• February 15, 2012

Yes, you are all adorable. Now get back to work.Annie Liebovitz will photograph literally anyone, as long as they are marginally famous. Ever since Watergate she has taken portraits of schlubby double-chinned Administration staffers, so as to glorify the current President and reassure the nation that, while power changes hands occasionally, it transfers cleanly from one self-satisfied bureaucrat to the next.

Her latest series on key Obama administration figures raises a very important question: Do we really need to see what any of these dorks look like? And more importantly, why would any of these dorks assume we want to look at them? They obligingly stood for their portraits in the New York Times Sunday magazine a few weeks back, and far be it from any of them to turn down a session with the Great Annie Liebovitz, but jesus christ. America is interested in precisely four (4) people involved in the Obama administration: Barack, Michelle, and their kids. That is all. The halo of glamour does not extend to Steven Chu.

Portfolio: Enter Obama [Vanity Fair]

{ 66 comments }

Texan Bulldoggette February 2, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Why is Janet Napolitano feeling herself up?

Purple Tide February 2, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Hillary: Bringin up the rear, per usual.

Thegreatbacon February 2, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Didn’t Steven Chu win a Nobel Prize? I think that’s pretty glamorous. Ken Salazar, on the other hand…

PineyWoodster February 2, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Did any of them pose draped in just a sheet and sultry look?

shanemacgowan February 2, 2009 at 12:38 pm

When their parents left the room, Annie Liebovitz made them take off their clothes and pose draped in a sheet.

Purple Tide February 2, 2009 at 12:39 pm

[re=234001]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: Breast Health is no laughing matter. Make self exams and mammograms part of your routine!

Mr Blifil February 2, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Wake me when they’re all hugging naked, a la John and Yoko.

actor212 February 2, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Don’t you want to see the face of the people who are about to buttfuck you?

Mr Blifil February 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm

[re=234001]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: No other takers?

Doglessliberal February 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm

[re=234005]Purple Tide[/re]: she looks as if she has had some work done, too. In the face/neck area.

Susan Rice is looking good.

Theodorick Of York February 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm

[re=234001]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]:
Cause she’s excited about Geithner playing pocket pool next to her…
two balls in the corner pocket!

gurukalehuru February 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm

O.K., I know Salazar is from Colorado, but he looks really stupid in that hat. It’s not like he’s got to get on his horse and herd them dogies, with his trusty six-shooter to fend off the injuns or anything like that.
Do politicians from Iowa dress up like farmers? Do politicians from California pose in shorts and sleeveless t-shirts?

He might get away with the bolo, on casual weekends, but he really doesn’t need to take fashion tips from John Cornyn.

skutre February 2, 2009 at 12:46 pm

[re=234001]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: “Why is Janet Napolitano feeling herself up?”

She is trying to disrupt Geithner’s pocket pool game.

FIXXXX!

skutre February 2, 2009 at 12:47 pm

[re=234016]Theodorick Of York[/re]:

ACCCH beat me to it

Joey Ratz February 2, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Some nice enough photos, but what the hell are “press wranglers” and “news monitors” doing in this lineup? And is Ken Salazar’s tie what got Andy Card all hot and bothered about “disrespecting the office”?

norbizness February 2, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Annie is either two steps above or two steps below (a) the guy in the old-timey photographer’s outfit and antique camera who snaps your picture with your mistress at a 4-star hotel; (b) the person who photographs horrified families as they are plunged down the final descent on the Wild Mountain Log Ride at CrappyWorld.

Doglessliberal February 2, 2009 at 12:49 pm

[re=234017]gurukalehuru[/re]: His family has been ranchers in CO for something like 5 generations, he grew up on the ranch, and he wears that hat EVERYwhere to prove he actually is a cowboy and can cut the balls off cows. Or something like that. In the pics from the Inauguration, you can see him in the crowd around Hopey–well, you can see the big-ass hat.

OffTheRecord February 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm

I cannot believe I am going to say this, but that is actually a really nice picture of Hillary. I hate this Hope thing. It makes me like people.

Also, Rahm looks hot. Also.

Thegreatbacon February 2, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Annie Liebowitz cashed in whatever creativity she had a long time ago and now does high end glamour shots. This is a fact.

Capitol Hillbilly February 2, 2009 at 12:52 pm

bigshots. they’re all the same.

peachgirl February 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm

SKS: You know, of course, that this post will be dredged up and giggled over endlessl7 after YOUR Annie Leibowitz portrait shows up in Vanity Fair.

scotack February 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm

What i wouldn’t give to be Ben Finkenbinder,

or Rahm’s desk.

