Is America ready to accept a woman as its supreme leader? A few decades ago that thought might have seemed an incredible notion.

In 1984, Democrat Geraldine Ferraro made history by becoming the first female vice presidential candidate. Twenty years later, lots of folks have begun talking about the likelihood that our next two presidential candidates might be referred to as "Madame President."

Yes, just when you thought it was safe to crawl out from under your political bunker, folks have already started playing the game of "what if."

Having former First Lady, current New York senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton as a Democratic candidate is almost a certainty.

Her husband possessed that almost indescribable charm that some people possess which just makes you like them a little no matter how dastardly they act some times. Hillary, on the other hand, has never seemed quite as lovable.

The fact that she moved to New York after leaving the White House for the sole reason of running for Senate just doesn't seem right.

While most of us understand that many senators and representatives serve as much, if not more, for selfish reasons as for serving the public good, it is nice to allow us all to think their motives are strictly honorable.

So Hillary comes to the table with lots of baggage.

But out of nowhere, a new name has emerged that is among the most intriguing presidential candidates to come along in a long, long time.

Perhaps not since self-made Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot and the late Vice Adm. James Stockdale joined forces in 1992 and proved a third party candidate can make a big impact in a presidential race, will as much discussion go into a candidate who has never before held an elected position.

Current Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice has the Republicans - and quite a few Democrats, too - abuzz with the possibility of a Hillary vs. Condi showdown in 2008.

In fact, former adviser to President Bill Clinton, Dick Morris will release a new book in a few months titled "Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race."

Hillary vs. Condi, it's an interesting idea.

Lots of folks will talk about their both being female and Rice's being black. But what if that didn't matter?

When we select our next leader, we should find the best person, the most qualified, regardless of the other more superficial factors.

How impressive would it be if we lived in a country where the red and blue states stopped seeing color, age, sex and race?

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. He can be reached at (740) 532-1441 ext. 12 or by e-mail to kevin.cooper@irontontribune.com.