Worn out phrases that politicians should retire

Before the 2012 campaign kicks off next week, I wanted to get something off my chest.

Whenever politicians let loose any of these phrases, my opinion of them nosedives. Presumably the words test well in focus groups. But more and more they are indicators of the speaker's laziness, condescension, and impending double-talk.

Dem favorites:

• "trickle-down economics"
• "tax cuts for the rich"

GOP favorites:

• "family values"
• "patriot"
  

Bi-partisan favorites:

• "working families"
• "Greatest Generation"
  

And the premier bi-partisan all-purpose indicator of imminent double-speak:

• "for the children"