Fritz is Back!

[ComradeLenin22]

January 3rd, 2003 The 108th United States Congress begins with Mondale as one of the seven new Senators to be sworn into office. Senator Mondale received plenty of press that day however he would repeatedly respond with "let me get to work first", as most questions were more about himself than anything he'd done as senator.

January 10th, 2003 Mondale and other senators are questioned by the media about the continuous debate over Iraq and possible involvement or invasion by the United States. Mondale believed that the reasons for a war in Iraq were "just not there".

January 28th, 2003 Mondale was in attendance at President George W. Bush's State of the Union. Washington State Governor Gary Locke gave the Democrat's response. Mondale had last attended a State of the Union as Vice-President in 1979, and would say to Minnesota press "it was a nice opportunity to sit and listen amongst his fellow Senators".

March 20th, 2003 The ground war in Iraq begins, US forces move into Iraq from the sea and Kuwait. Three days later on the 23rd the first major battle of the war happened at Nasiriyah. In the end a combined US-UK force defeated the Iraqi defenders and won the battle on the 25th. This was one of the many first glimpses of real war America had seen in almost 30 years.

March 29th, 2003 Senator Mondale spoke to college students at the University of Minnesota. One topic he spoke on was the 30th anniversary of the last US forces leaving Vietnam in 1973. Mondale also made remarks on the Iraq War, education, and healthcare.

April 9th, 2003 US forces take Baghdad after a six day battle effectively deposing the Saddam Hussein government.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

May 1st, 2003 President George W. Bush lands on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, where he gives a speech announcing the end of major combat in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. A banner behind him declares "Mission Accomplished".

May 28th, 2003 President Bush authorizes $350 billion worth of tax cuts over 10 years. This move was criticized by Democrats for being imprudent, and possibly detrimental to the national debt.

May 31st, 2003 Eric Rudolph is captured in Murphy, North Carolina.

July 22nd, 2003 Uday and Qusay Hussein are killed by US troops in Mosul, Iraq.

September 7th, 2003 President Bush announces a request for $87 billion from Congress for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

September 17th, 2003 President Bush concedes there is no evidence linking Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

October 7th, 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger wins the 2003 California recall election.

December 13th, 2003 Saddam Hussein former Dictator of Iraq is captured in his hometown of Tikrit.

December 15th, 2003 Senator Mondale announced his endorsement of Howard Dean for President in 2004.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 19th, 2004 Former governor of Vermont Howard Dean wins the Iowa Democratic caucus. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards came in with a respectful second and third place in the caucus. Afterwards Howard Dean gives an impassioned speech stating that his campaign was going to to win in New Hampshire, and all other primaries then win the general election in November.

February 1st, 2004 The New England Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Carolina Panthers 32 - 29. Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady.

February 3rd, 2004 The CIA admits there was no imminent threat from WMDs before the invasion of Iraq.

March 2nd, 2004 Howard Dean effectively clinches the Democratic Nomination by winning the majority of states on "Super Tuesday". Dean wins the California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island primaries, and the Minnesota caucuses. John Kerry won the Massachusetts primary, and John Edwards won the Georgia primary.

The map after "Super Tuesday" March 2nd.​

March 25th, 2004 The United States senate passes the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 which recognizes an embryo or fetus in utero as a legal victim, if they are injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. Walter Mondale is one of the senators who votes nay but is still passed 60-39.

April 28th, 2004

Spoiler

Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse is revealed on the television show 60 Minutes II.

May 1st, 2004 The European Union expands by 10 new member states: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

May 17th, 2004 Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage in compliance with a ruling from the state's Supreme Court ruling in the case of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.

June 5th, 2004 Former President Ronald Reagan dies in Bel-Air, California. Succumbing to Alzheimer's disease at 93 years old. Reactions of his death come from across the world from former allies like Margaret Thatcher and adversaries like Mikhail Gorbachev. But one reaction was very important for many, the following day Walter Mondale gave a short speech from the Senate floor eulogizing Ronald Reagan. This speech was seen as one of Mondale's best during his time in the Senate and was a truthful and touching speech for the man who prevented him from becoming POTUS.

