NationStates Jolt Archive

According to Forbes magazine, who is the world's most powerful woman? I know, power is subjective, but I expect at least some people can guess it. And if you're feeling ambitious, guess who the second is.

Oprah? Laura Bush? Queen Elizabeth II?

Oprah? Laura Bush? Queen Elizabeth II?
Laura Bush is the highest ranking on there with four. But there are three more women with far more power.

Martha stewart?
Hillary Clinton?
Jesus?

wait Jesus isn't a woman...I'm confused

Ann Coulter? Sarah Brady? Dianne Feinstein? Carolyn McCarthy? Rosa Parks?

You're all wrong. I'll give you a hint, though. They're all involved in politics.

Anne Coulter should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Rosa Parks.


Anyway, as The Queen Of England technically has the power to dissolve Parliament, Its her, hands down.

Condoleeza Rice?

most powerful ever? or right now?

Megawati Sukarnoputri

Nancy Reagan?

Condoleeza Rice?
Yep. But I want you guys to guess the second most powerful woman, before I show you the list.

Megawati Sukarnoputri
She's actually #8. Being a female president of a Muslim nation, however, makes me think that she's the world's bravest woman.

Joanna.

Wu Yi ?

Madeline Albright?

Janet Reno?

Hilary Clinton?

Anne Coulter should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Rosa Parks.


Anyway, as The Queen Of England technically has the power to dissolve Parliament, Its her, hands down.
She's #22. I suspect, however, that it's only due to her wealth. In any case, JK Rowling has surpassed the Queen as the wealthiest woman in the UK.

2nd Hillary Clinton
or
Jennifer Lopez

Wu Yi ?
I never thought anyone would guess it. Yes, the little know Wu Yi, vice premier of the Chinese Communist party (and the highest ranking woman on China's Politburo) is #2.
Anyhow, here's the list.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=11&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=%2Bnumberfield1%2C%2Bstringfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=Name&passKeyword=&category1=category&category2=category

Sweet :)

Lol though personaly I would have moved sandra de oconor up and rice down (yeah she has the presidence ear but sandra has one of the most powerfull swing votes in the judical system)

Any woman who survives sex with Shaq? Oh, you meant politically powerful, not physically powerful.

Ummmm, Pelosi? Don't think so, but it's worth a shot.

Mary.
Maybe Kwan Yin, I personally think my mom, a hair dresser now for over thirty years in lovely Tucson Arizona.

Sweet :)

Lol though personaly I would have moved sandra de oconor up and rice down (yeah she has the presidence ear but sandra has one of the most powerfull swing votes in the judical system)
Still, Condi is probably Bush's most trusted advisor. Sandra Day O'Connor is extremely powerful, but unlike Rice, her decisions affect only the US, not the world.

Any woman who survives sex with Shaq? Oh, you meant politically powerful, not physically powerful.

Ummmm, Pelosi? Don't think so, but it's worth a shot.
And financially powerful as well. #10, for example, is the CEO and chairwoman of Hewlett-Packard.

I find this poll all wrong.

At #21 we have Margeret Thatcher, who doesnt even have a job anymore.

at #22, we have the reigning queen of England.


How does THAT work?

Halle Berry. She could control approximately half of the population of the planet if she so desired.

Barbara Walters in the top 25...pretty good for a news anchor.

Congrats to Condoleezza.

Anne Coulter should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Rosa Parks.


Anyway, as The Queen Of England technically has the power to dissolve Parliament, Its her, hands down.

Yes that dishonors Anne Coulter so bad. Rosa Parks did nothing other than break the law.

I find this poll all wrong.

At #21 we have Margeret Thatcher, who doesnt even have a job anymore.

at #22, we have the reigning queen of England.


How does THAT work?


Although Queen Elizabeth II has the power to disolve the British Parlament (technicly, not realisticly), She is still pretty much thought of as a figure head in most of the world.

