Irish Examiner view: Reasons to be cheerful — three setbacks for demagogues and a despot

People who believe in democracy will cheer the push back against Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, and Vladimir Putin

Massachusetts governor-elect Maura Healey celebrating in Boston as she became the first openly lesbian governor in the US. The Democrats' mid-term success is a reason to be cheerful for people who believe in democracy. Picture: Michael Dwyer/AP 

It’s been a bad month for demagogues with bloody noses applied to Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, and Vladimir Putin and cause for cheer for everyone who believes in democracy. Except in Russia, of course, where they don’t have a choice.

While the Democrats confounded the pundits and pollsters by retaining control of the US Senate, the final fate of the House of Representatives has not yet been settled. Full mastery of Congress would allow the US president the opportunity to advance his priorities which include codifying abortion rights.