Some info for flashing the Moto cliq in particular.

rooting: find and download z4root.
    install it on your phone like any other app
    open program, press the root button
    u r now rooted

recovery: go to the market and install RomManager (this is clockworkmod)
    open rommanager, press the install recovery button.
    done.

Download rom: find a compatible rom for your phone. The cliq is old and not very well supported so rommanager did not find a rom for me. I found this port of cyanogen for the cliq. https://www.simply-android.com/discussion/1150/rom-cm4morrison-2.3-rev.-2-cyanogenmod-7-220411
    copy it to the root of your sd card
Install rom: open rommanager, select "install rom from sd card"
    pick the rom
    check all the boxes
    rommanager will do the reboot into recovery and install the rom for you. Ten it will reboot for you into the new OS.

Klatuu kinda did it the hard way.
on most phones, rooting is the hard part
after that rommmanager does most of the work for you, including finding and downloading the new rom, and installing it for you.