Thank you for the correct quote but we need to address your extreme hostility to the President. It is funny that some will claim some sort of super-human right to have a president unchallenged only when they agree with them.

Lasher
Are you threatening me. It Is obvious that you are ready to use force as a replacement for your lack of intelligence.

To paraphrase Robin Williams "Politicians are like babies, and should be changed regularly for the same reason.

You have to be kidding Mr. mayor. Statistics show that in New York City a large majority of stop/searches are done on blacks and other minorities in poor neighborhoods. It sounds to be Mr. Bumberg should seek office in Texas, or Louisiana or another State (Nevada) known to pass white supremist legislation.

As much as I hate to admit it Auntie is right. We sometimes mock an entire group because a small or even large segment of them behave poorly. Let's not do that but let's still be able to call out (and even criticize) those who are justifiably worthy of such comments.

Why should it not surprise me that racist would not even think he/she was doing wrong. Tell me isn't that an argument for government interference to assure freedoms which you claim to so dearly support.
Or is freedom only good for white, protestant, Arians?
You wouldn't own a white sheet with cut outs for eyes & mouth?

Now that is racist!

First Thank you Progressive Patriot for your thoughtful analysis of Republican failures during the last election. It is the "Tea Party Republicans" who through there extreme views and advocating of the theory of only one right way (theirs of course) and that anyone who disagrees with them are subversives, Communists, Socialists or worse.
Perhaps they should reconsider the Marxist/Engels definition of Communists. Even China, is moving to more Capitalist theory, Pure Marxism is a dying economic theory.
So is pure capitalism. Economically over the last 40 or so years the world economy has come closer to reality and with it a mixed economic system. Socially however is quite different. There are still those who believe, in their ignorance, that their way is the only way and those who are not born into wealth, or through work or luck "fall into Shit" should go off into that elephant grave yard (funny it should be an elephant) and die so those left can use their remains to benefit themselves.

Ok so I got more responses to this post than I thought I would get. I started with you Duchman because the end of your message has a very interesting question "What is a liberal?"
A liberal is one who finds compassion and the desire to help those who are in need of support. It is not defined as a Communist or Socialist who will attempt to make equal the economic wealth but to place a social safety net to prevent those who by wealth control the power both economically and socially. It is a person who believes that seeing to the welfare of one leads to the protection of the entire society.
This is as true for freedom and protections of individual rights (starting with those stated in the Constitution) as it is for economic justice.

Now for some response to some of the other answers to my comments.

Let me say that in general I have been misquoted and/or misunderstood. The idea of the post is if we concentrate
on the discussion of any and all questions and do so in a civil manner, we can exchange ANY idea and some one may agree or disagree with it here. It was not meant to narrow the material and verbiage here but to allow it to expand by eliminating thinly veiled "shut up you are an idiot because you don't agree with me"

To TheCracker.... I was defending your rights also. You certainly have the right to post your views no matter how vile I find them. Please allow me the same right.

The whole idea of my calling myself a liberal is that I have been so for over half a century. Navysnipe I am also one of those who preserved all Americans by being a US Marine in Vietnam. I give you these facts about me so that perhaps those that read this post and better understand where I come from. Perhaps a few of you readers should give us all more information about yourselves so we may understand your position. I am always willing to listen and welcome arguments both for or against anything I have said or will say. How many of you are willing to sign on to that statement.
Although I am rather busy I will try respond to posts as quickly as possible. Look forward to every comment and please leave the knives and other weapons at the door.

The problem with the posts I have read has more to do with the absolute crap being generated. I am a new member and this is only my second post but allow me to suggest the following:

Instead of calling someone a "liberal" (Which I have been for about 50 years) or some other name I suggest we reframe from name calling and try to honestly and argue facts and honest opinion rather than name calling. This can be a great serious site or a rag paper. I think you know what I advocate. Any position is welcome but misstatements, repeated lies and bigoted, racial or political slurs which please the emotions but are just that, slurs should be called out by members of this group. Of course rebuttals are welcome but again adhering to the rules above.
By the way correcting spelling and English as a primary argument against a position, rather than the substance of what is argued is a cheap shot (seen used many times on these pages) and a poor substitute for fact!

Instead of a Communist conspiracy it is necessary to look at this as a political conspiracy. Ever since 9/11 and the Patriot act there has been a push to limit free speech and action in this country. The NSA has become the gestopo of the U.S. The threat to our rights under 1st, 4th and even 5th amendments are threatened not by the left but from the right. It has been said that safety comes at the cost of freedom. Now President Obama, who I supported not only is giving in to the pressure to preserve "safety" but has made statements which support and preserve secrecy. While some secrecy is necessary to drag it to this level threatens the very fiber of this country. Unless of course we the people rise up to protect our freedom. It is not to late......yet!