Robert Ariail has proposed it in a cartoon, as a joke.
But as an alternative to, say, Donald Trump, would you accept the devious scoundrel Frank Underwood as president?
Robert also posed the question with regard to Hillary Clinton, and go ahead and address that if you choose.
But I’m more interested with the conundrum on the GOP side, where the dynamic is entirely different. Whatever you think of her, Hillary is pretty middle-of-the-road among Democrats — members of that party won’t have an identity crisis if she is their nominee. “Anybody but Hillary” isn’t really a thing on that side.
It’s over on the Republican side that we see serious people considering deals with the devil.
We’ve already seen Lindsey Graham, who like everyone else in the Senate utterly despises Ted Cruz, say that it might be necessary to embrace the Texan in a last-ditch effort to stop the disaster of Trump. Even though he has described Cruz, accurately, as “toxic.”
So why not Underwood? Think about it: Does he advocate any horrible policies? Not so I can recall (although y’all might remind me of some dealbreakers.) Basically, he’s a thoroughly rotten, ruthless individual when it comes to seizing and keeping power. But as long as the policies were relatively benign, would that not make him preferable to someone who is both personally and in policy terms unthinkable?
Saying that runs against my own inclinations. Over the years I’ve increasingly come to care less about people’s specific policy proposals and more about their character. That’s because no one can predict what will really arise once the person’s in office — the candidate’s promises may become impractical, or ill-advised, based on unforeseen circumstances. I look for someone who I trust to make good decisions in the face of the unanticipated.
And it occurs to me that maybe, maybe we could expect ol’ F.U. — who is a pretty smart guy, aside from all his character defects — to act wisely and responsibly, if only because he does love power so much, and therefore would not want to screw up and lose political support.
Whereas we know that Donald Trump doesn’t know wise policy from a hole in the ground. Even if he were trying to do the right thing just to look good, he wouldn’t know how.
Thoughts?
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Neither.The ambulance chaser w/the pouty lips!
Alternate title for this post:
You must always pick the lesser of two weevils.
Indeed.
One thing I don’t like about the movie is that it stole some of the best lines from several of the novels.
But don’t worry; there’s still plenty of good stuff left…
You’ll say, “But Frank Underwood has KILLED people!”
I refer you to Gary Oldman in “Air Force One:” You think the president doesn’t have people killed? “Just because he does it in a tuxedo with a telephone call and with a smart bomb?”
Which dates the movie — today he’d say “drone.” But that movie was worth the price of admission to hear Oldman say “smart bomb” in his patented Russian accent — which he reprised in the video game, “Call of Duty: World At War.”
So has Hillery. Like I’ve said, Frank Underwood is based on Hillary Clinton. Even the roles are historically correct for their spouses who screw anything that moves.
Frank Underwood has killed people? Oh, dear. Of course, the Republicans who aren’t in favor of Trump are aligning themselves with Cruz, who has sworn to carpet bomb Isis (and anyone else that might be near them), and has said “I don’t know if sand can glow in the dark or not, but we’re going to find out.” I am truly more frightened of Cruz than I am of Trump. Cruz doesn’t care if everyone disagrees with him. There is something very wrong with that man.
You’re right, Karen. The difference between the two is that Cruz actually believes his b.s.
Who else besides Hillary is Claire Underwood based on? Same ruthless coattail rider. Looks the other way when her husband cheats.
In a few months you can call her President ruthless coattail rider. I’m looking forward to all the natering nonsense from the right while wages go up and world peace reigns supreme.
So you’re excited to have Bill back in the White House? A serial adulterer who preyed on one of his employees. And his wife who stayed with him only to save her political life. Just wait until this summer. It will be all Monica all the time.
The only reason world leaders are afraid of Trump is they know the pushover they’ve been dealing with for the past 8 years is going away. Obama is about as intimidating as a mute lap dog.
So Hiltlery will be running for cell block president after she goes to prison?