"You know I always thought it was good to be liberal because that reflected having ideas that are in synch with the times. Conservatives on the other hand, I was told, are the closest to fundamentalists and, therefore, need to be avoided."
"So what made you change your mind?"
"The US President. I mean the guy is using the word liberal as an insult. And what is worse he has actually put Kerry on the defensive on this."
"Yeah, but to be fair to Bush liberal means raising taxes to him. Bush has lately been saying to his opponent you can run but you can't hide, meaning that you can't hide from your record of voting in favour of tax rises."
"Bush has always been a man of few words. His other famous words were 'you are either with us or against us.'"
"That worked too."
"I guess. But I still find it ridiculous that in a country like America being a non-liberal is a selling point. I mean I could understand that in Saudi Arabia or even Maulana lands but not in the US!"
"Did you hear the last debate where Bush said there was a shortage of flu vaccine as they had rejected the batch that came from England."
"He didn't quite say rejected but yes there was an implication..."
"Doesn't he know his poodle Tony Blair is from England?"
"He probably thinks he is from the UK."
"Yes but England is a part..."
"It's those people who brief Bush - they probably never told him that."
"And you know the funny thing, don't you? That he is encouraging Musharraf to remain in power within the new and improved democratic context because he implies that Musharraf is a liberal."
"Don't think he uses the word liberal for Musharraf anymore."
"Yes, but it is ironic, isn't it?"
"Indeed. What is food for the goose is not for the gander."
"I wonder who is the goose?"