Why do conservatives who turned 'liberal' into a dirty word now complain that

[Lenny The Strawman]

liberals aren't real liberals? Was a time when liberals called themselves liberals. Then GOP pundits figured out that they could turn the word into an insult by using it as one. Eventually this became effective enough that liberals just started calling themselves progressives. The pundits worked hard to paint this as a dirty word by associating it with socialism, but the liberals/progressives were prepared and threw a curveball by embracing the word "socialism" along with all the misconceptions surrounding it. Not to fear, however, because the pundits have a new and zany plan: complain that the progressives aren't liberals any more.

Is that about right?