Maverick...maybe?

The online dictionary from dictionary.com (sorry, I'm too lazy to walk into my office and open Webster's) defines "maverick" as:

maverick - /ˈmævərɪk, ˈmævrɪk/ – noun

1. Southwestern U.S. an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, esp. an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.
2. A lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.
3. (initial capital letter) an electro-optically guided U.S. air-to-ground tactical missile for destroying tanks and other hardened targets at ranges up to 15 mi. (24 km).

[Origin: 1865–70, Americanism; after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded]

—Synonyms 2. nonconformist, independent, loner.

So I'm not using this blog to endorse or protest any presidential candidate or opinion or standing. I'm just going to draw a few parallels and put some things out there.

1. John McCain likes to refer to his running mate Sarah Palin as a maverick. Does he mean an unbranded calf? (If so, that's not very nice.)

2. John McCain likes to refer to himself as a maverick. A loner/dissenter?

I'm not sure defining yourself as a loner and dissenter (and for that matter, your running mate as an unbranded calf) and then claiming you are of and for the people are reconcilable ideas. I wonder if he'll name a third maverick in his campaign?? Cindy??