WonderfulPessimist.com

We hear a lot in the media about how women are shut out of the American political process. Don’t believe it. Did you know that no less than nine of the nation’s 50 governor’s chairs are currently filled by women? Sure, it’s just under 20 percent, but that’s a lot better than some folks would have you believe. And these are women of substance, not fretting Frannies worrying about diet pills. The list includes six Democrats and three Republicans.

Here’s a rundown:

Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) was 42 upon taking office, making her the youngest governor in Alaskan history as well as the first woman to hold the office. A former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she took office on Monday, December 4, 2006.

Janet Napolitano (D-Arizona) was originally elected in 2002 after leaving the Clinton White House. She is the third female governor to serve in Arizona and the first to win re-election. She was been a US attorney in the AG’s office under Bill Clinton’s watch, and served as Anita Hill’s lawyer.

M. Jodi Rell (R-Connecticut) is the state’s second female governor, taking office in 2004, after serving under John G. Rowland, who resigned due to a corruption investigation. She was re-elected to own her own term in 2006.

Ruth Ann Minner (D-Delaware) is in the middle of her second term as the state’s first female governor. She was first elected in 2001 after serving as lieutenant governor under Tom Carper.

Linda Lingle (R-Hawaii) is a genuine pioneer. She is the first Republican elected governor in Hawaii in 40 years, first county mayor elected governor ever, first female elected governor ever, the first Jewish governor in the state, the first twice-divorced governor, and the first not to have any children. She first took office in 2002 and won re-election in 2006.

Kathleen G. Sebelius (D-Kansas) is the second female governor in the state’s history. She took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006; due to a term-limit law in the state, her current term will be her last, and she will be scheduled to leave office in 2011, following the 2010 elections.

Kathleen Blanco (D-Louisiana) took office in 2004 and has come under criticism for her handling of Hurricane Katrina. She has strained relations with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who endorsed her Republican opponent when she ran for office. She is the fourth-oldest governor in the US and the first woman to win the state house in Louisiana history. She is scheduled to run for re-election in 2007, but Hurricane Katrina fallout may put her bid in jeopardy.

Jennifer Granholm (D-Michigan) took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006, but due to term limits, it will be her last term as governor of Michigan. She is Michigan’s first female governor.

Christine O’Grady Gregoire (D-Washington) took office in 2005, becoming the state’s second female governor. Her campaign was notable for a slim victory margin that at first seemed to favor GOP opponent Gino Rossi, but following a recount launched her into the State House. She won’t face re-election into 2008. She is a survivor of a bout with breast cancer.

The nation’s still recovering from eight years of Bill Clinton, but former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a Republican, thinks America’s ready for another Razorback in the White House.

Now, granted, Huckabee’s drawn some attention for his incredible in-office weight loss efforts. If he was running for The Biggest Loser, he’d be a strong candidate. If I wanted to know which are the best diet pills, Mike’s my guy.

But president? Of the whole USA, or just of Weight Watchers? Sure, there are some interesting aspects to the idea. Huckabee actually was born in Hope, Arkansas, whereas Slick Willie was actually from Hot Springs. Huckabee was also only the third Republican to win the state house down there since Reconstruction, and he managed to be named one of the five best Governors in the US by TIME Magazine.

Now, granted, Huckabee is a far more genuine conservative that anyone else out in the GOP field. He is a former Baptist minister and has given lip-service, at least, to teaching creation science theory alongside Darwin.

But if Bill Clinton has taught America, and especially Republicans, anything, it’s this: Never, ever trust an Arkansas governor. Hopefully, Huckabee won’t be the only option for conservatives in 2008.

For those not already “in the know,” RINO means “Republican In Name Only.” The term was coined to characterize folks like former Republican Senator “Jumpin’” Jim Jeffords and, most notably, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

While the media would like to pretend that the GOP is nothing but a bunch of Rush Limbaugh dittoheads and members of the religious right, the truth of the matter is that few of the Republicans seeking to replace George W. Bush in the White House in 2008 are even close to being conservative in the traditional, Reagan sense of the word.

Whether we are talking about Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former NYC mayor Rudolph Guiliani or the aforementioned Sen. McCain, none of them are traditional conservatives. And Senator McCain, who has sponsored such anti-free speech, liberal legislation as the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill, has actually been talked about as John Kerry’s Democratic running mate, prior to John Edwards being chosen. McCain is the very reason the term RINO was invented; he runs as a Republican but votes like a liberal Democrat.

Now, anyone with any political wisdom at all knows that McCain can’t win. He won’t attract enough of the GOP’s base to the polls, and Democrats are going to vote for real Dems, not McCain. The only real reason he’s running is because it’s “his turn,” and frankly, we all remember how Bob Dole fared against Bill Clinton on that logic. And, like Dole, we all know that if he wins the nomination, the closest McCain will get to the White House is starring in a Cialis commercial, drooling over Britney Spears like Dole did.

But now, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has finally exposed his true RINO roots for everyone to see. Rather than hop on board with at least a potential RINO winner like Rudy Guiliani or at least search for a conservative candidate to support, T-Paw has agreed to co-chair McCain’s presidential exploratory committee.

Prediction: Don’t expect Gov. T-Paw to hold the line on anything the new Dem-controlled MN state house and senate want to do.