Taking politics places

Democratic Senator Barack Obama has shown himself quite the toponymist. His patch up with former rival Hillary Clinton was held in Unity, New Hampshire. And  in the lead up to the 4th of July, he chose to rebuff attacks on his patriotism in Independence, Missouri. Thankfully, for Obama, the huge number of unusually named US towns and places offer him an almost unlimited number of locations  for launching initiatives and rebuffing attacks. Bonanza, Colorado, Can-do, North Dakota or Businessburg, Ohio to launch a speech playing up his economic credentials? Or what about Fairdealing, Missouri for a speech on extraordinary rendition? Perhaps if he starts getting really confident we'll find him surfacing in Panacea, Florida or Veribest, Texas. For the closing days of the campaign perhaps Last Chance, Colorado.

Of course the bounty of towns helpfully named to add impact to politicians' speeches, does not come without a handful of evil counterparts that are political black holes. Take for example, Enigma, Georgia, Boring, Maryland (and Oregon), Hell, Michigan, Crooks, South Dakota or Loco, Oklahoma.

There is scope for this practice to spread to Australia. The Prime Minister might find Nevertire, NSW appealing. Safety Bay, WA would be ideal for a major speech on national security while the new anti-gambling Senator, Nick Xenophon, might be taken by Casino, NSW.