A WOMAN is a serious contender to be the President of the U.S.

[Virginia Dare]

we also have a WOMAN Speaker of the House. Damn, but I am so happy for my daughter's generation right now, that would have been unthinkable back when I was her age. Gee, and they're both Democrats, one of many good reasons to be a member of the Party IMO.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

:bounce:

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I love Nancy Pelosi and wish it was her running. she is so great.

[helderheid]

40. Well, if we could get * and trigger happy to resign...

[DemExpat]

2. I find this exhilarating too!

:bounce:

DemEx

[durrrty libby]

3. Yes it is great and about friggin time

[barb162]

6. yeah, it is about time!

I am very happy for these women

[barb162]

4. I'm glad you did! It's really an achievement when you think

not all that long ago, a few decades, there were separate ads in the newspapers for men's and women's jobs.

[Matariki]

19. !!! I remember that! OMG I forgot that.

ugh. that what things were like when I got out of highschool...

[Miss Chybil]

5. This is truly an historical moment. nt

[cassiepriam]

7. However one feels about Hillary, she is making history.

And setting the stage for future generations of women.

[smoogatz]

33. So did Thatcher.

"Making history" isn't always a good thing.

[cassiepriam]

50. When you have been a subjugated class since time immemorial, even bad history is making progress?

[smoogatz]

60. Your use of the question mark

indicates a certain lack of conviction. Hillary would be progress--Thatcher was Reagan in pumps. Not progress.

[HockeyMom]

8. I voted for her twice for Senator,

but that doesn't mean I will vote for her in a Primary for President simply because she is a woman and my Senator. I have a completely open mind on this. Willing to hear the other candidates (Democrats). No, St. Rudy is not in the running with me. I remember him BEFORE 9/11.

Convince me.

[cascadiance]

25. I feel better that when the right woman comes along, I CAN vote for her then!

I really do want someone I can support, but just as I couldn't support Condi Rice as either a woman or an Afro-American, I still am not sure of some of the Democratic candidates yet too. I still vote for the person over "who" they are. The bottom line is for this position, they have to be what is best for the country, no matter what their sex, color, or religion may be. I'm glad that the doors are open though. I just want the right person to be an option for us to choose. I still want someone that I feel can beat all of the corporatists running!

[butterfly77]

9. This should have happen years ago...

but I won't vote for Hillary just because she is a woman...

[pennylane100]

10. As a feminist I am thrilled.

But as a liberal voter I will not be voting for her in the primary.

[candidate]

11. Hillary doesn't have a chance

Her approval ratings are almost as low as Bush's.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. not surprising

considering how many people even here on DU believe all sorts of untrue nonsense about her.

But she has plenty of time to turn that around, as she's done in NY. Remember, she's kept a VERY low profile nationally for the last 6 years. These numbers aren't written in stone.

[durrrty libby]

14. You are so very wrong. She will win

[cascadiance]

52. If she wins the nomination, Corporate America wins and we all lose!

Because then whether she wins or loses, they have someone in their back pocket running the country, and we can say so long to substantive campaign finance reform, etc.

[JohnnyLib2]

12. My elementary school granddaughters are watching and listening.

IMO, that matters. A lot.

[etherealtruth]

15. A wonderful thing this is!

I burst into tears showing my 13 year daughter a video clip of Nancy Pelosi being sworn in as speaker of the house! A woman as a very credible candidate for president is a wonderful thing.

[zbdent]

16. Sort of related ... you know how the idea of Obama is being shot down because

he doesn't have the "experience" ...

How much real experience in politics (elected offices) did Liddy Dole have? Aside from (allegedly) porking the 1996 Presidential Candidate for the Repukes, didn't she make a run for it in 2000? And the Repukes took HER seriously ...

[Matariki]

17. I hear you. In such a short time such visible progress has been made.

I always feel happiness for my niece when I think about it. When I was her age there were so many limitations people tried to get us to believe about ourselves.

