Diane Sawyer interviews the women senators

[Ogre Mage]

Diane Sawyer interviews the record 20 women in the Senate (Heitkamp was absent).  She asks the group -- How many of you know America is ready to elect a woman president?  Will there be a female nominee in 2016?  And is there a future president in this room?

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/20-female-senators-sworn-capitol-hill-18126964

[tmthforu94]

A nice interview - hopefully we see more female members of Congress in the coming years. I'm very happy Indiana did its part by sending two to Congress this past election. Was hoping for a Senator, but bullying, selfishness, and Tea-Party crazy kept that from occuring.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

A nice interview - hopefully we see more female members of Congress in the coming years. I'm very happy Indiana did its part by sending two to Congress this past election. Was hoping for a Senator, but bullying, selfishness, and Tea-Party crazy kept that from occuring.

Dick Lugar is a woman?

[socaldem]

Cool interview...

Notice when asked if a nominee in 2016 would be female, some senators raised their hands right away: Boxer, Murray, McCaskill, Feinstein (read: Hillary! Hillary!); others hesitated: Mikulski (could have just been slow reflexes but she was sure scanning the room); Warren (not on the Hillary bandwagon?), Gillibriand (doesn't want to seem too ambitious, i suppose); Collins reflexively raised her hand, took it down, and then raised it again (typical!); and Kelly Ayotte rolled her eyes and shook her head (read: Hillary supporter are too much!)

When asked if there was a future woman President in the room: Hirono put her arm around Gillibriand and I feel like some of the other senators were looking at her too...Gillibriand certainly enjoyed the attention as a would-be presidential candidate would; Cantwell sat behind Ms. Popular with a sad look on her face,  flipping her hair nervously, perhaps hoping people would look at her as a prospect. No one did.) Murkowski's look at 4:16 is priceless (I hope none of these ladies is President and I'm certainly not feeding anyone's ego by looking in their direction...) Boxer looked down, perhaps, contemplating that no one would ever seriously consider her for the position. Ayotte maintained a poker face--but she cant keep her ambition hidden...

Most likely to end up on Presidential tickets: 1. Kristen Gillibriand 2. Kelly Ayotte (a strong VP possibility); 3.  Patty Murray--I could see her playing a Biden-like VP role, adding experience and balance if a male dem governor were to run.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Cool interview...

Notice when asked if a nominee in 2016 would be female, some senators raised their hands right away: Boxer, Murray, McCaskill, Feinstein (read: Hillary! Hillary!); others hesitated: Mikulski (could have just been slow reflexes but she was sure scanning the room); Warren (not on the Hillary bandwagon?), Gillibriand (doesn't want to seem too ambitious, i suppose); Collins reflexively raised her hand, took it down, and then raised it again (typical!); and Kelly Ayotte rolled her eyes and shook her head (read: Hillary supporter are too much!)

When asked if there was a future woman President in the room: Hirono put her arm around Gillibriand and I feel like some of the other senators were looking at her too...Gillibriand certainly enjoyed the attention as a would-be presidential candidate would; Cantwell sat behind Ms. Popular with a sad look on her face,  flipping her hair nervously, perhaps hoping people would look at her as a prospect. No one did.) Murkowski's look at 4:16 is priceless (I hope none of these ladies is President and I'm certainly not feeding anyone's ego by looking in their direction...) Boxer looked down, perhaps, contemplating that no one would ever seriously consider her for the position. Ayotte maintained a poker face--but she cant keep her ambition hidden...

Most likely to end up on Presidential tickets: 1. Kristen Gillibriand 2. Kelly Ayotte (a strong VP possibility); 3.  Patty Murray--I could see her playing a Biden-like VP role, adding experience and balance if a male dem governor were to run.

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

[Keystone Phil]

I sincerely wonder if the two Pro Life women Senators spoke up during the abortion segment and it was cut off. I saw a clip on World News Tonight last night and only the Pro Choice Senators' comments were aired. Funny enough, the topic was brought up after Feinstein remarked that there isn't uniform thinking amongst the female members. Would have been nice to hear some disagreement on that (and any other issue, really) instead of just "Men keep pushing this abortion debate on us. We consider it resolved." 

[Vosem]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

[socaldem]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

I suspect this is true. I'd like to see Dems oust Ayotte, and she certainly knows how to get our dander up! But I think she's overall an effective politician and has "mainstream" enough credentials to protect her from a challenge unless Lynch were to run or the new governor becomes super-popular and runs against her later on. I see Ayotte as the GOP's Sherrod Brown.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

I suspect this is true. I'd like to see Dems oust Ayotte, and she certainly knows how to get our dander up! But I think she's overall an effective politician and has "mainstream" enough credentials to protect her from a challenge unless Lynch were to run or the new governor becomes super-popular and runs against her later on. I see Ayotte as the GOP's Sherrod Brown.

