Reading the Pictures: Obama -- Rebirth of the Cool

It didn't have the same drama as the '08 shot. That photo of Obama in a downpour wearing a black rain slicker invited comparison to Neo from "The Matrix." (It also won the NYT's Damon Winter first place in NPPA's 2009 Photojournalism awards.)

Still, with Obama campaigning like it's October, the photos of Prez in the rain in Virginia on Saturday drew plenty of buzz. For a day, at least, it felt like the return of "yes we can." (Given his wonky governing style, it still seems like a surprise when the charismatic and fired-up finally Obama reappears.)

And while Romney (who was busy chilling on the estate) is taking his own drenching right now over when he did or didn't leave Bain, Saturday's weather invited a different comparison -- to an illustration of Mitt's Ark in the upcoming Vanity Fair:

---------- BagNewsNotes: Today's media images analyzed. Topping LIFE.com's 2011 Best Photo Blogs, follow us at BAG Twitter and BAG Facebook.

(photo 1: Jason Reed/Reuters caption: U.S. President Barack Obama is pictured during a heavy rain storm at a campaign rally in Glen Allen, Virginia, July 14. Obama traveled to Virginia on Saturday for campaign events. photo 2: Evan Vucci/AP caption: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, laptop in hand, talks with his son Josh by Lake Winnipesaukee at his home in Wolfeboro, N.H., Saturday, July 14, 2012. illustration: Barry Blitt/Vanity Fair)

 

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Comments

[cajundave]

08:57 AM on 07/17/2012

It's as though Mitt Romney is Mis-casted in a movie. He doesn't look the part, doesn't act the part, and has been cast as a much different character in previous movies. Romney has always been the ruthless millionare, while Obama is the intellectual, engaging, "man of the people".

[NorthernObservations]

11:51 PM on 07/16/2012

problem is as soon as he gets elected it's back to tepid.

[Centaur]

11:30 PM on 07/16/2012

Michael, it's interesting that you used 'Rebirth of the Cool" as part of your header, When I see the President, I think of Miles Davis' classic album '"Birth of the Cool" and one of Miles' searing and penetrating ballad solos on muted trumpet.

[chloebe]

10:33 PM on 07/16/2012

You can't reheat a souffle.

[Know-some-secrets]

07:20 AM on 07/17/2012

So true. So why all the talk about Hillary in 2016? She "fell" in 2008. Next?

[DJleary]

09:50 PM on 07/16/2012

Difficult to get fired up over pictures of the biggest bait and switch artist in American history.

Yes we can't?

[sharmaine73]

02:53 AM on 07/17/2012

Yes, Mitt is definitely the biggest bait and switch artist in American history. Although most people up until now were just calling it flip-flopping.

Obama/Biden 2012

[jestanle]

09:35 PM on 07/16/2012

Re birth of the cool accomplished, now if he could just give birth to 5% unemployment or a balanced budget.

[dsoul700]

07:42 PM on 07/16/2012

A lot of folks who dislike voting for Obama are just as well equally perturbed about voting for Romney. Makes you wonder what they'd do if ever they got to sit on a president's chair.

[NorthernObservations]

11:52 PM on 07/16/2012

makes you wonder why there is no viable third party

[sharmaine73]

02:54 AM on 07/17/2012

Ain't that the truth. Fanned & Faved for being a realist.

[bison1]

06:45 PM on 07/16/2012

I really like it when he spoke about the ladies hairdos. He does how to connect with his audience!

[taquinas]

11:58 PM on 07/16/2012

Pick something else.

[Gib]

06:44 PM on 07/16/2012

He gives good campaign.

[AFLYMAN2004]

06:48 AM on 07/17/2012

yea thats all he gives and high unemployment and no jobs

[Gib]

05:23 PM on 07/17/2012

But he's much better than Bush or Romney.

[bison1]

06:43 PM on 07/16/2012

I agree, the fired up spirit was on peoples faces!

[alaskan]

05:12 PM on 07/16/2012

I'd really like to see how Mitt's hair holds up to a downpour like that.

[Cousin Earl]

11:56 PM on 07/16/2012

Like former Cowboys and Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson's hair. It wouldn't move even if he was in a hurricane.

[janetislight]

05:08 PM on 07/16/2012

Two pictures. The whole story.

Obama/Biden 2012
No hesitation

[lukescorner]

04:59 PM on 07/16/2012

''For a day, at least, it felt like the return of "yes we can."--But then we all snapped back into reality and realized ''no he didn't''.

[s4watson]

06:10 PM on 07/16/2012

no the house and senate didnt, get it right!

[TN60]

06:29 PM on 07/16/2012

Listen to your own words..........he said, Yes ( WE ) can..........then you turn around and say no HE didn't........You know very well he was talking about all of us together, CAN. But then along came McConnell and his filibuster posse and it was NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO..See the difference?

THE PRESIDENT SHALL MAKE NO LAWS....the Constitution.

[lukescorner]

07:51 PM on 07/16/2012

And once again it's forgotten that Obama had all his cronies in the right places thru the 2010 election.

It was their inactive behavior that resulted in the Dems getting embarrassed.

That always seems to slip the minds of the blind.

[jbh2009]

04:48 PM on 07/16/2012

Cool doesn't help create jobs. Get real.

[joncie]

06:18 PM on 07/16/2012

Neither does outsourcing. Unless you live in India.

[jayshiggs]

06:32 PM on 07/16/2012

It does get votes though. Take your own advice.

[Moving1]

03:40 PM on 07/16/2012

Mitt would have asked for an umbrella.

[bison1]

06:48 PM on 07/16/2012

and someone else would have been holding it . . .

[sharmaine73]

03:25 AM on 07/17/2012

As he walked from his car to the chartered flight to a sunnier location.