Here is Scott McClellan's statement about 'the Finger' from today

[mopaul]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Ken, go ahead.

Q Scott, last night on the Tonight Show, Jay Leno, who apparently is subbing for Johnnie, displayed a video of the President at the Capitol yesterday. In that video, the President walking away from the press lifts his hand and raises a finger. Mr. Leno interpreted it as, shall we say, a finger of hostility. Each of our fingers has a special purpose and meaning in life. (Laughter.) Can you tell us what finger it was he held up?

MR. McCLELLAN: Ken, I'm not even going to dignify that with much of a response. But if someone is misportraying something, that's unfortunate.

Q Well, it was not a finger of hostility?

MR. McCLELLAN: Ken, I was there with him, and I'm just not going to -- I'm not going to dignify that with a response. I mean, I haven't seen the video that you're talking about, but I know the way the President acts. And if someone is misportraying it, that's unfortunate.

[sabra]

1. seems to me like * flipped the bird!

[central scrutinizer]

35. What about the children!!!!

What will I tell my daughter when she flips me off and says, "well our divinely anointed emperor king did that, why can't I?"

[acmejack]

68. Seems like?

You are more generous than I in giving * the benefit of the doubt! I have no doubt that was exactly what he was doing.

[LuckyTheDog]

123. Bush is losing it

He is getting more insane by the day.

[tofubo]

124. so, i gave it to him

http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?s=a26ca00182ef46caf8684f3ef246a1a4&act=Attach&type=post&id=4727

[Imagevision]

230. Bush is saying Fu*k you to all Americans - McClellan hasn't seen

the video obviously and is bullsh*t about not dignifying anything - total horsesh*t!!

[jurassicpork]

122. Sneak peek at tomorrow's press conference.

"Scotty, we have evidence that the President gave the press the middle finger in the capitol."

"No, he didn't."

"Yes, he *did*."

"Uh, no he didn't."

"Well, we thought you'd say that, so we took the liberty of putting together a clip with the three-dimensional imaging that was pioneered by the Matrix movies. Now, as you can plainly see, Scotty, we have a frontal shot of the President with his middle finger upraised while the others are bent. We have taken depositions from the dozens of people in attendance and the video imaging has been reviewed by a doctor of forensic anthropology and the Surgeon General. The consensus is that the President gave the press the middle finger."

"Uh, no he didn't."

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[ignatius 2]

136. Ha, sort of like I know you are but what am I? Pee Wee Herman has

more wit and class than Chimpy ever will..maybe he is feeling a little testy wondering how he will look in his orange jumpsuit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. The chimp flipped someone off?

:rofl:
Only in America.

[SoCalDem]

88. Not the first time he's done that on camera

When he was running for governor he did it too..

How utter dignitudinous of him:)

[TankLV]

212. He did it again only a few months ago during the campaign

when he thought the cameras waren't running.

There is a video of that too.

[Nickster]

3. oh man I thought you were kidding

I had to go check the transcript myself. Dang.:-)

[ClintonTyree]

133. There's no denying it, is there?

That IS NOT a pen! THAT, is the finger, directed at the press. I'm sure that little action will make the Press back off now..........NOT!
If there's one thing the Press is good at, if they're getting underneath someone's skin, primarily because recent allegations are TRUE and it's upsetting said person, they become like sharks around a chum line.
Bush has lost it. The pressure has pushed him over the edge. The spoiled little frat boy is unraveling, and THAT is scary as hell, folks. :scared:
A power mad little man with the intelligence of a squash, the dignity of a drunken hobo, and the poise of a rabid wolverine, is in control of our Country. :crazy:
There is EVERY reason to worry, everything is COMPLETELY out of control, this is NOT a test.
I pray to God the agent with the football has a death grip on it.
Bush is out of fucking control. :scared:
His administration is finished, he knows it and it's just a matter of, when. Hopefully it will be before he can do too much more damage.
He has become totally unglued. How can he ever face the Press again after this? :shrug:

[bushisanidiot]

4. A total non-denial. Guess Scotty didn't want to get caught LYING again

the little turd.

[fooj]

5. WTF was he doing there with him?

Wasn't it late in the evening? Why would he need to be there to "strong-arm" CAFTA through? Hmmmm...

Don't you want to just scream...SHUT THE FUCK UP, SCOTTY. Just STFU!

Peace.

[NYCGirl]

26. Press Secretary is, I believe, not a 9 to 5 job. NT

[ScamUSA.Com]

65. scotty is always with the prez

or the rest of his crew

[TankLV]

213. correction: not "crew" - "CRIMINALS"

Just trying to be helpful

[marmar]

6. In addition to warding off questions about treason-level scandals...

simple Scotty has to tackle questions about * flipping the bird. It sucks to be him these days!!!

:beer: ::puke:

[Sanity Claws]

7. Finger of hostility

What a wonderful phrase. I'm sure I'll find ways to use it.

[Lars39]

27. It almost writes Trudeau's 'toon for him, doesn't it?

:D

[bertha katzenengel]

70. Ooh, Lars, I can't wait for THAT!

Come on, Garry, don't disappoint us....

[Lars39]

76. Clearing off a place on the fridge right now! : - )

[central scrutinizer]

43. the flying fickle finger of fate

Where are Rowan and Martin when we really need them?

[Sanity Claws]

47. My dear, you are showing your age

and how it has not affected your memory one little bit. ;-)

[tmooses]

89. Some of us are over 50 and still can remember if we were in the

Federalist Society. :+

[FogerRox]

128. Rowan & Martin were never in the Federalist Society

[BronxBoy]

142. Laugh In.....

on a 12 inch B&W

[TriMetFan]

100. You are right. I still remember those guy's.

I was just a little kid when it was on. That show was so funny and so out there.

