10 Things That Always Happen Whenever A Woman Takes A Leadership Position

[Plaid Adder]

Now that the hysteria over Nancy Pelosi's "first major stumble" has died down a little bit, I thought I would just warn everybody that as long as she's Speaker of the House, there's going to be a lot of this shit, so you better brace yourself.

Why? Because she's not going to be a good Speaker? No; because whenever a woman takes on a position of leadership which involves supervising a lot of men, she will be attacked. Constantly, and until she quits or retires. These attacks take many forms, but I thought I would explain what the 10 most common ones are are now, so everyone doesn't have a cow when they start turning up in the media, on Capitol Hill, and on DU.

1. Everything that goes wrong on her watch will be her fault.

2. Any mistake she makes will be magnified in the media by a factor of 1000X.

3. Good things that happen as a result of her leadership will go unreported--unless there is a male colleague involved somehow who can take credit for them.

4. Men who are supposed to be working with and for her will attack her openly and covertly.

5. Her opposition (within and outside of her own party) will portray her as a shrill, autocratic, power-mad bitch.

6. Oh, and she's ugly.

7. Any evidence of disagreement within her own party will be treated as the first rumblings of the inevitable mass uprising against her regime.

8. The fact that she is a woman will never become unremarkable or irrelevant and will always be cited as a likely explanation for her mistakes and failures.

9. She will suffer for doing unpopular things which need to be done to ensure the functioning of the organization, but which none of her male colleagues have been willing to do because it would not benefit them personally.

10. She will be set up to fail.

Why do these things always happen? Because no matter what people will tell you with their lips, in their hearts a lot of men do not expect to have to answer to a woman, do not enjoy it, and do not think that it is right or natural. I guarantee you right now that there are men holding Democratic positions in the House of Representatives who are willing to damage the party's political effectiveness in order to create trouble for her. It's not smart, but it's the way of things.

Does this mean that putting her in charge will necessarily be a disaster? No. Pelosi did not get to where she is by not knowing how to negotiate all of this bullshit. She will expect all of these things to happen and she will know how to deal with them. I'm just laying this out here in the hopes that it will forestall a few coronaries amongst the members of the DU community. Really, people, be forewarned: she will be attacked early and often, NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES. Don't get all End Times about it every time it happens.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[donsu]

1. true

nt

[Me.]

2. Don't Forget

She's the wicked witch of the west.

I seriously hope women get behind her and refute all the bs, every thime it happens.

[acmejack]

19. In that case, I hope she will turn that asshole into a toad!

One would think the myths regarding women's capabilities have long been laid rest. It is the year 2006.

[LeftishBrit]

32. If you mean Bush, isn't he a toad already?

[eviltwin2525]

76. She turned me into a newt!

er, um....
I got better!

[LeftishBrit]

100. One of her most notorious predecessors was a Newt!

Seems like the wicked witches and wizards have been around for some time.

[spooky3]

43. Men need to support her as well. As long as only women

are expected to help her refute BS, they will all be marginalized.

[Glorfindel]

3. Tragically true, and what a f***ing shame it is!

n/t

[jgraz]

4. one more...

Any reporting on her will contain non-sequitors about what she's wearing, how many grandchildren she has and what her husband does for a living.

[blondeatlast]

51. Indeed, and she will be referred to as "Nancy," not by her last name. nt

[NobleCynic]

66. Sigh...

Yeah. They already made some big deal about how she wears Armani. Like it matters...

[salin]

5. you forgot...

she will be continually trivialized - by constant focus on her 'clothes and style' rather than serious focus on her message and actions.

[BlooInBloo]

22. Yup. Rather like black quarterbacks are invariably only "great runners" to white folks.

People REALLY like their boxes. :rofl:

[Branjor]

6. Cripes....

The US seems to be even more neurotic about women than the rest of the world, even virulently patriarchal third world nations. India did fine with Indira Gandhi, apparently not needing to vilify her at every turn. Germany's got Angela Merkel, Britain had Margaret Thatcher, though her politics sure stunk. Finalnd had (or has, I don't know which) a woman president. The US is *more* than ready for the same. The longer we hold off, the more neurotic this country will get. We need strong women leaders for the mental health of this nation.

[China_cat]

17. You forgot one of the first

Golda Meier.

[Branjor]

21. Yes, Golda!

How could I forget Golda Meier? And there are more women leaders, I just don't know them all.

