AP Photo/Adrian Kraus Politics really isn’t that difficult, and Elise Stefanik seems to understand it better than most. One of the easiest ways to keep the upper hand is to simply not give your enemies fodder. Unfortunately, that’s a lesson that few in the GOP have taken to heart over the years, spanning the awkward breadth from Mitt Romney to Donald Trump. Of course, the reasons why a Republican may indulge the left will vary, but the result is always the same: the Republican being put on the defensive when they didn’t have to be. Stefanik is learning to play the game early, though, in her new position as a top GOP House leader. Having replaced Liz Cheney, there was a distinct difference illustrated between the two Republicans on Sunday. Namely, while Cheney continued to make the rounds with left-wing journalists yelling at clouds, Stefanik told the liberal Sunday shows to stuff it, sought out friendly waters, and stayed on message.