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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.

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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.

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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

Jesse Cantu of Euless drove the 35 miles to Denton on Friday and wiggled his way into a packed room full of elation.

As his wife, Beverly, sat down with the coffee carrier they bought for the masses, Cantu shook several hands, smiled widely and looked guests at the Denton County Republican Party headquarters straight in the eyes to greet them with one wholehearted epithet.

Unfortunately, we couldnt celebrate locally, Cantu said. But Im glad to be amongst my fellow deplorables.

The Denton County GOP hosted a watch party for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. On Friday at the party headquarters, a large number of local figures and guests from surrounding counties beamed for what they reckon to be a bright American future.

Watching the proceedings on TV, attendees cheered at the Trumps and jeered at outgoing President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Amens answered Trumps promises, and many chanted Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in unison during the inaugural invocation.

During her unsuccessful campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called some Trump supporters deplorables. Cantu said the new president will bring people together.

Trump is a uniter. I truly believe he says what he means when he says hell be a president for all people, whether youre black, white, brown and all in between, Cantu said. Those who say they dont support him just dont know it yet.

Cantu called Friday a new day for America, likening the approaching presidential term to those of Ronald Reagan. Cantu confidently predicted a resurgence of Reagans trickle-down prosperity, a stark change from the trickle-down poverty he dubbed the Obama administration.

Event organizer Lyn Yeargan took the watch party as an opportunity for Denton County Republicans to welcome those down the road and set an example for the countys GOP support.

The room nearly overflowed with Trump supporters as Republican groups in many surrounding counties didnt host inauguration celebrations.

Were thrilled. Its really neat to have so many people from Grayson County, Cooke County and Tarrant County, Yeargan said. We want to be the best host for those who took time out of their days to celebrate with us so they feel at home.

In contrast, the Denton County Democratic Party held no events Friday, and party Chairwoman Phyllis Wolper said she didnt watch the inauguration.

Our country has survived all of these years with all kinds of different leadership, some of which were magnificent with what they brought to the table. Others, history has shown to be very negative. This is no different, she said.

Wolper said she was looking forward to todays womens rally at the Courthouse on the Square, where she and fellow party members will be registering people to vote and informing the public on various ways to become politically involved.

We will go forth. As a nation, there are certain things that may or may not happen with this [administration] that we will not agree with, Wolper said. But we will pray for our country and do what we can to make our part of the country as we wish it to be.

Mark Roy, the commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1300 in Denton, spent Friday morning at the GOP watch party.

He was originally disdainful of Trump during his campaign. But he said the presidential candidate earned his respect when Trump skipped the last Republican debate before the March primary to raise $6 million for veteran charities.

Roy works with 22Kill, a Dallas nonprofit focused on veteran suicide awareness that was given $200,000 from Trumps fundraising.

Trumps decision to opt out of the debate, a move many pundits predicted would end Trumps campaign, invigorated Roy and his colleagues. Moreover, Trumps commitment to repeal the Affordable Care Act when Roy hasnt paid more for health insurance in years further bolstered his growing support of the Trump administration.

Trumps inauguration speech Friday underscored the presidents straightforwardness, Roy said, and the likelihood of all the promises hes made coming into fruition.

If he does half of what he said in his speech, were all going to be great off, Roy said.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

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Republicans rejoice at local GOP gathering - Denton Record Chronicle

Shannon, a 48-year-old accountant from Encino, didnt tell her co-workers she was traveling all the way across the country to get a great view of President Donald Trumps swearing-in. She told them she was going skiing.

Its a bucket list,said Shannon, who didnt want The Times to use her last name, lest she be outed. Standing amidthrongs of like-minded people celebrating a Republican win, Shannon marveled at her freedom to be herself. I can wear a Trump sweatshirt without getting hoots and hollers. In L.A., you cant even put a bumper sticker on your car it would be keyed in a second.

For California Republicans, Trumps improbable election was a rare taste of victory. The GOP has not wona statewide electionin more than a decade. The party failed to field a viable candidate for the Senate in 2016, the first time a seat in the upper house had been vacant in nearly a quarter century. Voter registration for the party that gave birth to Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon appears to be at a historic low.