[Withywindle]

34. Even PAKISTAN has had a woman PM, for chrissakes!

Hardly a beacon of feminist enlightment.

[mopinko]

39. a woman who was taken down

for doing the same things that men did every day of the week and twice on sunday.

[femrap]

48. Chile has a new woman president. nt

[Felinity]

86. Imelda Marcos? Evita Peron?

Er, ah, just mentioning.

[Branjor]

89. No, they don't count....

Imelda Marcos and Eva Peron were the *wives* of leaders, not leaders themselves, no matter how impressive they may have been as individuals or how much influence they had on their husbands.

[Felinity]

90. OOps! My Bad!

I thought both of them assumed power for a short period of time.

[Megahurtz]

50. That's cause there's

way too many Good 'Ol Boys here.:crazy: These guys need to get with the program.

[Raster]

75. For the mental health of the nation AND THE WORLD we need a more women

in leadership roles. Before a woman would start a war, she would consider the death of someone's children. To her, soldiers would be more than raw materials for the war machine.

[Wickerman]

7. Yeah, but what's with her hair?

:sarcasm:

K&R

[BlooInBloo]

8. Suggested edit on #1:

from:

Everything that goes wrong on her watch will be her fault


to:

Everything that goes wrong on her watch demonstrates her weakness.


rationale:

I think that the "weakness" thing is more the media/republicans' point that fault. The CW is that women are weaker than men - that's the perceived flaw they attempt to nurture and project.

[cwydro]

9. Sad but true. /nt

[Annces]

10. Yes

Even the "progressive men" will rankle at her. A woman should be an underling and she is "too bossy".

[central scrutinizer]

11. perjoratives to watch for

Only used with women in power

shrill
bossy
harpy
ugly
dowdy or the opposite - Gucci-wearing
hysterical (root word same as with hysterectomy)

[femrap]

49. aggressive, silly, soft, hard, demanding,

matronly....

No matter what she does, it will be wrong. I believe that is how patriarchy views women...PERIOD. I learned that lesson long ago and decided to do what made me happy cuz in the eyes of the patriarchy no matter what I did was wrong.

Her clothes will be either too feminine or too butch...same with her words, her mannerisms, her policies.

But I have the utmost in confidence in Speaker Pelosi...she will do a better job than most men.

[erpowers]

94. Read David Broder

You should do a degree read David Broder. He you shrill to compare her preelection speaking tone to her post election speaking tone. Either he or a few other have also made other demeaning statements about her, like questioning whether she would deball the majority leader or the majority whip. So I think another thing that should be high on the 10 things list is that she will try to takes all men's manhood away from them.

[Gregorian]

12. And she will survive beautifully.

The look, make that gleam, in her eyes thrills me every time I see her. I should hope to have that myself, someday.

Maybe I'm naive, but I have no fear (and I'm sure you don't either) that she will be invisible to the threats against her.

After all, she is a thoroughbred. Can I say that? :)

[TahitiNut]

13. 2nd Lt. Emily Perez, 23

:cry:

[JudyM]

55. What a smile! She's beautiful, Tahitinut - is she yours?

[annabanana]

65. 2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez

Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
WEST POINT, N.Y., Sept. 26 -- They remember Emily Perez in her many bursts of motion: the diminutive young woman calling out orders to the freshman cadets on the castled military campus of West Point.

They see her sprinting the third leg for Army's 400-meter relay team. Or in the school's gospel choir, filling her lungs and opening her mouth to sing.

Emily J.T. Perez, a determined 23-year-old from Prince George's County, rose to the top of her high school class and then became the first minority female command sergeant in the history of the U.S. Military Academy.

Now she has another distinction. The second lieutenant was buried Tuesday at the academy, the first female graduate of West Point to die in Iraq. Perez, a platoon leader, was killed while patrolling southern Iraq near Najaf on Sept. 12 when a roadside bomb exploded under her Humvee.

[JudyM]

73. Jeez. That is so sad. All of their deaths are.

[TahitiNut]

70. I should be so lucky ... and unlucky. (She's all of ours.)

She's Emily Perez, a September fatality in Iraq - a 2005 graduate of West Point, she was an incredible young lady. For me, she's emblematic of the evil wrought by the Bushoilini cabal in their abominably criminal abuse of the world, our nation, and our young people here and in Iraq.

