiliani, formerly comedic "drag queen" on Saturday Night Live, oft-married and mayor of a city attacked by right wing Republican fundamentalists as "godless" and "sinful" pandering to the basest natures of those who had formerly attacked him with impunity.

This was the same Guiliani who was spurned by the numerous fat cat, overrepresented symbols of wealth and Bush tax cut recipients that constituted the howling masses on the convention floor as he delivered a speech in which he came close to declaring that Democrats who opposed the Bush misadventure in Iraq as traitorous.

While Guiliani declared that the delegates and the nation could and should be entrusted to John McCain's judgment, this was the same candidate who declared that New York City's corrupt former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik would be a great choice to head the Department of Homeland Security.