What the heck is a Leftist and why should I care? Are they "Liberals" in disguise or just more rabid in their rhetoric?

A Leftist is somebody whose thinking has been strongly influenced [directly or indirectly] by the principles of Marx and Lenin, but has strayed somewhat from the true Marxist course by opportunistically embracing popular and unscientific points of view.

Leftists and liberals are identical. They both oppose any public policy that requires or rewards individual responsibility. They both support big government and have disdain for people who achieve on their own. There is no intelligence factor--I think it is in their DNA.

Anti-American and most live in their mother's basement and come out from time to time to devour cake and smoke pot.

they apease and are seen as weak to jihadists