Where is Geraldine Ferraro??

[FreedomAngel82]

Sometimes when I'm bored I watch old CSAPN democratic events including conventions. I've seen the one from 1984 with Gerladine Ferraro and I was wondering where is she now? Anybody know?

[seriousstan]

1. She is still around...

The author of three books, "Ferraro: My Story," "Changing History: Writings on Current Affairs," and "Framing a Life: A Family Memoir," Ferraro said the political arena is one she is no longer interested in entering. She does continue to make occasional appearances as an analyst on FOX News.

She has found a new cause, however, traveling extensively, to lecture on behalf of research funding for multiple myeloma, the second-most-common form of blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Ferraro was diagnosed with the disease in 1998, after an unsuccessful run for Senate.

Although she expressed disappointment that no women have been named to a major party ticket for the presidential nomination since 1984, she said she expects things will change in the near future.

"I believe that in 2008, we are going to see a woman and perhaps women running for their party's nomination," she said. "I expect that we will see Hillary Clinton on side and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison running for the Republican nomination in 2008, and both of them will have established their bona fides in the United States Senate."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/13/ccn25.tan.ferraro/

[FreedomAngel82]

2. I'm glad she's still around

I really liked her speech at the 1984 convention. Have the republicans ever nominated a woman at such a high position? They always talk about Condi and the like but VP is the second highest position. Has she been back to any conventions? In her speech at the convention she said that the dnc was the oldest party in our country. Is that true? How old is she now?

[seriousstan]

3. I guess that would start an argument between potential and actual position

[Ken Burch]

4. I could understand the push for a woman on the ticket in '84, but

why did it have to be Ferraro?

This was the same Gerry Ferraro who, as chair of the platform committee, tried to remove the endorsement of the Equal Rights Amendment from the Democratic platform. So clearly, she wasn't a feminist at all.

Moreover, she was unknown outsider of her district.

What was the appeal?

[ISUGRADIA]

5. Mondale was 20 pts behind so a bold choice was in order

it came down to Ferraro and .... Diane Feinstein

[Ken Burch]

7. If they'd really wanted a BOLD choice, they could've gone with

Bella Abzug or Barbara Jordan or any number of other women. An unknown anti-feminist hack was about as bold as a handful of vanilla wafers.

Plus they should have done enough background to be prepared to deal with her husbands tax issues, which pretty much destroyed whatever remaining chances Mondale's own unwillingness to fight back against Reaganite smears hadn't destroyed.

Still don't know why the Mondale delegates didn't dump the guy when it was clear that he was roadkill going into the convention.

[ISUGRADIA]

12. He wanted bold, but not too BOLD that was his problem

I loved Barbara Jordan but a handicapped, African Amerian lesbian was not something Walter Mondale was of the mindset to consider.

Mondale did not get dumped for the same reason Jimmy Carter did not in 1980: the delegate majority were loyalists to the candidate. Mondale was not seen as a loser at the time. He was viewed as having a chance.

[ISUGRADIA]

6. Some Answers

Yes, Dem Party dates back to Andrew Jackson as Democratic Party. Repubs only date to 1850s.

Ferraro is 70.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Thanks for the answers

In this she looks about her late fourties I'd say. When she talks about the Equal rights amendment what is the crowd chanting? Does anybody know?

[applegrove]

9. Isn't she sick.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. What does that mean??

Are you talking about her having a health issue?

[applegrove]

11. I thought maybe she did have a health issue? Also - isn't she retired?

[OzarkDem]

13. Multiple Myeloma

http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseases1/a/062001.htm

[Ken Burch]

14. Geez. I've heard that's an agonizingly painful disease.

No one deserves that.