A Question of Justice

"But here's something to give pause: The special election issue of The New Yorker has five male writers commenting upon its implications; there is only one woman featured in the issue (although she has two pieces, as if in compensation.) Similarly, the November issues of Harper's and The Atlantic are top-heavy with male writers, notwithstanding the fact that The Atlantic cover touts a story headlined 'Should Women Rule the World?' which turns out to be a rather cutesy review of a book by DeeDee Myers with that title -- not a serious consideration of the question at all.

"Meanwhile, a recent issue of OK! magazine promised to tell readers about Michelle Obama's style ('Michelle looks amazing in yellow') and 'her date nights with Barack.' You know, girly stuff, as befits our interest in a Grownup Girl."`

Commentator Mark Hyman is an unabashed Palin fan:

"Women want to be her. Men want to be with her and not just because she is very attractive. Guys feel comfortable with her, rather than threatened by her. She could hang with them all day watching football on TV and it would feel genuine. Contrast this with Hillary Clinton. Guys would expect Mrs. Clinton to lunge for the remote and turn on some man-bashing, made-for-TV movie on one of those men-hating channels."

I wonder which channels those would be.

Not everyone loves Obama, as Newsweek reports:

"Obama triggers such fear in the hearts of America's millennialist Christians. Mat Staver, dean of Liberty University's law school, says he does not believe Obama is the Antichrist, but he can see how others might. Obama's own use of religious rhetoric belies his liberal positions on abortion and traditional marriage, Staver says, positions that 'religious conservatives believe will threaten their freedom.' The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts: 'They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared,' Staver says."

At the Washington Monthly, Steve Benen cries foul:

"Um, Newsweek? 'Widely shared' fears can most definitely be 'nuts.' . . .

"I can appreciate the fact that there are a handful of very odd people in the world, some of whom believe the Book of Revelation foretold Obama's election. Strange people can be led to believe strange things. That's not a reason for Newsweek to publish articles about their inanity."

Adulation Watch

In my new feature -- nominations welcome -- the AP is a contendah:

"Many women recoil at the thought of baring their arms in sleeveless dresses or blouses, but not Michelle Obama -- half of the fabulously fit new first couple.

"Both President-elect Barack Obama and the future first lady have exercise routines that would put most people to shame. Michelle Obama used to join a friend for 4:30 a.m. workouts, and Barack Obama usually starts his day in the gym.

"Michelle Obama has hosted 'The View,' been interviewed on '60 Minutes,' graced the cover of Newsweek and hit the campaign trail, all with her buff arms bared."

Another first for the first lady!