Dan Quayle, former vice president and malaprop master, could be the next US Ambassador to Japan.

According to a newspaper article published yesterday the Republican party wants to give Quayle an "important post" such as a key diplomatic position. This is, apparently, to help soothe Quayle's ego since the party didn't support his bid for President.

He has expressed interest in Japan by making frequent requests to the Embassy here for information. How clever. If I ask questions at the Embassy, can I be Ambassador?

His verbal blunders are legend. A favorite is "I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people." Please, Mr. Quayle, don't try to learn Japanese.