collision detection: NASA scientist studies Bush "bulge"

October 31, 2004

NASA scientist studies Bush "bulge"

You've undoubtedly heard about the battle of the bulge -- the arguments over that weird lump on George W. Bush's back during the debates. Critics say that it's a radio receiver feeding him lines from an earpiece, which would explain his odd penchant for, when asked a question, stumbling around for words initially, then breaking off, staring into the distance, and then suddenly coming out with a terse, pithy proclamation. (It's also a well-observed problem amongst neophyte newscasters that when someone is reading lines into your earpiece, it's very hard to keep from shifting your eyes around; and when he's answering questions at a press conference, Bush shifts his eyes around with a drama so cartoonish that it wouldn't be out of place in a silent movie.) However, Bush and his advisors categorically deny he's wired, and say the bulge is nothing more than bad tailoring.

The latest salvo comes literally from a rocket scientist. Robert Nelson is a senior research scientist for NASA and Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a globally recognized expert in image analysis. (Currently he's studying pictures of the Saturnian moon Titan.) Nelson got interested in Bush's bulge and began doing image analysis of a videotape of Bush, taken by one of Nelson's colleagues. The scientist's conclusion? As he told Salon:

"I would think it's very hard to avoid the conclusion that there's something underneath his jacket," he says. "It would certainly be consistent with some kind of radio receiver and a wire."

Given how politicized this issue is, Nelson -- a self-described Kerry supporter -- will probably face enormous derision for even bothering to study this. But as he says: "If they force me into an early retirement, it'll be worth it if the public knows about this. It's outrageous statements that I read that the president is wearing nothing under there. There's clearly something there."

(Thanks to Boing Boing for this one!)

Posted by Clive Thompson at October 31, 2004 07:58 PM

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Comments

It could be the tail of some brain-sucking alien latched onto the back of George's head.

Posted by: Joel at November 1, 2004 9:48 AM

Yeeeee.

Posted by: Clive at November 1, 2004 12:16 PM

If he wins the election, I suppose he'll pass a bill mandating that the president from now on gets the best tailors ;)

Posted by: Dark LIquid at November 1, 2004 2:51 PM

Ahahaha! Yeah, that would tie up quite a few loose threads.

Carl, wickedly cool blog!

Posted by: Clive at November 1, 2004 3:51 PM

Maybee its a really really big vein. Maybee P. Bush is the alien.

Posted by: Joel at November 1, 2004 4:58 PM

"... preoccupied battling brainsucking organic machines"

- Squid?

Posted by: Tony at November 2, 2004 6:56 AM

I heard this fellow on CBC's "As It Happens" last week. Even though he's doing this investigating on his own time, I'm sure the brass aren't too thrilled about biting the hand that feeds 'em. Of course, they're probably only getting table scraps at this point.

Posted by: gord at November 2, 2004 9:00 AM

For certain the President of the United States has access to communication technology that is 100% concealable. It is not believable that the President would use a communication device with wires as thick as a household extension chord. If the President is being coached wirelessly, this isn�t evidence for it.

Posted by: Cris at November 7, 2004 12:55 PM

Cris is absolutely right. I volunteer at a community theatre, working on the technical crews for various plays, and when I saw the claims that this picture shows a receiver, I just snorted. Even on a nonprofit community-theatre budget, I could do a much better job of hiding a receiver.

In fact, I have done a much better job. Earlier this year, I worked on the crew of an outdoor amphitheatre show, rigging the cast with wireless microphones. We put the transmitter packs on elastic belts around their waists, where there was lots of slack in the costumes, and the audience couldn't see them. The wires we ran up under their clothing were about the thickness of a pencil lead, and you couldn't see those either.

Only an idiot would put a receiver pack or a thick cable between the shoulder blades of a suit jacket, where the material is tightest. Heck, if you gave our costume designer enough money, I'm sure she could create a custom-fitted suit jacket with a hidden pocket for the receiver pack -- and the wires sewn into seams of the jacket, where they would be completely undetectable. If a community theatre run on a shoestring can do stuff like this, does anyone really believe that a Presidential campaign can't?

The White House has said that the photo actually shows a strap for the President's bulletproof vest. I find that far more plausible than any of the conspiracy theories.

Posted by: Pat Berry at November 8, 2004 3:55 PM

Actually, the White House continues to deny that the President wore a bulletproof vest during the debates. It was the presidential tailor who said that he THOUGHT it was a bulletproof vest, and the Congressional paper, The Hill that cited anonymous sources saying that the bulge was a bulletproof vest.

Coincidentally, both The Hill and the tailor said that the Bulge was a wrinkle a few weeks ago. They spoke about the Bulge at the behest of the White House. This recent news from The Hill comes at the rocket scientist's analysis was actually used to debunk their own earlier story.

I still don't know what it is... but its SOMETHING, and it doesn't fit the profile of a bulletproof vest. If it was a vest its a certain model that Bush only wears during debates, testimony, and press conferences. The Bulge has not been seen in other situations, on the campaign trail, or when Bush takes his jacket off. Photos of the President wearing a bulletproof vest look quite different.

Concerning the actual device, the bulge closely resembles a wireless promping device with an encryption module. Its a different type of device than would be used in theater. The earpiece works via induction and actually requires a thicker "wire" than other types of RF coaching devices. You can find out more below... its a strange story.

For history on this topic go to:
http://bushwired.blogspot.com/

There are photos, links, news, video etc... make up your own mind!

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