[siderax]

It depend of the context or/and where you use the term. In the US or for social policies, the term liberalism is used for something like progressivism. In Europe or for economics policies, liberalism means free trade and deregulation.

When an US citizen say liberal, he's talking about society. When an EU citizen say liberal, he's talking about economics. This make sometimes translation difficult.

In the context of the article, while US, with the focus on economics. They are using the classical or the european meaning.

But yeah Republican are conservatives on social policies and liberal on economics policies. Democrat are liberal on social policies and less liberal on economics (but still very liberal compared to an socialist party).