The Yahoo News Photos Search Result I Never Thought I'd See

Wow, it finally happened.

She said she'd stay out of the spotlight, and I'll be darned, she was right.

Or maybe people just totally got sick of her. The Condibot's talking point gears have worn smooth. She's, like, totally MySpace.

Oh dear, it's time to savor the irony of this Condimoment past, when I suggested that the wire photographers would always be there for her, even after the TV bookers stopped calling. Where are they now? Where is Condirazzi superstar Yuri Gripas now? Oh, right, he's shooting Hillary. How about Larry Downing? He's on the Obama beat. Jim Young? Doing double-duty on both of the above. Carry on, then!

Yet Another Victim of Frowny, Sucked-In Lips Face Succumbs to Fate

Bank of America's Ken Lewis joins TARP recipient financial institution leaders before they testify before House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 11, 2009. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Forget Swine Hispanic Flue™! The real disease to watch out for is Frowny, Sucked-In Lips Syndrome. It seems to be 100% fatal, although there are reports that Eliot Spitzer is fighting for recovery.

Oooh, is One of Them Yuri Gripas?

Photographers shoot the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bill after President Obama signed it at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science February 17, 2009. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

No, tragically. I guess the only thing we know for sure is that none of the above are Larry Downing, and that's a shame because he is one of my favorites. The snappers shown are probably Gerald Herbert, who covered the event for AP, UPI's (they're still around?) Gary C. Caskey, and AFP's Jim Watson. Here's Herbert's exciting shot:

Watson's is a little more action-packed:

And Downing, of course, couldn't resist shooting it himself after shooting the other photographers shooting it:

Caskey's shot apparently didn't make the cut. Perhaps it lacked the drama and excitement of the others. Who knows?

LOL Paul Krugman

U.S. President George W. Bush welcomes the 2008 Nobel Prize winners to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 24, 2008. From L-R are: Economics winner Paul Krugman, of Princeton University; Bush; Chemistry winner Martin Chalfie, of Columbia University and Chemistry winner Roger Tsien, of University of California San Diego. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

Democratic National Convention Gayest, Most Purpley EVER

Joshua Psuik changes the Illinois delegation sign from small letters to larger letters inside the Pepsi Center in preparation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 24, 2008. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

Excuse me, but have you seen the inside of the big convention thingy in Denver yet? OMG, so glamorous! So purple! So utterly, totally gay! It so looks more like the stage set for Project Runway than some boring political thing. It's no wonder the cute cub in the picture above has to pump up the letters on the delegation placards. Honey, have you considered sashes instead of stodgy ol' signs? And how about tucking in your shirt while you're at it? Tim Gunn would NOT approve.

Please note, too, that the photo was taken by Sparklefave/Condi Photo-Opographer Larry Downing! Yay!

Embrace Your Visit

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks with a guide as she rides the gondola after a visit tot Masada Historic Site, Thursday, May 15, 2008 in Masada, Israel. U.S. President Bush and members of the U.S. delegation toured Masada, the ancient fortress on a plateau in the desert overlooking the Dead Sea, said to be the place where Jewish rebels killed themselves and each other 2,000-years ago rather than fall into slavery under the Romans.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Noteworthy hat! And those damn Chanel sunglasses! I LOVE YOU, CONDI. Strange place to visit, wouldn't you say? They're just carting her off to weird places to get her out of the way, I believe. Wouldn't you?

Later on, the hairdo still hadn't recovered:

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) is joined by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) and Israeli President Shimon Peres (C) as they listen to U.S. President George W. Bush speak at a reception in honor of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, May 15, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing (JERUSALEM)

Yay for Larry Downing! Why do they take him along? He always makes Condi look wonderfully awful. We love him, too.

But anyway, yes:

Right This Way, Dearie, the Kiddie Table is Over Here

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) escorts U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to her seat at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem January 9, 2008. Reuters, Larry Downing.

