You know what I always imagined was a huge benefit of having a female Pres?

[burythehatchet]

It was that a woman most probably have a very much higher resistance to the extermination of entire countries than a man.

One of my childhood fantasies has been erased.

[Cleita]

1. What we need to do is empower women to have equal

say in how we run things. I'm all for having 50/50 gender equality in Congress, in the Supreme Court and on the President's cabinet. However, for the President, we need a good and competent person, who will work for the good of the planet, not only the nation, regardless of what their gender is.

[bunnies]

2. hah. If I had to fight either a man or a woman...

Id take a man any day. The women I know are far more diabolical than any man Ive ever met.

[Forkboy]

3. Thatcher erased that for me long ago.

[MADem]

9. I guess Golda Meir was before your time. NT

[Forkboy]

12. Yup.

Thatcher was my "women can be as big a psycho as men" moment. I learned about Meir later on.

[democrattotheend]

4. Sadly, women have to overcompensate

Because she is a woman, and the first woman with a shot at the presidency, Clinton has to go out of her way to be hawkish to prove she is as tough as men on national security. I disagree with her and it makes her less appealing to me, but I do sympathize to some degree. She has to be more careful than male candidates not to appear weak on national security, just like Obama has to walk a political tightrope on issues like affirmative action. It's unfortunate, but it's the reality.

That being said, you gave me a good talking point to use...I'm busy calling women in Indianapolis. If I get anyone who says they want to see a woman president, I should point that out.

[calimary]

19. I think this is absolutely spot-on. Of course she has to out-macho the men.

Or at least lend that impression. Because strictly because she's female, she's coming from behind on that score. I think many of us see it, but I'm like you in finding her less appealing because of the obliterate-Iran business. Unfortunately, that's the mentality we have to work with in this country, especially since there is no template for, or about, The Woman President before her. We have NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE with this, and nothing to base it on. She's breaking new ground, alright. I think that's what fueled her support for the war, too. And it's a shame.

[Zuiderelle]

5. Oh I get it. You're insulting Hillary.

It just never gets old here. OH wait, yes, it does.

[democrattotheend]

6. I think the OP makes a valid point

I think a lot of the anti-Hillary posts here are inappropriate, but this one makes a valid point. It's not a hit job. But perhaps the OP could have gone into a little more depth about how women candidates have to overcompensate to prove they are tough.

[Zuiderelle]

11. A small point perhaps, but the point remains that women are more hesitant to attack and more likely

to collaborate and compromise. And you are correct that the posturing on her part is due to her perceived need to overcompensate and appear tough. A bit like Obama's avoidance of gay issues in order to appear less likely to support gay issues. Neither one of these candidates should be bowing to that kind of pressure that belies their own integrity, or what we wish them to be.

I'm sick of it all, and I just want it over.

[democrattotheend]

16. Not sure gay issues is a good analogy. Affirmative action is probably a better one.

Since neither of them is gay, not sure that's such a great analogy. And someone made a point recently that while Clinton is more willing to talk to gay media, Obama has been more likely to mention gay rights in his stump speeches. I noticed he sort of mentioned it last night (including gays and straights in his unity pitch).

Affirmative action is probably a better analogy...it's a political tightrope for Obama, and even if he says "mend it don't end it", which was President Clinton's position, it could peg him as "the black candidate". But if he calls for ending it he could alienate some of his base.

[Zuiderelle]

27. Civil rights (gay issues) is most certainly a good analogy.

And though I agree that Affirmative Action is a good analogy as well, I think civil equality for gay Americans is a better one. Legally, African Americans have the same rights as white Americans, gay Americans do not have the same rights as straight Americans. I think that any progressive candidate should stand up for civil equality for all Americans.

(I won't go into how little he actually supports gay rights, despite how much he "mentions" it. Have you noticed HOW he mentions it? Evasively and with zero commitment.)

[EFerrari]

7. Is it possible to insult her with her own positions? n/t

[MADem]

13. They have nothing else to do. They sure can't tout any of their candidate's great ideas.

Or if YES THEY CAN, I can't understand why NO THEY WON'T.

I haven't seen a single Obama proposal here in eons. It's all Clinton bashing, all the time.

[democrattotheend]

20. Here's one great idea he has

I think he and Clinton are pretty similar on most of the major issues, with some differences that have already been discussed. But looking through his website, one interesting part of the issues section is the part about technology. This has not gotten a lot of attention, but he has some great ideas about using the White House website as a vehicle for citizen participation. He proposes adding a comments section and giving citizens five days to post comments before signing or vetoing all non-emergency legislation. I think that's a great idea and wish he would mention it in his stump speech, because it is an example of his philosophy that lobbyists and special interests would have less influence if people were paying attention and got involved.

