A black or female president?? what is the world coming to?

[[Q]]

so I finished an article for my school newspaper kicking around the possibility of the United States electing a black or a female president next year.

As another election year approaches, we already have candidates on the campaign trail for 2008. With a few political polls under our belt, Hillary Clinton leads the Democrats with Barack Obama and John Edwards close behind. John McCain jumped out with a big lead and looks to be an early favorite for the Republican nomination for the presidential elections next year.

An Edwards and McCain match-up would be exciting. If Clinton or Obama were to win, the United States would be put in an interesting predicament. It would be more monumental than John F. Kennedy becoming our first Catholic president in 1961. Considering that blacks and women have been second-class citizens for most of our nation’s history – and world history, for that matter – the real test of our nation’s character comes now with the upcoming election.

If Obama or Clinton were to win the Democratic nomination, how would they be received by the nation? Would they stand a chance at winning the presidential election? Of course, there are some states, like California, in which they would do really well, but they can easily lose it in the states that are perennial tie-breakers. It depends a lot on how they present themselves to the public and how they’ve been perceived. These are serious questions about the state of our nation today. If Clinton and Obama were white males, they would be perfect candidates. They are well-respected, very charismatic, well-educated and, most importantly, open to change.

Obama is “cursed” as far as elections go not only because he is black, but also because he was given the middle name “Hussein,” like his father Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. With so much racism toward people from the Middle East following Sept. 11 and the recent war against Saddam Hussein and his subsequent hanging, there will be very many uneducated, ignorant people at the polling booths in the future who will not vote for him after seeing his name.

Being born into a family with a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, Obama has the diversity and charisma to bring our nation together. His keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 gave him exposure to those who didn’t know him. His appearances on many TV programs show us a man who is not only young and charismatic but also intelligent and witty, as seen on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.”

Clinton was the most active and educated first lady our country has ever seen. This led to many jokes about her husband’s manhood, insinuating that she was more powerful than he was. She is a very strong and independent woman, something that a lot of people in this country fear. She is very comfortable in her own skin, and she knows who she is. Her work during Bill Clinton’s tenure as president made it very clear she was interested in social issues in this country.

As Obama and Clinton begin their runs toward the White House, we must stop and think about the importance of this moment in time. They are both progressive minds that our country needs. The United States is one of the few countries that has never had a woman or a black person in such a high position of power. With youth being the most likely to vote for Obama or Clinton, but also the least likely to vote, the chances of either of them overtaking McCain or any other Republican are not very good. If Obama or Clinton were to make it to the presidential elections, our nation would be tested. The result of the next election will either show how far we have come, or how far we still have yet to go.

Barack Hussein Obama.

Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Personally, I think this is the best thing that could ever happen to our country especially after 12 years of Bush rule with 8 years of Bill Clinton in between. We are still living like it's 1950 (especially with Supreme Court justices as old as dirt) and Obama & Hillary are the progressive minds we need to move forward and make life better in this country.

I was just curious... how do you think our country will recieve Hillary or Obama if they were to win the Democratic nomination? This is open to everyone, not only Americans.

[sucram]

I also agree that this is the best thing that can happen. Really hoping it's Obama, this guy is really intelligent. I won't be voting for i'm an Australian. Ol' Johny H.

[[Q]]

I also agree that this is the best thing that can happen. Really hoping it's Obama, this guy is really intelligent. I won't be voting for i'm an Australian. Ol' Johny H.

are you guys having elections soon? im curious about your prez & the candidates for the next election.

[Steve [The Spiderman]]

I wouldn't vote for either of them...liberals suck. (Waiting to hear how horrible I am for saying this now)

[Dan's Brain]

are you guys having elections soon? im curious about your prez & the candidates for the next election.

At some point this year, probably towards the end. Our sitting Prime Minister, John Howard (who gets to stay there as long as people keep voting for him or refrain from shooting him) vs Kevin Rudd from the Labour Party.

Should be noted that Howard has been P.M. for 11 looooong years now.

[Oznogrd]

i find alot of the political discussion on here slightly amusing (yes even when i'm part of it) because i know the majority of members arent voting age....but anyway: While i think obama is a very intelligent guy (heard him speak once here, he didnt say anything i disagreed with) I dont think he should run just yet. He wont have enough of a voting record for some indecisive people to be able to back him. I know several people who didnt vote for kerry because he kept saying "i have a plan" and never said what the plan was. The idea of Hilary in the whitehouse scares me. While I think a female president would be fine- hilary is not the one that needs to be the first. Something about her rubs me completely the wrong way. Even with lewinskigate/all the bullshit i'd trust her husband before her.

