Certainly a discussion of issues would have been useful. Yet, scandalously, the GOP was unable to field a credible candidate in what is shaping up everywhere else in America as a strong Republican year.

At the outset, there was something refreshing about Carl Paladino, the erratic, energetic political neophyte who took down the Republican establishment.

He won the primary by showing that he understood the frustrations New Yorkers grapple with daily -- and by speaking to them, directly and forcefully.

But he was long on anger and short on answers. (Throwing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver into Attica may appeal at an elemental level, but it is not a policy prescription.)

Then a screw popped loose.

Paladino revealed himself to be undisciplined, unfocused and untrustworthy -- that is, fundamentally unqualified for the office he seeks.

In addition, his embrace of the utterly bizarre Roger Stone and his execrable Sancho Panza, Michael Caputo, as principal advisers is compelling evidence of a profound ethical myopia.