Something wrong with this Fudge

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 107423

HunterGreen:
> > > Evidence for an ESE!Fudge is ridiculously easy to put together. 

Matt added:
> > > I'm not so sure about Fudge as evil; I see him more as the
> > > quintessential bureaucrat, who values process (or the appearance
> > > thereof), preservation of the status quo, and above all 
> > > retaining his position of authority, while discounting 
> > > principles and anything that makes his job more difficult than 
> > > it needs to be.
 
SSSusan now:
> > All those things you've said, Matt, do seem to perfectly describe 
> > Fudge.  On the other hand, does anybody else think it's just 
> > possible that JKR might be *deliberately* getting us to focus 
> > on "misguided, bumbling, quintessential bureaucrat Fudge" so that 
> > we don't seriously consider the possibility of his being ESE! 
> > and "behind it all"??
> <snip> 
> > Maybe Fudge isn't ESE! for the reasons often put forth [power-
> > hungry MoM in at least partial alignment w/ DE goals & values] 
> > but because he's truly orchestrated all these things all along, 
> > from behind the scenes, to help Voldy return.
 
 
dcgmck:
> Everyone is making persuasive arguments, but as an American living 
> under GWB in these curious times and one who has worked with and 
> under a variety of bureaucrats and administrators, I am inclined to 
> think that JKR has had more than enough of her own experiences with 
> bureaucracy to be sincere in her desire to demonstrate that evil is 
> not always intentional, that willful ignorance and stupidity can 
> just as dangerous if not even more damaging than the best-laid 
> plans of villains.  Fudge may, indeed, prove to be Machiavellian, 
> but I'm more inclined to think he's more like GW, our fearless U.S. 
> president, and therefore more dangerous.  It's just not possible to 
> be so prescient as to plan some of the things that can go wrong 
> with unhealthy doses of pro-active paranoia and stupidity.  If one 
> takes the canon at face value, my assertion is borne out.  Of 
> course, reading between the lines yields the opposite 
> understanding.  Huh...


SSSusan:
LOL, dcgmck!  Your point that fearlessness coupled w/ stupidity can 
do more damage than the plans of evil villains is fair enough to 
make.  Fudge & GWB--an interesting comparison. :-)

I like your last sentence, though, and I think this is the "problem" 
[read: fun] with this debate; it can't be conclusive just yet.

Siriusly Snapey Susan