October 15, 2004

The Bulge on Bush's Back

As Kevin Drum notes, something was there in all 3 debates. Like Kevin, I'd like to know what it is. But beyond that, I think this is another glaring example of the degree to which the president can live in a cocoon far removed from the people. I mean if the press can't even get an honest answer about this, is it at all surprising that serious policy questions are never seriously discussed (or even acknowledged)?

Posted by armand at October 15, 2004 02:31 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics


Comments

The bulge on Bush's back appears similar to the type of spine protector worn by motorcycle roadracers underneath their leathers.

Posted by: Jed Hauck at October 15, 2004 05:37 PM | PERMALINK

Yeah, I remember a friend who had one of those. A curved piece of kevlar/heavy plastic so that when you fell of the motorcycle at 60 mph, you kinda skipped down the road on your back (like a flat, round stone over skipping over water), shedding energy and not skin and bones.

What the hell is Bush wearing something like that for? It really is weird, but I have yet to hear anything like a reasonable explanation for it. I'll be curious to see if it gets more press.

Posted by: baltar at October 15, 2004 11:28 PM | PERMALINK

The thing that occurred to me was that it might be some sort of safety device, a la electronic surveillence, because it looks like it has some kind of cord. If that was the case however, I don't know what they gain by not telling. I suppose one could argue, well, if it's known that the POTUS is emitting a GPS signal then someone else could pick it up and track him. I don't know enough about any of this to make a sophisticated guess.

Posted by: binky at October 18, 2004 10:23 AM | PERMALINK

i've wondered about their denial that it's a bullet-proof vest of some kind. i think with that and other POTUS-protecting devices, the reason they'd rather not acknowledge that he's wired or armored or whatever is that this is the cowboy president and such a gesture would suggest weakness -- the idea that POTUS can't even enter a debate facility that's surely as secure as leavenworth without fear of an attempt on his life. that wouldn't exactly promote the image of bandy-legged sheriff at high noon that the bushies are so carefully cultivating.

Posted by: joshua at October 18, 2004 11:41 AM | PERMALINK
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