Who is the most powerful woman in America?

Who is the most powerful woman in America? This was a poll question on the "Air America Media" website today. I struggled with the choices. I thought it was real interesting. So I posted the poll here.




I think it's close between Hillary and Michelle. Ultimately I went with Michelle Obama.





Edit: I added Nancy Pelosi's name to the list. Even though for some reason it was not on the original Air America poll.

I would argue that Pelosi, Clinton, Oprah, and Michelle are all in the running, depending on the criteria. :shrug:

My Order

1)Michelle Obama

2)Hillary Clinton

3)Nancy Pelosi

4)Oprah Winfrey

5)Sarah Palin

6)Rachel Maddow


The only one I am sure about is Maddow at #6. I could be persuaded on the rest of the order.

or driving. :D

I haven't heard any rumors that Michelle is driving the agenda in the Obama White House, so I would put her at 4th place behind Pelosi, Clinton, and Oprah.

Palin and Maddow would be well behind the pack. :shrug:

on anyone else. Both Hillary Clinton, with a powerful position and Michelle Obama, both have their real power defined by President Obama.

Clinton does not set the foreign policy agenda or make key decisions and Michelle Obama has absolutely no government given power. However, Clinton is in the cabinet and is thus involved in any discussion - the extent of her influence is determined by whether President Obama changes or shifts a position becuase of her arguments. The decisions she makes in actually managing the State Department are another source of power. Michelle's power is the likewise determined by being able to change her husband's positions. The behind the scenes influence of both of these women is currently not known.

It is ironic that many arguing that Michelle had no influence were people who gave Hillary Clinton enormous credit for everything done in Bill Clinton's terms. Question - who was more powerful then - Madeline Albright or Hillary Clinton?

"It is ironic that many arguing that Michelle had no influence were people who gave Hillary Clinton enormous credit for everything done in Bill Clinton's terms."

Maybe I should make an edit and do just that.

Making Pelosi the most powerful woman in government. Hillary Clinton would be next as SoS is 5th in line. Michelle Obama has no power at all.

.

There's no official governmental role for the First Lady.

FDR was also said to be heavily influenced by his wife.

Power is work done in a unit of time. I'd say Michelle Obama has plenty of that, title or no.

There's something to be said for what you can get done when you don't have so many people fighting against you, as any partisian politician does.

Though her and Michelle won't be the ones winning this poll.

I like Hillary a lot. But sometimes the love of her on this board is blinding.

Speaker of the House and Secretary of State rank higher than First Lady which is a ceremonial position at best. Nancy is third in line to the presidency, so she ranks higher than Hillary.

:-)

Most presidents were in their 40s and 50s entering office and a handful were in the low-to-mid 60s (7 total). Harrison was 68 and Reagan was 69. They are the only two who were in their late 60s (9 presidents in all who were in their 60s entering office). Sorry, but odds are strongly against Hillary running in '16 at 69-years-old and weak at best for '12 at 65 if Obama leaves the White House then. Clinton stood the best chance for a woman president, but it wasn't meant to be this time around and unfortunately, I can't think of any other women that stand much chance or are even interested right now.

And then there's the wildcard: Caribou Barbie... *shudder*

Edit: Changed "low-mid" to "low-to-mid" for clarity.

Pelosi has the most power on paper. But she does not wield it particularly well. Clinton has less power as Secretary of State but she knows how to use it much better than Pelosi knows how to use hers.

It's a terrible poll they've put up because it discounts the reality that there are different types of power.

While most of those women hold office, three do not. Of those three, two have television shows and only one of those two holds captive the housewife demographic. You can make all the hay you like, but Michelle sadly has the least power out of the gate. She can make up for it by putting herself out there as much as possible, that's how First Wives (First Husbands, eventually) gain their power. Unless she runs for and wins office, she'll never have the power of Clinton, Pelosi or *cough* Palin. And unless The Oprah is caught diddling small children or some equally horrific Earth-shattering scandal (because really, that's what it would take to depose The Oprah) there's no hope over-shadowing The Oprah.

I voted Michelle because she seems to have the most influence right now. When it comes to U.S. policy-related power, I'd have to pick Pelosi although Clinton can easily move to the top depending on what happens in the days ahead.

She is the most powerful person in Congress, and they make the laws.

She says a book is great it becomes a best seller.

whether by marriage, widowhood or inheritance (lucky sperm club winners). We just don't hear about them very much. However, they have a good deal of power.

Under this rubric, I would say Oprah has the edge. HRC must follow Obama's lead; the power is not her own. Michelle has moral power, certainly.

However, we are a capitalistic country and money is everything...

person in any domain.

There is no question that, Maddow excepted, all the women in this list are very powerful at some level or another. However, they are powerful on different domains.

Michele Obama has no formal responsibility, but she is obviously a very trusted adviser to the president/
Hillary Clinton is at the head of a major government branch, so formally speaking, she is extremely powerful, and she is very influential in the Democratic Party, but is she more powerful than Michelle Obama when it comes to advising the president. Who knows?

Other women are not quoted in the poll because they are less well known, but also have a huge power: Valerie Jarett comes to mind, as do Susan Rice, and quite a few advisers to the president. They may have a rank that is lower that the SoS, but are they less influential? Once again, who knows?

