We ran an editorial in support of Mike Pompeo’s nomination last week:
Pompeo will probably get confirmed anyway, but he needs Democratic votes because Steve Bannon and Rand Paul have, in effect, conspired to make the Republican-controlled Senate incapable of governing. Bannon, of course, backed to the hilt Roy Moore, who lost a Senate seat in ruby-red Alabama, reducing the Republican majority to 51–49. John McCain’s absence reduces the GOP margin further. And Rand Paul continues to be the single most destructive Republican senator, embracing a suicidal purity on budgetary matters and insisting that national-security nominees meet his wholly unrealistic standard of U.S. appeasement and withdrawal in foreign affairs. Paul is, naturally, opposed to Pompeo. That the Kentucky senator routinely undermines his own party and Trump’s agenda yet still remains in the good graces of the president is one of the great mysteries of Washington.
This remain a mystery, although Marc Short took a good shot at him this morning:
.@Marcshort45 also hopeful @RandPaul will come around to support Pompeo. "I think it would be quite surprising to the voters of Kentucky to see Rand Paul vote for John Kerry as Secretary of State and yet against Mike Pompeo," said Short.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 23, 2018
Trump, though, is still declining to name and shame Paul:
Hard to believe Obstructionists May vote against Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State. The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people, including the Ambassador to Germany. They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2018
The Senate does indeed need more Republicans — who aren’t named Rand Paul or aren’t as determined to make it impossible for their own party to govern.