News Bush wired or a whole lot of nonsense?

[check]

Not sure if this would be more at home in the scepticism and debunk forum or here but oh well.

Rumours are circulating that President Bush was wearing a device that allowed him to hear people telling him what to say through an earpiece. Here’s an article, and you can find more about it elsewhere. http://www.washingtondispatch.com/spectrum/archives/000637.html
Basically he’s done this before. During a D-Day speech a while back a journalist reportedly picked up audio of someone reading a speech to the president as he was giving it.

So what do you all think? Was Bush wired? Personally, I think his suit was just wrinkly. (see article for photo) LoL But yeah… Are there rules against wearing a device such as this during a debate? This would be great ammo for Kerry if it was verified.

 

[Moonbear]

Someone brought this up in another thread. My first impression was just a wrinkly suit, as was your impression. But, in one of the photos, it looks more like a vest under his clothing. Out of curiousity, I've been trying to see if I see the same thing in tonight's debate (while they are busy repeating answers they've both given before). Just a few times the camera/lighting angle has been just right that I think he's wearing a bullet-proof vest. I'm sure we'd know if he had a back injury and was wearing a brace.

Since this thread seems like a more light-hearted one, I thought I'd point out something amusing I noticed in tonight's debate. Kerry is wearing a red tie and Bush is wearing a blue tie. Maybe they should have traded in the beginning.

 

[BobG]

My vote is that it is a whole lot of nonsense. I'm sure there's a more benign explanation than Salon gave (and I didn't see anything like that last night).

It was still one of those small irrelevant things that pop up that are just too funny to pass up.

 

[Tigers2B1]

This is more along the lines of the Nick Berg was wearing orange - so the government killed him.

"Hemmi"

 

[check]

And just an update from the good people at CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/bush.rumor.ap/index.html
Bush aides are, of course, denying the president was wired.

 

[Gokul43201]

And just an update from the good people at CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/bush.rumor.ap/index.html
Bush aides are, of course, denying the president was wired.

I dismissed this as useless jabbering ... until now. Now, I wonder why the Bush campaign isn't saying what "it" really is. If it's a bullet proof vest, why won't they say so ? They just dismiss it without an explanation. Clearly, it looks to me like there's something there. Whya re they suggesting there isn't ? Could it be that revealing details about the President's security arrangements is a no-no ? That's the only possibility that comes to mind.

 

[wasteofo2]

I dismissed this as useless jabbering ... until now. Now, I wonder why the Bush campaign isn't saying what "it" really is. If it's a bullet proof vest, why won't they say so ? They just dismiss it without an explanation. Clearly, it looks to me like there's something there. Whya re they suggesting there isn't ? Could it be that revealing details about the President's security arrangements is a no-no ? That's the only possibility that comes to mind.

I saw a Bush campaign guy on CNN and he said "All you'll find on that side of President Bush is a strong backbone", when there clearly is something there, and besides the big thing between his shoulder blades, there's also what appears to be a wire.

 

[Tigers2B1]

I dismissed this as useless jabbering ... until now. Now, I wonder why the Bush campaign isn't saying what "it" really is. If it's a bullet proof vest, why won't they say so ? They just dismiss it without an explanation. Clearly, it looks to me like there's something there. Whya re they suggesting there isn't ? Could it be that revealing details about the President's security arrangements is a no-no ? That's the only possibility that comes to mind.

Because if it's a vest, which it most likely is, they're not at liberty to say. There are no comments made regarding the specific steps taken to protect the President. Common sense tells us the reasons for that policy.

Second, you would think that if Bush was going to be secretly "wired" they wouldn't leave a big hump in his back. I've seen a close-up picture of his back, and that hump, and it appears to be a vest that comes together in the back. There is a 'tailored' curve that appears to go around Bush's shoulders and this 'hump' appears longer down the middle of his back.

