The main problem with modern liberals--with notable exceptions like Michael Moore--is that they are too cowardly to oppose the conservatives, and they habitually avoid conflict to the point of backing down rather than defending their principles when challenged. These are the main reasons why liberals of the 1980s onwards enabled the right-wingers to take over the government and the entire national discourse in the U.S. and Britain, and why the liberals have been continuously too timid to vote against the conservatives on important issues like war-mongering, pro-corporate measures, and various civil rights issues (like refusing to vote against the establishment or reversal of the USA Patriot Act, or how anyone labeled a "terrorist" are denied due process, and how illegal wiretapping by the executive branch is fully tolerated), and fearfully joined in on the mindless sex panic, anti-MAP, and anti-youth sexuality bandwagon started by the conservatives during the late '70s. They were simply afraid to do otherwise, lest the conservatives--who now dominate the national discourse--would call them nasty names. This is also why many liberals during the 1990s stepped to the Right and morphed themselves into "centrists," something made popular by Bill Clinton during that decade when he governed in most ways from a very right-centric slant. Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool centrist, as are the entirety of the Democratic Leadership Council, who have a lot of influence in the party.

This is why Judith Levine stated in her book Harmful to Minors that the main reason why the Right won during the 1980s and '90s is because the Left let them. I feel much the same as you do about the Right's policies and general worldview, my friend, but at least they stand up for what they believe in, no matter how harmful and twisted that may be at times. Until the Left can say and do the same, they will continue to be rightfully looked upon as wusses despite the wisdom of most of their stances.

That's also the main reason why it's hard to be a liberal today; the cards are stacked against you due to the timidity and rampant capitulation of the previous generation of liberals.