Redstate

I don't believe most of those who lay claim to be liberal. The claim of progressive is a facade as well. These labels obscure the true nature of the leftists who hide behind them.

Those on the left have been quite successful in securing terminology and labeling themselves as to cloud the issues.

As an example, instead of being pro-abortion, they claim to be pro-choice.

And the use of negative terms to label the opposition has worked quite well for the far left of center.

As a second example, I am pro-life, but the moral high ground is seemingly lost to one who is in "denial" of womens rights.

I think conservatives would do well to consider these ideas.

AzRenegade

Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion

His friends and associates include a crook, Tony Rezko... a terrorist, Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, an anti-American racist.
.... this tells us all something about the man and his politics.

The Democrats have hurled this same claim at Republicans the past seven years. http://www.m-w.com gives this definition of fascism.

Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

Seriously. Goldberg does a very good job of documenting and laying out the parallel developments of Fascism in Italy, Bolshevism in Russia, and progressivism in the USA.

The roots of American progressive politics are all of the same with Mussolini. In fact several programs of the progressives emulated his, and he emulated them.

Nor has much changed. Either tactics or ultimate goals.

Read the book, you might not agree with all of it, but it will give you an new understanding.

IMO It is the most important political book in a decade.

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

progressive thought? About the only part that doesn't fit the Modern liberal philosophy is that "Nation" if you mean patriotism is important, but if you use the term "Nation" to mean the government, it fits perfectly.

Look at the policies being promoted by the 2 Democratic candidates:
1. More government control of our economy in medicine, fuel, and trade.
2. Locking our borders to trade.
3. More regulation of your lives.
4. More taxation to take THEIR money back from you.
5. More control over television and radio (the "fairness doctrine").
6. More ability for the government to confiscate your property (Kelo).
and dozens of other ways that the government can take more control of how you live your lives.

Always the state is more important than individual liberty. There is only one exception that I'm aware of. They don't want to get in the way of people killing innocents (babies, old people and invalids) and will fight those who DO get in the way.

Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.

covers the Democrats who are running today and Obama has a more serious turn to the left than Hillary.

Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion

I thought I knew a lot about the early years of the twentieth century. For classes I had written both term papers on the progressive movement and the rise of fascism.

But that book taught me so many things I did not know, it is MUST reading for everyone who wants to know about politics.

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

by the way please use "reply to".

The reason Goldberg wrote the book was precisely for the reason that the left often uses the word fascist to slur the right, but in reality the origins of their programs and policies are much closer to fascism than any on the right.

As for name calling. I agree that politics have degenerated in recent years. Unlike many on this site, I do not like Ann Coulter for the reason that she is not constructive at all but just a bomb thrower.

Having said that, I must say it is the left who have become raving Bush hating lunatics in recent years. If someone like Obama wants to create a new dialog and unite the country then they have to first deal with the brick throwing moonbats who currently have sway in the Democratic party.

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

Regarding your last sentence:

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Roumania.

- Dorothy Parker

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

If you hear someone say “progressives” tell them that means liberals.
Progressive is much more sinister than liberal. Progressive is a term with a long pedigree in this country, and it really does encompass a much more radical brand of self-loathing, America-hating, revolutionary activism.

Besides there is nothing “progressive” about higher taxes, socialized health care, appeasment foriegn policy, and destructive social agendas.

he sure surrounds himself with a lot of haters don't he?

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

The following quote is from an interview with Farrakhan in January (FinalCall.com)- apparently Obama is being "groomed" to be a unifier.

"Barack Obama has been very careful not to position himself as Reverend Jesse Jackson or Reverend Al Sharpton as a promoter of “The Black Cause.” He has been groomed, wisely so, to be seen more as a unifier, rather than one who speaks only for the hurt of Black people. In this, he has tapped the dissatisfaction of many Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians across the spectrum, because who cares what color you are if you can save them from the mess that they find themselves in.

That last sentence smacks of bitter-gate, don't ya think?