[ninkasi]

79. I agree, TN

and appreciate your posting this beautiful, vibrant young woman's picture. She would no doubt have had a successful career, regardless of whether she chose to remain in the military, or pursue another field. The loss of people like her is a great tragedy, and just one more sin to add to the already crushing load of evil which can be added to Bush and his war-mongering neocon's burden. What a terrible, terrible loss to the world.

[The Deacon]

102. Every Time I See That Picture

That smile so full of the joy of Life, the evident promise of a young person...tears come to my eyes. It reminds me of the line from M*A*S*H which finally sent me down the road to pacifism.
"There are certain rules to war. Rule Number One is: young men die. Rule Number Two is: doctors can't change rule number one."
As long as Rule Number One is in effect we cannot afford to spend our children's lives meaninglessly.

[Mika]

93. West Point Buries 'Class of 9-11' Cadet

West Point Buries 'Class of 9-11' Cadet
WEST POINT, N.Y., Sep. 26, 2006
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/26/ap/national/mainD8KCQG801.shtml

AP) The first member of West Point's "Class of 9-11" to die in combat was buried at the military academy Tuesday, two weeks after she was killed by a bomb at the head of a convoy in Iraq.

2nd Lt. Emily Perez, 23, was leading a platoon when a roadside bomb exploded Sept. 12 south of Baghdad. She was the first female West Point graduate to die in Iraq and the highest-ranking black and Hispanic woman cadet in the school's history.

"She was like a little superwoman, so full of energy and life," said Meghan Venable-Thomas, a senior who was on the track team and in the gospel choir with Perez.

The academy's Class of 2005 is called the "Class of 9-11" because the 2001 terrorist attacks occurred just weeks into the students' freshman year.

"I think we all hoped it wouldn't happen," said class President James Freeze of the first death among the graduates, who numbered exactly 911. Half of the class remains on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Perez was a Medical Service Corps officer assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.

Dozens of cadets watched as she was buried in the West Point Cemetery. After accepting the folded American flag from Perez's coffin, her mother leaned over, put her forehead on the casket and whispered.


Perez was fluent in German from growing up overseas. She also played the clarinet and helped start an AIDS ministry at her church. Before leaving for Iraq, she donated bone marrow to a stranger.

"One of the things important to Emily was not the fear of death, but the fear of not living," the Rev. E. Faith Bell said after the service.

:cry:

[colorado_ufo]

103. Her picture and story were in the Denver Post

in their Portraits of Valor section - a weekly feature.

[Fierce]

14. Very true. And she'll be called by her first name the whole time.

nt

[BlooInBloo]

23. Aided and abetted by legions of "good DUers" who see no slight in that.

[IronLionZion]

37. As opposed to Denny, Newt, or Tip?

We call male speakers by their first name too. :shrug:

But on the floor of the house, she has to be called "Madam Speaker". Not even the dumbest, most right wing congressman would yell "Hey Nancy!" during official house proceedings.

[Fierce]

38. We do. But talking heads don't.

nt

[SemperEadem]

15. You'll see the John Knox's of the present day rise up

covertly, of course...

"The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women" 1558 by John Knox

To promote a woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any realm, nation, or city, is repugnant to nature; contumely to God, a thing most contrary to his revealed will and approved ordinance; and finally, it is the subversion of good order, of all equity and justice.

In the probation of this proposition, I will not be so curious as to gather whatsoever may amplify, set forth, or decor the same; but I am purposed, even as I have spoken my conscience in most plain and few words, so to stand content with a simple proof of every member, bringing in for my witness God's ordinance in nature, his plain will revealed in his word, and by the minds of such as be most ancient amongst godly writers.

The Empire of Women is
Repugnant to Nature

And first, where I affirm the empire of a woman to be a thing repugnant to nature, I mean not only that God, by the order of his creation, has spoiled woman of authority and dominion, but also that man has seen, proved, and pronounced just causes why it should be. Man, I say, in many other cases, does in this behalf see very clearly. <14>For the causes are so manifest, that they cannot be hid. For who can deny but it is repugnant to nature, that the blind shall be appointed to lead and conduct such as do see? That the weak, the sick, and impotent persons shall nourish and keep the whole and strong? And finally, that the foolish, mad, and frenetic shall govern the discreet, and give counsel to such as be sober of mind? And such be all women, compared unto man in bearing of authority. For their sight in civil regiment is but blindness; their strength, weakness; their counsel, foolishness; and judgment, frenzy, if it be rightly considered.

