The XX Factor: What women really think.

Sasha and Malia Dolls Forced Into Early Retirement

Looks like it's back to Barbie for kids seeking presidential playthings; the Sasha and Malia dolls are no more. Ty, the company that caused such controversy with its Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia, no longer offers the First-Daughter-inspired toys. From the New York Times:

On Tuesday, the company's Web site included pictures of the two dolls beneath a red sign that read "Retired."

"We appreciate the company's response to this matter,'' said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama.

It must have been Emily's argument for protecting the Obama girls' privacy that swayed them. Or maybe the first lady's complaint had something to do with it. Either way, we're still waiting for someone to snag sashaandmalia.com so we can watch Mother Lion Michelle in action again. So far her track record for defending her young from commercial predators is as impressive as her outfits.