Ronald Reagan lies in state.​

 

[ComradeLenin22]

June 30th, 2004 Preliminary hearings begin in Iraq in the trial of president Saddam Hussein, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

July 26th - July 29th, 2004 The Democratic National Convention takes place in Boston, Massachusetts. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean the presumptive nominee is officially nominated to be the Democratic challenger in November against President Bush. Indiana Senator Evan Bayh was selected by Dean to run with him. The convention saw many great speeches none better than Barack Obama's who was running for Senate in Illinois.

August 12th, 2004 New Jersey Governor James McGreevey announces that he is "a gay American" and will resign effective November 15, 2004.

August 13 - August 29, 2004 The 2004 Summer Olympics are held in Athens, Greece.

August 30th - September 2nd, 2004 U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are re-nominated at the Republican National Convention in New York City.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

September 8th, 2004 In the "Rathergate" affair, the first Internet posts appear pointing out that documents claimed by CBS News to be typewritten memos from the early 1970s appear instead to have been produced using modern word processing systems.

September 13th, 2004 The U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban expires. Many Democrats express their wishes to renew the ban with Senators like Dianne Feinstein and Frank Lautenberg proposing legislation in the days after the ban expired.

September 16th, 2004 Hurricane Ivan strikes Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 3 storm, killing 25 in Alabama and Florida, becoming the third-costliest hurricane in American history at the time.

September 30th, 2004 The first Presidential debate of 2004 begins between President Bush and former Governor Dean. The biggest issue for the evening was on foreign policy, Dean accused Bush of having failed to gain international support for the invasion of Iraq. Later, a consensus formed among mainstream pollsters and pundits that Dean won the debate decisively, further strengthening what Democrats hoped out of Dean to be a Clintonesque candidate.

October 5th, 2004 The vice presidential debate between Cheney and Bayh. An initial poll by ABC indicated a victory for Cheney, while polls by CNN and MSNBC gave it to Bayh. Bayh was seen to be more energetic than Cheney, however couldn't mount a good response when Cheney pointed out how Bayh supported the Iraq War and was a co-sponsor the Iraq War resolution.

October 8th, 2004 The second presidential debate was conducted in a town meeting format, less formal than the first presidential debate. This debate saw Bush and Dean taking questions on a variety of subjects from a local audience. Bush attempted to deflect criticism of what was described as his scowling demeanor during the first debate, joking at one point about one of Dean's remarks, "That answer made me want to scowl."

October 13th, 2004 Bush and Dean met for the third and final debate. 51 million viewers watched the debate. Overall not much fireworks or soundbites came from the last debate however the biggest topics were about Dean's healthcare plan and gay rights.

October 25th, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

October 27th, 2004 The New York Yankees win the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals their 5th title in 8 years.

October 29th, 2004 A videotape of Osama bin Laden speaking airs on Arabic TV, in which he threatens terrorist attacks on the United States and taunts President George W. Bush over the September 11 terrorist attacks. President Bush receives a boost in the polls after the videotape is aired and many believe it was planned to do so, as it was day before the election.

November 2nd, 2004 Election night in America. Voters would go to the polls to deliver their opinion of President Bush and if he was going to receive a second term in office. More than that was Senate, Congressional, and gubernatorial elections across America which in of itself was important as the Democrats were looking at taking back the Senate and maybe the House too. But the biggest prize was the White House, could the frontrunner Howard Dean pull off the win and fulfill his promise to make America "stronger at home and more respected in the world."?

In the Presidential election, President Bush won winning 279 electoral votes to Dean's 259 electoral votes. Although Dean was expected by some to win, the night wasn't so perfect. For one Dean barely won states like New Hampshire, Iowa, and Oregon. On the other hand he did run close in states like New Mexico, Indiana, and Virginia. Many were seeing Dean as another Dukakis of sorts that if he had run better he could've defeated a "cocky" Bush. But as for other races the night was better for Democrats.

In the end the Democrats won back the Senate by close margins in the end receiving 51 seats to the Republican's 49 seats. In the House the Republicans held off and held 220 seats to the Democrat's 214. Republicans won 5 gubernatorial races and Democrats won 6.

