Dem
47
GOP
53
Here is the question we put before readers two weeks ago:
C.C. in St Paul, MN, asks: Which Star Trek character would have your vote for U.S. president and why (ignoring the fact they wouldn't meet the constitutional requirements)?
And here some of the answers we got in response, along with our answer, because several readers asked us to provide it:
(V) & (Z): Commander Deanna Troi. Not only is she a skilled diplomat and someone who is very level-headed in a time of crisis (see the occasion where she unexpectedly awakened as a Romulan), she can literally read other people's minds. Is there any greater advantage for a political leader to have than that one? Although we must admit we do not understand how she EVER lost at poker.
Plus, Will Riker would make an excellent First Gentleman.
C.S. in Philadelphia, PA: I would vote for a ticket of The Doctor and Miles O'Brien.
The Doctor arguably had the most personal growth on his arc—from an emergency computer program to a full-fledged member of the crew and personality. Some humility is sorely needed; having someone who does not view the presidency as the pinnacle of their career but rather an opportunity to grow himself. Additionally, an experienced medical doctor could repair any damage being done to our healthcare by the current administration. He also has experience being the President of Earth. Drawback: Being hacked by Russia, DOGE boys, etc.
Chief O'Brien, the most important man in Starfleet, would balance the ticket (getting those white, working class voters). A family man, war veteran, able to interact with high-up officers and regular crew, and a true problem solver. Any infrastructure funding passed would likely end up with him showing up at the worksite doing repairs himself. Drawback: Wife being hacked by aliens.
D.P. in Sunnyvale, CA: I think the obvious choice is Pavel Chekov. He eventually becomes President of the Federation, and therefore is the only main character that has previous experience as a head of state.
M.E. in Greenbelt, MD: A fascinating question! For me, the logical answer is Spock. He is accomplished in science and technology, leadership, military matters and diplomacy. He literally plays 3-D chess. Spock lives and "dies" by the maxim that "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Emotions are not part of his decision making. What more could you ask for?
One might be tempted to choose Data. However, how could anyone be certain Data is the president and not Lore?
F.H. in Ithaca, NY: Spock. It's eminently logical.
P.N. in Austin, TX: I'll vote for Harry Kim... He deserves the promotion.
S.J.M. in Austin, TX: Being a hard core Trekker, it took some time to come up with a final selection. The Christopher Pike from Strange New Worlds would be my choice. He knows what the future has in store for him but chose not to change it to protect others.
M.R. in Cranford, NJ: Scotty gets my vote. Undoing all the damage this administration is doing will take a miracle worker!
R.L. in Alameda, CA: I've been considering Jonathan Archer and Benjamin Sisko. Both dealt with sticky diplomatic situations, but I'm going with Archer for the following reasons.
- He had the foresight to include a Vulcan (T'Pol) as his first officer on the maiden voyage of the first Earth ship to go into (what was then) deep space. He recognized that the future of space travel would be pluralistic and that an all-human crew (other than Denobulan Doctor Phlox) wasn't going to cut it. (Does that make T'Pol a DEI hire?)
- He successfully brokered a peace between the aggressive Andorians and the emotionally-unstable-but-logical Vulcans.
- He also learned how to work with the boorish (and boarish) Tellarites.
- He is credited with being a founder of the Federation, bringing together Humans, Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites to create the greatest amalgamation of species in galactic history.
Enterprise has been the forgotten stepchild of the Star Trek universe. It's about time Captain Archer gets his due!
D.E. in Atlanta, GA : If you want an American, I would go with Commander Chakotay. I know that's out of left field, but anyone that can engage in diplomacy with sentient dinosaurs can probably handle the presidency.
S.S. in West Hollywood, CA: I would eagerly vote for Captain Kathryn Janeway. Captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager. She has all the skills necessary to be an excellent president. Able to lead a diverse group, often in difficult situations and under intense pressure. And just as capable at navigating domestic politics and foreign negotiations. She has shown her wisdom, determination, and patience many times over the years. I didn't pick her because she's a woman, but that is certainly a bonus. I'd like to show the world that Americans aren't stuck in the 1950s and would overwhelmingly support such an exceptionally qualified candidate. Hopefully, long before the 2370s! Even if her opponent is the leader of the cult-like Borg with their pro-authoritarian slogan "Make America Great"... er, "Resistance is Futile."
