The old-school neocons still think we live in a nation that can be ruled by appealing to principle.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday he cannot defend "what is alleged" in the federal indictment against former President Donald Trump over classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, but he also pledged to clean house at the Department of Justice.

Mr. Pence, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, reacted to the charges by saying, "No one is above the law."

This tactic might have worked in 1980 when "the law" meant actual law and not activist banana republic tactics. They also say "no one is above the law" in Cuba and China but that's a lie because those laws are invalidated by higher laws given by God Almighty, which is the same reason those good ol' boys wrote that Declaration in 1776.

Trying to paint Trump as unfit for office because he kept some classified paperwork (that most Americans would love to see leaked anyway) would have worked back then, but we've got demons butchering kids while the president celebrates it on the White House lawn, so we're past the point of arguing on principle.

The truth is, our nation no longer has common unity, let alone a shared moral framework. Our president hung a rainbow flag to replace Old Glory this week on the White House while the Air Force is running promos of airmen saluting said new flag.

But Pence is focused on repeating the Uniparty lines to take out The Donald:

"This indictment contains serious charges. I cannot defend what is alleged," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "Creating an opportunity where highly classified material could have fallen into the wrong hands, even inadvertently, that jeopardizes our national security, it puts at risk the men and women of our armed forces."

(Does Pence care to comment on the classified docs found at his own home, or Biden's?)

My immediate thoughts:

• Pence in a toga, 410 AD: "Trump holding classified documents regarding Carthage is totally indefensible. These are serious charges that could threaten our army."
• [Meanwhile, Joe Biden in the background is offering human sacrifices while opening the gates of Rome for the Visigoths.]

Pence paid lip service to the hypocrisy of the DOJ by noting the inaction on Hillary Clinton's emails and he promised to clean house if elected... but do any of you believe that will actually happen?

"The former president has a right to make his case in court," Mr. Pence said.

Wow.