BTW - I live in Washington State - TWO women Senators AND a woman Governor! AND all three Democrats! :woohoo:

[xultar]

18. Women are finally able to get the job done. I'm very happy!

[mdmc]

20. yes

[gratefultobelib]

21. Yes, I agree. Both are a credit to our gender! I remember watching

Hillary after she won the Senate in 2000--about the only bright spot for me that year! I watched her victory speech in NY. She was almost overwhelmed with gratitude and love for her constituents. So many thought she was foolish to run for Senator from NY, and by golly, she showed them! And I believe she can do it again if she gets the nomination.

[UTUSN]

22. K&R for WHY NOT???!!1 n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

23. CHISHOLM '72 - Unbought & Unbossed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3173381

[TahitiNut]

29. She was AWESOME. I was one of her biggest fans.

It was very sad when she passed on two years ago. This country was blessed to have her.

[struggle4progress]

31. President Chisholm (MS magazine January 1973)

... Mary Young Peacock, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; self-described as "a white, middle-class, middle-aged American housewife": ... "The important thing about Chisholm's candidacy was that you believed whatever she said — it combined realism and idealism at the same time — and that's the combination I'm looking for. Shirley Chisholm has worked out in the world, not just gone from law school strait into politics. She's practical." ...

Adolfo G. Alayon, executive director of the Consumer Action Program of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York: ... "I'll always credit Shirley with one thing — she truly represents the disenfranchised. She really cares about making life better for all people." ...

Gabrielle Burton, feminist author of "I'm Running Away from Home, but I'm Not Allowed To Cross the Street," and the only Chisholm delegate to run in Montgomery County, Maryland: "Chisholm tried to do a dangerous thing — to offer a voice to the mute. Much of the powerless segment declined to use that voice. Some of her initial supporters became piranhas, rejecting her when she didn't perform the impossible immediately. Chisholm is honest, incorruptible, and a woman. We weren't ready for such deviance. Perhaps we'll never be ready for Chisholm, but at the very least she smoothed the road for the next female Presidential candidate. Such a possibility is no longer an automatic knee-slapper." ...

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/chisholm/special_ticket.html

[Reterr]

24. K&R-Whatever my opinions of Hilary or Obama

I think its true sign of progress in this country that they are both serious contenders for the top spot. The day we have a serious, openly gay contender as well, will be when we will be truly close to an ideal state w. reg. to acceptance and tolerance. Hopefully, thats not too far away :)

[nam78_two]

26. My sentiments exactly..K&R.nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Big deal

There have been women candidates before--Shirley Chisholm, Pat Schroeder, Carole Mosely-Braun, Margaret Chase Smith--hell, go all the way back to the nineteenth century when Victoria Woodhull and Belva Lockwood ran for president.

None of them were considered "serious" candidates.

Hillary is considered a "serious" candidate ONLY because the MSM have deemed her to be. She's a TAME woman, who hobnobs with the rich and right-wing. Her alleged "liberalism" is on the behavioral side, not on the economic/politlcal side.

If one of the smart, tough women from the Congressional Black Caucus or the Progressive Caucus were to run, you can bet that they would NOT be considered "serious" candidates by the MSM.

The reason? They're threatening to the Big Money Guys. Hillary is not.

[generaldemocrat]

43. Amen!!!

I'd rather have Barbara Boxer running instead of Hillary.

[truedelphi]

47. You nailed it! n/t

[struggle4progress]

28. We're so far behind the really civilized nations.

Women Presidents 1945-2007
http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/00women2.htm

[IronLionZion]

51. That list left out prime ministers!

India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi

ISLAMIC Republic of Pakistan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto

UK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher

[Triana]

30. I can't argue with that...

...not a staunch Hillary supporter - but I also cannot argue with your sentiment. I love Nancy Pelosi and wish it was her running though!

Your post is a good reminder that this is generally a good thing! Thanks for the perspective!

[johnnie]

32. I think it is great also

But please don't forget Geraldine Ferraro.

