Vice president-elect Mike Pence claimed Tuesday night that President-elect Donald Trump has a “mandate” to lead the country, as he ticked through a long list of conservative priorities for the new administration in what he vowed would be a busy first few months in office.

Only in Republican-land can losing the popular vote by millionsstill be considered a “mandate.” George W. Bush considered it a “mandate” when he was chosen by Supreme Court decree; Trumpence’s victory over the popular vote led to massive protests around the nation and they’re still insisting it must be a “mandate” because—well, we could psychoanalyze this all we want but the short version will always be that it’s because that’s what liars do. Donald Trump’s ego can’t handle being the most unpopular president-elect in modern history, and Donald Trump’s ego is the thing the Republican Party is determined to restructure the entire new American government around.

Mike Pence is damn lucky, because Chris Christie would have been great at his job. Chris Christie could have lied his ass off twelve times before lunch and still have ass left to contribute to the afternoon’s efforts.

In a speech inside a hotel ballroom at the new Trump International Hotel just blocks from the White House, Pence vowed that the new team will quickly embark on a to-do list that includes repealing and replacing the federal health-care law, beefing up national defense and nominating a staunchly conservative Supreme Court justice.