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May 11, 2005

President Cleavage

In the late 1970s, when the Supreme Court realized that a woman might eventually be appointed, the court changed the way it referred to the justices from "Mr. Justice" to just "Justice."

Obviously, there are some changes that will have to be made for a woman president. Will people call her "Madam President" at press conferences? What will people call her husband? And so on. And I mean beyond the usual jokes about having her finger on the nuclear button at "that time of the month" -- jokes that were prevalent when Geraldine Ferraro ran for VP in 1984.

These questions will have to be answered. Because She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is not the only woman who could become president in the next couple of election cycles.

In fact, Drudge reports (thanks to Tom Maguire and The Anchoress) that ABC is going to air "Commander-in-Chief" this fall, a series about the challenges facing the first female president. Drudge notes that Geena Davis, a Democratic party activist, will play the president.

The Anchoress is appropriately cynical about the show, which she expects to "present a completely non-threatening, moderate, centrist character with very little to say that actually means anything." She adds:

Start showing the American people a female president. Make her likeable. Tug the heartstrings. Use the emotions. Let them make an association in their minds with WARMTH, and COMPETENCE.

Because America must be softened up to the idea, in time for Hillary to win in ‘08. Hollywood has always been at the Clintons' beck and call.
My question is aesthetic, and I don't mean that in a bad way. If this Geena Davis (the photo used by Drudge) is the president --



the question necessarily arises: Is a president allowed to show cleavage? I've re-read Article II of the Constitution, and, sad to say, it is completely silent on the issue. We need an answer somehow, and we can't get an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court.

At least half the population of the country demands to know.