Several important Senate and gubernatorial results:

Senators re-elected in 2004: Richard Shelby (R-AL), John McCain (R-AZ), Blanch Lincoln (D-AR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Daniel Inouye (D-HA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Kit Bong (R-MO), Harry Reid (D-NV), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John Edwards (D-NC), Byron Dorgan (DNPL-ND), George Voinovich (R-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Russ Feingold (D-WI).

Incumbent Senators defeated in 2004: Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Arlen Specter (R-PA)*. (defeated in the primaries)*

Senators elected in 2004: Tony Knowles (D-AK), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Denise Majette (D-GA), Barack Obama (D-IL), John Neely Kennedy (D-LA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Jim DeMint (R-SC).

 

[ComradeLenin22]

November 14th, 2004 United States Secretary of State Colin Powell submits his resignation. Two days later President Bush nominates former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson to replace Powell.

November 19th, 2004 The NBA's Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons engage in a brawl that involves fans and players after the game is called with 45.9 seconds left in the game. The incident gets Pacer Ron Artest suspended for the remainder of the season. This event is forever remembered as "The Malice at the Palace", a reference to the Pistons' arena The Palace of Auburn Hills.

December 26th, 2004 The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami occurs in all the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis across the Indian ocean killed 227,898 deaths and nations all over the world provided over US$14 billion in aid for damaged regions. The event effected 15 nations and also remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska. It is the third biggest earthquake ever reported and the biggest in the 21st century.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 4th, 2004 Freshmen Senators who won their elections in November are sworn into office. The same day the control of the Senate is official handed over to the Democrats and Tom Daschle becomes Majority Leader again, with Walter Mondale becoming Democratic Conference Chairman.

Senator Barack Obama sworn in January 4th, 2005.​

January 6th, 2005 Senator Barbara Boxer of California joined Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio in filing a congressional objection to the certification of Ohio's Electoral College votes due to alleged irregularities including disqualification of provisional ballots, alleged misallocation of voting machines, and disproportionally long waits in poor and predominantly African-American communities. This had been a point of growing discussion since November but in the end the Senate voted the objection down 1–74; the House voted the objection down 31–267. One of the 25 Senators who chose to abstain from the vote was Senator Evan Bayh, this was seen as very noble of Bayh to not drag on the controversy despite some credibility in the irregularities.

January 20th, 2005 George W. Bush's second inauguration.

February 6th, 2005 Super Bowl XXXIX the New England Patriots win their third Super Bowl in 4 years over the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21.

February 16th, 2005 The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, without the support of the United States and Australia.

February 18th, 2005 Senator Mondale gives an interview with 60 Minutes discussing his first two years back in the senate. Correspondent Ed Bradley interviewed Mondale from the University of Minnesota. Mondale talked at length about having to readjust to the Senate and having to legislate and vote on modern issues sometimes alien to subjects from the 60's to 70's. Mondale also talked about the Democrats regaining the majority in the Senate, and his new Leadership roles. Mondale did make a comment about being the "oldest junior of the Senate". Bradley finally asked Mondale "Can you see yourself returning in 2008?", Mondale responded with "I didn't think I'd be wanted back to the White House!", laughs.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

March 1st, 2005 Roper v. Simmons: The Supreme Court of the United States rules the death penalty unconstitutional for juveniles who committed their crimes before the age of 18.

March 23rd, 2005 The United States' 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refuses (by a vote of 2–1) to stop the euthanasia of Terri Schiavo, who has been in a vegetative state since 1990, by not ordering the reinsertion of her feeding tube. 8 days later Terri Schiavo dies at the age of 41 in Pinellas Park, Florida.

March 24th, 2005 The President of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev, is deposed following mass anti-government demonstrations and flees the country.

April 2nd, 2005 Pope John Paul II dies; over four million people travel to the Vatican to mourn him. The papal conclave was set to begin on April 18th.

April 9th, 2005 Charles, Prince of Wales marries Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall. Camilla receives the title Duchess of Cornwall.