Yes that dishonors Anne Coulter so bad. Rosa Parks did nothing other than break the law.

Holy crap! While technically correct, is this something you actually believe in?

Yes that dishonors Anne Coulter so bad. Rosa Parks did nothing other than break the law.

Rosa Parks was a symbol of the Civil Rights movement.

Anne Coulter does nothing but spew hatred and vitriol towards anyone who doesnt believe in her fascist ways.

truth.

The English Royal Family is just a figure head, a symbol of the United Kingdom, little real power, a symbol that costs over 13 Million USD a week.

Rosa Parks was a symbol of the Civil Rights movement.

Anne Coulter does nothing but spew hatred and vitriol towards anyone who doesnt believe in her fascist ways.

truth.
But neither had any power ever.

But neither had any power ever.

Depends on what you mean by power. Will Coulter's name be forever linked to a movement? Has Coulter changed the course of history?

Depends on what you mean by power. Will Coulter's name be forever linked to a movement? Has Coulter changed the course of history?


Whos name will be in the history books a hundred years from now?

Depends on what you mean by power. Will Coulter's name be forever linked to a movement? Has Coulter changed the course of history?
No. And Rosa Parks didn't launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott, either. She was just the posterchild.

No. And Rosa Parks didn't launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott, either. She was just the posterchild.


Nevertheless, she was the inspiration for many to become involved in the 60's Civil Rights Movement.
The world changed.

Thats power.

Nevertheless, she was the inspiration for many to become involved in the 60's Civil Rights Movement.
The world changed.

Thats power.
No. That's just being a symbol. Power is when one is able to do something. When Rosa Parks was released, she didn't stage huge rallies, and called for a boycott. Martin Luther King did. Similarly, Ann Coulter is popular with many people, but is in no position to put her plans into power.

Ive heard of the list. I thought it was a queen of a country with joint rulership.

No. That's just being a symbol. Power is when one is able to do something. When Rosa Parks was released, she didn't stage huge rallies, and called for a boycott. Martin Luther King did. Similarly, Ann Coulter is popular with many people, but is in no position to put her plans into power.


and thats a good thing, too.

"WE SHOULD INVADE THIER COUNTRIES, KILL THIER LEADERS, AND CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANITY!"
-Anne Coulter, Sept 12th, 2001.

and thats a good thing, too.

"WE SHOULD INVADE THIER COUNTRIES, KILL THIER LEADERS, AND CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANITY!"
-Anne Coulter, Sept 10th, 2001.
She said that a day before 9/11? Interesting. Really, Ann Coulter should be a missionary. It seems like something she wants done.

She said that a day before 9/11? Interesting. Really, Ann Coulter should be a missionary. It seems like something she wants done.


Forgive me the quote was taken one day after 9/11.

-Apologies.

Forgive me the quote was taken one day after 9/11.

-Apologies.
That's okay. But hey, I understand her rage. I remember hearing on the radio shortly afterwards that we should ban immigration, and close our borders forever.

That's okay. But hey, I understand her rage. I remember hearing on the radio shortly afterwards that we should ban immigration, and close our borders forever.


I understand her anger, but what she said was over the line.

My entire problem with her is that she herself, is all over the line.

I understand her anger, but what she said was over the line.

My entire problem with her is that she herself, is all over the line.
I really don't know much about her, nor do I care. Every American has a right to be stupid.

I really don't know much about her, nor do I care. Every American has a right to be stupid.

Relevant Quote: "The Constitution gives people the right to make damn fools of themselves." (paraphrased)

I still think that Sandra Day O'Connor is the most powerful female in the US, simply by virtue of the fact that her term expires when she wants it to, and that she's so often the deciding vote in close cases. She literally shapes the course of the US from time to time, and say, in the instance of Bush v Gore, shaped the course of world events. I wonder if she ever looks at the world in the last 3+ years and kicks herself in the ass over that choice? I hope so.

