“We must make sure that…” and other political cliches we must cancel.
How many politicians who said he’ll make sure of something, actually “made sure” that what he promised actually and surely happened? How many actually meant that he was going to make sure of something? Get rid of it. Cast it into lingo hell.
Some others:
“Make no mistake that…”
Google turned up 1,000,000,000 hits in .47 seconds of this time-worn warning. Don’t you think that this is somewhat arrogant? Especially when what follows “make no mistake that…” is more empty promises.
“The root cause of…”
The perfect dodge. When a pol says “we have to find the root cause of” something, it means he’s “kicking the can down the road,” (another cliche that should be dispatched). When a politician invokes “Let’s examine the root cause”, it is supposed to look like he’s serious, thoughtful, comprehensive (another cliche) smart. What it actually means is that “I don’t have a solution to this immediate, pressing problem.” Hear that Kamala?
“Read my lips…”
Oops, this should not be on the list. President George H.W. Bush cremated this cliche when he said his lips were saying. “No new taxes.”
“Tbe perfect storm….”
Duck. Take cover. Disaster is approaching. Kind of like Jamie Dimon JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warning that an “economic hurricane” is spinning our way, caused by inflation. And by the Fed’s policy that inflation is only transitory.”
“The only poll that matters is the one on Election Day,” and “It all comes down to turnout”
It all comes down to a stumped commentator not knowing what to say next, as a substitute for the honest answer: “How the hell should I know?” Might as well pronounce, “We’ll have to wait and see.”
“Climate change caused it.”
Never mind that the climate has always changed, from the moment Earth’s atmosphere formed. I just wish they’d say what they really mean: “Global warming caused by human activity.” Another euphemism for actually describing, something, just as pro-abortion groups have successfully defined the killing of a pre-born person or a potential human being as a “choice.” I saw a Chicago Tribune story that posited that “climate change” was causing Lake Michigan waters to lower (while the oceans are rising), causing lakefront erosion, thanks to climate change. The story suggests that “scientists” agree that any bad weather or natural phenomenon is the fault of climate change. Did climate change cause Covid-19?
If I might digress: Notice that every rebranding by the political left makes the language less accurate. Substituting “they” for the singular third person “he,” fogs the meaning of “they.” Now we have to find another term that explains that “they” really means a single person.
As long as we’re discussing cliches, I have to mention one that really riles me: “at high risk of….” Google took less than half a second to come up with about 7,120,000,000 uses of “at risk of.” That cliche shows up not just in political discourse, but just about everywhere. E.g. Climate change puts humans at high risk of….(fill in the blank). Why not say “jeopardizes”, imperils or endangers? E.g. Climate change imperils or endangers mankind? Shorter, more direct, stronger.
Here’s an invitation to post your own annoying cliche below in comments.
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