****************

that is what she's up against.

[eppur_se_muova]

46. Oh, wow, buried treasure...now I see the double entendre in Terry Pratchett's book title

("Monstrous Regiment", that is.)

[Felinity]

87. I went to a women's college

There was a line on the masthead of our newspaper, sorry I forget the source,

"Knowledge in the hands of a woman is like a sword in the hands of a madman."

Call me crazy, but I AM armed.

[NV Whino]

16. And finally...

If you want a job done right, give it to a woman.

[dalaigh lllama]

18. Whenever I hear the "women can't be good leaders" BS

I merely remind the speaker of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria in Britain. Seems to me those two kicked some major butt.

[AnnInLa]

20. How did Golda Mier keep rein on those

men that had to answer to her? And Margaret Thatcher?

Do you guys think that if the woman is definitely attractive or considered attractive, then men are even more resistant to her authority? Sorry, was still thinking about Golda Meir and Maggie Thatcher....two women who were not thought to be physically attractive and were able to keep men under their thumbs (in their parties.)

[Irreverend IX]

24. Many of these points...

Namely 1, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10 apply to Democrats in general now that we're in the age of Fox News.

[wellstone dem]

25. And if she's not ugly, she had plastic surgery.

nt

[Missy Vixen]

30. You know that's one's coming

There is no other sin bigger than a woman who dares to assert herself and doesn't seem to care if she's called "ugly" or "unfeminine".

Unfeminine = espousing any opinion that would differentiate her from a doormat.

Julie

[Scout]

26. any mistakes she makes will be used....

as reasons why NO OTHER WOMAN should ever hold the job, either.

[savemefromdumbya]

27. Don't worry Nancy's from Baltimore so she won't fail

Hey she could be President?

[Arkansas Granny]

28. This makes me think of an old quote I've heard:

Charlotte Whitton:
"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult."

[femrap]

52. Or for a woman to be able to do as crappy a job as

the white guy....that'll will be the day I look forward to.

[Canadian Socialist]

67. Ah, Charlotte Whitton

One of my heroes from my youth:

Charlotte Whitton, OC (March 8, 1896-January 25, 1975) was a noted Canadian feminist and mayor of Ottawa. She was the first female mayor of a major city in Canada, serving from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1964.

Whitton attended Queen's University where she was the star of the women's hockey team and was known as the fastest skater in the league. From Queen's she became the founding director of the Canadian Council on Child Welfare from 1920-1941 (which became the Canadian Welfare Council, now the Canadian Council on Social Development) and helped bring about a wide array of new legislation to help children.
<snip>


She became well known for her assertiveness and for her vicious wit with which many male colleagues, and once the Lord Mayor of London were attacked. She is famous for the quotation: "Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult."

Whitton never married, but lived for years with her partner, Margaret Grier.

In 1967 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Whitton

[Arkansas Granny]

85. Thanks for that. I had heard the quote many years ago, but I

didn't know anything about Charlotte Whitton. She must have been quite a woman.

[CrispyQ]

69. or . . .

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did in heels & backwards!"

Bumpersticker philosophy. ;)

[XanaDUer]

29. They'll make mean comments about her clothes.

nt.

[cally]

31. Yep, and as usual, you put it into words

what many of us think. I'm already angry at the attacks on her and how few see the misogyny behind them.

[Retrograde]

33. yeah, but that's just because

she's really a frustrated bull-dyke (because she obviously hates men otherwise she wouldn't be taking *their* job) who just needs a good man and a passel of babies to put her on the right path. Any vaguely close friendship with a woman will be seen as proof; any relationship whatsoever with a man will be seen as proof that she's trying to hide in the closet. (Sound familiar, Ms Clinton?) The Dieties help the first openly gay woman to hold national power!

IIRC, Pelosi is a grandmother (I know she has a daughter who makes films, don't recall her other children), which I'm sure will be held against her somehow.

