Leno and others show the clip: Bush flips the press,
then denies it saying it was a thumbs up (no way, unless he doesn't have a human hand). Corporate press takes it on the ass gladly and repeats the thumbs up explanation:
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.
WH even calls Americablog to explain it wasn't a "bird", it was a thumbs up (seriously)
But Scotty does NOT deny it (stonewalls instead)
http://www.texasturkey.us/images/bushflips.mov
Quicktime Video 1.2MB '1
Quicktime Required
Update [2005-7-30 22:24:56 by lawnorder]: So many people here think it's a thumbs up that I guess I was unfair to the Reuters reporter: Maybe he saw a thumbs up too. So far I am absolutely positive Bush raised his hand and flipped the bird, but another kossack is positive he saw a thumbs down when Bush lowered his hand. Could Bush have flipped the bird then quickly switched to a thumbs up when he got a hold of himself ?
Americablog comments:
Guess maybe Jesus isn't his favorite philosopher. I have no problem with him flipping the bird to the press, but don't pretend you're holier-than-thou Christian man then start saying "fuck you" to the media. This man is no conservative Christian.
onegoodmove: 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.
Posted by Norm at July 27, 2005 11:45 PM.
onegoodmove: Bush Flips Out
Thumb or middle finger ?
I blew up the pic 5X in photoshop
Note the wrist is in the same vertical line as the "thumb". The only way for this to happen makes the "thumb" look like it is at the edge of the hand and the remaining fingers have to be at an angle.
But the still shows a "bulk" at the edge of the hand, with the "thumb" in the middle and the remaining fingers are horizontal, not in an angle (which would force the thumb to be at an angle, not vertical, in a normal "thumbs up")
To me, the stills showed such an obvious "bird" that I thought they were photoshopped at first. I had to see the video to believe it was real!