I really don't know much about her, nor do I care. Every American has a right to be stupid.

The sad part is that the dumbs ones are the ones speaking up and the smart ones are sitting on their asses laughing at the fools.

I don't know much about her either, she sounds like a radical with little self control, just judging by the posts on here.

That's okay. But hey, I understand her rage. I remember hearing on the radio shortly afterwards that we should ban immigration, and close our borders forever.

Yea I support that to.

Mary Mc Aleese president of Ireland, Mary Harney deputy prime-minister =
Tanaiste??

I still think that Sandra Day O'Connor is the most powerful female in the US, simply by virtue of the fact that her term expires when she wants it to, and that she's so often the deciding vote in close cases. She literally shapes the course of the US from time to time, and say, in the instance of Bush v Gore, shaped the course of world events. I wonder if she ever looks at the world in the last 3+ years and kicks herself in the ass over that choice? I hope so.
She did not vote who she thought was to be president. She simply voted on whether the votes were to be recounted. As Supreme Court Justice, politics have to be put asside for legality. Only when it boils down to pure interpretation do politics have a place in the Supreme Court.

It's Oprah. Hands down. Think of legions of crazy fans she has at her disposal...

The horror!

Ach. Cherie Booth is labelled as the UK's first lady. How irritating a description is that? :mad:

Mind you, more worrying is the fact that our most powerful woman is unelected.

^ Nah it's not Oprah, it's JK Rowling, because she has as many mionions...oops fans, but JKR's are (mostly) children, hence a more dangerous army. They can attack us, but we can only ground them....

Yes that dishonors Anne Coulter so bad. Rosa Parks did nothing other than break the law.

That scandalous Rosa Parks, how dare she break the law? She puts me in mind of those Jew-hiding Germans in Nazi Germany, and the unrepentent members of the Underground Railway in slave era USA....not like that delightful Anne who only wants to carpet bomb other nations into the stone age before re-enlightening them via forcable assimulation into the loving religion known as Christianity......

"Advising the leader of the world's largest superpower--and having the ear of leaders around the globe--makes Rice, 49, the most powerful woman in the world. President George W. Bush trusts Rice implicitly, likely more than anyone else in the White House. When Rice speaks, she speaks for the president. With her silver-tongued diplomacy and steely nerve, Rice has played a key, behind-the-scenes role in helping to steer the United States through two wars, as well as the resulting controversies. Rice also served under President George H.W. Bush and in the Reagan administration. Despite growing up with racial segregation in Birmingham, Ala., Rice says her "parents had me absolutely convinced that, well, you may not be able to have a hamburger at Woolworth's but you can be president of the United States."-Elizabeth MacDonald"

Translation:

"Advising the leader of the world's fattest superpower--and having the rear of leaders around the globe--makes Rice, 49, the most pitiful woman in the world. Emperor George W. Bush trusts Rice implicitly, likely more than anyone else in the White House. When Rice squeaks, she squeaks for the president. With her foul-tongued diplomacy and steely nerve, Rice has played a key, behind-the-scenes role in helping to steer the United States into two wars, as well as the resulting increase in terrorism. Rice also slept under President George H.W. Bush and in the Reagan administration. Despite growing up with racial segregation in Birmingham, Ala., Rice says her "parents had me absolutely convinced that, well, you may not be able to have a hamburger at Woolworth's but you can be president of the United States."-Elizabeth MacDonald

Ach. Cherie Booth is labelled as the UK's first lady. How irritating a description is that? :mad:

Mind you, more worrying is the fact that our most powerful woman is unelected.
Don't forget, however, that Forbes bases their list on wealth and media mentions as well. Cherie Booth is quite wealthy, and I suspect that the media eats her whole.

Stephistan is the most powerfull.

