Newsweek: "Even if 2008 doesn't come down to a Hillary-Condi showdown..."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

'The Time is Right'
Marie Wilson discusses America's changing attitudes toward women in politics—and the effect of shows like 'Commander in Chief'.

WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Bao Ong
Newsweek
Updated: 6:45 p.m. ET Sept. 30, 2005



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9546507/site/newsweek/

Sept. 30, 2005 - Is the United States finally ready for a woman president? ABC’s new drama, the much-hyped “Commander in Chief” has already cast Geena Davis in that role. And inside the real Beltway, Hillary Clinton undoubtedly is a leading contender for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2008. Plus, the New York senator may find herself competing against another woman if Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice decides to throw her own hat into the ring.

Even if the 2008 race does not come down to a Hillary-Condi showdown, women undoubtedly have made enormous political strides since Geraldine Ferraro made it onto a White House ticket. One example: the perhaps-surprising number of female leaders—from the governor of Louisiana to the mayor of Galveston—who became familiar faces in television coverage of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast. That makes these gratifying times for Marie Wilson, 65. As president of The White House Project, a non-partisan organization helping advance women’s leadership, Wilson has been the inspiration for such initiatives as the “President Barbie” doll and Take Our Daughters to Work day. Now, she believes, the United States is at a tipping point—and that shows like “Commander in Chief” are reflections, not vanguards, of the current zeitgeist. She spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Bao Ong about what’s changed. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: What’s keeping voters from electing more women as governors or, indeed, as president?

WILSON: Pipelines. Incumbency. There are a lot of unchallenged people (running for office). Women don’t always run unless they’re invited. We need more women coming up from the pipeline of state government into the governorships. There’s this whole issue of toughness. Women have to face toughness without losing appeal.

[tjdee]

1. Like freepers and L. dotters are going to vote for a black woman!

YEAH RIGHT!

[bluestateguy]

3. We could make a real campaign for the white racist vote in such a case

I'm just saying...

[Silverhair]

5. Actually, W's base loves Condi.

Personally, I would love to see a Condi-Hillary match up.

[tjdee]

10. His base of rich white people, sure.

But I'm talking the rank and filers. Like the folks in Gretna who blocked the people from NO from entering their neighborhoods. Even if they're not flat out racist knuckledraggers, they will find a reason not to nominate her.

She'll run against Frist in the primaries, for example. All of a sudden, having a doctor in the WH becomes a hell of a lot better than having a stinky old SoS as pres. They'll try to talk her into being a good soldier and being just like Colin. Maybe she'd make a nice Sec of State, or even possibly,*possibly* a VP nom. But top dog? Noooo way.


But then, these people do tend to do the lockstep. To stay in power, I do think they may entertain putting her out there to tempt the black folks and women.....but how much of the knuckledraggers would they lose?
Eh. Still, I'd be shocked if she gets their nomination.

[savemefromdumbya]

16. NO Condi!

The planet is in danger with Bush but it will be in more danger with the Queen Vulcan.

[IntravenousDemilo]

22. She's not a Vulcan, she's a Romulan.

But then, Vulcans and Romulans look very much alike.

It's also the reason Canadians (Vulcans) are able to "pass" in the Romulan nation to the south.

[savemefromdumbya]

25. they don't have strange ears like Dr Spock?

The Vulcan (without funny ears):
She chose the name of her hometown’s mascot, Vulcan. A colossal metal statue of this Roman god, who forged tools for his fellow gods, looms over Birmingham, a steel-mill town. The candidate’s foreign policy advisers were committed to forging the candidate’s grasp of world affairs. They became the Vulcans.

Rice, who has a fondness for football metaphors, described herself as a “quarterback” for the Vulcans. “I don’t try to do it all myself,” she said. “Like a quarterback, I can hand off or throw downfield.”

She fielded this key position because George W valued her ability to decipher complex policy issues into easy-to-digest, nuts-and-bolts language. He described her as someone who “can explain to me foreign policy matters in a way I can understand”.

Rice’s talent for clarity is one of her most highly respected qualities. Philip Zelikow, a former colleague in the first Bush administration, said: “She can be very down to earth in cutting right to the heart of matters.”

Because George W did not like to read prepared manuals about policy or national security, Condoleezza had to devise a more interpersonal approach to his tutoring sessions. She set up question-and-answer round tables for him and the advisers.

The Vulcans worked for a year drafting a clear-cut nuclear weapons policy for the candidate. Their efforts culminated in a speech that was Condoleezza’s baby.

Once she felt the content was as precise as possible, she spent hour after hour going over every line with Bush to ensure that he understood every facet of the policy and the background of every issue it contained.

She and Wolfowitz created a companion document containing questions and answers about topics in the speech for Bush’s study. But George W didn’t like to work on this in isolation, reading and integrating facts on his own, so they again scheduled verbal question-and-answer sessions.

