Mr Maslyukov, who is something of a free thinker, even wants him to be president.

ECONOMIST: Russia

He was an intellect, free thinker, vegetarian and a humanist who supported himself designing weapons of war.

NPR: Leonardo Da Vinci Gets 'Batman' Treatment On Starz

Or at least that's the case with the loud and radical fringe that has declared John McCain unacceptable because he's a free thinker they can't control.

CNN: Commentary: McCain's trials on right similar to Schwarzenegger's

David Cameron clearly thinks that bringing this free-thinker back outweighs any risks, and ministers might worry that Ken Clarke is now back on board.

BBC: A heavyweight tempted back by a crisis

Hayek was the great free-market thinker who argued with Keynes in the 1930s over government intervention in the economy.

BBC: Masters of Money: Friedrich Hayek

Of course, now the real way to brand yourself as an independent thinker is to remain ink-free.

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