She did not vote who she thought was to be president. She simply voted on whether the votes were to be recounted. As Supreme Court Justice, politics have to be put asside for legality. Only when it boils down to pure interpretation do politics have a place in the Supreme Court.In theory, you're right, and in most cases, I think the Supreme Court does a good job of this, but in Bush v Gore, the conservative five let their politics get in the way of good law. They decided they were going to stop the recount first, and then tortured out an explanation to make it happen. Historians have not, and will not, treat that decision kindly.

In theory, you're right, and in most cases, I think the Supreme Court does a good job of this, but in Bush v Gore, the conservative five let their politics get in the way of good law. They decided they were going to stop the recount first, and then tortured out an explanation to make it happen. Historians have not, and will not, treat that decision kindly.
Because of politics or legality?

Ann Coulter? Sarah Brady? Dianne Feinstein? Carolyn McCarthy? Rosa Parks?



ann Coulter?? NO!!!! please dont eat my head, I went into that nader rally by mistake and, and...LOOK, BEHIND YOU! A DOZEN NON-REPENTING MUSLIMS AND JEWS!!!! *runs off*

Because of politics or legality?
For legal reasons--anytime you make a decision as important and nation-changing as Bush v Gore and you limit the decision to the scope of the action (i.e. it can't be used as precedent for any future action), you've tainted the process. It was obvious even to conservative legal scholars that Bush v. Gore smelled of politics, and that it tainted the Supreme Court's legacy as a result. Personally, I think that's why O'Connor didn't resign during his term--she didn't want her replacement to have to deal with the taint of being selected by Bush. Now if he wins and the Court doesn't get involved in this election, then I think she'll gladly retire, because that taint will be a bit further removed because he'll have won on his own.

I don't think Laura Bush should be on the list. By very definition the 1st lady has no power.

I don't think Laura Bush should be on the list. By very definition the 1st lady has no power.
I think the idea is that the First Lady has unrivalled access to the President, and so wields a different, but very real, kind of power.

I don't think Laura Bush should be on the list. By very definition the 1st lady has no power.
Still, she gets a lot of media attention, which was one criterion for Forbes' list.

I am impressed, but not surprised, to see Tarja Halonen so well placed. I really admire her politics, the Finns are very lucky to have such a good President

I wouldn't have thought many Americans have heard of her, which is why I'm so impressed she's so well positioned in an American poll like this.

I am impressed, but not surprised, to see Tarja Halonen so well placed. I really admire her politics, the Finns are very lucky to have such a good President

I wouldn't have thought many Americans have heard of her, which is why I'm so impressed she's so well positioned in an American poll like this.
This isn't about cultural bias. This is about power. The president of Finland has power, no matter who it is.

This isn't about cultural bias. This is about power. The president of Finland has power, no matter who it is.

It's got to be a bit biased towards the USA audience.... I mean look at the description of Cherie Blair as "U.K. first lady"!
And, the criteria about the media, i would be surprised if that didn't heavily rely on coverage in the American or at very least English-language media.
These kind of surveys, wherever they are done, are always subjective. I'm not crititising it though, they are still good fun to read and talk about!

Yes that dishonors Anne Coulter so bad. Rosa Parks did nothing other than break the law.
Heh heh heh... racist.

It's got to be a bit biased towards the USA audience.... I mean look at the description of Cherie Blair as "U.K. first lady"!

What's so terribly wrong about that?

What's so terribly wrong about that?

It doesn't mean anything in a British or wider European context.

If one considers its usage in the USA, as being the term used for the head of state's wife, then the equivalent person in Britain would be the husband of the UK head of state, ie Prince Phillip (the "first man"???lol).

It doesn't really have any meaning outside of the USA. We don't use it in Europe. Cherie Blair would probably be referred to as the Prime Minister's wife. Or to be fair to her, she's quite a profecient barrister, so she could be listed with her own profession.

Anyway, I didn't mean to say that there's anything terribly wrong with it, just that its usage in the list shows an American influence.

It doesn't mean anything in a British or wider European context.

