O'Rourke recently posted a stream of consciousness Medium post about going for a jog around D.C. in the snow. Many pundits and political junkies wondered whether the run he was really talking about was one for president.

Writer Luke O'Neil did a deep dive into the myriad potential metaphors discovered in O'Rourke's post for the Guardian. O'Neil's conclusion? O'Rourke's jog was just a thinly veiled hint at what's to come for the politician.

‘Came back up and put my tights, shorts, long socks, tshirt and overshirt on. Hat and gloves, my running shoes and was outside by 7:45’

As the blogpost opens, we find O’Rourke going about his morning routine, outfitting himself in warm clothing, like a warrior donning his armor, to withstand the harsh reception he is sure to face. From the elements, yes, but also from the political climate. What is he preparing for? A run.

‘Once on the Mall it was better, the snow hitting me from the right side (blowing almost due south). There were in some places no tracks, mine were the first footprints down in the new snow. At other points I’d see someone walking in front of me, once another runner (‘only the crazies come out today!’ he said)’

Here O’Rourke references the direction from which he is being attacked. From the right side, which is clear enough, and blowing due south, there being few places in the country further south than his home state of Texas. He will come in for a lot more of that in the years to come if he is intending to run for president.

His being the first footprints in fresh snow is too sophisticated a metaphor for me to unpack here, sorry.

As for “the crazies” line, is this man giving voice to the idea that you’d have to be a glutton for punishment to run against Trump?

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