Are we talking about the same Michael Kelly that appears regularly as a columnist in the conservative Townhall.com? He's no Ann Coulter, but I don't think this guy is a liberal by any stretch.
Michael Kelly was a liberal. His credentials include editorial stints at both The New Republic and National Journal (the WashPost online opinion magazine).
The Clinton administration, however, set his Sleeze & Corruption antennae to quivering. Kelly was among the leaders of the opinion pack in calling for Clinton's impeachment.
I suspect that, if you asked him, he would still consider himself a liberal. But a wiser one. And, certainly, an honest one, able to distinguish right from wrong...