Beware the Bulge!

High time, methinks, for a round-up of the latest on everyone's favorite mystery, the Bush dorsal protrusion -- or, as I like to call it, promptergate. From the Washington Post:

The Post's Mike Allen took several questions about the Bush "bulge" on Friday's Live Online.

Are you guys still working on the story, he was asked.

"Oy. Yes, we remain interested in this story, mainly because so many people are talking about it and because the White House and campaign responses have been so contradictory. Democrats love it -- Mike McCurry talked with reporters on the Kerry plane on Wednesday about how the alleged bulge in the back of Bush's jacket continues to pay play out on the blogosphere and TV. 'It's been on the Internet for a week,' McCurry said. Bush aides will tell you it is ridiculous, but they can't explain the bulge. Some of them tell you it's a cheap suit, some of them tell you it's one of his best suits. I thought maybe it was a Secret Service James Bond device, but they swear it is not. And they say he was not wearing a vest. Anybody who can help solve the mystery, I welcome your thoughts."

Okay, here's a thought: It's a radio which allows him to hear from aides. Keep it simple, scribes!

Did a secret service agent confess all? I'm not quite sure what to make of a story in Is Bush Wired?, which reprinted (with all due caveats) an anonymous comment from a reader:

As a Secret Service Agent, I can tell you that President is always wired with a communicator receiver to enable him to acquire detailed information in advance of situations that may arise. In the case of his first and second debates, campaign advisors were providing rebuttal information to President Bush as Senator Kerry was answering questions. This is not uncommon for an incumbent president. Having worked for President G.H.W. Bush, President W.C., and now President G.W. Bush, I am at all times aware that the president is wired, primarily to inform him of hostile crowds that he may encounter. Just because President Bush used this communicator receiver to provide voters with more appropriate rebuttal answers to questions posed does not warrant negative comment from this or any other website. The President has more on his mind than worrying about inconsequential people and whether his answers questions honestly, using his own thoughts, or the thoughts of campaign advisors and/or political analysts."

Make of that what you will. After the "Scott-n-Brad" fiasco of a week ago (a sub-mystery within this mystery known primarily to the bulge cognoscenti), we're all feeling skittish about revelations from anonymous commentators claiming to be insiders.

The same site has another such comment:

As a D.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and a communications specialist, I fully understand what has been said about the President being wired. In 1998, a small communications receiver was developed for the RNC to allow candidates to be cued on answers to provide for certain types of questioning. This receiver does not interfere with the communications equipment worn by Secret Service personnel and operates on a completely different frequency. With an adapter attached to the receiver, worn either on a shoulder harness or waist belt, a single Secret Service Agent, using a split frequency transmitter, a warn the receiver's wearer of any approaching danger. In the case of the President, it enhances his protection. He does not hear multiple voices or the chatter of numerous people. Using a satellite uplink on the transmitter--primarily for long distance communications--political analysts and advisors could easily provide verbal instructions to the President during a question/answer/rebuttal session, without any interference from an outside communications source. The corporation for whom I am employed, has developed numerous "special" communications devices for our government. The particular unit mentioned by the above listed Secret Service Agent is one of the devices we have manufactured. Anyone with $150,000 can purchase the transmitter base, satelite uplink adapter and receiver. However, they cannot purchase the unit with the same frequency used by the President.

For that kind of bread, I'd expect a more compact unit.

DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe offered this comment on the possibility of a Bush earpiece: "I honestly don't think the man is going to risk his presidency taking a transmitter into the debate." Unless not taking a transmitter remains a greater risk...? I refer readers to the "message to the troops" video noted in an earlier post...

If you haven't read it yet, take a look at David Lindorff's piece (republished here). And ask yourself: Would the coverage of this issue be the same if a Democratic president played the Quasimodo role?

Drudge still has yet to mention this story. He hasn't even linked to a piece debunking it. This, despite his history of making massive issues out of far tinier stories. Many believe that the RNC keeps Mattie-boy on a tight leash; if so, then his refusal to acknowledge the story as a story informs us that the Republicans may view this matter as radioactive.