John Kerry's "Mystery Object" at the debates solved.

[JohnnyRingo]

Buckhead and the Freeps can go get some sleep now.
I guess they aren't used to a president with a memory:

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/31273.htm

October 4, 2004 -- Was John Kerry trying to pull something at the debate last week?
That question was burning up the Internet yesterday after a slo-mo review of the footage showed the Massachusetts senator taking an object out of his right pocket before the first question.

<snip>

But the mystery was solved when The Post reviewed a Fox News Channel feed from Thursday's debate: Kerry pulled out . . . a black pen.

Kerry campaign spokesman David Wade remained angry at the bloggers' guilt-by-insinuation.

"The right-wing attack machine will say anything to steal a debate do-over," he said.

"We plead guilty to having a pen."

The Bush campaign did not comment.

[cheshire]

1. Idiots * did the same thing, I saw it on some video earlier. It was posted

here.

[MsConduct]

2. Question:

What the hell did all the fools think it was?



Peace

[HR_Pufnstuf]

3. yale pen

[Arancaytar]

6. Re: "* did the same thing"

Yes, but a pen is a weapon only in the hands of someone who can write.

[Judi Lynn]

4. This is so sad. Here's the clip from the rightwinger's INDC website

It requires Quicktime to see that terrifying moment the freepers were sure showed Kerry sneaking out his illegal notes:

http://www.dailyrecycler.com/blog/2004/10/winners-never-cheat.html

You may be amused, if you can stand it, checking the comments by this pathetic bastard:

John Kerry Violated Debate Rules (UPDATED with Close-Up Still)

*** INDC Journal and Daily Recycler Exclusive ***

John Kerry brought prohibited material into last Thursday's Presidential Debate. From section 5, pages 4-5 of the binding "Memorandum of Understanding" (pdf file) that was negotiated and agreed upon by both political campaigns:

(c) No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by either candidate.
...
(d) Notwithstanding subparagraph 5(c), the candidates may take notes during the debate on the size, color and type of paper each side prefers. Each candidate must submit to the staff of the Commission prior to the debate all such paper and any pens or pencils with which a candidate may wish to take notes during the debate, and the staff or commission will place such paper, pens and pencils on the podium, table or other structure to be used by the candidate in that debate.

(Emphasis mine)

As indicated by the linked video (fullscreen mode is very compelling), John Kerry clearly removes what look like note cards or papers from his right jacket pocket, and then places them on the podium at the beginning of the debate.

1. A single candidate's use of prepared notes could provide a distinct advantage in the debate, hence their mutual prohibition.

2. While the nature of the object is inconclusive based on the angle and resolution of the video, the rules clearly state that "o ... tangible things may be brought into the debate by either candidate." That includes notes, Mont Blanc pens, magic hats, you name it.

INDC Journal and the Daily Recycler aren't going to hyperventilate and claim that this violation influenced the outcome of the first debate, but it's certainly reasonable to request that the rules are followed by the Kerry Campaign and enforced by the Debate Commission for the remaining two contests.

UPDATE: For anyone that still doesn't understand exactly why this rule is important, see my second comment.
(snip)

http://www.indcjournal.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poor, incomplete things, aren't they? They lack so much........

[HR_Pufnstuf]

5. yeah, no writings.

[Radio-Active]

13. what is that?

Is that Bush with his cheatsheet?

[Judi Lynn]

7. It must have been like getting stabbed for Murdoch companies

to discover they did NOT have another angle of attack on Kerry! God, that must have KILLED them!

Many blogs offered links to the "Pocket-gate" footage. One, INDC Journal, even posted frame-by-frame stills purporting to show Kerry pulling out a notecard and placing it onto the podium.

But the mystery was solved when The Post reviewed a Fox News Channel feed from Thursday's debate: Kerry pulled out . . . a black pen.
(snip)

You can be sure they'll be ready to go all over again, looking for anything they can interpret as a way to damage the Democratic candidate.

Fair and balanced, of course.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Ha ha. Here it is again. (What the hell is World Net Daily?)

Did Kerry cheat on debate?
Video shows candidate taking paper from pocket in apparent breach of rules

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 4, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern



© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

First it was Dan Rather's "Bush Guard memos" whose legitimacy quickly disintegrated when they fell under the high-wattage scrutiny of bloggers and cyber-analysts.

Now Sen. John Kerry's performance at last Thursday's presidential debate is coming under similar online analysis, resulting in claims the Democratic candidate violated the debate's rules by using a "cheat sheet."

Debate video shot from the back of the stage clearly shows Kerry removing what appears to be a piece of paper from his jacket at the start of the debate.

If so, he broke the rules.
(snip)

However, all weekend, websites like The Daily Recycler – and especially Little Green Footballs, with a stunningly clear close-up video clip from the debate – have played and replayed what looks like Kerry pulling a piece of paper from his jacket pocket while his back was to the audience, then unfolding it while at the lectern.
(snip)

Drudge added that upon pointing out that, according to the rules both campaigns agreed to, even taking a pen from jacket pocket would have been a violation, the Kerry staffer laughed and said, "See you at the inauguration, Drudge."
(snip)

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40749

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What abuncha losers.

[geek tragedy]

9. What idiotic dishonest shills.

We should thank them for tanking their own credibility.

Losers.

[VOX]

10. Talk about desperation...

Is **this** all they can find to worry about?

:shrug:

[dumpster_baby]

11. But it DID look like papers!

You cannot deny that. It did look like he took some papers out, just through an accident of the video.

WHy are you guys so surprised that they would seize on this? Are you denying that you would do the same, were the circumstances reversed?

[SHRED]

12. Why give them ANYTHING damn it!

Kerry needs to follow the rules to the tee. We need NO distractions.

I reviewed the video and both canidates fiddled with something but you can only see Kerry reaching into his coat.

This is such incidental bullshit. I mean what could Kerry have brought to provide such an ass kicking besides what he did bring: his superior intellect and skill.

The GOP is whinning bad and lets make sure we don't give them a fraction of an inch!!!

[npincus]

14. Drdge, that piece of shit, still has this 'scandel' on his web page

I just sent him a nasty-gram with Post link, but I know he doesn't give a rat's ass about the truth