The Power of Imagry

As I do during breaks and lunch, I look at various news sites. I was setting aside articles as potential news chum, and was trying to think what connected them. Was there a common thread I could discuss? It turns out there was. Imagry.

• From the “He’s the Antichrist” Department: Time has an interesting piece on how recent McCain advertising is portraying Obama as the Antichrist. No, there’s nothing explicit. But there are subtle markers: there are echoes of the charismatic young political leader of the “Left Behind” books named Nicolae Carpathia, who was also a jr. Senator; there’s the eagle seal rising out of the parting waters. This is also feeding into some conservative Christian groups, although evangelicals are none-to-enthused about McCain. Obama has his own imagry problem: that of the Clintons, and how to properly manage the image of their role at the convention. Bill Clinton is well known for distracting attention from candidates at conventions, and then there’s the issue of the 18 million voices of the Hillary supporters.
• From the “Five Ringy-Dingy” Department: Despite all the hype and managed imagry of the Beijing Olympics, it appears the attitude of many is: “Ho Hum”. It appears without a good rively, no one cares anymore. After all, we have international atheletes on our sports teams, so where’s the news. The public is no longer glued to their sets. So for all the imagry the Chinese want to promote about their country… the folks they want to reach may not be watching.
• From the “Profit and Loss Department” The Daily News is reporting that Southern California Edison Edison International had soaring 2Q earnings. We all know that this has been happening for many energy companies, especially the oil companies. On the other hand, other segments have major losses: housing (look at Freddie Mac today), airlines, retail (even 99c only stores are thinking about raising prices). The financial downturn is even hitting charitable institutions: a conservative congregation in Agoura Hills has just filed Chapter 11 due to the drop in value of their land. Yet the energy industry makes immense profits. Something just seems off — it certainly isn’t showing a fair image (and don’t tell me the money is going to research, because that’s an expense, and would reduce profit).