BAGnewsNotes

The Recruiting Center Bombing: Who's Making A Point?

Maybe the blast at the military recruiting center in Times Square was perpetrated by a "foreign terrorist group," as Senator Clinton's office suggests.  And maybe the bombing is tied to two other bombings -- one from October outside the Mexican consulate, and another dating back three years outside the British Consulate -- as reflexively and conspiratorially mentioned in many of the news reports.

On the other hand -- although nobody seems to have considered the possibility -- maybe someone (maybe even domestic!) got out-of-control over the way America has exercised it's military might in a massive, thoroughly unilateral and unprovoked way in Iraq, and (just two weeks short of the 5 year anniversary of the invasion) decided to target an armed-forces recruiting center (re-branded a career center, by the way) for the specific reason that it happens to be an armed-forces recruiting center.

TIME's Halperin Pictures Obama As Dirty Rat

As Obama moves to respond to the "kitchen sink," Mark Halperin at TIME launches a stunningly pejorative visual preemptive strike.

The photo-illustration above appears under the foreboding headline:  HALPERIN’S TAKE: The Dangers Which Might Await Obama If He Makes Negative Attacks Central To His Campaign. (On TIME's home page, the lead reads: "Mulling Obama's Negative Strategy.")

So, what's wrong with the picture?

Well, here's the short list:  (Forgive me in advance, by the way, for failing to identify henchman #2.  I'm sure one of you will recognize him immediately.)

1.  Obama not only deserves an equal place among the likes of Atwater, Carville and Rove, but he deserves the central place.

2. Given that the source of the photo is a famous shot of the "Rat Pack," Obama reveals himself as a true rat.

3. By casting these political backstabbers as crooners, it soft-peddles their handiwork as entertainment, while at the same time, by linking Obama to Sammy Davis Jr.,
it stereotypes the lone politician in the group as just one more black guy with rhythm.

4.  Notice, by the way, how Halperin's illustration shows Obama looking down.  In the original Rat Pack photo, however, Sammy Davis Jr. was looking directly into the camera.  So, what gives?  ... The body language suggests that Obama, going negative, has too much shame to look us in the eye.  "Shame on you, Obama." ...Sound familiar?

Obama's Risk And Reward (The Page)

(photo-illustration: The Page by Mark Halperin.  March 6, 2008.  Getty Images.  thepage.time.com.  Linked original image. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. Getty Images.)

Not Like McSame Wanted To Appear Like He Was Taking Dubya's Lead: Latest Shots From "43's" White House Scrapbook

Our Man In Ohio #5: Taking It To The Bank

This is the last in a 48 hour series of Ohio primary dispatches from photojournalist and BNN Contributer Alan Chin.

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In Hillary's triumph, this old hall gives the moment an historical feel, the confetti conjuring a ticker tape parade, or even a convention balloon drop.

In a bold, if largely overlooked statement, Bill Clinton -- though thanked by name -- was, for the first time, completely erased from a primary evening.

The spotlight on this TV producer -- stoic amidst the emotion -- speaks to the stark contrast between two beasts feeding off of (and, on) each other, one being big media, and the other, the contemporary presidential juggernaut.

In spite of the celebratory mood, the victory speech was tough and mocking.  At one point, Clinton parroted her opponent's "narrative of hope" by talking in near-rhyme.  At the conclusion, the Obama call-and-response "yes we can" was refashioned into "yes we will."  Or, was it: "yes she will?"

The intensity of emotion and the release of energy was apparently nothing that could be gleaned through television.

Clinton was awe inspiring -- perhaps, with an emphasis on the awe.

(image: ©Alan Chin. Columbus, Ohio. March 4, 2008.  Used by permission)

Twerp

“I am a little surprised that all the complaining about the refs has actually worked as well as it has for them,” [Obama] said, using a sports allusion to the news media as referees. “This whole spin of how the press has just been so tough on them and not tough on us — I didn’t expect that you guys would bite on that.”  -- March 4, 2008 (The Caucus)

 

Condi Picks Her Crowd

With the Israel and Hamas going at it through over and through the air, the Gaza situation deteriorating, and Abbas caught in between, you would think Bush/Rice would have had better sense than to publicly appeal to Abbas to sit down with Israel. 

You can read the story, but the image frames the result that much better. 

