Isn't Progressive Conservative an oxymoron?
No, it isn't an oxymoron. A dictionary definition of progressive is "of, relating to, or characterized by progress." Progress, as a noun, is "a forward or onward movement; gradual betterment." Progress, as a verb, is "to move forward; to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage." If a conservative thinks that our country can be improved and move forward if our government is more conservative, that person must be a progressive conservative. Liberals think that our country should progress in a liberal way, and conservatives think that our country should progress in a conservative way.
No. "Liberal Left" is an oxymoron. Leftist Progressive is a contradiction in terms, though Leftists are blithely unaware of it.
The US brand of conservatism is positively revolutionary, without even intending to be. When you believe in liberty, you upset applecarts all over town just by breathing.
No, the terms progressive and conservative need not stand in direct opposition to each other on every issue; they can be complimentary just as libertarian and conservatice are complimentary sometimes.
Although "populist" in many ways, progressives were not originally leftists and at their height they would have opposed many socialist policies. They were opposed to all things too big and monopolistic - government and business - where those things were too big for their britches.
But, the progressive movement nearly died and when it was resurrected it's few remaining figures had made common cause with the left and, in my view, was essentially absorbed by the left.
We may now be seeing a start of a breech, between progressives and the left, as some "liberals" with truly "progressive" instincts, are joining conservatives on issues like eminant domain.
I think there could be some issues where a "progressive" point of view coming from a conservative could actually bring in some moderates, even among some Democrats, who are more "libertarian" minded on the harms in an ever-expanding, ever-encroaching massive federal government.
I think "progressives" would also make common cause with conservatives on issues like the abrogation of the applicability of our Constitution and our courts on the alter of "progress" via international treaties and new international judicial forums for settlement of "economic" disputes.