Is Bill Shatner a Democrat? Is Captain Kirk liberal or conservative?

[The Night Owl]

I have always wondered... Is Shatner a Democrat or a Republican? Anyone know for certain?

Also, would Captain Kirk, the character, best be described as Liberal, Conservative, or Independent?

[wryter2000]

1. Uh, he's Canadian

Unless he changed his citizenship.

[Maple]

6. Dual citizenship

but go to http://www.williamshatner.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewforum&f=1 and ask him on the message boards there.

[molly]

2. He's Jewish so I am assuming he is a DEM

I would describe him as liberal.

[Elidor]

3. I have Capt. Kirk pegged as a Libertarian

Very conservative on Defense, Galactic Security and all that, but very liberal on choice (can't have little green Kirks running around ruining your career by proving your violations of the Prime Directive), definitely NOT a drug-warrior, though he does what he's told. No qualms about the death penalty, but prefers to set phasors to 'stun.'

[fizzana]

4. He's a jerk

This I know from first and second hand experience. One must therefore conclude that he's a Republican.

[Kellanved]

5. A Canadian jerk

AFAIR

[The Night Owl]

10. Care to share your Shatner story?

I would love to hear it.

[Kellanved]

7. Shatner is liberal (or at least not totally repub)

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/08/25/loc_star_trek_convention.html

[0rganism]

8. Now THAT's a no-win situation

If he's a Dem, that's one more jerk at the party.

If he's a rethug, then he's probably giving lots of money to elect assholes.

[Deja Q]

9. Kirk is quite Independent... as for Shatner...

At times he talks liberal (supporting the betterment of people and cultures), but overall he's independent.

Certainly no republican, that's for sure! (though more repuke trek fans put Kirk above the rest, methinks...)

And unlike liberal stereotypes perpetuated by republicans, Kirk will fight back as necessary. Just because one is liberal doesn't mean one will let others walk all over him...

I've been trying to remember when Kirk decided to pre-emptively attack or kill somebody, and that never EVER happened.

Kirk also saw the weaknesses of the Prime Directive and went against it if he felt it was the right thing to do (but Picard himself violated the PD 9 times in the first four seasons of TNG, yet alone the # of times he interfered in later series and movies) On a couple of those occasions he was wrong in breaking it (namely in "The Apple" where he decided that a stable, balanced society shouldn't be controlled by an external influence and acted out of his ideals despite McCoy's and Spock's musing about what might happen if he did interfere...) but usually he was sensible when he felt he had to break it. Namely in "A Private Little War" (which is a gem amongst the classic episodes) where he felt he had no choice.

It would be cool to see follow-ups to some of the TOS eps, even overall clunkers like "The Apple". How did Kirk's influence help (or hurt) the societies he had involved himself with? Did Kirk's involvement in "The Apple" destroy the society for good? What about the society in "A Private Little War", did Kirk's actions force the villagers and hunters to reconcile and work together again? (Can't say the same for TNG and later eras, which were more concerned with preaching politics than telling stories that could have been followed up on in order to make a greater political statement without having to preach...)

Shatner, historically, has always been out for himself - even at the expense of others, at least in terms of his career. Dunno a thing about him personally except the SNL debacle (which he probably regrets, for being "just a show" he's always put all his effort into his character... is this a kettle calling a pot black?) Doesn't sound very liberal to me, that Shatner. On that aspect, he might be a republican. I dunno, but I agree that he, sadly, is a jerk.

[baldguy]

11. How's this?

from ST6:

Kirk: "They're animals."
Spock: "Jim, there is an historic opportunity here."
Kirk: "Don't believe them! Don't trust them!"
Spock: "They're dying."
Kirk: "Let them die!"

later, in his cabin:
"Captain's log, stardate 9522.6: I've never trusted Klingons, and I never will. I could never forgive them for the death of my boy. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to a peace summit is problematic at best. Spock says this could be an historic occasion, and I'd like to believe him, but how on earth can history get past people like me?"



Let's see: hate, anger, fear, racism, short-sighted selfishness and dreams of genocide.

Just add a call for insane tax cuts, and an aneimic gov't - and you've got a conservitive. Fortunatly, the economics of the 23rd century are a little different.

[Kamika]

15. We all would talk like that

Cmon the klingons had been his enemy His entire life.. and then finally they kill his son.. You Think a liberal wouldnt say those words?

Kirk was pretty liberal from what i could see.. especially when he had sex with almost every female he could find.

His best friend wasnt even a human.

[nomaco-10]

12. ooh, I don't know. He sure has that freeper haircut thing going on. mmmm?

[DoNotRefill]

13. I don't know or care...

I'm just glad he gave up singing!!!

[CookieD]

14. I always thought Kirk was a liberal, but ...

Spock I'm not so sure of. He kinda scares me like John Ashcroft.