Nancy Pelosi obviously has a huge power, is third in line of succession to the presidency, and has the power to decide what will come to the legislative agenda or not. To some point, because her role is independent of the president, she may be more powerful than all the previous ones.

Oprah clearly, because of her wealth, is also very powerful.

I am not sure that Rachel Maddow actually belong in the list.

Rachel Maddow was only in the poll because it came from "Air America Media." I guess they wanted one of their own for the public to vote for.


I had to add Nancy Pelosi myself when I clipped it over to DU.

I find it interesting in a poll like this that only one woman who is a conservative or member of the GOP makes the list. And she (Sarah Palin)is unelectable to the Presidency. (Even if you add Condi Rice, that's only 2)


It's yet another reason to be a Democrat. Diversity and equal opportunity.

She takes over and has the nuclear codes. All the other women have presence, but not much power currently.

When Oprah talks, folks listen. If she says that she likes a book/charity/product, it then becomes popular with tens of millions of people. Oprah is seen by complete strangers as both as a friend and a role model. That sort of control (for lack of a better term) is very powerful.

She took a dip in viewers when she sided with Obama, primarily among females who supported Clinton, but she's begun to recover. I believe her recent show about her new weight gain scored some of her highest season ratings. Oprah is far separated from most of us, by money and status, but one can connect with her through personal battles like those.

I'm no raving Oprah fan, but I like her. I'm of the belief that she's done more good than harm, and I like that she stood with Obama, certainly. She also has a book club which encourages literacy. Shocking! :)

...because while I respect (most of) the others (three guesses as to who I DON'T!), Hillary really has the most influence in shaping the future right now. And she's more than qualified for the job.

But realistically, I have to go with Oprah. Millions of people who barely know who the other names on the list are, who may never have voted or who are only now starting to have hope and reason to vote, know who Oprah is and are influenced by her. Not only politically, but in other aspects of life as well. And Oprah, too, is well-qualified for that job, IMO.

women have any real power. Hillary can't do anthing without the President's approval, ditto for Michelle. Oprah has more "power" than either of them. Sadly.

Sure, in theory, Hillary's decisions are subject to Presidential overturning. In reality there is no possible way that the President has the time to micro-manage the State Department. Thus he appoints a Secretary of State to do it for him. Arguing that the Secretary of State has no power is like arguing that a CEO of a corporation has no power because the board of directors can overturn his decisions and remove him.

Just like a board of directors entrusts a CEO to run the company, the President entrusts the Secretary of State to run American foreign policy. Sure he sets some broad objectives, but lets her enact those objectives in pretty much any manner she sees fit.

She clearly has more power, even though Michelle has a lot of influence.

Who on earth voted for Palin???

So in 2016 when it's between Palin and Hillary, I'll be one threatening to vote for Palin like we all just went through with this last election with Obama and McCain.

michelle

I'll buy the popcorn.

:popcorn:

You betcha!!!

;)

Sorry.. i'm a female, and that was totally sexist. I just thought i'd get it out of the way.

And, I also know it's fiction.. because THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL PALIN WILL GET THAT FAR.

Right?

RIGHT?!?

Nevermind.. if i'm counting on the "right" here - she'll get the nomination. :puke:

In a battle of intellects Hillary would win in her sleep.

As for Palin getting that far, who knows? Hopefully the Republicans are smarter than that.

:shrug:

It was just plain funny to see how many much younger guys had the hots for Hils while campaigning. I know one then 25 year old who volunteered in 7 or 8 states because he was smitten. He's no dope though and can talk policy like few guys that age.

:7

I just don't think even the GOP is dumb enough to do it. Palin has her support. But she will never have the majority of the country. A Huffington Post article once called Palin the "Jesse Jackson of the GOP." I think that fits. (Politically, not intellectually of course!) Palin will always have enough GOP support to finish second or third, but never first.

Pelosi in terms of ranking power closest to the Presidency

FLOTUS in terms of her proximity and relationship to POTUS.

Clinton can be influential as SoS

However undeserved, Palin nonetheless has name recognition, the interest of the MSM and too many people who voted for her ticket to laugh away.

to influence me the most and I voted for her.

On a scale of things..what does this possibly matter?

There's all kinds of power..good and not so good. And, the not so good is not going to last.

young 69..it's all relative, isn't it?

So Hillary at 69 is actually 5-6 years younger in "Political years" than Bob Dole, Ronald Reagan or John McCain. :toast:

old fogie and his meanness aged him badly.

When Hillary gets out of that sling she's going to be high steppin' again but watch out for pitfalls!

You be the judge.






61 year old Hillary Clinton





38 year old David Gregory

;)

Look how Gingrich treated Clinton compared to the way Pelosi treated Bush.


My goal is before I die, I hope to meet a progressive with a backbone. I'm going to have to live a long time.

There isn't a woman listed who compares to how miserable or joyful my wife can make my life.

Otherwise she wouldn't have that kind of power over you.

:D

Governmental power is not the greatest power in this country.

SOS next - HRC

Oprah Winfry

then I suppose Michelle Obama, although I'm not sure what influence she has with her husband. Has either spoken out about her policy input?