CNN: Bush Aides Deny He Was Wired

[clover]

Bush aides deny Internet rumors he was wired


Sunday, October 10, 2004 Posted: 9:31 AM EDT (1331 GMT)
What appears to be a bulge in the back of President Bush's coat prompted widespread speculation.

CHANHASSEN, Minnesota (AP) -- Bush campaign aides are laughing off widespread Internet suggestions that President Bush was wired during his first debate with John Kerry, to get help from advisers.

A photo taken during the September 30th event appears to show a small, boxy shape between the president's shoulder blades.

Musings on various Web sites suggest it could have been a radio receiver so the president's aides could feed him answers during the debate.

Spokesman Scott Stanzel calls the idea "ridiculous," and adds, "Some people have been spending too many hours looking at left-wing conspiracy Web sites."

He adds, "Did you hear the one about Elvis moderating the third debate?"

[CatWoman]

1. hahahahaha

I'm kinda enjoying this story growing legs :D

[Eurobabe]

51. posted on CNN: * photo with mysterious serpent mound

[jdj]

82. well, since he's not quasi modo

that only leavesone possibility.

[kysrsoze]

90. I can't believe how stupid these people must be

You know, if you just taped it to his lower back, nobody would have seen anything. This is obviously something - I think * needs a pat-down before the next debate.

[nomes]

93. new photo from second debate

See the wire between his tie and shirt?

Comments anyone? It may look like a fold in the still image, but if you watch the video it's obviously a wire.

members.cox.net/unmarked/002.wmv

[Carolab]

96. Yep.

It's a wire. Quack quack.

[justjones]

2. Then what the fuck was it? Also,Clover, can you provide link? Thnx. (n/t)

[clover]

10. www.cnn.com, believe or not! (nt)

[antonialee839]

63. It's a boil

Commander Bunnypants usually breaks out in boils when lying frustrated, or election stealing. It's a big rectangular boil.

[Bronco69]

3. Yet, the only other explanation they offer is that it is a

wrinkle in the fabric. I've never seen a perfectly rectangular wrinkle. They must think we're all idiots.

[LiberalFighter]

12. It would had been so much easier to say it was his bulletproof vest

[Kahuna]

13. A rectangle that remain in it's perfect retangular shape for 90 mins...

Who in the hell is stupid enough to believe that? :wtf:

[clover]

20. the first official response

was on MSNBC late last week, when olberman asked eskew for clarification, presenting him with the appropriate screen capture from debate #1, and eskew stated it was "the president's backbone."

[Kurovski]

42. It's his backbone?

Well, then it's as twisted as the man's mind.

[ibegurpard]

46. That was no backbone.

Unless he's a mutant.

[antonialee839]

64. It's definitely not a backbone

cowards do not possess backbones.

[kysrsoze]

91. Maybe they've made him into a complete human robot

They control his every move and statement. Of course, they obviously have to work the kinks out because all he does is babble and stutter. It's version 1.0.

[6th Borough]

67. Or a box turtle.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

103. Well he IS a mutant. But it's still not his backbone.

[Lorien]

47. A wrinkle several inches thick, that doesn't go away

when he hunches over. Yeah, Riiiight....

They lied us into war, they'll lie about damn near anything!

[Tight_rope]

54. Like the pResident would wear wrinkled clothes.....PLEEZZZZZZZZZZ!

[GreenArrow]

4. so what is it?

Did the Bush "campaign aides" offer an answer?

I think it's something that involves a self administered IV. They could solve the mystery very easily by just saying what it is.

[KayLaw]

5. Always

They just tear down the source. Are we supposed to believe the thing is a wrinkle?

[Minstrel Boy]

6. "Some people have been spending too many hours

looking at left-wing conspiracy Web sites."

Agreed, but not enough people.

I love how these guys think they "destroy" an argument by using the "C" word. The invocation of Elvis is never far behind.

[Philostopher]

11. Does Godwin's law need a new corollary?

If they invoke Elvis they lose the argument, like on Usenet, where the first person to bring up Hitler forfeits his argument?

[MatrixEscape]

16. No ....

We have been spending too much time living in the outcome of a huge, right-wing consipiracy being played out before our very eyes!

9/11, Fear & the Selling of American Empire:
http://hijackingcatastrophe.org/
(If you have not seen this yet, it is heavier duty than F/911)

Fool me once ... etc.

[wrate]

7. Being the cynic that I am, I have not believed this story until now.

When the Republican idiots give a logical explanation to what the bulge was, I will stop believing that * was wired.

