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That鈥檚 because something strange happened along the way toward the knock-down drag-out battle over Chris Magnus鈥� nomination to head U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The flaming opposition to the liberal police chief that seemed inevitable instead settled into a low smolder in the staid confines of the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. Sure, Republican senators pressed Magnus hard on whether the U.S.-Mexico border is in a 鈥渃risis鈥� and on details of law, but the GOP performance had more of the feel of token opposition than a real effort to stop Magnus鈥� confirmation.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the opinionated and knowledgeable Magnus also turned bland and noncommittal, declining to join any debates or even reveal detailed understanding of the job he would take or his plans for it.

Apparently that鈥檚 good politics.

The positive signs started appearing for Magnus at the outset of Tuesday鈥檚 hearing. Both of Arizona鈥檚 U.S. senators, Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, appeared at the hearing to support Magnus, although both made noncommittal statements after Magnus鈥� nomination in April.

Over those months, this was the first time Sinema spoke out publicly in support of Magnus鈥檚 selection, and her statement was unconditional and valuable. She is the chair of the Homeland Security Committee鈥檚 subcommittee on government operations and border management 鈥� and her brother is a Tucson police officer.

Calling Magnus 鈥渁n exceptional nominee,鈥� Sinema said, 鈥淐hief Magnus has built great relationships through Arizona, and I鈥檓 certain he鈥檒l bring that same consensus building and commonsense approach to CBP.鈥�

Her support came despite a letter sent to her by the Arizona Sheriffs Association, headed by Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, opposing Magnus鈥� nomination. The sheriffs 鈥� really the Republican sheriffs, as Arizona鈥檚 Democratic ones didn鈥檛 support the decision 鈥� noted Magnus鈥� absence of federal law enforcement experience and that he had a 鈥渞ift鈥� with the Border Patrol agents鈥� union.

But as we鈥檝e learned in the debate over infrastructure and spending plans, Sinema has come to play a key role in a Senate divided 50-50. And her enthusiastic support jibed with the general drift of the committee as the hearing played out.

Republicans lambasted the Biden administration鈥檚 border policies, blaming them for increasing flows of migrants and drugs, but they didn鈥檛 swing too hard at Magnus himself. And when they did, Magnus made sure he didn鈥檛 swing back.

Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, repeatedly tried to pin Magnus down on whether he considered the situation at the Mexican border a 鈥渃risis.鈥�

Magnus initially responded, 鈥淒oes it really matter whether we call it a major challenge, a crisis, a big problem?鈥�

When Young continued to demand a yes or no response, Magnus said, 鈥淚 appreciate your question and am doing my best to acknowledge the situation is very serious, regardless of what we call it.鈥�

If it were me, I鈥檇 just have said that there are crises in certain times and places along the border, as in Del Rio, Texas, for much of this year. Magnus himself noted during the hearing that the border is not 鈥渉omogenous.鈥� But he stayed away from the word, crisis, that implies blame for the president who nominated him.

Young was also incredulous that Magnus apparently was not familiar with Title 8 Section 1325 of the federal code. That鈥檚 the law that makes it illegal to cross the border between ports of entry 鈥� Magnus said he would familiarize himself with all the relevant law if he becomes CBP commissioner.

But much of the questioning was friendly, even from some GOP members. Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, referenced a congenial conversation with Magnus about the need for reforming the asylum system, and Magnus carefully reiterated his agreement.

Magnus also nodded in solemn concern about the many worries over international trade expressed by both Democrats and Republicans. Softwood lumber, auto parts.

And when Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, said of border crossings that 鈥淲e鈥檝e never had a surge like this. This has never happened before in the history of our country,鈥� you could see Magnus almost literally bite his lip. It seemed a quibble about the numbers was running through his mind.

But with discipline he responded, 鈥淪enator, I understand your concerns and the numbers are very high.鈥�

The committee still hasn鈥檛 voted, and Magnus鈥� nomination still has to be considered by the full Senate. But this, it appears, is how you get through the meat grinder of a D.C. nomination process alive.

You keep it vague and win over the key people. Then, ironically, you can leave the borderlands to take over supervision of the nation鈥檚 border agencies.