"Obvious" Verbal Crutches

The Washington Post has noticed Gov. Bob Ehrlich (MD) has a fondness for the word "obvious."

Lots of politicians lean on certain verbal crutches, especially as they endure a seemingly endless succession of speeches and public appearances. President Ronald Reagan used the word "renew" all the time -- "renewed strength, renewed vigor, renewed vision" -- the professor recalled. For President Richard Nixon, the recycled phrase was, "It would be easy to do X, and that's why we do Y."