Liberal Lawmakers Face New Challenges

Liberals will have little patience for Democrats who prefer to play ball with President Bush and the Republicans, Borosage added. "This is not a time when people are going to have much patience for that kind of collaboration," he said.

Some progressives are already signaling that if necessary, they'll face down their own Democratic leaders to advance their priorities. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., said he wants to see a thorough investigation of the Iraq war, including the rationale for the invasion, and is prepared to challenge party leaders to get it.

"I think most of the leadership understands this. But if leadership wants the wrong thing, then that's what we'll have to do," Hinchey said.

Progressives have already had to disappoint some constituents by deciding not to pursue impeachment hearings against President Bush. "That's a huge, huge disappointment to people in my district," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who co-chairs the Progressive Caucus with fellow Northern California Democrat Barbara Lee.

The decision underscores something most House progressives have agreed on: at least at first, they'll scale back their grand plans and focus on goals they can accomplish.

That means backing Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi _ a Progressive Caucus member before she became Democratic leader _ on her agenda for the House's first 100 legislative hours. It calls for increasing the minimum wage, reducing energy company subsidies, lowering student loan costs and negotiating prices for Medicare prescription drugs.

After that, progressives hope to turn to their pet causes. But there's one fate they want to avoid: losing the Democratic majority and being forced back into the basement. And that's a powerful incentive to compromise.

"As long as everyone is willing to understand that they are part of the whole, then I think we'll play very well together," said Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., a Progressive Caucus member. "And if we don't, then I think we will be in the minority again."

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Associated Press writers Devlin Barrett and Andrew Miga contributed to this report.