[Qwinn]

"To declare oneself an unapologetic liberal in mainstream political debate these days is to invite abuse."

Riiiight. And to declare oneself an unapologetic conservative gets you invited to -all- the Manhattan cocktail parties and invited to speak at graduation ceremonies all over the country.

[Liz]

"To declare oneself an unapologetic liberal in mainstream political debate these days is to invite abuse."

Ahhhh, the waning days of political correctness (applause).

[the invisib1e hand]

"To declare oneself an unapologetic liberal in mainstream political debate these days is to invite abuse."

If so, it's because the mainstream, at least in the media's eyes, is so far out on the fringe left that liberal looks conservative.