[Hidden Stillness]

35. A Few More Additions

Also, everything she does, no matter what it is, will be cast negatively: If she consults with other Democratic leaders and seeks opinions, then she is "weak," "indecisive," "doesn't know which way to turn," "isn't a leader," "can't make up her own mind," etc., etc.; if she states the official Party position on something and takes the lead, then she is an "autocrat," "presumptuous," "can't work well with people," "uppity/pushy," and there is always dire concern for what the "poor castrated males" think about this, etc., etc. If she tries to make peace with the more moderate Democrats, then she is "an opportunist," "no core principles," and we wait eternally for the media-anointed "liberal/left-wing revolt"; if she stands up for progressive principles and behavior, then she is "politically correct." Always "weak" and "trivial," no matter what the situation or issue. Also, there will be endless comments about, "her voice is annoying and, somehow, just, not right," and, "what is with her hair?" and other all-purpose "just to throw her off" jabs.

[JudyM]

60. As a woman in the business world, I couldn't agree more. And you forgot 'bitch,' too.

Not all guys recognize how fine the line is that we have to walk in order to maintain credibility and respect. A hint too assertive, you're a bitch. Take an unpopular position, you don't understand the realities of the business world. Ask for input, you're indecisive. And people don't have your back as readily as they do with guys. It's so weird. Not that this has happened to me directly but I've seen it *plenty* through the years. Seems to be getting better with younger folks, though, fortunately.

[Cleita]

36. Also, a majority of this criticism will come from other women.

It's always the way.

[Alexander]

40. 11. Pelosi and Sen. Clinton will be the new "face" of the Democratic Party.

Instead of bringing up people like Reid, Kerry or Gore, Pelosi and Clinton will be seen as the "leaders" of the Democrats, despite the fact that only one of them is in a leadership position.

All Democrats will be guilty by association with Pelosi and Clinton.

[moondust]

41. In fairness

don't forget that she was UNANIMOUSLY elected Speaker by her colleagues in a secret vote. And in the Democratic Party it is next to impossible to find unanimity on ANYTHING.

[Marnieworld]

42. You are absolutely right

2, 5 7 & 8 have already happened. I read the "shrill" word today in fact by a female GOPer.

I thought I was imagining things but it helps to have it all spelled out like this. It is so predictable. I do not doubt that she can handle it all though.

She's the Jackie Robinson. She is taking the heat for all of us and any woman that comes after her. Just another part of the game I guess.

[petunia.here]

44. I was quite impressed

with how quickly the shrill wicked witch crap started. So sadly predictable.
It makes the name callers look so pathetic. Seriously, all I picture are little flatworms squirming in pond scum.
I have to admit, there was a little part of me that was hoping it wouldn't be so fucking blatant and empty of any kind of subtance. I mean, after all, we're supposed to have progressed or something. :sarcasm:
So much more work to be done. So few women in power to do it. ;-)

K&R

[bloom]

45. good points all. nt

[Xenotime]

47. The pugs will be going after her big time.

[MzNov]

53. At least they can't say "It's her time of month."

and I doubt she suffers from menopause any longer, so maybe we won't hear any remarks on that subject, you know, raging hormones furrchrisssake.

I think yours is an excellent post, thanks.

:dem:

[BlooInBloo]

83. Boys are dumb. It's guaranteed to get said at some point.

[David Zephyr]

54. Great post!

We had a discussion at dinner last night how there are all these "new standards" for Nancy Pelosi that never existed before she became Speaker.

Your post said it all for me and thanks for putting it down into words.

Everyone, get off her back! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[skygazer]

56. You are absolutely right

As a woman who has worked most of her life in jobs traditionally held by men, I know exactly what you're saying. You can't just be good - you have to be the best. You can't just be competent - you have to be extraordinary. And even so, there will always be people who will find a "reason" for that - "a man taught her", "a man thought of it", "she had it easy."

I used to play a lot of pool in the 70's. I found, in my observing of bar games, that the worst possible male player on the planet got more respect than the best woman. When that crappy male player lost, his opponent would invariably shake his hand and say, "Good game." If I lost, I got condescension and a sight of every man around high fiving. If I won, it was because he was "off his game." :eyes:

But I'm tough. And so is Pelosi. She knows which way the wind blows.

[etherealtruth]

57. Sad but true.

[librechik]

58. yeah, bastards

they just don't get it. Seriously, I've about had it with those knuckleheads in the power elite.

Seriously! Get a clue, guys! Clocks move FORWARD, into the future, not backwards into the KITCHEN!!!

Oh, and by the way, get your own damn coffee!!

