Just Prey
In these days of high tech gadgets and gizmos, sometimes an old-fashioned telephoto lens makes a great stand-in for a polygraph machine. There are no electrodes to hook up, and most politicians willingly submit to the test. House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, demonstrates its simplicity, not to mention...
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The New Political Picture
No, spin is not going away. Still, post-Rovian political pictures should make you feel like you've come out of a coma -- especially if it involves a more Democratic future. Keith Ellison, running for the House in Minnesota, is virtually assured of becoming America's first elected Muslim Congressperson, as well as...
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In The Spotlight
Until recently, it's been even money which issue -- the Iraq war, pushed hard by the Dems, or national security, the focus of Repub scare tactics -- would take precedence in framing the mid-term elections. These four (of five) Democratic vets of the latest Iraq war convey a confidence...
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It's Down To Cannibalism
These days, it's hard not to feel like you're peering into the Republican big top, witnessing a three-ring political meltdown. For gallows humor, I found the above image particularly crisp. The caption informs us this is Hastert sitting inside his home in Plano, Illinois. Shifting metaphors from the big...
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Contact With America
Lets go back in time to, say, two weeks ago. That's when Adam Nagourney wrote this little piece in the NYT WIR likening the '06 Mid-Term Election to that milestone event in '94. But then, are the dynamics that different this year? How much has the conservative revolution really...
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The Task At Hand
On first pass, an image like this is a total send up. With the pasted on smile, the background reminiscent of cheap wood panelling, and the gargantuan hand, it plays like a paean to the used-car salesman. Still, it's a portrait, and could likely have been Mehlman's idea. In...
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Yo, Whacko!
(click for the whole sorry size) I may not be a big Pelosi fan, but this caption -- running on YahooNews -- is pure bullshit.... I mean, could you imagine a Hastert pic showing up tomorrow with this chicken scratch: The US Congress will retain its radical makeup if...
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More On The Foot Race In Virginia
On Sunday's debate, and the under-the-table dynamics of Allen - Webb, I've offered some behavioral footwork for Allen.
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Gut Check
The holes? They represents the gut of an American soldier killed in Iraq through the supposed negligence of Senator George Allen.
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Full Of Macaca
At first, you might not see much connection between the NYT George Allen "macaca" story, and a piece that appeared later that week about facial profiling at airports. The link is that ultimately, both stories have to do with reading faces. Thank goodness for You Tube. What The Times article...
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Your Turn: Parting Shots
(Actual size!) If there's an image to remember the Ct. primary by, this is it. The metaphorical implications are endless.
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Kiss Of Death
There is an iconographic significance to this image that extends beyond the Lieberman - Lamont race.... As Digby points, the Democratic campaign mavens -- in this case, emanuael and shumer -- are looking for just the right button to push In looking for their own memes to do the...
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Sambo Joe And The Visual Blogosphere
If you missed the brouhaha, Jane Hamsher of firedoglake briefly became a subject of controversy in the Connecticut senatorial primary yesterday morning. Having spent the last two weeks traveling with the Lamont campaign while blasting at Lieberman on her blog, Hamsher led off her most recent campaign update at...
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Your Turn: Biblical Proportions
Whenever I'm running low on zzzz's, I know I can count on the readership to maintain the pace. With the Lieberman primary coming soon, Thomas Dworzak offers up this freakish photo in the latest New York Magazine.... Coming up with zilch, the best I could do was read it...
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Home Alone
Trying to rebrand himself as the second coming of Alphonse D'Amato, yesterday's Santorum piece in the NYT chronicles Ricky's late (and lame) attempt to distinguish himself for constituent service. No wonder. The ideological extremist is getting hammered for being out-of-touch with the folks back home.
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Latest NYT Attack Victim: The Addict
Not only does The Times set up the article by going through the decades-old litany of "wacko" Brown associations -- including Linda Ronstadt, We The People, Mother Teresa, Governor Moonbeam -- they reference the Ronstadt relationship twice by forcing Brown to comment to it. The most toxic aspect of...
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Getting The Kerry Treatment
Almost systematic effort to undermine and negatively stereotype almost every Dem that is gaining or stands to gain more visibility and authority in Washington.... For example, where Bush was constant shown pressing the flesh and making eye contact, Kerry was just as often depicted standing apart from people around...
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Undertaking A New Strategy?
"Jest" a little free association from The BAG: 1. If White House shake-up was supposed to ease conformity, think again. 2. Administration looking a little down these days? 3. Maybe that's what happens after years of getting your back up. 4. Hubbard's folder lends interesting twist.... The economic picture: black and white and...
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