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The good news for Republicans is that they have nearly unprecedented political power both inside and outside of Washington starting Friday.

The bad news is that America is already concerned they'll go too far with it.

A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows Americans have warmed to the Republican Party, with its favorable rating having risen to 47 percent the highest that's been in years.

A big reason is that Republican-leaning independents are suddenly much happier withthe party they favor but don't call their own. Last year, less than half liked the Republican Party; today it's 72 percent.

But there's another key number that I think is worth pulling out as we move forward. And it's this: Despite this rise in affection for the GOP, many more people see it as the more extreme of the two major American political parties.

While our polarized country is pretty evenly split on questions of which party empathizes better and which is more ethical or effective, there is no parity on the question of which party is more extreme. On that one, 58 percent say it's the GOP, compared with just 33 percent forDemocrats.

While the Republican Partyhas improved on other measures, on this one it has gotten worse. The 58 percent who say the GOP is the more extreme political party is higher than at any point since at least 2011. And the GOP was certainly accused plenty of extremism in the intervening years as it fought back against President Obama.

So why the shift? Part or maybe even all of this is undoubtedly President-elect Donald Trump, who on the campaign trail proposed some highly controversial polices involving Muslims, illegal immigrants, waterboarding and Russia. It remains unclear exactly how much of that he'll follow up on as president, but it seems Americans have been paying attention and judging his party accordingly.

Combine this with how Republicans have the power to actually implement their agenda by virtue of their congressional majorities, and it's not unreasonable to ask whether they risk going too far. Americans are already primed to believe the GOP isthe more extreme party, and nowRepublicans have a chance to either prove them right or wrong.

For now, it doesn't seem to have hampered their ability to win elections or see their approval numbers climb but being in charge means owning your outcomes, and Republicans will now do that.

Read the original here:
Republicans have an 'extreme' problem - Washington Post

MEMO

TO: Senators Moran and Roberts; Representatives Jenkins, Marshall and Yoder

As Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president, you and all your congressional colleagues have a solemn obligation to support your co-equal branch of government.

Above all else, this means using your independent judgment, protecting the Constitution, and working to enhance the security and well-being of all Americans.

In this highly partisan even tribal age, as Republican legislators you bear a special responsibility, given unified GOP control of the federal government. This would be true, no matter the president, but your burden is particularly great with the inexperienced and erratic Donald Trump.

So, I urge you to do your duty as you engage with the president and his administration. You need not abandon your conservative, Republican principles, but you must protect the Congress, your constituents and the American people, especially on the following:

First, U.S. Russian relations. Allow even encourage investigations to go forward as to the Russian involvement in American elections. Be skeptical of agreements that Trump and Russian president Putin might reach. Make sure that all relevant agencies, from State to Defense to Commerce are completely involved in negotiations. Remember Ronald Reagans great line, Trust, but verify. And think twice before trusting.

Second, fully support the U.S. Constitution, most notably with regard to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion and the emoluments clause that prohibits all elected officials from benefiting from foreign gifts or payments. This last issue is difficult, given the lack of constitutional precedent. I implore you to think as the late Justice Scalia might have, harking back to the framers real fear of foreign involvement in our politics. Do not naively believe Trumps promises or take this issue lightly. The very independence of the nation is at stake.

Third, health care. You have all vigorously and relentlessly attacked Obamacare. Fair enough. Now the health care ball is completely in your court. Take your legislative roles seriously and dont pass a hurried bill that will cast at least 18 million Americans out of the health care system. Nor should you adopt some kind of fig leaf legislation that will leave those millions without effective care. Sen. Jerry Moran has made a good start here, noting Health care is so important it ought to have input from all members of Congress, all parts of the country and all constituencies, as compared to just a Republican plan.

Fourth, the truth. If, or rather when, President Trump lies, call him out rather than remaining silent. You will have many opportunities here. Partisanship and fear of reprisals may hold you back from responding, but you must speak out. A president should not be able to blatantly lie and get away with it. Dont let him.

Fifth, given your majority status, provide committees the time and resources to work hard on important issues and actually address complex problems like health care and trade, rather than simply adopting ideological positions masquerading as legislation.

Finally, regardless of what President Trump says or tweets, remain civil in your discourse and in how you approach the opposition.

To recycle an overused, but apt, phrase, we are truly in uncharted waters. Republicans in the House and Senate are in the position to act responsibly, to seriously oversee this administrations actions, and to protect the rights of the Congress and their constituents. This is what an independent legislature does.

With your many opportunities come immense responsibilities. The next four years will offer you continual chances to represent all Kansans with independence, integrity, and energy.

For all of us, please rise to meet these daunting tests.

Burdett Loomis is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

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Republicans in the Trump Era - Hutchinson News

Since the election, I've heard some of my fellow Republicans claim that the party received a decisive mandate from voters.

Let's be clear: The American people didn't give the GOP a stamp of approval or a mandate to ram through an ideologically driven, far-right agenda. If the election was a mandate for anything, it was for elected officials in both parties to break through the gridlock to finally start producing results.

