Welcome to the very slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Some voters eagerly await the restored elegance and wisdom of the Grand Old Party. Their slight ascendance was, of course, thanks mainly to peddled lies; repeated conspiracy theories; and the use of dark money.  Perhaps their ordinary supporters can be forgiven, being clearly unschooled about our democratic republic and shaken by the repeated nonsense about ”corrupt” Joe Biden.

At any rate, our GOP Representatives can finally get to work with their investigations, impeachments, and other retributions. Governing, Dear Readers, was never on their agenda. But first, they will investigate Hunter Biden and mount a forlorn attack on the very popular Obama Care. While Biden’s “evil” veto pen will be at the ready, our GOP friends in the House can use congressional purse strings to achieve many of their their “noble” aims, aims that do not of course target inflation, global warming, or the other issues that matter to most Americans.

Though the GOP did not take the Senate, their faithful can continue to dream about single sex bathrooms, voting without “monumental fraud,” a national ban on abortions, the cleansing of our military of women in combat and queers in the ranks, a ban on the phantom critical race theory, and the trumpeting of other “virtuous” GOP values. Dream on. 

Also high on the ultimate GOP agenda, certainly if they take the presidency in 2024, are gutting federal departments, installing no-nothing toadies throughout the federal system, and making “changes” to the Justice Department and the FBI. Only then can they truly take back our country — from the government! Glory be; Trump just declared!

Yes, if the Trumpy GOP is in charge after 2024, they can return our country to a time when obedience was the primary aim and sanctioned government violence kept the peace. Unless.  Unless the sane elements in both parties prove persuasive about democratic norms, comity, by-partisanship, prudent compromise, and steady progress toward justice. 

So, this could be — could be — a beginning time for positive change in a country that seems to have lost its way. At very least, in the recent mid-terms the country didn’t go crazy. That is a good omen for us all, irrespective of locale or party.

Will Newman

Tiverton