[Seabiscuit]

39. Exactly.

All the repukes have done is feed the notion that he was wired by (1) offering ludicrous explanations for the large rectangular object and thick cord running from it to his neck - it was his backbone, it was a crease in his coat, yeah, riiiight... and (2) simply denying it was a receiver or part of a bullet-proof vest.

There's no question there was an object with a cord on his back. There are only two remaining possibilities: (1) it was a medical device such as a heart monitor; (2) it was a receiver.

If (1) then it tends to disprove all the fantastic crap about what an active, athletic guy Dubya is - hell, he can't even hold onto a Segway without falling off, or sit on a sofa eating a pretzel without falling on his face.

If (2), then there's no question he and his repuke buddies were trying to cheat during the debates.

[Daisey Mae]

8. This is great... I love to see them wiggle out of this.....

and furthermore I think it is great that ELVIS is gonna moderate the last debate......they better not be lying about it either... Oh, I forgot how foolish of me because....Bush and his troll people NEVER lie..... yeah sure.....

[jwirr]

80. If Elvis is going to

moderate I hope he will sing "In the Ghetto".

[amber dog democrat]

9. I suggest the SS folk assigned to Kerry's detail

Pat down the Prez before he goes on stage - just to make sure.

" Ah" Whats this ?? ??? ????? "

But even if he does have Chimp-speak Controllers, how much are they helping ?
This is great that it is on CNN. Let them KEEP denying it.

[LiberalFighter]

14. YESSSS Demand a live pat down by the SS

[clover]

17. for the president's safety

if for no other reason: if something unspecified has apparently attached itself to our president--that is, if a significant sample of the american electorate can believe their own eyes--then the folks protecting him must assess its potential danger.

[Ironpost]

73. who are you going to believe, them or your lying eyes

[Skittles]

34. or have them take their jackets off

nt

[clover]

15. the quality of this official response

and its tone is what irks me

[clover]

18. suggestion: speak truth to lame, misdirecting jokes (nt)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

19. FratBoy thinks he's Elvis.

[JoFerret]

31. When we all know that

Clinton is the real Elvis.

[Catshrink]

21. "wait a second, let me finish."

remember when * said that during the first debate? We couldn't figure out whom he was talking to -- his time wasn't up and neither Leher or Kerry were speaking to him. It seemed odd -- but, if he had been wired and KKKarl or KKKaren were giving him pointers, that explains it.

[bloom]

55. Also he was often just standing there

when it seemed like he should have been talking - but might have been "listening"

[NVMojo]

84. Does anybody remember the Diane Sawyer interview

with Mr. Bushidiot and his wife? That was a classic. He kept staring off into space like he was looking inside his brain for answers ...or was listening to an ear bud. His wife came off much smarter.

[kysrsoze]

92. Exactly. Ummm.....well......you know......

It was really obvious and instead of providing him quick answers, it made him look like a blundering idiot.

[LisaL]

22. Well, what are they going to say?

Even if he was wired, would they say that they had to wire him because he can't put 2 words together?
LOL.
I don't see them explaining what was that thing on his back either. Clearly looked like some sort of box, that ain't natural.
:eyes:

[radfringe]

23. wonder if during the 3rd debate

cameras will wander around bush*'s back

...think maybe a strip search is in order prior to the debate is warranted??

seems funny that he couldn't string a sentence together without excessive errrs and ummmms during the first debate, not as many errrs and ummmms during the second debate

some say it's because the "town-hall" format is more comfortable for him

so was he wired for the 1st and the errs/ummms were cover-ups for answers being fed and he wasn't wired for the 2nd because he was more "comfortable"?

in any event -- 3rd debate is same format as 1st -- so we shall see how the battle of bulge goes

[booksenkatz]

24. The longer everyone talks about this, the less attention

gets paid to this administration's ruinous policies and atrocious record. Few people are going to believe the wire story, anyway, so Rove is quite happy for this to be the #1 topic until Election Day. I say let it drop. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a simple empty cardboard box under Bush's suit, just to get us all speculating/talking about it so that we wouldn't talk about what really matters.

[Lorien]

50. The problem is that the public doesn't give a f*ck about real issues

Gitmo? No. Patriot act? Nyet. Abu Gharaib? Nope. No WMDs? Nada. Failures of 9/11? Uh uh.

