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Tough task ahead for Republicans

Among astute Republican leaders, there will not be much popping of champagne corks during the next several days. With the sweeping victory they scored in elections Tuesday comes a mandate they know will be difficult to fulfill.

Throughout the United States, voters took President Barack Obama at his word. Even as many Democrat candidates worked hard to distance themselves from him, Obama proclaimed the elections were a referendum on his policies.

In many states, they were. And even in many places where Republicans have not held U.S. Senate seats for many years – such as West Virginia – voters took the opportunity to reject the liberal White House agenda.

Republicans will control the Senate next year. They gained even more seats in the House of Representatives. What’s not to like, if you support conservative principles?

What’s not to like can be spelled with four letters: veto. Obama will be president for more than two more years. Even if Republicans in the House and Senate pass legislation to roll back objectionable parts of Obamacare, to end the war on coal and to strengthen policy in other ways, Obama can veto it. Republicans in the Senate know their majority is not large enough to overcome a veto – providing Democrats vote solidly with the president.

There are ways such as use of appropriations power to curb some of Obama’s more outrageous actions, including some related to energy and the environment. But for positive, forward-looking legislation to be enacted, bipartisanship will be critical.

Obama plans to meet with congressional leaders on Friday. No doubt it will be an interesting conversation. Americans who have watched the president exercise and abuse power for nearly six years have no reason to believe he will be in an accommodating mood, however.

That leaves it up to Republicans, particularly in the Senate, to craft issue-by-issue coalitions with conservative Democrats.

It is entirely possible that on some issues, including the war on coal, Republicans can enlist enough like-minded Democrats to override presidential vetoes. That should be the first priority of Republican leaders, beginning now, in preparation for the session of Congress next year.

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