I am inclined to think a bit more highly of Vice President Mike Pence than I do of Donald J. Trump … then again, the president has set a pretty damn low bar.

But when the vice president praises the exploits of a convicted felon … well, that’s where I part company with the vice president.

Pence said today of former Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff Joe Arpaio, that he is a “tireless champion of strong borders and the rule of law.” He said he was “honored” to have Arpaio attending the political event Pence was attending.

Let’s review briefly.

Arpaio earned his far-right conservative chops by being tough on illegal immigrants. He became so tough that he stood trial on grounds that he was profiling Hispanics in the hunt for those entering the country illegally.

A federal court convicted him of disobeying a federal court order prohibiting him from profiling those folks. He ignored the court order and was going to be sentenced for his crime. Then Donald J. Trump issued a full presidential pardon for Arpaio, which means he is eligible to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Arizona that will open up with the retirement of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake.

Arpaio has received a presidential pardon, but he is still a convicted felon. Thus, he is no “champion of the rule of law.” He is a law-breaking scoundrel.

Therefore, the vice president is chumming it up with an (un)common criminal.

Disgusting.