Just like the way Putin publicly humiliated Rice last year, we see a politically deaf and smilingly naive Condi getting it every which way by her Palestinian pal.  To her side (yeah, way over there), Abbas flashes a classic "I swear by my flag, I'm not budging" expression to the world.  And behind her back, Arafat not only cuts Condi off from her man, but appears to be laughing at her from the great beyond.  Moreover, even Abbas -- the way his portrait on the wall functions cleverly here like a thought bubble or his inner mind -- is experiencing mirth at her expense.

And then, I don't know what that pin is about.  Is it a question mark?  Or, maybe it's that famous mushroom cloud of hers.

Abbas Rebuffs Call by Rice to Return to Talks (NYT)
Outsmarting Versus Plain Smarting: or, Chin scratching after a hammering by Putin (BNN)

(image: Pool photo by Abbas Momani. March 4, 2008.  Ramallah.  via nytimes.com)

Our Man In Ohio #4: Hillary Pre-Dawn

This is the fourth in a 48 hour series of Ohio primary dispatches from photojournalist and BNN Contributer Alan Chin.

It's just grind-it-out campaigning, perhaps a little easier with the candidate sensing momentum.

The Clinton campaign, keeping its head down and focusing on the growing blue collar concern about the economy, decides late Sunday night to add a visit to the Toledo Chrysler factory, getting the jump at 4:30 the next morning.  Without knowing she was coming, workers at the shift change are clearly taken aback, and flattered.  As Alan comments, "It's how people react at a surprise birthday party, or when they suddenly see a movie star.  It's clearly an 'oh wow' moment."

Overall, though -- in spite of this shot that conveys a plant tour -- the whole event (from first step-off, to first step back on the bus) lasts just 10 minutes.

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In the blur of a photo op, it's hard to capture much of the feel of the gritty, day-night, florescent life of the workers inside, turning out 800 cars per day.  You get a piece of it, though, in the shot of the goggled man getting down to business while the campaign entourage passes him by, and in this lonely shot of the entrance once the workers are inside.

Oh Waiter, Two Martinis Please... (David Burnett)

(image: ©Alan Chin. Toledo, Ohio. March 3, 2008.  Used by permission)

Our Man In Ohio #3: One Of Our Own

This is the third in a 48 hour series of Ohio primary dispatches from photojournalist and BNN Contributer Alan Chin.

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Perhaps race is a sensitive subject to discuss in the campaign because it isn't supposed to matter.  Or, perhaps it is delicate talking about black pride in Obama out of caution not to detract from, or conflict with the pride so many women feel for Hillary.

What is unmistakable, however, is the engagement of black audiences with the candidate.  In many newswire photos of late, one can see black boys transfixed while listening to Obama.  One can juxtapose those images with the statistics, reported last week, that 1 in 100 Americans are in jail, including one in fifteen African-Americans, and one in nine black men between the ages of 20 and 34.

The metaphor that one generation evolves from standing on the shoulders of the previous seems relevant here, as is the fixed attention of the young man with the decorated letter jacket, getting a look at Obama in his own high school field house.

One Percent of All American Adults are Incarcerated (Crooked Timber)

(image: ©Alan Chin. Westerville, Ohio, outside Columbus. March 2, 2008.  Used by permission)

Our Man In Ohio #2: Looking Secure

This is the second in a 48 hour series of Ohio primary dispatches from photojournalist and BNN Contributer Alan Chin.

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In light of the story last week that Obama's security might be somehow deficient, there seems to be plenty of eyes around him outside Columbus  -- at least seven pairs right here.

Obama's Security -- A Little Too Much Hush (BNN)

(image: ©Alan Chin. Westerville, Ohio, outside Columbus. March 2, 2008.  Used by permission)

Our Man In Ohio #1: Beyond The Phrase

This is the first in a 48 hour series of Ohio primary dispatches from photojournalist and BNN Contributer Alan Chin.

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In an effort to challenge the charge he lacks substance, Obama has shortened his stump speech and conducted more townhall meetings.  This event on Sunday at Westerville High School, with an extended Q and A session, lasted 2 1/2 hours, whereas most of Obama's New Hampshire appearances, more like pep rallies, ran about half-an-hour.  Alan tapped this image specifically for the way Obama slowed the pace and tempered the energy.

Of course, if a photographer was looking for something "Kennedy-esque," those opportunities were still there.  But, as Alan reports, such a shot would not have been reflective of the character of this event.

Democrat Clinton says Obama lacks substance (Reuters)
Our Man In New Hampshire (Alan Chin primary coverage 1/08 - BNN)

(image: ©Alan Chin. Westerville, Ohio, outside Columbus. March 2, 2008.  Used by permission)