Only the Liberal Democrats have probed the government's failings consistently, thoroughly and effectively.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
It's our job as Liberal Democrats to be an effective opposition - and an increasingly tough one as well.
A Democrat has to show the toughness to govern. People don't doubt that Republicans will be tough.
By virtually any measure, the record of the Republican Majority is an appalling failure.
Liberals often don't see the problems, and conservatives don't see the promise, of government.
What the Lib Dems have failed to do is offer any meaningful agenda for government or for power.
Democrats hate Democrats most of all.
Liberal Democrats in government will not follow the last Labour government by sounding the retreat on the protection of civil liberties in the United Kingdom. It continues to be essential that our civil liberties are safeguarded, and that the state is not given the powers to snoop on its citizens at will.
Somehow liberals have been unable to acquire from life what conservatives seem to be endowed with at birth: namely, a healthy skepticism of the powers of government agencies to do good.
Most liberal democracies don't try to figure out what the truth is.
Democrats hate success.