April 19th, 2005 After just one day of the 2005 Papal conclave the next pope was elected. Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan Dionigi Tettamanzi is selected as Pope John Paul II's successor. Tettamanzi takes the name John Paul, becoming Pope John Paul III.

April 26th, 2005 Syria withdraws the last of its military garrison from Lebanon, ending its 29-year military occupation of the country.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

May 10th, 2005 A hand grenade ostensibly thrown by Vladimir Arutinian lands about 100 feet (30 m) from United States President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but the explosive malfunctions and does not detonate.

May 16th, 2005 George Galloway appears before a United States Senate committee to answer allegations of making money from the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme.

May 31st, 2005 W. Mark Felt reveals himself to be the Watergate scandal whistleblower called "Deep Throat."

June 17th, 2005 Because of "quadruple-witching" options and futures expiration, the New York Stock Exchange sees the heaviest first-hour trading on record. 704 million shares are traded between 9:30–10:30 a.m. (1.92 billion shares for the day).

July 1st, 2005 Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announces her intention to retire. In her letter to President Bush, she stated that her retirement from active service would take effect upon the confirmation of her successor. Her letter did not provide a reason for her departure; however, a Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed O'Connor was leaving to spend time with her husband. Justice O'Connor's retirement had been speculated for a long time however her reason seems to stem to the need of a Republican in the White House to fill the seat.

July 6th, 2005 The International Olympic Committee awards Madrid the right to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

July 12th, 2005 Andrew Cuomo former HUD Secretary and son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo files to run for NYC mayor with the City Board of Elections. At this point Cuomo was the biggest name on the list for the Democrats with others like Congressman Anthony Weiner and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields were relatively unknown. Cuomo carried the name power, money, and political prestige to mount a challenge to incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

July 19th, 2005 President George W. Bush announces his nomination of Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Edith B. Clement to fill a vacancy that would be left by the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The decision wasn't too surprising as most speculated that advisors to Bush and others pushed for him to choose a female judge to replace O'Connor. Judge Clement was seen as a moderate and had a limited paper trail on controversial issues.

August 23rd, 2005 Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

August 29th - 30th, 2005 At least 1,836 are killed, and severe damage is caused along the U.S. Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Katrina strikes coastal areas from Louisiana to Alabama, and travels up the entire state of Mississippi (flooding coast 31 feet (9.4 m)), affecting most of eastern North America. Katrina becomes the costliest hurricane in U.S. history with $108 billion in damages. In the aftermath thousands are displaced by Katrina, President Bush is widely criticized for federal reaction and assistance, and oil prices rise sharply.

September 3rd, 2005 Chief Justice William Rehnquist dies at 80 of anaplastic thyroid cancer, creating a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Pundits and the media immediately speculate what President Bush will do with said vacancy. Bush had at least three choices, wait out Judge Clement's own nomination then nominate another judge, change Judge Clement's nomination for the Chief Justice seat, or nominate a Associate Supreme Court Justice to become Chief Justice. Most believed that all options were risky it all depended on how much the Senate could take of Bush Judge Nominees.

September 5th, 2005 Edith B. Clement is nominated by President George W. Bush for Chief Justice of the United States, to replace William Rehnquist. The media speculated that this decision was made as a way to avoid a filibuster if Bush had to nominate three different judges if he chose to promote a Associate Justice to Chief Justice. But things still looked bad for Bush as Clement had a good enough pedigree and experience to become a Associate Justice but Chief Justice? Probably not. All this was going down as Clement's nomination hearings had to switch towards the role and power around being Chief Justice. Sandra Day O'Connor decides to put her resignation on hold until a future nominee is passed by the Senate. Given the circumstances around this event many in the media refer this as the "Supreme Court Crisis of 2005".

September 7th, 2005 Egypt holds its first ever multi-party presidential election, which is marred with allegations of fraud. Incumbent president Hosni Mubarak is re-elected for a fifth consecutive six-year term in office, with official results showing he won 88.6% of the vote.

September 24th, 2005 Hurricane Rita hits the U.S. Gulf Coast, devastating areas near Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Ninth Ward of New Orleans re-floods since Katrina, and Mississippi and Alabama are also affected. The storm kills 120 people and causes $12 billion in damages.

