That Kansass most senior leaders are feigning complete disinterest in whether President Donald Trump dangled military favors in exchange for Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden is telling.
Mr. Trump has Republicans so intimidated that they dare not contradict him for fear of retribution.
Better to lie low and win.
Case in point: Sen. Jerry Morans non-answer when asked about Ukraine.
We have enough problems in Washington, D.C., in working together to get things done, the Senator told reporters last week in Topeka.
Sen. Pat Roberts is getting by with the catchall, Its been a crazy year.
There are some Republicans, however, who are finding their spines.
Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst say the whistleblowers that notified Congress of the 30-minute phone call should be protected. Which isnt all that bold, considering its the law. Indeed, what a sign of the times when we find cause to applaud the tiniest of steps toward holding our president accountable to the law.
Ohios Sen. Rob Portman said the presidents conduct with Ukraine is not appropriate.
Utahs Sen. Mitt Romney calls the allegations of extortion deeply troubling.
And Texas Rep. Will Hurd said Mr. Trumps suggestion that China also investigate Mr. Biden is terrible. We are in a tight and complex trade negotiation with China now, and so you are potentially giving them something to hold over your head.
What makes Hurd the exception? Hes not running for reelection.
Funny how that coincides with him finding his conscience.
DURING THE 2016 campaign Mr. Trump boasted, I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose any voters.
So far, that is looking more and more likely.
In regards to the Ukraine affair, the president is deftly maneuvering the message from his preying on a lesser power to being the victim. The whistleblowers, Mr. Trump says, are spies who should be convicted of treason.
THE ONLY thing that can swing the pendulum is public opinion.
According to a recent USA Today poll, 30% of Mr. Trumps supporters view his request of Ukraine to investigate Biden as an abuse of power.
