Bush's mystery bulge

[Ruffhowse]

Oct. 8, 2004 | Was President Bush literally channeling Karl Rove in his first debate with John Kerry? That's the latest rumor flooding the Internet, unleashed last week in the wake of an image caught by a television camera during the Miami debate. The image shows a large solid object between Bush's shoulder blades as he leans over the lectern and faces moderator Jim Lehrer.

The president is not known to wear a back brace, and it's safe to say he wasn't packing. So was the bulge under his well-tailored jacket a hidden receiver, picking up transmissions from someone offstage feeding the president answers through a hidden earpiece? Did the device explain why the normally ramrod-straight president seemed hunched over during much of the debate?


Bloggers are burning up their keyboards with speculation. Check out the president's peculiar behavior during the debate, they say. On several occasions, the president simply stopped speaking for an uncomfortably long time and stared ahead with an odd expression on his face. Was he listening to someone helping him with his response to a question? Even weirder was the president's strange outburst. In a peeved rejoinder to Kerry, he said, "As the politics change, his positions change. And that's not how a commander in chief acts. I, I, uh -- Let me finish -- The intelligence I looked at was the same intelligence my opponent looked at." It must be said that Bush pointed toward Lehrer as he declared "Let me finish." The green warning light was lit, signaling he had 30 seconds to, well, finish.

Hot on the conspiracy trail, I tried to track down the source of the photo. None of the Bush-is-wired bloggers, however, seemed to know where the photo came from. Was it possible the bulge had been Photoshopped onto Bush's back by a lone conspiracy buff? It turns out that all of the video of the debate was recorded and sent out by Fox News, the pool broadcaster for the event. Fox sent feeds from multiple cameras to the other networks, which did their own on-air presentations and editing.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/08/bulge/index.html

Chimpy's a cheater!!!!

[Dookus]

1. I've seen

ONE picture that shows what looks like something. I've seen others that showed nothing.

The questions I have are:

1) what kind of receiver is worn in the middle of the back? Why not on the belt, where it's much less likely to be noticed?

2) What is the mechanism between the "receiver" and the earpiece?

3) If he was "wired", why did he do so damned poorly?

I think this is a lot of wishful thinking.

[Bluebear]

6. On the belt would be noticed if his little tails flew up....

This looks more like an FBI-style wire job.

[neomonkey]

7. That is a disgusting subject line! :( n/t

[LittleClarkie]

Even worse if you consider the bulge on his forehead in another thread

Dickhead, anyone?

[merh]

26. In the beginning of F911 when the opening credits are playing

and the different members of the admin are being made up and prempted for what appears to be television bits, the scene with Ashcroft has some guy prepping him and Ashcroft says:

"Make me look pretty, hahaha. . . I got a little air noise, don't turn it up too much, I don't want to blow my head off."

The guy is fooling with a transmitter/receiver attached to his back - it is up at his neck, but I bet it could be attached to the middle of his back.

No obvious signs of ear piece or wires, but then Moore doesn't show his ears very much!

It was weird to see that when I watched it on DVD tonite.

[VolcanoJen]

37. I've been wondering what Ashcroft meant by that!

Duh! Can't believe I didn't realize that he was being wired for audio when he said "don't want to blow my head off." Thanks, merh!

In Ashcroft's case, is it possible he was being wired so that he could hear a remote reporter's questions?

[merh]

38. Yeah, I thought of that. It was just so weird, him making that

comment and the receiver being attached to his upper back. Point is that the admin is accustomed to using this equipment. Was Ashcroft being wired to take questions or to give one of his press releases?

It was odd.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

35. It could be something as simple as a cell phone

with a short range Bluetooth earpiece. This would have the advantage of not being scanned successfully by a standard frequency scanner-- it's illegal to sell or modify a scanner to pick up cell freqs (not to say they don't exist-- do a google and start reading!).

Although it's a mystery as to why such a thing would be strapped to his back, because a cell could fit nicely into any one of his pockets.

Perhaps it's just the bulge from his flak jacket-- it's my theory that's why his clothes are always so ill-fitting.

[VolcanoJen]

36. About the earpiece, from the Salon article:

So what was it? Jacob McKenna, a spyware expert and the owner of the Spy Store, a high-tech surveillance shop in Spokane, Wash., looked at the Bush image on his computer monitor. "There's certainly something on his back, and it appears to be electronic," he said. McKenna said that, given its shape, the bulge could be the inductor portion of a two-way push-to-talk system. McKenna noted that such a system makes use of a tiny microchip-based earplug radio that is pushed way down into the ear canal, where it is virtually invisible. He also said a weak signal could be scrambled and be undetected by another broadcaster.