Third, if people what to see the 'hump' and 'logically' conclude that Bush was 'wired' --- than that's exactly what they're going to believe.

 

[Tigers2B1]

... and besides the big thing between his shoulder blades, there's also what appears to be a wire.

Really wateofo2 --- well than, why don't you link a pic for us?

 

[Tigers2B1]

And not this ‘wire’ – please -

http://www.suzi-quzi.com/cheney.HTML

 

[The_Professional]

I doubt the validity of that wired device.

With all this technology, Bush's aides would use a wireless receiver hidden in his ear if they want to pull this off.

Hey, it's a hearing aid!

 

[Gokul43201]

Because if it's a vest, which it most likely is, they're not at liberty to say. There are no comments made regarding the specific steps taken to protect the President. Common sense tells us the reasons for that policy.

That was my best guess too.

 

[mci]

*** they're not at liberty to say. There are no comments made regarding the specific steps taken to protect the President. ***

Talk out your ass much? Bush officials have already confirmed that the President WAS NOT wearing a vest.

 

[Moonbear]

As has been pointed out above, if Bush really planned to cheat, he wouldn't need to wear a prominent wire up the middle of his back (besides, all his Ahs and Ums in the first debate pretty much confirm for themself that nobody was feeding him lines). If Bush officials are saying it wasn't a vest, which seemed like a reasonable precaution for the president, then all I can really say is I would have thought the President could afford a better tailor, or else he's developing a very prominent hunchback! Maybe he wore a jacket with thicker shoulder pads to offset the height difference between him and Kerry by making Kerry look like a skinny bean pole. But, still, you'd think his tailor could have done a better job to make the fabric hang a little better. The whole seam down the center, even where it's hanging freely and not pulled taut to his back looks lumpy.

You know, there very well may be an explanation in those 30 some odd pages of debate rules. I wouldn't be surprised if suit jacket specifications were included along with all the other silly things in there.

 

[Tigers2B1]

Relax mci. Anyway, I stand corrected and it's not a vest.

While, I suppose, the White House / President himself can volunteer information, which upon checking, they apparently have, those charged with protecting the President, the Secret Service, do not discuss the specific security measures they use. Again, that's common sense.

http://www.specialoperations.com/Domestic/USSS/Default.html

After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains the primary mission of the United States Secret Service.…The Secret Service does not discuss methods or means in any detail...

I suppose, as head of the Executive, the President, or on authority, his staff, can volunteer information if they feel it's politically wise ---- unlike the Secret Service. I, for one, would not have said anything - for the obvious reasons - vest or no vest. Especially 'no vest.'

 

[Monique]

With all this technology, Bush's aides would use a wireless receiver hidden in his ear if they want to pull this off.

I was just about to say the same :)

 

[Gokul43201]

You can't really hide something in your ear, can you ? It will be seen by anyone who has a direct view of your ear...unless it's really tiny, and it's stuffed deep down. I'm not sure you can make a speaker that small.

Disclaimer : This is not an endorsement of the "Bush wired" theory.

 

[The_Professional]

You can't really hide something in your ear, can you ? It will be seen by anyone who has a direct view of your ear...unless it's really tiny, and it's stuffed deep down. I'm not sure you can make a speaker that small.

Of course it's going to be tiny. It can fit neatly inside the ear, which can easily be overlooked.

Here's a sample: http://www.spybase.com/listening/microear/microear.htm

 

[check]

A little OT, but anyone else wonder why this thread has gotten ~2,000 views in less than 48 hrs? LoL. yay Google!

 

[Gokul43201]

A little OT, but anyone else wonder why this thread has gotten ~2,000 views in less than 48 hrs? LoL. yay Google!

Holy Moly ! I hadn't noticed that !

 

[Tigers2B1]

But what about Kerry? I noticed that his chin looked a little bigger than usual. Why?

