Blundering Dunderhead (Was: Chapter Discussions: Chapter 8, The Hearing)

[rayheuer3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 87504

Athena, talking about Percy's motives at the trial, states:
"Percy's big problem is that he doesn't realize that Fudge is a 
Voldemort sympathizer and puppet.  So when Percy is helping Fudge, 
he's actually helping Voldemort."
And I (Ray) respond with one of my favorite theories (which apparently nobody 
on the list shares), which I call the "Blundering Dunderhead" theory:

I still don't believe that Fudge is intentionally helping Voldemort.  He can 
be termed a "puppet" in that, knowingly or not, he is helping Voldy's cause.  
However, it is my feeling that Fudge is just trying to beat his own drum.  It 
was said in an earlier book that the only reason Fudge is MoM is that 
Dumbledore turned the job down.  Whether this is actually true or not, if it is the 
common conception, Fudge will know it, and be looking for any excuse to show 
that he is the better choice, by casting Dumbledore in a bad light.

I have seen many examples of the "Blundering Dunderhead" official taking a 
stand and refusing to budge on it, despite any evidence to the contrary.  The 
leaders of the opposing view (in this case DD and Harry) are misguided at best, 
crimiinal conspirators at worst, and anyone who attempts to argue their side 
has simply been "seduced by [whoever's] lies"  It is ironic that, in many 
cases, the BD (Fudge in this case) describes himself when describing his opponents.

But we agree on Percy's motives.  He has decided to hitch his wagon to 
Fudge's star, with an eye toward eventually becoming MoM himself.  This means 
cutting off all ties with his family, who have aligned themselves with DD and Harry. 
 It probably causes Percy great pain, but once he has chosen to align himself 
with Fudge, he cannot go back.  Thus I describe Percy as "Blundering 
Dunderhead - The Next Generation".

Now that Dumbledore has been proven right, and the WW has recognized that 
Voldemort is back and the DE's are again active, there will be repercussions for 
Percy, Fudge, et al.  IMHO, Fudge's political career is finished.  He will 
probably be forced to resign once a replacement is decided on.  Percy will have 
to fade back into the woodwork for a while, but that will give him the 
opportunity to learn more about the way politics work in the WW, as well as mending 
some fences with his family.

  --  Ray

  -- Ray


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