Difficulty in sight for the American Republicans. The U.S. Congress reopens, and the old Grand Old Party is grappling with the many promises and hopes scattered to the midterm elections last November. Now the Republicans control the House and will have a stronger presence in the Senate. But they will honor commitments made: the federal deficit reduction, reduction of the U.S.government, opposition to abortion and gay rights. These are the themes that have mobilized a large and complex array of movement conservatives - liberals, Tea Party, nostalgic for the Cold War, religious fundamentalists - who have contributed to the Republicans. That have to face some grain.
