I find it unbelievable that a country, which only a few decades ago had a vicious right-wing dictatorship, just elected a left-leaning woman president -- before the United States.

Not only did Cristina Fernandez run on sensible programs such as more funding for public education and a crackdown on those involved in the human rights abuses by the country’s 1976-83 dictatorship, she even used her own last name, which would never happen in the free U.S. of A. From the Associated Press:

Fernandez, a three-term senator who won office handily on a left-leaning ticket, captured 45 percent of the vote against a divided opposition Oct. 28. She joins Michelle Bachelet in Chile as the second sitting female president in South America.

Approval ratings for (her husband and current President Nestor) Kirchner topping 60 percent have been largely credited with Fernandez's victory, although she was praised for an astute, unorthodox campaign. Refusing to debate any of her rivals and granting few interviews, Fernandez preferred to be photographed overseas meeting world leaders — projecting a flair for diplomacy while masking a lack of executive branch experience.

Argentine law prevents more than two consecutive terms, but a husband-and-wife team could alternate in power for as long as their support continues.

I am not down with dynasties, but it is cool that a left-leaning duo like Fernandez and Kirchner appear to have moved Argentina in the right direction. Also, I am envious that people actually voted on Fernandez’s merits and not whether she was "too liberal," took her husband’s last name -- remember “Rodham-Gate?” -- or whether the Argentine people were ready for a woman president, or any other such nonsense.

Fernandez, BTW, is technically the second female president of Argentina to Isabel Peron, who as vice president assumed the presidency when her husband Juan Peron died in 1974. She was ousted 20 months later in a coup.