You can read more about his technology proposals and his ideas about making the government more transparent through technology at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/#transparent-democracy

[MADem]

22. See, that would make a great thread all on its own, instead of the interminable

"Clinton is a Rightwing RACIST!"

"Clinton is an UNELECTABLE Beee Word!!!!"

"I WILL stomp my foot, pack my bags and move to Timbuktu (like they'd have me) if Clinton gets elected!!"

"Clinton is Eva Braun!!!"

I am sick of this shit, from kids who were barely out of diapers while Bill and Hillary Clinton were lifting us all up. So something like your topic would be nice, for a change, to see.

[democrattotheend]

26. Good idea. I think I will make it its own thread.

Although it will probably sink fast because it does not attack anyone.

[MADem]

29. Yep. It is sad that there's so little exchange of information here anymore. NT

[democrattotheend]

30. Agreed. Sad that my thread has gotten such limited response.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5800206

I guess I should have picked a sexier title. I'm curious whether people in both camps think it would be a good idea for him to talk about it on the stump. It shows that his talk about making the government more transparent and accessible is not just rhetoric, but talking too much about technology might make him sound elitist, since not everyone has Internet access.

[MADem]

36. It's the GUAM business, and the frenzied lead up until next Tuesday, that does it.

FWIW, I think it's a good idea, and I'm old. I also think the government should heavily subsidize internet access.

[Donkeykick]

8. I would now believe that you...

believe that Hillary will exterminate entire countries now, right?

[Muttocracy]

25. I think that was a reference to HRC's "obliterate" Iran comment. nt

[bluestateguy]

10. Hillary feels a constant need to prove how tough she is

And yet no matter what she says or does, the neo-cons will never like her. She needs to accept that.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. Fear not

As long as Iran doesn't nuke Israel, they're fine.

The notion that Clinton WANTS to nuke Iran is just another Obama fan lie.

[crimsonblue]

15. the history of female leaders and rulers in European history

would tell us your fantasy was incorrect. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, irregardless of gender or race. That is why I am enthused that Obama wants to go back to the Constitution.

[Ashy Larry]

17. It is pretty scary.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

18. You used to be sexist. At least now you know!

Lesson learned:

Don't judge someone on their gender (or anything)

Cheerio!

[Cha]

21. I'm a little bit different..I never had fantasies

about neat stuff like that but I hear ya!


But, since the bushits took over the USA in the 2000 coup I have been fervently wanting someone like Gore and Dean.. and then along came Obama

[SoCalDem]

23. Some of the MEANEST bosses I ever had , were women

To GET to a level of authority, they had had to PROVE to the higher-ups that they were "BETTER" than the man who had previously held the job.. "better" translated to tougher, meaner, bossier, etc..

[Zuiderelle]

28. Oh goodie. Let's just let all the sexism out.

[DevonRex]

32. I don't think it is sexist to discuss differences between men and

women. There ARE differences. Those are differences we can be proud of.

[mitchum]

35. Well,as a man,I have always enjoyed working for female supervisors...

I have almost always been treated exceedingly fair.
Can't say the same about their treatment of female subordinates.
Maybe that's why many of them like to TALK about sisteehood?
I dunno...

[DevonRex]

33. And that is so sad. Because true strength is to be better at the

job itself and comfortable in your own skin.

[Muttocracy]

24. yep. See also Condi. nt

[DevonRex]

31. Yep. Me too. Another thing...

I work for a small business, started by a woman whose husband later joined her in the business. They have a very feminine style of running things. For example, if someone is sick we all pitch in to get the work done. Same thing if someone has a family emergency. Same thing for vacations. It's a small company, so there are no formal sick days or paid leave days.

We all work together for the good of the business and for each other. We don't complain when there's extra work because down the line, others will be doing extra for us.

I didn't know it when I began working there, but my bosses are democrats. It has been the most pleasant job situation I have ever had.

Anyway, back when I thought I could support Hillary, I had been looking forward to a different governing style than we've had in this country lately. Mostly because I'm so darned sick of the uber macho shit from Bush.

Lo and behold, it's Obama, a MAN, who has a different style and I love it.

[mitchum]

34. Catherine, Elizabeth, Victoria, Golda, Margaret...

far more mothers also kill their children than do fathers or live-in boy friends