You've come a long way baby!

I don't know if some or all of you are familiar, but a short time ago Chile, in a free election, elected as its president the person of Michelle Bachelet. This is significant for two main reasons, first being that it hasn't been all that long that Chile has been able to hold a free election and two, President Bachelet is a woman.

This, along with another news article set me to thinking about women in politics, specifically women in serious power positions. There have been a number of countries that have put women into the big office, including Pakistan, India, Israel, Germany, Great Britain, and even our little corner of the world here in Canada. Granted the reign of Kim Campbell was very brief (9 days or so), she does have the distinction of being Canada's first woman Prime Minister.

In the United States however, no woman has come close. Women in U.S. politics are definitely in the minority with only eight governors (out of fifty), and fourteen senators (from one hundred). There is a slightly larger percentage in congress, but can you name the last U.S. President to come straight from the congress? Me neither. The road to the White House it seems is down the gubernatorial or senatorial roads. With men the definite front runners.

Recent polls in the U.S. are showing some interesting numbers however, they say that ninety percent (of those surveyed) would vote for a woman in a presidential race if she were the right candidate. The same poll also says that only fifty-five percent believe that the country as whole is ready for a woman president.

So how did other women get to the top? Maybe it has to do with the parliamentary system. Where the woman in question is elected by a much smaller number of people, and not the nation. There is also the political dynasties to take into account, like the Bhuttos in Pakistan or the Ghandi/Nehrus in India. Maybe there just hasn't been a full generation in the U.S. where young girls believe that they can grow up to be president.

Can a woman do the job of U.S. President? Absolutely. I am firmly convinced that women can do just about anything a man can do and in many cases do it better. There are some things men are generally better at but those are related to genetics, and there's ought to be done there.

There has over the years been arguments (not all serious) that a lady commander-in-chief might choose to coddle an aggressor instead of launching an exocet missile into his window. My answer to that is to point to Golda Meir, who led Israel during the war in 1973; and anyone who says Margaret Thatcher "coddled" Argentina wouldn't do it to her face let me tell you! So I don't think that's really an issue.

I honestly don't think that there has been a woman in the U.S. who honestly believed she could win the white house and therefore didn't position herself early enough. Until now. For those who watch U.S. politics, you know of whom I speak. Democratic U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

This lady is a dynamo. She is a political power house and definitely has the brains to pull off the job in the oval office. There are many who said she was the behind the scenes co-president during Bill's eight years in office; so she has the right experience. And really, who can the democrats field in 2008? John Cain looks like he's poising to run again but he lost huge in the last democratic primaries; and who really wants a loser.

I think the 2008 elections are going to be very interesting because I don't see Dick Cheney running for the top job. Mainly because he isn't going to win. So both Republicans and Democrats will have to look for new, fresh candidates. Will Hillary be one of those candidates? I hope so. Even if you don't like all of her voting decisions, she doesn't try to hide from her voting record. She will say straight up "I voted for this because of that and would do it again tomorrow!" No coddling there!

So for you politicos and U.S. watchers, pay close attention in the coming 12-18 months. It's gonna be a good show. For my money, Hillary's great is '08!

Stay tuned.