Fictional presidents

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I'm going to occupy you with (relative) nonsense again. I mean, hypotheticals are a sort of nonsense, right?

The general premise today is that politicians don't represent the will of the people as they're supposed to; they're mostly interested in self-enrichment and defending the interests of their powerul sponsors that stand behind them. "I voted for this guy while holding my nose", or "I chose the lesser evil" is a sentiment that we hear too often, and it speaks a lot about the political process.

So let's enter the realm of fantasies now for a while if you don't mind. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to explain two things:

1) Which public figure, whether politician or not, whether foreign or domestic, would you like to be the president of your country? And why? Even if they realistically don't stand a chance of being elected in the political process as it is?

2) Alternatively, which fictional character, whether from a live movie or a cartoon or even a book, would you like to rule your country? And why? Which qualities make them so likeable to you, and could they be used in politics?

Now fellow geeks, go ahead, unleash your imagination!

Comments

[udoswald.livejournal.com]

Hmm, well, I like Rush Holt (D-Mercer County area NJ). He's smart (he's a rocket scientist or something like that), he's progressive, he seems like a good guy and is much better than my Rep in my opinion (my Rep is Rob Andrews, he's a Democrat but not a very good one).

As far as non-politicians, that's a little harder. It's difficult to predict how a non-politician will behave when given political power.

A lot of people probably thought Gov. Ventura would be good given his stated goals and independence (I thought it was kind of a joke from the start). Look at how he turned out though. He's not Governor anymore and he's out there making TV shows about how the government is out to kill him for revealing their deepest, darkest secrets (probably some Lizardoid nonsense or faked moon landing conspiracy crap).

I've heard George Clooney and Alec Baldwin want to run for something eventually. I think they could be very good (though, as I said, you never know). At the very least they seem to have their heads screwed on the right way at this point.

Believe it or not, I also like Obama. He's generally made the best of a very bad situation that he inherited from the bozos who preceded him. Rome wasn't built in a day and he can't be expected to reverse 8 years of bad policy in a few years, especially with the GOP trying to thwart him at every turn.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

Zaphod Beeblebrox

[unnamed525.livejournal.com]

End of thread.

You win.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

He's one righteous frood.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

And because I should give mine too,

1) Stephen Colbert. Because he's been trying so hard!

2) Buggs Bunny. If it'll be a poweless puppet, at least make it funny!

[taiki.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those weirdos who like Barack Obama. So...

But as far as fictional characters go...

Captain jack harkness for president.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Captain Jack would just turn the White House into an orgy with the odd child sacrifice.

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

I believe a Wonka presidency would have a lot to teach America, not only using the bully pulpit to make Americans a better people, but his support for innovative technological solutions and history of successful business operations would have a positive effect on our economy.

Unfortunately, allegations of employing illegal aliens would scuttle his chances in the primaries.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Wonder woman
Laura Roslin
Daenerys Targaryen
Natasha Vita-More
Wyslawa Szymborska

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

> Daenerys Targaryen

W00t!

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Definitely agree re: Dany, but Adama beats Roslin (can't do angle brackets on this phone, d'oh!)

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

I like Adama, but would never want him for prime minister or president. It would be too close to military leadership over civilian matters, always. I was really impressed with Roslin, and she was capable of convincing people in spite of lacking muscle and having cancer.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

I woulda gone for Tyrion. Give him a good set of goals, and he'd be far more effective a president than Daenerys, who really is a queen at heart, not a democratic leader.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Tyrion is intelligent and funny, but he pisses people off too much and lacks the ability to get vast amounts of people to *like* him. I'd make him minister of something important or adviser to someone important.

I think Daenerys shows excellent humanitarian and democratic sparks in spite of living in a completely barbaric society, with all that that encompasses.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

But her goals are her own, not those of her society (though I have yet to read ADWD). She wants Westeros, not to lead Mereen in peace and prosperity. That's just training.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

We are in disagreement again. :)

She could have invaded Westeros ages ago if she didn't stick to her conviction of abolishing the slave trade. Her goals and concern for the people were actually quite clear already in the previous books, but it is neon clear in ADWD, where she rejects several swift and prosperous ways of getting power, because it would hurt the people and go against ethics. Those are frustrating chapters to read, but they feel *a lot* like real politics, with the slow progress and mixed blessings.