Condi's in Middleasternistan again! This time, though, she's hampered accompanied by her boss, so it won't be nearly as much fun.

And have you heard? The security arrangements for their pointless little visit cost $25,000... an hour! And that doesn't even include drinks!

EDIT: Oops, I forgot to give the photo credit earlier. Can you believe they let Larry Downing go with them?

Reuters' Photos of the Year Include Some Favorite Moments

Such as Laura Bush with draperies. Lots and lots of draperies:

October 22, 2007. REUTERS/Kamran Jebreili/Pool

But this one was the big surprise, an event covered here in which we all giggled as Larry Downing tried to look up Madame Secretary's skirt:

March 21, 2007. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Hmmm... they didn't pick my personal favorite, a masterpiece by Molly Reilly. But Downing, along with his cohort Yuri Gripas, is truly one of the most talented of the Condirazzi (and Cheneyrazzi!). Click on the "Larry Downing" tag for tons of fun with more of his provocative, sometimes hilarious work!

Condi Photo of the Day... Week... Month... Probably Condi Photo of the Year

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is seen through the viewfinder of a video camera while speaking to the Edward R. Murrow Journalism Program participants at the State Department in Washington April 10, 2007. REUTERS/Molly Riley (UNITED STATES)

Molly, honey, I am totally your instant #1 fan! Hand it to Reuters for having the best Condirazzi squad of all, thanks to team captains Larry Downing and Yuri Gripas. AP and AFI are going to have to seriously step up their games to compete with this talented new Condiography superstar!

Whew! Was it good for you, too? It kinda reminds me of that movie They Live.

UPDATE: The more I look at this magical photograph, the more I'm prepared to say that this may be, in fact, the single most unflattering picture of Dr. Ferragamo I've ever seen. And that's saying something.

Bored Reuters Photographer Attempts to See London, France...

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testifies before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on the State Department's international affairs budget on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 21, 2007. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) NOTE: both photos shown here uncropped.

Long-time readers of this blog know that nothing amuses me more than when the wire photographers get bored on the job and start doing weird things or getting distracted by the scenery. Can you blame them? Reuters' Larry Downing is perhaps king of the "bore me and you're in trouble" club. Click on the topic label below and see for yourself!

Anyway, Condi was on The Hill today, begging for money as usual. And, you know, Mr. Downing has seen this so many times that it's no wonder his attention... slips:

I guess it's only a matter of time before Reuters unveils its new "upskirt" sub-site.

Bush to Texas to Huddle with Barney on Iraq

President George W. Bush holds his dog Barney and salutes while departing Air Force One at TSTC in Waco, Texas before spending a week at his Central Texas ranch in Crawford December 26, 2006. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

Ah yes, Bush's protective bubble gets a little bit smaller and he's forced to rethink who he can trust in important confabs. Newly anointed Iraq advisor Barney will never, ever leak to the New York Times.

Visitors to the White House this Holiday Season Will Experience the Thrill of Vicariously Biting the Heads Off the President's Dogs

Official White House holiday reception desserts, including cookies styled after the first family's pets, Barney (bottom) and Miss Beazley (top), are seen during the media viewing of the holiday decorations in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, November 30, 2006. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

Or, as Pony Pal™ Valerie puts it, "OMG, Laura finally flipped completely and cooked the pets!" Thanks for the tip!

Dr. Ferragamo Allowed to Briefly Linger in the Oval Office

Envoy for Sudan Andrew Natsios (C) and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington October 31, 2006. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

Oh, what a happy day for Condi! And look, she's seated below a portrait of famous Republican Abraham Lincoln. How that portrait manages to not cry real tears of blood is beyond me.

Oh, and I'm assuming she and POTUS just, like, totally solved all of Sudan's probs.

Background Check

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks about North Korea during remarks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, October 25, 2006. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)

Oh, it wasn't really a happy affair for Condi. She just isn't herself these days, pouting and grimacing. Usually the Heritage Foundation is one of Condi's safe havens, a place where she can kick back and not be challenged or lobbed mean questions. Not today, though:

Can we compare this glum affair to her last big todo at the foundation last December? OK, let's:

(Reuters, Larry Downing, 12/13/05)

What a difference nlmost a year can make!

