defining moment

definitions revisited

The President has been shifting his rhetoric away from "flip-flop" and toward "tax and spend liberal". Ironic though, that if you look up "liberal" in the dictionary, you read this:

> lib•er•al
> adj.

Definition #1:

> 1. a. Not limited to or by established, traditional,
> orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas;
> free from bigotry.
> b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas
> for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of
> others; broad-minded.

Count me in!

> con•ser•va•tive
> adj.
> 1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to
> oppose change.

When things are going downhill, don't count on a conservative to change course.

> 2. Traditional or restrained in style.

Our President has seldom acted with restraint, except when it comes to restraining enforcement of environmental regulation.

> 3. Moderate; cautious.

W? You've got to be kidding. He came into office as a moderate, but a radical right-wing agenda has been pursued as if winning the closest election in American history constituted a mandate. And cautious??? Come on.

> 4. a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of
> conservatism.
> b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or
> movement.
> 5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative
> Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive
> Conservative Party in Canada.
> 6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.

This next one is right on:

> 7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative
> use of natural resources.

On this alone, his actions on the environment, fiscal and energy policy, and on the lives of the young men and women in the armed forces betray his self-identification as "conservative."

I almost forgot, there is a secondary definition of "liberal":

Definition #2:

> 2. a. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal
> benefactor.

This sounds more like the current administration: generously giving away our treasury to their corporate pals, amply providing tax breaks and bailouts to maximize shareholder value and minimize human values of loyalty, community, and responsibility. If liberals are "tax and spenders", today's Republicans are "tax-cut and spenders." Fiscal irresponsibility. No wonder Pat Buchanan is pissed off with the President... even though he plans to vote for him anyway. Now there's the real conservative: clinging to a sinking ship for fear of the alternative.

> b. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of
> potatoes.

Yep, that's them alright. "... a liberal serving of potatoes." Filling, but not very nutritious... and some of them couldn't even spell "potatoes".