Geena Davis takes command

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Independent woman
In time, President Allen might distinguish herself in yet another way: As a serious archer. Muses Davis (who in 2000 tried out for the U.S. Olympic archery team), “Maybe she will shoot arrows on the White House lawn.”

It might come to that, considering the range of opposition Mac seems fated to attract.

“As an Independent, she has no party backing,” Davis says. “Her being the first Independent president trumps the fact that she’s a woman. It causes even more upheaval in Washington than her being female.”

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Meanwhile, beyond Mackenzie Allen’s fictitious presidency there’s another phantom chief executive in office. Jeb Bartlet, the Democratic incumbent played by Martin Sheen on NBC’s “The West Wing,” is closing out his second term as the race to succeed him shifts into high gear: the Republican hopeful, Senator Vinick (Alan Alda), is battling Democrat Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits).

Is all this too much government for viewers?

“Look at the number of cop shows and lawyer shows and forensics shows,” Davis argues. “I think there could be room for two quite different examinations of the same political office.”

She quotes “Commander in Chief” creator Rod Lurie, who says his series “is not nonpartisan, it’s anti-partisan.” That’s what really sets it apart.

Explains Davis, “To behave with the idea of pleasing your party always in the back of your mind is limiting. But President Allen isn’t forced to adhere to a party platform.

“It’s a fantasy that we could have a president who could actually make choices based on what’s right, rather than having to weigh the political fallout. But that’s sort of what we’re showing.” Davis smiles like a shoo-in. “And you can dream.”

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