You are no doubt wondering what a condemned man might look like after being tied to a stake then shot at by a few hundred people with machine guns.

The answer?

Not much left except a dark red bloody splodge and a strong smell of singed meat.

With that thought in mind, read Polly Toynbee's piece asserting that the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is a victim of the new wave of puritanism. Thus:

But here's the wake-up call. MPs have been caught napping by the new wave of puritanism...

Those who abuse, belittle and encourage popular contempt for MPs should consider that we need more good people in politics. Observing the excruciating public humiliation of the home secretary's husband for watching a couple of porn movies, with their children cringing indoors, how many potentially good future politicians decided they would rather not invite the world to root through their private life after all?

So far so trite.

Then scroll through the comments, as the angry machine guns start blazing.

I as a public servant for many years never cheated on a single penny, and would have been hauled before a disciplinary tribunal had I done so. I was expected to follow the rules and respect the spirit of the rules.

Quite right too.

Whereas far too many in the current British political leadership - MInisters and MPs and MEPs alike - seem to think that the whole point of the rules is to squeeze as much as they possible can for themselves from the public purse, skulking behind all available formalities and technicalities when they are caught out.

Had I been hauled before a disciplinary hearing for playing fast and loose with my entertainment claim, they would have cited that action as a sign of their own lofty leadership in defending Public Money.

The sheer shamelessness of it is exceeded only by the exhausting hypocrisy.

Bring on the General Election.

As for Guardian columnists. You have had your chance - and been found wanting.