The Weekly Whims Of HatManJim: Why Are Female Politicians So Rubbish?

A weather-beaten eye cast over the media: HatManJim looks at a story in the headlines and as a feminist with a penis (Menimist? Femi-meni-mist? I just believe i n women’s rights, I’m not having gender-reassignment. OK?), attempts to map the sexism inherent in the press, without inadvertently saying anything lecherous about breasts.

Seriously? Can you think of one really good, successful female politician? That’s what I find myself asking this morning whilst looking at this story.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the initiative sounds brilliant and all could and should be done to help advance women’s causes internationally. It’s just the people putting it in place.

I think Harriet Harman is a prattling non-entity, a New Labour android with zero personality and an over-egged hope (considering her competency) that she might one day become Prime Minister. Merkel is a conservative, free-market muppet who is lucky to have got a second term in power. And Clinton? OK – Clinton’s pretty good but let’s face it, she didn’t have the chops to get the top job when faced with a decent opponent (you can blame this on sexism if you want but do try and consider who had the greatest barrier to overcome with the American electorate – Clinton being a woman or Obama being a black man, it’s a tricky one) and led a pretty undignified campaign in the attempt.

And if you draw it out further, when have we seen a female leader who wasn’t corrupt, psychotic or just rubbish?

Golda Meir – Zionist who believed in state assassinations. Indira Gandhi – corrupt and rather heavy-handed when quelling civil disobedience. Margaret Thatcher – I’m British, don’t even get me started on Margaret Thatcher.

Then there’s Sarah Palin, still tipped as possibly running for US president at the next election. Oh dear God, no.

Do not get me wrong. I want to see less Palins and more Nancy Pelosis. But it just seems female political leaders you can believe in are in short supply.

HatManJim’s column will appear every Saturday.