Duos To The Death

Since Sunday, I’ve been thinking about the significance of this image.  I’ve also been wondering (skeptically) about the accompanying NYT Week In Review piece, titled: “Gore-Lieberman: A Hyphen Apart? Try Poles.”

The thing is, the article is about nothing.  At least nothing timely.  Essentially, the piece is an out-of-the-blue musing about what might of been had Gore won in 2000.  Specifically, it assumes that Lieberman a.) would have kept any proclivities toward invading Iraq to himself, b.) wouldn’t have created all that Senate drama straddling the fence between Repubs and Dems, c.) certainly wouldn’t be out there today stumping for McNasty, and d.) surely wouldn’t be in the mix as a possible ’08 GOP Veep pick.

Still, I think the pic, as free floating as it is, has more resonance as it relates to the current Democratic race.  If you think of Clinton and Obama as interchangeable Democratic standard bearers (and not just as finalists, but also oft-mentioned partners in a “dream ticket”), the article, and this photo, puts on the table how this previous duo (even if they weren’t campaign rivals) completely blew apart.  (As the article notes, “The two men barely speak.”)

I don’t like this photo for the same reason I can’t stand where the Obama – Clinton slugfest is heading.  One player is hopeful while the other looks bitter, and everybody has to have their own balloon.

Gore-Lieberman: A Hyphen Apart? Try Poles (NYT)

(image: Jim Bourg/Reuters, via Corbis. 2000. La Crosse, Wisconsin.  via nytimes.com)