MSNBC did a long segment on "The Bulge"

[VolcanoJen]

They interviewed Dave Lindorff from Salon, who is discussing Salon.com's "bulge" coverage:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/13/transmitter/

He absolutely affirms that the "Bulge" is a low-wattage transceiver that broadcasts to a wireless earpiece hidden deep inside the President's ear canal. He says he has talked to the Bush campaign, as well as many experts in this kind of technology, and that Salon has examined many photos.

The MSNBC reporter says that the main reason it couldn't be a transmitter is because Bush did so poorly in the first debate.

MSNBC titled the story "The Battle of the Bulge." I can't believe this thing has legs... wow.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. I hope enough independents see this and vote the Cheater out!

[Triana]

2. this?

http://www.comtek.com/IFBCueing/ifbcueing.html

[benburch]

7. Exactly that.

:)

[krkaufman]

47. Actually... I expect Bush's earpiece was surgically implanted...

... in order to conceal it.

... explaining why he's postponing his health check-up and physical until after the election... and perhaps explains one or two of his "bicycle crashes" -- which were cover for any scars or abrasions from the implant.

The only mystery is what went wrong with the receiver during the first debate, causing such a miserable performance.

</tinfoil>

[uncle ray]

60. hey, that's not a popular opinion!

but i agree. if * was wired, they have the best possible technology to choose from, i don't think we would ever be able to see the unit.

i'm going with the theory that * was fitted with an EMPTY black box. if he was caught, they would explain it was just a trap to fool dems. if they didn't get caught, all we can do is speculate, and spend our time debating radio units and who is stealing yard signs, not hammering * on the issues and getting out the vote. seems to be working wonderfully.

[loyalsister]

65. That performance wasn't "miserable"

it was a fully intentioned and accomplished a lot for him.
It lowering the expectations
Got out a little propaganda about "hard work" that plays with some less politically astute people who were troubled by the possibility that he didn't actually work for a living because of that silver spoon reputation.
Made him look like a victim a few times. It's classic narcissism. (They turn empathy on it's head. They don't show any whatsoever. The trick is to get people to feel sympathy for them instead.) Some people felt bad for him when he was "confused."
However, he began to implode during the second debate. The criticism was too much for him. It will be interesting to see what happens tonight. The victim may reappear, because after the last performance he needs sympathy. Although, he may carry it too far. He's probably full of self pity. He has been criticized in front of people and his ego is smarting.
Narcissists are brilliant con artists, but they are at the mercy of their enormous need for approval.

[VolcanoJen]

19. Great find, Triana!

I'm really starting to become a believer on this issue!

[swag]

3. I'd say that the main reason it must be a transmitter is that Bush

did so poorly in the first debate.

Imagine some Roveian dipshit shouting shit into your ear while you were trying to be folksy and semi-coherent.

What would you do? Besides shout "Let Me FINISH!" every now and again, you'd probably look like a hopeless aphasic boob who was unable to practice his love, etc...

[benburch]

4. What did I start?

As far as I can tell, I was the first to point out Bush's earpiece, which I did on the Mike Malloy Show back in early 2001...

[swag]

8. You are great and good.

[Beetwasher]

5. Part of The Reason Bush Did Poorly Was Because of The Transmitter

He was waiting to hear the answers from his coach. Thus the long pauses and the deer in the headlights look...He's also THAT incompetent...The earpiece is the only thing that explains his bizarre "let me finish!" remark.

[VolcanoJen]

11. I hadn't thought of that "Let me finish!" remark vis-a-vis "The Bulge."

When he blurted out "let me finish!" in the middle of an answer, in response to nobody, with plenty of time still on the clock, I immediately thought it was the weirdest moment of the entire debate.

Makes more sense now, in this context.

[Thrill]

6. The power of Message Boards and Bloggers

Its hillarious

[lancdem]

9. God, I'd love for the Kerry people

to figure out how to scramble the signal during tonight's debate. That would be priceless!

[City Lights]

22. They said the signal is already scrambled and that the

bulge on the chimp's back is what unscrambles it. It would be hilarious to disrupt this someway - by feeding fake lines to the chimp, or by blocking the unscrambling.

