New Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko will be visiting Washington in April. That’s good news. As the winner of an election that may represent a truly remarkable extension of democracy in a part of the world where freedom and the rule of law have been all too rare, and all too needed, an election which seems to be acting as an inspiration to other peoples from Lebanon to Kirkizstan, it would seem natural that Yushchenko should also be invited to speak to a joint session of Congress. Weirdly, House Speaker Hastert has not got round to asking him.

Perhaps he felt legislators had more important things to do.

Such as holding hearings on baseball.

Ridiculous.