Words have always been complicated. They accrue and change meanings with little to no warning, based on time and distance. That said, there are some that I would very much like to see removed from the discourse, just in interests of getting people back on the same page.

Case numero uno? Liberal. Cut it out, burn it, send it down the river and find another way to describe the left side of American politics. The term has come to be owned almost entirely by right wing pundits, and I doubt there is any reclaiming it. It has become a bad word, and imprecise, besides. No group of people can ever be described as Monolithic, anyway, but the word Liberal has come to be this fearsome THEM that is, apparently, trying to destroy America. It's been attached to so many issues that I doubt you could find a single instance of a true "liberal" in the sense the pundits use the term.

I don't know if conservative, it's opposite number, has the same feelings for those who are most traditionally placed under it. On the whole, the word conservative seems to be a badge of pride for those who claim it. If so, they are welcome to it. I am actually curious as to whether or not that is the case.

Pro-Life: I say this only because so many supposedly Pro-Life people also support the death penalty, as well as cutting aid to single mothers who didn't have abortions. I think they should either be actually pro-life, or just own Pro-Fetus. As a conciliatory move, if anyone can come up with a soundbyte version of "Pro-Choice for expectant mothers over their own bodies" then feel free to make both sides change.

Family Values: Whose Family? Yours? Mine? Your boyfriends? His boyfriends? Can we all just admit that the words "Family Values Candidate" has become one of the biggest jokes of American Politics and save some poor closeted future Senator the humiliation?

Intelligent Design: This one annoys the crap out of me, primarily because, technically speaking, I believe in it. I do believe in an intelligent designer. Moment I say that, of course, I have people raging at me for shoving religion down their throats and others asking me to write letters to local school boards to have the Science books changed. Ok, on the whole it refers to the supposedly scientific theory, and so is more a matter of my own annoyance than anything.

"Support the Troops." This phrase should be banned from any campaigning, period. I have yet to meet a single candidate (State or National) who did not wave that flag at some point. We need to come up with easy phrases to recognize, at first glance, whether your preferred method of Troop Support involves bringing them home, offering extended resources while in combat, or offering solid resources once they come home. Anyone who claims to "support the troops" while simultaneously cutting VA funding should be put to death by firing squad.

And yes, I am aware that this list is leftist leaning. After all, I do lean left. Feel free to add any you feel I missed in order to make it fair and balanced.

Actually, let's add "fair and balanced" to the list. Everyone is biased. If we made everyone admit that going in, I think our Politics would be much cleaner, afterwards...