the iDebate rages on

You know, even with more pressing issues at hand but two weeks from the big election, there are still a lot of rumors and hubbub going around about what might have happened during the debates, what with G.W. Bush's mystery-bulge-in-the-suit. We're so glad someone finally set the record straight.

[Via Joi Ito]

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

... but what podcast was GW listening to?

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

... but what podcast was GW listening to?

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Read the article at the website above.

Look at the evidence here:
http://homepage.mac.com/c.shaw/BushBulges/PhotoAlbum15.html

Contact your media and government officials.

To ignore this story is a failure to get at the truth. A truth that may be one of these possibilities:

1. The President of the free world has a serious health problem (he was wearing a medical device of some kind)

2. The President of the free world is a cheat (he was wearing an audio-cue device)

This is not a trivial or diversionary story. It has a direct impact on your decision for deciding who will have so much power.

HALLOWEEN IDEA:

Strap a box to your back and wear the most presidential suit you can find. Form a group and protest your local media outlet on October 31.

[macdef @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Sorry, John, I'm as pro-Kerry/anti-Bush as anyone, but I think this whole "bulge on the back" thing is pretty ridiculous. There are so many other, more important and relevant, areas that one could criticize Bush that it seems silly to worry about whether or not he was "wired," especially considering that he had one of the worst debate performances in decades that night ;-) )

[Pierre @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

That's the funniest thing I've seen all day!

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Macdef:

This is NOT just a "pro-Kerry / Anti-Bush" issue.

(Although, I am stunned by your apathy on this particular issue, since it is highly likely that if the truth is exposed -- BUSH IS TOAST!)

Regardless of your political stripes, I find it simply breathtaking that you can call this story "RIDICULOUS".

With this statement, you are saying:

1. I don't care if the president may have a serious health problem and I don't care if they lie about it. (He has postponed his scheduled physical until after the election, by the way.)

2. I don't care if my leader cannot hold his own when facing a direct challenge to his policies.

By NOT CARING about these issues, you are setting a precedent, my friend. You are dangerously lowering the standards for the most powerful position in the world.

Not only that -- you are telling the U.S. mainstream media (who's already dangerously lazy and incompetent) that, "Hey! It's alright if you don't do your job!"

Let's see -- how does the American public benefit from journalism "not doing its job"? Well, many would argue that thousands have died in the Iraq war because the media DID NOT DO ITS JOB!!!

Oh, well! At least they covered the IMPORTANT issues leading up to the war!

RE: NOT A POLICY ISSUE.

Well, you say -- it's not a policy issue. You shouldn't spend any time about anything that's not a "policy issue".

Why is that?!

Are health and character issues not important to the U.S. electorate?!!!

Ah, yes!! Being a "Democrat supporter", I can see why you want to keep on the "policy issues".

Just look at where we've gotten after three debates and months of campaigning:

Kerry: 47%
Bush: 47%

Perhaps, as a "Kerry supporter" -- you should put more time into demanding that your press find the truth when you are being blatantly lied to and the evidence is staring everyone in the face.

Evidence that cannot be refuted and is damning any way you look at it.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

With all the communist/socialist left wing liberal weiners.

There wasn't that big of a deal broght up about the blatant cheating that Kerry did for the first debate.

http://www.drudgereport.com/dnc57.htm

[diestarbucksdie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Jesus John save it for another site.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Rus:

How can you possibly reason that pulling a pen out of a jacket is anywhere near the same as having a box strapped to your back is beyond me.

Let's not forget that this object has been on Bush's back on multiple occasions before the debates as well.

All they have to do is tell us WHAT IT IS.

That will dispell the concerns that the president has serious health problems or that he can, in fact, actually debate issues when people disagree with him -- without the aid of someone in his ear.

After all, we all know how well he took control of the situation without the box on his back on 9/11.

His health and his ability to lead is on the table here.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

American democracy is becoming the joke of the world.

That's no laughing matter.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

American democracy is becoming the joke of the world.

That's no laughing matter.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

"that pulling a pen out of a jacket"

It looks like a small notecard to me.

The rules are VERY clear only pens and paper that AT the podium. So even if it was a pen - it was gainst the rules, because this could easily be a device that could have had a TEXT LCD on it.

The box on his back, if there truly was one could have been a monitored signal secret service communication. There WAS quite a bit fear that there would be an attack during the debates.

The reason there isn't anything being said is because it's silly - that's why...

And again - not much was made of Kerry breaking debate rules.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

This 'aint about rules, Rus.

(By the way, please show me evidence that Kerry actually pulled out a notecard. Also, show me evidence that the pen he used had an LCD display on it.)

Turning back to the real issue here:

The president has had this object on his back on numerous occasions (even before the debates). As far as I can see, there's no evidence of him using it at any time after the debates. Has the threat suddenly become an non-threat, Rus?

Why don't they just say that it's a secret service device? The cat, after all, is out of the bag.

Why can't they simply state WHAT IT IS?!

What do they fear?

On second thought, maybe it IS about rules. The rule of "transparency" in democracy is being broken here. That's a pretty big break in the rules, don't you think?

[Pierre @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

And since I'm not American (yay) I find it funny as hell! Bwaha!