[hippiechick]

64. ... feed him the lyrics from JJ Cale's 'Cocaine'

:evilgrin:


:hippie:

[Killarney]

10. I think having a receiver is what made Bush look so bad!

That's why he would ask for 30 more seconds and then stand there and waste 10 seconds being silent... he was listening! The stupid receiver trick probably made him do worse than he would have done without it.

To say that Bush did poorly in the debate is no proof that he did not have a receiver.

[benburch]

13. I agree,,,

Obviously his handlers are scared to death of him having to speak on his own.

[Skittles]

26. with good reason

nt

[Carni]

12. Well if nothing else

Maybe this will prevent stupid from wearing it tonight LOL

[VolcanoJen]

15. Did he wear it in *both* debates, or just the first one?

You know, when this bulge thing first came out, I thought it was a bunch of horseshit. Now, I'm not so sure.

Thing is, to me, why on earth would Bush's handlers have allowed this? Wouldn't they have been concerned that the "bulge" would be noticed, and discussed? I realize there was a strict "no cameras behind the podium" rule that was broken; were Bush's handlers really counting on the media not to break that rule?

[Ripley]

25. I agree with you VJ.

I'm still not convinced it's a transmitter. That would be so obvious and so over the top. The podium rule doesn't matter, because people are saying they saw it on Friday when he was walking around. Frankly I didn't see it when he was walking around and I saw video square and clear of his back.

:shrug:

[ParanoidPat]

43. "obvious and so over the top"

Like waging a "preemptive" invasion against a fundamentally disarmed sovereign nation based on lies? :shrug:

Like condoning torture to elicit confessions? :shrug:

Like holding prisoners as "illegal combatants" without any legal representation? :shrug:

Like requiring "loyalty oaths" to attend taxpayer funded campaign events? :shrug:

Like "free speech zones" in a free country? :shrug:

I could go on but I think you get my drift. :evilgrin:

Over the top is his style! :(

[Ripley]

54. Okay, okay okay okay okay okay okay.

I get your POINT. Sheesh, was that Mel Gibson conspiracy movie modeled after you? I'd like to see your house. ;)

[Mike Daniels]

61. Same here

What with all of the "you can't use this, you can't use that" restrictions, I would think someone would have frisked or patted down Kerry and Bush to make sure they didn't have any contraband items that they could produce.

Light, shadow and angle can play tricks and people are basing their assumptions on one or two still shots.

If I saw moving footage that had this lump showing for more several continuous frames I'd be inclined to give it some credence. But given the way these debates have been stage managed, I find it hard to believe that these candidates weren't given the fine-toothed comb treatment just before they stepped on camera.

[RafterMan]

31. He wore it during both.

I think maybe the difference in performance was due to the volume of the receiver. Remember how he mumbled through the first debate and shouted through the second?

Isn't that what happens to anyone's speech when they change the volume on their walkman? It was probably too quiet the first time and they overcompensated after the disaster, making it too loud.

I'm hoping Dem dirty tricksters can find a way to send some feedback into that earpiece. I'd love to see him in the middle of an answer suddenly buckle over, clutching his head and screaming, "Turn it off! Oh, Jesus Christ turn it off!". That would almost pay for the last four years.

[merh]

45. I read somewhere that Faux news wasn't supposed to photograph

from the rear. :shrug: *&co. didn't expect his back to be photographed.

Tonight, they may shove/hide the receiver/descrambler in some body cavity, so watch how he staggers or struts on stage!

(will look for links on no photos in the rear)

[DemocracyInaction]

14. They should do a cavity search of Bush tonight

Kerry should demand it. Or pull the goddamn jacket off him at the end of the debate himself!!!

[VolcanoJen]

16. John Edwards wants a "pat-down."

Edwards Tells Leno Theory on Bush 'Lump'

"I think tomorrow, before the debate, John Kerry ought to pat him down," Edwards said, referring to the final Bush-Kerry matchup, scheduled for Wednesday in Arizona.

:-)

[atreides1]

17. But

If it was a low-wattage transceiver, the signal could have been interfered with because of all the other communications equipment,
and he was basically only getting bits and pieces of information.


Anyone here with experience on this topic.

[Rose Siding]

18. Edwards told Leno that Kerry should pat him down tonight

They joked about it. It's definitely in the mainstream.

