Today's Morning Joe was made typically Morning Awful by someone on the panel, who wasn't Joe Scarborough. Mark Halperin, who taught pilates at a Romney billionaire summit for GOP Candidates back in June, helped lower the level of discourse with the help of his buddy, Harold Ford Jr., former Democrat turned both-siderist pundit.
Random House Executive Editor, Jon Meacham tries to wrap his head around the fact that a candidate, like Ben Carson, is being lauded for his faith which is the basis of his qualification to run for President. Usually, faith is an aside, not the primary asset of a candidate. Of course, Mark Halperin disagrees.
He also has a lot of traits that Americans want in a president, and should want in a president....He has a great American story in his biography, he is a kind man, he's a smart man, he's a man of accomplishment, he's a man of faith, and he's a man who thinks America needs fundamental change. Those are all traits that a lot of people want.
There are no perfect candidates in the race. I think to focus on the question why is he getting support just on his faith, is a mistake. Because he has a lot of other stuff going for him.
Mika tries to get Halperin to come clean on whether he thinks all the crazy claims made by Carson show that there may be some mental illness, but she chooses her words more carefully.
MIKA: Okay, do you think he's a good solid candidate who tells the truth and has it all together? Halperin. Yes or no?
Halperin of course waffles,
HALPERIN: I don't know what has it all together means.
MIKA: No, don't ask a question to my question. Do you think he's a good solid candidate who tells the truth?
HALPERIN: Uhh, yeah.
How much more can we lower the bar on the GOP? It's practically, to borrow a phrase from Charlie Pierce, down in Middle Earth already.
