For his part, Olmert would do well to start avoiding the kind of bickering duels he sometimes can't resist joining, and focus on fashioning himself as a social and political bridge-builder, the way another finance minister, Levi Eshkol, did back when he succeeded another prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, who, much like Sharon, was also portrayed as larger than life. Eshkol was never larger than life, but his premiership was a massive success.

In the coming days Olmert must gather and organize Kadima and take it to war, so as to arrive at the election as an incumbent, legitimate and effective prime minister.

None of this will be easy, but it's all feasible. If he makes no big mistakes, he will emerge as this mayhem's big winner, and Ariel Sharon's rightful successor.