[hootinholler]

149. Hawiian Good Luck sign.

What boat was that? Oh yeah, the USS Pueblo.

Go here for the root of the site.

-Hoot

[FogerRox]

209. Wow u remember that--

Commander Bucher- IIRC in prison they gave the Hawaiian good luck sign--when they had pic taken-- then the north Koreans found out---

IIRC in the book it was 4x4 lumber time-

[hootinholler]

211. No, I don't remember it firsthand...

Passed on to me via a sea-story during my stint in the USN on a survey ship.

-Hoot

[FogerRox]

224. I remember-- I asked my DAd to buy the softcover book written

by Bucher- IIRc after they came back-- I was about ten-- reading the story of the imprisonment had quite a impact on me-

They gave the good luck sign-- knowing there could be payback-- but they did it anyway-- it was more important to get the meesage home to the families---
WOW got goosebumps just typing that--

[PegDAC]

216. I prefer

Universal Monodigital Symbol of Rejection.

:beer:

[neverforget]

8. They can't even tell the truth when confronted with evidence that

the Chimp did something with his finger. What a bunch of fuckwads

[mopaul]

11. "I can't comment from this podium about the ongoing finger investigation"

i made that one up

[TexasLady]

41. good one!

:rofl:

[neverforget]

173. Oh that's great!

:rofl:

[jobycom]

9. Sounds like Skinner is wrong. Scottie's "no comments" are admissions.

Ironic, isn't it, about it being unfortunate that "someone" is "misportraying" the way the president acts?

[jn2375]

14. right on he didn't deny it

[Skinner]

10. Interesting.

I posted a thread arguing that it was a pen. Now I'm kinda wondering... if Bush wasn't giving the finger, wouldn't McClellan just say so?

[jn2375]

17. exactly, could have said pen or paper, but he just denied it

[PegDAC]

217. A pen?

A flesh-colored pen? Not unless he has a nib in his finger.
:smoke:

[yodermon]

18. Ahh.. see my post 13. n/t

[Skinner]

31. Interesting analysis.

Worth considering.

[hiley]

yes.

:P

[mopaul]

23. i say shut down the government and call ken starr!

this whole thing is hilarious. scotty COULD have said, 'it was a pen or it was his other finger or something a little more concrete.

it IS odd.

[catzies]

50. SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN! Now where have I heard that before?

Oh yeah...from this group of assclowns:

[jurassicpork]

134. You know what's interesting...

...about this photo? Days after it has appeared in the Washington Post's online edition, it disappeared. Not the story, just the picture of DeLay's thugs.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[hootinholler]

151. I've alerted you for

Insulting assclowns everwhere!

-Hoot

(not really)

[mtnester]

29. Absolutely, he would have said

it was a pen and it is unfortunate that some in the Liberal media...blah blah

Finger - now I am sure

[Emperor_Norton_II]

33. I think McClellan's gotten to the point

where he can't give a straight answer on anything. Ask him if the sky's blue and he'll give a five-minute elipitical ramble and not answer the question.

Sad, really.

[Skinner]

38. LOL

Sadly, it's true.

[Ian David]

62. Maybe he thinks it will be a distraction from more serious issues?

1) "Liberal" media goes nuts writing about it.

2) Bloggers and "Conspiracy Theorists" analyze the photo over and over

3) Right-wing media analyzes the photo and says, "It's just a pen."

4) Right-wing media ridicules bloggers, CTers and "Liberal Media" for being "fooled," just like "Rathergate."

In other words, it could be nothing, and maybe Scotty knows it's nothing, but he's acting evasive just to send us off on a wild finger-chase instead of pursuing issues of death, destruction, and treason because he knows we'll find out anyway that it is nothing.

Then again, maybe Scotty knows Bush actually DID give the media the finger and is smart enough to know he won't be able to cover it up if he lies about it.

[alarcojon]

83. That's more cleverness than I give them credit for

I side with the majority on this one - Bush gave the bird (because he behaves like a petulant child most of the time) and Scotty can't be sure nobody caught an indisputable shot of it.

[Ian David]

121. If I was President, I'd be giving people the finger at least once a week

Then again, if I was President I wouldn't need to drive my own car.

So maybe not.

President Ian: "You know what, Helen? Go fuck yourself. Next question-- Jeff Gannon?"

Yeah, I'd be a shitty president.

I don't think I'd be the first president to be impeached before his inauguration.

[bertha katzenengel]

77. Give that man a cigar.

If he doesn't smoke, buy him a drink.

If he doesn't drink, slap 'im on the back and say "ding ding ding, we have a winnah!"

;)

[seabeyond]

111. we looked at your pictures closer, especially the larger ones

and what i am seeing is the finger, with the palm to the picture taker. saying, the fingers down and thumb over. not the back of hand to reporters but the front of hand to reporters. when i give the finger, i always turn hand around and the person gets knuckles, back of hand. bush did that. the people were behind him taking picture. i think you can see the fingers in your picture. why it looks a bit odd. we were looking at how we would think a person would see

[klyon]

204. so he gave himself the finger?

haven't seen the picture, so I don't know nothin

KL

[jn2375]

12. Scott didn't deny it wasn't a finger, he could has said it was a

rolled up paper like others have suggested BUT HE DIDN'T.

[yodermon]

13. If it was a pen, why not just say it was a pen?

Answer: Typical Rovian two-step. If it was in fact a pen, but the librul media and talk-show hosts think it was a middle-finger, then let them keep right on saying that. Then, later on they can be proven false when it becomes convenient to do so, thus chalking up another instance of the media being "liberal" and "bush-hating" in the minds of the US sheeple.

