Rudy Knows Islam

The Republicans just concluded their debate. I didn't watch it all. Chris Matthews was a fair moderator, contrary to what I expected. McCain began slowly, but emerged as the "straight talker," sometimes volunteering positions that were to the left of every other candidate's. I thought he did well. Romney benefited from being physically behind the farthest right podium, the one to the screen's far left. Matthews inevitably began at his own far left--with Mitt.

Giuliani absolutely knocked one question out of the park, though I bet commentators don't pick up on it. Asked about the difference between Sunni and Shia, he provided a textbook response, correctly noting the split began over how to handle Muhammad's succession, correctly saying Sunnis wanted a Caliphate, while Shiites wanted a bloodline succession, correctly saying Sunnis massacred Shiites early in their mutual history, and generalizing that the split between the two is almost as old is Islam. Far more of an answer than the questioner expected, I'm sure, and very impressive to this history wonk. W-O-W. Hard for me not to be a Rudy man after this one. Even if Giuliani prepped for the question, prepping for this particular question shows his head is in the right place.