BAGnewsNotes

Health Care Victory, Stage 1: And What Would Losing Look Like?

2009-11-08T07:49:06-08:00

That's quite a dodgy photo leading today's NYT marking the passage in the House of health care reform.

The biggest slam is that Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, is thoroughly obscured, far left, off a preoccupied and nervous-looking Rep. Clyburn's right shoulder. (Both Clyburn's expression, and the one on the face of Rep. Larson, far right, smells a lot more of fear and anxiety than anything else.)

Mostly though, it's the treatment of Obama that's weird at this undeniably historic moment -- as if the Times felt compelled to emphasize obscurity, weakness, distance and, given Obama's expression, wariness bordering on cynicism.

Of course, the vote wasn't a resounding one, but then, there's also the logic -- especially in this fractious a Washington -- that "a win is a win." You would never know from this, however. Rather than front-and-center, which is where he was for the official photo-op (as compared to this, say), the Times version has the President -- his wave blocking his face and reading as much like resistance or objection -- seeming to almost beat a retreat.

(photo: Doug Mills)

Look of Oppressed: About the Same, Except a Lot Less Blurrier

2009-11-07T22:31:56-08:00

by BAGnews contributor Stan Banos

Photographers such as Ed Burtynsky have been dashing about in record numbers chronicling and documenting the incredible industrial and manufacturing transformation that is the current day wonder called China. And while some such as Lu Guang have concentrated magnificently on the horrendously destructive environmental effects, few if any have looked beyond the mainland to notice the impact this emerging powerhouse has had on other developing nations.

One photographer who has is Paolo Woods, and if his overlooked subject matter somehow has the ring of deja vu all over again, it's because the faces and lives pictured within his work still bear the centuries old scars that are being revisited today. Of course, the pictures back in the19th century were in B&W and considerably blurrier, but the look of the oppressed shine through in any medium, regardless of the century.

Absent today is the blatant genocide and overt military presence that subdued native populations and signaled Europe's imperialism- local militia and the foreign capital their leaders have been infused with now perform their "sponsor's" bidding. The West's reputation may be in tatters in Africa with its history of colonialism, post colonial assassinations (eg- Patrice Lamumba), and failed foreign aid and economic policies. But Serge Michel reports all is not well in the new power marriage between China and Africa, despite all the building and glad handing (and I sure wouldn't want to live downhill of one of the hastily built dams they're constructing there).

Then, of course, there are the photographs themselves. The look of subservience, mistrust and isolation is blatantly apparent in so many of the indigenous faces, just as they were a hundred years ago. The body language, posture and physical proximity are also eerily resonant of the classic photos of the Segregationist South or Apartheid South Africa. And although native and foreigner often work side by side, rarely do they do so together-and certainly not as equals. The only time you do witness interaction between equals is when you see the African leaders, palms greased, laughing and "socializing" with their foreign benefactors- each full well realizing the photo op won't last forever...

Stan Banos blogs regularly at Reciprocity Failure.

(photo: Paolo Woods)

Pipe Dream Come True

2009-11-07T14:52:30-08:00

Central Europe 20 years later, if glimpsed from 1989, would have seemed a glorious pipe-dream." -- from: Walls in the Mind. Cover story/The Economist./Nov 5th 2009.

Do you read this from west to east, indicating an economic charge flowing into the old "Eastern Bloc?"

And where (if a cigar in not always a cigar) does the stodgy Economist get off capturing the "fall-of-the-wall" anniversary this way?

Height of Irresponsibility

2009-11-07T08:50:50-08:00

In a flaunting and thoroughly cyncial act caught in DC on Friday, we see a GOP Congressman literally throwing (health)care (legislation) to the wind.

Certainly, a great model for the American people of democracy in action.

(image: Jose Luis Magana/AP. caption Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas throws the Health Care bill to the crowd on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, during a health care reform rally.)

Our Soldiers of Islam

2009-11-06T22:24:44-08:00

It's not often I say this, but this photo by Dallas Morning News photographer Sonya N. Hebert offers a powerful, important and very timely contribution following Maj. Nidal Hasan's Ft. Hood killing spree.

The photo shows Sgt. Fahad Kamal of Houston praying today during Friday prayer services at the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen -- the same center where Maj. Hasan attended prayer services before beginning his rampage.

I couldn't think of a more eloquent picture -- one we can very much use right now -- actively demonstrating both joint allegiance and uniform devotion.

(image: via AP)

On the Move

2009-11-06T08:43:34-08:00

Just a note: the posting schedule might be a little erratic over the next few days as The BAG does some recon in DC. Thx.

Killing Ourselves

2009-11-05T23:58:59-08:00

While waiting for a clearer picture from Fort Hood, I was struck by this photo from yesterday's newswire. It offers American troops baldly showing the Afghans how things are done. (The hands far right, probably a trainer's hands, still are particularly suggestive.)

