Is it likely that the U.S. will have a female president in the near future? In your lifetime? Why?

I hope so, though I really (really) hope it’s not Hillary Clinton.  I’m British and we’ve already had a female Prime Minister (though many would argue that Maggie had more balls than any of her successors).  The Queen is pretty obviously a chick as well but we don’t get to choose her.

America is such a varied country that by the time you’ve chosen a president they end up being a bland widely appealing baby kissing mix of what each section of the population wants, which is a pity.  I would really like to see America have either it’s first female and/or it’s first black president some time in the next 10 years, obviously there’s a possibility this time round so I’ll keep my fingers crossed – I just think that it’d be so dull if you had yet another classic middle aged white-boy in the oval office again.

We’re doing pretty well over here in Europe as Germany is currently led by Angela Merkel and Sergolene Royal is in with a good shot at the French presidency.  The Council of Women World Leaders lists 11 currently serving female presidents, prime ministers and chancellors from countries as diverse as Ireland, Sri Lanka, Liberia and New Zealand so the other continents are doing alright too.

Even though I’m no fan of Hillary I’m a democrat by nature and I’d
still welcome the progress that a female leader would mean for the USA.  The shame is that I doubt enough Americans are progressive enough for the vote either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama into office, even though they’re the favourites at the moment.  Whatever happens I don’t expect it to affect policy, the last two white-boys you’ve had were markedly different (Clinton = awesome, Bush = ass) – it would just send a statement about America as a country.  In reality, I think the best candidate might be Gore, he’s turned into a proper Climate Change Ninja lately and he seems to be pretty popular for it too.