Our tabloid culture, chock full of those that are intellectual sloths, can only focus it's short attention span on the trivial. Blue dresses, real estate deals, Janet's tit, etc. If it can be proven that Bush* cheated with a remote device, the public WILL be pissed. They can wrap their little minds around that concept... and besides, Americans HATE cheaters! If this is a Rove plot, it's a shabby one that can easily backfire, IMO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

66. I agree completely

the public will lash on to ONE issue. Let it be something this silly and shrub could lose this election fast!

[nomes]

94. I wish that were true

...but people, as Jen6 pointed out, just don't care about reality. They care about ENTERTAINMENT in this country. If this is a fun thing to believe, people are going to start believing it. What fun, what fun, they'll say. Fun like a presidential blow job -- fun like a screaming politician. Welcome to the US of A.

[Amigust]

25. By ridiculing and failing to answer adequately,

like his Guard absences, they have tacitly admitted the truth of the charges.

[scarface2004]

26. better that...

then a fucking right wing asshole like rush 'piece of shit' limpfuck!!

[dave123williams]

27. Interesting that they call it "Ridiculous" but they don't call it "Untrue"

What Woodward, Bernstein and Bradley would call a 'non-denial denial'.

[HuckleB]

29. Very astute point.

[ibegurpard]

45. Nor do they seem to offer an explanation for the VERY obvious

"bulge" on his back. What was it? The American people need to know. :D

[LibDemAlways]

100. I agree that it's "ridiculous"

that a person who calls himself President of the U-ni-ted States cannot appear in a public setting and answer questions without being fed the answers electronically by his handlers.

[HuckleB]

28. What was on the President's back?

Tell us. Show us. And end the story, if what you claim is true. If you can't do that, then your dismissal looks like more dishonesty. And we all know that dishonesty is the norm with the Bush team, and anything but ridiculous.

So it's time for show and tell, Scott. Whaddya got?

[Fovea]

30. A simple demonstration of the jacket he wore that night

would be very helpful.
Perhaps at his next photo op.

[JoFerret]

32. You mean that $15,000 French jacket

made by Georges of Paris. If it puckers like that you wuz robbed. But seriously - is the technology so clumsy it would need something that size? And isn't the placement not the best...all that backslapping in the post-debate spin room etc. I don't know anything about the sophistication of the technology but great rectangular chunks on the back seems rather primitive and risky.

[knitter4democracy]

59. Georges de Paris is his name

There's a great article on him in the last New Yorker. Interesting guy. He's a naturalized citizen of French descent, if I remember right.

[TorchTheWitch]

89. shameless extravigance

"You mean that $15,000 French jacket made by Georges of Paris."

I saw something about this recently on the news... although the price they quoted was between $25,000 and $45,000. Both Bush and Cheney get their suits from Georges. Cheney's excuse was that he didn't buy a new one for the debate but just wore one he already had... like the average voter is going to give a rat's ass - it still comes down to the fact that he wore the equivalent of what they'd spend on a car and working their butt's off for years to pay off.

It's stuff like this that sticks in the craw of people of average means. They may not be moved so much by important issues, but shameless extravigant excess like that will piss off the average person.

$25,000 to $45,000 for a friggin' SUIT... disgusting.

[kskiska]

33. They will NEVER admit he was wired. He'd be FINISHED.

If it were to become known publicly, before the election, that he CHEATED at the debates (as well as at other occasions) it would be DISASTROUS! Finally, there'd be actual PROOF that he is not qualified to be president. Kerry would have a field day with this. They're just hoping this will all go away.

[goclark]

40. And we won't let it go away!

:think:

Since they won't put us on the news to talk about serious issues, let's talk about this one. It would be better for them to be kind and fair to us in the media. They won't.

So, our only voice is the internet and Michael Moore.

At least we are not telling lies. There was absolutely something on his back. Let's hear more about it.

It is so"compelling."

It should lead into discussions about why Puppet Boy would even need a devise.

They are telling BIG LIES to stall for time.

Full court press.

[ninainsf]

49. I can't believe they took the risk

I think Rove thinks he's untouchable and can spin out of anything.

[LibDemAlways]

95. Whores on a local LA tv station last night

laughed it off, saying bulge was "an internet rumor" that the White House wouldn't even dignify with a response. Certainly not worthy of the kind of in-depth coverage reserved for Scott Peterson and Kobe.

[Robb]

35. What I like about this is how it illustrates the difference

between the two sides.

This much of a story about Kerry would be the next thing I hear about at the post office from the GOP types.

"You know, Kerry was wearing a wire at the debate." :eyes:

[PartyPooper]

36. Yeah, and Nixon once proclaimed, "I'm not a crook, I'm not a crook!"

The rest is history.