This is just a pettier version of how they Roved Dan Rather.
:eyes: :puke: :mad:

[Walt Starr]

57. BINGO!

He held up a pen.

Now watch when he singns CAFTA. He'll do it with that pen and ONLY that pen.

[Burried News]

141. When he signs stuff does he use two pens?

One for the slanted line going one way /
and one for the slanted line going the other way \.

[i miss america]

148. Pens?

:rofl:

[Burried News]

171. Gave me a belly laugh, love the handle "i miss america" too.

[i miss america]

199. Thanks. Your post cracked me up as well.

:toast:

[Lars39]

80. Yes, but by then it could be hard to correct the "truth",

especially since soooo many people find it absolutely believable that he would do such a thing.
And the number of those are growing every day. :)

[Rude Horner]

15. Ever notice that they always fall back on ...

..."well, I haven't seen the video". As if the video exists as a one time thing and since he missed it, he can never comment on it.

Ok then, GO CHECK THE VIDEO and then give us an answer, Scott.

:banghead:

[displacedtexan]

16. Who the hell holds a pen between the index and second finger...

... beyond Kindergarten?

What an easy way to communicate "Fuck off" without getting caught.

Typical Bush thinking: Pull a stunt and accuse those who dare call it what it is of "misportraying it."

And "misportray" isn't a word.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=misportray

[edbermac]

19. Stupid fucking question...keep the focus on ROVE...

:grr:

[Pam-Moby]

20. Maybe a reporter asked him his IQ & that was * response.

[fooj]

21. Mopaul...

check out my other post...what the hell was he doing w/Shrub that late?

[mopaul]

28. scotty was there, so he couldn't have made a rude gesture

i don't get it. and it's a good question, they only use scotty for conferences.

[Beetwasher]

22. Hello??? Bush Apologists!!! Where Are YOU??? Care To Comment Now????

Yeah, it was his thumb. He was giving a thumbs up :eyes:

This seals it, he was flipping the bird, obviously.

[Skinner]

32. Ahem.

Are you calling me a Bush apologist?

[Beetwasher]

36. Of Course Not!

You thought it might have been a pen...I found that relatively believable actually...

There were others who were much more insistent that it was definitely NOT a finger but rather a thumb and were quite vocal about it.

C'mon Skinner, you should know me better than that by now! I'm an asshole, but I would never call YOU out!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

196. I've got your back:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4215258&mesg_id=4215294

[Up2Late]

48. It was an itch! Yeah, that's the ticket, he was just itching his nose...

ooooooooorrrrrr it was a muscle spasm, yeah that's it, a muscle spasm, sure that's it..........

[WeRQ4U]

71. Good lord. Aren't you done yet.

Don't you have anything else to do than go around "outing" people as Bush apologists and trolls simply because they don't agree with your theory.

It amazes me how you can take the media and Scotty M. for what they do or do not say, without question, when it appeases you. Since when do you give two shits what they say? Or is it that you so afraid of someone within your own camp questioning something that might make Bush NOT look like an ass for once? I just don't get it. Is it that big a deal to ostracize a good portion of DU simply because they don't buy into the story?

Such a poseur. And for what it's worth... it's a thumb.

[Beetwasher]

79. LOL!

:rofl:

How pathetic. :eyes:

How's it feel to swallow Scotty's crap by the mouthful? Taste good?

I'm never done, Chester. You don't like it? Sucks for you then.

[WeRQ4U]

82. uhhh... ok.

Whatever sport. I'm not the one taking AOL, NBC and Scott M. at their words or conspiring about their lack thereof.

Nice use of smilies, it's fantastic.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beetwasher]

167. Blah Blah Blah

Yeah, sucks for you lookin' so foolish, I know.

[chaz4jazz]

208. Thumb?

That's the longest fuckin thumb I've ever seen.

Then again, don't chimps have extra long thumbs?

[Stirk]

103. I'm no Bush apologist, and I still say it was a thumb.

If McClellan's limp answers count as evidence of something in your world, fine. I don't know why you're suddenly hanging on his every word, but that's your own lookout.

However, please don't call me a Bush apologist because I can tell a thumb from a finger.

[The Gunslinger]

155. Are you sure about that?

Thumbs are on the end of a hand, not in the middle.

[Stirk]

189. The lump on the left are his fingers, wrapping around the palm

in the typical "thumbs up" fist.

[PegDAC]

219. Thumbs up?

The hand is too wide to be the fist in a thumbs up. I vote finger.

[no_to_war_economy]

198. i vote thumb

it was my thumb not my middle finger!

[Beetwasher]

169. Actually, McClellan's Irrelevant

His bullshit answer obviously is something YOU agree with though :eyes:

[Stirk]

188. There's only one person here using McClellan's comments as

evidence of *anything*, and that's you.

Look- you want to believe he's flipping the cameras off, go ahead. I honestly do not care. But I think it's ridiculous to turn something as stupid as "finger vs. thumb" into a test of ideological purity, which is what you're doing with this "Bush apologist" bullshit.

[Beetwasher]

201. LOL!

Oy, a test? Hardly. I just think it's funny. To see people on this board sounding like and parroting Snotty. This whole thing a laugh riot!

[smoogatz]

24. Snottie'd best not go after Lenno

Bet his approval rating's better than Chimpster's.

[pelagius]

25. I'm sad to see Scotty didn't "appreciate the question"...

...like he usually does!

[jn2375]

30. The press seem to believe it WAS a finger he held up

and Scotty didn't deny it. Hmmmm

[skypilot]

37. Also...

...whoever shot the video got a much closer look than any of us did and that person hasn't come forward to say that it was anything other than a finger.

