Female presidents

[Tom Flapwell]

Many of you know that Chile finally has elected a woman, Michelle Bachelet, as President. The press asked her if she would ever be married again. She replied that she hadn't had enough time to think about it, but first she said, "You wouldn't be asking that question if I was a man."<br><br>Do you suppose she's right? The U.S. has had only two Presidents enter office without a wife, and one married during his presidency, so I think our media might ask. At the same time, I have a hard time thinking of famous women who have not had the media focus on their gender one way or another. I dunno, maybe it happens as often with guys and I simply don't notice.<br><br>Of course, it's especially hard to ignore gender when one is a first among women. You may not have heard, but Liberia just swore in President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -- the first female elected head of state in the entire continent.<br><br>So, how many does that make for world history to put pressure on the U.S.? Not that my first choice for 2008 is Hillary Clinton or Carol Moseley Braun.

[Gizensha]

<!--QuoteBegin-Tom Flapwell+Jan 17 2006, 03:10 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Tom Flapwell @ Jan 17 2006, 03:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Do you suppose she's right? The U.S. has had only two Presidents enter office without a wife, and one married during his presidency, so I think our media might ask. At the same time, I have a hard time thinking of famous women who have not had the media focus on their gender one way or another. I dunno, maybe it happens as often with guys and I simply don't notice. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Yes but the US actually has a political position for the person married to the president. (If a woman gets elected as president of the United States, is her husband still refered to as the First Lady?). I know Britain doesn't have an equivilent role, the Wife (or husband) of the PM just happens to be the wife (or husband) of the PM, and is completely inconsequental. Except for within the celeb-obsessed media. I assume that most countries don't have an actual political position for spouse of the elected leader.

[DesertFoxCat]

I hate to say it, but First Lady is <i>not</i> a political position over here.<br><br>First ladies just happen to frequently be politically active. But back to the issue at hand...<br><br><br>History has shown that women can be fine leaders (Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi are the two I know of) and I'd like to see one as president in the USA, but gender really shouldn't have any place in an election. Things like past activities and the issues are what voters should pay attention to. I don't think that any number of women being elected to power is going to influence the way Americans vote. Most Americans probably don't even know that female political leaders have existed.

[Bocaj Claw]

People say that a difference between men and women is that men are naturally more agressive. This may or may not be true, but just think: wouldn't it be nice to have less testosterone in the Oval office?

[Rooster]

Germany has a female Chancellor now as well, right?<br><br>However, just because they're women, doesn't mean that they'll be good presidents. Margret Thatcher prooved that women are equal to men, they can both be leader of a country, and they can both be utterly useless.

[Gizensha]

<!--QuoteBegin-DesertFoxCat+Jan 17 2006, 03:54 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (DesertFoxCat @ Jan 17 2006, 03:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> History has shown that women can be fine leaders (Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi are the two I know of) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> ...Margaret Thatcher was <i>not</i> a fine leader. She was a vampress to the country's lifeblood. John Major was a vast improvement over her.<br><br>...When John Major is the best leader of your country in your lifetime, you're country has a major problem with picking leaders. No pun intended.

[DesertFoxCat]

<!--QuoteBegin-Gizensha+Jan 17 2006, 01:46 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Gizensha @ Jan 17 2006, 01:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> ...Margaret Thatcher was <i>not</i> a fine leader. She was a vampress to the country's lifeblood. John Major was a vast improvement over her.<br><br>...When John Major is the best leader of your country in your lifetime, you're country has a major problem with picking leaders. No pun intended.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Now I just need someone from India to tell me how horrible Indira was. <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <br><br>And I got to live with two Bushes and a Clinton. Good thing I can vote next time around...

[Gizensha]

<!--QuoteBegin-DesertFoxCat+Jan 17 2006, 08:40 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (DesertFoxCat @ Jan 17 2006, 08:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> And I got to live with two Bushes and a Clinton. Good thing I can vote next time around... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> What was wrong with Clinton? <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--><br><br>That's relevent to the job of leading a country, that is.

[DesertFoxCat]

He played a saxophone. Everyone knows presidents can only play dumb.<br><br>Seriously though, I know next to nothing about his presidency which means he had to be good.

[Gizensha]

<!--QuoteBegin-DesertFoxCat+Jan 17 2006, 09:37 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (DesertFoxCat @ Jan 17 2006, 09:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> He played a saxophone. Everyone knows presidents can only play dumb.<br><br>Seriously though, I know next to nothing about his presidency which means he had to be good. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>The only huge thing I know about it was that he was impeeched for lying to a court about a freaking blowjob.

[Rooster]

Wait...what's wrong with Blair? Granted he's completly lost his mind these last few years, but remember the good old times! <!--emo&:wag:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ailwag.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tailwag.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Muninn]

Well since every politician will have their opponents it's no surprise both Thatcher and Indira will have their critics, just like every other president. One way to make the American public choose women (if you really want them to) is to have both major parties have women president-elects. Hillary for the Democrats, Rice for the Republicans.<br><br>Next on the agenda, appointing a Libertarian, atheist, young, black homosexual to the US presidency.

[Bocaj Claw]

Thats a lot of prejudice to be overcome represented in one person <!--emo&:huh:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/huh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='huh.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Gizensha]

<!--QuoteBegin-Jack Ravendawn+Jan 19 2006, 03:39 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Jack Ravendawn @ Jan 19 2006, 03:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Well since every politician will have their opponents it's no surprise both Thatcher and Indira will have their critics, just like every other president. One way to make the American public choose women (if you really want them to) is to have both major parties have women president-elects. Hillary for the Democrats, Rice for the Republicans.<br><br>Next on the agenda, appointing a Libertarian, atheist, young, black homosexual to the US presidency. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> But a libertarian would be better than a Libertarian. That way they wouldn't roll over to let they're tummy be scratched by Big Bussiness. The caps is important.<br><br>As for Rice vs Hillary Clinton... I think the planet would lose o_o

[Steve the Pocket]

Huh... hadn't thought of it before but if Rice is our next president, we'll have not only the first female president but the first Black president as well! Honestly, it just occurred to me right now. Me and my colorblind brain. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... lleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->