fudge the 3rd power?

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 88709

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Christopher Nuttall" > 
> I think that Fudge is an 'evil overlord' in his own right.  His actions in OOP make 
sense in this light, with him strenthening his powers before Voldemort can become 
strong himself.  If Harry's lying, Fudge is still powerful, if he's telling the truth, Fudge 
will be ready for him.  
> 
> Like many other less-than-savoury govenments, Fudge is reducing the military 
potental of the WW's population and strenthening his controls of the press.  He's now 
may have to take public action against Voldemort, but he's still in control.  
> 

I'm not so sure.
I see Fudge as too weak for the 'Evil Overlord' spot, not strong enough to be ruthless 
and not clever enough to be truly devious. I see him as a cat's-paw, manipulated by 
others. He's a place-man, there to give legitimacy (and aid) to his sponsors, the DEs.

Laura reminded me (thanks Laura!) of a TBAY post I made about Crouch Snr that 
covered just this point. Totally without shame, modesty or embarassment, I reproduce 
part of it below.


(85535)
"You don't think that young Barty was found with them DEs by accident,
do you? Not what I heard. I heard it was 'arranged' by 'interested
parties' to bring old Crouch down. Couldn't win, you see; either he
goes easy on Barty and everybody thinks it's nepotism, or he goes hard
and everybody looks at him as if he's somethin' the cat dragged in.
Either way he gets knocked off his pedestal. Worked too. Bound to.
Folks not so keen on his methods no more. Lookin' for an excuse to get
shut of him. And suddenly there ain't so many DEs in court when old
Fudge gets his feet under the desk. Has to look after his friends,
don't he? O'course later old Crouch realised what had happened, so he
gets young Barty out o' the slammer." He shifted to a more comfortable
position.
"Just somethin' I heard," he muttered.


No canon proof, of course. But the thrust is that it wasn't that people wanted Fudge
in so much, as they (or some of them) wanted Crouch out. Fudge ends up beholden to  
those that put the fix in. Very handy for those that thought Crouch was too good at 
nailing DEs to the wall in Azkaban.

Kneasy