Former New York City mayor Ed Koch writes a candid and often delightful regular column that he e-mails out and that is picked up by newspapers all over. Sometimes his choice of topics is a bit quirky. One of his most recent columns, a series of short takes on a number of important issues, concludes with a short take on short shorts, specifically those worn by the first lady.

Koch writes:

This is not a gossip column, so forgive me for mentioning that Michelle Obama, who is not only intellectually brilliant, has become a true fashion trendsetter. First, bare arms and now, short shorts. So far as I can recall, no First Lady in our history has dared the shorts. Jackie Kennedy Onassis did the bare arms. Three cheers for Michelle Obama.

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