[jn2375]

46. Who in the press got a first hand view of what happened?

[skypilot]

60. I'm assuming that the person who shot the video did.

*

[Ian David]

34. The press wants to thank the Presidents that wave with their whole hand

Anyway, in addition to the latest one-finger wave, this is what I recall we have so far:

1) Older pictures of Bush giving finger

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/bushvideos/v/bushflipbird.htm

(I don't know if that second picture is legit).


2) Picture after of picture of Bush giving the Satanic salute

3) Video of Bush picking his nose

4) Bush/Cheney, "He's a major league asshole. Oh yeah, bigtime."

5) Bush daughter sticking tongue out at press

6) Bush daughter giving press the finger

7) Bush autographing an American flag

8) Bush wiping his glasses on a woman's sweater

9) Picture after picture of Bush rubbing the heads of black people


10) Picture after picture of Bush giving a Nazi salute

And the most damaging Bush pictures of all time...

11) My Pet Goat


12) Looking for WMDs under his desk


Bush's Iraq WMDs joke backfires
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3570845.stm

[Arkana]

168. Ah, damn it...delete message.

[wabeewoman]

177. Wonder if the video for #12 is

available. It would be a great clip to run during 2006. Then a clip of whichever target repug also talking wmd

[Burried News]

39. Evidence the press is doing it's job?

First time he's gotten an idea across without mangling it.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

40. If Bush calls the man to whom he owes everything a "Turd"

Karl Rove, the man who put the idiot chimp into power, then of course he probably is used to giving the finger. Scottie didn't take the finger gesture as a sign of hostility. It's probably Bush's typical symbol of greeting to all the members of his staff around the White House.

[tblue37]

64. He calls him

"Turd Blossom," which is not the same thing. A turd blossom is a flower that grows in a turd.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

69. Of course I know he calls him Turd Blossom

But would you call the man who made your career "Turd Anything"? Would you call him a name that had the word "Turd" in it? Apparently, it's supposed to be a sign of affection. Perhaps in the same way, Bush in his regal majesty deigns to show his affection by giving everyone around him the finger.

[TankLV]

214. I thought a turd blossom was another name for a fart.

turd blossoms into a "nice" smell.

They must like it that way.

[lady lib]

42. Pen or "bird" it doesn't matter. The message is the same.

He's telling the press that he's gonna do whatever the f*ck he wants and no one better challenge him on it.

[Texas_Kat]

44. Yes, we all know exactly how Bush acts

Click on the link here

http://www.quicktimemovies.com/bushuncensored.mov


for the Bush-uncensored movie from his days as TX gov. quicktime movie. (Just in case anyone's forgotten).

Edited: trouble with links

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

55. That's a very long and thin finger

On seeing Skinner's enlarged but blurry pics, I wondered if a middle finger could be that long and thin. Bush's finger is quite thin and long. And he's able to bend his knuckles pretty well.

It looks like he's had a lot of practice.

Maybe it would be a good idea to put both these photos side-by-side.

[enigmatic]

45. nice "non-denial denial"

I've watched it a half dozen times. I think it's his finger. He's medicated enough enough nowdays to do something as patently classless as that. And Scotty's tap-dancing makes it all the more likely that W was giving a one finger salute. I don't buy the Rove-switching thing on this; people had the same questions about him having an earpiece in the debates, and Rove didn't set the press up for that, either.

[Sparkle]

49. At least it's on the record. LOL.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

51. All that matters is that the press thinks it was a finger

They are already pissed at this administration for their attempts to blame their own treasonous behavior on the press corps.

If this makes them hate the chimp even more, I'm all for it.

(Personally I can't tell from the video. Too blurry when blown up. I wonder if another camera person got a better shot?)

[blogslut]

52. weird answer on Scotty's part

n/t

[Fleshdancer]

53. Does anyone have the video footage from the Leno show???

I had no idea about this story until Randi Rhodes played the audio from the Leno show. I really want to see it, I assume it's floating around on DU somewhere so could someone point me in the right direction(using the index finger of course)?

[annabanana]

63. link to Leno clip:

http://homepage.mac.com/onegoodmove/movies/bushflips.mov

[PegDAC]

218. Footage from Leno

It's on Randi's homepage.

[LibDemAlways]

What was with the "Jay Leno, who

apparently is subbing for Johnnie" comment? Was that merely the reporter's lame attempt at humor or a not-so-subtle-dig at Leno for showing the video in the first place? It sounds like the question was a set-up to afford Scotty the opportunity to issue the standard bs non-denial denial.

[MrBenchley]

117. I thought it was pretty fucking funny...

[EOTE]

210. I thought it was a dig at Leno....

Suggesting that he'll never come close to the greatness of Carson. He'll never come close to the greatness of Letterman either. I'm amazed more people watch Leno.

[Ian David]

54. Maybe it wasn't meant for the press. Maybe it was for Karl...

who was speaking to Bush at the time through his earpiece radio.

You ever "flip someone off" through the telephone, or is it just me?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

56. So, he really did do it again.

It's not surprising really, it's not as if it were the first time. He hates anyone who questions his greatness.

Remember, he did this while he was Governor of Texas, too. They laughed it off back then, not that it was funny.

[davidwparker]

58. Thanks for the link. It was no pen.

[jn2375]

59. Thanks Skinner glad you posted it to the front page

I agree with the fact Scotty didn't deny it, and the press seem to think it was a finger, they had a eyeball view at the Capital yesterday, maybe one of them will talk.

[jn2375]

61. My 13 yr old son it speechless about what Bush did, he had to

watch the video 3 times, he couldn't believe the President of the US would do something like that. Bush really sets a good example for our kids, doesn't he.

