Boys Will Be Boys, Until They're
October 28, 2004 12:23 AM Subscribe
The President's "One Fingered Victory Salute" [Salon link, reg. required -- also here]. The Texans for Truth have unearthed a video of POTUS, back when our commander in chief was the Governor of Texas, flipping the bird to persons unknown, possibly Karen Hughes. Perhaps this is what Mr. Bush meant by "kindness, goodwill, and decency".
funny, and very hard to interpret as malicious (but not really suitable behaviour for a leader of the free world either)
posted by ikalliom at 12:58 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by ikalliom at 12:58 AM on October 28, 2004
He looks so... alive on that tape.
posted by NekulturnY at 1:09 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by NekulturnY at 1:09 AM on October 28, 2004
Why am I reminded of the Eddie Izzard sketch of Britons reduced to throwing ice-cream bars at Germans?
Ah, because this attack makes about as much sense.
posted by soulhuntre at 2:01 AM on October 28, 2004
Ah, because this attack makes about as much sense.
posted by soulhuntre at 2:01 AM on October 28, 2004
As a committed Bush hater and someone who truly wishes the man would go to hell, I thought this was funny. It's something I would do to be honest.
Seriously, if this really was intended as an attack, perhaps they should have called him "poopyhead" instead, it would have carried more political weight.
posted by fullerine at 2:04 AM on October 28, 2004
Seriously, if this really was intended as an attack, perhaps they should have called him "poopyhead" instead, it would have carried more political weight.
posted by fullerine at 2:04 AM on October 28, 2004
Bush flipped someone off once?!? Well, I've switched my vote.
posted by BackwardsHatClub at 2:33 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by BackwardsHatClub at 2:33 AM on October 28, 2004
I wonder what his one-fingered peace sign looks like.
posted by Turtle at 2:38 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by Turtle at 2:38 AM on October 28, 2004
At the risk of derailing this extremely interesting thread, I'd often wondered about the identical victory and peace signs. It seems the "peace" meaning is more recent, coming as a response to Nixon's frequent use of the V sign:
The victory sign was appropriated and subverted by the anti-war protesters as a peace gesture.
The Wikipedia is also helpful on the one-fingered variety:
Ancient Romans considered an image of an erect phallus as a talisman against evil spells. As a consequence, displaying this gesture to another may not have been a pseudo-sexual insult but rather an insulting statement along the lines of – "I'm going to protect myself against your witchcraft, before you even start."
posted by Turtle at 2:47 AM on October 28, 2004
The victory sign was appropriated and subverted by the anti-war protesters as a peace gesture.
The Wikipedia is also helpful on the one-fingered variety:
Ancient Romans considered an image of an erect phallus as a talisman against evil spells. As a consequence, displaying this gesture to another may not have been a pseudo-sexual insult but rather an insulting statement along the lines of – "I'm going to protect myself against your witchcraft, before you even start."
posted by Turtle at 2:47 AM on October 28, 2004
Next Bush ad: Better a bird than a flop.
posted by Mach3avelli at 3:01 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by Mach3avelli at 3:01 AM on October 28, 2004
the charm of the video is not that it's wrong to give the middle finger every so often. The occasional bird flip is a zesty part of our American way of life.
But he looks like such an incredible asshole while doing it.
posted by condour75 at 3:02 AM on October 28, 2004
But he looks like such an incredible asshole while doing it.
posted by condour75 at 3:02 AM on October 28, 2004
I can’t really imagine that the original poster genuinely believes that comparing this bit of pre-presidential flippery to the linked press release reveales a direct contradiction; but then again – this is Metafilter.
posted by ed\26h at 3:26 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by ed\26h at 3:26 AM on October 28, 2004
Oh digaman, you poor baby. Someone give digaman and anniesj a cookie.
posted by shoos at 3:40 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by shoos at 3:40 AM on October 28, 2004
i don't think the finger says anything about him ... but the shit-eating grin he sports afterwards says a lot
like none of us EVER flip the bird
posted by pyramid termite at 4:53 AM on October 28, 2004
like none of us EVER flip the bird
posted by pyramid termite at 4:53 AM on October 28, 2004
I have a picture of Clinton throwing the devil horns.
posted by ph00dz at 5:23 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by ph00dz at 5:23 AM on October 28, 2004
Bush flipped someone off once?!? Well, I've switched my vote.
