[READ: Yeah, I’m not reading her book, but this parody book looks mighty funny. Click the cover to order it.]
So, obviously I’m not going to read her book. But I did want to point out the Webster’s definitions of Rogue. It was pretty clear on the campaign trail that words didn’t really mean anything. But when your very own book uses a word as its title and that word is (presumably) used to describe you, wouldn’t it behoove you to find out just what the word means?
1 : vagrant, tramp
2 : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel
3 : a mischievous person : scamp
4 : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5 : an individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation
So, which is it? Vagrant? Dishonest Person? Scamp? Horse? Inferior individual? That may not have been the best word choice.
And speaking of failed vice presidential candidates. Recent events have led me to ponder the life of the failed vice presidential candidate. It seems that in the 21st century, the failed presidential candidate gets off okay. He fails and he moves on, but jeez, let’s look at the last few failed VPs:
Joe Lieberman: A Supreme Court vote away from being the first Jewish person to hold such a powerful office. A heartbeat away from being a Democratic president. Since then, he has not only reneged on his party, he is actually planning to vote against them on the health care bill. Pretty shocking turn of events in a short eight years.
Note: Al Gore, the Presidential Candidate has won the Nobel Peace Prize.
John Edwards: Rising star of the Democratic party. Had great ideas, was even considered by many to be a better candidate than Kerry. Since his failed bid, well, you know the story: extramarital affair, questions into money abuses. Jeez.
Note: John Kerry, the Presidential Candidate has been tooling around the world in an official capacity, often made fun of by The Daily Show.
Sarah Palin: inexplicably retires from her office as Governor of Alaska under speculation and rumor about all manner of nefarious deeds. Clearly, she’ll make a bundle on the book. But her credibility is evaporated for all but the most sycophantic people.
Note: John McCain‘s credibility was lost from 2000 to 2008 as he seemed to sell his soul to the highest bidder. Since the election he has been an extreme voice against the President despite Obama’s overtures to him on a variety of issues right after the election. And now he stands as a pretty tough Republican Senator.
So, I guess the moral is, be sure your party can win before you accept the nomination!
Interestingly, in the elections in the 20th century, the reverse may have been true.
Jack Kemp went on to pretty great acclaim after losing the VP race in 1996.
Bob Dole made commercials for erectile dysfunction.
Okay, I won’t go any further with this.
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