I remember watching the D-Day press conference from Normandy live, and many of us here on DU were going nuts, because you could clearly hear a voice feeding lines to the President. I think in the end, the general conclusion/consensus reached at DU was that the voice was the President's, and that what we were hearing was a bad, delayed audio feed... or something. The Salon article suggests that Bush may be practicing a common technique used by reporters on remote stand-ups - taping the audio of a story, playing it back into an earpiece, and repeating lines just after hearing them, "managing to sound spontaneous and error-free." :shrug: This suggestion really makes me want to review that D-Day press conference again.

I have a feeling this will turn into a whole lot of nothing, but so far, the Bush campaign's utter silence on the issue is notable, as is the Kerry's campaign.

[Dookus]

40. Hi Jen

I question how anybody can look at that "bump" and determine it's "electronic".

As to speaking WHILE hearing something in your ear, I doubt Bush could carry it off. He can't speak under the BEST of circumstances - trying to repeat something in his ear would be impossible for him.

[VolcanoJen]

41. I'm willing to believe it's not electronic.

But I really would like to know what it actually is. I initially assumed the photo had been photoshopped, but Salon insists that you can see the back bulge clearly in C-SPAN's version of the debate, around the 23-minute mark.

If anyone has Time-Warner or Satellite On-Demand, you can watch C-SPAN's coverage of the debate; it's free, on the I-Choice channel (Channel 1 on my system). I think I might just go check it out, out of morbid curiousity. :-)

ON EDIT: So I just fast-forwarded through the on-demand C-SPAN debate, and there is no cutaway shot at 23 minutes. Maybe the online version is different, and that's what the Salon reporter was referring to? Could it be a bulletproof vest, and if so, wouldn't Kerry be wearing one, too?

ON SECOND EDIT: The version on www.cspan.org shows the cutaway to Bush's back at 22:58. It's the C-SPAN-3 feed.

By the way, hi baby! :hi:

[LisaLynne]

2. But, if he was being coached ...

wouldn't he have done better? Unless ... What if they had it all set up, but then something went wrong with the equipment and he couldn't quite hear what they were saying! Ah!!! :tinfoilhat:

[BuelahWitch]

19. He was probably so flustered and mad

that he couldn't concentrate on "the little voice in his head." That Bad Man Kerry was saying mean things about him! Bad, bad Kerry! ;-)

[LiberalFighter]

21. He had call waiting and god was calling

[notadmblnd]

3. I don't know anything about it

if it's an authentic photo someone would be saying something about it.

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. I noticed it during the broadcast

I was watching C-SPAN, and noticed that lump.

All I can say is, I don't put it past the Chimp and his zookeepers.

[0007]

22. I watched c-span and never once did c-span show anything

other than head shots of the two debaters on a split screen.

[girl gone mad]

39. I've got it on Tivo.

I just re-watched the beginning, and they do show Bush's back for a few seconds, just after the candidates shake hands and go to their podiums.

I did see a lump on Bush's back, but the resolution on my 27 inch tv isn't good enough to make out whether or not it's a well defined square as in the photo or just a wrinkle.

[VolcanoJen]

43. It's at the C-SPAN website.

www.cspan.org

Scroll down to Video/Audio - Recent Programs... the "bulge" is clear as day, at 22:58 into the feed.

This version is the feed from C-SPAN-3. C-SPAN-1's feed the night of the debate had the split-screen and no cutaways, as you mentioned.

If you have Time Warner or any kind of I-Choice On-Demand service, you can watch the C-SPAN-1 version for free.

[0007]

54. I was unaware that it was on c-span3.

Thanks for the information. I'll be looking for another view tonight.

[newsguyatl]

18. it is authentic

i remember seeing it the night of the debate and wondering what the hell it was.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

55. I saw it too

I wondered if he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but thought, why would he need it there, where there was so much security?

[Zech Marquis]

51. I'm sure Kerry saw it too

not like having an earpiiece connected to Karl Rove or Karen Hughs helped him out any!

[DoYouEverWonder]

52. It's more than just the bulge in the upper middle of his back

There is a cord (?) from the top of his right shoulder that runs down to the box.

A bullet proof vest wouldn't have a cord running up to the top of his shoulder.

He's definitely wearing something more than a shirt and a vest under his jacket.

[XanaDUer]

4. Actually, he's so nuts it's probably NOT safe to say he wasn't packing...

But I am sure his handlers wanted to feed him answers.

[slutticus]

5. Was he wearing a bullet-proof vest?

Maybe it's that.

[beaconess]

42. That's possible -

Normally, the president speaks from behind a special bullet-proof podium. During the debate, he spoke from a podium provided by the Debate Commission and probably not nearly as secure as the White House podium he usually uses. It's quite possible that, under the circumstances, Secret Service had him wear a vest.

[wurzel]

8. I don't really believe this. But it might explain why he was "distracted"

But no one could cheat and do as badly as he did.

[Ellen Forradalom]

9. "Milli Vanilli President" haha

little zinger at the end of the article

[auburngrad82]

46. Adds new meaning to "puppet dictatorship"

[napi21]

10. Naw, I checked it out too. IT's just a pucker a suit coat makes

when you take certain positions. This subject is just silly.