Americans from all walks of life have voiced their deep frustration with Washington's seeming inability to get anything constructive done. For decades, they have watched politicians talk a good game while failing to deliver. They have watched as politicians intentionally create chaos and widen the partisan divide for their own personal gain.

During the election, Donald Trump seized on the nation's discontent, convincing voters in swing states that he was the candidate who could drain the swamp, while Hillary Clinton was the candidate of the status quo.

Republicans should remember that when Trump campaigned, he wasn't holding up a conservative manifesto at every rally. Instead, his message was simple: cut deals and deliver results.

If Republicans now operate under the incorrect assumption that they have a broad mandate, they are doomed to repeat the same mistakes made by Democrats over the past eight years. Democrats misinterpreted the mandate for change in 2008 as an ideological mandate to move the country sharply to the left. They rammed through policies like Obamacare and Dodd-Frank with little, if any, bipartisan support. Democrats paid the price at the ballot box, and Republicans will meet that same fate if they misinterpret the results from November.

What the vast majority of Americans want now is for both parties to cast aside their petty partisan differences in order to deliver solutions that benefit the nation.

Unfortunately, the far-right and far-left are already mobilizing to prevent that from happening, ensuring that we keep the status quo: polarizing rhetoric, stalemate in Congress and no meaningful results.

The far-left has vowed to stop Trump every step of the way, even though he hasn't even been sworn in yet. These extreme voices already seem to be influencing the rhetoric of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who recently made the proclamation that the only way he would work with Trump is if the president-elect "moves completely in our direction and abandons his Republican colleagues." If Schumer is sincere about closing the door shut on bipartisanship, then Democratic leaders want to maintain gridlock.

Meanwhile, the far-right is already creating their own definition of what "draining the swamp" means. They're demanding Republican members to go on record supporting their agenda, which is certainly not the same agenda the American people voted for.

This is nothing new. For years, so-called "conservative" for-profit special interest groups have attempted to turn every provision in every bill into a litmus test of ideological purity. They promise to primary any Republican who dares to even think about working in a bipartisan manner.

Both the far-right and the far-left want to maintain the gridlock and dysfunction. Together, they represent the single greatest threat to producing progress for the American people.

I, for one, have no intention of sitting down and watching another re-run of the same divisive partisanship we see year after year. I resolve to work with my colleagues to succeed in producing the good rather than failing to produce the perfect.

I'll be reaching across the aisle to find opportunities to work with Democrats on the issues that desperately need to be addressed: reforming the nation's broken immigration system, providing regulatory relief, overhauling the VA, reforming our criminal justice system and modernizing our nation's crumbling infrastructure.

Republicans are in power and have the potential to deliver historic results - but only if we work together with the Democrats who also want to see progress. We owe it to the American people to set aside the areas where our ideology may prevent progress, and find common ground where there are plenty of opportunities to produce good results. It is time for Republicans to step up and lead.

Thom Tillis, a Republican, represents North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. This first appeared in The Charlotte Observer.

See the rest here:
Thom Tillis: Voters didn't give Republicans a mandate - Fayetteville Observer

LIHUE It may have been 7 a.m. on a Friday, but that didnt stop the Kauai Republican Party from drinking Bloody Marys and clinking mimosas at Mariachis restaurant in Nawiliwili Harbor to celebrate President Donald Trumps inauguration.

Its been a long time coming, but Im finally feeling hope and change. Only eight years late, said Republican Bob Hickling.

With nearly 50 people in attendance, Mariachis had each TV tuned in to Trumps inauguration in Washington, D.C. Each shot Trump took at Congress was met with claps and cheers from the Republican Party. Members occasionally yelled out, about time!

Steve Yoder, chairman of the Kauai Republican Party, was pleased with the turnout for the viewing party.

I was up here having breakfast last Friday and I thought, what a great venue! It was a last minute deal, he said. We started calling people, we started working on it, and everybody came.

Trumps speech struck a chord with Yoder and Hickling, as both were excited to see actual change in the government thanks to Trump.

If you can spell it, ecstatic. I am so happy, Yoder said. We dodged a bullet in electing Trump over Hillary Clinton. Games are won by points, not by how many yards you rack up.

The atmosphere was light as everyone celebrated the day. On three separate occasions, the outside TVs suddenly switched out, much to the disdain of the viewing party. Yoder jokingly called them Democrat TVs.

It didnt take long for protests to break out shortly after Trumps inauguration as protesters spilled into the streets in Washington to demonstrate their opposition to Trumps presidency, but as Yoder said, there will be always be critics.

People are so stuck in their ideology. When (Abraham) Lincoln was inaugurated, it split the country geographically. With Trump being elected, it split the country, Yoder said. Its been a long time coming. People will just have to wake up and realize that if theres less government, less regulation and lower taxes and put America first, you can make America great again.

Hickling chuckled at Yoders comment about the country being split during Lincolns tenure as president, and said that instead of a civil war, itll be a war of incivility.

As for the Republican Party as a whole, Friday was the first of many victories it hopes to see with a new president in the Oval Office.

Its very encouraging, Yoder said. It gives us the realization that we can go forward in 2018 and 2020 and finally start seeing some conservative Republicans back in office and finally turn the tide of big government.