September 28th, 2005 United States House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R–Texas) is indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy by a Texas grand jury. This event is deeply troubling for Republicans during a tumultuous few months and especially with Democrats gearing up for the 2006 midterms.

September 29th, 2005 After weeks of Senate hearings on Judge Edith B. Clement's nomination to become a Supreme Court Justice then switched to a hearing to become Chief Justice the Senate was going to vote. The Senate voted 77-23 against Clement's nomination. This was a crushing blow to President Bush's hope that the Chief Justice position could be secured. 33 Republicans voted against Clement's nomination these Republicans were mostly conservatives who wanted a conservative Chief Justice and held no confidence in Judge Clement. 43 Democrats and 1 Independent voted against Clement for similar reasons mainly her experience. 16 Republicans and 7 Democrats voted in favor among them John McCain, Joe Liebermann, and Elizabeth Dole these Senators either voted in favor because Clement was a moderate or as support for President Bush which is why leadership Republicans like Mitch McConnell voted in favor. Later that day President Bush gave a speech making public his disappointment with the results, and that another nominee would be chosen within the next few days.

October 3rd, 2005 President Bush nominates Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit John Roberts to replace William Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Immediately the media, pundits, and politicians across America admit and concede that Roberts' nomination will pass.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

October 24th, 2005 Rosa Park who made headlines when she refused to give up her seat in a Montgomery bus, dies of natural causes at the age of 92 in Detroit. She becomes the first woman to lie in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda on the 30th - 31st of October.

October 26th, 2005 The Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox in four games to win their first World Series in franchise history. As a result the Chicago White Sox's curse the Curse of the Black Sox.

October 27th, 2005 Judge John Roberts' nomination is passed by the Senate 76-24. This leaves just one last seat to be filled the aforementioned Sandra Day O'Connor seat.

October 28th, 2005 Vice presidential adviser Lewis "Scooter" Libby resigns after being charged with obstruction of justice, perjury and making a false statement in the CIA leak investigation.

October 31st, 2005 President Bush nominates Lee H. Rosenthal Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Her strength as a nominee for the Supreme Court was that she was a woman who was to replace a woman, Rosenthal had no controversy, and was a moderate judge.

November 1st, 2005 Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and other Democrats hold a closed session of the Senate over the Lewis Libby indictment.

November 8th, 2005 Several elections take places across America. Three gubernatorial, three congressional special elections, four mayoral elections, and several initiatives. In New Jersey Jon Corzine (D) defeats Doug Forrester (R), in Virginia Leslie Byrne (D) defeats Jerry Kilgore (R). Out of all the mayoral elections the New York City mayoral race was the biggest. Incumbent Republican Michael Bloomberg faced off against Andrew Cuomo son of Mario Cuomo the former Governor. The campaign and race was fierce with both candidates trying to smear each other Cuomo was expected to upset Bloomberg in most polls. However after Bloomberg bested Cuomo in the first debate it was seen more and more that Cuomo didn't have a long term platform or really appealed to demographics he needed to win. In the end Bloomberg won re-election by fairly close margins but the result was still a blow for the Democrats. In the congressional elections two Republicans won and one Democrats won, none of the seats flipped parties.

Notable elections:

 

[ComradeLenin22]

November 22nd, 2005 Angela Markel of the CDU/CSU is inaugurated in Germany becoming the first female Chancellor in German history.

November 23rd, 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins the Liberian general election, making her the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa.

December 10th, 2005 Eugene McCarthy former Minnesota Senator and popular candidate for President in 1968 dies at 89. McCarthy was remembered for his 1968 run for office which was so momentous that incumbent Democratic President Lyndon Baines Johnson withdrew from re-election. His funeral took place on January 14th, 2006. Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the funeral and Senator Mondale attended alongside other Minnesota Democrats. Mondale and McCarthy were good friends who even served together during the late 60's.

December 18th, 2005 Chad descends into civil war after various rebel forces, with support from Sudan, attack the capital, N'Djamena.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 5th, 2006 The Bush administration proposes spending $114 million on educational programs to expand the teaching of Arabic, Chinese, Persian and other languages typically not taught in public schools.

