What do political terms even mean anymore?

[merrily]

During last night's debate, Hillary said she is a moderate and she also said she is a progressive. So, there goes the meaning of "progressive." Later, Chafee said there was no longer room in the Republican Party "for a liberal moderate Republican," so there goes the meaning of "liberal."

See also http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2739138 (DLC now calling itself moderate, not centrist: post of madfloridian on DU2)

and, from Al From's book, The New Democrats and the Return to Power via a recent post of madfloridian http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027191121:

Coming from the center-left of the party, I was tired of having the DLC labeled as conservative. I decided to call our think tank the Progressive Policy Institute because I thought it would be harder for reporters to label it as the “conservative Progressive Policy Institute."

argle bargle

P.S. Leftist, not "lefty," which is a nickname for people who are left-handed. At least let me have that.

[LiberalElite]

1. IMO "centrist" has become radioactive nt

[merrily]

2. It's only fair, imo, because centrists helped Republicans make "liberal" radioactive.

[Mnpaul]

5. Nothing to worry about

From and his buddies adopt a new term and move further right. This whole bunch disgusts me.

[Warpy]

3. Chafee is the last of the liberal New England Republicans

and yes, his position on social and some economic issues did qualify him as a liberal. His problem is that he stayed in the Clown Party a decade or two too long.

Those old New England Republicans weren't a bad bunch, just usually wrong on too many issues for my vote. I did vote for Ed Brooke when the Democrats ran a conservative stiff whose name escapes me. After Reagan got in, those days were over.

[merrily]

4. "Liberal" is not the stumper for me. "Liberal moderate" is.

[noiretextatique]

6. likewise

i have been a progressive for a long time. i have not evolved, or become more nuanced or morphed into a centrist over night, or in a matter of minutes. i have opposed the rw since ronald reagan, and imho, the last real democratic president was jimmy carter. at least he was the last one who didn't feel the need to sound or act like a republican, or proclaim himself one. i was cautiously optimistic about Clinton , but was disappointed enough to joint the green party. i had no illusions about Obama, but i too was caught up in the historic precedent of his election. i will never forget that night in Oakland...people were literally dancing in the streets. but oh how little is takes to keep us happy these days. unlike some, i cannot blame the popularity of Sanders on years of rw propaganda from the usual suspects. I blame it on years of rw propaganda from the republican wing of the democratic party. centrists, third way, DLC...whatever they call themselves. clearly this a a battle for the soul of the party, and Clinton admits she stands for...whatever it takes to win. in that respect, she is not much different than her husband.