In today's "You've Got to be Kidding Me" segment, the presidential campaign is hotter than ever, and a major wire service began an article about the three candidates with the following:
Hillary Clinton is smart and forceful, John McCain is proud but has a volatile temper, and Barack Obama is a diplomat who deals well with different people and situations.
Did you get that? Let's review:
- Clinton -- smart and forceful
- McCain -- volatile temper
- Obama -- diplomatic
See any bias here?
Apparently, that didn't worry Agence France-Presse in its article Sunday concerning what can be gleaned about the candidates by -- wait for it -- analyzing their handwriting (emphasis added):
"Handwriting is a reflection of the inner personality. It shows a person's ego strength, how good they feel about themselves, their intellectual, communication and working styles," graphologist Sheila Lowe, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Handwriting Analysis", told AFP. [...]
Republican John McCain's signature shows a proud, idealistic but impulsive, if not uncontrollable man, according to the experts.Lowe saw impulsiveness and a "short fuse" in McCain's variable writing style.
New York graphologist Roger Rubin agreed, and also saw a powerful ego at play in the senator from Arizona.
"The unevenness of the rhythm reflects the unevenness of his temperament," Rubin said.
"The capital J is the largest letter, which shows his strong belief in his own ego. The size of 'John' overwhelms the size of 'McCain' -- this shows how distant he is from his family roots."
Get it, folks? McCain's volatile, impulsive, uncontrollable, uneven in temperament, and distant from his family roots.
Glowing praise.
Frankly, I've had enough of this nonsense. Those interested in what these "experts" felt about Clinton and Obama can do so on their own time.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Obama the diplomat had
May 20, 2008 - 10:32 ET by motherbeltObama the diplomat had better hide, along with his wife, if they ever bring in a body language expert.
Im convinced Nuke em til
May 20, 2008 - 10:35 ET by Dan The Man 2Im convinced
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Garbage
May 20, 2008 - 10:50 ET by iveseenitallRight---just as the "body language" charlatans; they invent this garbage to suit their needs. Shakespeare knew it:
"Smile and smile, and be a villian"
Are these handwriting "experts" still a staple at the circus? They used to be.
Next, it'll be Lady Lovely, the palm reader, who be telling us to be careful of those nasty conservatives.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
O'Reilly's Body Expert
May 20, 2008 - 10:51 ET by GothampcThat body language expert that O'Reilly has every week really bugs me. My analysis of her is that she has a good gig and so she always lets O'Reilly shape her opinion. She's an expert at kissing butt to get her book to sell.
I was thinking exactly the
May 20, 2008 - 11:32 ET by CaringwhiteguyI was thinking exactly the same thing as I read the main post. What a fraud! O'Reilly is down to one good segment . . . the Doocey vs. McCallum trivia contest.
maybe
May 20, 2008 - 10:47 ET by ort777Maybe as McCain was signing his name, they were whispering "old man" into his ear. I once had someone tell me I was really messed up just by looking at my handwriting - in high school. The teacher and everyone looked at the lady like she was on drugs. Let's just say she was dead wrong. This is just another MSM attempt to butcher the Republican party.
My Analysis
May 20, 2008 - 10:48 ET by GothampcLooking at the writing of the author of this article, my analysis says that she is a pompous twit whose opinions trump any real factual reporting as well as an interference to American politics.
Noel, I imagine that would
May 20, 2008 - 10:51 ET by taterNoel, I imagine that would be the feelings of most experts in the MSM anyway...they just had to tie it to something and handwritting is what they found.
Let's face it McCain could have the signature of a twelve year old girl even putting a heart above the 'i' and they would call him scum.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
I bet John Edwards has girly writing
May 20, 2008 - 11:03 ET by GothampcI always thought John Edwards was a heart above the 'i' guy. If he were elected POTUS, we'd have to celebrate Metrosexual Day.
Take it all into account
May 20, 2008 - 11:09 ET by MeanderingSince signatures can tell so much how about their Sign*? Obama and McCain are actually Virgo’s and their characteristics are:
Analytical
Precise
Orderly
Practical
Intelligent
Responsible
Perfectionistic
Shewd (Yes, that’s for McCain and Obama)
Conservative (I don’t get it either)
Refined
Hygienic
Reserved (Not “short fused”)
Clinton is a Scorpio, let’s take a lookIntense (Goes without saying)
Powerful
Determined (Right on the money)
Emotional
Calm but seething (Incredibly accurate)
Reserved
*Disclaimer: Of course I don’t believe this nonsense, but if they will take into account someone’s signature as fact, then they have to take all of the crazy stuff in as well!
What Next?
May 20, 2008 - 11:07 ET by bradbenj5952We should bring out the witch doctors and voodoo priestesses next. Perhaps the "handwriting experts" learned their craft at the Algore School of Divination.
Suggestion: get a collection of "handwriting experts" together who have never seen the handwriting of these three people and submit samples other than their signatures and see if the results are even close!
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - C.S. Lewis
I'm a "handwriting expert"
May 20, 2008 - 11:10 ET by sarcasmoAs well as a "jury selection expert" and a "sex expert" and no doubt an expert at a variety of other things, but I haven't remembered to declare myself an expert in them. :)
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
I wonder what their
May 20, 2008 - 11:14 ET by mattmI wonder what their clothing choices say about them, or their hairstyle. This reminds me of the "Bush smirk" the media was so hyped about.
Strange, for a group of people who like to portray themselves as thinking, intelligent people who would never be so low as to base judgment on superficialities.
