Sunday pops

A new Washington Post-Schar School poll found just 29 percent of Americans say Republican President-elect Donald Trump has a mandate. Also, 59 percent think he should compromise when Democrats strongly disagree with specific proposals. Seems Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton's popular-vote win and Mr. Trump's Electoral College victory left the electorate no less divided post-Nov. 8 than it was before. … Internal GOP divisions could spell trouble for Trump in getting Cabinet nominees confirmed. Bloomberg Politics notes that Republicans' “narrow 52-48 edge” in the new Senate means that if Democrats remain united, it would take only three Republicans breaking ranks to block nominees in floor votes. The better grasp Trump has of his Cabinet nominees' likelihood of winning confirmation, the less likely he'll be to ignite media frenzies over intra-party strife and face the prospect of “do-over” nominees who'll be derided as “second choices.” … With the most American of holidays at hand, it's sad yet unsurprising that the country's political divide will be an uninvited guest at so many Thanksgiving tables. Lots of families are even trying to make that divide a disinvited guest. Here's hoping that this Thanksgiving truly brings Americans together — to focus not on what divides us, but on the holiday's purpose: reflecting upon and expressing gratitude for freedom's blessings. That's something about which all Americans, regardless of their politics, should be able to agree.