Lascauxcaveman February 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm

I think the whole point of this exercise is to make conservative southerners freak out about how many girls and coloreds there are in this group; this group that is now operating the levers of power in our nation. Daschle missed a big opportunity to contribute to this effect by not wearing his faggy-looking red glasses.

The trick now is to get those conservatives to open a Vanity Fair.

Purple Tide February 2, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I think Tim Geithner is the secret lovechild of Tony Blair and SNL’s Seth Meyers. Liebovitz asked him about his taxes right as this was snapped.

Vewol Mevemont February 2, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Robert Gates is really short. Really short.

magic titty February 2, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Why doesn’t anyone have the heart and/or guts to tell Leibovitz she’s fucking terrible now?
(And by now I mean, for the last 20 years, at least)

V572625694 February 2, 2009 at 1:03 pm

[re=234017]gurukalehuru[/re]: Good point. Plus, a “sleeveless T-shirt” is really not a T-shirt at all, in that its sleeves and body do not in anyway form the letter “T.” It should be called by its correct name: “wife-beater.”

And anyway, Salazar is not (yet) as irritating as that turncoat jerk Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell, who was mostly Portuguese but parleyed his 1/256th Cheyenne heritage into ersatz authenticity with that ridiculous middle name. Or not as irritating as “Olympia Snowe,” whose name sounds like an ice-goddess but is, as quick look at her picture will reveal, a Greek.

Lascauxcaveman February 2, 2009 at 1:03 pm

[re=234015]Doglessliberal[/re]: Damn, I wouldn’t mind gettin’ into some domestic policy (if you know what I mean) with that MELODY BARNES, director, Domestic Policy Council. (Photo 8)

She’s a hottie, and I think Wonkette would be loathe to be slack in their coverage of the Domestic Policy Council for the next 4 years or so.

thetalltexan February 2, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Where were the nuddy pics? Or the scandalous posing? Couldn’t they show more skin?

AxmxZ February 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm

The halo of glamour definitely extends to Frodo, I mean, Rahm. I mean, Frodo.

lawrenceofthedesert February 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Judging from body language, we can deduce that the Obama Administration is one quarter people having angry, dirty thoughts; half people playing pocket pool, and one quarter narcissists groping themselves. Sounds just perfect for DC!

Lascauxcaveman February 2, 2009 at 1:09 pm

[re=234052]Lascauxcaveman[/re]: That’s (photo 8_ ) 8) Also.

V572625694 February 2, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Also note the “press wranglers” in Slide 10 of 15. Samantha Tubman can wrangle me any time.

surplusj February 2, 2009 at 1:12 pm

5: Rahm. I blogged the words “Rahm Emmanuel slash fic” just to see if I’d get google search hits. I do.

hobospacejungle February 2, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Thanks for nothing, Wonkette. This is pathetic. Annie Liebovitz will obviously photograph anything. Including Michael Steele getting chili-dogged by his dog. These ugly people deserve neither their photograph taken nor it being published in any magazine not called Ugly People’s Photographs. Uck. and Ugh. Also. Barf. Smug fucks piss me off. Especially Ken “Nighthorse” Salazar. Nice hat, twunt. Once again showing the spinelessness of Democrats as obviously no one has ever summoned the spine to tell him how motherfucking stupid he looks. I hope Daschle gets thrown under the bus just so he’ll look stupid for appearing in these garish photos. My eyes bleed unicorn milk. Ack.

MayorShroomberg February 2, 2009 at 1:21 pm

I really love that she used a wind machine for Caroline Kennedy. I just wish she would have done the same for Valerie Jarret. It could have added some much-needed life to that Blago wig she’s wearing.

TGY February 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Those of us not in the DC area, and hence not in the know, need these pics as a “spotter’s guide” so we can email hot tips to Wonkette about bizarre behavior. Vry imprtnt!

So, actually, somebody photoshop-y should cut and paste onto handy flashcards with the names on the back for quizzing. Blingy optional.

Doglessliberal February 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm

[re=234078]hobospacejungle[/re]: dude, go light a doobie. You need to chill. Just don’t do it in Kenya.

chascates February 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Shouldn’t these people be working or something?

sarcasticusername February 2, 2009 at 1:42 pm

@joeyratz: that news monitors photo only served to make me wonder why the hell i don’t have a job working for barry, since apparently everyone else does.

