it isn't too incredible that the Repugs and the media like them some stooge like mike pence.

remember the dude who ran for pres last year agst obama? remember his running mate?

mike pence is one of the old newt clones-- like GM had the "j-car" -- he's just a retread of an idea which is, i hope, the FUTURE of the Republican Party -- yahoo!

The more responsible media outlets should require prospective spokespeople to complete a brief questionnaire before being given the floor. A question like, "Where or what are the Everglades?" would probably disqualify Pence and return the word doofus to public discourse.

(There is a potential danger that many of the talking heads would also fail the quiz, but they have the advantage of being "the teacher" under these circumstances. Can you imagine the internal arguments over at Fox just trying to place Egypt on a map?)

Regarding these ridiculous Republicans:

"Wise men speak because they have something to say;
fools because they have to say something." - Plato

During the last 30 yrs. it has plainly become evident that the GOP speaks to one group and one group only -- the masses of America who Bill Maher refers to as "stupid Americans". Unfortunately, it is an unusuallly large group.

It's why I'm not sure if Pence's on-air remarks should be characterized as a "lie" or simply "staggering idiocy."

how about malicious misleading of the American people and undermining of American Democracy on the part of MSNBC. Government of the people CAN NOT FUNCTION without a well informed people. The corporate media constant provision of a platform for republicans to lie, mislead, and dissemble, and failure on the part of the media to clearly call out the lies is just a gnats whiskers shy of treason and is clearly malicious intent to undermine the nation. They should be held accountable for poisoning and undermining the nation with spreading the republican disease.

it has plainly become evident that the GOP speaks to one group and one group only -- the masses of America who Bill Maher refers to as "stupid Americans".

the republican's main constituent is the plutocrats, which by definition is a small group - an exclusive club. Republicans speak to the rubes only because they need their uninformed votes to win elections: the rubes are so very easily manipulated into voting against themselves and for the republican plutocratic platform (demonstrating the ease of manipulating rubes is reagan's true gift to the republican party). The republicans' real intent for the rubes is to keep them indentured.

Always beware claims of $X in "new" taxes etc, because various people are already paying for things like healthcare, etc.

"Digby asked yesterday, "Has there ever been a slimier, more unctuous piece of work than Mike Pence?"

Michelle Bachman, Tom Trancedo, that putz McHenry from South Carolina, Marsha Blackburn(sic) from Tennessee, and last, but not least ERIC CANTOR, an insult to all other Jews in the nation.

Hows it feel Eric to be the only Jewish Republican in Congress, and Mel Martinez, the only Latino Republican in the Senate. And how about ALL that Afro-American representation in Congress on the Republican side of the aisle.

The Republican party is definately the party of inclusion: white women encouraged, white old Southern men preferred. Stupid lies demand stupid leaders to say them and even more stupid people to believe them!

This is like the Bill Kristol meltdown on The Daily Show. Kristol neatly outlined the Republican fiscal math: you can't raise taxes and you can't increase the deficit. Basically that means that you can't offer any new government programs. In the long run their desire to cut taxes, when combined with these two balance sheet requirements means that current programs must be cut. Another no-no with Republicans is that you can't raise "any" tax, even the net effect would be lower overall taxes. Each category of tax must go down.

That makes restructuring of any program essentially impossible.

Which is the point.

Pence shouldn't be invited, but he will, in order to represent the "other side", nevermind that that side consists of lies.

But pluege, above, said it best.

Hannah, on vacation in St. Louis

I think the figures are over a 10 year period also, and I believe I heard it was closer to 30-40 billion per year.

You write: "Either way, Pence probably shouldn't be chairman of the House Republican Caucus, and he certainly shouldn't be invited onto national television regularly to repeat bogus claims to the public."

Uh, why?

Here's the reason Pence needs to keep his position and be given every opportunity to present his views, from you: "... I'm not sure if Pence's on-air remarks should be characterized as a 'lie' or simply 'staggering idiocy.'" We really need to resolve this issue! Let's have the following debate about Pence and the other Republican leaders in Congress and the media (and don't forget governors -- and former governors): Are they liars, or are they staggering idiots?

The American people need more opportunities to examine the evidence. There's a lot to indicate lying, but then again, the evidence for idiocy can at times be overwhelming. Whatever the verdict, I think we win.

