Republicans to deliver on a ‘golden opportunity’

EMBOLDENED by a commanding House majority and Senate gains, Republican leaders vowed yesterday to deliver on their “golden opportunity” to roll back the size of government and President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law.

“Change course we will,” said Ohio Republican John Boehner, the speaker-in-waiting, describing Tuesday’s mid-term elections as a mandate to shrink the government. That echoed the unrelenting demand of the tea party activists whose energy and votes helped to fuel the largest turnover in the House in more than 70 years.

The capital awoke — if it ever slept — to a new political order. With their lopsided win, Republicans are ushering in a new era of divided government and dethroning Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a prime target of their campaign.