[newsguyatl]

11. wow, salon's picked it up now!

i wasn't going to say anything, but after reading this, it does make you wonder.


the white house can easily clear this up by just answering the question: "what WAS that bulge under his jacket?"

[demosincebirth]

12. I seen it also and was wondering what it was.

[Atman]

14. Oh, come on!

Did you read the whole article on Salon? One of the conditions of the "debate commission" was that NO CAMERAS BE PLACED BEHIND the president...but Fox did, anyway.

AND, if you look closely, there IS a wire running up towards his left shoulder.

AND, it says that a camerman at the RNC was asked what frequency he was on prior to Bush's speech (so his set was interfering with Bush's, presumably).

This is pretty obvious. That's why there were all the restrictive rules...Kerry had none, Bush had a billion, and when they were ignored, I think it threw them completely off. Possibly, fearing someone had discovered it, they didn't use it during the debate, and left Bush high and dry? Or, someone was indeed on the same frequency and jammed him?

Anyway you look at it, it appears Bush really was wired! Fucking pussy dickwad!

[Mr_Spock]

15. I noticed it live while watching the debate - seemed solid enough to me

although I don't believe any of this cheating crap. If he did, it was a miserable failure, so that would be God's lesson to him.

[autorank]

16. Re: "Mission Accomplished" -- That's no mystery, that's a sock!

[lectrobyte]

17. if he was wired, they'd have had something way more high tech

than that. It's either part of some body armor, or a battery pack for the two wireless mics they wore for the debate, or a "gather" where his suit was tailored. I wear my tinfoil hat 24 hours a day, but this one just doesn't wash, not even considering that if someone was feeding him answers, then why didn't he do better?

[zulchzulu]

20. Which bulge do you mean?

[ogsball]

23. Probably why he blurtted out

"he forgot Poland!" too.

[TrogL]

24. It may be part of his body armour.

Here's a picture of one manufacturer's jacket.



See the square in the middle of the back.

[Mortos]

30. Negative.

You are looking at the front of the vest. That pocket in the middle is for a trauma plate (a thin steel plate to further protect vital organs). The one I wore when I was a cop had two velcro straps on each side that attached front and back. The trauma plate in the center and nothing on the back.

Now I am not saying that what is in the picture is not some high tech presidential vest with new gizmos on it but I am saying most conventional bullet proof vests don't have anything bulgy on the back.

[NervousRex]

49. Wrong

Here's the front of the vest:

[AmerDem]

25. Great article..Next question to you electronic wizards!

The story is clearly out and Kerry's camp is well aware of it. Is there a way for Kerry's people to jam any and all frequency to stop this cheating fuck in his tracks?

[txindy]

31. Sure

If you have enough devices to jam every single frequency that the networks aren't using.... I'd go for high-pitched feedback, myself. Or nails on a chalkboard. Or tweeting birds. :)

[AmerDem]

34. how bout

The sound of a big shit hitting the water?

[Hubert Flottz]

47. If they could, they would have microwaved Dick's pacemaker!

I think it was Cheney's hand and arm that works Shrub's mouth all the time!

[Kazak]

27. How long was that stare anyway?

Has anyone actually timed it? I'm guessing five or six seconds.

[rocktivity]

28. Shouldn't that read, "Bush's OTHER Mystery Bulge?"

:headbang:
rocknation

[txindy]

32. LOL! But you forgot Nu-nu!

And it scares me that I know this. :scared: ;)

[eridani]

44. There is actually a rather mundane explanation for that--

--not involving socks.


http://www.liberalslant.com/wdj052003.htm

"Look at the tough way he walks - no, dare I say - struts across the flight deck! What a guy! What a real man!" Yeah, well you'd "strut" like that too if you were too stupid to release your parachute harness crotch straps like the other real pilots did. Oh well, c'est la vie!

[Kazak]

29. Think they'll dare try it again?

They've gotta know people are on to 'em.

[gemlake]

33. bush* wore an ear piece at a D-day event?

from salon: "Suggestions that Bush may have using this technique stem from a D-day event in France, when a CNN broadcast appeared to pick up -- and broadcast to surprised viewers -- the sound of another voice seemingly reading Bush his lines, after which Bush repeated them."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

45. The Bulge:

That's easy...


He just moved the cotton he used to stuff his crotch in his flight suit to his back...

[liberal N proud]

48. He should be frisked before the debate or strip searched

just to make sure he does not have any devices on him!
National Security warrents it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. It was a potato...and he still can't get the placement right.

;) :hi:

[npincus]

53. WOW- how can we jam his transmission?

So, maybe that's why Baker negotiated NO WALKING AROUND at the dabate.

[npincus]

56. emailed article to Drudge

but he doesn't have the balls to print it