There are lots of politicians I once respected, at least a little, but who have disappointed me with their abandonment of past principles in their search for power…or just continued relevance. John McCain did long ago. Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee once struck me as Republicans for whom I might have voted, mostly because they sounded kinda reasonable with the way they viewed opposing views.
Oddly enough, the two Presidents Bush have gone a little in the opposite direction. I still think George W. was the worst president of my lifetime — and possibly anyone's — but both have joined the Jimmy Carter Club of being easier to respect after being out of office. Not running for anything is good for some people.
Still, no one has disappointed me more than Rudy Giuliani. Jelani Cobb summarizes most of the reasons. Giuliani's gone Full Trump on us…and I don't even get that the people he's pandering to have the slightest affection or respect for the guy.