Don't make me hurt the next person who claims "John Kerry was the most liberal Senator in 2003." Not that there's anything wrong with being liberal. In fact, it's why I support him. But the blatant dishonesty with which this statistic is being bandied about now (the ratings were originally released back in February) drives me crazy. Why is it considered so shameful to be liberal? Our version of the Scarlett Letter -- instead of an "A" we'll have to wear a big "L" like Laverne used to wear on Laverne & Shirley.

Here's M-W's definition of liberalism:
"a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b : a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c : a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties"

Here's a definition of conservatism, same source:
"disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change"

Call me crazy. I'll take a little of both in moderation but there's nothing inherently bad about being liberal - in fact, no conservative system can sustain itself for any length of time. Change is part of growth - without it, you die. My outrage here is over the lack of respect politicians have for the American public. They can say whatever they want because they believe people will just accept whatever they're told (unfortunately they're too often right) but I'm hoping this election proves that theory wrong.

The ratings in question are done every year by the National Journal and are comprised of a small snapshot taken in three areas: social, foreign and economic policy votes. Due to Kerry's campaign schedule, he missed a lot of votes and only qualified for a rating in the economic category. But don't get me wrong - I'm glad the person I'm supporting in November doesn't side often -- some years, ever -- with the conservatives in the Senate. It's a good thing, as Martha used to say. Here's the best overview of how Senators measured up last year.