[Jersey Devil]

66. Notice the little comment about Leno "subbing for Johnnie"?

What's that about?

[jilln]

108. I was wondering that too...

makes it sound like it was an old clip.

[comsymp]

200. Yeah, VERY old, considering Leno got the gig in '92...

WTF, with professional investigative journos like that, it's amazing that we don't have the real inside skinny on what's going on in DC~
:sarcasm:

[ClusterFreak]

67. Finger/pen/coffee stir stick/whatever.....

....answer the fucking question Scottie!

Answer "a" question. For once.

Scottie says he hasn't seen the video, but knows somehow that someone is "misportraying" it. Jesus man, we have precedent here....remember the 'in-yer-face' finger from several years back...remember the that guy (reporter) is an 'asshole' crack (no pun intended)from the 2000 campaign??

My God man....get your freaking act together and stop the insanity!

[Gregorian]

72. Flip and spin. Twist and shout.

Scotty is only there to create a legitamacy to a false truth.





PS- A friend of mine had an answer when I said I could no longer listen nor look at Bush. His solution- just pretend you're watching SNL. Then it's entertaining.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

73. The fact it isn't being explained or apologized for - is itself a big F U

It's saying we don't care what you think, whether you think the Chimp was giving the finger to you or not.

[wallwriter]

74. Dignity returns to the White House!!

[KamaAina]

75. Mr. pResident! Mr. pResident! Is that your age or your IQ?

where are the quick, snappy follow-up questions when you need them? :-)

[Carolab]

78. That's his freaking finger, people. No one holds a pen like that.

Try it.

Also it's too THICK to be a pen.

[rocktivity]

197. Too thick to be a pen, too long to be a thumb

and too far to the right be his forefinger.

Also, http://homepage.mac.com/onegoodmove/movies/bushflips.mov">watch the motion of his arm--it goes straight up in a single motion. To give a thumbs up, you have to turn the wrist so that the thumbs points upwards with your knuckles running paralell.

:headbang:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

207. Sorry, bad link

Here you go.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Swamp Rat]

81. I kinda wish Ken had said: "Scottie, did Bush just flip us the bird?"

"Did he just tell America to fuck off?"

[Geek_Girl]

166. No kidding

Reporters need to be more direct they're the one's getting the finger and being called asshole by this POS. You would think they'd have a little bit more back bone and stick up for themselves.

[jn2375]

85. Skinner, Ameriblog. just reported that the WH called him to say

Bush was just giving the thumbs up. Did you get a call?

[grayiano]

86. It's his thumb =(

You can tell it is his thumb from the video. he is dumb but not dumb enough for the middle finger.

[kentuck]

87. My thumb is normal but...

but I tried to get it to stand that tall in the middle of my fist and I found it impossible...

[Sparkle]

91. Nope.

[PunkPop]

93. Ok, I going to chime in on this again

I have looked at the video several times AND the stills.

It is his thumb. Lots of people have said it's too thin and long for a thumb but I disagree. I have a pretty long, skinny thumb.

Make a thumbs up with your right hand yourself and hold it up in front of you. With your knuckles on the right and your fingers curled around on the left you can see where the thumb gives the appearance of being somewhat in the middle of your hand. That's what is happening here.

[Guaranteed]

99. No question- it's the thumb.

You can tell by the shape of the hand.

[wishlist]

101. It's a thumbs up with wrist turned so front of thumb is facing camera

I have studied the stills and it seems quite obviously to be a thumbs up with his hand turned so the thumb faces back up towards camera. If you hold your closed fist with with palm and bent fingers facing left, knuckles facing right and thumb straight up, the profile is exactly like what the pics show.

[ClintonTyree]

138. Do it yourself..........

the same way he did it. Put your thumb up, without making an unnatural flex of the arm it seems improbable that it would be the thumb. The thumb would point backward.
Do the same thing using the middle finger now.
:shrug: I've done it every way I can think of, and without making an unnatural movement of my arm, the thumb always points backward. Maybe you're different, everyone is I guess.
I guess all I'm saying is, I can't do it like that. :shrug:

[WeRQ4U]

106. I agree with you 100%. And I've tried to say the show the same thing.

It's impossible. People will believe what they want to believe. And YOU and I and everyone else who disagrees are Covert Freeper Apologists. Watch out.

[Gato Moteado]

94. yeah, he did flip the bird

and, yeah, he is THAT dumb.

he is a puppet. an empty suit.

republicans=fascists
freepers=human garbage

[Carolab]

96. It is NOT his thumb.

That would be anatomically IMPOSSIBLE.

[Mojambo]

110. I don't think so either

If you catch the frame as his arm is rising it really doesn't appear to be the thumb.

[Historic NY]

90. Humm was that his IQ or shoe size.......

didn't look like a pen to me last night or even today. He just flipped us all off. Must be getting upset with them writing boys & gals from the press hounding him.

[mconvente]

92. sure looks like a finger to me

I freezed the video and it sure looks like a finger to me! hahaha! fucker

[Carolab]

97. Who asked this question and where have they been anyway?

Jay Leno "subbing for Johnnie"?

WTF? Don't they know Jay has had this show for 10 years, and Johnnie Carson is DEAD???

[Rex]

98. Gotta love Scotty's hypocritical drivel

"I'm not going to dignify that with a COHERENT response...hahahaha. I can't recall, blah blah blah, haven't seen, blah...crying shame how you media bitches treat me sometimes!"

[Serial Mom]

102. the "adult" who was going to bring dignity back to the office!

he's nothing but a spoiled brat!