[Insomnicole]

21. It's gone global.

Our local cable lineup carries MHz programming, and I sometimes watch the French news program "Le Journal." (Half the time, their coverage of US issues is better than what I get here.) I almost fell off the sofa when "Le Journal" did a segment on The Hump on Monday night!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

44. I saw that too - on TV5

On my DishNetwork I get several foreign stations on a second satellite dish. This story really has gone global. I work in a Chinese law office and they were talking about it being in Chinese language newspapers as well.

[sherilocks]

20. I saw the interview

I liked Dave Lindorff's response which was essentially that * couldn't handle listening to his handlers and talking at the same time. * got befuddled.

[bush equals idiot]

23. I said it at the time.

When that official campaign spokeswoman came out and officially denied that there was anything there, I knew it was going to be her worst mistake ever. That's all the media needed to treat the story as mainstream news and not Enquirer type gossip. That day, all the channels were all over it on the nightly news.

I said soon as I heard her on record statement, she put one foot in the shit bucket now. And thank you for doing it. Not only are people going to keep digging to verify this (and if they do, the Bushrhoid is internationally exposed as a cheater) but eyes will be looking at his every single little detail now to see what else they can discover.

Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

[Ripley]

24. Did MSNBC talk about the illegality of it?

I don't understand. If mainstream media is now running with this and it seems to be more credible. WTF aren't they hammering him on cheating? Why doesn't one of these Salon people, or transmitter experts explain how this is not allowed during a debate and therefore he should be impeached?????

Glad to hear it's not a dead story, but someone in Kerry's camp needs to bring this serious matter up with Tweety or Wolf while they're on the pre-debate shows.

[VolcanoJen]

27. The MSNBC reporter seemed flabbergasted.

He was stammering, and seemed completely unconvinced. He recognized the gravity of the accusation, and did everything he could to defend Bush.

[Ripley]

30. Damn!

I've recently gotten MSNBC in my cable line up and have thought they are pretty fair in their reporting. I quit watching CNN for the most part.

I know Olberman talked about it, but wasn't it done in a "humorous" way?

This is shocking if true, no doubt. But it is their freaking job to dig and question, not just be flabbergasted!!! I'm hoping it's all the talk on the predebate shows and everyone, EVERY FUCKING PERSON ON EARTH will be looking for it and taping it too!

[AmerDem]

33. nah, you have it wrong

Sam Shane is against shrub there is no doubt about it. The guy is a news reader nothing more and takes orders from the producers on how they want the story to tilt. When given the chance I have personally seen Shane do his best to slap around shrub.

[VolcanoJen]

40. Well, that's encouraging.

:D

[Skittles]

28. was the issue of electronic devices

not covered in those 32 pages of rules?

[Ripley]

32. From what I hear others saying...

they can't even take crib sheets...so I think this is so far out of the ballpark on rule breaking...he deserves abu Graib treatment and no less!

[Skittles]

34. Cheney/Rove already have Bush on a leash

:D

[Ripley]

36. Snort!

Apparently so. I have to say my first impressions of this story was "no freaking way"... I may stand corrected. Fingers crossed.

[Love Bug]

55. Exactly -- where is the outrage?

I mean, the freepers went ballistic when Kerry pulled a PEN out of his pocket and now Boosh is cheating!!

Oh,,, what am I saying ,,,, unless there is a BLUE DRESS involved Boosh is free to do anything and the "liberal" press just rolls over.

<channelling Emily Litella> Never mind!

[AmerDem]

29. Sam Shane did a good piece on it

It is now confirmed shrub is a cheat. We need to push this as a priorty. Wouldn't it be great if Kerry were to make a quick comment about this tonight. It would totally throw the coward chimp for a loop but I highly doubt it would happen. Nice to dream. :D

[LibDemAlways]

51. Kerry should simply turn to

the chimp at the beginning of the debate and with a big smile and a wink say "No Milli Vanilli tonight, George. I think the American people would like to hear what YOU have to say."

He'd turn purple. It would be great.

[KayLaw]

35. Now I'm starting to believe it

It would be hard to have another person's voice in your head and try to talk at the same time, but maybe Bush is somewhat used to it. This issue sure makes tonight's debate especially interesting.

[Ripley]

38. But here's what bugs me.

I've seen pics circulating here that show a bulge in his suit while he's lighting a menora and in his tshirt while driving his pickup truck. WTF would he be wearing it in those situations?

