I don't think the GOP cared about how they

looked to sane people or democrats.

These hearings were about keeping the money flowing. They just lost an election their right wing echo chamber had convinced their 'base' (if by base one means that group of knuckle dragging, Limbaugh-worshiping, Coulter-loving, Palin-panting, Fox-sheeple douchenozzles in Glenbeckistan) that they would win.

They really need this to grandstand for those know-nothings to show that they're going to be tough on those liberal Barack and Hillary democrats! And by God, look at all the good shots they got in today!

What happens when people that donate start to believe their money was wasted? Oh Noes! They'll start giving less.

So this GOP answer is to have these hearings, ratchet up the rhetoric, and double down on the absurd... in hopes of keeping the right wing cash from LooneyLand flowing. It's all they've got!

No. McCain, Rand and the rest of them don't give a shit at this point how they sound to the sane. These theatrics, and the Limbaugh-Beck-O'Rielly-Coulter-FOX media support forthcoming, will keep the donors happy for a little while.