As I have been writing, there have been signs of waning enthusiasm for the Ukrainian cause among Republicans all year, if you cared to look deeply enough into it. Republicans believe Ukraine is wronged and deserves support, but they have been conscious about the limited nature of that support — in that it should not put Americans at unnecessary risk.
Kevin McCarthy warned Congress that this sentiment was growing, only to be rebuked by Mitch McConnell who, improbably, believes Ukraine is the most important issue:
Percentage of Republicans who say we're doing "too much" to support Ukraine:
March (WSJ): 6%
March (Pew): 9%
May (Pew): 17%
Sept. (Pew): 32%
Today (WSJ): 48%https://t.co/eX43Dfd5wZ
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) November 3, 2022
The problem is only going to become more acute by January. Republicans are fooling themselves if they think they can transform a mandate to fight inflation into one for extending a war that has inflationary effects on the global economy.