S e c r e t s

After the 2004 election, half of the U.S. citizenry rejoiced and the other half shrugged or cried. Even though Bush beat Kerry by just 2.7 percentage points (the smallest margin of victory for a re-elected U.S. president since 1828), the Republicans hit the trifecta. Except for the few months in 2001 before Senator Jim Jeffords quit the Republican Party, the 2005 Congress will be the first time in 50 years that the Republicans control the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. For now the elephants embrace, but how long will the honeymoon last? Can a compassionately conservative pachyderm put up with her reactionary rank-and-file spouse? 128 carved into the lid lip signifies that this is carver David Lawrence’s 128th piece for Harmony Kingdom. His signature acorn is tucked behind one of the four ears.