"Maybe it's that we tend to slip towards a center position."

That is precisely what "liberal" has always meant, except apparently recently among some people in parts of North America, who have redefined it to mean something they see as extreme. Extreme centre maybe.

Turkeys. Is this a case of a cliche too far for spaw, and he's saying "let's actually see what it means" - or isn't that a cliche that you use in America? Either way, what it means is that, if something means you'll be for the chop, and there's a vote about it, the chances are you won't be voting for it, and nor will other people in the same situation. Or other turkeys.

I suppose the unfortunate birds (who should have been the national emblem of America if Benjamin Franklin hadn't been outvoted) might be even more inclined to vote against Thanksgiving over there in their native habitat - but we have our Turkey on Christmas Day.

And if 95 per cent of the 50% or so of black Americans who voted didn't vote for the man who is now Resident in the White House, it would appear pretty clear that they thought it would be against their interests for him to win the election. (This figure of speech is not intended to suggest that Bush is a cannibal. Yes, I know - but there are some people who take things a bit literally at times.)