Have the Republicans reverted to a party with so little to say that they are reduced to making feeble jabs at Michelle Obama's biceps? Are they so afraid of the new Obama era that the First Lady's arms are a enough of a symbol of power that they cower before them?
That can be the only explanation for Republican lite David Brooks, the New York Times columnist, to tell his fellow Times columnist Maureen Dowd that Michelle Obama should put away her arms, "Thunder and Lightning." Thunder and lightning? Has he actually named the biceps that offend him?
He went 
on to complain that Michelle's stunning eggplant sleeveless Narcisco Rodriguez dress, which she wore to Congress, was "ostentatious." And that the First Lady should not be known for one body part.
Brooks also had the nerve to say that "sometimes I think half the reason Obama ran for president is so Michelle would have a platform to show off her biceps."
If that doesn't sound like a sore loser running scared, then I don't know what does.
Let me respond to Mr. Brooks' insulting comments one by one. As a sometime fashionista who has edited the style bibles Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Glamour, I contend that Mrs. Obama's eggplant dress was striking, chic and very modern. It was not ostentatious. Ostentatious would have been a more "Dynasty-type" dress featuring sequins, gold glitz, feathers and enormous shoulders.
As for infamous Presidential body parts. There is a well-established tradition of presidential types being successful and still being strongly identified with signature features: George Washington for his ponytail and wooden teeth, Thomas Jefferson for his red hair, Abraham Lincoln for his height and heavy beard, Franklin D Roosevelt for his polio-crippled legs, Jackie Kennedy for her wide eyes and Ronald Reagan for his thatch of boyish brown hair.
Now as for Obama running to show off Michelle's biceps, then I say, good for him. Because if there's one thing this country needs right now besides a strong and principled president instituting change, it's a superhero, and the non-sexist American public will take a female one.
There's a long history of strong female warriors in Western culture, from the goddess Athena who was a wise warrior (how Michelle-like), to the the Brit chick Boadicea, to young French babe, Joan of Arc, to Queen Elizabeth 1 to tough bicepped protector-mom, Sarah Connor in Terminator to Xena, the Princess Warrior to ... WonderWoman.
And since when did a woman's arms become something that should be covered up if they were well-sculpted ? Why is it OK for a man's naked pecs, abs and biceps to be admired as heroic? Think Rocky, Arnold and the highly-muscled Daniel Craig who always has a half-nude scene in the Bond flicks.
I think that Brooks, like many of his Republican cohorts, is more than a little jealous of the finely-toned Obama arms. When was the last time he saw the inside of a gym? I bet he's got jiggly girly-man arms.
Think about it -- all those big-mouth Republicans are major Mr. Softies: Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich. Between the bunch of them, they probably wouldn't last five minutes on a treadmill. They are afraid -- Michelle COULD punch them out.
Like the oversized Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in the film Ghostbusters, 
they're all huff and puff with no sturdy center. They're fearful that someone like either Michelle or Barack Obama with real spine, fresh ideas and actual empathy for Americans will blast them into oblivion.
Maybe if they took a cue from the First Lady and hit the gym, the flood of endorphins would spark some bright new ideas from their camp, not just another call for fresh tax cuts for the rich.
Let's not forget that it takes a strong man to partner with a powerful woman.The fact that Barack isn't afraid to love and live with a woman who is his equal just adds to his own power.
In the meantime, David Brooks and his ilk would be better served muscling up to help in the battle against the recession than mouthing off about Michelle's beautiful arms.
For more on Michelle Obama vs David Brooks follow Bonnie Fuller at twitter.com/bonniefuller
How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms - CNN.com
Get Michelle Obama's sexy, sculpted arms in 5 minutes a day ...
"The View" host Sherri Shepherd tells Michelle Obama "your arms ...
Michelle Obama could really set off her wardrobe if she finished her look with TGee Designs of Chgo. http://stores.homestead.com/TGeeDesigns/-strse-Necklaces/Categories.bok
Ditto the head to toe black gardening outfit- with leggings and shiny boots and belt. You had to be embarassed for her, she looked so inappropriate.
And some of the big jewelry, like the tire-sized strands of pearls with the strapless gown? Tacky.
She has a long way to go fashion-wise. And p.s.- sculpted arms don't equal feminism - a track record of accomplishments that benefit women does.
SOT
That's why, Bonnie, you should probably take it easy on him. It took a lot of courage for him to come out of the closet and to segue from political commentary to fashion. Lookout Kojo, here comes David Brooks, sashaying along.
It sounds like he has way to much time on his hands.
Does he think a woman who shows her arms is immodest? Is he stuck in the Victorian era? We all know how that totally hypocritical age turned out. Brooks is either joking or he really is an idiot.
I pity the right-wing whack-jobs. They got so used to having a sexist president with a Stepford wife that they forgot that there are other kinds of people out there.
You mentioned sequins and described them as ostentatious. You may recall that Tina Louise wore a sequin dress on "Gilligan's Island", and she looked mighty fine! As it was, Ginger Grant was another strong woman surrounded by men - one of whom (the Skipper) was in fact quite obese - who couldn't fathom the idea of women having equal status.
Anyway, Michelle Obama could clobber David Brooks without even trying.
We live in weird times.
And we're to pretend that's acceptabel now that he's confused about what to do and say? NOW he opposes the policies that got us where we are -- though he cheerleaded them throughout those 8 years. NOW we're to pretend he's a nice guy.
Please, give us a break: we who know Brooks know better than accept whatever his position, in view of the fact that he writes with one wet finger up to the wind. And such trivial PERSONAL ATTACK to go after a woman because here upper arms are bare in public? Are we now to believe Brooks is some sort of moral purist!? See above re. cheerleading and "Move on!"
they actually invite joe the plumber to their function to speak on serious issues.
sarah palin?
bobby jindal?
there is absolutely nothing serious about the republican party.
But Bonnie Fuller, your own response is a bit over the top. I just can't see Michelle Obama borrowing costuming from WonderWoman or Xena, the Princess Warrior. I like Lynda Carter and Lucy Lawless. Fake is fun. Michelle Obama never fakes it, she is all real.