Cicada February 2, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Daschle looks really, really happy about what he’s dong with his right hand.

WadISay February 2, 2009 at 1:46 pm

Honest, if she had given each subject the chance to butch up with an eyepatch, a knife between the teeth, two big machine guns and a bandolier of bullets, I bet most of these people would have done it.

Uncle Al February 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm

[re=234078]hobospacejungle[/re]: pay no attention to dogless. I thought your post was hilarious.

MathewBrooks February 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm

[re=234051]V572625694[/re]: LOLOLZ WIN!!!

ella February 2, 2009 at 1:58 pm

She’ll never top her portrait in VF a bazillion years ago that made John Major look majorly hot. Srsly.

Doglessliberal February 2, 2009 at 1:59 pm

[re=234114]Uncle Al[/re]: OK, so his joking is OK but mine is to be taken seriously?

TimeCubist February 2, 2009 at 1:59 pm

The press wranglers should be wearing Salazar hats, for authenticity.

d4g33z February 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Where’s Reggie Love?

Mitchbailey February 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm

#4 “I’m an artist…now stand on the white X’s!”

Uncle Al February 2, 2009 at 2:05 pm

[re=234127]Doglessliberal[/re]: No, I was kidding you too… The irony gets 3 layers thick around here…

Luke Warm February 2, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Waht? No Janet Napolitano bare backed covering herself up with a sheet. Where is the “Change you can Believe in”, Obama?

sevenrepeat February 2, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Sure everyone has noticed Turbo Tax Tim playing pocket pool (I myself wish I was playing with him) but no one noticed his Spock like eyebrows. Very Divine….DIVINE!!

Jean Hotman, Marquis de Villers-St-Paul February 2, 2009 at 2:29 pm

Is the Leibovitz -> Liebovitz thing some kind of a joke? Maybe even a SNARK? Or am I just being stupid for not getting it.

jagorev February 2, 2009 at 2:39 pm

What really offends me is the poor Photoshop work. VF should be able to afford someone decent to comp together all the different pics in front of a nondescript background, but this is awful.

Doglessliberal February 2, 2009 at 2:48 pm

[re=234141]Uncle Al[/re]: goddamit. I need a doobie, I guess.

NebraskashireGentry February 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm

I THINK I get what Annie Liebovitz did here. they’re supposed to look like they’re in meetings (or “doing what they normally do”) but in totally generic settings. you know, to juxtapose the historic weight of their positions with an USWeekly, “They’re Just Like Us!” feel…transparency! or something.

it’s so subtle that I’d almost think Ms. Leibovitz didn’t have a concept at all until I realize she is such a GENIUS that even this non-concept concept was totally high concept.

plus! it saved her a lot of scheduling conflicts–when she could have taken less awkwardly posed and more nuanced photos when people are actually at ease and/or working to fix everything.

AnnieGetYourFun February 2, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Did Stephen Chu pose naked? Annie has a habit of getting her subjects to strip down, and I’ve always wanted to get that guy down to at least his boxers.

CARCUNTZ!(tm)-R-Us February 2, 2009 at 3:54 pm

[re=234001]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]:

Because she is thinking bout you.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOU I TOUCH MYSELF!

hobospacejungle February 2, 2009 at 5:28 pm

[re=234184]Doglessliberal[/re]: [re=234141]Uncle Al[/re]: I love you guys!

Mel_David February 2, 2009 at 6:00 pm

[re=234032]OffTheRecord[/re]: Re: Hillary, I know, good picture, right? Liebowitz is so good that Hillary looks like I’d only need maybe two, three beers.

sciencevsromance February 2, 2009 at 7:25 pm

holy scraping the barrel — she even corralled the kids that obama pays to read the newspapers.

Rielle Hunter February 2, 2009 at 9:53 pm

Rahhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm

ladymacbeth February 2, 2009 at 9:58 pm

i like the irish dude.

lmj February 3, 2009 at 2:28 am

Uh-oh. I think Wonkette fibbed. What about crazy Joe and his “fake” Lieber Herren Doktor Professor Wife, Jill? Aren’t people interested in them? Wonkette is interested in them. Especially crazy supertrain Joe, to provide evil and insulting snarky post material that will offend Li’l Denbers.

Joe needs to up the gaffe rate, though. He’s been very quite and behaved.

DustBowlBlues February 3, 2009 at 11:08 am

I wish the UN ambassador was named Samantha Power.

rocktonsammy February 3, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Before the photos were taken, did anybody ask these people if they paid their fucking taxes?

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