:eyes:

[Disturbed]

38. He won't be wearing it...

at the next debate. His handlers now know that Kerry will pat him on the back to check for that wrinkle.

[realcountrymusic]

53. Am I the only one who saw

Kerry DID pat Shrub's back right after they shook hands and as they were starting to turn away from each other and walk toward their respective stools at the second debate. I distinctly saw a flash of anger or surprise cross his Shrubiness's visage.

Has no one seen this on review of the debate footage?

On one other matter, it would *not* surprise me that the naked one would speak more haltingly and with more pauses when he *was* wired (first debate) than when he wasn't. It's quite hard to coordinate words coming in your ear a few seconds before they need to come out your mouth while you are speaking, and untill you get very good at it a pattern of pauses and hesitations would be quite typical. It would be harder -- and this presumes Shrub already has some skill since he's evidently been fed lines before -- if the lines had to be spontaneously created and adjusted in a situation requiring instant improvisation. First the feeder would have to compose the response, and that might introduce some hesitation into the chain.

I started out on this whole subject a cynic. I'm still dubious, mostly because a) the bulge is too damn big, whereas the technology for wireless transmitters much smaller than that is available OTC these days and b) because if caught it would almost single-handedly destroy the campaign.

But I'm still enjoying it.

RCM

[LibDemAlways]

99. They'll hide it in his boxers if they have to,

but he will be wearing it. No way would his handlers ever leave him out there to fend for himself in a debate with Kerry.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

104. Kerry should wink at the audience while he "pats down" the shrub.

[Moderator]

37. Clover

If you post in LBN, remember to ad the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/bush.rumor.ap/index.html

and also the correct title ( headline)
It should read: Bush aids deny internet rumor Bush was wired.

[vetwife]

41. Cut the Feed.. Surely we got one tech person to jam it !

If he was wired. Surely we got one person to cut the feed. Not all tech savy folks are partisan republicans. Maybe that is what happened in the 1st debate but make sure it happens in the last. He lies and cheats about everything. He was the kid who wrote the answers and the questions on his sleeve at school. He just went high tech !
Cut the feed ! Surely someone has the guts to do it at the studio !

[clover]

75. sorry, a slow learner who skims instruction manuals;thanks for heads-up(nt

[NBachers]

43. Don't need earphones

There's a device called the Neurophone that has two little 1" disks. You can place these disks anywhere on your body, and hear with your inner ear. I've got one- it works. So you don't even need earphones. Check it out at http://www.phisciences.com/index.html.

[Cheswick2.0]

56. page not found

[NVMojo]

87. the neurophone!

http://www.phisciences.com/products.html

they changed the link. KKKarl must have called them up. Bet that is where he got it!!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

44. Now we all know that Bush claims he talks directly to god

what he doesn't know is that 'god' is really Karen and/or Karl or whoever it is that is assigned to feed him his lines that day.

[JoFerret]

48. Was it a seam ?(Times of London)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1303782_2,00.html

William Hunt, who owns a tailor’s shop in Savile Row where bespoke suits cost between £2,000 and £3,000, insisted that no suit or shirt would form such a strange ridge.



“Without a shadow of a doubt, I would say that he had some kind of wire running up his back underneath his clothing. Not even the seams on a cheap suit would look like that. It must have been some kind of transmitter.”

<more>

Also the main Times story on the campaign LEADS with the rumor and puns in the headline about the race "coming down to the wire".http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1303782,00.html

[Tight_rope]

52. Have they ever NOT denied anything that was later found to be TRUE!

[Cheswick2.0]

57. a cooling vest

so he wouldn't sweat on camera?

[americanwomanone]

60. For His Hot Temper. n/t

[DrBB]

58. That's the HEADLINE I want to see, and I don't care

...whether they're laughing it off or anything else. "Questions have been raised." "If they had just addressed the issue head on, they could have killed it, but now it's metastasizing." These are the comments we want. I don't care if the whole thing is b.s., I just want to have them out there ineffectually denying it.

[AlFrankenFan]

61. Not internet suggestions...INTERNETS suggestions

Wait...there's a left-wing conspiracy? How come no one told me about it!

[nomes]

62. Second Debate, Wire Visible! Footage linked.

Between seconds 4 and 5 of the clip (from MSNBC footage) which I have linked below, a black wire is visible between Bush's Shirt and Tie. What is it?

members.cox.net/unmarked/002.wmv

[farmbo]

65. Squelch the rumors...show the media the suit!

Otherwise the whole world thinks you were wired.

