Oof. Distinct lack of any charity toward Mitt. I give Romney some credit. When he steps forward, he’s got a longer walk than some, given that his instincts put him in the back of the room, well out of sight.

My reaction upon reading that was a condescending “that’s nice, Mitt. It’s good that a politician, especially a Republican one can say these things.”

This is who he is. He’s well meaning and ineffectual. He’s not going to change. That’s why I can’t summon up the disdain others feel.

He’s an innately cautious, wishy washy guy, who occasionally has dabbled in craven pandering to the immoderate wing of his party, but in a way that you always knew he didn’t mean it.

And yet he’s about as good as it gets among those who have not set aside their political careers (Cheney, Kinzinger). Maybe I’m not paying attention, but I haven’t heard from Sasse and others I’d once had some hope for.