Photos of the (two) week(s)

I hadn't been on AP Photo in a long time, so I am glad I am back in the game since that's my favorite thing to do (sad I know...). So, while there were some interesting shots from fundraisers and debates, many were not quite worthy - or fashiony. Here are some of my favorites from the two weeks or so:

What a handsome duo: Tony Bennett and Bill Clinton at a Hillary fundraiser on Dec. 12. – AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Our Secretary pool: Just a funny picture of all the Cabinet members adjusting themselves before a press conference post-meeting Dec. 14. – AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

Just say no to drugs: Sens. Schumer and Grassley look downright studly at a news conference on Tuesday. – AP Photos/Susan Walsh

Beautiful inside and out: A wonderful shot of the Botanic Garden lit up for the holidays (it's right next to the Capitol...) - mosley.brian/flickr

What a happy family: Hillary, breaking bread Dec. 8 in Des Moines with her daughter Chelsea, mother Dorothy and then Andy McGuire. – AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Pointing the figurative finger: Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore addresses the U.N. Climate Change Conference Dec. 13 Bali. He said that the U.S. was "principally responsible for obstructing progress." – AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Bush and Cheney chat Wednesday with firefighters in front of a on-fire (literally) White House. Do you think it's a coincidence that both the prez and veep match the D.C. firefighters' uniforms? My theory: As the fire alarms went off, their staffers threw them coordinating ties. – AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Portraits of a politician

Sen. Barack Obama hugs attendees of the Service Employees International Union's Member Political Action Conference held at the Washington Hilton.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

It's a motion blur of supporters around former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as he signs some autographs after speaking at a fundraiser in Milwaukee.

– AP Photo/Morry Gash

Gen. David Petraeus intensely testifies on the future course of the war in Iraq while appearing before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Relations Committee.

– AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Rep. John Murtha speaks at a press conference Monday at the National Press Club about Congressional action on the United States’ future in Iraq.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd speaks at the Service Employees International Union Political Action Conference in Washington. (And this is the only one I saw in which he wasn't yelling...)

- AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Perfectly silhouetted? Rep. Ron Paul, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, speaks at Seattle University.

– Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers

Seen on the monitor of a video camera, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney delivers a statement on Sen. Hillary Clinton's health care plan, outside of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York.

– AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton quite awkwardly flips steaks during Sen. Tom Harkin's annual fundraising steak fry in Indianola, Iowa.

– AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

On the Campaign Trail: Best Photos of the Week

Fred Thompson holds a baby pig at the Iowa State Fair.

- AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha ride bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair.

- AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Grace Dodd, daughter of Chris Dodd, covers his mouth as they walk off stage after the Democratic presidential debate Sunday.

- AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Could that kid be any more scared as Dennis Kucinich and his wife, Elizabeth, take pictures with supporters outside of the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, N.H.

- AP Photo/Cheryl Senter

John McCain greets veterans after speaking at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City, Mo.

- AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Rudy Giuliani shows off his stuffed monkey during a campaign stop at Dodge's general Store in New Boston, N.H.

- AP Photo/Jim Cole

Barack Obama stands with his daughters Sasha, left, and Malia, right, before speaking to potential supporters.

- AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

John Edwards waves to supporters as his campaign bus leaves his Iowa campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

- AP Photo/Kevin Sanders

And saving the best for last (NOTE: Not a political statement), Giuliani gets a touch of make-up as he prepares for an interview on "The O'Reilly Factor."

- AP Photos/Bebeto Matthews

Photos of the Past Couple Weeks

I know it's been a couple weeks - a very busy couple of weeks for this blogger (I can't believe I just referred to myself in the third-person!) - but here are my Photos of the Month Thus Far. I know it's a little long... Also, I highly recommend checking out DCist for they're photos of the day and Flickr group.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate and House Democratic leaders participate in Tuesday night’s candlelight vigil for a "Call to Action" on Iraq. As a side, I just think Roll Call photographers hit the mark more often than not - they've just got a great eye.

– Tom Williams/Roll Call

A person walks past a large window in the Russell Senate office building Wednesday.

– AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Rep. Tim Walberg - decked out in his suit, loafers and heltmet - parks his Harley-Davidson near the Capitol’s East Steps for National Ride to Work Day.

– Bill Clark/Roll Call

President Bush delivers remarks on the federal budget on July 11 in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building - it's just perfectly framed.

– AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

She's in a league - er, row - of her own. Veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas sits in her brand-new assigned seat located in the front row before the ribbon-cutting ceremony July 11 for the renovated James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House.

– AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

A gorgeous shot of D.C. youth doing illegal things on the Fourth of July, taken by a local Flickrer.

– alex.DC on Flickr

Fourth of July fireworks seen over the Potomac, taken by a local Flikrer.

– epmd on Flickr

One of the technically impressive shots from a photo essay consisting of 25 amazing shots taken via cell phone, and you would never know it. They are a quite interesting mix of local culture. Check it out here...

Former Playboy Playmates Lauren Anderson and Laura Guttridge, clad in lettuce bikinis, peddle veggie dogs to some very sleepy Congressmen at PETA’ annual Capitol Hill Veggie Dog Giveaway outside of the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday.

– Bill Clark/Roll Call

Photos of the Week

In going with my obsession with digging through AP photos, I've decided to do a Photos of the Week. This is anything combining D.C., politics, the media, fashion, arts etc. If this becomes popular (please let me know if you like it), I'll keep it going.

President Bush makes a joint statement Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Bush family compound on Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine.

– AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

An oversized Oreo Cakester sits outside Union Station on Monday to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the Oreo sandwich cookie.

– FredoAlvarez on Flickr

The Capitol is reflected in a wine glass at Ken Mehlman's going-away party on the roof of Charlie Palmer’s last Tuesday.

– Liz Gorman for Wonkette

It's just a really pretty picture: Washington area residents awoke Tuesday to a rainbow of colors as the warm morning sunrise colors the skyline.

– AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

With the Capitol in the background, Juan Ponse installs seats in the upper deck of the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium. The stadium is expected to be completed by opening day 2008.

– AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., sits in the dugout with a black eye after colliding with teammate Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., while attempting to make a play in the outfield at the 46th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. The goof was just one of nine errors made by the Dems.

– Tom Williams/Roll Call