I don't know if this picture goes along with the headline, but I do know that the President of the United States should never have put himself in a position werein this picture could have been taken.



The headline is 'Bush gives the finger to G-8.'

This is the second time (on record) that Mr. Bush has scorned the G-8 attempts to control world-wide pollution. One analyst said that it wasn't the G-8; it was the G-7 against the G-1.

Our president's parting words were, "Good-bye from the world's biggest polluter."

The picture speaks for itself. Comments are unnecessary.

Yeah, the picture *does* speak for itself, and what it said to *me* was, "I'm a Photoshop Funny!"

I think everyone here knows my sentiments concerning our nation's worst president, and yet, even *I* don't think he's a huge enough idiot to actually give the finger to a press camera while holding a flag tucked under his arm. I think 7 1/2 years in office has taught him at least that much.

No, the real headline was "Bush Gives Verbal Middle Finger", and some talented wag decided to illustrate the headline. The plucky president told world leaders, as he exited the G8 Conference (his last), "Goodbye from the world's worst polluter."

What a guy.

Helice, any way to prove whether the photo is genuine or fake? It looks way better than most photoshops I've seen, but I'm not an expert.

Even if it's fake, it's a lie that is very much like the truth.

Bush has been photographed flipping the bird, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was the real thing.

You will never find a Michael Godard original piece of art (one painted). He only sells embellished prints. It has been said by experts, his work is photoshoped, my guess is it is.... So yes, there are those who have to talents to create a visual piece like this.... It's a twist on the old cartoons renderings. I much prefer political cartoons than this new reality form.

I have never seen anyone carry a flag like Bush is carrying it...that is one give away. My question, if you take away the flag, and change his had motion, what was he doing? Waving at a taxi?

Maybe his head was photoshopped onto an existing picture.

Or maybe he actually did what we're seeing.

I think it's far more likely his hand was photoshopped as his helicopter sits in the background.

Or it could be that the flag under his arm was photoshopped for the ironic effect.

Whatever, Mr. Bush has shown his disinterest in the G-8 and its goals previously. Photoshopped it may be, and probably is, but it shows that disinterest--scorn--of what the organization is trying to do.

It is clearly a fake. There is no way the focus on Bush and the helicopter could be that different in the same picture.

I both agree and disagree, jokul. You would expect the helicopter to be out of focus since the focal plane for the picture was Bush. I blew the picture up and examined edges. Trying to get all those fuzzy grey hairs right would be difficult I think. However, there are discontinuities between Bush and the flag, so I think that it was added. As for the finger, it looks authentic.

As has been pointed out previously--correctly I believe--he has been careless in front of the media; both with obscene gestures and comments in front of a microphone that he thought was dead.

It certainly appears to have been photoshopped, but only to the extent of adding the flag. The basic point remains.