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This Blockbuster.co.uk survey is now closed, please scroll down for the results.
Though undeniably entertaining, the current, real-life Presidential drama playing out between McCain and Obama can't quite compete with the political fantasies coming out of Hollywood. Blockbuster's Mal Simons picks a key selection of big and small screen Presidents, and invites you to vote for your favourite.
President Josiah Bartlet
"I was watching a television program before, with a kind of roving moderator who spoke to a seated panel of young women who were having some sort of problem with their boyfriends - apparently, because the boyfriends had all slept with the girlfriends' mothers. And they brought the boyfriends out, and they fought, right there on television. Toby, tell me: these people don't vote, do they?"
Life and Times -
A direct descendent of the real-life Josiah Bartlett, one of the original signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Bartlett very much represents the perfect American President: clever, honest, articulate and compassionate, but tough when he needs to be. Plus he's multi-lingual, able to converse in English, German and, rather less usefully, Latin.
Key Achievements -
Appointing the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, negotiating a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine, creating millions of jobs and providing strong support for alternative energy.
President Tom Beck
"Cities fall but they are rebuilt. Heroes die but they are remembered."
Life and Times -
An articulate if somewhat stern figure, President Tom Beck has the weight of the world on his shoulders after a colossal huge meteor is discovered hurtling towards the earth. To avoid panic, Beck avoids telling the American people that the end of the world is nigh, concentrating instead on a joint American/Russian mission to destroy the killer rock.
Key Achievements -
Saving the world!
President Andrew Shepherd
"We've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight."
Life and Times -
An immensely popular Democratic president with a 63% approval rating, Andrew Shepherd is a widower who lost his wife while in office, and subsequently falls for a sparky environmental lobbyist, a fact his political opponents exploit to the fullest. Unwilling to respond to their criticism, Shepherd concentrates instead on being the best President he can, fighting to pass an environmental crime bill and promising a stronger version in due time. Still, he can't help being distracted by his new love interest.
Key Achievements -
Working on a key crime bill, responding to a terrorist attack, backing a key environmental bill and pulling Annette Bening while in office.
President David Palmer
"Please, Sherry, I've heard it all before. And I don't care what this may do to my candidacy. And it's not because I don't want to be President. I do. I just don't think you're fit to be the first lady."
Life and Times -
The first African-American President, President David Palmer is as devoted to his family as he is to his country. A popular president, one with real honesty and integrity, Palmer was instrumental in helping CTU stop several terrorist plots. Despite surviving multiple assassination attempts, the President eventually decided to not run for a second term - mainly due to the actions of his unscrupulous wife Sherry. He did however return to power after his successor was incapacitated by a plane crash.
Key Achievements -
Passing anti-terrorism legislation, getting back the Presidency after being removed from office on incapacity grounds, saving America from nuclear attack, stopping a chemical weapon threat and uncovering a plot to undermine American/Russian relations.
President Thomas J. Whitmore
"Should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"
Life and Times -
A former Gulf War I fighter pilot, President Thomas J. Whitmore is a young, hands-on Commander-in-Chief who has to deal with an alien attack that wipes out most of the world's major cities. Regrouping at Area 51, Whitmore responds to the alien threat by patching up his differences with IT geek David Levinson and together they save the world. To top it all, Whitmore leads the assault, flying one of the F15s that engage the enemy over the Nevada desert.
Key Achievements -
Saving the world, leading from the front and being a hero. Expressing remorse for not evacuating the cities hours before the attack.
President Mackenzie Allen
"So I say to the people of this nation: I am humbled by your greatness. I am humbled by the history being made here today, humbled by the notion that I am the first woman to hold this office. I'm humbled by the responsibilities that rest with me."
Life and Times -
Before Hillary, there was Mackenzie. President Mackenzie Allen is a moderate Republican, originally an independent who stood as Vice President; Allen succeeded to the office after the President was forced to resign for health reasons. Keen to bring the parties together, Allen appointed a Democrat as her V.P. A women's rights advocate, Allen's first act after coming to power was to send an envoy to rescue a Nigerian Muslim woman sentenced to death for sex outside marriage.
Key Achievements -
Negotiating a key airline labour dispute, recruiting a Democrat as VP, becoming the first female President of the United States and surviving a ruptured appendix - while on Air Force One.
President James Marshall
"GET OFF MY PLANE!"
Life and Times -
After taking a tough stance against international terrorism, President James Marshall finds himself a hostage on his own plane after Air Force One is taken over by Kazakh terrorists demanding the release of their fascist leader General Radek. Unwilling to flee the plane, leaving his family and staff at the mercy of fanatics, Marshall abandons the escape pod and goes on a killing spree, sabotaging the plane and establishing contact with the ground.
Key Achievements -
Anti-terrorism legislation, trade deals between the US and Russia, and having the first female Vice President as a running mate.
President Arnold Schwarzenegger
"I was elected to lead. not read."
Life and Times -
Former Governator, actor, model and '80s Republican movie legend, President Arnold Schwarzenegger passes some rather extreme anti-pollution measures after being pressured by a nefarious EPA advisor. These include sealing the town of Springfield in a glass dome to prevent its pollution from spreading and later agreeing to destroy the town itself.
Key Achievements -
Passing environmental laws, decreeing that Springfield be destroyed, persuading Tom Hanks to appear in a government video and most importantly, building support among politicians in the United States to change the constitution so that he could be elected President.
Results:
1. President Josiah Bartlet - 24.83%
2. President David Palmer - 20.94%
3. President Arnold Schwarzenegger - 13.73%
4. President James Marshall - 12.81%
5. President Thomas J. Whitmore - 10.41%
6. President Tom Beck - 10.30%
7. President Andrew Shepherd - 4.92%
8. President Mackenzie Allen - 2.06%
Reason Results:
1. I would follow them to the end of the world or I think they are a natural leader - 37.07%
2. I think I could trust them or they look trustworthy... - 31.12%
3. They're cool! - 16.82%
4. I could have a beer with them - 14.99%
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