MADAM PRESIDENT

It looks like Hilary Clinton will be the Democratic candidate for President in 2016. She has paid her dues and certainly has the credentials to seek the nomination of her party.

And, of course, the enthusiastic support of many women voters who have been waiting since 1920 to vote for a female candidate.

I think it is time.

I think it is time for the Republican Party to say to Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Chris Christy, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, Rand Paul, and whoever, “Fellas, it just ain’t your turn."

Then the powers that be in the GOP should go hat in hand to the four female members of their party who have quietly, efficiently, and effectively proven their ability and readiness to be the President of the United States and beg them to make themselves available to be drafted as the standard bearer in 2016.

Here they are:

SUSANA MARTINEZ

In 2010, Susana Martinez was elected of the State of New Mexico. She became New Mexico’s first female Governor and the first Hispanic female elected Governor in the history of the United States.

She was named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world in 2013, one of only two Governors who made the list. In April 2011, Hispanic Business Magazine named Martinez “Woman of the Year” for her efforts to reduce the tax burden on New Mexicans, get the state’s fiscal house in order, and promote a friendlier business environment allowing employers to create jobs and hire New Mexico workers. National Review wrote, “She is principled and pragmatic. She has a sure sense of philosophy but is also keen on the details …She both advocates and exemplifies the American Dream. Yes, you can forgive people their excitement over Susana Martinez.”

NIKKI HALEY

Born in Bamberg, S.C., the daughter of Indian immigrants, Governor Haley’s first job was keeping the books for her family’s clothing store – at the age of 13. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and, following her graduation, worked as Accounting Supervisor for a private company and five of its subsidiaries. She then returned to the family business and helped oversee its growth into a multi-million dollar operation

For her efforts to cut taxes and slow the growth of government spending, Governor Haley was named “Friend of the Taxpayer” by the S.C. Association of Taxpayers in 2011. She has lifetime “A” ratings from the South Carolina Club for Growth, the Palmetto Family Council, and the National Rifle Association.  She received the 2011 State Leadership Award from the United States Chamber of Commerce.

One of the strongest fiscal conservatives in state government, Governor Haley was elected to represent the 87th district in Lexington County in 2004 when, as a virtual unknown, she beat the longest serving state legislator in a Republican primary.  In 2008, then-Representative Haley was sent back to the Statehouse with 83 percent of the vote – the highest percentage earned by any lawmaker facing a contested South Carolina election that year.

JAN BREWER

Born in 1944 to Wilford and Edna Drinkwine, Jan Brewer grew up in Southern California. She lost her father at an early age, after he fell ill due to years spent breathing poisonous fumes while working at a Naval ammunitions depot. Edna Drinkwine, widowed and with two young children, did the only thing she could in facing this challenge: Meet it head-on.
So, she took all of her savings and opened a dress shop. Her daughter worked right beside her – with that small dress shop acting as a living classroom on the value of a dollar, the importance of hard work and the resilience inside every one of us.

Jan Brewer never forgot those lessons. They helped lead her to run for elected office in 1982 when, now married and with a young family of her own, Ms. Brewer grew concerned about her children’s education. She was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where she served until 1987. Following that, she ran for and was elected to the Arizona State Senate. She served until 1996, including a four-year period as Majority Whip.
In 1996, Ms. Brewer was elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. She inherited a local government bogged-down so deeply in debt that it was using short-term borrowing just to meet cash flow. Ms. Brewer was elected Board Chairwoman in 1998 and again in 2001. By the conclusion of her term in 2002, she and her fellow Supervisors had executed a financial turnaround so dramatic that Governing Magazine proclaimed Maricopa County “one of the two best managed large counties in the nation.”
After serving two terms with the county, Ms. Brewer was elected Arizona Secretary of State in 2002, and became Governor on the resignation of Janet Napolitano, In 2010, Jan Brewer was elected o a full term as Governor with 55% of the votes.

MARY FALLIN

Governor Mary Fallin is the first woman to be elected Governor of Oklahoma. She also currently serves as the chair of the National Governors Association, a bipartisan group representing all of the nation’s Governors.

Prior to her historic election in 2011, Fallin represented the people of Oklahoma in a number of state and federal positions. She served two terms as a state representative before becoming Oklahoma’s first Republican and first woman Lieutenant Governor in 1995. From 2006 to 2010, she served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

As Governor, Fallin cites job growth and retention, education reform and workforce development, government modernization and the elimination of government waste as top priorities. During Fallin’s administration, Oklahoma has consistently ranked among the top states for job creation.

During her first year as Governor, Fallin balanced the state budget while closing a $500 million deficit and lowering the income tax rate.  That year, she also saw many of her legislative priorities signed into law, including lawsuit reform, comprehensive education reform, and government modernizations.

In subsequent legislative sessions, the Governor signed into law a historic overhaul of the workers’ compensation system that will lower costs for businesses. She also successfully pursued improvements and funding increases in education, health care and infrastructure.

None of these four executives are actively seeking the Presidency. Their reticence is not only ladylike, but it also harkens back to a day when the President of the United States did not assume the trappings of monarchy.

A  campaign between Hilary Clinton and any one of those women would be a contest between those who believe that the United States is a federal republic consisting of fifty sovereign states and a national government with limited, specified powers, and those who believe that the United States is a single sovereign nation that rules the states and all the people in them.

It would be a very interesting year.