Woman or minority president - how much longer?

[ringmastery]

How much longer before we see a woman or minority as president?

[billbuckhead]

1. Dean will be forced to have a southern white guy as VP.

Clark offers the possiblity of a woman or a non white VP

[AndyTiedye]

5. Bad Idea!

Look where it got JFK.

[grannylib]

11. That bothers me a little; not that I would not be supportive but I fear

the rest of the country is not ready for that (despite what the polls seem to show about Hillary) and that it would really suck votes away from Clark and back to Chimpy.

[maxanne]

16. Clark won't pick a woman

no way, no how. It wouldn't please his base.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

2. I think it could happen in 2012

After our Dem president's second term, I could see Hilary running. Can't think of any other serious contenders (a little help here?)

[sleipnir]

3. Minority- 15 Years, Woman- 30...

That's been my position for a while (with the times adjusted properly...)

I think this country will elect a minority before they elect a woman. In my experience, people become much more devisive when it comes to the opposite sex. Plus, the march of history follows my theory pretty well.

Note, Hillary will NOT ever be President (for many complex reasons) and I'd be shocked if she even gets relelected to her Senate seat. There are little to no viable women politicans down the road, but I could name nearly a dozen minorites that would clearly fit the bill.

[Yupster]

4. Woman VP in next 12 years

President could happen any time after that depending on either a president dying or VP running. Woman before minority unless Bush dumps Cheney for Powell which I still think he'll do.

[libview]

17. I was thinking Bush may dump Cheney for Rice.

It's possible....

[TexasMexican]

6. Hispanic President by atleast 2060 if not sooner.

[Raine]

7. 20 yrs for a minority

50 yrs for a woman, going to be a long time for both. :argh: :-(

[Brewman_Jax]

8. No time soon

There're people who are against the NFL's recent requirement of interviewing at least one minority candidate for head coach. How the hell are we gonna elect a non-white male president if they can't deal with a non-white male head coach?

[skippysmom]

9. a long time

Still not enough women or minorities in the pipeline who could become a nominee. And still a lot of people out there who wouldn't vote for either one.

Hillary's as good a shot as any, but if she runs it won't be pretty.

[noonwitch]

10. I like Hillary, but so many people hate her beyond any sort of reason

There are freepers who keep saying the next civil war will happen if she's elected. Their plan is to take up arms against her. I'm pretty sure that they are serious, too.

[skippysmom]

13. i don't doubt it

something about her really pisses them off. and i think it has something to do with her being a woman, a strong woman, which makes me fairly pessimistic about us electing a woman any time soon.

(and i like her too)

[adriennel]

12. 2084?

simpsons quote from the gay republicans: "we're realistic!"

I hope to see a minority or female president in my lifetime...I'm now thirty but I don't think it is going to happen in my lifetime...especially when I consider the current political atmosphere which viciously promotes favoratism and inequality.

That said, I still think Gov Granholm could win the presidency, but there's that pesky matter of changing the Constitution....

[karabekian]

14. I say sooner

Condi Rice has a shot in '08 or maybe '12

[Granite]

26. Nothing I've seen

makes me think of her as presidential. Not that Bush* is either, but Condi just doesn't have it, and I just can't see conservatives going down that road.

But I have heard people predict that the Pubs would be the first to have a woman or a minority Presidential candidate. Kind of the "it took Nixon to open up China" theory.

Sad state when this is still something that drives people's voting decisions.

[maxanne]

15. minority male

long before female. The penis is still too highly prized as an asset.

Minority male - within the next 15 years.
Unless women wake up and fight for equality again - we won't see a woman in my lifetime - and I'm 48.

[Pattib]

18. Unfortunately it will be a long while. There are still

women like my mother-in-law who would not vote for a woman, ever. She's old-school and still thinks women should be mothers only..gag!

Unfortunately there are still a lot of oldsters who feel this way. Male and female. What pisses me off is that it is just assumed that our next prez. will be a white male.

[rogue emissary]

19. "Woman or minority president - how much longer?"

Conventional wisdom says a liberal northern Caucasian male would need to find someone from the South to win an election. In that context I don't think a minority, woman, or non-Christian will me elected in the next two or three decades. It could be sooner that the South might vote for a woman or minority candidate that's ultra conservative i.e. to the right of most Caucasian. Which would make them unelectable to the north and west coast liberal states.
:dem:

[newyawker99]

23. Hi rogue emissary!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rogue emissary]

28. Thanks...

...for the welcome and it's appreciated. :7

[apsuman]

20. the real question is...

If we look at the last severl presidents:

43. Bush - Governor, owner/pres Texas Rangers
42. Clinton - Governor, AG or Arkansas
41. Bush - VP, Head of CIA, Amb. to China, Rep, wildcatter
40. Reagan - Governor, Actor
39. Carter - Governor, Farmer
38. Ford - VP, Republican Leader in House
37. Nixon - VP, Senator, Naval Officer
36. Johnson - VP, Senator
35. Kennedy - Senator, Naval Officer
34. Eisenhower - Supreme Allied Commander in WW2, Pres of Columbia U.
33. Truman - VP, Senator, Haberdasher
32. Roosevelt - Governor

So, the path to the big office takes one of three routes:
1. VP,
2. Governor, or
3. Having a really good resume and being politically connected.

Given that you can't really become a VP without being really well connected, I think the real proving grounds are America's governorships.

So, the real question is: When will there be a critical mass of women or minorities that are or were (percieved as) successful governors to create presidential candidates?

At least, that's what I think

[Yupster]

22. Watch out for Kay Bailey Hutchison

Rumor is that she is coming back to Texas to run for Governor. She has spoken mostly of defense and foreign policy issues while on the senate. To me all the above smells like a presidential run is contemplated.

[apsuman]

25. The other big question is...

The other big question (imho) is:

Would Americans vote for a minority and/or a woman for president.

I think the answer is yes. Several people are already to vote for Hillary for Pres, and several are ready to vote against her.

And before someone trips out the whole racism arguement, the Republicans damn near elected Jindal (or whatever his name was) in Louisiana. If a south asian can run and almost win the governorship in Louisiana, minority candidates can win the white house.

So, once again, it simply depends on when there is a large enough pool of such candidates. I would guess, Hill will run in 2008 (I am assuming a Bush victory - go ahead shoot me now). If not her then, I don't see any minorty/woman qualified for another 16 years or so.

[slackmaster]

21. 2012 or 2016

We've come a long way. Many people can still remember expressions of reluctance to vote for a Roman Catholic for President. Now we've already had a Quaker President (Nixon) and nobody made much of an issue about that, nor was much fuss raised about a Jew running for VP.

I think we'll be ready in 2012. But will there actually be an otherwise suitable woman or minority candidate available at the time?

:shrug:

[methinks2]

24. 2008 or 2012

Hillary!

[rogue emissary]

29. Hillary

Hillary is setting up a record that most would agree is moderate. She's also gaining credibility by sticking to her word not to run. Hillary might never get the hard line republicans but I think the swing voter would give her a chance.
:dem:

[Printer70]

27. Hillary 2008 or 2012

As for a minority president, I can't say. Perhaps someone like Harold Ford could be a VP and then move up from there.