With Donald Trump involved it would have been madness to think the GOP convention would be dull. As wife Melania said Monday night, “It wouldn’t be a Trump contest without excitement or drama.” (And yes, it was Melania, and not Michelle Obama.)

We’ll leave that plagiarism business and the media’s manic response to others, because while it may have missed the media’s attention today, there were plenty of other speeches Monday night. Three in particular are worthy of note.

The Most Heart-Breaking Speech

Pat Smith, mother of Benghazi victim Sean Smith, poured her agony out on the platform. Snapshots from her story sear into the mind: Her son telling her a day before the terrorist attack, “Mom, I’m going to die.” Hillary Clinton, only days later, steps away from Sean’s flag-drapped coffin, telling his mother that heinous lie about a video. The years of Hillary’s State Department refusing to answer a grieving mother’s simple question, “Why was Sean there?”

And Pat Smith’s declarative wail: “I blame Hillary Clinton for the death of my son.”

https://vimeo.com/175448252

It was wrenching to watch. Heartbreaking — at least for those with a heart.

Which gets to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. The thrill up his leg has been replaced with ice in his veins. Saying he “didn’t care what that woman” has felt, Matthews blasted the GOP for allowing her to speak. “I think it’s wrong that they ruined their evening with this.”

As if reminding America of the human cost of Hillary Clinton’s actions and inactions has no place in the election conversation. As if the conventions should be only balloons and confetti, rather than truth and its consequences.

It’ll be curious to see Matthew’s reaction at the DNC Convention. The Democrats have invited Michael Brown’s mother to speak.

The Most Caffeinated Speech

Has anyone ever been more excited to be in Cleveland than Rudy Giuliani was Monday night? America’s mayor was amped up like Chris Christie at a Springsteen concert. Arms waving, eyes bulging, voice booming, Rudy rocked the joint so hard they’ll have to create a special exhibit for him at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Who cares if he confused what’s up from what’s down? Who cares he was offering so much red meat he could change his name to Outback. When it comes to energy and passion, Rudy made Donald Trump look like Ben Carson.

“We know who you are,” he told radical Islamists, “And we’re coming to get you.” He had just enough madness in the eyes to make our enemies sweat.

https://vimeo.com/175450967

The Bravest Speech

The bravest speech of the night may well have been from actor Antonio Sabato, Jr. It not so much what he said; an eloquent statement from a naturalized citizen who obeyed the rules and realized the American dream. It was the fact that he was there, proudly stating his Republican beliefs. Simply by standing up at an RNC convention he may well have kissed his Hollywood career goodbye.

Oscar-nominated actor — and longtime activist for liberal causes — Ron Silver learned that when he spoke at the 2004 convention on behalf of George W. Bush. As Silver said before his death, once he gave that speech his opportunities in Hollywood and Broadway “dried up.”

Antonio made matters worse for himself, in terms of Hollywood welcome, when he stated after his speech that he “absolutely” believes Barack Obama is a Muslim. He couldn’t have caused more ire had he suggested that socialism-loving A-listers get paid the SAG day rate.

Still, I pray Antonio gets shown more respect than Silver did. (And I’m not just saying that because he was such a considerate gentleman while brutally murdering my wife in a film called Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas.) More than that, I hope his words get heard in Hollywood.