politics

Fictional Politicians

by Travis Prinzi on January 17, 2009

I’m enjoying the Saturday discussion prompts at the My Friend Amy blog, so I thought I’d respond to this week’s as well. The question: Who is your favorite and least favorite fictional politician? I’ll stick with Harry Potter on this. Feel free to answer either from Harry Potter (considering every member of the Ministry is a politician in one way or another) or from any other kind of fiction.

My favorite: You’ll have a hard time guessing this one, won’t you? Albus Dumbledore, of course – primarily because, in good libertarian fashion, he turned down the Minister position 3 times, prefering to work in the fields of justice (Wizengamot), international cooperation, and education. Honorable mention: Arthur Weasley, who wouldn’t compromise principle to get more recognition and power.
My least favorite: Delores Umbridge – and by least favorite, I mean that I hated her, not that she’s not a brilliant character. Honorable mention: Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge. I never liked Scrimgeour, but he died defending Harry, so you can’t get too mad at him.

{ 6 comments }

Happy Election Day!

by Travis Prinzi on November 4, 2008

For all the U.S. Hog’s Head patrons, Happy Election Day to all.

Here’s a blast from the primary past – How Would Harry Vote? (Hog’s Head PubCast #48 – I’ve attached it to this post, so the player is below), which includes my random speculations about which Potter character would vote for which candidate in the primaries.

So let’s have a little fun today. (And keep it fun – no plugs for candidates or political debate). Of the current candidates for president (and I mean all of them, not just the two major parties), take your best guesses about which Potter character would vote for which candidate for president – and back up your guess! Why do you think character X would vote for candidate Y? What about character X makes you think s/he would be inclined toward that candidate?

How Would Harry Vote? [19:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

{ 13 comments }

Hog’s Head PubCast #48: How Would Harry Vote?

by Travis Prinzi on March 25, 2008

A completely absurd question: How would all those British characters vote in the U.S. elections?

Also: Winner of the Book Givewaway (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness) announced!

You can subscribe to the Hog’s Head PubCast through iTunes, and VOTE for The Hog’s Head for the month of March at Podcast Alley.

Hog's Head Pubcast #48: How Would Harry Vote? [19:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

{ 31 comments }

Rowling invokes Tolkien, talks literature and politics

February 13, 2008

by Travis
Rowling rarely mentions Tolkien, but I’ve found in the process of writing my book that she has far more in common with him than I had previously realized. Chalk it up to the Cauldron of Story (which is precisely what I do, actually….) In the recent interview for El Pais, translated (with [...]

4 comments Read the full article →