Cliché Watch: The Devil, You Say!

Lots of things are good ideas: free markets, a clean environment, low taxes, decent housing, competent health care. Figuring out how to achieve those lofty goals without screwing up something else is always the tricky part. We get it.

Headline writers, however, seem to feel the need to pound home the idea that while it's a good idea to keep the economy healthy, the question is how, exactly, to go about doing that in the current environment.

Sure, the succession of ever-more-sweeping plans being put forth by the Bush administration are consistently thin on details, and that's worrisome considering what's at stake.

But can't newspaper copy desks find a fresh way to convey that thought without falling back on the same devilishly trite cliché?

A sample of some recent headlines about efforts to stem the financial crisis:

DEVIL IS IN BAILOUT'S DETAILS

The Wall Street Journal, October 15

ANALYSTS: DEVIL TO BE IN DETAILS OF EXECUTION

Chicago Tribune, October 15

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL OF THIS GOVERNMENT PLEDGE TO SMALL COMPANIES

The Daily Telegraph (London), October 14

DEVIL IN THE DETAIL FOR BANKS RESCUE

The Daily Express (London), October 8

DEVIL LIES IN THE DETAIL OF THIS EPIC BAILOUT

Irish Independent, October 1

DEVIL'S IN DETAILS OF RESCUE SOME THINK WON'T START TURNABOUT UNTIL 2010

Columbus Business First (Ohio), September 29

WHO, WHAT AND HOW MUCH? DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAILS

Investor's Business Daily, September 22

GOVERNMENT MIGHT TURN PROFIT, BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

Chicago Tribune, September 20

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS OF FINANCIAL BAILOUT PLAN

Canwest News Service, September 19

by Mark Stein

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