I picked up a copy of The Times (Wednesday November 5 3 a.m. edition) someone had left on the Tube this morning and came across a terrific article by Sarah Vine regarding Michelle Obama titled "Style, Intellect: a new kind of First Lady." Among the most poignant points this piece (yes, giddiness has driven me to alliteration) addresses is the way she resonates with women today.
Vine writes, "Everything about this woman speaks to the modern, post-feminist woman: she is manifestly clever, independently minded, attractive in a normal, accessible way (and not in a scary, plastic-fantastic Cindy way). Her demeanour is a reassuring mixture of sassy and self-deprecating; her easy, confident dress sense neither too sexy nor too self-conscious. Most of all, however, she appears to be the personification of sanity, a woman who, while clearly supportive of her husband's quest for world domination, is nevertheless not afraid to point out when he is in danger of drinking too much of his own Kool-Aid." Those three sentences perfectly explain why I admire a woman like Michelle Obama and not (not ever) a woman like Sarah Palin. And while I'm not sure about Obama's quest for "world domination" - I know that I'm really looking forward to seeing this new First Lady in office.
as hell! 
I LOVE the "post-feminist" line - so true. I'm so sick of the whole 'feminism' card for female candidates - either showing you can have a family, or you can do as well as a guy (which is such a sexist statement). Vine's article is exactly how I feel about Michelle O.
If that's possible, I'm even more excited about Michelle Obama being First Lady than Barack Obama being President. She has so much to bring to the White House, I can't wait to see the change.
Thanks for posting the article BigD, I'm making my way through the papers today and haven't started the Times yet.