December 28, 2011
New Hampshire kid asks (nearly) all the GOP candidates what superhero they'd like to be.
(Via Bloggingheads.)
Why would a candidate say anything other than Superman? You just know they're probably going to say Superman. (Santorum and Huntsman don't.) So I think follow-up question would be: Could Superman be President of the United States? See if you can get a big "natural born citizen" thing going.
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A more interesting question would be: Which superpower would you prefer? I was trapped in a car on a long trip, and had to listen to "This American Life" do a 1 hour study of people who chose "flying" vs. people who chose "being invisible." Apparently invisibility is more nefarious.
It'd be entertaining if one of them picked a slightly more obscure superhero like the Silver Surfer or the Savage Dragon. These guys have no imagination.
The thing that everyone forgets when talking about Superman is that he was super in just about every way, including intellect. As such, and given the character, he would not only make a good president, but could probably figure out a fair (and enforceable) world government and put himself at the head of it. A true philosopher king who wasn't such by bloodline or "divine" providence, but because he literally was better than everyone else.
The problem would be replacing him, although I've seen people make the argument that the whole yellow sun thing makes him nearly immortal too.
Nop,Superman resigned his citizenship to become a citizen of the world.
Willie Clinton would have said Long Dong Silver.
He could be President because he could just spin the world backward to the writing of the Constitution, have the natural born citizen part taken out, and then spin the world forward again.
That reminds me of the "A Point In Time" essay that Horowitz just published.
Superheroes are by definition persons who are not going to die and therefore they can never become meaningless.
After Tim Tebow started losing Bronco games, the fun of heroes has withered away a few notches.
Now if one of the male candidates had said "Wonder Woman", that would have been interesting.
I would be a big nerd and turn it into a really important message: everyone in this country should atttain the superpower of being able to swim.
It's doable, it saves lives, and it's almost as cool as flying.
The correct answer, of course, is Batman. Superman is just lame (save for Kristin Kruek.)
Now if one of the male candidates had said "Wonder Woman", that would have been interesting.
Likewise if they had said "Rorschach". Front page, above the fold, guaranteed. All of the Alan Moore fans in Iran might sit up and take notice, though.
"A more interesting question would be: Which superpower would you prefer?"
That's what Barbara Walters came up with to ask Barack Obama the other day. He gave the predictable politician answer: to fly. Same answer as Superman.
If you are running in the Republican primary the correct answer is Spider-man. Why? Because Spider-man is the reluctant superhero. He does not want to serve the nation, he only does it because he feels compelled to use his powers for good. Hearkens back to the idea of a citizen leaders that the founders loved so much.
Super power? Regeneration ala Wolverine. Duh.
BTW, in the kid's video, Herman Cain does by far the best job of relating to the child.
Which is the real question being asked: Can you show me that you're a real person who can relate to kids?
I think Romney looks like Mr. Fantastic.
I don't like the sycophants around him clapping and cheering the answers the candidates give.
Captain America.
What a bunch of nonsense on that Meet the Press clip in the middle.
When I was a kid I preferred that adults talk to me the way Newt and Mitt did in that sequence.
Mr. Incredible is a somewhat odd answer.
The ones that said Superman just want to date Lois Loan
Mr. Incredible is a somewhat odd answer.
Definitely. He can't even fly and doesn't mind sneaking around behind his wife's back. Gazorbeam would have been equally weird. As Gazorbeam never spoke, there was no voice credit. He could have easily been spelled Gayzorbeam.
But Freeman, Mr. Incredible cares about his family! That's why Santorum chose him, because he's all about family.
Mr. Incredible's family bails him out of his jam. Maybe Santorum wishes his family would do something.
Aquaman!
In 2004, President Bush won reelection by running as The Punisher.
In 2008, President Obama won by running as a hybrid of Rogue and Storm.
In 2012, I'd settle for Scrooge McDuck.
Contrasts were telling.
Cain was the most charming.
Huntsman was the most patronizing. Surprisingly, Perry took the silver.
Santorum gave the answer most carefully calibrated to appeal to key demographics.
Ron Paul thought the question was gay and beat a hasty retreat.
Romney was the most stiff, but like Newt, he did not talk down to the kid.
Silver surfer, spiderman, the hulk, or captain america for me.
In 2012, I'd settle for Scrooge McDuck.
Scrooge McDuck is Richie Rich compared to Eugene Crabs.
Which superpower would you prefer?
God, I'm lame. I got to that comment and read that question and thought, "Well, what are they supposed to answer? China?"
LOL.
(I think I'd choose x-ray vision, but that's probably just because I have bad eyes that are getting worse.)
You're right, Scott M. War veteran, small businessman, self-made success; I support a "Draft Mr. Krabs" movement.
I worry, though, about what opposition research will undercover regarding his affair with Mrs. Puff.