[Nick Langill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Wow what idiot out here. Yeah Bush isn't the best debator but at least he isn't any kind of flip-flopping pro-choice kind of person. Bush is our man we need in this trying time we don't need someone that says something different depending on which group of people he's with. Kerry just says whats popular instead of saying the truth. I don't know about you but I want a Christian in office that isn't afriad to show that he is I don't want someone like Kerry who's a Catholic but acts like an athiest fool. About the buldge in his back who in the hell cares. If that's all you liber diseased people have to complain about wow get a life. If you don't believe me about Kerry chaning his mind check this site out listed below. The last person on here Perre get a fricken life. What country are you from France or Germany? Kerry sucks and Bush rocks yeah he's made mistakes but haven't you? And also removing all politics ask yourself this "Who do the terrorist want to be the next president of the United States Bush or Kerry? Just check that site out to get the truth.

http://johnkerryads.websiteanimal.com/

[political_commentator @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

There is a mountain of information being compiled here, all it takes are eyes:

http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/
http://puppetstring.blogspot.com/
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/
http://isbushwired.com/
http://bushwired.blogspot.com/
http://bushbulge.com/ (send an automatic letter at this site)
http://bushsdefibrillator.blogspot.com
http://politicalcommentator.blogspot.com/

[political_commentator @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

There is a mountain of information being compiled here, all it takes are eyes:

http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/
http://puppetstring.blogspot.com/
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/
http://isbushwired.com/
http://bushwired.blogspot.com/
http://bushbulge.com/ (send an automatic letter at this site)
http://bushsdefibrillator.blogspot.com
http://politicalcommentator.blogspot.com/

[political_commentator @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

The Media is Failing to Ask Bush an Important Question

Something is rotten in the American media.


http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_12875.shtml

[political_commentator @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I guess America doesnt want another 2000 debacle where there is a big mess around election time.

This is a serious story, its being ignored

[political_commentator @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I guess America doesnt want another 2000 debacle where there is a big mess around election time.

This is a serious story, its being ignored

[Grimrider @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Can we put our political party membership badges away for a second here? There's a box-shaped bulge on the back of the president that's appeared /numerous/ times. George de Paris tried his best to pass it off as a wrinkle (http://homepage.mac.com/c.shaw/BushBulges/PhotoAlbum15.html - near the bottom), but it doesn't wash. I don't know what it is, and I won't venture to guess without some kind of evidence. But the White House's denial of it has been pathetic to say the least. A lot of us are just curious to get them to say what it is, or give an account of the bulge that doesn't..you know..deny all reason, logic, common sense, and laws of reality. If it's a bulletproof vest, they can say that. If it's a trauma plate, fine. If it's some kind of medical vest to protect against sudden heart attacks (http://www.lifecor.com/about_lifevest/when_to_use.asp - and how about that droopy-face Bush was pulling in Debate 3? Anybody see the drool?), then just tell us. And...hope that admitting the President has a serious heart problem doesn't hurt his re-election chances. Man, that would suck, wouldn't it?

Anyway, a little candidness and transparency by the Bushies would really go a long way to helping us trust him. Because if we don't know what's under Bush's jacket, then the terrorists have already won.

[Grimrider @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Can we put our political party membership badges away for a second here? There's a box-shaped bulge on the back of the president that's appeared /numerous/ times. George de Paris tried his best to pass it off as a wrinkle (http://homepage.mac.com/c.shaw/BushBulges/PhotoAlbum15.html - near the bottom), but it doesn't wash. I don't know what it is, and I won't venture to guess without some kind of evidence. But the White House's denial of it has been pathetic to say the least. A lot of us are just curious to get them to say what it is, or give an account of the bulge that doesn't..you know..deny all reason, logic, common sense, and laws of reality. If it's a bulletproof vest, they can say that. If it's a trauma plate, fine. If it's some kind of medical vest to protect against sudden heart attacks (http://www.lifecor.com/about_lifevest/when_to_use.asp - and how about that droopy-face Bush was pulling in Debate 3? Anybody see the drool?), then just tell us. And...hope that admitting the President has a serious heart problem doesn't hurt his re-election chances. Man, that would suck, wouldn't it?

Anyway, a little candidness and transparency by the Bushies would really go a long way to helping us trust him. Because if we don't know what's under Bush's jacket, then the terrorists have already won.

[bc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I imagine Bush has something attached to his bullet proof vest. i.e. some type of tracking device or some type or fancy sensor(s)...

[Tyler @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Did anyone think maybe the "bulge" is just that huge kevlar vest he has to wear to every public/semi-public appearance that he goes to. Cause the velcro strap that keeps it around him tightly is right in the position of the mystery "bulge" just a thought. But who knows...

junebughunter.net

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

The RSBB Society - Don't be ashamed! It happens all the time!!!

Thanks to the President of the United States, this secretive, rarely talked-about issue has come to the forefront. A problem only fringe, underground dry-cleaners knew about.

The rectangular shirt back-bulge (a.k.a. RSBB)


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"I don't know what that is," Bush said. "I mean, it is -- I'm embarrassed to say it's a poorly tailored shirt."

- President Bush, Good Morning America - October 27, 2004.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/102604-campaign2004-bushbulge.html
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Rectangular shirt bulge wearers UNITE!!!! We now have a world leader as a spokesperson!!!

Discuss the issue HERE!!! Don't be "embarrassed" anymore!

- voice support for Bush coming out on this subject.
- Do YOU have a name for your rectangular shirt back-bulge?
- How can we help those with RSBB?

Let the world know your story.