So the Senate has left Washington, to head out on the campaign trail for the rest of this month. Before they scarpered off, Republicans tried to pass a few bills that were no more than performative — they seemed like they were doing something to address a problem, but when you actually examined the details, they really weren’t. Democrats denied the Republicans some wins that they doubtlessly would have made a big deal of back home to the voters (but that wouldn’t have lived up to the hype).