What are liberals?

When did liberals become synonymous with restriction of rights?  Didn't they used to want to liberate the people?  Aren't liberals the ones who fought for black and women's suffrage?  Aren't conservatives the ones who are supposed to be oppressing the people?

Was it the progressive movement?  Did liberals run out of things to fight for and now need to abolish rights they don't think are working out?  Why do they need bigger government to control everything they can think of?  Shouldn't they shrink government to LIBERATE the people from its control?

I need to discuss this.  I have been watching too much Fox News since Obama took office.

Remember the 80's when Reagan was keeping America strong and supporting corporations and Hollywood liberals painted this horrible dystopian future where corporations ruled the country?  Before that, we had fears of government control as in the classics 1984 and Brave New World.  During the Obama Whitehouse, they are bringing us closer to total government control and socialism than we have ever been before.  Where are the 1984s and Brave New Worlds?  Where are even stupid things like That's My Bush or Lil Bush? The liberal media and Hollywood won't even touch Obama.