The use of the term ‘liberal’ is interesting – very American. In the UK the word has traditionally had different connotations. Does the use of the term here imply ‘left wing’ or does it imply a progressive alternative to left wing?

Also interesting that the title of the site is ‘Liberal Conspiracy’ but the term ‘Liberal-Left’ is used elsewhere…

Yeah but, no but…?!

“I’m sure you don’t mean it to be Christian attitude bad, Islamic attitude fine for now?!”

Of course not. But any criticism of any non-indigenous faith group (including, e.g. African Pentecostal churches) for dodgy views on sexuality creates its own set of problems – problems that don’t come when you’re bashing, say, the Roman Catholic church. Yes, I know the RC isn’t indigenous… whatever…

And as for the liberal-left/left-liberal thing, I think liberalism is even harder to define than leftism. Do you accept the Fox News mentality that they are one and the same? Confuse the mix with the notion of economic liberalism (is Milton Friedman a liberal)? Orange Book? Libertarianism? Whatever the Spiked/LM lot are on today?

Oh, I’ll leave it there. Like Jennie, I don’t want to be the gloomy bugger at the party, and I wish the project well, I really do.

Yup, that was my feeling too. Sorry to be all doom and gloom. Still, Nice choice of launch date.

Will be watching with interest, and probably posting something later.

Well it jolly well should if you see yourselves somehow in broad coalition with people like Respect!

Interesting that you use the phrase left-liberal.
Sunny uses liberal-left.
And the site is called LIBERAL conspiracy, not left conspiracy!

I do hope that we’ll see at least as much liberalism as leftism!!

“The attitude of some communities to gay people.”
I’m sure you don’t mean it to be Christian attitude bad, Islamic attitude fine for now?!

best

chrisc

I don’t want to piss on anyone’s bonfire, but I’ve got a horrible feeling that the question of what is or isn’t a left-liberal position will dominate the site. Right now, issues relating to the nexus of culture, immigration, religion, etc are top of the list: should there be a defined leftist position on, say, the role of women within Islam, or the attitude of some communities to gay people? Any position taken on these will be seen to be bashing someone (gays, women, migrants) that leftists don’t want to bash. The ructions within the RESPECT coalition suggest that you can’t please everyone all the time, and attempting to do so often makes things worse. (Which RESPECT hack was it who called gay rights a shibboleth?)

Sorry to be gloomy. I hope I’m wrong. But by excluding right-wing trolls and haters from the mix (via your comments policy), you just give space for leftists to tear each other apart in public, forgetting the common enemy.

There is certainly a need for those on the left to rally round the flag in support of progressive politics and liberal values nationally and internationally.

I really wish you the best of luck, and I know I’m guaranteed some quality irritation here, but isn’t it an axiom of all left-leaning initiatives that they will begin fraternally and then descend gradually into policy differences followed by friendly disagreement, the inevitable splits and then some outright hostility?

And that, actually, not much will have been achieved despite some magnificent prose?

I’ve just realised you could bin my comment for being abusive, sarcastic and silly. It’s a start, I suppose…

Oh, I think you’ll find we can do grrr in spades.

But it´s the passion (and sometimes aggression) of right-leaning writers that gets them noticed, as they appear to have more conviction than left leaning liberals.

Liberal writing needs to be more assertive, and have a bit more “grrr”!

Good luck!

‘Small government’ should mean just that; it shouldn’t be code for policies that increase relative inequalities and penalise those already significantly worse off than the rest of society.

Well done on all your hard work setting this up.

Good luck with the new venture because it’s sorely needed.

Sunny, you weren’t joking when you said you was incredibly busy.

Well done.