Somebody clue me please....

[Plucketeer]

10. Here's why I asked...

My "Creds" - I don't have any. I've actually had a few of my litter-airy efforts published, but that means nothing to my presence in DU I'm closing in on my 10,000th post - it's just a number as is 2007 - the date when I started coming here. I was simply attracted by the banter and insights surrounding the (then) looming presidential election.
My seventh decade on earth, I've come to reconsider what I've always assumed "liberal" stood for - in politics, in rein and as regards amounts of gravy on my mashed potatoes. Getting there (here?) has meant going from not caring about politics at all - to lemming-like obedience to GOP ideals - to finally seeing thru the crap of that league and thinking maybe I'd found my "home" with the Democrats (liberals of a sort).
A product of boredom with school, a "go-your-own-way" spirit and a love for anything that flies - I dropped out of my Senior year to join the Air Force. I had a definite "bent" for things technical and ended up being an aircraft tech. I also ended up stationed in the Philippines with the option of volunteering to go into Vietnam for months at a time if I so chose - and, I so chose. Bolstered by Hollywood depictions of duty and valor in WWII, this pimple-faced airman wanted a taste of the real thing and got it. I also got a nasty infection in my foot that sent me back to Clark AFB before my voluntary tour was done. But I got cured and went back two more times. I loved being a part of the action. I even got to do some "nose art" on some of our bombers - all in pursuit of holding back the Red Menace. I knew nothing of the other young Americans running to Canada or looking for ways to avoid the draft. How could one NOT WANT to be a part of such a fantastic and righteous machine? That just didn't compute with me.
Do I still consider myself a patriot? Sure - just not one of the ill-informed ones like I was at age 18. Now, I'd at least caution a youngster to think about the worst of possibilities before enlisting in our federal mercenary forces.

So but...... all the aforementioned has nothing to do with my question as to the definition of liberal - other than to cover whatever bases I could forsee being berated from for what I'm going to say. See, I've served on a fair number of DU juries in recent times. And I guess my guidelines are that I look for personal attacks or defamation as well as any mindless profanity like one might find as comments to YouTube videos. Some times a troll might trip my trigger, but usually I just figure their ignorance digs their own resting place.
So today >I< was alerted on a post ( my 4th or 5th time since '07, I believe) and while I did not use anyone's name, I did mention that someone could ultimately prove to be an able corporate "lap dog" as well as talking about the looming "coronation". And just to clarify - the thread was about the Democratic/Socialistic hopefuls for 2016. I think the jury was 6 to 1 to hide my post. Rude, hateful, misogynistic and other flattering descriptors were among those tendered. I'm not really angry with those cat-calls, but the word "liberal" sprang to mind in response. I'd like to be set straight as to which of the definitions in my OP I don't understand the limits of. If in reality, I'm something OTHER than a liberal, I'd like to know. If a bird hangs out with a herd of cats, someone ought to clue that bird that it could prove unwise for it to do so.
Do I need to make myself realize this is Democratic Underground as opposed to a Liberal site? It's a question I've been moved to consider long before this recent alert.