It’s way easier for a woman to be president on TV than in the real US of A. Currently, the tube’s got two: Laura Roslin (played by Mary McDonnell), president of humanity on Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, and Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis), leader of the free world on ABC’s Commander in Chief. Who’s the better role model for 2008? It depends. How do you feel about torture? - Adam Rogers and Brad Stone
President Roslin vs. President Allen
Path to Power:
Roslin: The president and 41 other leaders are killed by Cylon robots; Roslin, the education secretary, is the only one left.
Allen: The president dies of a brain aneurysm; Allen, the vice president, steps in, despite outcry from her party.
Chief Rival:
Roslin: Executive officer Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan)
Allen: Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland)
Political Base:
Roslin: Religious cranks who think she’s a prophet
Allen: Independents
Main Political Obstacle:
Roslin: Killer robots
Allen: She’s a she
Personal Crisis:
Roslin: Terminal breast cancer
Allen: Husband Rod, her former chief of staff, feels trivialized
Personal Style:
Roslin: Power suits, spaceships
Allen: Power suits, stretch limousines
Position on Torture:
Roslin: Vents suspects into space on the sly
Allen: Forbids it; fires anyone who tries
The Takeaway:
Roslin: The battle of the sexes is nothing next to the battle against killer robots
Allen: Maybe Hillary could do it
Mary McDonnell (left) plays Laura Roslin, president of humanity on Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, while Geena Davis (right) plays Mackenzie Allen, leader of the free world on ABC’s Commander in Chief.
START
Presidential Showdown
