I agree. I think it would be great if we had at least one woman or at least one black or at least one latino as a serious candidate for their party's nomination.

People other than white males have been getting involved in politics - and getting elected - on almost every level for years. They are gaining the experience and building the reputations needed for national campaigns.

Will it happen in '08? Two prominent Democratic not-yet-official candidates, Clinton and Obama, would seem to suggest that '08 may be the year.

Is color or gender or ethnic background a reason to vote for someone? No, not for most of us. But is it a factor? Yeah, I think it is. Should it be a factor? No. But look at the portraits of US Presidents past and present. It would seem - de facto - that a qualification to be President is to be a white male, primarily because white males have had a long history of being able to gain the experience necessary - in public service, in the military, in private industry - to be a serious contender.

Hell, if the face of the President looked like the face of the United States, over half of our Presidents would be women, and one President in four would be of color.

I'm glad Obama is thinking about a run. I'd like a chance to vote for him, not because he's black, but because he is inspiring, and I haven't been truly inspired by a President in many, many years.

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Curly

The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.

- Hermann Goering