Are there any famous politicians who are trekkies?

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

I was just wondering if there are any famous (or infamous) political figures who are known trekkies. If you know of any, post what you know about their fan status (let's leave our opinions of their political views out of here, though). Anyone?

 

[cardinal biggles]

I remember Dan Quayle recording some sort of message for that two-hour TV retrospective they aired around the 25th anniversary.

Mark Foley (the Florida Republican who had to resign because of the scandal involving him hitting on teenaged male Congressional pages) was one of the few, if not the only to sign some lobbyist's petition to give Enterprise a fifth season. (with friends like him, who needs enemies? )

There's a list here at Wikipedia -- mostly celebs, but a few political figures.

 

[Plum]

I think, if my addled brain recalls, Canadian Prime Minister and all around right wing guy (and I mean round, check the belly on this guy!) Stephen Harper once ssaid he was a trekkie.

Hey, anyone remember the old Canadian $5 dollar bill/Spock trick?

 

[Kegek]

Wasn't there a congressman who accused the Bush Administration of being faux Klingons?

 

[Plum]

Hmm, don't think so, I'd think I would remember that (I read a lot of journalism). *shrug*

Oh, but the Republicans have been mentioning Trek once in a while. Star Trek is very popular with right wing magazines and such, it's weird frankly.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Kegek said:
Wasn't there a congressman who accused the Bush Administration of being faux Klingons?

Rep. David Wu (D-Oregon)...

"This president has listened to some people, the so-called Vulcans in the White House, the ideologues. But you know, unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek who made the decisions based on logic and fact, these guys make it on ideology. These aren't Vulcans. There are Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a battle of their own. Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war."

Of course, it went right over Wu's head that the references to Bush's advisors as "Vulcans" had nothing to do with Spock and everything to do with the Roman god of fire.

 

[Kegek]

^
Yeah, that really cracked me up, especially his misinterpretation of the word 'Vulcan'. I saw it on youtube a while back... and here it is!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Wow Frank Sinatra and the Dalai Lama. We're so cool! :thumbsup:

 

[Plum]

... oh you're kidding me. That's priceless!

 

[donners22]

I thought I'd heard Bill Clinton was a fan, but I didn't see him in that list.

 

[Bill Morris]

How about Sabrina Scharf, a former California state senator, who before that played Miramanee in TOS: The Paradise Syndrome?

http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Sabrina_Scharf

And here's a tidbit from startrek.com about Garrett Wang and Bill Clinton:

Once at a Congressional Asian Conference event, he had an opportunity to take that mischievousness to the highest levels. While former president Bill Clinton was giving a long speech to the conference, "I worked with the Secret Service backstage on getting the voice just right," Garrett recounted. "When I joined him I asked if I could imitate him, so I said a few sentences. As I did it, Clinton began turning red and said 'Well, that's pretty good, thank you!'"

 

[Sci]

cardinal biggles said:

Kegek said:
Wasn't there a congressman who accused the Bush Administration of being faux Klingons?

Rep. David Wu (D-Oregon)...

"This president has listened to some people, the so-called Vulcans in the White House, the ideologues. But you know, unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek who made the decisions based on logic and fact, these guys make it on ideology. These aren't Vulcans. There are Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a battle of their own. Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war."

Of course, it went right over Wu's head that the references to Bush's advisors as "Vulcans" had nothing to do with Spock and everything to do with the Roman god of fire.

I don't think it went over his head -- I think he was just trying to undermine their ideology by comparing them to warmongers, and used the "Vulcan" thing as a jumping-off point. It's a deliberate reinterpretation, not a misinterpretation.

 

[Plum]

^^^
Sorta like ENT was with Vulcans. I get that.

 

[Masao]

According to this page, Corey Booker, mayor of Newark NJ, told the NY Times that his guilty pleasure is watching Star Trek.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3853122.html

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Former Democratic Senator from Illinois, Ambassador, and brief 2004 Presidential candidate Carol Moseley Braun appeared on The Daily Show in 2004 and not only dropped a "Live Long and Prosper" complete with hand sign, but also outed herself as a Dune fan by saying “Fear is the mindkiller.”

Here's the clip:
http://www.indecision2008.com/blog.jhtml?c=vc&videoId=108990


King Abdullah II of Jordan is not only a fan, but appeared in the Voyager episode "Investigations."
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Abdullah_ibn_al-Hussein

 

[seekertwo]

What about Cleveland, Ohio, politician Tim Hagan? He married Kate Mulgrew...... :thumbsup:

 

[Theodore Jay Miller]

seekertwo said:
What about Cleveland, Ohio, politician Tim Hagan? He married Kate Mulgrew...... :thumbsup:

And there's Illinois Republican Jack Ryan, who was married to Jeri Ryan.

 

[Squiggy]

Let's not talk about him.

 

[Valin]

Theodore Jay Miller said:

And there's Illinois Republican Jack Ryan, who was married to Jeri Ryan.

Tom Clancy's fictional President Jack Ryan is also a Trek fan.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Locutus of Bored said:
King Abdullah II of Jordan is not only a fan, but appeared in the Voyager episode "Investigations."
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Abdullah_ibn_al-Hussein

A major figure of royalty, and *still* he wasn't allowed to have any lines - just because he's not in SAG. It must have taken some balls, some pure NADS, for some pissant union to dare say that to the King of Jordan.