January 7th, 2006 Embroiled in multiple scandals, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay announces he will not seek to reassume his former post.

January 9th, 2006 Vice President Dick Cheney complains of shortness of breath and is treated at the hospital. The White House says the trip was necessary because of fluid retention as a side effect of a drug Mr. Cheney had taken to treat chronic foot ailments.

January 10th, 2006 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes a $125.6 billion budget increasing spending without raising taxes.

January 12th, 2006 After months the Senate Judiciary Committee convenes for the hearings for Lee H. Rosenthal's nomination to the Supreme Court.

January 26th, 2006 General Motors reports an $8.6 billion loss for 2005, its biggest loss since 1992.

January 28th, 2006 The United States Senate votes 58–42 to confirm Judge Rosenthal's nomination to the Supreme Court. Rosenthal is sworn in on the 31st succeeding Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 30th, 2006 The White House announces that President Bush has chosen Professor Edward Lazear, a Stanford University business professor to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of his Council of Economic Advisors who will succeed Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

February 5th, 2006 The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL by a score of 21–10. It is a homecoming for Detroit native Jerome Bettis, who was playing the final game of his 12-year career.

February 9th, 2006 AIG apologizes for deceptive business practices and reaches a $1.64 billion settlement with federal and state securities and insurance regulators.

February 10th, 2006 The 2006 Winter Olympics begin in Turin, Italy.

February 11th, 2006 Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots and wounds a lawyer while quail hunting in southern Texas.

February 16th, 2006 The Department of Commerce reports that housing starts jumped 14.5% to a 33-year high in January.

March 11th, 2006 Senator Mondale attends a rally for Democrat Amy Klobuchar who's running for the other Democratic Senate Seat to replace Senator Mark Dayton.

March 15th, 2006 The United Nations General Assembly votes overwhelmingly to establish the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

March 17th, 2006 The United States strikes its 2 remaining Iowa-class battleships from the Naval Vessel Register, ending the age of the battleship.

April 29th, 2006 Massive anti-war demonstrations and a march down Broadway in New York City mark the third year of war in Iraq.

May 1st, 2006 The Great American Boycott takes place across the United States as marchers protest for immigration rights.

May 17th, 2006 The Human Genome Project publishes the final chromosome sequence.

June 3rd, 2006 Montenegro declares its independence from Serbia and Montenegro after a May 21 referendum and becomes a sovereign state. Two days later, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro officially disbands after Serbia declares its independence as well, ending an 88-year union between the two states, leaving Serbia as the successor country to the union.

June 7th, 2006 Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and seven of his aides are killed in a U.S. air raid just north of the town of Baquba, Iraq.

June 12th, 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger crashes his motorcycle near Pittsburgh's 10th Street bridge. He had chosen not to wear a helmet and died due to internal bleeding. Just months removed from winning Super Bowl XL. Roethlisberger later becomes a national symbol for wearing helmets while operating motorcycles.

June 19th, 2006 The Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Edmonton Oilers 3–1 in game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals to give the Hurricanes their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

June 23rd, 2006 In Miami, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrests seven men, accusing them of planning to bomb the Sears Tower and other attacks in Miami.

June 28th, 2006 The United States Armed Forces withdraws its forces in Iceland, thereby disbanding the Iceland Defense Force.

July 10th, 2006 Henry Paulson is sworn in as the new Secretary of Treasury, succeeding John W. Snow.

July 12th, 2006 The 2006 Lebanon War begins between Israel and Hezbollah with fighting mainly in northern Israel, Golan Heights, and Lebanon.

August 24th, 2006 The International Astronomical Union defines 'planet' at its 26th General Assembly, removing Pluto's status as a planet and reclassifying it as a dwarf planet 76 years after its discovery. Ironically this was in the same year when NASA sent its first probe to the celestial body.

September 4th, 2006 While filming Ocean's Deadliest, television host Steve Irwin is stung by a sting ray. Irwin is rushed from the scene and arrives at Mossman District Hospital and survives. Ocean's Deadliest decides not to air the footage due to the nature of the attack and Irwin's traumatic rush to the hospital. Two weeks after the attack Irwin is back on television giving a in-depth interview with Sky News.

