"The liberals I know hold high ideals for this country"

And what I find to be true of them is that these "ideals" are what they wish the country was or could be -- not what it is.

Again, idn't that the nature of being "progressive"? Progressing toward an ideal and away from the present state? By very nature they are not satisfied. And that inherent disatisfaction, when it doesn't come across as whiney criticism, comes across as discontent with the country.

Controlling sadomasochistic pornography is not, nor has it ever been a "camel's nose under the tent" that threatened free speech. I think people are quite capable of upholding the right for one while denying the right for the other.