Female President in '08

[Junk-Man]

We may very well have our first female president in 2008. What are all of your thoughts on that?

Personally, I think that a politician is a politician regardless of their gender. It really doesn't matter who is in the white house so long as they are inteligent, well spoken individuals who care about the issues that affect Americans and the world. If our female president is a bad leader, it simply means she is a bad leader.

Personally, Not much will change if the country is led by a female for the next 4-8 years because, like I said, a politician is a politician.

 

[Torik]

I don't think we will... And I hope we don't... And if and if a politician is a politician no matter what gender then Hilary Clinton sucks. And yes things would change indeed and gender does matter. Though being a female doesn't make you any less of a good president, it does affect how the world sees us as nation. In alot of countries women are not considered important, and if our president is a woman then those countries will not support us, and will laugh at us. No offense to women, who by the way are as equal as men, and are just as awesome, but I think the presidency is a man's job, just like a midwife is a girls job only.

 

[Junk-Man]

Germany is the third most powerful economy in the world and the country is lead by a woman.
Britain was also briefly lead by a woman.

Not much changed in those countries at all. Its just like I said: A politician is a politician, regardless of the gender.

 

[Torik]

Well then if that is true... Lets just say that a politician is a politician regardless of gender. Then Hilary Clinton is a very poor polictian. And doesn't deserve to win the election

 

[Junk-Man]

That is true. She is only riding on her famous husband's coat tails. The question is, will that be enough to catapult her into the white house. We'll see...

 

[Rye]

Bush didn't deserve to win, but he did.

Besides, if you have to ask if we're ready for a female president or a black president, then obviously America is still too sexist/racist and we clearly aren't ready. :\

 

[EmuMaster2002]

ANYONE but Hilary Clinton.

Or Oprah.

 

[Torik]

Agreeing with Emu Master. I have no problem with a woman or a black person winning, but I do have a problem with Hilary Clinton winning.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

I agree with Torik on the thought that Hillary is, well, awfully suited for the job.

But I would think Oprah would make a semi-descent president... she'd get our children in schools reading at the very least - something seemingly no large number of politicians has yet been able to do. That's about it, but hey - that's more than our last fist full of presidents.

But otherwise I don't care. Whoever is going to help me out the most is going to get my vote. I don't care if they like to get dressed up in gender opposite specific garb while being spanked by a midget covered in chocolate syrup high heels, a wig, a leotard, and a van dyke goatie - if they help me out they help me out.

Reminds me of how people were going to vote specifically for or against Kennedy simply because he was Roman Catholic. Or how people's opinions changed about President Hoover (I think?) because people started saying he cross dressed - to be fair I don't know what president it was, and if it was cross dressing, but it was something personal that made people look at them differently after wards.

Hell, if someone on the street saw me trip and wanted to help me out, i wouldn't care what sex that person was, the color of their skin, or creed in their head. As long as they helped me.

 

[Torik]

A damn good point. I absolutely agree.

 

[kaze950]

About the Oprah comment, that can be said true for a lot of people. However, I think the people who will make the best Presidents in today's world will never have the chance. A sad fact.

I don't mind a female president, but I oppose Hillary on account of me being somewhat of a republican. I just don't think that people should vote for Hillary because she is a woman, or that people should vote for Obama because he is black.

 

[Lene]

I don't think we will... And I hope we don't... And if and if a politician is a politician no matter what gender then Hilary Clinton sucks. And yes things would change indeed and gender does matter. Though being a female doesn't make you any less of a good president, it does affect how the world sees us as nation. In alot of countries women are not considered important, and if our president is a woman then those countries will not support us, and will laugh at us. No offense to women, who by the way are as equal as men, and are just as awesome, but I think the presidency is a man's job, just like a midwife is a girls job only.

Unless you need a dick to fulfill the duties of a president then your analogy is way off base.

America is the most powerful nation in the world. A woman holding the presidential position will not magically change that. Also, I want to see proof of foreign relations suffering because of presidential gender.

 

[arcthemonkey]

I think there are many, possible approaches one can take in opposition to having women in such places of power (not that I agree with most of them, mind you). I mean, regardless of other issues, men and women are different in ways that are believed to be inherent to the ways our brains work differently (nature vs nurture debate aside, of course). Some people may produce many examples of how, while being less suited for numerous other tasks, men may have certain qualities more common in their personalities and reasoning abilities that make them better suited to a position like a presidency. Is it probably possible to argue the other way, too? Of course it is, but the fact remains that a female president is very much so likely to do things very much so differently than any male president would, for better or for worse.

Another issue, and one that I think is the most important, is that sexism does in fact exist, and, despite the fact that Lene was quick to challenge it, may well have enormous repurcussions in foreign relations, particularly in the middle east. We are talking about nations where women aren't allowed to show their face outside of their home in some places, can't ever speak out of turn, and in other places, can't speak in the presence of men besides their husbands. The leaders of the places have no respect for the the fact that our culture is different than their, and have no respect for women, let alone as leaders themselves.