M.M.W. in Kensington, MD: Kira Nerys, because she's seen the damage that can be done to a society by corrupt and power-hungry leaders like Kai Winn and by ineffectual squabbling bureaucrats in the post-occupation provisional government, and she knows exactly what to do with collaborators...
B.C. in Phoenix, AZ: The hands down answer would have to be James Tiberius Kirk. He was born in Riverside, IA, so I think he would be constitutionally eligible to be elected as a citizen of the United States of America, Planet Earth, Federation of Planets.
Kirk has been variously described as "a hard-driving leader who pushes himself and his crew beyond human limits," "cunning, courageous and confident," someone who has a "tendency to ignore Starfleet regulations when he feels the end justifies the means," and "the quintessential officer, a man among men and a hero for the ages."
Democratic voters would love him and vote for him because of the traits described in the preceding paragraph, but Republicans would vote for him, too, because of his reputation as a womanizer, and the fact than when push came to shove whenever he was "confronted with a choice between a woman and the Enterprise, 'his ship always won.'"
He would, no doubt, solidify his winning percentage somewhere in the 90s by marrying Nyota Uhura.
J.N. in Summit, NJ: Quark, to show what an actual successful businessman looks like. He is somewhat honesty-challenged of course, but at least he has a soul and SOME morality.
M.S.L. in Wichita Falls, TX: Rom would be my choice for U.S. president (assuming that constitutional qualifications would be eliminated, as he is, of course, a Ferengi). He was generally featured as Quark's younger brother, but he eventually became the Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance.
Rom was a single parent and had a good relationship with his son Nog, and even encouraged Nog's entrance into Starfleet. He also had a full range of employment experience. He was a failure as a businessman, but was a mechanical and engineering genius (inventor of the self-replicating mines that prevented the Dominion from overrunning the Federation), and also worked at a number of menial jobs on Deep Space 9 for low pay before his engineering genius became evident. He was also a union organizer, starting the Guild of Restaurant and Casino Employees in response to working conditions in his brother's bar/casino.
As Grand Nagus of the Ferengi, Rom signed the original contract to start the process for the Ferengi to join the Federation, showing his diplomatic chops. He was also known as a kinder, gentler Ferengi, banning the sale of weapons and placing a greater emphasis on equality and hospitality, feeling that they would be more profitable in the long run.
D.R. in Chicago, IL: The headline suggests that our nominees for President should be a doctor. With that in mind, I suggest two: Dr. Beverly Crusher and Dr. Phlox.
Dr. Crusher eventually became a captain in her own right, and her character was well adapted to making executive decisions in a crisis.
Dr. Phlox is a Denobulan who is on the Enterprise as part of an interplanetary exchange program. While both doctors are tasked with addressing complex interspecies diseases, Dr. Phlox exhibits a very creative "outside the box" approach to problems which would be well adapted to the challenges of the presidency.
A bonus footnote: In one Next Generation episode, Will Riker mentions having grown up in Alaska and refers to climbing Mt. McKinley. That saddens me, because it suggests that TCF's renaming of Denali continued well into the future.
C.S. in Waynesboro, PA: This is the kind of question my friends and I waste too much time on. So, I'm fully prepared to answer.
Every time this comes up, I go with Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
I know, kind of an obvious, easy to give answer, but it's the correct one in my opinion.
He's calm (unless dealing with the Borg), thoughtful, intelligent and diplomatic. He's also not afraid to fight, when necessary. And he's open to listening to opinions and options before taking action, when there's time to do so. This shows he'd probably work well getting things through a contentious Congress.
I mean, come on, anyone who's taken on Q, the Borg AND Lwaxana Troi, and all of them multiple times, is certainly someone deserving of working in the Oval Office!