As co-ordinator of the Vulcans, a role she continued as national security adviser in the first Bush administration, Rice found herself taking the lead in what was traditionally an all-male domain.

“She is a novel commodity,” observed Ivo Daalder, a former National Security Council member. “Here is a highly accomplished African-American woman . . . being part of what is and always has been (a) boys’ club.”

She was not intimidated, however. Rather, she approached the job of top Vulcan with a confidence that — despite criticisms of her co-ordinating skills from some of the boys, both inside and outside the club, over the past four years — has taken this woman to an unprecedented position of power

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1367314,00.html


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670032999/002-9390462-0366400?v=glance

[Silverhair]

34. That is MR. SPOCK. Dr. Spock was the baby doctor. NT

[Poppyseedman]

7. I lurk over there and the freepers love Condi, almost worship her

What's a L.dotter?

[tjdee]

14. Lucianne.com

Lucianne Goldberg's site. They're even stranger than the freepers.

See, that's the thing though. I think they worship her in theory, not in practice. If by some strike of absurdity the Republicans *do* nominate her, it won't be because of her. They'll be pimping her out to get the black people and the women vote (this will especially happen if Hillary gets the nomination on our side).

If she's a nice little soldier, I guess they'd deal.

[Oeditpus Rex]

24. Freepers would vote for their ass gerbils

to keep Hillary out of office.

[longship]

2. Yea! Like real Democrats are going to vote for Hillary.

nt

[LiberalVoice]

4. "Even if 2008 doesn't come down to a Hillary-Condi showdown..."

Even if it doesn't? Who the fuck is saying it will?!?!! No one in their right minds would vote for Hillary in 08. And you've got to be fucking crazy if you think the Repugs will be the first party to nominate a black woman. Please :eyes:

[roguevalley]

6. amazing. I wouldn't vote for her. they are dreaming out loud.

[raysr]

8. We got to

get Al goddamnit!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

18. AMEN

Al for pres; Hil for VP

[Poppyseedman]

13. The repugs will easily to nominate the first black women,as long it's the

right black women like Condi

BTW, what democratic women do you think the party could nominate???

[jobycom]

26. "No one in their right mind..." I'm in a left mind, I'd vote for her

You can vote for whomever your right mind likes, I guess. :-)

[Captain Hilts]

9. Condi talks like Professor Irwin Corey. Wordy and says nothing. nt

[Kelvin Mace]

11. If Condi runs she will loose

Our side is not going to vote for a blood-stained warmonger, the NeoCons and religously insane crowd will not vote for a black woman, even if she is white and Bush's lover.

[warrior1]

12. condi

will probably be in jail

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. Whether "the time is right" for a woman President is a legitimate argument

....and I don't neccessarily disagree. I just don't believe either of these two women are acceptable for the job.

Nor are most of the men whose names are currently being pushed to the media by the DLC. Or the RNC.

[CTyankee]

17. Hey, nobody is mentioning Barbara Boxer

I think she's got a great profile and doesn't have lots of baggage. I like thinking about the match up with Condi, after the hearings for Condi's confirmation as Sec. of State. Barbara gave her absolute hell! Go Barbara!

[Lena inRI]

20. Wes Clark/Barbara Boxer 2008 for me. . .

. . .makes sense in all categories. . .especially COMMON SENSE !

:kick:

[CTyankee]

23. I would get my vote. But the reverse would even be better!

Hmm. Maybe "Commander in Chief" will cause folks to have some second thoughts about a woman as president?

[lutefisk]

29. Clark-Boxer vs. Rice-Cheney?

Seriously, though. How would Rice find someone who doesn't overshadow her in experience, competence, and personality? They managed to package Junior, but Rice is awful.

[AntiCoup2K4]

28. Barbara Boxer would get my vote.

But I would recommend she gets herself elected Governor of California first. She's a great Senator, but Senators don't get elected President.

[LibDemAlways]

19. Maybe a race for the Presidency

is what Condi needs to wake her up to the cold, hard fact that many people (including one of my aunts and several of my cousins) are repukes precisely because they despise minorities. She'd drop out after getting maybe 10 votes in the first primary.

[high density]

21. I can't believe I keep reading this crap because of a TV show?

Even the Christian Science Monitor had a useless article about it. It's like they barely need an excuse any more to keep whoring for sellout politicians.

[McCamy Taylor]

27. Real Dems will vote first First Hubbie Big Dog!

:dem:

[AntiCoup2K4]

30. And that would be the same "real Dems"

Who believe the PPI is anything other than a wholly owned subsidiary of PNAC?

[EndElectoral]

31. I hope Condi runs..her record is pathetic...

[Vektor]

32. WOO-HOO! I clicked on this post...

Congrats on reaching the mark of the beast! :evilgrin:

[Pepperbelly]

33. Do you think Condi is ever met with sudden silence in gop rooms ...

when she enters?

I expect so.