Engineering Lifestyle
What's the best (and worst) name for a politician?
Clive Maxfield
4/24/2012 4:00 PM EDT
I was just driving back from my office when I saw a roadside sign for someone running for some local office or other. The guy's name was Troy Trulock.
As I continued to drive up the road, I thought to myself "That's actually a jolly good name for a politician – the 'Troy' part sounds strong and firm, while 'Trulock' sounds like he's the sort of person you can trust." (I'm a trusting sort of fellow.)
Of course, my mind then started to spin along thinking up other good names for politicians, like Troy Triedntrue, Trevor Trustworthy, and Marvin Manly...
And then there are some names you wouldn’t want to have if you were running for office; for example, Stephen Shady or Samantha Sly.
And there are some names that just fit the person and their position or profession. Who amongst us could forget Truly Scrumptious from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? In this story, Truly was the daughter of a wealthy sweet factory owner, Lord Scrumptious; Truly develops a romantic relationship with the widower Caractacus Potts, who was played by Dick Van Dyke.
As an aside, one of my aunts was in that film. She was a "lady strolling around with a parasol" in the scene at the fair early in the film -- the one where Caractacus is demonstrating his hair cutting machine that leaves his subject bald (at least on top of his head).
But don’t leave this all to me. Get your creative juices flowing. What's the best name a politician could hope to have? What's the worst? And what name would best describe its owner's position or profession?
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
As I continued to drive up the road, I thought to myself "That's actually a jolly good name for a politician – the 'Troy' part sounds strong and firm, while 'Trulock' sounds like he's the sort of person you can trust." (I'm a trusting sort of fellow.)
Of course, my mind then started to spin along thinking up other good names for politicians, like Troy Triedntrue, Trevor Trustworthy, and Marvin Manly...
And then there are some names you wouldn’t want to have if you were running for office; for example, Stephen Shady or Samantha Sly.
And there are some names that just fit the person and their position or profession. Who amongst us could forget Truly Scrumptious from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? In this story, Truly was the daughter of a wealthy sweet factory owner, Lord Scrumptious; Truly develops a romantic relationship with the widower Caractacus Potts, who was played by Dick Van Dyke.
As an aside, one of my aunts was in that film. She was a "lady strolling around with a parasol" in the scene at the fair early in the film -- the one where Caractacus is demonstrating his hair cutting machine that leaves his subject bald (at least on top of his head).
But don’t leave this all to me. Get your creative juices flowing. What's the best name a politician could hope to have? What's the worst? And what name would best describe its owner's position or profession?
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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Duane Benson
4/24/2012 5:35 PM EDT
I new a lawyer with the last name "Law". That would be a good name for a Supreme Court judge.
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Max the Magnificent
4/24/2012 6:30 PM EDT
Now you've reminded me of the Judge Law cartoon books I read as a kid...
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Brian @ BDH
4/24/2012 7:01 PM EDT
This article has some funny ones! It would be hard to beat some of these... ;-)
13 Awesomely Bad Politician Names
http://tinyurl.com/6nako25
(Max - the sad part is that 2 of them are from our 'neck of the woods'.)
Thanks, Brian
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Max the Magnificent
4/25/2012 10:33 AM EDT
There are awesome!!! The truth really is stranger than fiction :-)
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Paul A. Clayton
4/25/2012 11:53 AM EDT
Even names that have a somewhat negative connotation (relative to the position being sought) might have more than enough mnemonic benefit to compensate (especially for local offices where spending on advertising and media coverage is relatively modest).
A candidate can also use the name to emphasize the opposite sentiment; e.g., "Don't vote for just any old schmuck. Elect Frank Schmuck."
Who wouldn't vote for James "Baby You're the Best" Bond? :-)
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Frank Eory
4/25/2012 6:05 PM EDT
I recognize the Schmuck sign from here in Chandler. But hey, we have a congressman named Flake, so if a flake can get elected, why not a schmuck? :)
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Earl54
4/27/2012 2:14 PM EDT
Being from the same neck of the woods, I saw one of those signs and thought, really? Did I read that right? I had to watch the next time I went by.