For all the bitching everyone does around here that there are too many political posts, it's funny that some people still don't understand politics. Of course this doesn't mean anything to us, but we're not his conservative base. There are plenty of people who would be shocked to learn he did this. And it probably won't take "plenty" of his supporters from abstaining from voting to sway the election.
posted by jpoulos at 5:35 AM on October 28, 2004
For all the bitching everyone does around here that there are too many political posts, it's funny that some people still don't understand politics. Of course this doesn't mean anything to us, but we're not his conservative base. There are plenty of people who would be shocked to learn he did this. And it probably won't take "plenty" of his supporters from abstaining from voting to sway the election.
posted by jpoulos at 5:35 AM on October 28, 2004
A great magazine like Salon has stooped to this? This really is a dire situation isn't it.
posted by orange swan at 5:49 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by orange swan at 5:49 AM on October 28, 2004
There are plenty of people who would be shocked to learn he did this. And it probably won't take "plenty" of his supporters from abstaining from voting to sway the election.
I don't know. This seems like the kind of "regular-guy" BS that's as likely to help as hurt. Maybe if it became a fun news clip for TV, but that's unlikely given the content.
posted by originalname37 at 6:48 AM on October 28, 2004
I don't know. This seems like the kind of "regular-guy" BS that's as likely to help as hurt. Maybe if it became a fun news clip for TV, but that's unlikely given the content.
posted by originalname37 at 6:48 AM on October 28, 2004
If anything, I think it will make him more appealing to most of his base. Many see him as a humble, fallible, yet sincere instrument of God. It doesn't matter if he flipped someone off 15 years ago (or even if he's not that smart), as long as he prays and receives God's guidance.
posted by 4easypayments at 6:52 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by 4easypayments at 6:52 AM on October 28, 2004
Both candidates are on record as blowing off their rage in little ways like this. Frankly, it's got to be stressful being ither one of them.
Oh, and devil horns are more than just satanic. That sign means many things, including something Yale-related and possibly that the the Son of God, the senator from Massachusetts and governor of Texas may all be fans of Ronnie James Dio.
Thirdly, I have lost any faith in the credibility of any group calling themselves _____ For Truth. We've seen too many, and if you can't come up with a distinctive name for your group then I won't buy your metaphorical vacuum cleaner.
posted by chicobangs at 6:56 AM on October 28, 2004
Oh, and devil horns are more than just satanic. That sign means many things, including something Yale-related and possibly that the the Son of God, the senator from Massachusetts and governor of Texas may all be fans of Ronnie James Dio.
Thirdly, I have lost any faith in the credibility of any group calling themselves _____ For Truth. We've seen too many, and if you can't come up with a distinctive name for your group then I won't buy your metaphorical vacuum cleaner.
posted by chicobangs at 6:56 AM on October 28, 2004
Hey, I thought no one would care that John Kerry called lambeau field, lambert field. But now there are billboards around Wisconsin saying "Sen. Kerry, it's called Lambeau Field."
I'm still voting giant douche though.
posted by drezdn at 7:03 AM on October 28, 2004
I'm still voting giant douche though.
posted by drezdn at 7:03 AM on October 28, 2004
jeez, lighten up! I don't like Bush, never voted for him for governor or for president, but all I could think after I saw this was, "I'm George Bush, and I approved this message."
heh.
posted by whatnot at 7:06 AM on October 28, 2004
heh.
posted by whatnot at 7:06 AM on October 28, 2004
whatnot: damn, the keyboard is faster than photoshop...
posted by papercake at 7:15 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by papercake at 7:15 AM on October 28, 2004
I personally could care less.
If this were a picture of Clinton, there would be a national outcry about his unpresidential behavior.
But this is Bush, so it shows what a regular guy he is.
Overall, I think the image will make people feel uncomfortable. I think a lot of his base is concerned with surface appearances. There are some who never swear, etc.
Oh, and mystery solved about who he is giving the finger to: us and the rest of this country.
posted by xammerboy at 7:31 AM on October 28, 2004
If this were a picture of Clinton, there would be a national outcry about his unpresidential behavior.
But this is Bush, so it shows what a regular guy he is.
Overall, I think the image will make people feel uncomfortable. I think a lot of his base is concerned with surface appearances. There are some who never swear, etc.