I seriously doubt - in fact, I outright deny - any female president's ability to negotiate anything, much less peace, in the middle east. Do I have proof? Not in the form of a precedent, necessarily, but I honestly think this is a matter of political/social common sense.

Now, do I believe we could have a great female president? Yes, I do. Do I believe the potential exists for a female president to be the greatest president we've ever had? Sure.

But not today. Not with the middle east the way it is. Not with Iran's pursuit of nuclear arms, or the hostility towards Israel from all sides, which will almost certainly involve the U.S.

A great female president could arise in a time of stability in the middle east.

Not today.

And not Hillary Clinton, ever. Oh my god.

Now, as for a Black president, I would vote for Colin Powell in a heartbeat if he ran. Yeah, I, a hardcore christian pro-lifer would vote for a pro-choice president. A lot of this has to do with the fact that I think, at the end of the day, he's been one of the few in in the Bush administration who's been as upfront as reasonably possible with the nation. He doesn't get caught up in rhetoric, and he's not afraid to admit his mistakes.

COLIN POWELL '08 BAYBEE

Alas.

 

[Torik]

Nice post arcthemonkey! And you got my point about Middle Eastern countries laughing at us if we had a female pres. That is what I thought, but you definately expanded it alot more then I did.

 

[Volrath]

It's not necessarily that they would be "laughing" at us. If that was all they were doing, our relations would them would be much better. The reality is they probably always will hate us, but it is true that a female president would have a more difficult time negotiating with them simply because they're still living about 500 years in the past when it comes to this issue.

Still, I don't think it's necessarily a good message to vote against a woman president simply because they wouldn't like it. I mean, why should we lend credence to their prejudices in the first place? Their way is not the way of the world at large, and they'll have to deal with it eventually, even if not with the U.S.

I would like to see a female president....though not Hillary. Not because she's a woman, but because she always strikes me as incredibly phony and calculating. I realize that going after a presidential candidate for that trait may be like criticizing the sky for being blue, but it's especially pronounced in her case. I just don't find her genuine ever.

Still, if she wins the primary, I'll vote for her. Even she's more qualified to bring this country out of the swamp Bush has dumped it in than the Republican candidates. Most of them, like Giuliani or uber-tool Mitt Romney, seem to think everything is just dandy the way it is. Makes me wonder why they're running at all if nothing needs to change.

And I would seriously consider Colin Powell if he ran...and I'm a bleeding heart anti-war liberal. Goes to show how some leaders are capable of actually uniting Americans....haven't seen that for a while.

 

[Grandor]

I don't see a problem, with a women running. As long as she does a good job. However, I strike Hillary as phony too, I don't see her being a good president.

Now on the matter of a black president. It would be nice for change. Now, let's take a radical approach, a black woman for president? Maybe to much for the public to handle. I think we've all got used to some white male guy running the country. It is time for a change, but I'm iffy over what might happen if a women ran. (No offense.) A women could possibly do a better job but we could have another Bush on are hands...it really depends on who's running.

I would give it a chance, no matter what other countries would say. Just because other countries think that women are inferior doesn't mean are foreign affairs might be hurt as a result. If they don't take the women seriously, then their should be no point in dealing with people who refuse to listen.

 

[neomatrixjc]

I personally hope she does not get elected, for a few reasons, one she is a clinton, clintons always screw up at something, like bill, when he screwed monica lewinsky, the next point is this she is a democrat, I personally dont like them, because they tend to base us on IQ scale, such as yeah we will give the poor people money and we will help out with rights and such, Its all good to help but, everyones got to pay their way in society, we shouldnt take things for granted. i dont like the fact that democrats feel like they are high majority of the world who think if your not a politician, you gotta be stupid, and on top of that plans that she has would make our society turn in to social sm, as if we need more of that, this country is based on freedom and democracy, by the people for the people not the few and the elect, Plus i have nothing against seeing a female in the office, as long as they are not feminist, i believe in opinions cuz that is part of the freedom that we have here, but i do not like force by political means, for one i really could give a rats ass about who is president, but i do care for one thing though is that democracy and the constitution that we signed back in the 1700's keep its word, and that the people who we do elect care for the country as much as I, and if you think i am a republican, i am not, in fact i really don claim to any part of politics, because the fight between Republicans and Democrats is childish as well as the conservatives and the liberalist, I think we need to stop thinkin about all the bull crap and start doin the right for this country, but if we leave this country to hillary, we are in some deep water.

 

[KhaoticErase]

Just one thing to say:

S'about darn time.

Maybe a female president will fix this case of Americanitus people have developed within the past 17 years.

 

[kaze950]

I just don't like the idea of people voting for Hillary because she is a woman or Obama because he is black. Those two candidates know that people will though, and use that knowledge to their advantage.

 

[LightAndMagic]

It's incredibly sad that people don't trust Bill Clinton because he got a blowjob, when it seems to me that he was generally a very good President. Then again, I don't have the greatest view on American Politics considering I'm Canadian.