ESE!Fudge

[mhbobbin]

No: HPFGUIDX 113267

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, macfotuk at y... wrote:
> A newbie recently posted a 'don't you think Fudge might be evil?' 
> post and I'm well aware both of being a relative newbie myself and 
> that there has probably been a substantial debate and sets of 
> theories about Fudge.
> 
> I really can't imagine why readers don't see this guy as at the 
> least deliberately obstructive and at worst a real ally of LV (or 
> severely imperio'd victim). I am so glad he appears to be going, 
but 
> I want him punished. He isn't bumbling and well-meaning, or even 
> *simply* prepared to do anything to acqire and then retain power. 
> 
> I don't have the time to make the full case against him (and 
besides 
> many must have already), but being reminded of the Quibbler 
article 
> about his having goblins 'disappeared' for me was just the icing 
on 
> the cake. He has repeatedly foiled any hope of Sirius having a 
> normal life or of Harry being able to have him as a godfather and, 
> via Umbridge (who I do NOT believe was acting independently) was 
> positively malicious (see trial if you doubt this and his 
whispering 
> campaign and briefing against Harry/DD in the Prophet). With 
Sirius 
> he was the one to arrest him and, no doubt, did little to prevent 
> him going to prison without trial. He then would not listen to the 
> case at the end of PoA and did everything possible to have Sirius 
> dementor-kissed asap, He again would not listen in GoF and had 
Barty 
> Crouch rubbed out. Maybe he even heard from Sirius during his 
visit 
> to Azhkaban the news about Pettigrew and wanted it hushed up as 
> quick as can be (although Sirius only knew about Pettigrew after 
> he'd read Fudge's prophet). The guy's bad, a badd'un. Good 
riddance 
> (provided he doesn't go into a background role of great malice).
> 
> I wish someone could remind me of where it was that something is 
> said about Fudge 'cutting a deal' with the Dementors against DD's 
> misgivings.

mhbobbin:

I agree that Fudge is a bad'un.   I think the real debate is whether 
Fudge is evil because he is an incompetent and corrupt politician 
willing to do anything to hold onto power, or if he is evil as in 
Death Eater. I'm not yet convinced he is a DE, but his actions / 
obstructions / attitudes are consistently helpful to DEs and 
Voldemort.

On re-reading PoA, I was surprised to see how often Fudge 
coincidentally shows up at strategic moments. Surprised because back 
when I originally read PoA, it seemed like Fudge was a bumbling but 
benign figure. Only towards the end of GoF, and  in OotP, does it 
become clear that Fudge is behaving suspiciously.  In post 107368, I 
detail Fudge's strategic appearances in the PoA Sirius/Pettigrew 
saga. Without Fudge, much of what transpires in PoA would not happen.

mhbobbin