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.

For most people, it would be very difficult, but not impossible for an expert. I closely examined the photo, there is a "white" glow..slight but there, around his body and around his head, indicating A body was photoshopped in, then the head was placed in as well. His hand is free of that glow

I have attached a photoshopped pic of Jonathan and I. It ha been photoshopped. If you zoom in you will see a very slight glow around the bottle, but not much around me....and I know for a fact I was photoshopped. So yes this can be done. Usually the photo is taken in front of green to make it easier to separate.

Yes, it would be out of focus but not as bad as it is. The helicopter is blurrier than the blur on Bush's middle finger too.

I think it's real. Just as real as this one.

I think we all agree that the picture was photoshopped, Helice. But is Mr. Bush's disregard of what the G-8 is trying to accomplish photoshopped?

No, not photoshopped, just shopped around to all of his big business buddies to see if they approved.

You're being sarcastic, right?

Good work Helice! Really good work!

No, I don't know how to be sarcastic. As a matter of fact, I'm almost totally devoid of humor, as you know.

When I look at what I said, I wonder why I said it--other than to try to come up with something that would indicate Mr. Bush's disregard for the G-8.

Charlotte, I'm not a PhotoShop user, but are you saying that the hand gesture wasn't photoshopped because it had no glow?

G-8 Should have said goodbye to Bush with a foot up his A#@!

But seriously I think this is a photoshop job, even this idiot would'nt stoop that low ( But he has in the past).

I agree, SPM, but the president is supposed to be leading the most influential country in the world.