This handwriting analysis
May 20, 2008 - 11:15 ET by KillgraveThis handwriting analysis bull acutely reminds me of the AGW nonsense that the exact same liberals are trying to push on us.
In this so-called "science", they first start with an assumption. Then they form an agenda. THEN they find the "facts" to fit the agenda.
With this ass-backwards thinking, one can prove ANYTHING. So, even though this attention to "handwriting analysis" is incredibly stupid, it IS consistent. I give them that.
Is it just a co-inky-dink
May 20, 2008 - 11:20 ET by SickofLibsIs it just a co-inky-dink that Obama's signature is the only REALLY left leaning/backhanded one of the bunch?
Or am I just being racist...
"It is difficult, the
May 20, 2008 - 11:39 ET by forest"It is difficult, the experts say, to tell the sex of a person from their handwriting, or to discern if they are left- or right-handed."
If they can't even tell which hand a person is writing with, I don't think they can tell anything else either.
forest
May 20, 2008 - 12:03 ET by Noel Sheppardforest,
Isn't that too delicious. We can't tell sex or what hand they write with, by we can tell if you have a bad temper! Give me a break!!! ns
Experts...Bah!!!
May 20, 2008 - 12:28 ET by bradbenj5952These are the same caliber of experts who tell us that cyclones (hurricanes) and earthquakes are the Earth's way of telling us that we are abusing it! So I guess the tribes that once occupied Florida, who were "in touch with the Earth spirits", never experienced a hurricane. It is very concerning to realize that we have so many in this country so deluded with this nonsense that they're willing to believe anything but the truth.
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - C.S. Lewis
I have a friend who's
May 20, 2008 - 12:46 ET by Hero SquadI have a friend who's convinced that he can tell if someone owns a canoe, or once owned one, simply by watching the person take a few steps up and back. Of course it's a gag, but it makes for great barroom conversation, especially when he's close to right.
Right now, I'd give his methods a leg up on this handwriting hokum.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Done.
May 20, 2008 - 12:05 ET by mytwocentsWell that settles it. The debate is over. We have to elect bho.
I don't care what it means as long as
May 20, 2008 - 12:31 ET by JTPHRC and BHO are not signing their legislation into law!!
I would give a project
May 20, 2008 - 12:42 ET by Hero SquadI would give a project like this a hair more credibility if it analyzed handwriting that DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PERSON'S NAME!
If you're going to do this and give it any shred of believability, it should be done anonymously by people who do not have any prior knowledge of the person's handwriting style.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
My thoughts exactly,
May 20, 2008 - 12:51 ET by KarmaMy thoughts exactly, Hero.
( Do you notice how my letters here are straight up and down. Also, note the "K" is larger than the other letters in my screen name. Quite telling, huh.)
Bias? What
May 20, 2008 - 12:49 ET by Clear thinkerBias?
What bias?
"Abstain from McCain"
Noel, are you and WTH
May 20, 2008 - 12:55 ET by mandrakeNoel, are you and WTH forming a team like Abbott and Costello with the theme "no slight to small". (as in James Smart.) Get real. There's a war, election, debate going on!
But, will say this on the handwriting subject..It changes over time.
I've done business with the same bank for 35 years. The signature they have on record is from when I was young. Sometimes a teller tells me I am not who I am because the 'signature' doesn't match..sigh
Mandrake
May 20, 2008 - 13:04 ET by Noel SheppardM,
I'm not following your first quip. Are you suggesting this was a triviality that I should have ignored, and that this is becoming a habit? Or, am I missing something? ns
Noel, I guess I find the
May 20, 2008 - 13:14 ET by mandrakeNoel, I guess I find the handwriting post not up to this sites usual standards...but then I'm a little cranky these days so never mind.
Are palmistry, tea leaves
May 20, 2008 - 13:12 ET by NL207Are palmistry, tea leaves and bones to be used next by Liberals to evaluate Presidential candidates?
NL... Just waiting for
May 20, 2008 - 13:18 ET by bigtimerNL...
Just waiting for the body language experts...that drive me insane...lol.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
handwriting is only one indicator
May 20, 2008 - 13:22 ET by oregon_jiimhandwriting is only one indicator of one's personality. The other major indicator is your bowling score. As an expert on bowling scores, I have to conclude that Obama is a bed wetting, booger eating, sissy-boy.
"an endorsement of communism is an endorsement of slavery"
WOW!!!! I'm a Fashion expert by trade
May 20, 2008 - 13:46 ET by red_dragon311An the way the pants suit rides on Hillary shows she is a coniving, manipulative, bitch.
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Thomas Jefferson
Dead on analysis
May 20, 2008 - 14:17 ET byAlthough I know nothing about handwriting analysis and I am not a fan of any of these three candidates, it seems to me that the analysis, such as it is, is dead on. Hilberry certainly is smart and forceful (too smart and forceful in my opinion), B. Hussein O. does indeed have a diplomatic streak (he has slickly convinced many he is not a mooslum) and McScream is, well, volatile, unstable and can get verbally abusive. We've all seen this to be true. Of the three, McScream is clearly the least suited for the demands of the presidency. I bet that the handwriting analysis people simply assigned known traits to the signature styles.
I need to read this site more often.
May 21, 2008 - 02:48 ET by SquonkamaticLOL what the hell is this. Another liberal media driven attempt to paint the candidates on anything but their records, qualifications, voting habits, accomplishments, failures or what have you. Now they are saying that just by looking at their handwriting we can tell who they would rather we vote for.
Thanks for the laugh Noel, I needed it.