Who decides when a tired, worn out phrase becomes a cliché? I’d like to know because I have a phrase I’d like them to consider adding; I’d like it banned from all discussion at the same time.

Some clichés are annoying, like nails on a chalkboard (pun intended). Some go beyond that. The example with which I make my case today goes beyond the chalkboard. It gives me a peculiar type of headache, the kind I get when I try to roll my eyes and make them go cross-eyed at the same time. Lately conservatives have been using it as some sort of qualifier, or entrance ticket to the complaint arena: opinions lack gravitas without this de rigueur statement.

The worn out phrase is: “I am the first one to acknowledge that President Bush/Republicans have made mistakes but…” This is followed by whatever criticism is on the mind of the columnist, talking head, blogger, etc. Today it was Bill Steigerwald in his piece about Bill Maher. Bill Maher, for goodness sake! Who needs to qualify or justify a criticism of Bill Maher? (What Steigerwald actually said was, “Republicans and President Bush deserve to be trashed from across the political spectrum for the many dumb and bad things they’ve done at home or abroad…” I see this as the same as “I am the first…”)

Liberals do not qualify their criticisms, so why do conservatives? This is a recent phenomena; I date it to the beginning of the Iraq War turning sour. Conservatives everywhere rolled over and squeaked, “Oh! You got me there! Uncle!” From that point onward, we could not raise a complaint against a liberal without the newly coined (declared by me, in the absence of an official authority) cliché: “I am the first to admit President Bush has made mistakes!”

No lesser wit than Dr. Phil cautions that we do not mean anything we say before the “but”, so we should disregard it. (As in “I don’t mean to offend you, but…” This means that you are offending someone and probably intend to.) We would be wise to follow Dr. Phil’s guidance. Better yet, let’s toss out this cliché and return to simply making a case for criticism of whoever we choose. I’ll get us started: Bill Maher is a reprobate who lacks talent and the ability to engage in meaningful debate. His comments, his show, and guests are affective but not effective actors in the political debate of today.