What's interesting is that technically, Frank is also trying to do good. Everything he does, he says he's doing it for "power", but his means of getting power invariably result in "good".
True. Frank is out for himself, but he seems to like spreading around good things for people who either interest him, or are working toward the same goals he has. It's why I like Frank, despite some of the things he's done. I also love the face to face moments we get with him, like we're getting to really see the rationale behind his decisions, which as you say, are usually very reasonable and logical points.
1) He forces Kern to remove himself from the SecState nomination because of his own comments regarding Israel. Sure, the whole thing was fabricated behind the scenes, but nobody made Kern say the things he did on live TV. Clearly, Kern would not have been a good Secretary of State. Frank then pushes his own candidate forward, Durant, who is a much better Secretary.
Agreed. Frank's play there resulted in a better person holding the office.
2) He sets up the Congressman going for Education (can't remember his name) for failure by leaking his draft. But the draft is terrible and doesn't make the right change. Then Frank drafts a super-team of interns to write a better one. Then he does whatever it takes to get it passed.[/quote]
Ye gods that whole thing with the teacher's unions made me want to pull my hair out. I mean, the infighting on every level was absurd. I'm still surprised Frank managed to hammer out something usable!
3) As mentioned previously, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Russo imploded all on his own. Sure, Frank kills him, but Russo is the one who said yes to the booze and hooker. He would have been a terrible governor if that's all it takes. Meanwhile, the VP really wants the job back and he is probably exactly what the people would have really wanted.
I think Russo was going to commit suicide. He had tried before, and I think he decided, toward the end, to just drink himself to death.
4) When dealing with the giant peach, Frank gets them to turn off the lights and save over $50k/yr, and then takes that money and sets up a college scholarship. He also helps bring closure to the parents. Sure, it was self-serving, but no doubt he made lives better. And it sure as shit was that girl's fault for texting and driving, you can't blame an ass-peach for that.[/QUOTE]
"Ass-peach".
That reminds me of the whole scene describing the peach's actual resemblance.
One of the reasons I like Frank is that he's morally ambiguous. You don't know when he's going to move in your favor or against you, though he will likely have a very rational reason for taking either course of action.
His character is just very nicely complex. He loves his wife, he cares deeply for his friends, and if you're loyal to him, he is loyal to you. At the same time, if you present yourself as a problem, he will brush you aside like a man swatting a persistently irritating fly.
He's used to getting what he wants, and he wants power more than anything, but instead of just serving himself, it seems he wants to do good things with that power. He wants to shape the nation in his vision.
Killing a human being who might or might not recover from alcoholism is the same as putting a mortally wounded dog out of its misery? Man, I'm staying out of your way!