If one considers its usage in the USA, as being the term used for the head of state's wife, then the equivalent person in Britain would be the husband of the UK head of state, ie Prince Phillip (the "first man"???lol).

It doesn't really have any meaning outside of the USA. We don't use it in Europe. Cherie Blair would probably be referred to as the Prime Minister's wife. Or to be fair to her, she's quite a profecient barrister, so she could be listed with her own profession.

Anyway, I didn't mean to say that there's anything terribly wrong with it, just that its usage in the list shows an American influence.
Oh. Sorry, I didn't quite know about that.

Oh. Sorry, I didn't quite know about that.

No worries.

We had a ranking (http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=1804&a=196511) here in Sweden on the world's richest people in Veckans Affärer (it's a business magazine) a few months ago. It concluded that the man who founded IKEA (Swedish company), Ingvar Kamprad (Swedish founder), was the richest person in the world with 53 billion USD compared to Bill Gates' 47 billion USD. However, I think it came to this conclusion largely due to the weakening of the dollar in comparison to the kronor (swedish crowns) recently, plus a lot of the calculation they used was based on the value of property he owned (so open to debate!).
So, I guess that would be an example of a subjective ranking with a Swedish bias!

No worries.

We had a ranking (http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=1804&a=196511) here in Sweden on the world's richest people in Veckans Affärer (it's a business magazine) a few months ago. It concluded that the man who founded IKEA (Swedish company), Ingvar Kamprad (Swedish founder), was the richest person in the world with 53 billion USD compared to Bill Gates' 47 billion USD. However, I think it came to this conclusion largely due to the weakening of the dollar in comparison to the kronor (swedish crowns) recently, plus a lot of the calculation they used was based on the value of property he owned (so open to debate!).
So, I guess that would be an example of a subjective ranking with a Swedish bias!
I guess it was. How can you make that much money off furniture alone?

I guess it was. How can you make that much money off furniture alone?

Well, he has made lots and lots and lots of money (and he's famously very stingy). And he's probably number 2 or number 3, but I from the newspaper/tv/radio analysis of VA's report, Bill Gates is prob still number 1.

Well, he has made lots and lots and lots of money (and he's famously very stingy). And he's probably number 2 or number 3, but I from the newspaper/tv/radio analysis of VA's report, Bill Gates is prob still number 1.
I think he's three. Warren Buffet is #2, and Bill Gates is still #1. But spaces 4-9 are occupied by members of the Walton family (whose late patriarch, Sam Walton, owned Walmart). They have a combined wealth of $100 billion USD, making them the richest family in the world.

Who is the world's most powerful woman?
Mother Mary

Mother Mary
She's influential, but doesn't hold power. Her son does.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Faithfull-freedom
Mother Mary


She's influential, but doesn't hold power. Her son does.

Yea like every husband or son says about thier wife or mother?

Wow--six whole pages before someone inserted a religious icon. I expected it much sooner. Oh well--there goes the neighborhood.

Wow--six whole pages before someone inserted a religious icon. I expected it much sooner. Oh well--there goes the neighborhood.

Damn you can't even say your opinion without someone blasting it anymore. Oh well there goes the neighborhood
Again :)

Wow--six whole pages before someone inserted a religious icon. I expected it much sooner. Oh well--there goes the neighborhood.
I know what you're trying to do. Let's please keep this civil.

So Condi is first?

Hmmmmmm

Isn't there a woman that is second in command in China?

So Condi is first?

Hmmmmmm

Isn't there a woman that is second in command in China?
Only of the Chinese Communist Party. The interesting thing about Chinese politics is that instead of a legislative, executive, and judicial branch, there are three branches of oligarchy: the party, the government, and the military. The military, btw, is still headed by former president Jiang Zemin.

justthink for a moment about the power of Motherhood.
Most women therefore are more powerfull then men,
we do shape, train, and breed serial killers, the next Dali Lama, or presidents ect...
and in todays society hopefully even be one
What is more powerfull then that? :p