Last night's Likud convention was a rather civilized affair, as these things go. I'll tell you why. During three hours of speeches, the names of various suspicious characters now trying to piggyback on the Likud's rising fortunes -- Dan Meridor, Assaf Chefetz, Uzi Dayan, et al. -- were not mentioned even a single time. (I was paying careful attention.) If these names had been mentioned, the facade of unity and civility would have come crashing down.

Of course, the exception is Benny Begin, who was treated like royalty. He will come out right near the top in the primaries. Unfortunately, Begin Junior is a hopelessly uptight white guy whose exaggerated sense of propriety will be exploited by manipulative self-righteous pricks like Meridor. Buyer beware.