[DirtyDawg]

104. Scottie really sucks at his job...

...but I love it. Anybody with the slightest command of this kind of job would be able to blow these off and move on...as was mentioned earlier, he takes five minutes to explain why the sky's blue, or not, or that we're waiting for the results of the investigation.

As for The Finger, once again the WH press corps has missed yet another evolution in geedubyabush's faith. He's been watching those baseball guys a lot lately where every time they do even the slightest thing - like finish a briefing without fuckin' up - they slap their heart twice and point skyward...that's all this was, just his latest gesture to show us how God-like he is.

[Emillereid]

105. That was definitely Bushit flipping the bird -- that's no pen!!!

He probably thought the he was out of camera shot.

Oh, don't you love those right wing 'family values.'

[jurassicpork]

107. Uh huh...

"He was clearly giving a thumbs up in response to a question shouted from the crowd."

I always suspected that evolution took a shortcut around the Bush family, especially Dumbya but I never thought that Mother Nature would think to put an opposable thumb where his middle finger should be.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[XanaDUer]

109. I have ten fingers of hostility for *

:rofl:

[kitkat65]

112. McClellan: "It is important for us to flip off the insurgents until the

Iraqi people can flip off the insurgents on their own."

Whaaaa?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

113. Prezznint Butch brought HONOR and DIGNITY and NO BJs to the White House

:evilgrin:

[Tactical Progressive]

114. It's his index finger

Sorry folks. Look closely.

[Bouncy Ball]

116. You might need to look closely.

:rofl:

[Tactical Progressive]

127. I did

You can't give the finger that way.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

131. Ohhhhh, no. Our fearless leader is a saint.

:sarcasm:

[rocktivity]

203. You can't give a forefinger that way, either.

:)
rocknation

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

130. You are sooooooo wrong.

It's my desktop at work now.

[The Gunslinger]

157. Bush must Jedi mind trick the masses

I saw the video. I can easily with my right hand flip the bird to people behind me.

[spanone]

115. He a crass little bastard. Fuck you too george.

[SemperEadem]

118. That is a the f-u finger, s0n

there is no way around it.


He basically told the American people, through the lens of the news camera to eff off.

[skooooo]

135. Kind of looks like he was holding a pen..

..and pointing with it. I just can't tell for sure.

[SemperEadem]

205. If he was holding a pen,

his wrist would have been turned 45 degrees to the right on the "y" plane. As it stands, the position of his wrist bones are horizontal on the "x" plane---if he was holding a pen, it would have been jutting to the left of his fist. I don't know too many people who hold pens between the index finger and the bird finger with the balance of the pen pointing away from the hand instead of being gripped by the hand and steered by the tip.

It wasn't.

But if you want it to be a pen, then for you, it's a pen. For the rest of us, it's the finger. Either way, with a pen or not, it was highly offensive, improper and way below the "integrity" of the office he holds.

[savemefromdumbya]

119. He was pointing at the ceiling light LOL?

that's it he was admiring the chandelier above him or he was being rude?

[progressoid]

120. Call the FCC!!! Somebody needs a fine!

[despairing optimist]

125. Jesus spoke into his ear and told him to do it

"George, my son, I told you to look at the birds of the air, not to flip the bird, you noo-noo."

I'd be more concerned if he just smirked at the press and arrogantly walked away. Such a display of open contempt regardless of who is watching and recording it is, IMHO, a great sign. The pressure is getting to him. Keep it up, everyone. The light is at the end of the tunnel, and our president is pointing out the way.

[LVdem]

126. Bringing integrity to the WH...

what a bunch of crap.

He's just a dry drunk in need of a HUGE gin & tonic (and a line).

[deadparrot]

129. Sounds like a non-denial denial to me. nt

[donheld]

132. So what's the big deal?

* has been giving the whole world the "finger of hostility" for years now.

[mountebank]

137. I decided before reading the replies that it was his thumb.

Look at how the arm is held, how sort of abnormal and weird the hand looks when the gesture begins. Play that part a few times. I think you'll realize it's his thumb.

[Flirtus]

139. Anatomy lessons for everyone

I can't imagine what ya'll are seeing that's anything but him giving the finger.

[SpiralHawk]

140. Well Fuck You, too, Senor Bush

eom

[BattyDem]

143. Other explanations (pen, thumb, etc.) would have been far more ...

convincing if Scotty had simply answered the question. But the fact that he offered no denial or reasonable explanation makes me believe the press got flipped off.

[walldude]

145. Yeah no kidding... and I've watched the tape

very closely now, If that is Bush's thumb I'll kiss his ass. Just freeze the damn thing, it's obvious it's his middle finger, no human has a thumb that long or can get his thumb in that position, just pause the tape with the finger in the air, you can see the knuckles of his other 3 fingers...

Thank god dignity and honor have been returned to the WH. You know it's not the finger that bothers me. I've often said I'd vote for the first person to get up to the podium, toss away his pre-written speech and well that was a load of shit, here's the truth. What is annoying about this is the hypocrisy.. Like I shouldn't be used to that by now :eyes:

[Roland99]

144. That sure as hell ain't no pen!

Damn!

What an ASSHOLE!!

[Geek_Girl]

146. I don't think it was a pen

I think Bush really likes to flip people off. I read an article awhile back how he flipped off a couple of kids holding up anti-bush signs as he drove by. But I can't find the link. Then there was the time he was governor and flipped off the cameraman and the time he called a reporter an asshole and the mike was live.

I wouldn't be surprised if one day he has a terrets like episode during a press conference and start spewing profanity at the reporters.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

154. Here's the link

http://www.livejournal.com/users/jiveturky/185733.html

The kid used to have the photo up of Bush at the back of the campaign bus flipping him off. I remember seeing it. But he explains in this blog that his photobucket account was cancelled and I guess the link was destroyed. He does say something about having the photo available. Maybe you can e-mail him if you're interested.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

147. Maybe Bush is possessed - like the little kid Danny in "The Shining"

who made his index finger go up and down and talked to it.