And Kerry's teeth - can you really explain why they appeared so much whiter than they normally are? I suspect they were fakes. The teeth we saw were caps. But why place caps over perfectly good teeth? I leave that for you to draw your own conclusions --

 

[motai]

But what about Kerry? I noticed that his chin looked a little bigger than usual. Why?

Botox maybe? Probably has that Jay Leno look going on .

 

[Moonbear]

But what about Kerry? I noticed that his chin looked a little bigger than usual. Why?

And Kerry's teeth - can you really explain why they appeared so much whiter than they normally are? I suspect they were fakes. The teeth we saw were caps. But why place caps over perfectly good teeth? I leave that for you to draw your own conclusions --

I hope nobody is taking this thread too seriously. White teeth are better than his orange face. Was there ever any explanation for that? Bad make-up job, sunburn, bad lighting, mishap with fake tanning goop? It amazes me that there are people who take these things more seriously than the issues. Then again, since I brought up bad tailors for Bush, Kerry needs a better tailor too. His suit in the second debate looked terrible on him, just hanging as if it was two sizes too big, and didn't look very well pressed. Yes, I was getting very bored with more of the same answers while watching the second debate. All that money the both of them have and they can't find a decent suit!

 

[kat]

Yes, yes I think Bush was wired and Rove was prompting him!
Rove: ""OK, Mr. President, try to look a little more confused and Smirk! Don't answer that question! Just say 'it's hard work, the work is hard' several times... More vague! You're too specific, sir!"
Rove:"Nukular! Nukular!"

 

[kat]

I got to tell ya, if there were ever a way to gain more support for Bush from woman voters it'll be with headlines like this one from the BBS

Bush's bulge stirs media rumours

 

[Moonbear]

I got to tell ya, if there were ever a way to gain more support for Bush from woman voters it'll be with headlines like this one from the BBS

Bush's bulge stirs media rumours

Though, I'm not really sure that's something I'd want to see.

 

[Moonbear]

Yes, yes I think Bush was wired and Rove was prompting him!
Rove: ""OK, Mr. President, try to look a little more confused and Smirk! Don't answer that question! Just say 'it's hard work, the work is hard' several times... More vague! You're too specific, sir!"
Rove:"Nukular! Nukular!"

Oh, that drives me crazy! Pronouncing the word, "Nu-ku-lar" is one of my pet peeves, right up there with people talking about men with "prostrate" cancer. It just isn't that hard to say "nu-klee-ar" is it?

 

[Gokul43201]

Of course it's going to be tiny. It can fit neatly inside the ear, which can easily be overlooked.

Here's a sample: http://www.spybase.com/listening/microear/microear.htm

There's a difference between "can be overlooked" and "must not be seen, at all costs".

I've come across ones that size. But to be sure it doesn't get seen, the device would have to be way smaller. Surely, a quarter inch object in the ear can be detected. It'll have to be at most a couple of millimeters in diameter to be sure of escaping visual detection.

 

[The_Professional]

There's a difference between "can be overlooked" and "must not be seen, at all costs".

I've come across ones that size. But to be sure it doesn't get seen, the device would have to be way smaller. Surely, a quarter inch object in the ear can be detected. It'll have to be at most a couple of millimeters in diameter to be sure of escaping visual detection.

I'm sure the CIA would have something smaller, they have pinhole cameras and so forth.

Even if you can put something as small just the radio interference alone from various sources in the environment would render the device not very effective.

 

[kat]

they would have put it in his tooooothies!

 

[Mercator]

Bush 1.0 is a robot. Let's hope the 1.1 version in 2005 has some real improvements like better speech technology and longer battery life, at least enough to run a debate after a whole day of shaking hands. Kerry on the other hand is Jay Leno's twin brother, but he got run over by a concrete roller and they had to fix him up with some spare parts. They tried to transplant a copy of the Leno humor chip, but somewhere it got stuck in a Vietnam-loop.

 

[check]

I thought we were at at least Bush 2.0 with this current one.
How many George Bush's have there been?