Larry Downing Strikes Again... Fabulously

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks about immigration reform at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington June 1, 2006. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

Sure, this is being posted on all the other lefty blogs, but they might not put it in the proper context of Larry Downing's other provocative work, spotlighted here at the Pink Pony just days ago.

Clairvoyant Colleague Startles Pink Pony

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, May 26, 2006. REUTERS/Larry Downing

OK, for reals, just this morning my coworker Davey remarked, "It's a three-day weekend, so is Condi headed for Camp David with George?" Oh, how we laughed! Merrily, like two schoolgirls at a tea party! I mean, it was odd enough that she went there with George and Crazy-Eyes Laura for Mothers' Day, Right?

But look! She really is going to Camp David this weekend with George!

I've totally got to start going to the track with Davey.

Picture Perfect

I realized today that in my slobbering all over Yuri Gripas, I was neglecting another Reuters' Condirazzi favorite, Larry Downing, he of many magic Condi moments and the sublime Dick Cheney "RETIRE" photo from a few months ago. Well, lately he's been shooting mostly on The Hill and at the White House. The above photo, showing Marine One arriving at the latter, is just about as fitting a symbol for the current administration as any I've seen yet. Two sparkley hooves way up for Mr. Downing's metaphorical home run!

State Department Matching Armchairs Photo-Op Hidden Messages Revealed!

So believe it or not, Condi had yet another photo-op today, and they didn't even have to change the flower arrangement. I guess they just cart 'em in-n-out of there on hand-trucks all day long, telling each and every one, "Hold on, you've got to sit a spell with Condi for Reuters' Yuri Gripas/Jim Young/Larry Downing (and watch out for that one), etc.:

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) meets with her Jordanian counterpart Abdelelah al-Khatib in Washington in Washington May 11, 2006. REUTERS/Jim Young

Jim Young is, of course, one of Reuters' most dedicated Condirazzis, so he knows exactly how to line-up the optimum matching armchairs shot.

And lined-up just right in this case, because I couldn't help but see a certain pattern emerge... could it be a little subliminal propaganda? You be the judge:

So I guess the answer to my question earlier today --"Are we sick of these yet?-- can be answered with a resounding "No!"

Fun with Dick

Oh, sure, we had oodles of fun with Larry Downing's photo of Cheney this morning, didn't we? I remember it like it was yesterday. But another photo by Downing, shown above, offers even more fun possibilities. For instance:

And of course, I'm always a sucker for a waving shot, so what time is it? It's time for Cheney Hand Turkeys!

Somebody Please Give Larry Downing a Raise

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney speaks during his keynote address to the U.S. Labor Department's 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings at the Willard Hotel in Washington March 2, 2006. REUTERS/Larry Downing

I'm mortified that I'm a week late on the above totally unretouched photo of the VP by one of my favorite Condirazzis.

UPDATE: Can we talk about this photo some more? It's been posted everywhere by now, and some people like Matt Drudge are calling it intentional. Well, long-time Pony Pals have been seeing Larry Downing's work for Reuters (he's frequently on the State Department/Condibeat)
for some time now, and he's one of the photographers we've noticed doing provocative and arty things with the framing when Condi gets too boring (I specifically called him out here for doing that, and other examples are here and here). So, yeah, I'm sure Downing knew full well that the photo contained a loaded word, but... there it was, right in front of him. Isn't it his job to capture provocative shots? Also, he most likely took a whole roll of Cheney at the podium. If there's one thing we all know about, it's podium shots, right? He must have shot it from every angle. So don't blame Larry. The news services which picked up the shot from Reuters? Well, I mean... how could they resist such an inflammatory shot? Don't forget that the media has a bias not toward the left or the right, but toward conflict.