Yep, it’s alive and well this campaign season. Skip up onto the stage (see

how young and agile I am!), shake hands with the chairman, mouth a couple of

words at him through the applause (“Nice tie! Can we get the a-c turned up a

bit?”), turn, wave to the audience, then start pointing.

Kerry and Edwards are introducing an interesting variation on the Politicain

Point, though: they are pointing with their *thumbs*. In fact, thumbs are

big this campaign. It’s not a regular thumbs-up gesture — back of the hand

towards the viewer, thumb straight up. This is more of a perp thumb — the

one you do when about to have your thumb-print taken at Central Booking.

Knuckles toward the viewer, only the second phalanx showing above the curled

fingers, ball of the thumb towards the viewer. Kerry and Edwards are both

doing it. The idea seems to be that it’s a kinder’n’gentler way of using

hands to emphasize what you’re saying. The 2004 electorate won’t stand for

a wagging or jabbing finger, so give ‘em a thumb. Has the slight additional

advantage of some optimistic carry-over from the old thumbs-up sign. But

it’s getting mixed up with the Politician Point. I am sure I have seen

Kerry doing the P-P with his thumb.