Read this article:
Kauai Republicans celebrate Trump inauguration - Thegardenisland.com

Republicans in Clallam and Jefferson counties celebrated the inauguration of Donald Trump as president and talked of their hopes for eased business regulations, more freedom of speech and religion, better health care and a strengthening of the United States image in the world.

I think finally theres someone in there who believes in the little guy, said James Preston, a Clallam County precinct committee officer, after a champagne toast (or one of beer, cider or water) of the newly sworn-in president at the Clallam County GOP headquarters in Port Angeles on Friday evening.

Republican Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United State on Friday morning.

Billionaire Trump isnt a little guy, Preston admitted, but he thinks the new president, who heralded an era of America First in his inaugural speech, understands their position.

The little guys are really hurting, said Brian Garrett, former CEO of Community Banks of California who presently has a hobby of a barbecue catering business.

He is looking for regulatory relief from the Trump administration.

Preston said regulations can be put into place that balance business and environmental concerns. Do it responsibly, he said. Government can facilitate business, but the last eight years have killed it.

While about 30 people RSVPd to the Clallam County gathering, 75 people showed up for the celebration at the Highway Twenty Roadhouse in Port Townsend, said Jon Cooke, Jefferson County Republican Party chairman.

We toasted our victory with champagne, Cooke said.

They were really excited. It was an exuberant crowd, he said. In Washington, we dont get to see a lot of Republican victories, so it was a special night for us.

Cooke said Trump supporters hope that he will create jobs for our economy, put people back to work and have a society that respects each other. All the violence coming to an end would be really nice.

A majority of Clallam County voters supported Republican Trump by 18,794 votes, or 48 percent, to Democrat Hillary Clintons 17,677 votes, or 45 percent.

Jefferson County went overwhelmingly for Clinton, who won 12,656 votes, or 62 percent, to Trumps 6,037 votes, or 30 percent.

Matthew Rainwater, Clallam County Republican chairman, hopes Trump will invigorate the USAs global image.

After eight years of Obama, in the eyes of the world, Americas been greatly weakened, Rainwater said. I hope he takes us back to a position of strength.

Rainwater and others referred to former President Barrack Obamas August 2012 red line in regard to a question about possible use of force in Syria. Obama said that use of chemical weapons by Syria would constitute a red line with enormous consequences.

In 2013, President Bashar al-Assad forces killed more than 1,400 people in a chemical-weapons attack. The U.S. was primed to attack, but Obama put on the brakes, seeking congressional approval for military intervention in Syria, which he did not get. Eventually, he brokered a deal with Russia that had Assad agreeing to destroy most of the regimes arsenal of chemical weapons.

Failing to attack hurt the nations credibility, said several Republicans.

In comparison, Trump on Friday spoke of eradicating radical Islamic terrorism from the face of the Earth.

Said Rainwater: I think Trump is serious when he says he will do everything he can to eradicate Islamic terrorism.

The world now knows we have a president who means business.

Joyce Gautschi hopes for more of the religious freedom that has been gradually taken away from us.

Daniel Gautschi wants to see more freedom of choice, a revival of First Amendment rights of conscience, of the ability to say no or yes.

As an example, he said: If you work in the public sector, you cant say merry Christmas because you have to keep church and state separate.

Tom ODonnell hopes to see more fact and less emotion in the global warming debate.

I hope Mr. Trump can bring more rationality into the study of the climate, ODonnell said. No one would disagree that the climate is changing. Are we causing it? I dont think so.

Dick Pilling, former chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party, spoke of his concern about the U.S. Supreme Court.

I want to make sure the Supreme Court maintains an appropriate balance, he said, meaning that the late Antonin Scalia is replaced with a conservative.

Asked what he hoped Trump would accomplish, Mel Frazier said: All of it.

Pressed for details, he said: America First. If you want us to come to your aid and save your butt, then be willing to do something yourselves.

The cost of health care insurance under the Affordable Care Act is just killing some people, Wanda Frazier said.

Youve got to leave Obamacare in place until we get something else in, she said, but urged that it had to change.

Im hoping hell do such a good job that all of the skeptics and naysayers will be tempted to vote for him the next time, Pilling said.

Jokes were made at the Port Angeles gathering about themselves as deplorables, referring to Democratic candidate Hillary Clintons comment that you could put half of Trumps supporters into what I call a basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic,Islamaphobic you name it.

The characterization might have cost her the election, said Joyce Gautschi. That was trash talk, below the belt.

The quote preceded Clinton speaking about that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and theyre just desperate for change. It doesnt really even matter where it comes from. They dont buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They wont wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroin, feel like theyre in a dead end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well.

Virginia ODonnell, vice chair of the Clallam County Republican Party, said she is looking forward to everyone settling down.

Im looking at the bigger picture of how we are all going to work together Republicans, Democrats and independents, she said.

Its going to take the work of responsible Republicans, Democrats and independents to clear away the chaos and move toward a future of hope.

________

Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.

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Republicans celebrate, hope for brighter future - Peninsula Daily News