A Woman President

I think It is time for a woman President -- of the United States, I mean. After all, we have had the vote for nearly a hundred years. That should be long enough to get us trained and ready.

But a woman President? Oh no, what is this world coming to? Women are too emotional. They haven't had the experience. They don't have the education. They aren't smart enough. Their egos are too great and they act before they think.

Have you looked at the job requirements for the current president?

Anyway, it's time. The selection of female heads of countries is by no means a new one. The Web lists 35 since 1945 and they are from all over the world -- except, of course, the United States.

I wonder what kind of country we would have if there had been women Presidents in years past. I have always liked Abigail Adams, who kept peppering John with advice and requests when he was in Philadelphia working on our Constitution. She would have "listened to the ladies."

Susan B. Anthony would have waked the guys up. She fought for women's suffrage, and as President would really have stirred the place up.

But it didn't happen that way, and now it gets interesting. There have been any number of polls taken this year asking the question, "Would you vote for a woman for President in 2008? If so, who?" The results vary, but the overwhelming answer is "Yes." The Siena Research Institute took a poll earlier this year. It showed that 58% of Democrats would vote for a woman on the ticket and 15% of the Republicans would. As to the "who" 51% thought Hillary Clinton should run, while 41% preferred Condolezza Rice. There was a surprise in the race. 11% voted for Laura Bush.

A larger poll from CBS News/New York Times shows that nearly 92% of all Americans say they would vote for a woman from their own political party if she were qualified. This support has increased steadily over the past 50 years.

Are there any woman qualified? Yes, of course there are. Can they be elected? That remains to be seen. Leading all ;the polls is Senator Hillary Clinton. Condoleeza Rice is second. Two others have been listed in most of the polls. Senator Diane Feinstein D. of California is a possible candidate. She has been in the Senate since 1992 and was mayor of San Francisco before that. Senator Olympia Snowe R. of Maine was elected to the Senate in 1994 and gas built a very strong record.

And then there is Geena Davis. My favorite TV show is Commander in Chief with Davis as Mackenzie Allen, the first female President of the United States. When she finally ripped into the Speaker of the House for undercutting her when she was ill, he knew it -- and we knew a woman could do it.

Of course a woman could be President, but it will mean a major, painful battle for whomever goes for it. There are countless women with the ability, the background and qualifications to step right into the office and do every bit as good a job as any man, and a lot better than some I can think of.

After all, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, and she did it backwards and in high heels.