A couple of years ago, The New York Times gave some remarkably good advice to President Bush. In fashioning an energy policy, said the Times, the president should not rely on “old cliches” like freeing America from foreign oil. The president should rely on new cliches instead.

Physician, heal thyself! The Times regularly falls into the most loathsome of all cliches. Behold:

In an editorial last year, the Times talked about Bush’s desire to restrain the Army Corps of Engineers. Would Mr. Bush succeed in these reforms? The Times pondered. “It remains to be seen.”

On another occasion a year ago, the Times’ man in Jerusalem reported a speech by Yasser Arafat urging Palestinian extremists to stop their attacks. Would his appeal succeed? Said the Times’ man in Jerusalem: “It remains to be seen.”

Following the disputed presidential election of 2000, the Times’ Bob Herbert sought comment from Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. The senator said Bush should form a coalition of moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats. The columnist sucked his thumb. He was uncertain. “Whether Mr. Bush is so inclined,” he said, “remains to be seen.”

A few weeks ago, a guest contributor to the Times’ op-ed page wrote favorably about Vermont’s former governor Howard Dean, now a presidential candidate. The Washington press corps may have soured on the fellow, but what about the rest of the country? “It remains to be seen.”

The venerable Times is not the only respected publication to succumb to the virus of RTBS. The Washington Post runs a constant fever. Even the Post’s architectural critic suffers from the infection. The rebuilding of ground zero in New York, he said, “remains to be seen.” The Post’s book critic reported that the Book-of-the-Month Club is going to bring back its reviewing panel of distinguished judges. “Precisely who they will be remains to be seen.”

In April the Post’s TV critic commented upon Cher’s farewell tour. The entertainer had been a big hit in Miami, where the audience raucously applauded every quip and gown. “Whether a national TV audience will feel the same way remains to be seen.”

Last year the Post editorially tackled the pederastic problems of the Catholic Church in America. Would the joint statement of 12 American cardinals satisfy the laity? You will never guess. “It remains to be seen …”

Newsweek magazine regularly resorts to such fearless assertions. In covering the arrest of several madams in Chicago, Newsweek’s court reporter was uncertain. Whether their convictions would succeed in wiping out a circuit of brothels – are you ready? – “remains to be seen.” On another occasion last September, Newsweek’s business reporters looked at the lavish retirement benefits given to Jack Welch of General Electric. Would the company’s directors pay attention? I will not hold you in suspense. “It remains to be seen.”

The Washington Times noted a conspiracy buzz around MSNBC’s Phil Donahue. “Whether it proves beneficial buzz remains to be seen.” USA Today looked wanly at “Ali and Jack” and sagely informed us: Whether viewers need another chatty morning talk show RTBS.

I have a drawerful of additional offenses from Time magazine, National Geographic and the National Law Journal. But enough.

To say that something – anything – “remains to be seen” is to make the most inane, the most banal, the most stupid observation in all the annals of prophecy. Eventually it must occur to the most thick-witted writer that every future event under moon or sun, from this nanosecond onward, remains to be seen!

In pronouncing anathema on RTBS, I do not mean to overlook such offenders as “arguably” and “connect the dots” and – urk! – “wee hours.” English has a hundred tiresome phrases. “Remains to be seen,” to coin a phrase, is only the tip of the iceberg.

James Kilpatrick is a syndicated columnist.