Having established that, which I sincerely hope underscore my bona fides, allow me to begin with stating that I remember real liberals.
The word "liberal" has been hijacked by the modern leftist/progressive/socialist/communist movement which literally attacked -- and took over -- the Democratic Party in the 1970s. Since that hijacking real liberals have been shunted to the back benches of the democratic Party and, for the most part, out the door.
The modern Democratic Party is, in fact, a solid Socialist/Marxist/Communist organ of the American political system.
The title they often use --"Progressive" -- is a word description that communists in America have used for many decades (nigh onto a hundred years now) to camouflage their real identity.
The Communist Party, USA, had tried for decades to adopt the words "liberal" and "liberalism" to cover their ideology but had been totally shut out with zero success. Thus, the "new" left was able to accomplish something their parent ideology -- communism -- had been unable to do.
Just a couple of the true liberals (Some refer to them as "centrist liberals") were Henry "Scoop" Jackson and, yes, even Hubert Humphrey.
The "true" liberals either went home in disgust, were relegated to the back benches, in humiliation, or moved to the Republican Party and became known as "Neocons" or neo-conservatives. Many are still active in national politics today.
Just recently, I became aware of a website that is extremely helpful for those trying to determine THEIR political identity or the political identity of the modern Democratic Party in America. It is: "Discover The Networks."
The site has a wonderful
page dedicated to defining the left. I recommend you visit the site and, by all means, visit the "defining the left" page.
Today's modern Democratic Party is, in fact, a Socialist Party. Their ultimate intent is to fundamentally change America from a constitutional republic to a socialist dictatorship. And they are doing it, one little bit at a time. It is called "incrementalism." They are using the term and name Liberalism and Liberal to cover their nefarious scheme to turn America into a communist worker's paradise (otherwise known as a "dung heap!).
Socialist presidential candidate Norman Thomas once said: “The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism,’ they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”
Today, America has a Socialist/Marxist/Communist President. One half of the Congress, the Senate, is controlled by Socialist/Marxist/Communists. Arguably, the US Supreme Court has already been compromised by the "New" Left/Liberals/Socialists/Communists. One cannot argue the New Left has not had rather a lot of success!
Just to be clear: When I refer to liberals today and "the Left" today, I am referring to the Socialists/Marxists/Communists who make up the modern Democratic Party and NOT the REAL LIBERALS especially those prior to 1970.
There will be little, if any, bipartisanship in the Congress between socialist/Marxist/communist on the left and freedom loving Americans on the right. To compromise with those who constitute the political left in America today is to compromise the freedom and liberty of every American. That cannot be allowed to happen.
In the meantime, expect more gridlock in Congress. It may not stop the left, but it will slow them down until we can bring in reinforcements in the election of 2014.