Noisy political theater is in full swing: protest marches over President-elect Donald Trump’s victory have warranted considerable coverage by the media. But does the nation as a whole share in the protesters’ angry insistence that Mr. Trump is “not my president?” Well, maybe not.

“Now that Trump has been declared the winner and will be inaugurated in January, will you accept him as the legitimate president, or not?” asks a new Gallup poll.

The numbers: 84 percent of Americans said they accept Mr. Trump; that number includes 76 percent of those who supported Hillary Clinton. The pollster had similar findings when it asked the same question during the 2000 election, which ultimately relied on Supreme Court decision to pronounce George W. Bush the victor over Al Gore.

“Americans rated the campaign more negatively than any in recent memory. Even so, the majority, 58 percent, say the 2016 election process has not caused permanent harm to the U.S., although 38 percent say it has,” writes Gallup analyst Jeffrey Jones.

The nation may be calming down already, perhaps. The poll also found that the prevailing reaction among Americans following Mr. Trump’s win was simply surprise; only 29 percent were “angry.” See more numbers in the Poll du Jour at column’s end.

67 DAYS AND COUNTING

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has rumbled to life, hammering out the complicated schedule for President-elect Donald Trump’s big moment, now 67 days off. There’s a morning worship service, a procession to the U.S. Capitol, swearing-in ceremonies, Mr. Trump’s inaugural address, a formal luncheon, a parade and of course the evening’s galas — typically 14 official inaugural balls.

But not everyone is in party mode.

“Protest against Donald Trump on Inauguration Day: Fight Racism, Defend Immigrants!” advises a vigorous new invitation from the Answer Coalition, which plans to begin a “massive demonstration” beginning at 7 a.m. sharp at Freedom Plaza in the nation’s capital — right on Pennsylvania Avenue about three blocks from the White House.

“It is critically important that we keep building a larger grass-roots movement against war, militarism, racism, anti-immigrant scapegoating and neoliberal capitalism’s assault against workers’ living standards and the environment,” the organization says in its public notice — also requesting donations “to cover the cost of buses, leaflets, placards and other organizing expenses.”

LIBERALS IN THE GRIM AFTERMATH

“Liberalism, for all its virtues, has begun to develop a sense of entitlement, and needs time to rediscover its soul,” writes Stephen L. Carter, a columnist for Bloomberg News.

“The Left has work to do, not only on policy and organization but also on attitude. Too many of my progressive friends seem to have forgotten how to make actual arguments, and have become expert instead at condemnation, derision and mockery. On issue after issue, they’re very good at explaining why no one could oppose their policy positions except for the basest of motives. As to those positions themselves, they are too often announced with a zealous solemnity suggesting that their views are Holy Writ — and those who disagree are cast into the outer political darkness. In short, the left has lately been dripping with hubris, which in classic literature always portends a fall,” says Mr. Carter.

REPUBLICAN AFFIRMATION

Well, there sure won’t be any GOP “autopsy” this year. Nope.

The Republican National Committee gathers some of its heavyweight movers and shakers together on Monday to talk over the organization’s role in the 2016 election. Despite negative coverage about their efforts — or no coverage at all — the committee ran a focused, relentless campaign that raised $282 million, organized 26 million get-out-the-vote phone calls and sent out 51 million emails. Among many things.

On hand at a private club on Capitol Hill in early afternoon to reveal all: Republican National Committee chief-of-staff Katie Walsh, chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer, political director Chris Carr, digital director Gerrit Lansing, and research partner Bill Skelly.

TUCKER’S DEBUT

Look for new programming on Fox News. Monday marks the debut of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” showcasing the newsman of the same name. Mr. Carlson takes over the coveted 7 p.m. ET time slot to offer “powerful analysis and spirited debates” with a variety if guests from across the political and cultural spectrum.” He’ll also regularly home in on political correctness and media bias.

Mr. Carlson has been a contributor and co-host at Fox News since 2009; he founded the much read “Daily Caller” online news site the following year and remains a “passive owner” rather than a hands-on guy at this point. He previously spent three years hosting “Tucker,” a political chat fest on MSNBC, and another five years on CNN co-hosting “The Spin Room” and later “Crossfire.” He began his career at Policy Review, a national conservative journal, and also worked at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Weekly Standard.

Greta Van Susteren, who anchored the 7 p.m. spot with her own show for years, left the network in September.

“If the right opportunity arises, I will be back on TV. If not, I will just do other things,” she tweeted on Sunday.

POLL DU JOUR

• 75 percent of Americans say they were “surprised” by President-elect Donald Trump’s victory; 62 percent of those who voted for Mr. Trump and 88 percent of those who supported Hillary Clinton agree.

• 42 percent overall say they are “afraid” about the Trump victory; 5 percent of Trump voters and 76 percent of Clinton voters agree.

• 40 percent are “relieved” that Mr. Trump won; 91 percent of Trump voters and 9 percent of Clinton voters agree.

• 35 percent overall are “excited” by the results; 80 percent of Trump voters and 5 percent of Clinton voters agree.

• 34 percent overall are “devastated” by the results; 3 percent of Trump voters and 66 percent of Clinton voters agree.

• 29 percent overall are “angry”; 3 percent of Trump voters and 58 percent of Clinton voters agree.

Source: A Gallup survey of 511 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 9.

• Sighs of relief, polite applause to [email protected]

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