Fudge - evil or just a moron (WAS: Chapter Summary CoS)

[Aleks]

No: HPFGUIDX 25579

> 
> >Ch. 14
> >9) Fudge - secretly evil or just a moron?
> 
> Worse.  I think he's a politician.  Various comments about his 
career and generous contributions by the Malfoys make him sound like 
your garden variety politician.
> 
> Catherine
> Albion, CA

Before I start out replying to this question (which is something I'm 
actually very interested in) I have to warn everyone that not only 
will this post be very long, but it will also contain a number of 
quotes which are not actually from Harry Potter, but which I feel 
are, nevertheless, relevant. I don't think this will be a problem as 
I have seen other people do similar things, but if I shouldn't then 
apologies in advance.

The quotes in question come from "Star Wars - The New Jedi Order: 
Edge Of Victory II - Rebirth" by Greg Keyes. Those familiar with the 
SW universe will probably understand what is going on, but for those 
non-fans; 'our heroes' (Luke, Han, Leia, and others from the books, 
Wedge, Mara etc) are fighting against an alien species from outside 
the galaxy who hate technology and are determined to destroy it along 
with all who use it. The New Republic's Chief of State, Borsk 
Fey'lya, is a traditionally slimy politician, largely disliked 
by 'our heroes', but as they are coming to realise, he is good deep 
down, despite appearing to merely look out for his own position.

The parallels here between their situation, and that with 'our 
heroes' (Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore) fighting Voldemort and his 
supporters and dealing with Fudge are, IMHO, quite strong. As well as 
the obvious - at war, evil enemy and slimy politician - whilst in SW 
their enemy (the Yuuzhan Vong) are anti-technology, in HP Voldemort 
is anti-Muggles and neither are content with merely destroying the 
object of their hatred they also want to destroy all who associate 
with it. Also, Fey'lya(SW) and Fudge(HP) are such similar characters 
that I felt I had to share these quotes with the group, as they show 
the SW characters' insights on Fey'lya which I feel could apply 
equally well to Fudge.
  
"I have my disagreements with him, obviously, but he's trying to save 
the New Republic, in his own way. A civil war can only make us 
weaker." - Luke Skywalker
"Not if we can make it quick and painless. Not if we have real 
leadership when it's over, rather than the fractured squabbling crowd 
that's got us sitting on our thumbs." - Jaina Solo

Here Luke's analysis of Fey'lya's actions are very similar to 
Dumbledore's comments on Fudge's behaviour at the end of GoF, whilst 
Jaina's comments echo the opinions of many HP fans, as well as what 
H/R/Hr appear to be thinking. Do you agree with the belief that 'a 
civil war can only make us weaker' or the standpoint of 'if we can 
get in a proactive leadership quickly then things will be better'?
IMHO the last thing either universe needs is a dispute over who to 
lead them against the enemy. Do you think that Dumbledore, or one of 
his 'supporters' could lead a coup against Fudge without weakening 
them, even temporarily, in the battle against the Big V?  

"That was uncommonly stupid...even for Fey'lya. Do you think our 
chief of state is working with the Peace Brigade?" - Kyp Durron

Again, this seems to be a fair comparison to many people's thoughts 
on Fudge, denying that Voldemort could possible have risen again, and 
ignoring the evidence pointing to many of his DE's is 'uncommonly 
stupid.' Here, as in GoF, people are questioning whether or not such 
incompetence is merely a front to hide his treachery. Is it actually 
fair to assume that simply because Fudge is doing what many 
politicians do (i.e. hiding his head in the sand) that he could, in 
fact, be secretly supporting the other side?

"Hamner thinks the whole thing was a ploy engineered to get me away 
from Coruscant...Borsk Fey'lya has never been one of our strongest 
supporters, but I can't see him thinking that arresting me would 
solve any of his problems..." - Luke Skywalker

Although this quote might seem to fit my point less than the others, 
I think it is one that could be relevant to something several people 
on list have predicted, that is Dumbledore being removed as 
Headmaster. He implies a threat of this in his comments to D at the 
end of GoF, and I can see it happening. To those supporters of the 
Big V it would seem that he is acting on their concerns by removing 
a 'Muggle-loving-fool' but as a political move it would actually be 
quite canny, by removing Dumbledore from a position which is, at 
least in part, in the public eye those against D will believe him to 
be out of the picture completely but D can continue to act against V 
(which is in Fudge's best interests)and it will seem that his actions 
are unsanctioned from the MoM. Fudge has deniability, and is 
protected from the consequences of D's actions should he fail.

"I know you don't care for Chief Fey'lya. I don't either. But he 
isn't a traitor and he's not stupid...But he <i>is</i> a politician, 
and he thinks he can play that game better than (the Yuuzhan Vong) 
can. Everything he's doing is aimed at buying time...Fey'lya will 
never order a strike while (they) are quiescent. He'll maintain the 
illusion of truce as long as he can." - Wedge Antilles

This last quote seems to me to sum up Fudge completely. He ~isn't~ a 
traitor, he ~isn't~ stupid, but he ~is~ a politician. Like Fey'lya he 
wants to maintain an illusion, in his case one of peace. He isn't 
prepared to make a move, to destroy the peace that the magical 
community is enjoying until he absolutely has to. He will never order 
a strike until it is impossible to hide the fact that Voldemort has 
returned. And like Fey'lya, Fudge wants to buy time. I think that 
Fudge ~does~ believe that the Big V is back, but by refusing to admit 
the truth openly, he buys time for them to prepare 'behind the 
scenes'.