[bamacrat]

68. well honestly

i wouldnt doubt if he were wired, but if he was then his "helpers" suck. either they too have have the iq of spam, or they couldnt make him sound too smart or it would be just blatantly obvious he had help.

[JoFerret]

69. Story is now on the front page of AOL.

.

[dkhbrit]

70. Let's be fair now

It could be his spine. You have to take into account the fact that he is only about the 3rd generation of his family to be standing upright.

[JoFerret]

79. Whatever it is...

....it now has a life of its own. They will have to find some kind of response soom to put this to bed.

[MADem]

71. I think we need to start calling

...ole weewee "The Hunchback of Coral Gables."

He can dish it out, let's see how well the little cheater can take it!

[LibDemAlways]

101. On Salon.com the other day he

was called Pres. Milli Vanilli. Would love to see his mug photoshopped on to a picture of both of those frauds.

[Lizzie Borden]

72. I,myself,...

am looking forward to seei8ng Elvis!

[Cats Against Frist]

74. This actually Rocks

We always fault the average Joe and Jane for having a short attention span.

This "wire" story has done what no Dems have been able to do as effectively as pukes, for years. Start a bullshit story that "catches on" and takes on a life of its own, despite the facts.

I am a skeptic -- I don't believe he was wired -- ON THE SURFACE -- deep down, however, I've seen the pics, I know the chimp, and I'm still not totally convinced that there wasn't. There is a seed of doubt.

It's kitchen table. My mom reported to me that all her friends were talking about it. Everyone except his die-hard supporters knows that he's a fucking idiot. This is a "seed of doubt," for those on the fence. They don't care if it's true or not.

[Skittles]

88. believe me

his die-hard supporters know he is a f***ing idiot too. No way they can't know.

[clover]

76. will the daily show run with this one? (nt)

[DaCheat]

77. Another Photo

Hi, first time user of the forums, and underaged Democrat. I found a photo as I was looking up the "Let Me Finish" mp3 on google. A bit clearer in this one IMO.

[Lorien]

83. Hi DaCheat

welcome to DU! :hi:

[JoFerret]

78. Was Bush hearing voices...?

It won't die.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=570750

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

81. Story is now on Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041009/od_afp/us_vote_debate_bush_041009205523

[GoddessOfGuinness]

86. Why don't they show the picture?

Are they afraid it might make people think too much?

[True_Blue]

85. He could be an android

and the unit glued to his back might be a battery that powers the Boy King.

[R Hickey]

97. There's a monkey on the back of the Presidency.

I think we need to hear from more tailors. What do experts in the field think of a suit that would bulge in such a way?

[K8-EEE]

98. But I Read He Was Wired On ALL The Internets!

Those damn internets! They oughta shut down at least half of them. Or you know what, just shut down all but one of them, damn them multiple internets!

LOL!! That cracked me up, hey remember when Bush I had some photo-op at a grocery store when he was running and he was all like, WOW! LOOK AT THIS STORE OF THE FUTURE! When will these high-tech scanning devices be available in regular stores? I swear to God! I remember seeing that -- 1992....the BFEE, they are so fucking out of touch!

[moonwalker]

102. 2nd Debate Video clearly shows Bush was WIRED!

Here is a link to the video of the wire: http://members.cox.net/unmarked/002.wmv

Why is this not on the news yet? All I can find is articles about the bump on Bush's back in the first debate....nothing about the actual wire clearly shown in the 2nd debate footage.

[nomes]

106. i've got a clearer picture of that

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

105. Was it LBJ who said, "while they're denying, they're losing", or something

like that? "While they're denying, you're winning" etc. Whether or not this is true, while it is in play, it's win win for us and lose lose for them. If it could be confirmed true it'd be virtually check mate.

I'm not sure either way. True or not it certainly doesn't change my opinion of the shrub. I would think it unlikely that shrubco would be so stupid as to do this. But then again, the whole history of their administration shows a strong belief in their ability to do whatever the hell they want, and that they are untouchable. So I wouldn't entirely discount it either.

To me, it almost doesn't really matter whether it's a wire or not, except if it could be proved that would virtually lock up the election. Short of that, we just score points while it's in play, and it's an issue of scoring the maximum points.

Even if they HAD wired him I'd be pretty sure they wouldn't for the last debate since the story is so active. But then again, this administration has never lacked for this kind of audacity.

[The White Rose]

107. They didn't expect him to hunch over like that.

If he'd stood up properly no-one would have noticed it nestled between his shoulder blades. Wanna bet that in the third debate he'll be ramrod straight?