Open spoilers for the books and TV. I’m waaaaay behind the times since I’ve only just started watching GoT and am only halfway through season 2, but am a bit of a spoiler hound so yea, unboxed spoilers for all seasons ahoy.
Can’t believe this hasn’t been discussed before, most of my ideas have - want to know which way the SDMB wind is blowing in favour of which claimant to the Iron Throne. You’ll have to forgive me if it has, a search didn’t come up with anything quite along the same lines.
“Which type of democracy?!” I hear you cry. Well, let’s assume it’s like the USA; each Kingdom has electors like each state. We’ll say that we’re voting in the Crownlands and that’s the equivalent of Ohio - in other words whichever way it goes could swing the whole election.
Added every claimant I could think of who is alive at the start of season 5 (since dead men make bad kings) and who wants a seat on the Iron Throne - no doubt I’ve forgotten lots of people’s favourite so I apologise in advance, you’ll have to write in a name.
Myself, I’m gonna say I’m a Stannis the Mannis fanboy - he’s uncharismatic and the Red Woman gives me the heeby-jeebies, not to mention his seriously unsavoury treatement of poor Gendry under the mantra of the ends justifies the means, but he is I think the only one who takes the threat from beyond the wall seriously,
Deny I like because of her abolitionist stance, but as a leader she doesn’t really seem like she knows what she’s doing, as in her treatment of the Wise Masters who were summarily executed without trial. You may disagree so I’m willing to be convinced otherwise.
While I admit to having a raging boner for Stannis, my vote ultimately goes to Varys. Mostly because he can outsmug any asshole in the room at any time, but also because unlike most of the protagonists he actually seems to give at least a token shit about the people. Not ideals, not titles, not “what’s right”, not inflexible principles - people.
If the Onion Knight is his running mate, so much the better :).
Varys I included because of this scene with Oberyn, although it’s deliberate misdirection on his part since he knows he’ll never sit on the Iron Throne if given the chance I still think he’d want it to further his agenda of “for the realm”. Then again he might prefer to act behind the scenes. His leadership chops seem best suited for working in the shadows with his networks of spies, I think he’d be really out of his element commanding armies with everyone examining his every move.
I voted for Daenerys primarily because she’s highly charismatic and an accomplished warrior(ess); she does seem a bit clumsy when it comes to ruling a nation but I see that as sort of a learning curve, plus she’s willing to admit her mistakes and always errs on the side of the people. Also, she’s freakin’ hot.
Tommen’s an ideal second choice, but I fear he’s way too naive and malleable, and would quickly become a puppet for whichever faction has his ear (kinda like G.W. Bush.) Petyr, Varys, Tyrion and (to a lesser extent) Sansa are way too treacherous and scheming. Gendry and Jon Snow are good at what they do, but have no diplomacy skills whatsoever. And Hodor – again, too much like G.W. Bush.
But…Stannis? Really?? You guys would vote for a guy who eagerly burns at the stake anyone who doesn’t believe in his wife’s religion? He’s the last one I’d vote for!
Dany, with Tyrion as my VP choice. Jon Snow and Varys as alternates.
Those I all chose because they seem to genuinely care for the fate of non-nobles and seem (so far) to be “good” people (with allowances for a little personal revenge murder on Tyrion’s part).
Good people don’t conspire to murder their own brothers with smoke-fuck-monsters, so Stannis is out. Littlefinger’s an agent of chaos, so not him. Tommen’s pussywhipped, not him. Sansa’s an idiot who trusts Littlefinger, so not her. Gendry’s a non-entity.
Tyrion should be the leader, but I think Jon Snow would be a good vice-king. I am trying to remember their interaction in the books, but can’t. Still, both meet the requirements of:
Whilst fratricide with smoke-fuck monsters would not be my ideal of moral conduct, in context it was the right decision; trying to defeat Renly (who, let’s face it, would have been a crap king) conventionally would weaken both their forces, so one must die so that thousands may live. Stannis recognises that the lives of his soldiers are a valuable asset not to be squandered if it can be avoided. Or, as Tywin puts it, “Explain to me why it is more noble to kill 10,000 men in battle than a dozen at dinner.”
I’d support Dany over Stannis if Dany had the same endgoal as Stannis; save the realm to become king. Dany’s plan seems to be become queen and then kinda wing it. If she told everyone that her dragons would be stationed on the Wall and toast any White Walkers that come near I’d be a Dany fanboy over Stannis, whose strengths and weaknesses are definitely at more extreme ends of the spectrum.
Gendry is the clear choice here. Eldest known son of King Robert, actually has BLACK hair, possesses a bad-ass bull helmet, and one leech’s worth of his blood is enough to kill off any rival candidate. Gendry is the MAN! If he can get Melisandre and ninja-assassin Arya on his side, none could stand against them.
I’ll go with Tyrion, with Daenerys a close second. I consider Tyrion’s understanding of treachery to be a valuable political asset in a place like Westeros (or anywhere, really … it’s a shame Obama didn’t understand that most Republicans would rather betray their country than work with him). Tyrion also has a subtle mind that can understand nuances, something Daenerys could use a little more of. She needs to understand Unintended Consequences more, whereas Tyrion would easily grasp that.
Stannis for me. He’s the only one who really sees the main problem to the realm beyond the Wall. And after the Blackwater he isn’t really gung ho with Melissandre - in fact the only reason he considers killing Edric Storm for his “king’s blood” is because of the calculus that sacrificing one life may be worth saving hundreds more in Westeros.
Of course book-Stannis is far more nuanced and considers multiple sides of the issue (hence why he has Davos there - Davos tells him the truth whether he wants to hear it or not) than snow-Stannis.
So I guess we’re assuming that we have intimate knowledge of all the spoilers in this universe? Because Tyrion is pretty much everybody’s favorite character, but in-universe a common thread is that 99% of people despise him.
Daenerys is George W. Get us embroiled in a quick war with the wrong country, then spend months if not years dealing with an expensive insurgency?
Stannis, Tyrion, Daenerys, are the only ones who show experience leading. Varys is much better served as a shadow leader. Baelish as well, but unlike Varys he’d assume that it would be a good idea to lead, and lead to disaster he would.
Chickenhawk. She has zero actual warrioring experience, not even a montage of Selmy telling her useful advice like “parry low when they attack low.”
Tyrion fails on all three counts. Let’s not mistake being witty for being wise. I know we love him due to his wit, his erudition, and his being the underdog. But he’s too damn sorry for himself, makes horrible decisions and personal life choices.
I’d prefer Varys are he cares about the people and the nation, and has actual political skills. Stannis is not a bad choice either- legit heir, some morals, brave. Jon Snow might be OK if he gets some experience being a leader. I can see a Stannis/Varys ticket.
Other than being violently anti-slavery, and having a great ass, I don’t see Daenerys being any sort of leader. She constantly makes errors in judgement.
I picked the last option. Brienne of Tarth gets my vote: Honorable, brave, determined, smart, loyal, strong, and knows what it means to have been oppressed/mistreated by those in power.
I had to go with Daenerys Targaryen. She’s educated (speaks multiple languages). She doesn’t just preach against slavery, she actually frees slaves. While I’m not all that thrilled with her “divine right” mentality, she does have a point in that her family ruled for hundreds of years while the current administration has appeared to bankrupt the country in less than 20 years of rule, while showing little to no regard for its constituency. I’d also add that while the previous leader went mad, we can’t really pin that on the whole family. I’d say the overthrow, murder and banishment of the Targaryens was illegal and self-serving.
ETA: I’d also have Tyrion as Secretary of State and Varys as Director of Intelligence.