American Heritage Dictionary defines it thus:
illiberal
SYLLABICATION:il * lib * er * al
ADJECTIVE:1. Narrow-minded; bigoted. 2. Archaic Ungenerous, mean, or stingy. 3. Archaic a. Lacking liberal culture. b. Ill-bred; vulgar.
You know, the Rethuglicans have spent several decades turning “liberal” into a dirty word. Bush is still using the kneejerk Pavlovian fear response to the word “liberal” that they’ve been working on for all that time in his campaigns.
Well, if they don’t want to be liberal, that’s fine. Let them be the opposite. I hereby call upon anybody who feels like listening to some dumb blogger, to start using the word “illiberal” for the politically conservative . If you look at the meanings from American Heritage Dictionary, they’re largely perfect. (3b is neither here nor there, but 1 through 3a are perfect descriptions of what’s wrong with the Right.)
I’m sick of these illiberal people pushing their illiberal agendas on our society!
Are you with me, or are you illiberal?
I thought so!