I recall reading somewhere that this usage should properly be reserved for former executive officials, and not former legislators. Thus one would not call Bob Dole “Senator Dole” anymore.
But Bob Dole probably doesn’t mind.
Bob Dole.
I completely agree, but to a large number of people he would have come off as a stuffy asshole if he had insisted on something like that. He would have been utterly correct, but public perception would have worked against him.
Whoever came up with the idea for her to do that, I think they displayed some very, very crafty political gamesmanship. It played straight into her folksy every-woman image, and had the potential to put Biden off his game a little. I thought he handled it exactly as he should have, but on the inside I did want to see him give her a verbal smack-down.
Game Change says that Palin’s handlers told her to do that because she kept referring to Biden as “O’Biden” during debate prep, so they told her to do the “can I call you Joe” think to avoid her having to say his last name. I agree it was a crafty thing to tell her to do, and it was request Biden could not have refused without looking like a dick.
Also, “Say it ain’t so, Senator Biden” just didn’t have the same ring to it.
CookingWithGas, that’s interesting. Was Nixon still supposed to be called “The Honorable Richard M. Nixon”, or was that dropped from his name? I’m fairly certain he was still called that in passing, but my memories are hazy.
I’ve said it before, but I believe that no one should be entitled to use any title before their name based on their holding of a public office in a democratic system.
I was close to the Cecil Underwood campaign in 1996. He was previously Governor of West Virginia from 1957-1961. During the campaign, many people called him “Governor.” Whether it was proper or not, I will leave to the manners experts, but it seems that if once you hold the office, you keep that title.
That’s what Judith Martin says, with the exception of President of the United States.
Many of us from Minnesota would disagree with that.
Well, then you are not familiar enough with “Governor” Palin. I don’t care for either Ventura’s or Palin’s politics, but from what I’ve seen of both, Ventura is far, far better.
President Ford referred to himself as President Ford. There was a U of M alumni meeting at a hotel I once worked at and he called to talk to them. I was thrown for a second by him referring to himself as president.
At least she isn’t asking to be addressed as maestro 
You have not been listening to him enough. Palin is just a poor choice for high office. Ventura is a giant frootloop.
So, according to Miss Manners, neither the President nor Vice-President retains his title when he leaves office. Then, what would you call George H. W. Bush (“No. 41”)? Would you refer to him as Congressman Bush, since he held the office of U. S. Representative from 1967-1971
Ambassador was his highest title before he became vice president, I think.
That sounds acceptable to me. I really can’t see a distinction between an elective office and an appointment, and “Ambassador” does carry a high degree of honor with it.
Robert Hickey, a man who wrote a book on protocol FWIW, appears to mostly agree with Miss Manners.
On-Line Guide to Forms of Address - Robert Hickey
So formally speaking, we could call her Mrs. Palin or Ms. Palin depending upon her preference: we shouldn’t call her Governor or Mayor Palin. But informally, it is acceptable to refer to her as The Former Half-Term Governor, Sarah Palin.
Except that even a serving ambassador is not referred to as “Ambassador Smith”. He’s just Mr Smith, the American Ambassador to Wherever.
Formally: Mrs. Palin
Semi-formally: Part-Time Governor Palin
Informally: Sarah “Quitter” Palin
Acceptable for what? Nobody in real life follows the Miss Manners-type rules anyway. Every former president is routinely addressed as “president” in almost all the circumstances in which most people will encounter. So there’s really no reason to go about looking for a different rule.
Only in very narrow, specialized official diplomatic/state-level occasions would someone like George H. W. Bush be referred to as “Ambassador Bush” instead of “President Bush” and, not having any direct experience with such circumstances, I don’t know whether this kind of rule followed even then.
And, anyway, we are always moving towards more egalitarianism. I prefer “Mr.” or “Ms.” for everyone who is in public office or who has formerly held public office.
On second thought, that’s a little too jokey for GQ-Apologies.