Lexington A legitimacy problem

摘要

AMONG the Republicans cowering before President Donald Trump, the presence of Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan has been especially disheartening. Yet both threatened to regrow spines this week. "Russia is an adversary," declared Senator Rubio, in response to the president's fraternising in Helsinki. "Russia is a menacing government that does not share our interests," said the Speaker of the House of Representatives. These were, if not stinging rebukes, better than Mr Rubio's usual habit of keeping shtum and tweeting Bible verses whenever Mr Trump does something horrid, or Mr Ryan's of offering a wry half-smile and a comment on tax reform. Yet both men, formerly known as principled conservatives, sullied their moment of revertebration. Both claimed the Russian election-hacking effort on Mr Trump's behalf had been a failure. "It is also clear," said Mr Ryan, that "it didn't have a material effect on our elections.".