Tyrion is one of my favorite characters, but I do not see him having neither the strength of will, character nor charisma to pull of what Daenerys could do.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

1) Dalai Lama
2) Lisa Simpson

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but why?

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

The Dalai Lama represents (at least to me) a genuinely good person. Lisa has experience dealing with a variety of jerks - and always comes out smelling like a rose.

I was just feeling very mellow this morning.

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait, wait *even* a book?! Books, it is known, are as superior to every other medium of communications as humans are to bacteria. Yes, I'm serious.

That having been said, I'll take option 2 (FROM A BOOK) and say: Jack Ryan.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Easy. Prez Ricard.

[foolsguinea.livejournal.com]

Isn't it spelt Rickard?

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

D'oh! You are correct!

[msretro.livejournal.com]

Geena Davis's character from "Commander in Chief."

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

(http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii239/policraticus/?action=view&current=Cthulhu4Prez-Preview.png)

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

1) Dennis Kuchinich. For shits and giggles.

2) Easy enough:

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Cornell West

Julian Delphiki ;)

[normaltrouble.livejournal.com]

1) Which public figure, whether politician or not, whether foreign or domestic, would you like to be the president of your country? And why? Even if they realistically don't stand a chance of being elected in the political process as it is?

President of the US: Melissa McEwan of Shakesville.
I am fairly sure she would move us towards a more progressive nation.

2) Alternatively, which fictional character, whether from a live movie or a cartoon or even a book, would you like to rule your country? And why? Which qualities make them so likeable to you, and could they be used in politics?

Teal'c, of SG1.
I am also fairly sure that if Teal'c was President, not only would we be fairly good allies with the Free Jaffa Nation, we would all revive our economy by means of an open-source Stargate program, which would open up a few planets to colonize and that means jobs for everybody!

He'd appoint General Samantha Carter as Science Tzar. Make science, not war!
And when in doubt, carry a customized P90 of your own design.

General Cam Mitchell would be the main guy in charge of finding good worlds to colonize.

Dr. Jackson would single handedly make anthropology and all five of her disciplines one of the top fields in the known worlds. Translators would become extremely popular!

Why vote for Teal'c?
He is strong, strong willed, quiet, always has the perfect contribution to every situation, can go very long distances to get what he wants, fights well, very realistic, pragmatic, observant, speeches are always short and to the point...
He helped form a whole new nation, has had a wide exposure to a variety of cultures, and of course, he'd have the Star Wars fan vote all tied up.


Not only would he open up at least around 5-10 new worlds for humans to live on...but he would help hat makers everywhere earn some more dollars. He likes hats.
His sense of justice is also an admirable factor, and he has a fairly good adaptable, flexible nature.

His vice president would be Shar'e Jackson. Some of the AU versions of her kick. major. ass.

((edited to include a word to make something make a little sense))

Noam Chomsky

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I put my support behind intellect and cojones. Noam Chomsky has both. Here (http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/20119775453842191.html) is an example of his writing style. Here is his speaking style:

[http://users.livejournal.com/-wanderer-/]

I can't believe no one has stated the obvious yet: Captain Picard.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

Jean-Luc Picard would never tolerate kissing so many babies.

[http://users.livejournal.com/-wanderer-/]

True. For such an otherwise upstanding humanitarian, he sure did hate children.

2 for 1

[oportet.livejournal.com]

Andy Griffith for both?

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

I would like to have a child for president. And when said child does it just as well or better, I want to see everyone's heads explode.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Vote for Chang. Chang will restore our honor.

Michael Wilson

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Wolf_Chaos

[404.livejournal.com]

We need leaders who are good with the mic. The Mega Powers should do.

[kardashev.livejournal.com]

Real public figures? None of them.

Fictional: Darth Vader, because he's the sort of mean motherfucker who can get things done...barring interference from his children and their friends, of course.

(USA)

[foolsguinea.livejournal.com]

Ever seen Dennis Kucinich give his "No Strings!" speech? Even if you disagree with him, that kind of refusal to be bought is refreshing.

But I like some oddballs.

I don't have one figure I want as president. I just want pols economically to the left of the Clinton/Obama gang, that also stand for conservation. And it's not just president, Congress is important too.

For a fictional character, maybe Peter David's version of King Arthur.
http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Peter-David/lm/2OXKJJYBLLH91