geekosystem

It’s just about over, folks. You’re one day away from not having to see another political ad for nearly 24 months. Now that you’ve made your voice heard — you did vote, didn’t you? — for the candidates, resolutions and initiatives of your choice, take a moment to sit back and reminisce about some of the Presidents that the world of geekdom has given us. After all, participating in a democracy is tiring work, and you’ve earned a break today of all days. If you’re not done telling people how you think things should be done, though, by all means, let us know what Commanders-in-Chief you think should or shouldn’t be on this list, either in the comments or on our Facebook page. It may not be your civic duty or anything, but we always want to hear what you think.

1. No. 1 | Josiah Bartlet -- The West Wing

   

   Bartlet for America? Yes, please. The wise-cracking, straight-talking, multiple sclerosis-hiding POTUS who literally stole the show on The West Wing (which was originally envisioned as a Rob Lowe vehicle) also stole our hearts. We would vote for Jed Bartlet for anything from dog-catcher to Glorious Leader for Life, and do so with nothing but trust, even if we do question his motives at times. After all, with a first name like Josiah, you better find something else for people to call you. We can certainly think of worse options than Mr. President.

2. No. 2 | Lex Luthor -- Superman/Smallville

   

   After all the times we've gritted our teeth and voted for the lesser of two evils in a campaign, we're tired of it. If you're done beating around the bush and finally want to vote for the greatest available evil, Lex Luthor is your man. Superman's arch-nemesis hails from the world of business, and knows how to run a government like a company. Perhaps more importantly, though, Luthor is a man of conviction. No matter how many times he's defeated by Superman, he always manages a comeback, and that's the sort of tenacity we want in a world leader.

3. No. 3 | James Marshall -- Air Force One

   

   For national security bona fides, it's hard to top Air Force One's James Marshall. The former military man turned Commander-In-Chief is about as tough on terrorism as you can get, personally knocking out several terrorists who have the gall to try and hijack his jet. It should also be noted that given the chance, we would almost certainly cast a vote for Harrison Ford, as long as we got to call him President Solo for his entire term.

4. No. 4 | Merkin Muffley -- Dr. Strangelove

   

   Peter Sellers rocked the house as three different character's in Stanley Kubrick's classic Dr. Strangelove, but his diplomatic, intellectual and ultimately ineffectual President Merkin Muffley remains close to our hearts. Modeled after Democratic senator and presidential contender Adlai Stevenson, Muffley is soft-spoken, reasoned, deliberate, and well-considered -- all things one looks for in a leader of the free world, even if he is, at the end of the day, incapable of preventing Armageddon. He tries really hard, though, and that's worth something.

5. No. 5 | Richard Nixon -- Futurama

   

   Pure evil? Crooked as ten miles of bad road? Riddled with phlebitis?Sure he is. But Futurama's Nixon is a President who doesn't mince words, riding a wave of support from robot voters to his place as President of Earth even after making a campaign promise to sneak into people's houses at night and wreck up the place. Say what you will, but with a Nixon in the White House, you know exactly what you're getting.

6. No. 6 | Thomas Whitmore -- Independence Day

   

   Now this... this is a President who can deliver a speech! That's not everything, but it's one hell of a lot, especially when the nation is under assault by alien invaders. Whitmore is a leader for a trying time, not unlike the Henry V of American presidents, only without the drinking problem or embarrassing bro-skis from way back when.

7. No. 7 | Steve Holt -- Arrested Development

   

   This two-time senior class president showed a heck of a lot of character by withdrawing from the race for a third term -- for which he was a lock -- in favor of seeking out his biological father. Mostly, though, we just think the guy is pretty harmless -- a lovable knucklehead of a football player who we think could be trusted to sit in the Oval Office for a few years without mucking things up too badly. It would be like a new Ford administration, only with more shouting and fist-pumping. Actually, probably about the exact same amount of fist-pumping.

8. No. 8 | The Beast -- Transmetropolitan

   

   The one time bane of Spider Jerusalem's existence and the man who drove our intrepid reporter into the wilderness, he's still a better alternative than man who takes his place -- The Smiler, who is basically all of humanity's worst qualities rolled up into one grinning political creature. With the introduction of the morally bankrupt and utterly corrupt Smiler, suddenly The Beast -- whose definition of a successful day as President is one where 51% of people in the country go to bed with a hot meal and 49% don't -- doesn't look so bad.

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