That, of course, isn't even remotely true. Mitchell, in the most roundabout way possible, said there are "plenty of people" who would dispute that claim...
Pence's repeat appearances aren't the problem. Mitchell disputing Pence's BS "in the most roundabout way possible" is the problem. Why not dispute Pence in the most direct way possible by citing the facts and the sources? Why the deference to a complete idiot who wishes uninsured Americans no good?
I stopped watching anything other than old movies on the television more than a year ago when I understood that liars and nutcases were to be treated exactly the same way as people who made sense. Enough.

Pence probably shouldn't be chairman of the House Republican Caucus

You're kidding, right? He's a marvelous representative of the GOP and its constituency - a malicious paste-eating uninformed troglodyte maladroit.

Pence probably shouldn't be chairman of the House Republican Caucus and he certainly shouldn't be invited onto national television regularly to repeat bogus claims to the public.

Feature, not a bug, etc., etc.

But ya gotta admit, the guy looks great in a suit. A man's man. The distinguished white mane. Come on, can't you SEE the appeal? He's a shiny object and he'd look awesome in a flight suit.

What do ypu mean that ". . . Pence probably shouldn't be chairman of the House Republican Caucus . . . ."?

He is the perfect repesentation of the modern Republican Party!

This is like the Bill Kristol meltdown on The Daily Show. Kristol neatly outlined the Republican fiscal math: you can't raise taxes and you can't increase the deficit. Basically that means that you can't offer any new government programs.

I'm fine with the republicans "no new taxes for healthcare" - I agree the government has more than enough money already. It just spends it on the wrong things. Whack $100 billion a year out of the criminal pork barrel "defense budget" and presto bingo a cool $1 trillion in 10 years for healthcare without any new taxes.

barkleyg@10.26a has hit it right on the mark. As odious as Pense is, ERIC CANTOR has the market cornered on sheer odiousness and oiliness.

Of course, I find Jewish Republicans tend to be that way - see Linda Lingle of Hawaii, and, of course, Norm Coleman. I can say this, I'm Jewish.

IF you eliminated every Republican Congresscritter that's confused, stupid, insane or corrupt, there would be very few left to put on TV.

Wonder how those "Pence is Dense" bumper stickers are doing in Indiana?

phoebes-in-santa fe, did you catch the title of a reconstruction book? "The Promise of the New South: Life after Reconstruction" by Edward L Ayers.

"..he certainly shouldn't be invited onto national television regularly to repeat bogus claims to the public".

Why not? Bush, Cheney, and countless democrats (including the current secretary of state) will still have it believed that our country was honestly "misled" into unleashing war on Iraq. Not even among those who opposed the war has a single one yet to declare that treason was committed by the Bush administration, a treason abetted by the treacherous ambitions of the "loyal opposition". That evil Big Lie has not led to the destruction of either political party, much less marked the conspirators as social pariahs. When it comes to repeating bogus claims, Pence is a piker.

following on from CMcC @ 10:50: the eternal question: "is the entire gop a steaming pile of stupid sacks o' s@@t, or a steaming pile of lying sacks o' s@@t?"..i think they're liers, cause i can't believe they could be that stupid, but maybe i'm misunderestimating them...

berttheclock@1.44p - no, I didn't catch it til now. Thanks for the title. I just ordered it from Amazon, where I order most back-list books.

"In the world where grown-ups live, Pence doesn't know what he's talking about. The new revenue needed is not in the "$800 billion range," it's in the $540 billion range. Pence nearly doubled the figure, just because he felt like it."

In a line criticizing revenue I have to ask, in what universe is 800 twice 540? That's an increase of 260 or slightly less than half of 540. Where is the "double" figure from?

I've said it before and I'll say it again; the mere fact that Mike Pence is in their leadership shows how utterly bankrupt the House GOP caucus is. The man may look good on TV, but he is a complete f__king idiot.

Where is the "double" figure from? -- MNPundit, @13:58

From Pence's original claim of one trillion, I think. Still not quite a double, but close. If he can "round" off 800 up to 1000, then others can round off 540 down to 500, which *would* be the half of 1000. Numbers like that are easier to remember, you know :)