“I don’t believe that the two concepts are incompatible”
Exactly so. “Republic” literally means a government by the people, and “democracy” literally means rule by the people. Everyone gets all in a huff about the distinction between the two, but really it’s all about conotations. Remember, commies use the term republic all the time. Heck, Rome under the rule of the Senate called itself a republic. To the Founders, “democracy” meant “majority rule,” whereas “republic” probably meant some form of “mixed government” (in the Aristotlean sense). The words need not mean as much to us. In fact, I’d argue that in general usage they mean pretty much the same thing. That’s one reason why I constantly hear our government refered to as a “democratic republic.”
ummmm....
A republic is governed by rule of law. Especially when that law protects the minority against the wishes of the majority.
Politics by function always has reelection in mind, and therefore caters to the majority.