I chose the picture because it was the most instantly recognizable image of “Middle East.” Most direct explanation is that the dude who does the website did the same thing. He just looks more down-to-business/less jackass-tourist than I did.

Obama’s images, especially in campaign literature, may have been messianic, but this isn’t a particularly good example.

how dare they present their man in the most favorable light possible through flattering photos?

actually, come to think of it – who WOULDN’T try to get a pic with the sphinx and great pyramid, given the opportunity?

if this is the biggest problem that comes up during the POTUS trip to the middle east, i’ll gladly take it.

next issue, please!

Since you’ve read my writing before, you know that I’m sitting my keyboard trying to cook up anti-Obama personal attacks.

One of the things that coloring our views of this particular photo is that we’re assuming different things about the process that put it on the site.

Pete Souza, the guy who is paid by the White House to take attractive photos of the president’s every move, probably took thousands of photos of Obama at the pyramids yesterday.

Only one showed up on the front page of the White House web site. The people who have been hired to craft Obama’s visual presentation picked it because thought it looked really good and delivered some sort of politically advantageous message.

Why does it look good to them?

In part because places Obama’s face between two timeless, glorious icons.

Stagecraft is part of the modern presidency. I’m not complaining about the concept. But Obama’s people have a knack for gilding the lily.

This blog entry, in my opinion, is like yesterdays headline on the Drudge Report that read “Obama sports thin moustache in mideast speech” (as if that’s somehow a bad thing, or even the least bit newsworthy). The article (actually, it was just a photo with a caption) it linked to said nothing about a moustache, and in the photo Obama did not even have a moustache. So it was all just a bunch of crap.

Obviously you can write or think whatever you want, but we need quality journalism desperately. Usually you provide that. I hope you will continue.

If this was a comedy piece, I apologize for missing the joke. Usually your jokes are obvious and funny…like calling Shalhoup a jerk the other day. I laughed at that, and laughed a second time when she (or is it he?) didn’t appear to get the joke one of your commenters posted.

We already have images of a shirtless Obama…

But seriously, if you think this photo is bad, check this out!

I thought the speech was average, especially the parts where he cribbed from W’s earlier speeches.