Victories like this are few and far between and very sweet for us, much more so than someone from Texas who is used to winning all the time, said Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican National Committee member from San Francisco who attended the swearing-in ceremonywith her husband and parents. The ceremony was chilly and rainy, but that didnt dampen the rally-likemoodamongthe GOP faithful ready to have their moment.

The last time I was able to celebrate an inauguration was when [former California Gov. Arnold] Schwarzenegger was inaugurated. That was many years ago, and now, its correct, we are certainly not used to winning victories at this level.

The number of Californians who ventured to the nations capital for the festivities is unknown. Unlike the heyday under President Reagan when the official California ball was the most coveted ticket in town andattended by Hollywood royalty there is no longer a central gathering spot.

But this week, there were several events aimed at the states visitors. More than 140 Californians bought seated tickets forThursday nights All American Ball, the official ball of the Virginia GOP. The states well-heeled donors dined Thursday at the Lincoln Club of Northern Californias soiree at the exclusive Cosmos Club on Embassy Row.

Earlier Thursday, more than 600 Californians and expats living in Washington attended a lunch at the Ritz-Carlton featuring the states wines, produce and entertainers organized by the nonpartisan California State Society.

Members of Congress held receptions and dinners throughout the week.Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabachers formal ball at the Library of Congress was expected to be a popular post-inauguration fete on Saturday.

Its better. Its nice to be amongst all friends, said Cynthia Bryant of Elk Grove, the state GOPs executive director, comparing the nations capital with her home state. Everyone in D.C. right now is a Trump supporter. I find it exciting because theres a lot of people getting along, celebrating the victory. It seems like such a happy time.

Given the distance between California and Washington, it hasalso been an incredibly expensive time. Tickets to balls cost a couple hundred dollars, airfare costseveral hundred more and basic hotels started in the high three-figures per night. Many Californians stayed in the capital for a few days to enjoy the sightsin addition to the inaugural festivities, which usually requirerenting or buying ball gowns and tuxedos.

Its a lot of money, said Celeste Greig, a longtime GOP activist from Northridge who shared a basic hotel room with two others for $700 a night near the White House. This was the fifth Republican inauguration the 69-year-old has attended. This is my Christmas gift from me to me, my Mothers Day gift from me to me and my birthday gift from me to me.

Its history, its being part of history, and the fact that he was not supposed to be our nominee, the fact he was not supposed to win the November election, the fact that he is so hated by some people and loved by othersits history, she said.

Trump was not Greigs first choice; she preferred former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. She also liked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But once Trump became the nominee, Greig and her friend, Nancy Eisenhart of Woodland Hills, went all out volunteering for him. Theytraveled twice to Nevada on their own dime to try to sway voters in that battleground state.

Thats when we saw America join us, and it was beautiful,said Eisenhart, tearing up on the chilly grounds of the nations capital waiting for Trumps swearing-in as she recalled the diverse group that supported Trump in Nevada, including minorities, the disabled and the elderly. Trump ultimately lost the state to Clinton by 2.4 percentage points.

Still, the retirees were not alone in bragging about the amount of energy volunteers in California expended on Trumps behalf. Though both sides knew Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would overwhelmingly win Californias election, Trump got nearly 4.5 million votes in the state, along with many volunteers who called or traveledto more competitive states on his behalf.

In Sacramento, our call center made more phone calls than the Trump Tower. Not everyone realized that about California, what California did for the Trump campaign, said West Walker, a middle school teacher from Stockton, as he watched a Trump celebration concert featuring Lee Greenwood, Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down on Thursday night.

Its nice to see common people with a common passion who are more about the United States as opposed to dividing the country, Walker said, recalling that California Republicans were beaten during a Trump rally in San Jose before the states primary. We werent the ones attacking other people. Weve been victimized; weve been literally beaten up when we go to a rally to hear a Trump speech. People [in California] are afraid to come out and speak. So its nice to see people with a common passion.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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California Republicans celebrate Trump's inauguration: 'In L.A., you ... - Los Angeles Times