Peripheral Players

What makes this new Rove newswire shot interesting — just like the one of Cheney against the bushes during a Presidential press conference a few weeks back — is the way it speaks to moral and organizational free agency.

If, in reality, Rove is simply cluing in to the click-click off his shoulder, the detachment and perception of distance from the meeting — this session, held ten days ago over health savings accounts — reflects the lack of tethering between Bush and the rest of the gang.  It’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” at the highest reaches.

Even more so, however, the resonance in the photos have to do with the periphery.  What the images play on and elaborate is our recognition of unscrupulous players at home at the edges, always working the corners.

As a counterpoint, by the way, consider this WAPO shot of Wolfowitz this morning — a graduate member of the Administration’s ethical “what-ever and how-ever” club.  These guys who feel they are above the rules must go insane when the public eye finally calls the game, coming in closer and closer, undeterred.

(image 1: Jim Young/Reuters.  Washington.  April 2, 2007.  image 2: Larry Downing/Reuters. Washington April 3, 2007. via YahooNews)