More evidence that this was a thumb.

[WeRQ4U]

http://www.onegoodmove.org/1gm/

*snip*

update: John Godfrey (Dow Jones Newswire) writes, "I was in the scrum of reporters at the event. Bush did not flip anyone off. He was clearly giving a thumbs up in response to a question shouted from the crowd." I called John to verify the email was from him and to ask him if there was any doubt in his mind, he said there was not. I forgot to ask him if he's sighted.


As if you guys actually care, since this guy is just part of the media empire, but still. It at least lends some credibility to my OUTRAGEOUS argument that this is, in fact, a fucking thumb. Christ can we end all the accusations of being freepers and apologists and trolls now. LEt's be civil.

[JDPriestly]

1. Did you see the Leno video? It wasn't a thumb.

If you don't believe me, come out to Los Angeles and drive on the freeway. You'll soon be able to tell the difference.

[Spinzonner]

4. The confusion arises from the fact that

the Chimp doesnt have an opposable thumb

[WeRQ4U]

26. That's actually pretty funny.

[DefenseLawyer]

27. If you look at the video frame by frame

it becomes clear, especially as he is putting his hand down, that it is his thumb. His hand is at a weird angle so, I agree, that at regular speed it doesn't at all look like his thumb. But still, perception means everything, and we should just enjoy the fact that Leno is making fun of him and the WH is actually having to put out statements over it.

[Zinfandel]

2. It's Clinton's fault...I'm sure of it!

[DemoTex]

7. Like we said in the 'Nam: Payback is a mother!

Thumb? Pen? Finger? Max nix, because it looks for the world like the bird. Do to them what they would do to us in a heatbeat.


Milage, baby!

[Kraklen]

3. Hmm, let's see.

I can believe some guy, or just look at the photograph of Bush flipping the bird myself.

Hmmm. Choices, choices.

[BattyDem]

6. Exactly! One look at the photo/video is all you need

NO ONE has a thumb that long!

[jimshoes]

5. I believe you

are wrong. chimpy flipped off the reporters. That's what I saw. If you think you saw something different, fine.

[IChing]

8. Talk to the hand

[walldude]

9. Yeah give the thumb thing a rest

Anyone who has been flipped off can tell the difference just by watching the video and stilling it on the "bird". And I imagine alot of people on this board have been given the finger on a few occasions.
Why would you believe something fromn the Dow Jones Newswire anyway? It's not that big a deal, it's not illegal or anything, just rude. And hilarious, the standups, political cartoonists and comic writers just got manna from heaven...

One more thing, why would you put this past this President? Is he too smart, too nice, too clever, too honest, too Christian to give the press the finger? And what possible question could the press have for him this week where he would respond with a thumbs up??

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. Nope. Check this out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1966276#1966299

Look at post #4 from ChampionJack

[walldude]

13. That frame grab has obviously been photoshopped

to add the thumb, in the original picture the thumb is tucked in.. either way there is still no denying thats the finger..

[WeRQ4U]

24. nice photochop

[SmokingJacket]

11. My only objection to the idea that it's a thumb is that it

doesn't look like one, at all. Does it look like one to you, really?

With an open heart and mind, I've looked at it, and to me it looks like his wrist is in such as position that if the thumb were extended, it would be out, not up.

Is your argument -- discounting Mr. Godfrey's testimony for the time being -- based on what it looks like or on what you think is most likely?

I'm really curious.



(Ultimately, who cares, because his actions give us the finger every day, and I don't think you're a freep or whatever. I mean, you might be, but I'll wait for an issue of substance to come up before I judge! ;-) )

[WeRQ4U]

25. Actually, I thought it was a thumb right away

I started a thread this morning, very politely I may add, that I was sorry but I thought it was a thumb. Those with differing opinions were quick to call me an apologist, a freeper, a troll, etc. It just pissed me off, so I wouldn't let it die. It's Thumbgate 2005.

I actually don't care. I think it's a thumb. I think it can only BE a thumb. That's all.