"Tony is a little boy that lives in my mouth".

"Is Tony the one that tells you things?"

"Yes."

"Red-Rum, Red-Rum, Red-Rum, Red-Rum"

[Geek_Girl]

150. LOL

[despairing optimist]

165. Bush only drinks red rum if someone else bleeds into it

[cloud75]

152. he's got a history flipping the bird he did it in texas we've all seen

the footage what about the "major league asshole remark" during the 2000 campaign...some christian conservative.

[Contrary1]

153. Here's a picture that was posted on the politics board:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1966276#1966357

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

156. Wow - if that's a true and accurate enhancement then it's the "bird"

No doubt about it.

[Contrary1]

158. I enlarged the pic, and looked at it very closely...

I'm not so sure it hasn't been altered. The fingernail is clear, while the rest of the hand is blurry. Also, there is a slight variation in skin color beginning with the finger, in question, and the others to the left of it. Also. if that is a picture of the back of the president's wrist, it is really thin.

There is something light, just to the right of the middle finger. In the enhanced version, is is a bit lower. I believe that the smaller of the two pictures was photo shopped, and then enlarged, so that both pictures would appear the same.

Hold your own hand in a "thumbs up" position, and compare to the pic.
You will see what I mean.

[Anim8me2]

159. As much as I hate the prick...

Believe me I would love to say that he did flip off the press, but that is his thumb.

And please no "anatomy" lessons. I had enough of those in pre-med and then later when I became an artist.

The image with the enlargement is photoshopped (and poorly). If you care to drag a copy in to Photoshop yourself you can clearly see the mismatching of pixels as well as just overlaying the anlargement over the original you can see they don't match.

C'mon, we have so much more to go after these people with, let's not get caught up in piddly crap like this.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

162. It may be photoshopped - but Bush's mental state is extremely relevant

A man who has no control over his emotions and dares to show such disdain (if it's truly his middle finger) to the press and the people has something wrong with him. If it is an obscene gesture, then I would say we either have someone in the White House who is on the edge of losing control or someone under the influence of drugs.

I for one do not think this is a minor incident, if true.

[i miss america]

160. It definitely was "enhanced" The truth is, that pic is no more legit than

shrub's presidency.

[Up2Late]

187. I agree, I ran the Video capture below through Photoshops...

Sharpening filters several times, and the data just isn't there, Jay's picture is absolutly phony, See below:

[spooked]

161. Another picture

[walldude]

163. Damn it stop posting this obviously photoshopped blow-up

I keep seeing this pic, anyone who has ever worked in Photoshop can tell you that the thumb was added in photoshop.. it's not even a good job, the shading is all wrong. I'm sure Swamp Rat can confirm this. No need for the fakes anyway, it's obvious he's flipping everyone off. Why do people doubt it? Is he too smart, too nice, too Christian, too cool, too clever to flip off the press? I think not.

edited for typo...

[Arkana]

170. That's the pic?

I hate the asshole as much as anyone, but that is VERY Photoshopped. Part of that enlargement is his real hand, and part of it is something...else.

[Career Prole]

164. "He was clearly giving a thumbs up...

...in response to a question shouted from the crowd...Tom?"

Q: "Can you at least tell us what the question was, then?"

"Yes...I believe he was asked, 'Mr. President...did you just flip us off'...next question?"

[RSchewe]

178. It was his thumb (slow the video down when his arm goes back down)

As much as I think he is a silly frat boy, I was convinced after slowing it down as his arm goes down. I think the speculation came about because of the low resolution of the video clip going around.

[mnhtnbb]

172. Finger of hostility

I think we should bombard the media demanding that the video of Bush's raised finger be replayed as many times as the Dean "scream" was played.

[Carolab]

174. THINK about this: Do you think NBC/Leno would run it without verification?

They KNOW he flipped them off. There were press members there, as LIVE witnesses, who can testify that this was his middle finger.

[mountebank]

179. Give me a break. Leno = authenticity??

The proof that it was NOT the middle finger could just as easily be gathered from the fact that it was on Leno. Do you think that phony would actually air something that was harmful to people in power? Please. When the shit really hits, I won't be waiting for Leno to be throwing it, that's for sure.

Check the video. It was a thumbs-up. Move on to something real.

[volitionx]

175. It's a PEN, yo.

Look at the frame carefully, and repeatedly.

It's a pen, like one of those big magic markers. You can see the thing SHINE right before he lowers his hand. There is NO WAY you can make your thumb do that right in the middle of your hand, unless you are a space alien or something.

Right before he lowers his hand, it shines, and turns more whitish, not skin-color. It was the lighting in the hallway. Sure, Bush is a fucking IDIOT, but he wouldn't go borrow trouble like that for no reason.

Yes, he flipped the bird when he was governor, but that was OBVIOUSLY the bird. Not this.

IT'S A PEN.

[Carolab]

176. AGAIN, there is NO F'ING WAY that NBC/LENO would do this without checking

NO WAY. ABSOLUTELY NO WAY.

Can you even begin to imagine that Jay Leno would go on national TV and say/imply that * flipped off reporters without VERIFYING it?

GET REAL.

HE FLIPPED THEM OFF.

PERIOD.

END OF DISCUSSION.