[jesus_of_suburbia]

59. This male says...... TRUE TRUE TRUE

so true... our media sucks.

Might I also add (without taking away from this thread) that the same could be said
for out gays and lesbians... everything that goes wrong with them is blamed on their
sexuality.

[AZBlue]

61. Don't forget: if she gets mad, she's "obviously PMS-ing."

eom

[trumad]

62. kick

[Gwerlain]

63. Personally, I'd rather work for a woman.

They generally do a better job of managing than men do; men want to play power games. Women want to get work done, and when someone insists on playing politics rather than working, they tend to get snippy. I like to work, and I hate politics. Maybe it's just me.

[Patiod]

96. I've worked for both and sex just doesn't seem to matter

I've had both male and female great bosses, and male and female unhinged bosses. Neither sex has a lock on good managerial temperaments.

But as to what you pointed out about efficiency, Gwerlain, my boss and I (who are both women) got to the point where we could predict the length of any meeting at a giant Fortune 500 company which was our client: it all depended on the number of men involved.

- No men and any number of women - 30 minutes or exactly how long it took to deal with the business at hand - most of them just wanted to deal with the issue and get out of there and get home at a reasonable hour to their families.

- One man - any number of women - same (30 minutes) because the man didn't have to prove his authority to anyone - he assumes the women in the room KNOW he's top cock

- For each additional man, add 10-15 minutes for them to "strut their stuff" and show the other guys how big they are

We always checked, and damned if that's not how it usually worked out.

[Virginia Dare]

64. Every time she has a disagreement with another woman...

it will be "deeply personal" code words for cat fight.

[Patiod]

92. Code words? No -- they will CALL it a cat fight

and any disagreement with a man or woman will make her "catty".

I've already seen it

[CrispyQ]

68. Sad, but accurate.

The first division of our species is male/female. The final battle within our collective will be fought on this plane.

Women know who they sleep with. Men can only guess who we sleep with. That men can't be confident in the bloodline of their heirs infuriates some types. Some days I think the fact that women could survive with a sperm bank & no men makes some men more violent & misogynistic than they already are.

The second division would be race, although, I've read & am inclined to believe, that race is a cultural construct.


Harr! Too much sci fi on this girl's mind! ;)

Good post.

[hopeisaplace]

71. Never underestimate a woman

1. Everything that goes wrong on her watch will be her fault.

1A. And if everything is her fault, she'll take responsibility


2. Any mistake she makes will be magnified in the media by a factor of 1000X.

2A. She'll completely diffuse the orgasmic media by being the first to own up to her mistakes


3. Good things that happen as a result of her leadership will go unreported--unless there is a male colleague involved somehow who can take credit for them.


3A. She will be the first to speak about and give credit for a magnificent handling her male colleague did with such task.


4. Men who are supposed to be working with and for her will attack her openly and covertly.

4A. She will acknowledge such attacks head on, then divert to the truth.



5. Her opposition (within and outside of her own party) will portray her as a shrill, autocratic, power-mad bitch.

5A. She will not hold that against them, and point out the principles of democracy, and how they have the right to speak their mind, and she will continue leading, and get back on subject. If they
continue to push this issue..it won't look good on them.



6. Oh, and she's ugly.

6A. Her only comment, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, my family thinks I'm beautiful..once in a while, and grin.


7. Any evidence of disagreement within her own party will be treated as the first rumblings of the inevitable mass uprising against her regime.

7A. She will point out that any party where everyone agrees all the time, isn't a party, it's a cult. She's proud to be associate with a party that inspires and encourages debate.



8. The fact that she is a woman will never become unremarkable or irrelevant and will always be cited as a likely explanation for her mistakes and failures.


8A. She will point out that success or failure is not a product of being male or female, it's a product of how well or not well a job is handled. She will be the first to cite her successes
as a product of her ability, not that she is a woman. Same goes for her failures.



9. She will suffer for doing unpopular things which need to be done to ensure the functioning of the organization, but which none of her male colleagues have been willing to do because it would not benefit them personally.


9A. And she will point out that many women who are raising children especially understand what it
means to do something unpopular, such as grounding their teens..further pointing out that being a
disciplinarian/leader in the house is often unpopular, but absolutely necessary for the smooth running of the house.


10. She will be set up to fail.

10A. She's way ahead of the curve on this one. She knew this the first time she tried out for something in school. She has been adapting, and thinking ahead of this cliche, passed this cliche,
and chuckles at those who repeat it.



