The Campaign to make William Shatner the new GG

[justinsb]

Is actually turning in to a bit of a campaign. There is a http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-nominate-William-Shatner-for-Governor-General-of-Canada/102216946483989?ref=ts&v=info">Facebook thingy with more than 10k people signed up. Although the creator of the page lists some reasons of his own, including how much fun it would be (just imagine the speech from the throne - Kirk style) here are my top 10 reasons:

1) He would instantly be the best known Canadian statesman internationally, at the very least since Trudeau - but in many places he would be better known than Pierre ever was.

2) From his start at the Stratford Festival Shatners career in stage, screen and television has spanned 6 decades so far. He is probably the best known Canadian actor and the best known Canadian pop culture figure of the 20th century.

3) In addition to his acting career he's written over 20 books, fiction and non fiction and even released a few albums further strengthening his arts and culture credentials and having done podcasts he even has some grasp of the internet.

4) I haven't heard many political statements from him (except in character as Denny Crane) but from what I have heard he strikes me as non-partisan, well informed and reasonable.

5) He would be a great ambassador not only for Canada but for Canadian arts and culture.

6) Although he has spent much of his career working in the United States he has always been proudly and vocally Canadian when the topic came up.

7) Foreign leaders would line up for Canadian visits and Canadian embassy events if only so they could meet Captain Kirk

8) As an actor William Shatner could pretend those foreign dignitaries were interesting

9) With his own cult following and Hollywood connections he could fund raise for charity like no GG before him

10) He has a sense of humor, which can't hurt given the job description

[Metric System]

1. Most of the Star Trek (TOS) cast dislikes him, for whatever that's worth.

[IntravenousDemilo]

2. OK, except he's in his 80th year right now. Bit old... n/m

[justinsb]

3. Not really too old for GG

It's not generally that physically taxing - the guy was driving race cars last year, he seems to be in good shape.

[IntravenousDemilo]

6. The shape he is in is sometimes called "spherical".

On the other hand, he's probably no fatter than Prime Minister Tubby. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't object to his being GG. I mean, he's from Montreal, so I expect him to be able to speak French, which I think is a necessity. And I guess he's younger than the person he'd be representing.

But I just thought of something. If The Queen were to appoint Captain Kirk per Harper's advice, that might reflect well on Harper with voters. And Harper might want the GG to act less like Captain Kirk and more like Denny Crane.

[justinsb]

8. I don't think you have to worry

Denny Crane was a role - watch this interview with Rush Limbaugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFvFmlb1C_Y

I don't think he's particularly left wing either (by Canadian standards), but he's not a freeper for sure.

[justinsb]

4. Almost 14,000 now

not that it counts for much but it was written up in the Toronto Star

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/799201--facebook-fans-want-bill-shatner-as-next-governor-general

and the National Post today

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/posted/archive/2010/04/22/shatner-for-governor-general-page-explodes-on-facebook.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

(by the way the Preston Manning for GG group has 500 ppl)

[daleo]

5. #11 - Flying drop kicks

A Captain Kirk specialty.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

7. I know this is a joke candidacy,

but I wish people would take the position a little more seriously. It's kind of important.

[justinsb]

10. It's only a joke if...

It doesn't happen. If he doesn't get it or doesn't want it then I'm totally kidding.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

11. If he's even asked

then Harper has jumped the shark!

[justinsb]

13. Redundant

Harper jumped the shark long before he became PM - how much shark jumping can one person do reallY?

[justinsb]

9. 17 thousand now n/t

[justinsb]

14. 24 k and counting n/t

[ZeitgeistObserver]

12. Mr. Spock backs William Shatner for GG bid

Mr. Spock backs William Shatner for GG bid

The Canadian Press

VULCAN, ALTA.— Mr. Spock says it's about time Capt. Kirk got off his “butt” and got a real job.

Leonard Nimoy, who played the pointy-eared Vulcan in the original “Star Trek” series, is backing a bid to have his Canadian co-star William Shatner picked as Canada's next governor general.

A Facebook group touting the original James T. Kirk for the post has nearly 20,000 members.

Nimoy, who was in Alberta for a comic convention, says the job would be perfect because Shatner has just been “sitting around twiddling his thumbs” recently.

He says the job would give Shatner a sense of “self worth” and allow him to “get out and do something.”


http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/799688--mr-spock-backs-william-shatner-for-gg-bid?bn=1


I thought this would amuse you. ;)