vulgarweed (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vulgarweed) wrote2005-01-25 10:43 pm
vulgarweed) wrote2005-01-25 10:43 pm
Bad Crossover Concept: Harry Potter and US Politics
Well, this was bound to happen.
Wanna know what I think about when I’m at work?
Let’s play….
Sort the Politician!
Because the Sorting Hat is almost as accurate as Myers-Briggs, and a lot less pretentious.
Because sets of four rule the day when it comes to stereo-, er, I mean, archetypes.
Because some people think there’s something eldritch about politics and it’s better to be an honest Muggle.
Because why should Buffy and LOTR characters have all the crossover fun?
Some of these picks are just gut-instinct and some are ones I can make a really strong case for and some are both. Am I wrong about somebody? (Convince me; I’m a Ravenclaw!) Because I’m an American and a Democrat, that’s what I’ve got most of. There’s a smattering of Republicans, though. I tried to go “beyond good and evil” here, just going by traits. Would love to hear input from folks with other governments. Sort your own favorites (or least favorites). Contribute someone I haven’t listed.
GRYFFINDOR
Allegedly the “alpha house,” Gryffs are noted primarily for courage and firm principles. The first to volunteer and the last ones to retreat, they are straightforward, honest, passionate, and direct. Often not the most nuanced thinkers (although the ones who survive to ripe old ages tend to develop a decent sense of strategy).
COLORS: Red and gold
ANIMAL: Lion
STRENGTHS: Brave, quick-responding, fiery, direct, honest
WEAKNESSES: Can be reckless, self-righteous, thick-skulled. Only House likely to ever challenge a talk-show host to a duel.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: Howard Dean, Barbara Boxer, Al Sharpton, Ted Kennedy, Russ Feingold, Maxine Waters, Max Cleland, Fritz Hollings, Zell Miller
HUFFLEPUFF
Often misjudged as plodding duffers, Hufflepuffs are tough, loyal, hard-working, and even more stubborn than Gryffindors; good luck digging them out once they’ve dug in. Not noted for their speed or agility, they may not be glamorous (usually) but they are nonetheless very good allies to have; once they’re there, it’s nearly impossible to dislodge them.
COLORS: Black and yellow
ANIMAL: Badger
STRENGTHS: Dedicated, extremely tenacious, patient, committed.
WEAKNESSES: Strong work ethic and loyalty are actually not necessarily virtues in and of themselves. It all depends on what you’re working for and who you’re loyal to.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: Colin Powell, John McCain, Wesley Clark, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Donald Rumsfeld
RAVENCLAW
Sharp-minded, cerebral, and literary; might enjoy the process of problem-solving as an end in itself. Often misjudged as passionless when they’re really just introspective; Ravenclaws are extremely passionate about the subjects of their mental pursuits. They are curious and usually well-read and widely-traveled. In any debate, they are the most likely to have the legal ramifications and historical backgrounds of the issue down cold, with footnotes. Also most likely to be tagged as pretentious, long-winded, or even uncommitted, as they see the complexities of every issue and detest oversimplification.
COLORS: Blue and bronze
ANIMAL: Eagle
STRENGTHS: Brilliant, flexible, clever, insightful, far-sighted, often extremely eloquent.
WEAKNESSES: May be more enamored of thought than action. Tendency to expect an equally thought-out and rational response from opponents and the public—and we can see how well that often works out.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: John Kerry, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Robert Byrd, Barack Obama, Olympia Snowe, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich
SLYTHERIN
The real alpha House, as politics is the game Slyths are born to play. Cunning, ambitious, driven, and maybe ruthless; the positive side of Slytherin is a drive to greatness, a gift for strategy, an ability to get what one wants without giving offense (at least to the “wrong” side, or before it’s too late), and an ability to single-mindedly keep their eyes on the prize. If you’re facing a tough trial, you want a Slyth lawyer; you also always want a Slyth campaign strategist; everybody wants Slyth ambassadors for themselves but not the other guy. Despite their bad reputation, Slyths are not necessarily unprincipled: the “end” they will use any “means” to get might well be a principle or something for the common good rather than just selfish gain. Not surprisingly, more Slytherins are elected President than any other House. Not surprisingly, more Slytherins than any other House go into law and politics in the first place.
COLORS: Green and silver
ANIMAL: Serpent
STRENGTHS: Cunning, ambitious, driven, restless, perceptive, often very charismatic
WEAKNESSES: If of the selfish type, can be downright satanic; singlemindedness can lead to blind spots; pride goeth before a fall.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: George H.W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Karl Rove, James Carville, Rahm Emmanuel, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Tom DeLay, Dick Durbin, Madeleine Albright
Wanna know what I think about when I’m at work?
