Monday night. Watching Rudi G throw down for the Dub. Opening line says it all: “Welcome to the Capitol of the World.” Mwah hah hah! Quel cowboi, non? Everyone knows the capitol of the world is Brussels.

You want to know why it’s wise to invite the moderates to address the convention? Because they reach the tens of millions of Americans who don’t have any party loyalty, who are frankly bemused by the very idea, who are gut-sick of hearing each side claim it’s the embodiment of truth and perfection. They hear Rudy say this:

Neither party has a monopoly on virtue; we don’t have all the right ideas, they don’t have all the wrong ideas, but I do believe there are times in history when our ideas are more necessary, and more important, and critical. And this is one of those times – when we are facing war and danger.

Privately, of course, people feel a little stronger about the distribution of right and wrong, but that’s for the back room when ties loosen and the bottles open. But what Giuliani did was completely typical: aggressive graciousness. It’s why people who disagree with many of his positions admire him greatly, and why he spoke Monday night. And dang: he was good. He was hard: first time I’ve heard someone get up and slam Arafat by name in such a context. A sharp elbow at Germany. A Kerry section played mostly for laughs. An amazing last 10 minutes - dodged nothing. It was like watching a blacksmith at work while he whistled opera.

I liked the Sept. 14 anecdote, where a construction worker at Ground Zero gives Bush a big hug. He had told the President what he thought should be done to the terrorists, and had used construction worker language. “I can’t tell you what he said – this is the Republican convention,” Giuliani said. Big laugh. A wink and a nod: we cuss, we just don’t do it in front of the children and horses. The president responded to the suggestions by saying “you’re right!” and the construction worker, overwhelmed by the moment, embraced Bush in a spine-cracking hug. A Secret Service agent, already annoyed that the President was staying too long in this unsafe place, said “if this guy hurts the president, Giuliani, you’re finished.”

For some reason, I think that tale has more relevance to modern times than the resuscitation of a hamster.