Scoundrel
From RationalWiki
The definition of Scoundrel is quite broad. Various on-line dictionaries give:
- A mean, worthless fellow.
- A man without honor or virtue.
- A villain; a rogue.
- A disreputable person, a rascal.
In other words, morally deficient in some way, but without being in the truly horrendously evil category.
According to Samuel Johnson, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
Most scoundrels are dastardly.
[edit] Famous Scoundrels
Depending on your politics, and the definition of "scoundrel" you chose, the following could be said to fit the definition of scoundrel. The definition number follows the reason(s) for inclusion.
| Name | Reason(s) for inclusion |
| I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby | Perjury, obstruction of justice. (def 2,3,4) |
| William Jefferson Clinton | Adultery and lying about it under oath. (def 2,4) |
| User:PalMD (and his sock) | Inappropriate obsession with goats. (def 2) |
| Jeffrey Archer | Congenital liar. Perjury, obstruction of the course of justice. (def 1,4) |
| Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) | Improper public restroom etiquette. (def 2,4) |
| Rev. Ted Haggard | Lying about hiring gay prostitute. (def 2,4) |
| Nicholas van Hoogstraten | Suspected of having got away with murder and more. A Civil Court judge decided that he probably did it. Spent time in prison for ordering a grenade attack on an alleged debtor. [1] |
| User:Human | A "two faced prick"[2]. (def 1) |
| David Emerson | Canadian cabinet minister, ran and won on virulently anti-Conservative platform, but immediately following the election he crossed the floor to join the Conservative party (def 2) |
| Pierre Elliot Trudeau | Former Canadian Prime Minister, he famously told Conservative MP John Lundrigan to "Fuck Off", against the rules of the House of Commons. However, when confronted by the Speaker of the House, unhesitatingly claimed that what he actually said was "Fuddle Duddle". (def 2) Also arrested in Jerusalem as a suspected Israeli spy, ejected from the US for attempting to row from Florida to Cuba in a canoe on a dare, and arrested in Moscow for throwing a snowball at a statue of Lenin. (def 4) Also dated Barbara Streisand. (def 2,4) |