But anyway: my main problem right now is the media hyping up we could have our first black or female president. I remember at this point before the last election there were something like 14 democrats who could all win. Its very early to tell. Also the possibilities i've been hearing is a McCain-Jeb Bush republican ticket. This doesnt scare the hell out of me nearly as much with McCain as the president; he seems to be a reasonable guy...but this could get very interesting. Will the democrats be able to get enough of the nonvoters out to vote to win? Will the democrats be able to come up with a strong enough stance on the issues to stick by? Will the republicans keep their seat of power in the white house even if they didnt in the house?

Be prepared for a very odd spectacle when it begins...because when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

[cyanide]

I think Hillary should be the next president. Take a look at New Zealand. The country's run by all females, and New Zealand's economy apparently did a 180 and is a better country than ever before. Take a look at Ireland and their booming economy, and the president is a woman.

Here's a list of current presidents in the world: http://www.filibustercartoons.com/chart ... eaders.php

It won't be weird to have a female president if some major countries in the world are already run by them.

[DatYellowGuy]

Your Supreme Court Justices tidbit shows how much you know about the government. A new president would not change the justices because they can't unless the Justice retires. Once a Justice is assigned by any former or current president the term is life. So if JFK assigned one and they didn't retire yet that means they are still in office. Hillary isn't really a Democrat because she's pretty conservative compared to most of them. Actually, she was a Republican before Bill ran for Pres. Obama seems, well I'm not sure, kinda childish?

[BigKaboom2]

My immature side finds it hilarious that Mr. Obama's last name is similar to Osama and his middle name is Hussein.

[Gundy]

If Hilary Clinton gets elected, I'm fucking moving.

[Patr1ck]

2008 is going to have a wild election. The thing is, aren't both Hillary and Obama running for the democratic nomination? So if voters aren't ready for a woman or a black man in office, then John McCain could be the next president(or other Republican nominee)?

In my honest opinion, If voters had to choose between a white woman and a black man for president, and I mean the first of each kind, the white woman would win. But, since Obama is half black and half white.....maybe not. Both will be shot at.

[bigh0rt]

If Hilary Clinton gets elected, I'm fucking moving.

Do you have any idea what her policies and/or platform looks like? Or are you just running your mouth like an idiot because you've heard your classmates say similar things? Hilary's a right enough Democrat (and I feel that whichever side wins the next election, we need a moderate one, and not the polar opposite left wing of what we have now, or think we have now) and has been a fine official for the state of New York in her time served, that I'm very much looking forward to hearing more about her domestic policy as time goes by.

[[Q]]

I think Hillary should be the next president. Take a look at New Zealand. The country's run by all females, and New Zealand's economy apparently did a 180 and is a better country than ever before. Take a look at Ireland and their booming economy, and the president is a woman.

well under Bill Clinton, I believe we had a surplus for almost all of the 8 years and our economy was great. of course Bush has to fund his war so it's impossible for him to balance the budget when spending that much money & cutting taxes.

Your Supreme Court Justices tidbit shows how much you know about the government. A new president would not change the justices because they can't unless the Justice retires.

of course I know that. I was just trying to make the point that this country is still a very conservative country (especially with older people tending to be more conservative than younger people).
but still, hasn't Bush appointed 2 justices already? It would be stupid of him to appoint someone that doesn't support his politcal agenda, but Clinton managed to find a few liberal judges. I think if Hillary or Obama were in power, they would appoint some justices that could help move this country forward.
I mean, it's weird living in California, because I voted for Kerry in 2004. It's almost as if my vote didn't really count because the Democrats win California year in and year out.
I also think that with a fresh face in power with either Hillary or Obama, we can really change the way we are seen by people in other countries. We always appear arrogant, selfish, and as the big bully in world politics.. i understand why all those people in the middle east hate us.

[Riot]

You don't elect Hilary Clinton because she is a woman. You don't elect Obama because he is black. Similarly, you don't dismiss them because they are either female or black. You have to look at them as a candidate. It's too important of a decision to throw away based on gender or race. That has nothing to do with it.

From what I know Obama is nothing more than a publicity stunt. The guy has done nothing as senator and all he does is talk a big game. He tells everyone to stop driving SUVs and gas guzzling vehicles and then he goes and drives away in his huge ass SUV. If you want to "different" and seperate yourself from the normal politicans then you should stick to your word. You think that would be an easy thing to do, don't you think?

Hilary is on a power trip and she is a crazy bitch. Plain and simple. You don't want her anywhere near the White House. Did you know she is attacking Obama by questioning his religion? She says he is still a Muslim and using that as if that is a bad thing. She has people looking into everything in Obama's background regarding his Muslim heritage. How is that progressive? How is that tolerant? Clinton would be an awful choice. Obama wouldn't be a wise choice. The democrats have better candidates than those two (John Edwards) to throw at the Republicans. The democrats are going to mess this up.

