Aside from my general notes below on the bulge bafflement and its relationship to the larger issue of conspiracy theory, we should also take note of two items of interest.

This piece may be of interest, although even some converts to this thesis now accept that protrusion as a shoulder blade.

There's a new site devoted to this controversy: BushBulge.com. I like the Bush/C3PO photo comparison.

A reader to Is Bush Wired? makes a terrific suggestion vis-a-vis the alleged Secret Service Agent's anonymous confession (referenced in an earlier post). The tale makes reference to Bill Clinton as another president who wore a wire for security purposes, although not in a debate situation. Which means that Clinton can confirm this story. At least in substantial part. He cannot confirm that Bush was wired for the debates, but he can confirm whether presidents do wear wires in a general sense.

I was intrigued by the way the bulge popped up during the famous/infamous Jon Stewart segment of Crossfire. An audience member directed a question on the subject to Stewart. The host pounced and declared the matter a non-story. It's just a wrinkle in the jacket, we were told.

Most of those who have seen the photos disagree. So do many who have heard the audio. Why not let Stewart speak for himself?