Let’s play….
Sort the Politician!
Because the Sorting Hat is almost as accurate as Myers-Briggs, and a lot less pretentious.
Because sets of four rule the day when it comes to stereo-, er, I mean, archetypes.
Because some people think there’s something eldritch about politics and it’s better to be an honest Muggle.
Because why should Buffy and LOTR characters have all the crossover fun?
Some of these picks are just gut-instinct and some are ones I can make a really strong case for and some are both. Am I wrong about somebody? (Convince me; I’m a Ravenclaw!) Because I’m an American and a Democrat, that’s what I’ve got most of. There’s a smattering of Republicans, though. I tried to go “beyond good and evil” here, just going by traits. Would love to hear input from folks with other governments. Sort your own favorites (or least favorites). Contribute someone I haven’t listed.
GRYFFINDOR
Allegedly the “alpha house,” Gryffs are noted primarily for courage and firm principles. The first to volunteer and the last ones to retreat, they are straightforward, honest, passionate, and direct. Often not the most nuanced thinkers (although the ones who survive to ripe old ages tend to develop a decent sense of strategy).
COLORS: Red and gold
ANIMAL: Lion
STRENGTHS: Brave, quick-responding, fiery, direct, honest
WEAKNESSES: Can be reckless, self-righteous, thick-skulled. Only House likely to ever challenge a talk-show host to a duel.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: Howard Dean, Barbara Boxer, Al Sharpton, Ted Kennedy, Russ Feingold, Maxine Waters, Max Cleland, Fritz Hollings, Zell Miller
HUFFLEPUFF
Often misjudged as plodding duffers, Hufflepuffs are tough, loyal, hard-working, and even more stubborn than Gryffindors; good luck digging them out once they’ve dug in. Not noted for their speed or agility, they may not be glamorous (usually) but they are nonetheless very good allies to have; once they’re there, it’s nearly impossible to dislodge them.
COLORS: Black and yellow
ANIMAL: Badger
STRENGTHS: Dedicated, extremely tenacious, patient, committed.
WEAKNESSES: Strong work ethic and loyalty are actually not necessarily virtues in and of themselves. It all depends on what you’re working for and who you’re loyal to.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: Colin Powell, John McCain, Wesley Clark, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Donald Rumsfeld
RAVENCLAW
Sharp-minded, cerebral, and literary; might enjoy the process of problem-solving as an end in itself. Often misjudged as passionless when they’re really just introspective; Ravenclaws are extremely passionate about the subjects of their mental pursuits. They are curious and usually well-read and widely-traveled. In any debate, they are the most likely to have the legal ramifications and historical backgrounds of the issue down cold, with footnotes. Also most likely to be tagged as pretentious, long-winded, or even uncommitted, as they see the complexities of every issue and detest oversimplification.
COLORS: Blue and bronze
ANIMAL: Eagle
STRENGTHS: Brilliant, flexible, clever, insightful, far-sighted, often extremely eloquent.
WEAKNESSES: May be more enamored of thought than action. Tendency to expect an equally thought-out and rational response from opponents and the public—and we can see how well that often works out.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: John Kerry, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Robert Byrd, Barack Obama, Olympia Snowe, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich
SLYTHERIN
The real alpha House, as politics is the game Slyths are born to play. Cunning, ambitious, driven, and maybe ruthless; the positive side of Slytherin is a drive to greatness, a gift for strategy, an ability to get what one wants without giving offense (at least to the “wrong” side, or before it’s too late), and an ability to single-mindedly keep their eyes on the prize. If you’re facing a tough trial, you want a Slyth lawyer; you also always want a Slyth campaign strategist; everybody wants Slyth ambassadors for themselves but not the other guy. Despite their bad reputation, Slyths are not necessarily unprincipled: the “end” they will use any “means” to get might well be a principle or something for the common good rather than just selfish gain. Not surprisingly, more Slytherins are elected President than any other House. Not surprisingly, more Slytherins than any other House go into law and politics in the first place.
COLORS: Green and silver
ANIMAL: Serpent
STRENGTHS: Cunning, ambitious, driven, restless, perceptive, often very charismatic
WEAKNESSES: If of the selfish type, can be downright satanic; singlemindedness can lead to blind spots; pride goeth before a fall.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS: George H.W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Karl Rove, James Carville, Rahm Emmanuel, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Tom DeLay, Dick Durbin, Madeleine Albright