I guess I've been putting more effort into other blogs than into my own, so I'm going to cross-reference the places I've posted comments. Go read them -- they usually make more sense than I do.
Meryl Yourish
Sassy Lawyer
Samizdata
How to Speak Liberal
Sometimes it seems like we're not all speaking the same language. It sounds the same, but doesn't always mean the same. The ancient sages struggled with this, too:
'When
I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master--that's all.'
With that in mind, I offer a few handy words and phrases in Liberal, with their approximate meanings in plain English.
Liberal: arguably
Translation: not
Example: The Canadian health care system is arguably the best model for the US.
Liberal: extremist
Translation: Any person or thing that is not liberal; antonym of "progressive"
Example: We must stop the Bush administration from installing extremist judges.
Liberal: fiery
Translation: homicidal, psychotic
Example: Muqtadar al Sadr is the fiery Shiite cleric whose militia fought the occupation.
Liberal: larger truths
Translation: lies
Example: Rigoberta Menchu's book contains many larger truths.
Liberal: militant
Translation: murderer
Example: A Palestinian militant today attacked an Israeli settlement, killing three settlers.
Liberal: nuance
Translation: incoherence, self-contradiction, delusion
Example: The EU considers America's approach to the Middle East to be without nuance.
Liberal: populist
Translation: synonym of "progressive"
Example: Edwards' populist theme of "two Americas" appeals to the core Democratic voters.
Liberal: progressive
Translation: Marxist
Example: The New York Times endorsed the candidate, calling him "a fresh progressive voice."
Liberal: revenues
Translation: taxes
Example: We will reclaim the revenues we lost to Bush's reckless economic program.
Liberal: rich (n.)
Translation: wage-earners (collective noun); you
Example: George Bush enacted tax cuts for the rich.
Liberal: settler
Translation: civilian; especially a woman or a child
Example: A Palestinian militant today attacked an Israeli settlement, killing three settlers.