I actually never intended it to be as virulent as it's become.

[peacetalksforall]

12. I'm not calling you a troll, but that wasn't a thumb. If I hold my thumb

up with the back of the hand as if to a camera - the thumb goes off to the left. If I turn my hand so the thumb nail is showing to the camera, there is a narrow background to the thumb with somewhat square corners to the top fingers and a pronounced roundness to the thumb padding. What I see in the photo is definitely the back of a hand.

He would have to have one heck of a long thumb that is very straight.

I'm not sure which finger it was, but it wasn't a thumb unless he is physically freakish.

I just know it was a very long finger. People who have seen it all say (unprompted) that it looks like he is jerking his arm up in anger or defiance.

I would expect an unthreatened person to kind of wave the thumb to make sure it is seen in an I'm with you gesture or we'll win gesture.

I vote for defiance. It fits his personality to a tee - it especially fits the act with the fact that his back is to the camera.

A friendly thumbs up is expected to be combined with a friendly gesture or cluster of gestures - eye contact, smile, acknowledgement, we'll do this together look.

[H5N1]

16. Come to think of it, you are correct

[NorCalDem]

14. Buddy, I believe you, it's a thumbs up!

Despite our best wishes :D

[IChing]

15. this photo looks like a thumbs up republican style.

[NorCalDem]

17. Two things

I'm not entirely convinced it is his middle finger because of two things. And they are:

1.) if you watch the video, the swing of his arm, and the angle at which the protusion from his hand swings upward, does not quite fit with someone raising their hand to give the finger. The protusion comes from the side of the hand, and is rotated upwards as the arm is raised. The angle and rotation are not extreme, just unusual and does more to convince me that it is a thumb than a middle finger.

2.) The blown up shot that you have provided me does not look real to me. In the far shot, there is only about one "fingers" width before the left side of Bush's hand, but the shot is blurry and shadowed. On the close shot, there appears to be an extra fingers width there, and it is brighter than anything I see to that side of his hand in the far shot. Also, the finger itself has a kink at the topmost knuckle, making the tip of his finger go off in an errant direction.

Now, I'm not saying it's definitely a thumb or a middle finger. The jury is still out on this one... :D

[DS1]

20. weak photoshop

[Richard Steele]

23. VERY weak photoshop. It's still not a thumb though.

[walldude]

21. Check out my post above, that is photoshopped

Don't get me wrong, it's obvious to me that Bush was giving the finger but the shading on the thumb in the "blow-up" is wrong. No need for the fake photoshop though, no human can hold his hand straight up like that and have his thumb stick straight up as well, and if he did manage to do it he has the longest thumb I've ever seen...

on edit, let me see if I can get a clear still blown up, no photoshop

[Lindacooks]

18. The position of the wrist is wrong for it to be a thumb.

And there are clearly fingers bent in on either side of whatever chimpy is holding aloft.

[Gloria]

19. If that was a thumb, then it moved the middle of his hand...

After watching the video, I duplicated the "look" with my very own middle finger, with the fingers on either side even loosely curved down.
With the point finger, it's obviously too far over to the left.
With the thumb...there is no flesh on the left of the thumb (as in the picture), no matter what you do...
whether you position the hand straight forward, or, more naturally, if you twist the hand around and the thumb sort of points more to the right.

No way it's a thumb....

[goclark]

22. I agree. And,, I 'm sure Scotty would have

answered that question another way if we were talking about a thumb.

Scottie: The President would never do that! He has a high moral standard! He is a man of GOD!

Here is a review of the clip and you can plainly see that it was not a middle finger but a thumb.

That would have quickly ended the decussion...

[DefenseLawyer]

28. Well, as much as I would like

for them to keep replaying a video that "looks" like the President is flipping the bird, the last thing they would want to do is give the thing more air time, even in an attempt to disprove it. It wouldn't have ended the discussion, it would have started a whole new round of discussion. Come to think of it, Scotty, roll that beautiful finger footage!