[Matariki]

34. Washington State - 2 Female Democratic Senators, 1 Female Democratic Gov

How sweet is that?

[Unbowed]

35. I'd be a hell of a lot happier if the woman was Senator Boxer instead of Clinton.

Now there is a woman with convictions!

[RiverStone]

36. Yes - for my teenage daughter....

I'm thrilled that we have a Speaker and Pres contender as women role models. In that respect, I think it's wonderful.

Of course, my sentiments opposed to Hillary's track record on the IWR not withstanding.

[eridani]

37. Shirley Chisholm? Margaret Chase Smith?

A Blast from the Past brought to you by one of your resident old farts. And don't forget our unofficial female presidents Edith Wilson and Nancy Reagan.

[Chulanowa]

38. It's about time we caught up

When Pakistan and Indonedia are ahead of you in trms of females in high political office, something must be amiss.

[huskerlaw]

39. Now if only it was a woman I could vote for. n/t

[itsmesgd]

41. If Nancy would impeach him already, she could be pres before christmas

2008 is way too late
2008 is way too late

[generaldemocrat]

42. So if you're a woman supporting Hillary, doesn't that make you a pro-war neocon?

I mean, we are basically going to reward her for her lack of leadership.

:shrug:

[mod mom]

44. Unfortunately it is HRC not Barbara Boxer.

[tomp]

45. she's not a woman. she's a politician. gender is irrelevant.

see condoleeza rice, jean kirkpatrick, margaret thatcher, karen hughes, e.g.

[HoneyBee]

48. Only a man would say that...

yep, your profile confirms.

[IronLionZion]

53. What sort of person would hide her gender in her profile?

:silly:

Men are proud to be men. :patriot:

And there are many women who would be better presidents than Hillary: Kathleen Sebelius, Barbara Boxer, Shirley Franklin, Janet Napolitano,... :P

(I'm kidding btw, so no offense)

[HoneyBee]

57. Not "hiding". It's the default.

:hi:

pssst... I am a woman, but DON'T tell anyone!!

[cascadiance]

54. So would you vote for Condi if she were the only woman running?

I certainly wouldn't! It's still to me all about who the person is that is running than what sex, skin color, or religion they have. I'm very encouraged that we have both a black person and a woman that are strong candidates now and pave the way for others, but I'm not sold on either of them at this point as PEOPLE and their substance, which is the important measurement I will evaluate all of the candidates with, not surface attributes!

If Barbara Boxer were running today, I'd vote for her in a minute! I still think that Debra Bowen winning here in California as SOS was the BEST election result here in California too. So, just because I have reservations for Hillary doesn't mean I can't support a woman to run. I just have reservations about Hillary the person, as I also do about Obama as well, but I'd vote for either them in a minute over Condi Rice.

[HoneyBee]

56. Read into stuff much?

Uh, no.

[HoneyBee]

58. BUT... you must remember that there are a number of apathetic "non voters"

that WILL get their asses to the polls JUST because a woman is running, regardless of the party affiliation. I know several.

I agree, *I* will assess a candidate based on the whole picture. But, I think the OP was expressing excitement because of the fact that this is, sad as it is, the first time in our nation's history that a woman is a valid candidate with an actual chance. Again, whatever your affiliation, as a woman, I find that refreshing and LONG overdue.

[The2ndWheel]

46. She's not a threat to the power structure

As long as you're not a threat, it only makes sense that women and blacks and latinos and anyone else can be there. That's why protests used to work. There used to be something to protest for or against. Today, everyone is playing the same game, within the same system.

[Phillycat]

49. The country is still way too sexist to elect a woman president.

Not to mention the Repukes LOATHE her in a way they loathe almost no one else, except possibly her husband. No swing voters will go for Hillary. She is not a serious contender.

[WI_DEM]

55. there is a strong possibility that the Dem nominee will be a first

1) woman 2) African-American or 3) Latino

[cascadiance]

59. or hopefully the first non-corporatist in 25+ years too!