by A. Pesarosa

Created on: July 13, 2007   Last Updated: February 29, 2008

It's an exciting time to be a woman in America. Just look around; you'll see plenty of competent and capable leaders. Will it surprise you, though, to find many of them wearing skirts?

It shouldn't. Since long before 1916, when the first female Representative, Jeannette Rankin, successfully campaigned for a seat in the House of Representatives (4 years before women even nationally won the right to vote), generations have sweated to make this great country a land of prosperity and opportunity for our daughters, as well as sons.

Its starting to pay off. More than ever, women find themselves soaring to new heights in almost any field they choose. Hilary Clinton is a prime example.

Love her or hate her, she'll make it into the history books as the first female to aggressively run for highest office of these beautiful and spacious skies. Heck, in this case, it really would be an honor 'just to be nominated.'

My own political beliefs aside, every time I think of what she and others have accomplished, it makes my heart swell a little with pride. I smile when I think my great-great-great granddaughter may hovercraft down to the local precinct and cast her vote on a whole slew of wretched politicians, without a second thought as to whether or not they could write their name in the snow. God Bless America.

Clinton is just one of the 16 women currently elected to serve in the 100 person U.S. Senate. That's the highest number to date, and it's the same on the other side of Congress, with women holding 74 of the 435 positions in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, enjoys status as the first woman to hold the post.

It seems, however, though were smart enough to vote in the likes of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R.- N. Carolina), who also served formerly as president of the American Red Cross(1991-2000), the public-at-large may still have some catching up to do

In 2006, an election in my own hometown necessitated a run-off for a county judge seat between two superbly qualified candidates.

Both were well-educated, and each with an extensive background in law. There was time well-spent in the State Attorney's office for one; employment with city's Office of General Counsel for the other; and heaps of community references and endorsements for the pair.

My city and state were fortunate to have some competent contenders, all things considered. Political ads were flying; it was clear, some races would be neck and neck.

This run-off especially, though, seemed

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