I think what Joolz and Live touched upon this a bits. From my personal experience I always found Conserv friends of mine wear that term much more like a status symbol. They view it almost like a club to belong too. As for friends who are as Lib as i am. I never hear them define themselves as Libs, I don't have a problem calling myself a Lib but even for me it's not something that I would go out of my way to brand myself that or get a bumper sticker lol.
Even generally the way they talk about each other is different. When Conservs have a problem with the other side they like to talk about the general labels like "Lib media is this or Lib Hollywood does that". While Libs seem to talk more specific as individuals like "Rush race baits or Fox has no credibility". Not saying Libs never throw out the Conserv blanket over the entire group but on the most part it seems like Conservs talk like that more. It reminds me of a topic a few days back talking about Olberman saying something mean about Rush/GB and Malkin by name but Conservs commentators seem to like to insult Libs more as a group.
This reminds me of a absurd poll I read a while back that what Joolz said Liberal is viewed as a negative but Conservs are slowly catching up, but "Progressive" is actually viewed better than Conserv but "Reagan Conserv" is viewed better than Progressive and normal Conserv (because Conservs never name drop Reagan?) Really makes me wonder if this whole voting things is really the best way to do things as the voters will actually be so influenced by changing a name or putting a former prez in front of the same ideology.
But really my Conserv friends, you couldn't think of a better new name than just sticking a former Prez in front of it, you don't see the other side calling ourselves John F Liberals. We stole/borrowed an insurance company name "Progressive", who's company spokeswoman Flo totally fits the Lib lifstyle, as by nobody really knows if she can or cannot pass the company drug test, that is sooo Lib, i mean Progressive. I think Conservs should steal another insurance company name and call yourselfs Geico's, I don't know Gecko with the thick accent will fit in the Conserv movement as he seems to have come from another country in to take somebody job, but the cavemen fits well with "traditional values" waaay back tradition and the creepy stack of money with eyes following you is a Conservs dream come true