What a lame response Guiliani managed to dream up when he defended himself against McCain's charges that he was a poor administrator because of the Mayor's admiration of his friend, the now indicted ex-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.

"Told that McCain questioned his judgment regarding Kerik, Giuliani said: "I'd be very surprised if John did that. John is a good friend. All these things were out there since December 2004, since then John has described me as a hero... as someone he has tremendous respect for, as someone whose leadership after Sept. 11 was unparalleled."

Guiliani added: "I suspect that's not John's judgment.

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Guiliani's denial of the facts is a little too reminisent of the Bush approach. It seems these honorable poiliticans put loyalty to friends charged with criminal activities before our own National Security. Kerik's appointment as the Iraq Security Forces chief was stupid on the Mayor's part,and it was even more stupid for Kerik to assume the post.

McCain said, "That's why I never would've supported him to be the head of Homeland Security because of his irresponsible act when he was over in Baghdad to try and help train the police. One of the reasons why we had so much trouble with the initial training of the police was because he came, didn't do anything and then went out to the airport and left."

Nice guy huh? Really qualified? Still a hero in Guiliani's mind?

It sure sounds like it. Yesterday, Guiliani said, "It's a sad day because Bernie Kerik was a hero police officer."

Guiliani still can't face the fact that his friend was a dog and that voters might actually find his loyalty appaling rather than appealing.

Oh, but then...maybe John McCain doesn't really mean what he says. Maybe he is a secret admirer?

This should be an interesting week as Guiliani tries to squirm out of this one. Who wants to bet the Kerik fiasco is a huge factor that will dramatically affect his poll numbers?