I’ve written before about the problems with journalistic mind–reading and story-telling “analysis” about the president’s visual appearance. Via a journalist to remain nameless, here’s an especially egregious example of both from Newsweek’s Evan Thomas:

At his post-election press conference, the president looked like a base runner trapped in a rundown, unable to go forward or scurry back. The president is probably stuck—he will have to embrace some kind of compromise approach on Iraq. He didn’t look too happy about it. As he japed and mugged and fidgeted, he seemed worried by something more than Iraq or the election returns; his whole character appeared to be wrestling with some more personal, inner demon.

Newsweek should run a disclaimer if it’s going to publish this kind of garbage journalism. I have a suggestion — just put this next to the offending text: