Might Shatner Boldly Lead Canada As Governor?

just fiddling around writes "Now that Michaëlle Jean is approaching the end of her customary five-year post as Governor General of Canada, the rumor mill has started on who Prime Minister Steven Harper will propose to the Queen in her stead. According to the CBC, the short list includes Captain Kirk, actor William Shatner. It seems that acting can lead to the highest offices in places other than California."

You Do Realize You Are Reporting on a Facebook Gro

[eldavojohn]

Might Shatner Boldly Lead Canada As Governor?

The only 'short list' I could find referenced was simply which Facebook groups had the most members. If anyone else can find anything worth noting from this article other than the fact that Star Trek fans are more numerous on Facebook than Leonard Cohen fans ... let me know. PROTIP: Facebook is not a cross section of the populace nor does that cross section necessarily think they are voting for William Shatner as Governor General when they click a tiny button to join that group. A flippant mouse click can be just as much a joke or laugh than it can be a true desire.

Governor GENERAL ...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not Governor. It' Governor General. It's in the summary, but not in the headline.

Canada has a different system of government, and we don't have Governors per se.

Not a serious contender

[Dzimas]

Shatner isn't bilingual, which is a serious strike against anyone vying for the GG position. Also note that the Canadian Governor General is essentially powerless in modern government - similar to the role played by the Queen. While, theoretically, the GG has the ability to impact parliamentary procedures in rare circumstances, it's not real power. Instead, the GG gives speeches, meets dignitaries, and spends a lot of time paying respect to unlucky soldiers arriving back from Afghanistan in coffins.

Re:You Do Realize You Are Reporting on a Facebook

[e4g4]

Yeah, as always - the summary is a little off. Shatner is by no means on the "short list". The "short list" has three people (who look like they're actually appropriate candidates) on it, the article happens to also mention two entries from the much longer list of "who the internet thinks it would be funny if they were nominated for this position".

Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

[morgan_greywolf]

It was revealed quite some time ago that Shatner's "dramatic pauses" were due to him trying to remember his lines. Probably equally true for Adam West, though I don't really know.

Re:Proposing to the Queen?

[merichards]

Sorry, but the current queen is a queen regnant (her parent was the monarch, so she inherited), therefore her husband is not the king, he's simply the Prince Consort. So even if she wasn't married, you couldn't become king by marrying her. In other words, there's no point bumping off the current Danish / Greek incumbent.

Re:You Do Realize You Are Reporting on a Facebook

[Captain Splendid]

Taco, representative of all the editors I suppose, is being irresponsible

Now I know you're new here!

Seriously, this is SOP. Learn to love it or learn to be disappointed.

Re:As a Canadian

[Mashiki]

You seem to forget that in Canada the GG has official duties which they're required to follow through for the operation of the country. Half of it is public junk the other half is government. Saying that the GG has no power or responsibilities, is the same as saying the PM doesn't lead his party, and isn't responsible for cabinet positions.

Re:As a Canadian

[Captain Splendid]

Saying that the GG has no power or responsibilities, is the same as saying the PM doesn't lead his party, and isn't responsible for cabinet positions.

No, you're being disingenuous. Yes, technically, the Queen (and by extension, her representatives, the GGs of commonwealth countries), holds all the power. But in reality, the GG is a messenger boy at best. If he or the Queen actually tried to exert their paper authority, it would start a constitutional crisis.

Re:Governor GENERAL ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, since American governors are the chief executives of their states, Canadian premiers aren't really analagous. Premiers, like the PM, are just heads of government. Ceremonial or not, the closest parallel in Canada to a state governor would be the province's lieutenant governor (and like a good Canadian, you should read that as "leftenant"...).

Re:As a Canadian

[epiphani]

Born in Haiti, her family fled the country when she was 11 after her father was arrested and tortured. For most of the 80s, she went to university and volunteered at womens shelters. She co-ordinated major studies on violence against women in domestic settings. She moved into journalism in the late 80s, winning several awards for her coverage. She speaks 5 languages fluently. She has started womens shelters across the country.

What has William Fucking Shatner done?

source [www.cbc.ca]

I'm guessing that you are American?

[aristotle-dude]

(Hum, she's called Khan but looks like Uhura... conflict!)

*extends hand* - Denny Crane.

*Sigh* The lady is our current Governor General you insensitive clod.

The man is Kahn.

Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

[sexconker]

Which shows the lengths they're prepared to go to...

Which shows the lengths to which they're prepared to go...

Re:As a Canadian

[gfreeman]

Ouch, my pedant gland is hurting.

That plural would be "Governers General"

Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

[Anonymous Coward]

Star Trek a low-budget show? No way. In fact, it was one of the highest-budget programs from that era. The matte paintings alone cost more than most contemporary show's entire budgets, including talent.

Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

[mcgrew]

It seems that acting can lead to the highest offices in places other than California."

Ronald Reagan was from Illinois, and his acting career let to the US Presidency. So it's been like that for some time.

Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

[colonelquesadilla]

One could argue that his acting career led to his governorship of california, which led to his presidency.