T.B. in Durham, NC: Let me be the first to nominate Abraham Lincoln to be U.S. President number 48. In his time on Star Trek, he had the benefit of encountering alien and future perspectives with Vulcans like Sarek and Spock, and other aliens. He saw that humans can continue to be corrupt and dangerous in the centuries leading up to the 23rd century, and would have those memories to energize him knocking heads together here in the 21st century. Yes, he was killed with a bullet to the head in that theater, and also by a spear in the back in the 23rd century, but I'm sure some staff writer can conjure up some Dr. McCoy miracle to make him into the living, charismatic leader he has been on Earth and on Star Trek.
K.C in McKinleyville, CA: [Hailing frequencies open...]
After some consideration, I think Captain Hikaru Sulu would make a good President of the United States. He has good leadership and patience. For the right, he's a gun collector. For the left, he's a botanist.
And, yes, he does meet the constitutional standard: He was born in San Francisco.
J.W. in West Chester, PA: It has to be Elim Garak! His political wit is unmatched in the Star Trek universe. He has diplomatic connections across the galaxy (Romulan, Klingon, Bajoran, Ferengi, Trill, Terran). He certainly obscures facts and fiction like the best politicians! A self-made businessman, he ran a tailor shop in the midst of people who hated him yet he succeeded and was arguably one of the most influential people in beating the Dominion. He isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and get the job done, even if it is messy. He would enjoy the position. It's not even close, Elim would win in an electoral landslide and may even pitch a shutout.
M.S. in Hamden, CT: So many options. I assume most votes will go to the captains and other powerful folks. But that's dangerous since we don't know their politics. We've already had at least two cowboy presidents (Reagan, Bush II); Why go for a third (Kirk)? Then there are the rational technocrats (Spock, Data), who would certainly be fine, but let's save them for the cabinet. So, I'll go with Nyota Uhura. She has the most heart and was constantly underrated, good traits to bet on.
Although it wasn't asked, I'd say the current administration is a cross between the Borg (trying to assimilate Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal) and Quark (always looking for the profit).
C.B. in Hamden, CT: This one's obvious: Benjamin Sisko. You don't want a military type person-of-action or a scientist/engineer, you want someone whose skills and experience are political. And if he happens to be an Emissary from the gods, so much the better.
D.S. in Bath, ME: Q.
Who would not want a god as President? All-powerful and all-knowing, not bound by any laws, including those of space and time. Q could truly MUGA (Make the Universe Great Again). And doesn't Elon look and act like someone from the Q Continuum?
T.W. in Norfolk, England, UK: My pick for Star Trek character to become President would be Guinan. She's empathic, compassionate, and very good at listening, but not afraid to use her power when needed (e.g., her standing up to the mercurial and unpredictable Q—does he remind you of anyone at that point in his storyline?). She understands loss, she's been a refugee and is thankful for sanctuary, she's totally capable of prompting other people to make good decisions, and she can keep secrets where necessary (no documents stored in the sonic shower!). And, undeniably, she's also bad-ass.
It also helps that I adore Whoopi Goldberg as well: She's not always correct but she's capable of recognizing her mistakes and growing from them and could make a decent president in her own right—even without political experience, she's Warp Factor 9 to TCF's (knee-jerk) impulse speed.
P.C. in Vero Beach, FL: The obvious answer is Harcourt Fenton Mudd, because he is already our president!
Here is the question for next week:
A.G. in Scranton, PA, asks: There have been significant, jarring political events throughout history that were infamous enough to earn derogatory names that make for excellent multiple choice questions on pop quizzes in history classes across the nation.
The Night of the Long Knives. The Saturday Night Massacre. The Admiral's Revolt. The Teapot Dome Scandal. Pizzagate. (Some of those are far more infamous than others, of course.)
What do you think this period of destroying the world order that has kept relative peace for 80 years and the systematic scrapping of the social safety net programs of the New Deal and the Great Society should be called?
Submit your answers to comments@electoral-vote.com, preferably with subject line "Idiocracy"!