Maybe "Morning Joe" panel needs more coffee

During a nine-minute discussion with Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Dean Heller this morning, much of it devoted to guns, not one "Morning Joe" panel member asked the Nevadan about his position on background checks -- but he was twice asked about his USC football fandom.

You cannot make this stuff up.

On an MSNBC panel that included Bob Woodward, Andrea Mitchell and hosts Joe Scarbrough and Mika Brzezinski (who mangled the pronunication of "Nevada"), Heller was silent for about two-thirds of the time as the panel peppered Manchin with questions about the president's involvement (or lack thereof) in the gun bill. Not one member of the panel thought to ask Manchin if he tried to persuade his fellow No Labels pal Heller what it would take to change his mind. Not one asked Heller to defend his position on the -- what was it called? -- Manchin-Toomey bill!.

Heller was asked piercing questions at the beginning and end of the segment about USC football, which he handled with aplomb and his signature chuckle. Oh, and  the junior senator took a brief opportunity to unload a shot at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on the nuclear option battle: "I saw some clips...where Senator Reid was saying exactly the opposite of what he is saying today." (That's a reference to the 2005 filibuster fight.)

At one point, Woodward asked Heller about John McCain setting up a "rump leadership," which Heller danced around. No follow up.

What a travesty.

 

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