News round-up: Promptergate, and more

Promptergate, wiregate, audiogate, the mystery bulge -- call it what you will, it continues to command attention. Here's the latest:

It's obvious: Salon's David Lindorff -- the best writer on this topic (which may be why the right has gone gunning for him in a personal way) -- has interviewed a technical expert, Alex Darbut "who designs and makes such devices for the U.S. military and private industry." Darbut feels certain that Bush is indeed using a listening device. "It's a pretty obvious one -- larger than most because it probably has descrambling capability." This observation neatly answers those who have wondered why the Bush bulge is so apparent, given the technical expertise at his command.

Definitely hidden: The New York Daily News offers a brief interview with famed tailor Frank Shattuck -- an acknowledged master of his craft, and an undecided voter -- who avers that something is "definitely hidden" between the shoulder blades.

"This isn't bad tailoring," he said pointing to the bulge in an Associated Press photo from the second debate. "This suit fits around the neck and has balance, even though it lacks zip and looks like something off the rack from Today's Man."

Shattuck's best guess at what the foreign object was: maybe a back brace or some kind of body armor.

If the former, why wouldn't the White House admit the fact? If the latter, why would the White House deny it?

The disease spreads: Bush isn't the only Republican facing such accusations. Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky used a teleprompter during a debate with his rival, Democrat Daniel Mongiardo. Bunning got away with this because he participated remotely, from DC. This is the same fellow who said that his opponent looked like one of Saddam Hussein's sons. The rhetoric this election season keeps finding new depths...

Who ya gonna call?: Many believe that the Commission on Presidential Debates should look into this matter. The individuals to write: Janet H. Brown, Executive Director; Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Paul G. Kirk, Jr., co-chairmen; and the honorary co-chairmen: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. Alas, the organization's homepage gives no email address. The Physical Address is 1200 New Hampshire, Washington, DC, 20036; the telephone number is (202) 872-1020. Jimmy Carter may contacted via his web site.

Poll: CNN has a Promptergate poll. Most respondents (88% at this writing!) have chosen "electronic device" as the likeliest explanation for the mystery bulge.

Blog: "Bush Wired," the third of the "bulge"-centric blogs (technically, Cannonfire is still an "all-purpose" site) has updated information.

Fake "insider" confession: There's more to be said about the bizarre "Scott and Brad" tale, and I have more info about the fake "Knoxville Times" web site. But. I'm not sure how deeply one should wade into those waters. And I'm not sure if my readers care about this angle. I'm fairly certain, at this point, that the whole business is a hoax. But why would any Bush supporter create such a hoax if the whole "Promptergate" story has no foundation?

As a wise man once noted, cover-up obviates conspiracy.

Occam's razor: In that light, take note of this paragraph from a Bangor News piece:

When The New York Times and other news organizations finally caught up recently, they asked the White House for an explanation. There followed a series of statements from the campaign, each one doubtful or discredited.

First, there was no bulge, although it appeared in televised pictures of the president's back. Second, someone had manipulated the picture to fake the bulge, but it showed up in the original pictures. Third, a spokeswoman said it was most likely a rumpling or a wrinkle, but that didn't account for the rectangular shape. Then the president's tailor said it was a pucker along the jacket's back seam, accentuated when the president crossed his arms and leaned forward. The New Yorker's recent profile of the president's tailor, Georges de Paris, made it clear that the man who has been tailor to every president since Lyndon Johnson was unlikely to leave oddly shaped puckers in a jacket. Finally, the spokeswoman tried to end speculation by declaring, "There was nothing under his suit jacket."

If so, why can't the White House keep a straight story? Why make claims of diabolical Photoshopping when we are dealing with images straight from the AP, Fox, and the White House's own web site? Why do other high-level tailors scoff at Georges de Paris' attempt to "fall on his own needle"?

The Bangor piece ill-serves readers, alas, when it brings up Sir William of Occam, whose famous razor would certainly cut in favor of the "earpiece" theory as the simplest.

The bloggers already have made one simple leap: Mr. Bush was wired when he went into that first debate. (They suggest as evidence the clue that the president suddenly said, "Let me finish," when nobody in sight was stopping him.) But there's no further evidence for this and wouldn't some connection to an earpiece also have been visible if this was the case?

No further evidence? The "pre-echo" footage of Bush in France is certainly evidence of something. And, despite what our Bangor brethren would have us believe, no physical link to a deeply-embedded earpiece is necessary. Y'see, there's this thing called radio...

Good overview: The Register out of the U.K. published a good, technically savvy look at the controversy.

New earpiece photo? Some say they can see an earpiece in this photo of Bush in Uganda. I, for one, am not convinced.

NEWS FROM OUTSIDE "THE BULGE":

Trashing Dem votes: A private voter registration company (beholden to guess which party) rounded up many a new voter in Nevada. Those who registered Democratic had their forms thrown out. This practice is, of course, very illegal.

The company has moved -- or shall I say, "roved" on to Oregon, where one may presume the same shennanigans. Ballot tampering of this sort, in such a close election, constitutes grounds for a re-vote. Long-time readers know that I hold strong views on that topic.

More torture: Haaretz reports that the CIA is now "interviewing" terrorist suspects in a secret Jordanian facility. "Their detention outside the U.S. enables CIA interrogators to apply interrogation methods that are banned by U.S. law..."

Hersh: "How could eight or nine neoconservatives come and take charge of this government?" asks Sy Hersh, who has a lot more to say...

Scalia's sexcapades: Finally, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, famed for his recent endorsement of orgies, was recently asked if he has any gay friends. He admitted that the answer was probably yes, but added that he had never "pressed the point."

No comment, yet, from Wonkette. You'd think this story would be right up her alley. (And you'd think it would be easier to compose a sentence in the English language that does not contain a double entendre.)