We had a Strange Sheriff in one place I lived. No, I mean a Sheriff Strange.
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Max the Magnificent
4/27/2012 2:22 PM EDT
But was Sheriff Strange truly Strange, or just a little Weird?
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David Ashton
4/24/2012 7:37 PM EDT
We had a health minister in Australia named Reba Meagher. After a couple of unnecessary hospital deaths the media nicknamed her "The Grim Reba". Needless to say she has faded into obscurity now.
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Max the Magnificent
4/25/2012 10:34 AM EDT
You have to feel sorry for her...
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David Ashton
4/25/2012 7:00 PM EDT
Don't EVER feel sorry for politicians, Max. Not ever.
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Paul A. Clayton
4/25/2012 12:21 PM EDT
Joe Cares would probably be a fairly good name for a candidate for a legislative or administrative position--familiar ("ordinary Joe") and concerned for the reader.
For an office like sheriff, a name that communicates diligence and toughness would be more appropriate (perhaps the surname Stone?), though Andy has the benefits of being informal, manly, and playing on association with the sheriff of Mayberry.
For an office like judge, a name that communicates discernment and perhaps even a sense of upper class distinction might be more effective, perhaps something like Edward Solomon (not too uppity but formal and dignified--and, of course, wise).
For a man-of-the-people office, Phineas Crook would probably be a noticeably difficult name under which to campaign.
Theo Wurst would also seem to be a difficult name for a candidate to use.
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Max the Magnificent
4/25/2012 5:48 PM EDT
I really am laughing out loud!!!
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garydpdx
4/25/2012 5:45 PM EDT
This came from a recent retweet by a public radio business journalist that I follow, let's say that this fellow probably pronounces his name as 'Bonner' ...
http://jimromenesko.com/2012/04/24/boner-sexual-harassment-case-a-gift-to-journalists/
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ReneCardenas
4/27/2012 2:48 AM EDT
Any name that uses a diminutive for a first name, in my opinion, reduces the magnitude of the person's image, no matter what great of a person he might be... Jimmy, Willie or Ricky, may sound with a familiar ring, but always end uf reducing their statue specially with a weak last name like Fox, Gray, Conk. Few that I read locally. No terribly funny, but I think many could use a name change to improve thier prospectes, LoL
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Roger46
4/27/2012 1:21 PM EDT
We all must keep in mind the real origins of the word "politics". It's from the Greek, "poly" meaning many and "tics" meaning blood sucking insects.
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Max the Magnificent
4/27/2012 1:40 PM EDT
Oh so cynical... :-)
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David Ashton
4/27/2012 7:53 PM EDT
"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those who do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw.
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David Ashton
4/28/2012 2:41 AM EDT
Max...sorry, not trying to impugn your judgement there... but as you will have gathered I do not hold politicians in high regard and I reckon Roger's hit the nail on the head....
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atx_engr
4/27/2012 1:53 PM EDT
Austin's mayor from 2003-2009 was Will Wynn.
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OmegaMan
4/27/2012 4:01 PM EDT
I know this isn't a politician... but there is a urologist in this area, specializing in ED problems... Dr. Harden
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Max the Magnificent
4/27/2012 4:03 PM EDT
I find that *hard* to believe! :-)
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David Ashton
4/27/2012 7:25 PM EDT
You probably won't believe this either, but I once met a guy called Everard Cock. No kidding. (He introduced himself as "Ev".) But he wasn't a politician, he was a vet, and a really nice guy with it.
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squarewheels
5/1/2012 11:47 AM EDT
One of my neighbors was the son of former Colorado Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dick. His first name was Timber.
Really nice guy; died a few years ago, sadly.
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palf
4/27/2012 7:45 PM EDT
Isaiah Ennyfink
Mo Formee
Claude Fromme-Yahwallet
Fats Pickens
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David Ashton
4/27/2012 7:51 PM EDT
Any relation to T. Boone??
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wilber_xbox
4/28/2012 5:04 AM EDT
I guess different cultures have different philosophy. In USA, i have heard people having either first or last name as "Dick". It really funny.
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Max the Magnificent
4/30/2012 9:36 AM EDT
LOL
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