Marc Ambinder (February 12, 2008) - McCain And The Service

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McCain And The Service

12 Feb 2008 03:42 pm

To the Secret Service (technically to the WHCA), President Bush is Trailblazer, Laura Bush is Tempo, HRC is Evergreen, Bill Clinton is Eagle, Dick Cheney is Angler, and Barack Obama is Renegade.

John McCain respects the Service but has said he is wary of their presence. On the trail, he sometimes has security around him, and those tough veteran buddies and his big burly advance guys provide a nice circle of protection..

But the United States Secret Service has not yet been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to provide him with a detail, according to a Secret Service spokesman.

Opening up a can of worms here, but when they do, what should his code name be?

Comments (44)

How about 'Metamucil'?

Posted by Jerry Mander | February 12, 2008 4:00 PM

"Old Spice."

Posted by Daniel Munz | February 12, 2008 4:00 PM

"Straighttalk." Or, "Maverick." Something non-obvious like these.

Posted by awt | February 12, 2008 4:01 PM

Bret?

Posted by neil | February 12, 2008 4:01 PM

100 Years?

War monger?

Posted by GreenGuy | February 12, 2008 4:01 PM

Bomber

Posted by Stephanie | February 12, 2008 4:05 PM

Do they get to pick their own? I think I would pick "Nitro".

Posted by Anonymous | February 12, 2008 4:08 PM

If these are code names, shouldn't they be secret?

I vote "Warlord" or "War Admiral."

Posted by Gabriel | February 12, 2008 4:09 PM

Maverick, of course!

Posted by Roland_Molari | February 12, 2008 4:16 PM

Maverick is too obvious, but it will probably be that. I prefer Goose or Iceman.

Posted by sam | February 12, 2008 4:16 PM

"Albino"

Posted by Phil | February 12, 2008 4:16 PM

Temper

Posted by David | February 12, 2008 4:18 PM

"Edward" (from King Edward, who launched the 100 years war)

Posted by Ethan | February 12, 2008 4:18 PM

It will be 'Maverick'.

Posted by Marvin | February 12, 2008 4:20 PM

How about "Whatnow"? It would be perfect, really. "Agent eighty-six, do you have a clear line on Whatnow?" "Whatnow?"

Posted by V. | February 12, 2008 4:34 PM

So help me, I nearly spit my coffee on the screen when I read "old spice".

But for Senator McCain, I propose Brimley. As in Wilford.

For Mrs. McCain, umm, probably nothing suitable for civilized discourse.

Posted by Gob Bluth | February 12, 2008 4:44 PM

Waterboard

Posted by aaaaaaaaaaa | February 12, 2008 4:48 PM

BarbaraAnn ? ["Bomb-Iran"]

The Old Man ?

Posted by Sam Sinister | February 12, 2008 4:49 PM

Grandpa

Posted by alkali | February 12, 2008 4:51 PM

I know these are supposed to be funny (should be funny?) and I am loving many of the contributions, particularly "Old Spice" by DM, but, just for kicks, how about something that pays respect to a war hero, senior US Senator, and presumptive major party presidential candidate nominee?

I submit "Skyhawk" for the type of plane Senator McCain was flying when he was shot down over Hanoi. Or maybe "Hilton" - short for the nickname of Hoa Loa Prison, the Hanoi Hilton, where Senator McCain was sent after capture (at least for a short time of his 5 and 1/2 year POW ordeal). I would also nominate his actual Naval Aviator call sign (despite "Goose," "Iceman," "Hollywood," or "Wolfman" being infinitely cooler and funnier).

Sorry to be a kill joy, but, while McCain may not deserve your vote (I'll take Obama thank you, or Clinton - with a touch of sadness), he definitely deserves our respect.

Perhaps "Pops" would be a nice blend of gentle jab and respect?

Posted by R-E-S-P-E-C-T | February 12, 2008 4:53 PM

Old Ironsides???

Posted by Judy | February 12, 2008 4:56 PM

Old Ironsides???

Posted by Judy | February 12, 2008 4:56 PM

Abba

Posted by GEC | February 12, 2008 5:12 PM

I like "Skyhawk". I wouldn't mind "Lazarus" because he's been close to death both literally and figuratively (his campaign last summer) many, many times and has always come back strong.

"Phoenix" would be good as well, nice Arizona reference and of course the unbeatableness.

Posted by Jesse | February 12, 2008 5:14 PM

"Pallor."

Posted by ethan salto | February 12, 2008 5:16 PM

Pippy Longsausage! :)

Posted by Splinter | February 12, 2008 5:18 PM

Sleepy or Grumpy ... either works.

Posted by Daniel | February 12, 2008 5:19 PM

Kurtz.

Posted by Scientific | February 12, 2008 5:27 PM

Mr. Potato Head

Posted by Dude from America | February 12, 2008 5:39 PM

Beachboy

Posted by jackifus | February 12, 2008 5:42 PM

Codger.

Posted by Chris | February 12, 2008 5:54 PM

Matlock

Posted by luke | February 12, 2008 5:56 PM

If the Service sticks with the truck theme, Mac would be, well, Mack.

Posted by argo | February 12, 2008 6:21 PM

WALNUTS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uuoyKKcAwU

Posted by tolchock | February 12, 2008 6:40 PM

You sure about Cheney, Marc?
I remember reading a few different places that his secret service codename was "Backseat".
Maybe that was just in the Ford administration.
But they really should have kept it.

Posted by bert | February 12, 2008 6:40 PM

Hero, Enterprise (the ship he flew from in Vietnam), Maverick, Jordan (after his hero Robert Jordan in For Whom the Bell Tolls).

Posted by Matt | February 12, 2008 6:54 PM

Well, all his squadrons had radio call signs, so he may have a favorite one from those. But if not, the VFA-103 Jolly Rogers have a pretty nice one that is short and goes well over the radio:

"Victory"

It'd be my choice.

Posted by S. Wallace | February 12, 2008 7:07 PM

Goose

or . . .

Ice-Man

Posted by southpaw | February 12, 2008 9:17 PM

This one's easy: His call-sign was "Playboy."

Posted by CK MacLeod | February 13, 2008 12:55 AM

Oops - googling mistake - still searching for McCain's callsign.

Posted by CK MacLeod | February 13, 2008 12:59 AM

Hmmm... I stand INFORMED - apparently Maverick really WAS his call sign.