"Bluenami!" a friend said of the remarkable turnover of both chambers of Congress from Republican to Democratic control.

Another way to look at the midterms Tuesday is that the voters' verdict found Donald Trump guilty of attempted murder of our democracy. The jury of citizens rescued America on election night.

These two are related, the wave and the verdict.

From square Kansas to grainy Iowa to Lowcountry South Carolina, all rock-ribbed Republican states, decent people rose up in unison. Their message is simple: We can't take your tariffs, inflation, war on Iran, secret police or your rambling, vulgar speeches anymore. This is not us.

Even Texas changed political colors overnight and became James Talarico tierra. Refreshingly for a border state, he is a Democratic senator-elect who presented neighborly kindness as a virtue with amazing grace.

More noteworthy news from a starry night for Democrats: Who would dream that Georgia won the prize for the most progressive, inclusive leadership in the nation's history? Take note:

— The first Black woman governor-elect of a state, newly elected Keisha Lance Bottoms

— A Jewish senator, newly reelected Jon Ossoff

— A Black senator, the Rev. Rafael Warnock

Kudos to Georgia. Wish I were there.

In his acceptance speech, Ossoff put the plight plainly, under Trump's thumb: "We almost lost our way."

Let's consider the likely ascent of the first Black speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn, who's done well as the House minority leader.

Deb Haaland of New Mexico will become the first Native American woman governor in America.

Michiganders elected a Democratic Muslim doctor as their senator, Abdul El-Sayed. His clash with primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens over Israel lent some spicy drama to last weekend.

Next door, Wisconsin elected a Black Democratic governor — David Crowley of Milwaukee, the county executive — for the first time in its history.

Then there's a Mississippi miracle, the prospect of a Black senator-elect, Scott Colom, defeating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. Colom is a dynamic young district attorney, and she is a mediocre senator at best. We can only watch in wonder as votes are still being counted.

The turnover of House committees will lead to investigations into presidential abuses, corruption, the Epstein files and perhaps a third impeachment for Trump. His revenge rule deserves no less.

It was eerily quiet and calm on Election Day in the Washington, D.C., streets, as if the city were awaiting a verdict. While we've borne the brunt of Trump's ire in a massive loss of federal jobs, there are other indelible marks Trump made on the capital since last year.

Trump's demolition of the White House East Wing, his proposed arch, his tree-cutting closing of a waterfront public park for a golf course — and how could I forget the beloved, shuttered John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts?

While these acts have hurt city life and spark, I suspect the Kansas farmer and other voters think these are vain, frivolous projects for a president to spend his time on. Americans are practical people, and they can see if someone gets caught trying.

That's why the country emerged triumphant from the Depression and World War II. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt spent all the hours of their days — she as his "eyes and ears" through travel — trying to make things better for all Americans.

The cheerful, classy Roosevelts gave the country confidence that the times of crisis would pass and that unity would prevail in the end. And it did, even after Roosevelt died in 1945 after 12 years as president.

The Roosevelt White House was known for shabby furnishings and plain food, such as scrambled eggs for Sunday dinner. FDR did not waste time trying to tart up the Oval Office when serious business, New Deal policies and friendly "fireside chats" took his attention.

I wonder what the king is doing tonight, as the song goes. Safe to say, the sweeping rebuke won't humble a raging Trump. He won't get the message from a new day, a new page.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton received a reversal of both houses of Congress, but the country was willing to give him another chance because we knew he was on our side.

Today, let's say, a sweeter breeze is blowing our way.

The author may be reached at JamieStiehm.com. To find out more about Jamie Stiehm and other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, please visit creators.com.

Photo credit: Jeremy Bishop at Unsplash