Graphology and the candidates

Our group the Tucson Chapter of The American Handwriting Analysts Foundation plans to look at the candidates signatures at the March meeting. When the candidates first started campaigning one of the Eastern newspaper reporters wondered in his column what graphologists would say about them. I sent him my comments on Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Mc Cain not knowing they would be the only ones campaigning before long. I missed seeing Mitt Romney's writing and do not remember if I said anything about Huckabee or Edwards writing. I really would like to have more than just a signature because there is some bearing on what was signed and how it is signed. For example, Mc Cain's signature was on two lines and both written uphill so it appeared to be an autograph rather than a normal signature while Hillary's was on a line as if it was a form being signed. This can also affect the signature to a small extent as she may have been trying to stay within a set space. While Obama's definitely showed his Arabic background unfortunately I have nothing else to compare to his signature. Some analyst's tell you the signature has the greatest importance as this is the face you present to the world but I still prefer to have both the signature and writing as well. When you have both then you know if the writer really is how they present themselves to the world. Some people are totally different from what their signature represents though the majority I have seen are the same. So far I have only seen one writing that was so large the writer only got three or four words across the page while the whole signature took up the space of one word. So he wanted to be seen as controlled, focused meek and analytical when he was ambitious, pushy and often rude to others.

The fun part of looking at politicians handwriting is how do you say what you see diplomaticly and do you go over everything you find. Maybe I did see Romney's signature because I remember two of the signatures were illegible and Huckabee's first name was so illegible I had to look up his name and then Huckabee became a mere thread. As we all understand the things that make a good diplomat and politian also make a good con-man.

Hillary very much wants to be known as a woman in her own right, capable, determined, and well qualified. While she would be happiest if she could run on her own without help or interferrence from her husband she realizes that is impossible so she will profit in any way possible from her experiences in the White House. She is determined and direct to the point of bluntness. Needs someone to handle the small details she finds iritating and keeps most people from getting too close.

Obama's signature definately shows he was Arabic taught. Not knowing the copybook form for Arabic I am somewhat at a disadvantage but again there is threading which slurs the forms. Any threading is an indication of not wanting to be pinned down, to escape responsibility when things go wrong, to hide the personal self, and of course speed of thought and action. He could be very creative in his dealings with others.

McCain's signature was an autograph so he may not be as up beat and optimistic as it appears. He, however, has great focus. With only eight letters of the alphabet to work with I can say he is able to keep secrets his own as well as our countries. He pays attention to details, has a lot of mental activity and a wry sense of humor.

Children's writing

I really like to do children's handwriting but it has to be looked at more forgivingly than an adults. They are facing hormonal changes, drugs, the cruelty of children one to another, often parents who are too tired or too busy to seem to care plus the pressures of school. Myself, I was glad it was my daughter who had to raise two children 20 years ago and now its my great-grandchildren and the pressures are even greater.
Children cannot be expected to have the maturity for long range plans but it is a good thing when I do a school presentation and can teach the kids how cursive is important. Not only is it actually faster to write but the connections between letters is important. Angle connections show logic and analytic ability, garlands show friendliness, and arcades are a form of self protection as well as of being creative. There are three more connection types but these are used by the majority of writers. Printing fosters a seperateness from others especially bad at a time of life when it is important to them to belong, to a family, a group, or unfortunately to a gang.
Also these occasions give me a chance to help explain to teachers why Tim or John or Judy are such a handful in class. Some are bored by the classes geared to the slower thinkers in class. They want hands on, how does it work, let me try learning. Then you have the cumulative thinkers who cannot skip steps but must write things down to remember them or do it as they learn. Ask them a question even a little differently than it was explained to them in class and their time is spent figuring out just what you want before they can answer. Their class work may earn them A's but test drop them to C's. Or you may have those in class who have such terrible home lives they don't turn in homework or can't stay awake in class, or who have learning disabilities that have not been diagnosed or addressed.
My grandson is one of those, he is the slowest reader I have ever seen though he tests as having good reading comprehension. He can only manage about one third of a timed test because he can't be hurried. Yet when in school he regularly tested two to four years higher than his grade. Or you get the girl who won't wear her glasses because her family can't afford contacts so homework is good but classwork is bad.