I worry, though, about what opposition research will undercover regarding his affair with Mrs. Puff.
Not much, I would say. It petered out before it went anywhere and, being the responsible businessman he is, he refused to go into deficit spending in order to keep impressing her with money. Not to mention the fact that she's untouchable, PC-wise, because she's a teacher.
The problem with electing a Eugene Krabs is that for every Krabs there's a Plankton.
(aside: I love the portrayal of Squidward in that show. He actually said, once, "I know what I'm talking about because I listen to public radio." lol!)
Cute -- and tells you everything you need to know about some of the candidates. Santorum's answer was great -- and Cain showed what sort of guy he really is.
Personally, I'd have said Thor -- but I'm just a little odd that way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0P3YeLFotc
Captain America is the best answer.
Or Batman.
Ron Paul is racist against super heroes.
I would vote for any candidate who said "Harvey Birdman".
Speaking of which, does Brock Sampson count as a superhero? Surely he does if Batman does.
Had the kid asked me, I would have brought up Superman's lack of long-form birth certificate.
And Wolverine, while awesome, is Canadian, so he could not be President either.
You mean nobody said they wish to be Barack Obama? Isn't that what this is all about?
He's the ruler of the free world, most powerful man on earth, slayer of the the Evil Laden, with the power to reverse the rising of the oceans, and spend money faster than a speeding bullet.
They all failed the question.
Wonder Woman, just for the lasso.
Plastic Man had many valuable qualities that all politicians would envy. Sadly, he is of the Captain Marvel generation. Nothing is sadder than Plastic Man who has become brittle and arthritic with the passage of time.....Superman is overloaded with super powers. He lacks the common touch. His villians are always more enterprising and interesting than he is....I wonder which superhero women find the most attractive. Batman seems Byronic and moody. You wouldn't want to be around him on his down days. Spiderman--just a boy. Superman. Too much perfection can really wear you out. It's hard to imagine sharing a laugh with Superman.
GARY RALPH SCHWELLENBACH
A man. A good man. A man who asked for nothing in return for his service. Only in death, can a good man be honored. Unfortunately.
The "This American Life" episode that Patrick referred to was interesting. I think it was John Hodgman that came up with that.
Greg - "Personally, I'd have said Thor -- but I'm just a little odd that way."
What's not to like about Thor. Immortal, good-looking, superstrong. Has command of all weather and can fly or beat up nearly anyone with his mighty hammer Moljinar.
Silver Surfer would be another good, but offbeat choice. Great pick for Romney if he wasn't running for President: "I would be able to roam the universe with Ann doing eternal missionary work, trying to find the planet Kolub..Plus the Surfer never needs the tempation of food, drink"
For fun they should have asked what superhero villain the candidates would like to be. I would favor being Dr Doom.
Or what monster they always wanted to be. If you could be Godzilla, you could rise from the depths and destroy not Tokyo - but Mecca with your feet, tail, and burning radioactive breath. And the Muslims would be boiling pissed about it...but people would just shrug and say: "Hey, towelheads! It's just Godzilla! Laying waste to cities is something he just does! Next time, use some of your Petrodollars to hire Mothra as a protector."
I'm actually a little shocked that Santorum and Bachmann (not asked) wouldn't say they wished to be like their favorite superhero...Son of God himself with all sorts of fish multiplying, healing, resurrection powers - old JC Himself
I would also accept Awesome X, which I think is Bill Clinton in a really cool looking suit.
Superman is a chump. I'd be Dr. Manhattan.
What about the power to cause cancer in our enemies?
http://www.elmundo.es/america/2011/12/28/venezuela/1325108556.html
Well of course Jose_K, I just said I'd be Dr. Manhattan!
I also thought of Barack Obama as the best answer--except that it shows an obsession with politics which we prefer they would hide.
I also thought of Barack Obama as the best answer--except that it shows an obsession with politics which we prefer they would hide.
If the candidate were to respond by asking the moderation for clarification, thus...
Candidate: Fictional superhero?
Moderator: Yes, sir. Any fictional superhero.
Candidate: Oh, then that's easy. Barack Obama.
Could Superman be President of the United States?
No, he would not run.
AllenS, Who is Gary Ralph Schwellenbach?
I think Newt secretly believes he is Dr. Manhattan.
Gary Ralph Schwellenbach
Darn it, I don't *want* to like Rick Santorum -- but I loved his answer.
The Incredibles was a *great* movie -- and one that effectively conveyed libertarian and Randian ideas.
Superman, by contrast, is about one superhuman being doing all the heavy lifting and saving us hapless mortals from ourselves. If you really dig down, it's a few steps down the road toward "cult-of-personality" authoritarianism.
What kind of loser picks a DC hero instead of a Marvel one?
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