US President elections 2008.

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

Well if they refuse to accept western policies and we panda to that then nothing will ever be resolved. America can't afford to base their votes on what the Middle East's beliefs are.

Tokyo Hardcore:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

Well if they refuse to accept western policies and we panda to that then nothing will ever be resolved. America can't afford to base their votes on what the Middle East's beliefs are.

Uhm...What about Benazir Bhutto?

Pakistan is a part of the Middle East or is my compass a little wonky?

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

I don't believe that presidents do much one on one talking anyway. Her ideas may be expressed through representitives, as is the case with many previous occasions. She can smile for the camera when needed.

Anyway, as well as respecting their culture, American culture also needs respect and women do feel more empathy anyways, so it may possibly be beneficial on some levels in regards to delicate subject matter regarding a conflict in values.

I don't know a thing about American politics though, because it seems very artificialised to me anyways, and right now is much too early for me to really give a damn about their individual platforms. I'm Canadian, I mean, we've never taken politics seriously, we invented the political satirical party (See the Rhinoceros Party for a good laugh.

Herr Doktor:

Tokyo Hardcore:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

Well if they refuse to accept western policies and we panda to that then nothing will ever be resolved. America can't afford to base their votes on what the Middle East's beliefs are.

Uhm...What about Benazir Bhutto?

Pakistan is a part of the Middle East or is my compass a little wonky?

I'd actually never heard of her.

I wasn't referring to Pakistan, more to the instability of Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. I think we could do without offending them anymore than we already have.

I'm confused though, is the example of Benazir Bhutto an example supportting or against what I'm not sure we're debating about, oh yeah, the 'it doesn't matter that she's a woman' thing.

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Herr Doktor:

Tokyo Hardcore:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

Well if they refuse to accept western policies and we panda to that then nothing will ever be resolved. America can't afford to base their votes on what the Middle East's beliefs are.

Uhm...What about Benazir Bhutto?

Pakistan is a part of the Middle East or is my compass a little wonky?

I'd actually never heard of her.

I wasn't referring to Pakistan, more to the instability of Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. I think we could do without offending them anymore than we already have.

Bhutto really wasn't able to do much for Pakistan. Her first term was cut short due to corruption charges and her second term was cut short because the president dissolved it. I'm not saying she's not a good leader [I really can't determine that] but she wasn't able to hold her own. She was opposed greatly and being a woman was most likely a reason. Only recently was she able to voice herself freely which makes her look like a strong leader. [Not to knock her actions as PM even more, but she supported the Taliban.]

It's true that Americans' votes shouldn't be made to appease the Middle East, but at this moment, it is the largest issue on the agenda. But sex aside, I don't think Hillary has a very good foreign policy, that's why she shouldn't be elected at this moment, not because she's a she.

I dislike Hillary on the basis that I think she'd be a very weak leader. I doubt that she would be anything more than a puppet for various groups, her husband, and feminists.

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

I dislike Hillary on the basis that I think she'd be a very weak leader. I doubt that she would be anything more than a puppet for various groups, her husband, and feminists.

Many people are voting for her in hopes of her being a puppet for her husband =P It's unfortunate that he's her puppet and you can tell when he makes appearances on her campaign. But I do agree that she would be a puppet for other people. Her policies are really "go with the flow" so whatever the majority says she'll do...which isn't as good as it sounds [kinda like communism].

So the Iowa caucus is coming up, 8 days. Predictions? I'm thinking Huckabee. I don't really care much about the Democrats, but I'm throwing Clinton out there because it seems pretty likely [but in my heart, I'm really rooting for Edwards].

Herr Doktor:

Tokyo Hardcore:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Anji:

I personally think being a woman has nothing to do with it. Being that woman, on the other hand, does.

But what about relations with the Middle East? In their society, a woman's place is not in politics, by any means. We're so involved with them at the moment that we really can't afford to go and elect this woman, and expect them not to be offended and refuse to talk with her.

Well if they refuse to accept western policies and we panda to that then nothing will ever be resolved. America can't afford to base their votes on what the Middle East's beliefs are.

Uhm...What about Benazir Bhutto?

Pakistan is a part of the Middle East or is my compass a little wonky?

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Bill Richardson ftw!

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Oh Christ on a pogostick.

RIP.

Franny.:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

I dislike Hillary on the basis that I think she'd be a very weak leader. I doubt that she would be anything more than a puppet for various groups, her husband, and feminists.

