This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In these post-elections days of adjustment and fear, many disappointed voters are remembering the outrageously fallacious assertions and unimaginable promises and behavior expressed by our president-elect, Donald Trump, during his campaign. Some people are expressing their feelings in the ongoing protest marches in many locations across the country.

Perhaps those protests help to focus attention on the concerns that minority opinions will no longer be respected. Trump's statements to date have indicated a slightly more humble attitude of conciliation in wishing to draw the country together again. If Trump is as smart as he believes he is he might just listen a little. Might.

But the real danger for the country lies in the Republican Congress, especially in the power held by Sen. Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Merrick Garland should have been confirmed to the Supreme Court in March, but McConnell personally withheld the nomination from consideration. Is that morally right? It may be legal (like Trump's $900 million tax deduction), but it is only right wing, not right.

McConnell must be in seventh heaven anticipating his destruction of all the Obama programs he can get introduced in the next two months. It's not racism that drives his near-hatred of Obama, of course. We all know that. The kind of power we see invested unchecked in one crotchety old guy is a miscarriage of constitutional justice.

Fortunately Ryan seems to be a little more reasonable, but he is still the leader of the House gang in power these days. "Working together" phrases from all the Republican leaders seem pretty hollow in view of the behavior of the past eight years by both the Senate and House majorities.

Our own Utah Republican one-party delegation is a microcosm of the larger Senate and House. Have you tried convincing Sen. Mike Lee to consider a position other than his own? Does Rep. Rob Bishop ever take his eye off the fossil fuel development goal? Does Rep. Mia Love ever visit knowingly with Democratic constituents? They all talk about bringing the nation together but any togetherness is going to be on their terms only.

Stay vigilant.

Mary Johnson

Salt Lake City