Apocalypic America, hero & mute female companion.

[lordloki]

Hero rescues female (game of chance) from criminals that killed her family in an apocalyptic America. Ends up killing the criminal (which seems to be all that runs around America) They cross the country running into a madman who controls an army bent on war (the leaders appearance starts to become skull-like) and another madman who commands his followers on a violent viking-like society (name is Thor or Loki?) America is divided into smaller mini-countries. This book as I recall had a right-wing lean to it.

Any ideas?
Thanks