Just to cheer you up I’d like to tell you what it was like for women when I grew up. Terrible. We had few choices and very little economic freedom — fifties and sixties (I was in my teens). There has been a dramatic shift in what is now possible, and I realize this as I observe for my daughters who are both financially independent of their partners. In addition they have two daughters who are growing up to be independent as well.

I am heartened to see Merkel and May and other women around the world who have become excellent leaders of their countries. There is no doubt Elizabeth Warren is a brilliant woman and would make a superb President.

Here’s a brief history of the strides women have made as they’ve served in Congress over the last 100 years.

65th 1917–1919 0(OD, 0R)1(OD, 1R) 1(0D, 1R)

66th 1919–1921 0(0D, 0R)0(0D, OR) 0(0D, 0R)

67th 1921–1923 1(1D, 0R)3(0D, 3R) 4(1D, 3R)

68th 1923–1925 0(0D, 0R)1(OD, 1R) 1(0D, 1R)

113th 2013–2015 20(16D, 4R) 80(61D, 19R) 100(77D,23R)

114th2015–201720 (14D, 6R)84(62D, 22R) 104(76D, 28R)

115th 2017–2019 23(17D, 6R) 87(64D, 23R) 110(81D, 29R)

116th 2019–2021 25(17D, 8R) 102(89D, 13R) 127(106D, 21R)

Unfortunately Hillary Clinton came to us with a past she could not overcome and that made her vulnerable. She is a great woman who broke barriers and is still speaking out unbowed. I supported her in the last election and still support her today. She had the election stolen from her and history will so note. Without Russian interference I believe she would have won. No small feat. Clearly Putin considered her an equal and a formidable antagonist. Trump on the other hand was a febrile pushover.

Kamala Harris and all the other female candidates on the Democratic side for President are tremendous role models for our girls. I believe we’ll have a female vice president on the ticket in 2020, and her name will be Stacey Abrams. I believe Donald Trump will also have one — Nicky Haley. That is the first step.

Unfortunately I have always thought it will be a conservative woman who breaks the barrier in the US like Maggie Thatcher did in GB. How about Golda Meir however, who lead a national unity party in Israel. We need one of those parties!

Don’t give up there is hope and we are making progress.

As for Pelosi — well I met her and she is a remarkable woman, really acting for the US as a shadow President, and it is her brilliant strategy and wisdom that will save us from the Trumps, Lindsay Grahams, Mitch McConnells, Gorsuch's and Barrs of this world.

We all know it takes a woman, and we can thank her when we win in 2020.