Juliet:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
William Shakespeare
I was thinking about the Secret Service names for the Obama's and decided to look it up on the internets. I found the wikipedia article on the topic and I became fascinated by the name choices the secret service choose for protected individuals. They seem to have an uncanny ability to get to the core personality traits of a person in one word. These names are often chosen before they have years of experience protecting a person and indicate to me just how thorough their research is about the people they are assigned to protect.
Lets take a look at some of their codenames and see if we cant make predictions for the future and analyze the past a little.
First up, the Obama's
Barack Obama - Renegade
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 |
ren·e·gade / ˈreniˌgād/
• n. a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.
∎ a person who behaves in a rebelliously unconventional manner.
∎ archaic a person who abandons religion; an apostate. • adj. having treacherously changed allegiance: a renegade bodyguard.
∎ archaic having abandoned one's religious beliefs: a renegade monk.
note: all definitions will be from either the OED or compact versions thereof
This is perhaps the most perplexing name choice of all. The definition seems to play to right wing rhetoric about Obama being an illegitimate president but I think it was chosen for the common vernacular use of the word renegade as an agent of change. Someone who disagrees with the current law/status quo. I'm sure this paragraph alone will result in some HR's. Personally I think it refers to his call for change and his style of doing things in new ways. In my opinion (IMO), the secret service chose this nickname poorly. Perhaps it's because as a black candidate he was fast tracked into secret service protection before they knew his true character.
Michelle Obama - Renaissance
Renaissance
rinaysnss, -sonss
• noun 1 the revival of art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th-16th centuries. 2 (renaissance) a revival of or renewed interest in something.
— ORIGIN French, ‘rebirth’.
This nickname IMO is spot on. Michelle will revive our passion for learning and culture in general. Renewed interest sums her up.
Malia Obama - Radiance
radiant
• adjective 1 shining or glowing brightly. 2 emanating great joy, love, or health. 3 (of electromagnetic energy, especially heat) transmitted by radiation, rather than conduction or convection. 4 (of an appliance) emitting radiant energy for cooking or heating.
• noun a point or object from which light or heat radiates.
— DERIVATIVES radiance noun radiantly adverb.
This name seems appropriate. She does appear radiant in most of the photo's I've looked at.
Sasha Obama - Rosebud
rosebud
• noun 1 the bud of a rose. 2 Brit. dated a pretty young woman.
re-read the Shakespeare quote that launches the diary...enough said
And now for the Bush family:
George H. W. Bush - Timberwolf
Suggests a strong, wise, possibly dangerous if threatened but generally looking out for personal/family interests. A pretty accurate summary IMO. GHWB was the best republican president we have had since Eisenhower.
* Barbara Bush - Snowbank or Tranquility
hmm, Snowbank suggests to me that the secret service had a few accidental collisions with her that resulted in no final damage.
* Marvin Bush - Tuner
* Neil Bush - Trapline
* Jeb Bush - Tripper
Tripper? Acid tripper? someone who falls too often? I did not expect this name for Jeb.
George W. Bush - Tumbler or Trailblazer
tumbler
• noun 1 a drinking glass with straight sides and no handle or stem. formerly having a rounded bottom so as not to stand upright. 2 an acrobat. 3 a pivoted piece in a lock that holds the bolt until lifted by a key. 4 an electrical switch worked by pushing a small sprung lever. 5 a tumbling barrel.
This nickname is spot on! I lol'd when I first read this. George has had drinking issues, he was a cheerleader and his bolt was unlocked by Dick Cheney giving dick the keys to the house. A perfect assessment.
trailblazer
• noun 1 a person who makes a new track through wild country. 2 an innovator.
— DERIVATIVES trailblazing noun & adjective.
if you consider setting fire to Iraq trailblazing, this is also an apt name.
* Laura Bush - Tempo
* Barbara Bush - Turquoise
* Jenna Bush - Twinkle
no comment on these.
Onto the McCain's:
John McCain - Phoenix
lol, rising from the ashes only to return to the ashes a couple of times?
* Cindy McCain - Parasol
what can you say? Umbrella companies staying out of the sun. Possibly becoming a kite during a wind storm.
and the Palin's:
Sarah Palin - Denali
from the Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Wild and rugged without culture. Imagine being on that naming committee.....oh to be a fly on the wall.
* Todd Palin - Driller
This pretty much sums Todd up. He's the guy you go to when you need action whether for good or bad or fun. He supports Alaskan independence from the Union. Loves to rape the land (has worked for big oil in production) and he has 5 kids with Sarah.
Next up, the Cheney's:
Dick Cheney - Angler
angle
• verb 1 fish with a rod and line. 2 seek something desired by indirectly prompting someone to offer it: she was angling for sympathy.
— DERIVATIVES angler noun angling noun.
— ORIGIN Old English.
like many fishermen, Dick Cheney attempted to catch a fish and failed. He also sought the presidency through indirect means. A very apt name.
* Lynne Cheney - Author
Next up the Clintons:
Bill Clinton - Eagle
eagle
• noun a large keen-sighted bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings.
— DERIVATIVES eaglet noun.
— ORIGIN Old French aigle, from Latin aquila.
Bill had keen-sight on both domestic and international issues and tried to do too much including Monica. Nuff said
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Evergreen
evergreen
• adjective 1 (of a plant) retaining green leaves throughout the year. Often contrasted with DECIDUOUS. 2 having an enduring freshness or success.
• noun an evergreen plant.
This is a particularly insightful codename. She can withstand any storm, Hillary is more tenacious than Tenacious D, she is Evergreen!
* Chelsea Clinton - Energy
There is a long list of interesting Secret Service codenames that are worthy of mention. A few will be noted below.
Ted Kennedy - Sunburn
In his early years he was known to over indulge in hedonistic things.
Richard Nixon - Searchlight
This clearly noted his paranoid tendencies. A perfect codename.
Jimmy Carter - Deacon
Jimmy never told a lie about his religion. I think that is unique among our presidents. He is a Deacon of strength.
Ronald Reagan - Rawhide
I wish he had had Hoss as chief of staff for his moral compass. I think he meant well but was largely not in control IMO.
Strom Thurmond - Footprint
I'll squash you like a bug!
There are many more codenames worthy of comment. I hope many of you will examine the list at wikipedia and add your comments.
p.s. If some of my characterizations appear misogynist, I was attempting to get inside the minds of the mostly male secret service and what they might have been thinking when they chose these names.