She won on the GOP Midterm against an awful opponent. But can she win in a Presidential year with the top of the ticket dragging on her and against most likely, a better opponent?

[minionofmidas]

I'm not sure that Hodes was all that awful, but he ran a bad campaign and just wasn't what the mood called for.

Being in the leadership is... not an electoral asset even in an even swing state.

In short, anyone who thinks that Ayotte is toast or a shoo-in is delusional. 2016 is far away still.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

They did bring the good point that women don't actually vote with their vaginas, as I've heard far too often. It's socially extremist males with their priorities set wrong who effectively force many moderates out of the party.

[minionofmidas]

They did bring the good point that women don't actually vote with their vaginas, as I've heard far too often. It's socially extremist males with their priorities set wrong who

So far so good but you continued the sentence wrong.

[Napoleon]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

I suspect this is true. I'd like to see Dems oust Ayotte, and she certainly knows how to get our dander up! But I think she's overall an effective politician and has "mainstream" enough credentials to protect her from a challenge unless Lynch were to run or the new governor becomes super-popular and runs against her later on. I see Ayotte as the GOP's Sherrod Brown.

She won on the GOP Midterm against an awful opponent. But can she win in a Presidential year with the top of the ticket dragging on her and against most likely, a better opponent?

No one thought her opponent was awful until he lost. Democrats were thrilled to have Hodes running.

[I love MAGA, don’t send me to the camps]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

In a general election with a decent Democratic opponent (and as long as the NH Dems don't overplay their hand in the next few years), she likely loses. It's as simple as that. You probably don't know much about New Hampshire if you cite her performance in 2010 as a sign that she will do well again...

[Vosem]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

In a general election with a decent Democratic opponent (and as long as the NH Dems don't overplay their hand in the next few years), she likely loses. It's as simple as that. You probably don't know much about New Hampshire if you cite her performance in 2010 as a sign that she will do well again...

I understand NH is well-known for its very erratic politics, but I  still see absolutely zero reason why a popular, influential Senator in a swing state should be defeated without a wave year or some kind of special star candidate -- the only in NH Democrat I can think of is Lynch, and he's never had legislatorial ambitions. So -- explain? Do you think 2016 is bound to be a D wave year?

[old timey villain]

I saw the interview and thought it was really good, and I'm always glad to see more women in the senate. But give me a break about how women are by nature "less partisan" and they all are just the best of friends. I was looking at Kelly Ayotte the whole time, thinking about her hijinks with McCain and Graham during the Benghazi fallout. Yeah, she's not partisan at all...


These women are tough, they're in Washington to play the game, and they all will have to toe the party line eventually.

[old timey villain]

Also, loved Kelly's humblebrag about her daughter telling her not to run for president so she can be the first woman prez when she grows up. (I'm sure everyone in the room wanted to roll their eyes, probably because she's told that story more than once) Then Boxer of course snaps back with her passive aggressive, "she better call Hillary!"

[minionofmidas]

We all know Kelly Ayotte's not going anywhere, except perhaps home in 2016. She's just not liked well-enough and is not that talented at what she does.

That's an interesting take on it, considering Ayotte won in a landslide in 2010, has always maintained positive approval ratings, is friendly with state Democrats (she was originally a Democratic appointee!), and not even halfway through her first Senate term she's already in party leadership ( http://www.rollcall.com/news/ayotte_joins_senate_gop_leadership-220518-1.html?pos=hln ) where she is the single most junior Senator. She's clearly not running for the Presidency in 2016, but she's very clearly ambitious and I think she could be force in the 2020s, unless she decides to dedicate her career to Senate service. (Or loses, but I don't think that'll happen without a heavy Democratic wave...)

I suspect this is true. I'd like to see Dems oust Ayotte, and she certainly knows how to get our dander up! But I think she's overall an effective politician and has "mainstream" enough credentials to protect her from a challenge unless Lynch were to run or the new governor becomes super-popular and runs against her later on. I see Ayotte as the GOP's Sherrod Brown.

She won on the GOP Midterm against an awful opponent. But can she win in a Presidential year with the top of the ticket dragging on her and against most likely, a better opponent?

No one thought her opponent was awful until he lost. Democrats were thrilled to have Hodes running.

Correction: until it became apparent that he was losing. But yeah, it's not nearly as clearcut as junkie makes out there.

[You kip if you want to...]

So Gillibrand's got some colleagues who want her to go for it then.