With the recent elections of women in high political offices, for example Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Liberia's Johnson-Sirleaf (who I am not sure has taken the office as of yet), when do you think the United States (or your home country) will elect a female for President?

Its funny that such a free thinking country like the USA would have the least diverity in terms of Presidents. Every president save one has been a male white prostentant. The only exception has been JFK who was a male white catholic. Still, I think America is definitly ready for a president of a differnt race, religon, gender ect...Sen. Lieberman was Jewish and he almost became vice-president (or was cheated out of it).

There has to be a candidate thought who is appropriate to run the country and I don't see many female candidates out there who qualify. I have little respect for Sen. Clinton and really hope that she doesn't run.

Well, we had a woman Prime Minister for about five minutes once, but she was not elected, and as soon as an election came, she was turfed out.
We have had a lot of Catholic Prime Ministers here, of course, and I could see the country taking quite easily to a Jewish PM, possibly even Hindu or Muslim. I could see Canadians supporting a woman PM, if it was the right woman.
We don't vote directly for our Prime Minister, but rather for members of the party, which means that we are a little more likely, I think, to have more diversity than the US is.

The UK did have Maggie for quite some time, in fact she served 11 years, 209 days as Prime Minister. The longest serving PM of the UK for more than 150 years.

I'll just add Africa's just elected its first female leader in Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. I don't think there are a lot of reasons to distinguish so much any more, as more and more countries have female leaders it's no longer become such an issue, though outside Israel I'd definitely like to see a few Jewish leaders, but I am biased...

There was also Benazir Bhutto who in 1988, at the age of 36, was elected President of the Islamic nation of Pakistan. She was subsequently re-elected in 1993.
Getting back to the question, I reckon there's quite a good chance of the USA electing its first female President next time, provided Hillary Clinton is still interested.
In the UK, I think, whatever its faults, we will stick with royalty, so we're unlikely to see a 'president' of either sex for many years yet.

I believe Hillary Clinton will most likely run in 2008, although I don't know how well she'll do. Some people like the idea that she will run, yet I don't think that she would be "electable". There are just too many people out there who seem to have a hatred for her whether it is based on reason or not.

There is also another possible, yet longshot, candidate out there, but on the Republican side. Some have suggested Condoleeza Rice. Not only would she be the first female president, but also the first African-American president.

Hm, possibly but I reckon Ms Rice could be haunted by an increasing body count of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and maybe other conflicts to come. On the other hand, if Iraq manages to achieve any realistic democracy and stability, her reputation could soar!

The U.S. will indeed have a female President, some day, probably not in 2008. It won't be Hillary, and I thank God for that.

As forward thinking we Americans are in some areas, we are completely bassakwards in others!!

I am forced to agree there, elburcher, much as I hate to. As for the women as president issue I can personally see no reason whatsoever why that wouldn't work. Not simply based on her gender (there are those that say a woman, any woman, would be a great president - well, er, I don't think THAT for one second!) but on whether or not said person is right for the job. I'll reserve opinion on Rice or Clinton - I have personal 'itches' about both, just as I do with their male counterparts in the long and short of it. I remember when Ferraro was on the Democratic ticket (as veep) a long time ago. I liked Geraldine [while hardly agreeing with her for a heartbeat] because she went against her own moral code visibly BUT did that because it was her job to represent her constituency and not just her own personal code. A co-worker at the time, in this case a sturdy otherwise sensible woman person in most things, refused to support that ticket because "What if Mondale wins and dies? How can she be expected to run the country when her time of the month comes!? After I soundly choked on my coffee it was only to be said that she'd do that the way other women manage to teach school, drive trucks, play tennis, or even install your furnace! Sadly I think the mindset will be a long time in changing. It still cracks me up when I hear that Hillary is only a success because, simply, she 'acts like a man'. This is generally followed (with such sorts) by that she's cold, scheming, ambitious and ultimately deceptive. If you ask me that says a lot more about the perception of we men than it does anything else! Yikes, I guess it's that age-old double standard. Each end as laughably wrong as the other?

I don't see why so many people would have a problem with a woman being president, prime minister or whatever.
In Ireland we have a female president, president Mary McAleese (for the second time).Don't bring up the size issue, Ireland might be small but I think she does a great job. I'd like to see a female Taoiseach (prime minister type of thing) but no idea when, if at all, that's likely to happen. I can't really see that ever happening, can't see some of the idiots (male ones)in some of the bigger parties allowing a female to run their party, only time will tell.

I think it more interesting that the US has never had a black president, rather than a female. It would be interesting to see what would happen, if the Republicans ran Colin Powell to offset Hilary Clinton. Black voters have largely supported the Democrats, but would they abandon ship to put Powell in the, mind the pun,White House?

Or perhaps the GOP would pick Condi Rice to battle Hilary?

Either way, I sure hope Hilary doesn't make it to the Oval Office, anyone who lets their husband embarrass her publicly the way Slick Willie did, would have a hard time getting respect on the global stage.

That being said, Dubya hasn't exactly been respected has he?

Glad I'm in Canada,

Woody