Voting has closed in the Republican Movement's mock-presidential election, and victory has gone to... Kiri Te Kanawa? She's not who I would have chosen, but it seems the voters had a clear preference for academic and cultural candidates rather than former politicians. Which suggests we want a figurehead as useless and powerless as the present incumbent.
It's been a useful exercise, both as a publicity stunt, and for getting a few people thinking about what they want in an elected president. Now hopefully one day soon we'll get to do it for real...
