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Line 45: − ====Pelosi and the Progressive takeover==== − + − − When the 109th Congress convened in 2005, [[Harry Reid]], the new Senate Minority Leader, tried to convince the Democratic Senators to vote more as a bloc on important issues; he forced the Republicans to abandon their push for privatization of retirement insurance and leave the collectivist model in place. In 2005, the Democrats retained their governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, electing [[Tim Kaine]] and [[Jon Corzine]], respectively. However, the party lost the mayoral race to [[Michael Bloomberg]] in New York City, a Democratic stronghold, for the fourth straight time. − − The cost of fighting two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq simultaneously allowed [[China]], which was granted most favored nation trading status in 2001, to rush ahead in economic development and military modernization unchecked by American competition. Cheap Chinese made goods flooded the country, while American jobs were exported to China. Negative public opinion on the war in Iraq, along with widespread dissatisfaction among conservatives dragged President Bush's job approval ratings down to the lowest levels of his presidency. To win control the Democrats had to add 15 seats in the House (they added 30), and 6 in the Senate. In 2006, with [[lobbying]] scandals engulfing the Republicans, the Democrats used the slogan "culture of corruption." − − The Democratic Party's electoral success in the 2006 midterms was attributed to running relatively moderate Democrats in close seats, such as the Senate races in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Montana.<ref>Dewan Shaila and Anne E. Kornblut, "In Key House Races, Democrats Run to the Right," ''New York Times,'' 2006-10-30; but compare Rick Perlstein, "Who deserves credit for the Democratic comeback?" ''The New Republic'' 2006-11-08 at [https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=w061106&s=perlstein110806]</ref> Exit polling suggested that corruption was a key issue for many voters.<ref>CNN, "Corruption named as key issue by voters in exit polls," 2006-11-08 at [https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.exitpolls/]</ref> Democrats gained a majority of governorships and made gains in many state legislatures. No Democratic incumbent was defeated in any major race. − − Senate Democrats promoted Harry Reid to Majority Leader. House Democrats chose Rep. [[Nancy Pelosi]] of California for Speaker, the first woman ever, but rejected her choice for House Majority Leader, electing [[Steny Hoyer]] instead of [[John Murtha]]. Members of Pelosi's own Democratic Caucus warned failure to deliver on their promises to clean up corruption could be damaging.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0507/4014.html Democrats divided on lobbying reform], Josephine Hearn and Jeff Patch, May 15, 2007. Retrieved from [[Politico]] 06/01/07.</ref> Twenty freshmen Democrats asked for legislation to establish an independent ethics commission within the [[legislative branch]] to investigate future ethical lapses by fellow members.<ref>Alexander Bolton, [https://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-press-pelosi-for-ethics-panel-2007-04-18.html''Dems press Pelosi for ethics panel''], The Hill, April 19, 2007.</ref> Pelosi resisted the reform.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7hE4HX-Cwo&NR=1 The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same], ''[[ABC News]]'', April 25, 2007.</ref>
→Pelosi and the Progressive takeover
When 2004 Democrat presidential nominee [[John Kerry]]'s home state of Massachusetts' became the first staue to legalize [[same-sex marriage]], the issue split Democrats. Ballot initiatives appeared in 11 states that brought citizens to the polls in large numbers; all 11 initiatives passed. [[Proposition 8]] in California won by a wide margin, but California Attorney General [[Kamala Harris]] bowed to [[LGBT]] groups and refused to defend citizen referendums in court.
When 2004 Democrat presidential nominee [[John Kerry]]'s home state of Massachusetts' became the first staue to legalize [[same-sex marriage]], the issue split Democrats. Ballot initiatives appeared in 11 states that brought citizens to the polls in large numbers; all 11 initiatives passed. [[Proposition 8]] in California won by a wide margin, but California Attorney General [[Kamala Harris]] bowed to [[LGBT]] groups and refused to defend citizen referendums in court.
[[File:Barack-Hussein-Obama-mit-Louis-Farrakhan-528x524.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Barack Obama with the notorious [[anti-Semite]], [[Louis Farrakhan]]. Farrakhan called [[Jews]] "pigs and dogs." The [[Anti-Defamation League]] identified Farrakhan as the nation’s “leading anti-Semite."<ref>[https://www.adl.org/resources/profiles/the-nation-of-islam The Nation of Islam], Anti-Defamation League.</ref>]]
[[File:Barack-Hussein-Obama-mit-Louis-Farrakhan-528x524.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Barack Obama with the notorious [[anti-Semite]], [[Louis Farrakhan]]. Farrakhan called [[Jews]] "pigs and dogs." The [[Anti-Defamation League]] identified Farrakhan as the nation’s “leading anti-Semite."<ref>[https://www.adl.org/resources/profiles/the-nation-of-islam The Nation of Islam], Anti-Defamation League.</ref>]]
These debates were reflected in the 2005 campaign for Chairman of the [[Democratic National Committee]], which [[Howard Dean]] won. As a progressive, Dean was the first to shepherd civil unions through the Vermont legislature. He sought to move the Democratic strategy away from the establishment, and bolster support for the party's state organizations, even in Red states.
These debates over social policy were reflected in the 2005 campaign for Chairman of the [[Democratic National Committee]], which [[Howard Dean]] won. As a progressive, Dean was the first to shepherd civil unions through the [[Vermont]] legislature.
====Progressive police state===
====Progressive police state===