[not fooled]

181. yeah, baby, yeah

you nailed it

good to hear that Jay isn't a 'puke (I was beginning to wonder after he let Ahnuld announce for gov on his show)

[WeRQ4U]

185. You're kidding right?

So now Jay Leno and NBC are the end all in source verification? Seriously, it's a comedy show. They don't care if he's doing what they say he's doing. It obviously LOOKS like he's flipping the bird, and that's all they care about.

I don't mean to keep bringing this up, but come on. This is ridiculous.

[Carolab]

191. It's ridiculous, alright.

Why'd Leno make such a point of saying it wasn't doctored at all if it wasn't the middle finger?

And why did "Ken" ask Scotty about it? And if it was a thumbs up why didn't Scotty say so?

Someone, somewhere knows the truth of this. I doubt that any of the press will step forward (other than that shill at Dow Jones) to say one way or another.

[blue morality]

180. i don't like him, but he wasn't flipping anyone off. I watched it on CNN

right before he does his "thing" someone shouts, "go CAFTA" to which Bush gives the thumbs up. It was very clear on CNN, but this video not as clear.

[WeRQ4U]

183. HOW DARE YOU.........

:eyes:

[Carolab]

184. Puhleeze.

That is NOT a thumb!!!

It's in the wrong place and it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too skinny and long to BE a thumb.

What is wrong with you people? Do you think Leno would go out on a limb with this?

HE DID IT. BUSH FLIPPED THE BIRD. HE'S DONE IT MANY TIMES BEFORE IN PUBLIC AND ON CAMERA. AND HE DID IT AGAIN.

[keeplaughing]

221. "It was very clear on CNN..."

Well, I'd say that's where you made your mistake.

I don't take anything I see or hear on MSM as necessarily factual. Those guys can dotor a video as well as anyone else, and I certainly wouldn't put it past them.

[helderheid]

182. I will regret posting this so forgive me DU brethren

He is GUILTY

[crikkett]

186. That was a thumb IMHO

... look at the position of his arm.

[baron j]

190. It looks like a finger with an adhesive bandage on it, to me.

I suppose someone saw it close up, or has better video...

[WeirdHoward]

192. He's been giving us the finger since 2000

He's been giving us all the finger since 2000.
(sigh) He has inspired so much hate. I have to remind myself to take a deep breath and pray for his soul.

[mopaul]

193. When someone asks him about it directly, will he dodge the question?

only bush himself can explain 'fingergate' and it would clear it up for all time.

'mr. bush, did you or did you not give us the finger the other day'?

[muchacho]

194. yeah well...

fuck him too!

[rocktivity]

195. "He didn't do it" or "It was his thumb" would have been sufficient

But then that wouldn't exactly be the truth, would it?

:crazy:
rocknation

[Callboy]

202. isnt that a liberal gesture?

[janetle]

206. It was his intent that is important

I watched the video several times and I don't know if it was his thumb or something else but the manner in which he raised his arm conveyed the intention of flipping people off---and he may have used his thumb. It wasn't a thumbs up situation; it was a flip off situation.

Although I don't know if Bush is smart enough to actually think, "I'm going to flip those f****** off but I'll use my thumb to confuse the issue."

[angryxyouth]

215. As much as I would like to agree with you

and I never give the chimp any slack. If you watch his arm go down you can see his finger rotate to the side like a thumb would. I think his extra large chimp thumb is deceiving. But it was pretty rough video so I'm not putting money on anything.

[emald]

220. NO was it's a thumb -

just slowed it down and looked close at the leno footage and man I swear I can see the thumb on the left side of the hand, the second knuckles of the bent fingers and the 1st knuckles of a hand flexed the only way it can if your flipping the finger to someone behind you.
This fucking retarded idiot flipped of the United States people. fuck you you wretch of an unelected president. Don't you dare start anymore wars in my name. You sir are a miserable human being. :grr:
I believe I detest this ugly little prick even more and I didn't think that was possible the last time I spent time thinking of it. Can't we please get rid of this PNAC crew and get on with living with the world?
What a bunch of rude morons.

[JFN1]

222. Oh, this is so good, I created

a handbill for it - and man, oh man, was this one fun! Check it out and spread it around:

http://www.justicefornone.com/handbills/flipper1.htm

[ScamUSA.Com]

231. I like it

the dual use for a shopping list is great

[Mr Bojangles]

223. This hurts...

But it's his thumb. You can tell even with the QT movie posted in this thread. Wait until it goes up and pause the movie. You can go frame-by-frame after that and see the elongated whatever it was rotating to his left...folks, the human hand doesn't move in such a way to allow the middle finger to rotate like that.

As much as I want it to be his finger, it's not.

We have to remember what we're dealing with. This could all be an attempt to push the media off of Rove. Splatter the headlines with "OMGWTF BUSH GIVES PRESS THE BIRD!!" and it takes the pressure off their collective brain and buys them time to find loopholes and create spin to get him off scot-free.

We have to stay focused.

[dgt]

225. EXACTLY - Watch it come down

When he pulls his arm back down, the outstretched digit turns over to the left. If you are giving someone the finger behind you, palm forward, it simply doesn't work that way. The thumb however does work that way. Try it.

Funny moment for Leno, but sorry, nothing to see here.

Also I can't really fault McClellan for the way he handled it.

[seeker4ever]

226. It's a pen- and he's still a fuckin' ass hole.

[sam sarrha]

227. the Roman Empire latin is..Digitus Profundus ..is the sufex is proper

[ecstatic]

228. Either the finger or a pen, but not a thumb--too long nt

[Tactical Progressive]

229. It wasn't a thumb and it wasn't 'the finger'

It was too long, and more decisively too thin, to be a thumb.

And it wasn't a middle finger, as it's nearly impossible to raise your middle finger without the surrounding index and ring fingers coming up half-way, which they clearly aren't.

It was his index finger.