[Hemingway's Ghost]

That would be a libertarian-liberal.

Um, okay . . . whatever. Good luck with that. Next up, Monarchist-anarchists.

[John H K]

The basic problem is the fundamental idiocy of the term "liberal."

The term "Leftist" is about a BILLION times better and INFINITELY less confusing when used to describe what a typical Republican would now call a "liberal." The problem with "liberal" is its usage as a perjorative (and almost a curse-word" by the right currently is at odds with what "liberal" ORIGINALLY meant and what it means in Political Science.

Would be interesting to do some research on when "liberal" began to be used.

Unfortunately the greatest popularizers of the term "liberal" seem to me have been Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh, two people who AREN'T idiots, and who I like, but I really, really, really, really wish they'd called liberals "leftists."

I personally never use the term "liberal" and substitute "leftist" to describe the Kerrys and Ted Kennedys and Hilarys of the world.

A quixotic, hopeless crusade, but the use of the term "liberal" is really a pain. "Leftist" sounds worse and more insulting to me anyway, and has more effect.

[bc2]

There's no such thing as a libertarian liberal. There are "left libertarians" and "right libertarians". That means that some are more liberal than others. It's usually in regards to social issues, as it is almost impossible to be fiscally liberal and call yourself a libertarian.

I'm a Libertarian (oh boy! Big L!) so I am familiar with all of this.