If Nidal Hasan lost his mind (as opposed to "crossing over to the enemy"), this photo offers some context for it. One scenario for what happened to Hasan is that an extreme and escalating identity disorder, catalyzed by the racial harassment he encountered (am I "one of us" or "one of them"?), ignited a catastrophic breakdown tripped by his impending deployment and terror of going to war.

If something constructive is to come out of the catastrophe (besides withdrawal) it should be a broader and more heighten awareness, and far more aggressive treatment and prevention strategy aimed at the horrific mental toll these endless wars are taking a -- Ft. Hood, in particular, being a no stranger at all to emotional disturbance.

(6:33 am PST: revised title)

(photo: David Guttenfelder/AP. caption: Afghan National policemen look on as Cpl. Joseph Dement, right, and 1st Lt. Antonio Salinas teach a police training course at an outpost in the Pech Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar province. The U.S. soldiers, both from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division were demonstrating how to disarm an aggressor from a position of weakness.)

Ron Ron Ron, Ron Ron Away

2009-11-05T11:30:14-08:00

s r

Even if Steele is a blowhard... and the photo is just a grasp for the past from a party out-of-sorts... and a knee-jerk move to slap a not-very-convincing exclamation point on a minor, and not-systemic couple of off-year wins...

maybe these guys aren't all that stupid, and there's also an instructive warning here for the Dems ...

which is that Dees got wiped out after Obama took Virginia and Corzine went down after Obama took NJ because the Dems lost a lot of blue-collar and suburban Democrats over the economy, and the lack of a larger focus on it.

...In other words, maybe Steele was envisioning the word "Welcome" scrawled just above The Gipper and the word "Democrats!" scribbled in below.

(photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. caption: With a photograph of former President Ronald Reagan hanging on the wall, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele holds a news conference at the committee's headquarters on Captiol Hill November 4, 2009 in Washington, DC. "Republicans won from the courthouse to the statehouse," Steele said while talking about GOP wins in yesterday's elections in New Jersey, Virginia and other races across the country.)

Paging Dr. Dean

2009-11-05T00:36:17-08:00

Talk about the dregs ... and the Democrats poor use of pictures.

Of course, DNC Chair Tim Kaine is going to eat humble pie after the Dems lost two high-profile Governorships on Tuesday. The expression also goes with the territory. But did outgoing Governor Tim really have to trumpet the defeat by holding the morning-after press conference at the Virginia state capitol, sitting in the same chair he helped lose for the party by 17 points?

(photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images. November 4, 2009. Richmond, Virginia)

Call Out the Armey

2009-11-04T13:00:49-08:00

Abutting the NYT.com headline this afternoon "Republicans Bask in Glow of Victories in N.J. and Va." is a sneak peek article and photo previewing the upcoming NYT Mag doling out a national "15" minutes to the "Obamantagonist" flavor-of-the-week. Given a big hand up (or, -out) into the ring is the recycled Dick Armey.

In this case, another fine portrait maker gives us a classic black-and-white Washington cowboy-in-a-suit -- an angry comedian for the camera, and just angry otherwise -- who is going to kick the moonbats out of the corral.

If the move is, oh so tired at this point, there's still that "fair-and-balanced" hamburger to grind.

(photo: Henry Leutwyler for The New York Times)

Election/Anniversary Take-Aways

2009-11-03T23:59:30-08:00

Old spin: Exhibit A in valiant effort to usher in new era of post-partisanship.

After last night: Wingnut's next target.

3rd term Mike: Despite hot dog move for the cameras, it was all about the benjamins.

(photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images. caption: Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) is hugged by President Barack Obama as the Governor introduces him during a Town Hall Meeting at the Harborside Event Center February 10, 2009 in Fort Myers, Florida. Obama visited the town to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.)

BAGnews: The Road Show

2009-11-03T21:47:49-08:00

Friends, Readers, Visual Accomplices,

If you are in or near DC this weekend, I'll be presenting a whole raft of images (and a few choice words) on the pixels wars between the Obama Administration and the radical right as part of FotoWeekDC.

The talk is called:

From Fist Bump to Fist Pump: How the White House Regained Control of Obama’s Image (Though it's Still Touch and Go)

You can hear it Sunday at 3pm at FotoWeek Central 1 in Georgetown (3338 M Street, NW), or I'll be spinning it again at 6pm at the activist hangout, Busboys and Poets, 2021 (14th St NW) as part of a program of 8 DC photographers talking about their work.

If you can make it, please come by and make sure to say hello.

And while I'm making announcements, we have some major developments in the works to take BAG to the next level. Keep an eye out for more very soon.