Hey, I had to respond to this. Women rule :) I'm the mom of four boys, the only women in the "house". All I can say is "no sweat". Bring it on.

[The Count]

72. She is a tripple treat: aldo a democrat and a liberal. So, what you said, times 3

[hsher]

74. You forgot she'll never be thin enough

And her size and her daily diet will be watched like hawks.

[Skittles]

77. so many DUers are completely clueless about rampant sexism

I hate to say it, it sounds so cliched but THEY JUST DON'T GET IT

[The Stranger]

78. This is more than a bit misguided.

Much of what is happening to Nancy Pelosi has happened to male Democratic leaders. John Kerry, for one, was a war hero literally turned by the media into a traitor to his country. Howard Dean, a brilliant man and an accomplished medical doctor, was turned into an ape because of the fact that he had an excited outburst.

The top 10 list format is repetitive, uninformative and (worst of all) horribly pedestrian. Everything is listed -- maybe she shot JFK? It is also disproven by the fact that Pelosi was elected to the Speaker of the House by her fellow Democrats, both male and female, unanimously. If all men were constantly working against her, none of this would have been possible.

The corporate media has completely ignored the milestone of her being the first woman Speaker of the House, and this is a crime. But they never hesitate to honor Republican women. Part of the difference in treatement is due to the fact that the Democrats have actually nominated a woman to run for Vice President, and this would never happen with the Republicans.

[Freeusfromthechurch]

80. Damn girl, tell it like it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[The Doctor.]

81. I choose rather to think

that she will rock.

I've no doubt America will benefit from having women in more leadership positions.

I agree that she will be beset.

I hope that she will turn just the right phrases, at just the right times, and without any hint of spite, when her detractors venture to harm her.

I believe we'll see some good things happen. I have faith that as her work unfolds, the indisputable truth will put her detractors in a bad light, and deliver new awareness to millions.

If anything you have predicted has bearing, then she had better make strides without apology.

I wish her luck, and more.

[RiverStone]

82. I'd like to believe that we could dispel some of your....

Presumptions. Just because Nancy is a woman. Though we are not evolved to the point of being gender blind. Yet, after a year of competent leadership; I do believe she will be judged far more on her character then her sex. Things WILL GET BETTER for her. It's called maturity; both as a leader and for those that watch her as a leader. Gotta start some where, and I'm thrilled my 17 year old daughter can see the first woman as Speaker of the House. All our daughters deserve to see that!

[Cocoa]

84. catfight!

any disagreement with another female is a catfight.

[shawn703]

88. Ugly?

She is anything but!

:loveya:

[Wednesdays]

91. That's the media all right...although historians are smarter

Usually historians see effective female leadership for what it is.

I have to LOL remembering a letter to the editor a few years back...the writer ranted on about how "women are trying to wear the pants" in society and that women could never be effective leaders. He went on to say that America needs to go back to the values of the 1611 King James Bible.

I wrote back, "Women can't be effective leaders, huh? By the way, from whom did King James inherit the throne?"

[Pacifist Patriot]

95. Sadly, all too true.

We've already seen it in spades from the right. Goodness help us when she starts to be eaten alive by her own...oh wait.

[recovering democrat]

97. Unfortunately, this is accurate

I wish it wasn't, and hope it will eventually go away, but this kind of behavior in dealing with women of power is far too common.



And Lt. Perez. Another awesome woman. Rest in peace.

[trof]

98. 11. And she has NO fashion sense.

I mean WHO dresses this woman?
:evilgrin:

[kskiska]

99. Trent Lott wished for Hillary to be struck by lightning

(snip)

After she was elected, Trent Lott, the Republican leader at the time, voiced a widespread sentiment—held by more than just Republicans—when he mused, not unhopefully, that lightning might strike her before she arrived.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200611/green-hillary

[John Gauger]

101. I hope you are wrong.

Of course, you will probably be right. I have been wondering why everybody in the media has been making such a big deal about the fact that she lost out on the Majority Leader position. They make like this is the end of hear tenure as Speaker. Yeah, it will be a problem that a rival is now Majority Leader, but it's not the end of the world. Everything I have seen has been so negative towards her. It's astounding. I guess she will be in for quite a trip over these next two years.

[coffeenap]

104. kick for truth-telling nt