The Campaign — by the Dictionary

The dictionary we use here at LJ has the primary definition of maverick as "an unbranded range animal," this for 19th-century Texas land baron Samuel A. Maverick, the original non-brander of cattle. 

To the etymologically inclined, this may add a layer of amusement to the McCain-Palin ticket’s branding of themselves as mavericks. Dictionaries in hand, it enables us to understand that McCain is being a true maverick, resolutely avoiding any permanent identification about who he is. After all, both he and Obama at this stage are courting people who are undecided. McCain is demonstrating that he can be undecided too.

 The two range-roving mavericks, McCain and Palin, should perhaps note that a dude, as in Todd Palin’s moniker, is "a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range." But wait, that’s the second definition and he’s first dude, so maybe they’re okay, as long as he’s "a man extremely fastidious in dress and manner."

Now to Obama.  It’s a little worrisome that the root of the word change is from the Old Irish word for crooked, until we note that the Old Irish word related to roads rather than ethics. 

As to hope, the dictionary now says that to equate hope with trust is considered "archaic."  

I think we can revise the dictionary.