Oh, and mystery solved about who he is giving the finger to: us and the rest of this country.
posted by xammerboy at 7:31 AM on October 28, 2004
How to Restore Honor and Dignity to the White House indeed.
posted by nofundy at 8:16 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by nofundy at 8:16 AM on October 28, 2004
I couldn't possibly care less about this, but I like papercake's little photoshop.
posted by mosch at 8:31 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by mosch at 8:31 AM on October 28, 2004
Wayyyy back in 2000, when I really had no idea who Bush was (other than a former President's son with a huge campaign war chest), I had received the "major league asshole" emails from liberal friends who were somewhat fraudulently righteously indignant about it. I thought that was ridiculous then as this is now. I think W is the worst president since Hoover, but this kind of shit is less than trivial. I think focusing on the issues is still the best way to get this bastard out of the White House.
posted by psmealey at 8:32 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by psmealey at 8:32 AM on October 28, 2004
related: someone emailed me these videos last night (but i'm sure they're faked)
He looks so... alive on that tape.
As opposed to this genuinely scary halloween pic of him Drudge had up yesterday?
posted by amberglow at 8:38 AM on October 28, 2004
He looks so... alive on that tape.
As opposed to this genuinely scary halloween pic of him Drudge had up yesterday?
posted by amberglow at 8:38 AM on October 28, 2004
Amberglow: exactly. He doesn't seem to react well to the presidency. Reminds me of that article I read about his rhetoric when campaigning against Ann Richards: it seems he was eloquent, ad rem, smart. Now he's anything but. I also read that he was quite well liked as a Gov. of Texas by Dems and Reps alike, "because he was so easy going". Makes you wonder who the real W. is: the former, or this bloated, puffy faced corpse talking tough. Guess we'll see in his second term, huh? *ducks*
posted by NekulturnY at 9:05 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by NekulturnY at 9:05 AM on October 28, 2004
"...he was quite well liked as a Gov. of Texas by Dems and Reps alike..."
I lived in Texas when he was governor, and that's where I first began to hate the bastard. But that's just me.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:25 AM on October 28, 2004
I lived in Texas when he was governor, and that's where I first began to hate the bastard. But that's just me.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:25 AM on October 28, 2004
Sorry, but after so much was made out of John Kerry cursing out one of his secret service detail, I think bringing this up is appropriate because, from the context, it seems that Bush is flipping off one of his own staffers or member of the production crew. Where do you think that bird's directed?
Besides, I really do hate the bastard.
And for those of you who don't not care, here's the deal as a convenient flash file.
posted by Reverend Mykeru at 9:54 AM on October 28, 2004
Besides, I really do hate the bastard.
And for those of you who don't not care, here's the deal as a convenient flash file.
posted by Reverend Mykeru at 9:54 AM on October 28, 2004
Sorry, but after so much was made out of John Kerry cursing out one of his secret service detail, I think bringing this up is appropriate because, from the context, it seems that Bush is flipping off one of his own staffers or member of the production crew. Where do you think that bird's directed?
From the context, Bush wasn't flipping off anyone except the camera. That in no way compares to John Kerry cursing out someone whose job is to take a bullet for him. Please.
posted by gyc at 10:02 AM on October 28, 2004
From the context, Bush wasn't flipping off anyone except the camera. That in no way compares to John Kerry cursing out someone whose job is to take a bullet for him. Please.
posted by gyc at 10:02 AM on October 28, 2004
The Kerry/secret service flap was equally ridiculous/trivial. Only gyc and konolia got bent out of shape about that one. Besides, secret service or not, maybe the guy's mother really did have loose morals. Who's to say?
posted by psmealey at 11:50 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by psmealey at 11:50 AM on October 28, 2004
Those who weighed in as if I was trying to present this as FingerGate or something read way too much into my FPP, and neglected to read the title of this discussion.
posted by digaman at 12:13 PM on October 28, 2004
posted by digaman at 12:13 PM on October 28, 2004
This is the first thing I see in a long time that makes me think I should vote for Bush!
posted by cell divide at 12:28 PM on October 28, 2004
posted by cell divide at 12:28 PM on October 28, 2004
Sure the gesture isn't offensive, but have you smelled it?
And for heaven's sake, don't pull.
posted by Peter H at 12:35 PM on October 28, 2004
And for heaven's sake, don't pull.
posted by Peter H at 12:35 PM on October 28, 2004
"I can tell its a budget 'cause its got a lot of numbers."
posted by nofundy at 12:57 PM on October 28, 2004
posted by nofundy at 12:57 PM on October 28, 2004
Worst October surprise ever.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:06 PM on October 28, 2004
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:06 PM on October 28, 2004
Bush's digits or The single greatest event of my life.
posted by euphorb at 1:30 PM on October 28, 2004
posted by euphorb at 1:30 PM on October 28, 2004
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posted by keswick at 12:40 AM on October 28, 2004