Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's magazine, is as confused about the "liberal" and "conservative" labels as I am. From the November issue:

"The meanings of the words 'liberal' and 'conservative' has been so mercilessly abused over the last twenty years that they offer more information about the person who employs them as insults than they do about the person on whose head they fall like stones."

His conclusion: "The anti-liberal" prides himself on the clarity of his intellect. ... The anti-conservative prides himself on the quality of his emotions."