It’s 2012 and we know what that means. No, I’m not talking about leap year. No, I’m not talking about the Olympics. No… okay, let me just spell it out. Presidential Election Year (in the United States – sorry international readers). But amidst all the rampant speculation and political horse race coverage, we can often lose sight of what’s important in a Presidential candidate: the ability to deliver a kick-ass speech while we face certain death.
- Jack Nicholson as President James Dale (Mars Attacks)
Admittedly, a world crazy enough to elect Jack Nicholson president deserves to be attacked by Mars. But there’s a wicked swagger to the President and, clearly, he’s got a way with words – even if it doesn’t turn out so well in the end.
2. Morgan Freeman as President Beck (Deep Impact)
Note to whoever makes these decisions at the White House: if, in the real world, you ever need to deliver REALLY bad news to the public, get Morgan Freeman to do it. His voice is so damn calming. This clip is after the threat has been mostly averted (SPOILER ALERT), but it’s still inspirational.
3. Bill Pullman as President Whitmore (Independence Day)
Perhaps the greatest and most inspiring speech that any fictional president has delivered. Although I’m generally a pacifist, I would take up prop weapons to defeat an invading computer generated alien threat for this man.
So this November, when you go to cast your vote for the next President of The United States of America, take these clips into consideration. When it comes down to it, can your candidate deliver the kind of inspiring, rousing and well-articulated speech we’re going to need when the MayanPocalypse 2012 goes down?