Cory6188 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 2626 posts, RR: 5 Posted (2 years 10 months 1 week ago) and read 891 times:
I was reading the thread about Hillary Clinton possibly as president, and I started thinking about the television show Commander In Chief.
Some of the different responses in the thread were saying how even in today's society, they weren't sure if a woman could command the respect necessary in order to be an effective president.
For those of you who don't know, Commander in Chief is a television series here in the US, starring Geena Davis as the President. I think it's fantastic, and she plays the role incredibly well.
Anyway, what effect, if any, do you think that the show will have on Americans' perceptions of having a woman as president? While clearly, Geena Davis is an actress and the show is scripted, it is incredibly realistic and does deal with some of the power struggles associated with top government officials not trusting a woman president.
Doona From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 2997 posts, RR: 18 Reply 1, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 881 times:
Quoting Cory6188 (Thread starter): For those of you who don't know, Commander in Chief is a television series here in the US, starring Geena Davis as the President. I think it's fantastic, and she plays the role incredibly well.
I'm sorry, but CiC sucks. It's a cheap show, just trying to fill the shoes of the almighty West Wing, and taking it a step further.
Although the West Wing has taken a turn for the worse lately, it's just impossible to follow them.
Cheers
Mats
Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.
Kiwiandrew From Belgium, joined Jun 2005, 4092 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 877 times:
Quoting Cory6188 (Thread starter): they weren't sure if a woman could command the respect necessary in order to be an effective president.
I would have thought that respect would have more to do with what is between the Presidents ears than what is between their legs ...... then again , looking at some of the Presidents over the years maybe not
"You are only young once ..... but you can be immature forever!"
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 16398 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 869 times:
There have been multiple female heads of government worldwide (and we've got three new ones recently); In general they differ a bit in style, but whether they're effective or not doesn't hinge on their gender.
There had been some discussions in Germany before the elections too, but Angela Merkel has so far demonstrated to do her job quite well so far (and no, I hadn't voted for her party!).
I'm certain that a female US president would be seen as a politician foremost, with the novelty of her gender wearing off rather quickly. After that it's just business as usual for the most part. You'd do just fine.
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 861 times:
The big question is how will any future female president look in a flight suit with a sock stuffed in her crotch as she prances around like a monkey on the deck of an aircraft carrier yammering crap.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 16398 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 854 times:
Quoting Jaysit (Reply 4): The big question is how will any future female president look in a flight suit with a sock stuffed in her crotch as she prances around like a monkey on the deck of an aircraft carrier yammering crap.
Pope From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 846 times:
Quoting Jaysit (Reply 4): The big question is how will any future female president look in a flight suit with a sock stuffed in her crotch as she prances around like a monkey on the deck of an aircraft carrier yammering crap.
And you've been in the White House recently to know how realistic this TV show is??
I really hope you don't think that the day to day workings of the White House are just like you see on some TV drama. Please.. tell me no.
TV shows are great for entertainment. That's about it.
Quoting Cory6188 (Thread starter): Anyway, what effect, if any, do you think that the show will have on Americans' perceptions of having a woman as president?
To be honest? If someone votes for or against a Female Presidential Candidate not because of her qualifications, but because they believe that some fictional TV show, then I just hope they show up at the TV station to vote.
Liberals- Duped by Gore and Global Warming, now Obama. GuitrThree you ask? A STAR to BNA I live under! (Now GuitrFour)
Cory6188 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 2626 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 831 times:
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 9): And you've been in the White House recently to know how realistic this TV show is??
Obviously, I haven't. When I said that it's realistic, I meant that the issues and things that the show brings up are realistic, and the way the public and other politicians treat a female president seem to be accurate as well.
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 9): If someone votes for or against a Female Presidential Candidate not because of her qualifications, but because they believe that some fictional TV show
Clearly, people should base their votes on what they believe about the actual person - not how Mackenzie Allen did as president on the show. However, my point was that I believe that it opens people's eyes to the fact that a female president is a possibility, and even if it is just entertainment, it's still exposure to another view of the executive branch.
Pope From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 815 times:
Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 11): Americans please any thoughts on why you haven't yet had any female presidents ? It seems quite strange to me
Only one has ever been on a national ticket. I'm not aware of how many have run for the nomination but there aren't many. You've got to be in it to win it.
To me this relates to a bigger issue. I think women don't exercise nearly enough power. For example, my wife's car lease was up and she wanted a new car. She wanted to stick with the Honda Odessey but just get the 2006 model. I told her to stop by the Honda dealership in town and speak to Gary, the salesman who had sold us 5 previous cars - though I had always handled the transaction. Gary had always treated us well and I was sure that he would try to screw us over.
That night my wife tells me that she was quoted $36,000 for the car. I knew that was about $6,000 more than sticker. I was pissed and called Gary the next day to complain about it and rip him a new one. We finally figure out that there are two Gary's working at the dealership (the one we had previously dealt with and a new one who was the one who met with my wife).