Many people are voting for her in hopes of her being a puppet for her husband =P It's unfortunate that he's her puppet and you can tell when he makes appearances on her campaign. But I do agree that she would be a puppet for other people. Her policies are really "go with the flow" so whatever the majority says she'll do...which isn't as good as it sounds [kinda like communism].

So the Iowa caucus is coming up, 8 days. Predictions? I'm thinking Huckabee. I don't really care much about the Democrats, but I'm throwing Clinton out there because it seems pretty likely [but in my heart, I'm really rooting for Edwards].

Did anyone see Huckabee out hunting yesterday. It's amazing what people will do to get the vote .

Franny.:

It's unfortunate that he's her puppet and you can tell when he makes appearances on her campaign.

...well obviously. It's her campaign, he isn't out to promote himself.

Herr Doktor:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Oh Christ on a pogostick.

RIP.

They're attributing her death to Al-Quaida. And of course, all the presidential cantidates have something to say about it.

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Herr Doktor:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Oh Christ on a pogostick.

RIP.

They're attributing her death to Al-Quaida. And of course, all the presidential cantidates have something to say about it.

That's why I was so shocked this morning. I was like, she's so relevant in the news and everything, and then all of a sudden, she dies, gone. I'm still in shock about it actually...

But I don't believe it was Al Qaeda or Musharraf who did it. I think it was one of the extremist groups who opposes her politics [the same group that tried to kill her when she first returned to Pakistan in October].

R.I.P. Benazir Bhutto, a brave and sincere woman.

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Herr Doktor:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Oh Christ on a pogostick.

RIP.

They're attributing her death to Al-Quaida. And of course, all the presidential cantidates have something to say about it.

Yay, back on topic.

Although, for very sad reasons.

Herr Doktor:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

Herr Doktor:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

She's literally just been assassinated by a suicide bomber. Weird, since we were literally just talking about her.

Oh Christ on a pogostick.

RIP.

They're attributing her death to Al-Quaida. And of course, all the presidential cantidates have something to say about it.

Yay, back on topic.

Although, for very sad reasons.

After reading up on her, I'm very sad that she's gone. I feel that she could have made a huge difference in the world, given the right circumstances.

Ah! I just, like literally just, came back from vacation. I was with my family, and my dad walks into the room at five in the morning and turns on the BBC and I was like WTF and then I heard 'Benazir Bhutto' coupled with 'assassinated' and I was like noooo waaaay! I mean, flipping hell for lack of a more approproate expression to convey how I feel.

It really made me think back to this thread because in October when she went back to Pakistan, I honestly could not imagine this at all. To me, Pakistan has always been relatively calm. This just utterly shocked me and I keep wondering whether it would be positive or negative to have more female politicians, because it was clear Bhutto was setting an example, what with her background and education. There are so many young women, Pakistani women, friends of mine, just like she was, studying abroad. It would be wrong to stop them from trying to achieve thier goal in Pakistani politics, but is it also wrong to shield them from what harm could possibly be done?

I know this is supposed to be about the American elections, but it had to be said and there isn't much place elsewhere for this. (It would be a lot nicer to have a more broad, international one, especially when so many elections are going on presently, here in Thailand, Kenya, Pakistan soon.)

Benazir Bhutto's death....sucked. Because her father was hanged by Pervez Nawab Sharif and now she's dead too. And she actually tried to move Indo-Pak peace talks forward. Coming back to US elections, the next president has a chance to screw up the Indo-Pak situation really bad.

Franny.:

Ol' Blue Eyes.:

I dislike Hillary on the basis that I think she'd be a very weak leader. I doubt that she would be anything more than a puppet for various groups, her husband, and feminists.

Many people are voting for her in hopes of her being a puppet for her husband =P It's unfortunate that he's her puppet and you can tell when he makes appearances on her campaign. But I do agree that she would be a puppet for other people. Her policies are really "go with the flow" so whatever the majority says she'll do...which isn't as good as it sounds [kinda like communism].

So the Iowa caucus is coming up, 8 days. Predictions? I'm thinking Huckabee. I don't really care much about the Democrats, but I'm throwing Clinton out there because it seems pretty likely [but in my heart, I'm really rooting for Edwards].

I find it funny that people hope that she'll be the puppet for Bill when actually hillary was the driving force behind the clinton era.

She really is a very intelligent women who does strike fear into the hearts of competitors you only have to read the alistar campbell diaries on the blair years to show how much effect she has on foreign politics. Most leaders are all the same really and the democratic message won't change so it doesn't matter who's in the driving seat, but it will be interesting to see a women there.