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The latest McCain/Palin ad ends with the words “The Original Mavericks” on screen. The case for maverick is hammered home by a series of excerpted newspaper headlines (”Maverick McCain Rips GOP,” 4/2/04). But 19th-century Texas politician and cattle rancher Samuel Augustus Maverick might take issue with the word “original.” Former speechwriter and New York Times columnist William Safire explains in yesterday’s Times:
“Old Sam Maverick’s friends said he refused to brand his cattle because it was cruel to animals; competing ranchers said it let him round up and claim all the unbranded cattle in the neighborhood. In an era that has sophisticates displaying designers’ initials, the Americanism maverick now means ‘one who bears no man’s brand,’ or in McCain’s evocation of Thoreau’s metaphor, ‘marches to the beat of his own drum.’”
The word maverick is also a synonym for an unbranded cow. Since it’s unlikely there will be a Word Origin tomorrow, get your etymology fix with one of these stories: 10 Band Name Origins, Debunking Etymological Myths, and 9 Nicknames for Natives.
(If you’ve always wondered about another word’s origin, leave a comment and we’ll put our finest person on the case.)
Comments (13)
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how about philanderer? a friend told me that there was a guy name Phil Ander who cheated on his wife. I don’t believe her.
posted by samantha on 9-8-2008 at 12:48 pm
The man has voted with Bush 90% of the time! He is FAR from a maverick. Voting for him is voting for 4 more years of Bush.
In the words of the flossy Albert Einstein, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
posted by cb on 9-8-2008 at 12:55 pm
cb:
Barack Obama voted with President Bush 40% of the time, and with his party leaders 96% of the time.
John McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time yes, but with party leaders only 70% of the time.
Who is more partisan?
Kind of makes me wonder if you actually looked up and read the article the Democratic Party cited, or just parroted Howard Dean.
posted by Witty Nickname on 9-8-2008 at 3:16 pm
Samantha, “philander” has a screwed-up etymology but apparently started out as a Greek word meaning a woman who loves her man (!)
Even setting aside Mr. Maverick, who can count the number of “mavericks” who have served in the Senate over the years? Mr. McCain may or may not be a maverick, but if he is, he’s not the original even there. That ad is a big mistake.
posted by Liza Jane on 9-8-2008 at 3:38 pm
If John McCain is the Maverick, does that not also make Sarah Palin the Goose?
posted by bedhead on 9-8-2008 at 4:33 pm
…Smile and grin at the change all around, I’ll pick up my guitar and play just like yesterday.
And I’ll get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again!
Good song for an election year.
posted by Beth on 9-9-2008 at 1:15 am
How about “uppity”?
posted by motorkitty on 9-9-2008 at 11:12 am
@Witty Nickname –
I never said, or implied, that the other statistics you posted were not true. The difference is that McCain is the one telling everyone how different he is. HE is the one trying to brand himself as a “maverick”. He’s trying to subtly distance himself from Bush, at least for those of us who don’t like Bush, when in fact that could hardly be further from the truth. To vote for him is to vote for 4 more years of Dubya.
@bedhead – that, my friend, is priceless! I apologize now for the fact that I will be stealing that from you and repeating it ad nauseum. :)
posted by cb on 9-9-2008 at 11:13 am
@Witty Nickname
Also – yes, I have looked at the source material that claims to support many statements made by both parties. A very good source is
http://www.factcheck.org
I’m not sure why you felt the need to try to disparage me without even knowing me.
posted by cb on 9-9-2008 at 11:20 am
“I’m not sure why you felt the need to try to disparage me without even knowing me.”
welcome to the internet.
On topic though, good article; I enjoyed it.
posted by chris on 9-9-2008 at 1:02 pm
Aside from McCain and Palin being a couple of douchebags, I think the term “Original Maverick” is hillarious.
You know like its the geezer version of being an OG.
I can just see McCain and Palin walking around Washington with their pants pulled low, flashing bling and just being all “OM, muthaf*ckas!”
posted by Florida on 9-9-2008 at 4:20 pm
It’s a shame this blog isn’t immune to partisan comments…
I love etymology! Here’s an excellent site if you have a word and you’re wondering what the origin of it is:
http://www.etymonline.com/
posted by Jason! on 9-9-2008 at 6:33 pm
I wrote a piece about “maverick” and the McCain campaign as well. I wish I could have referenced this article at the time! It would have greatly strengthened my argument!
posted by Stevie on 11-18-2008 at 8:15 pm