Madam Secretary

Wednesday evening, Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright spoke at the LBJ Library to inaugurate the new Masters in Global Policy Studies degree program at LBJ. First, she joined the students for an informal discussion in our student lounge and then, she spoke to faculty, staff, and other university members in a larger forum. Hearing her speak was inspirational and frightening at the same time. She represents one of the early women in this field, and she spoke about her relationships with foreign leaders, their representatives, and the men in the US government. Not surprisingly, she noted that she often had more trouble with American men then foreign men. The Americans, she said, had known her when she was making coffee or copies. She also talked about how you do have to work harder sometimes, you need education, and a world view. Specifically, it takes more than lipstick and you should know where the countries are. (The room erupted at this point). She was funny and told stories that only someone in her position could have experienced. She met Kim Jong-Il and was warned beforehand that he was both crazy and a pervert. Apparently he's not crazy.

She was inspiring because of all that she has achieved as a first woman in many of her positions. What was terrifying was the thought that there are no minds like hers left in our government. She was close to brokering a deal with North Korea on non-proliferation when Clinton left office and specifically because of Cheney's ABC policy (Anything But Clinton), it was abandoned. When the Washington Post had a story that Powell was continuing a Clinton foreign policy, he was dragged into the Oval Office and scolded. When Clinton left office, the North Koreans had the capability to build 1 or 2 nuclear weapons. Now, they probably make 9 or 10. The Bush administration created the Axis of Evil themselves, just so Cheney could play GI Joe with the American military. And now we're looking at 4 or 8 years of the hot hockey-mom show. It has so completely destroyed everything that women like Madeline Albright, Hilary Clinton, and my mother achieved to have a woman paraded on the national stage because she looks good in a suit.

I have already had two people push me almost completely to the edge about this, saying things like, "but you have to admit, for a woman of 44, she's cute". Or, "I hope my wife looks like that when she's 44". Seriously. These same people agree that she's completely unqualified for her position and is essentially a joke, but somehow she becomes less of a joke because she's good looking. This is exactly the opposite of helpful for women trying to actually get anything done. If you look good in a suit and can back it up with brains, wit, and real knowledge that's wonderful. But being attractive can't make an unqualified even slightly less distasteful. If McCain had hired a different woman, with an equally unimpressive resume, and she looked like Janet Reno, something tells me the Republican set wouldn't be so excited. Of course, McCain would never have done such a thing- he likes his beauty queens.

After hearing Madeline Albright speak, I was so energized that I went home and studied. But I still woke up the next morning knowing that McCain is leading in the polls, people are captivated by this ridiculous Palin nonsense, and that there's a serious chance Obama will lose. If McCain wins, and then he dies, and Sarah Palin is this country's first female president... That's what's terrifying.