The "good Gary" tells me that we can have the car for $28,500 without even negotiating. When I tell my wife this she gets really pissed. I tell her that if I were her, I'd march right into the sales manager's office at this dealership (who is a woman) and let her know exactly what happened, demand that the "bad Gary" be fired or indicate that she would make it her mission in life to tell every woman she knew about how this "woman run" dealership really treats women. [The dealership goes out of its way to advertise this fact in its TV ads]
My wife said that she just won't feel right doing that. I simply couldn't understand that mentality. But I see it time and time again. Women should run this place. They are the absolute majority in numbers but they refuse to seize power and instead regularly get screwed over.
Until women themselves rise up, men will continue to make the rules that are most favorable to us. I think it's an embarrasment that there are only two (about to be one) women on the US Supreme Court. The ratio of men to women in Congress is ridiculous. Hell, even Martha Stewart's company is now run by a man.
Women get manipulated and allow men to force them to focus on what divides them so that they don't vote as a unified group.
GuitrThree From United States, joined Oct 2004, 1480 posts, RR: 20 Reply 13, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 813 times:
Quoting Cory6188 (Reply 10): When I said that it's realistic, I meant that the issues and things that the show brings up are realistic, and the way the public and other politicians treat a female president seem to be accurate as well.
Being that there has never actually been a female president except in TV fantasy land, tell me how politicians "accurately" treat something that has never happened.
Here is a perfect example of how you're wrong. Take Governor Blanco of LA, she is a total waste of space. She couldn't govern her own dogs house, let alone a state. She totally was unprepared for Katrina. Now, she got blasted by many, especially those on the right. But how many times did you hear that she screwed up because she was a women? I seem to remember none. It was just that she is an idiot.
During the same incident, however, you had those on the Right (rightfully also saying) that Mayor Nagin was also a total idiot who not only was inept, but left the city for higher ground without helping his people. He got equally blasted as much or more so than the female Governor.
And of course, you had those on the left Blame Bush for everything too... again, more so than Governor Blanco.
So please enlighten me about the conversations and situations that went on in the LA governors mansion about how a female can't handle the position of power that CIC and Gina Davis, as you say, so accurately portray.
Quoting Cory6188 (Reply 10): However, my point was that I believe that it opens people's eyes to the fact that a female president is a possibility
Again, those people who need to watch some fictional TV program to suddenly turn the light on that a female could actually one day be president really need to go to the TV Station to cast their vote. Why on earth, in the year 2005, does it take a TV show to make people think that a female can actually become president? Give me the right female candidate, and I'll vote for her. Not because of some dumb show. Not because of some book or movie. Because she is (1) Qualified, (2) Strong on protecting America, (3) Believes in my political theories and thoughts.
And no, that isn't Hillary.
Again. I have to question my own intelligence if I base the fact that I vote or not vote for a women because Gina Davis did a good job of it on TV [Edited 2006-01-18 18:42:59]
Liberals- Duped by Gore and Global Warming, now Obama. GuitrThree you ask? A STAR to BNA I live under! (Now GuitrFour)
Pope From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 800 times:
Quoting Klaus (Reply 14): And who is it who's dividing us men so we don't vote as a unified group...?
Division of the majority vote is not that big a deal with respect to which sex gets elected. If between two male candidates the men split their vote 50 / 50 a man still wins and perpetuates the male dominance. If you add a woman to the mix and women split their vote 50 / 50 while men tend to vote for the man / against the woman, the woman candidate looses even though women are in the majority.
I would say that the abortion issue is the largest divider of women. While clearly it's an important issue, aren't there more important issues that need to be addressed. Pay disparity, tax rules that discriminate against women, sex discrimination, etc. . .all have a much broader impact on the day to day lives of most women than does abortion. Yet the woman's vote is fractured over this one issue.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 16398 posts, RR: 54 Reply 16, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 794 times:
Women often decide elections, and their reasons for voting are as diverse as those of the men.
I'm not surprised in the least that abortion is a much heavier decision for a woman than for a man, ethical or religious convictions notwithstanding...
GuitrThree From United States, joined Oct 2004, 1480 posts, RR: 20 Reply 17, posted (2 years 10 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 771 times:
I just read today on Yahoo (Reuters) that this "Incredibly Realistic" show is now starting to bomb out. It's ratings are down considerably, and with the now running American Idol in the same time slot on Tuesdays and the upcoming Winter Olympics, they are starting to talk about if it even will be renewed. They have even brought in Steven Bochco to help, especially with some sort of production delays they were having. I wonder if those delays were from Hillary not getting to the producers fast enough to tell them what Geena Davis should do next!
[Edited 2006-01-21 05:49:49]
Liberals- Duped by Gore and Global Warming, now Obama. GuitrThree you ask? A STAR to BNA I live under! (Now GuitrFour)
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined Feb 2004, 2626 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 2997 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Jun 2005, 4092 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 16398 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Tajikistan, joined Mar 2005, 2633 posts, 
From France, joined Jan 2006, 139 posts, 