Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing
President Bartlet was an idealist who took a stand on controversial issues, challenged his detractors on substantive issues, and showed his human side to the electorate. In other words, he did everything that would cause approval ratings to plummet for real politicians today. With our apologies to former President Bill Clinton, we’d argue that Bartlet is the most beloved Democratic president in recent history. (Fun fact: The most beloved Republican one was also an actor.)
President Laura Roslin | Battlestar Galactica
Roslin became the leader of the Twelve Colonies after a Cylon strike, and she showed some real balls after taking the job. Good thing, too — the future of the human race just happened to be at stake. The dense mythology of Battlestar Galactica lends itself to complex characters, and Roslin was a prime example, dealing with her position as the most powerful woman in the universe, breast cancer, alien colonization, and a re-election. Through it all, she kept a cool head and remained resolute. But we’re still hoping for one last public appearance where Roslin helps us understand what the hell actually happened on the B.G. finale.
Benson DuBois | Benson
So Benson was sassy yet wise butler for a rich family in Connecticut. Then he became the sassy but wise butler for a relative of the family, who happened to be the governor of an unnamed state. And then he became … state budget director? Well, okay, that seems a little far fetched but we’ll buy it. Oh but then after that he became Lieutenant Governor. That’s right, in a few years Benson went from a butler to second-in-command of the whole state. How can you not love that kind of political fairytale story? Oh and it gets better: The series finale ended with Benson waiting to see if he’d won an election for governor. It was like the Sopranos finale, only satisfying.