[Gedas]

Why not? It still aint getting any worse, you might as well elect a monkey (not a racistic approach).

[Riot]

Why not? It still aint getting any worse, you might as well elect a monkey (not a racistic approach).

You have no idea how good you have it if you think it can't get any worse...

The unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades. The economy is getting stronger and stronger.

[bigh0rt]

Why not? It still aint getting any worse, you might as well elect a monkey (not a racistic approach).

You have no idea how good you have it if you think it can't get any worse...

The unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades. The economy is getting stronger and stronger.

No idea how good we have it? How quickly we forget what was the 90's, and how incredible it was to be an American during that decade. We've been in a War for years - it's about time the economy's taken a boost the way it has during every single other war in the history of the United States.

[Christopherson]

Bigh0rt, sadly enough, almost nobody here really remembers what it was like to live in the 90's. A vast majority of them weren't even teenagers when we hit the new decade. Most teenagers in this country have lived almost their entire adolesce in a country at war. Thier opinions on matters such as these are ignorant in that they don't truly know the nature of thier country.

[Gundy]

If Hilary Clinton gets elected, I'm fucking moving.

Do you have any idea what her policies and/or platform looks like? Or are you just running your mouth like an idiot because you've heard your classmates say similar things? Hilary's a right enough Democrat (and I feel that whichever side wins the next election, we need a moderate one, and not the polar opposite left wing of what we have now, or think we have now) and has been a fine official for the state of New York in her time served, that I'm very much looking forward to hearing more about her domestic policy as time goes by.

It's true that I don't know much about her policies but that statement was entirely from me, not influenced from what I've heard about her. I don't know shit about politics and I really don't care. All I know is that something about Hilary just makes me sick to my stomach.

[Lean]

At least have a president stop the war. Just kick Bush out of the seat.

[Dro]

At least have a president stop the war. Just kick Bush out of the seat.

I love how people say this, as if it was as simple as pushing an Easy Button.

[Riot]

Why not? It still aint getting any worse, you might as well elect a monkey (not a racistic approach).

You have no idea how good you have it if you think it can't get any worse...

The unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades. The economy is getting stronger and stronger.

No idea how good we have it? How quickly we forget what was the 90's, and how incredible it was to be an American during that decade. We've been in a War for years - it's about time the economy's taken a boost the way it has during every single other war in the history of the United States.

Yes...the 1990's were a wonderful time for Americans. You had the World Trade Center bombing, the CIA assault rifle attack, Karachi attack, Oklahoma City bombing, Amtrak derailed, Olympic Park bombing, Empire State building attack, Somlia crisis and the Columbine shootings. Most of those had to deal with international terrorism. I didn't even post the embassy attacks on Americans in foreign countries during this decade.

The 1990's were a time where we tried to pretend the issue was gone. We defeated communism and now the world was peaceful. However, that was not the case. Appeasement does not mean peace. I think the 1990's were overrated when looking back at what it has created now in the 2000's.

One man's opinion.

[bigh0rt]

Why not? It still aint getting any worse, you might as well elect a monkey (not a racistic approach).

You have no idea how good you have it if you think it can't get any worse...

The unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades. The economy is getting stronger and stronger.

No idea how good we have it? How quickly we forget what was the 90's, and how incredible it was to be an American during that decade. We've been in a War for years - it's about time the economy's taken a boost the way it has during every single other war in the history of the United States.

Yes...the 1990's were a wonderful time for Americans. You had the World Trade Center bombing, the CIA assault rifle attack, Karachi attack, Oklahoma City bombing, Amtrak derailed, Olympic Park bombing, Empire State building attack, Somlia crisis and the Columbine shootings. Most of those had to deal with international terrorism. I didn't even post the embassy attacks on Americans in foreign countries during this decade.

The 1990's were a time where we tried to pretend the issue was gone. We defeated communism and now the world was peaceful. However, that was not the case. Appeasement does not mean peace. I think the 1990's were overrated when looking back at what it has created now in the 2000's.

One man's opinion.

Hey, the 90's weren't so bad. You were born. You have no idea what the 90's were like, sorry.

[3P]

Is it just me or does the title of the thread indicate a racist and sexist?

[Riot]

Hey, the 90's weren't so bad. You were born. You have no idea what the 90's were like, sorry.

I don't know what the 1990's were like? I grew up in the 1990's (I was born in 1989 thank you!). I suppose you can't comment on World War II or anything in history since you weren't there either.

Shut up and crawl into your little hole, spider monkey.