September 19th, 2006 The Royal Thai Army overthrows the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup.

September 24th, 2006 The New Orleans Saints play their first game at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina with a 23–3 victory over NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

October 3rd, 2006 The Dow Jones Industrial Average gains 56.99 points, or 0.49 percent, with a close of 11,727.34, its first all-time high in more than 6 years after it last hit in a record high of 11,722.98 on January 20, 2000.

October 9th, 2006 Google buys YouTube for $1.65 billion.

October 12th, 2006 Lake Storm "Aphid": A freak snowstorm blows into Buffalo, New York, leaving over 400,000 without power and killing 13.

October 19th, 2006 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes 12,000 for the first time, 12,011.73.

October 27th, 2006 The Detroit Tigers defeat the St. Louis Cardinals to win their 5th title.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

November 5th, 2006 Saddam Hussein former President of Iraq is sentenced to death by hanging by the Iraqi Special Tribunal.

November 7th, 2006 The 2006 United States midterms take place with the Democrats winning 56 seats to the Republicans 43 seats and 1 Independent. The outcome was expected by most but the margin was a shock as the Democrats pulled off upsets in states not expected to be so one-sided. In the House the Democrats regained their majority with 233 seats to the Republicans 202 seats. Finally the Democrats were truly returned to the drivers seat on Capitol Hill. In gubernatorial races the Democrats won a majority with 28 and Republicans with 22.

Notable races:

 

[ComradeLenin22]

November 19th, 2006 The Nintendo Wii is released in North America.

December 5th, 2006 The military seizes power in Fiji, in a coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

December 13th, 2006 South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson suffers a brain hemorrhage during a conference call with reporters. Senator Johnson unfortunately passes away the following day due to the complications from the hemorrhage.

December 15th, 2006 South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds appoints former Representative at-large John Thune. Thune had challenged both Senator Johnson in 2002 and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004. Thune would assume office immediately with a special election scheduled for 2008. Because of Senator Johnson's death the Democrats incoming majority went from 56-43 to 55-44 without (I-VT) Sanders who caucuses with the Democrats.

December 18th, 2006 Robert Gates is sworn in as the new Secretary of Defense, succeeding Donald Rumsfeld.

December 26th, 2006 Former President Gerald Ford dies at the age of 93 in Rancho Mirage, California. Ford's body would lie in state in the United State's Capitol Building for five days before being laid to rest on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

​

December 30th, 2006 Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, is executed by hanging.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 1st, 2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eurozone.

January 4th, 2007 Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives at the beginning of the 110th congress.

January 9th, 2007 Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the original iPhone at a Macworld keynote in San Francisco, beginning a new era of smartphones with this invention.

January 10th, 2007 The Iraq War troop surge begins.

January 30th, 2007 Microsoft releases Windows Vista and Office 2007.

February 2nd, 2007 The IPCC publishes its fourth assessment report, having concluded that global climate change is "very likely" to have a predominantly human cause.

February 13th, 2007 Former Republican Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts formally and officially announces his candidacy for President in 2008.

February 25th, 2007 The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, is held at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. 39.9 million viewers tune in to watch the show. Although seemingly everyone was tuned in when Al Gore appeared on stage. Gore was the writer of a book named An Inconvenient Truth which was turned into a movie by director Davis Guggenheim, the movie was aimed at alerting the public to an increasing "planetary emergency" due to global warming. Gore appeared on stage with famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio the two men talked about how everyone could help with fixing the environmental crisis and that the Academy Awards had implemented several environmentally and ecologically conscious features into the ceremony. Towards the end DiCaprio gestured to Gore and asked if he had anything pressing to announce with millions watching. Gore took a moment a thanked everyone for their obvious intrigue, then Gore took a deep breath an said "My fellow Americans tonight I announce my candidacy for President of the United States!". To say the least this bombshell of an announcement challenged the spectacle of the ceremony probably received more cheers than when the Best Picture was announced.