We called my father, The Fox. He, an uneducated but wise-in-his-own-ways tailor from the old country.
We called him that mainly because when anyone tried to pass something off that wasnt quite as it seemed…
dad would bob his head around, pretending to sniff the air, saying “Someting’s up, de old fox can smell it, yep you betcha…”
And though we couldnt see through the faux thing right away, it would turn out… later… that dad was often ace-accurate.
I was thinking about the old family Fox today when I heard that Senator McCain was inviting 3 potential candidates for Veep over to his place …to sort of see what can be seen.
But, likely dad would say,
Nah, he’s already got his best mate picked out.
Two of dose guys… vell, just let me puts it dis vay….
ven de girl in village vant to hide her courtship, so,
she always walk vit three boys like dey all just friends.
But, de one she really like, vell… that odder two? only dere to hide de first one from de rest of village. You know how old people gossip too much ahead of de right time… and de men are the biggest gossips of all! So secret must be kept veiled… until right time.
It may be the same with McCain… about Romney.
Why wouldnt a fellow with McCain’s mind set and hash marks pick a fast runner… young, connected, moneyed, influential, tested, a known vote-getter in his own right? …a man who many in the GOP could see as “the next President after the next President” of the United States?
I have no doubt that Senator McCain is pretty foxy* too.
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CODA
*The fox is an ancient archetypal symbol in mythology and legend, known for pretending to be unassuming while in fact, he’s casing the joint. The fox is spoken of as a trickster figure, and is a student of the behaviors and habits of other creatures in order to gain the advantage. The fox of folktales has an appetite for the tender ‘young hens’ and is particularly adept in moving undercover until just the right moment and then springs out to surprise his foes or prey. All around, a formidable adversary who is also, in some cultures, revered as a hunter icon and as a wily strategist.