Posted on 03/29/2009 7:35:34 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
WASHINGTON — About as many left-of-center political groups in the nation's capital call themselves liberals these days as say they're Whigs. Instead, they call themselves "progressives."
What progressive means is "pretty murky," political historian Alan Brinkley said. Still, murky is an improvement over "liberal," a mainstream term in the 1960s that conservatives reduced to a dirty word in the 1980s.
Pollsters said the shift to "progressive" sheds the onus of the liberal label and enables left-of-center groups and candidates to fight again.
Although the term "progressive" has a distinguished early-20th-century history that includes reformers Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, uncertainty about what it means today works in favor of erstwhile liberals.
Mary Helms, 54, whose family raises peanuts and cotton in Dothan, Ala., said she knew what a liberal was: "Someone who doesn't have very good morals."
And a progressive? "I don't really know anyone who says he's a progressive," Helms said. So she has nothing against them.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
You can call a rat a swan, but it is still a rat.
“distinguished early-20th-century history that includes reformers Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson”
What’s distinguished about the damaging policies these men propagated?
(Truth in advertising) Whatever they choose, just put the word “thieving” in front of it.
“Progressive” = COMMUNIST
“Progressive” was a term the Communists used to describe themselves many years ago.
“dont tell me that words dont have meaning” BO
And yes...Thus the never ending quest to rename, and thus redefine, anything that holds the socialists back...
changing the name changes the perception of those who will fall for anything. “Progressive” sounds like “forward thinking”, a good thing, which it isn’t in this usage.
Liberal was a dirty word well before the 1980s.
Use their secret-no so secret identity: Socialist/Marxist.
Do you remember when “Blue” states were Republican, and “Red” states were DemonRats? The media changed the nomenclature because it reminded people that the Rats were Commies!
And for neo-conservatives, moderates, independants--they are neo-Statists. They also love big government against the individual, but to a lesser extent.
The Conservative should fight them both back. This is the defining time.
Freedom or tyranny? If America goes into the socialist rout, if government is allowed to become a tyranny, where is there left to go? I choose to fight for freedom.
I’ve noticed they try and use this label. I can’t imagine something more ironic, however, than a bunch of losers adopting the failed policies of the 60’s and 70’s calling themselves “progressives”. “Regressives” would be more accurate.
Be nice if we could connect ‘progressive’ to their true historical baggage such as being racist and in favor of eugenics.
Socialism is NOT “Progress”!
And contrary to Obama’s assertions earlier this week capitalism is NOT “chaotic and unforgiving”!
How ‘bout “reprobates”!!!!
Obama and his socialism is what’s chaotic and unforgiving.
Trotskyites, Maoists, Marxists, Socialists, Fascists, Jacobins, Shining Path...Take your pick.
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