I think logically a medical device of some kind or brace is more plausible.

[VolcanoJen]

42. Salon's Dave Lindorff says the Secret Service uses the transceiver.

When not "Presidentin'," and while Chimperor is busy on his expansive "ranch" chopping cedar, it's a method the Secret Service uses to keep in constant contact with him.

[Ripley]

48. In the age of CELL PHONES...

Really now, that sounds like a stupid answer. And everyone knows damn well they are always within 20 feet of him. It's not like he is ever out of their sight!

Well, maybe when he's on Poppy's swift boat feeding his dog live fish. :eyes:

[VolcanoJen]

50. I thought it was a pretty weird explanation, too.

But, at any rate, that's the one Lindorff gave. :shrug:

[Ripley]

52. This story is driving me crazy.

On the one hand, I obviously believe these thugs lie, cheat, steal and take candy from babies. But on the other hand, they are incompetent, inept, flaccid and miserable failures on just about every issue I can think of.

So all I can do is hope my skepticism is wrong this time and they get busted. If nothing else someone needs to directly ask the Smirkaholic what the hell is on his back. Then we shall see!

[VolcanoJen]

57. Well, at the least, the Freepers have stopped accusing Kerry of cheating.

Remember, just after the first debate, when Drudge posted photos and video of Kerry pulling "mysterious papers" from his suitcoat pocket?

:shrug:

Turns out it was only Kerry's pen... and notice the silence on the cheating issue from the freep-types ever since. :D

[RafterMan]

39. There's a great demonstration of how it works

in the movie Broadcast News, iirc.

My understanding is that that depiction isn't too far off from reality.

[seabeyond]

37. i think they played the first debate the way they planned

think about it. for four years bush has gotten away with just saying a talking point. the same ones over and over. does it with his handpicked audience. we have all bitched about it.

why it didnt work he was beside a man that answered. so you had the non answer, vs answer to compare by. i think with the earpiece he was being told to say, terrorism, folk, remember terrorism. adn that is what he said, just didnt work on this audience

i think thye used it for the second debate too. just the info fed was actual sentences instead of attack, plead beg....it was an actual sentence bush repeated. they had to change the debate style. i think he needs a feed much more with this style. it is what is now expected of him, can get away with the nothing like he can on the campaign trail

[kentuck]

41. I saw it.....it was obvious.

But who am I gonna believe, the Bush campaign or my own lying eyes???

[Arkana]

46. I can't believe this has survived as long as it has...

I'm not doubting its veracity--nothing is beyond BushCo--but I would have thought the "librul" media would have squashed it long ago.

[AmerDem]

49. The guy from Salon said...

that based on shrub's handlers giving so many different explantions for the bulge, was enough to start making people notice and look more into it.

[CityHall]

53. Does this mean the other rumors are true too?

Does he really have a hidden love child?
Did he really pay for a girlfriend's abortion?
Is there really a tape of him snorting coke?
Is there really a tape of him using the N word?

[LibDemAlways]

56. It's wonderful that this story is

getting some play, but by not demanding to know what the bulge is, the corporate media continues to cover for him. If a Dem was spotted with a suspicious bulge like this in a Presidential debate, the media outcry would be so great that the candidate would have to come forward immediately with a full explanation and the device itself, whatever it is.

As an aside, Letterman had a really funny bit about the bulge last night. A t-bone steak was taped to the back of Rupert Gee from the Hello Deli and a woman was brought in to feel it and determine what it was. Anything that keeps this in the news is good for us, and it makes it harder for the chimp to pull the same stunt tonight. They're probably spending today shoving the device up his ass. Look for him to hobble onstage.

[blue neen]

58. ROFL!

He always did talk out of his ass.

[seabeyond]

59. shit Kerry mentions reeves message Saturday

hardball says i want to hear it or i dont believe it and am going to call Kerry a liar. ya......they would go after the Dem. why bush is so brave, he continuously gets away with things

[hippiechick]

63. 'hobble ontstage' ... with a goofy ass grin on his face ...

:evilgrin:

:hippie:

[TrogL]

62. What if it really is a back brace

Then everybody has egg on their face.

He could claim there's been a coverup just like with Roosevelt and go for the sympathy vote.