NYT: Mystery of the Bulge

The New York Times has picked up Salon's story about the strange bulge in Bush's jacket during the first debate. Here's a taste:

What was that bulge in the back of President Bush's suit jacket at the presidential debate in Miami last week?

According to rumors racing across the Internet this week, the rectangular bulge visible between Mr. Bush's shoulder blades was a radio receiver, transmitting answers from an offstage counselor into a hidden presidential earpiece. The prime suspect was Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's powerful political adviser...

...Ms. Devenish could not explain why the "rumpling" was in a rectangular shape.

And since we've got way to many diaries right now, I am going to mulittask and add my favorite debate quotes below the fold.

RESIDENT BUSH: (Laughs.) You remember the last debate? My opponent said that America must pass a global test before we use force to protect ourselves. That's the kind of mindset that says sanctions were working.

That's the kind of mindset that said let's keep it at the United Nations and hope things go well.

Saddam Hussein was a threat because he could have given weapons of mass destruction to terrorist enemies. Sanctions were not working. The United Nations was not effective at removing Saddam Hussein.

MR. GIBSON: Senator?

SEN. KERRY: The goal of the sanctions was not to remove Saddam Hussein, it was to remove the weapons of mass destruction. And, Mr. President, just yesterday the Duelfer report told you and the whole world they worked. He didn't have weapons of mass destruction, Mr. President. That was the objective.

And if we'd used smart diplomacy, we could have saved $200 billion and an invasion of Iraq, and right now Osama bin Laden might be in jail or dead. That's the war against terror.

RESIDENT BUSH: Two days ago in the Oval Office I met with the finance minister from Iraq. He came to see me. And he talked about how optimistic he was and the country was about heading toward elections.

Think about it. They're going from tyranny to elections.

He talked about the reconstruction efforts that are beginning to take hold. He talked about the fact that Iraqis love to be free.

He said he was optimistic when he came here, then he turned on the TV and listened to the political rhetoric, and all of a sudden he was pessimistic. This is a guy who, along with others, has taken great risks for freedom. And we need to stand with him.

Idiot.

What is your plan to repair relations with other countries, given the current situation?

PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I appreciate that. I -- listen, I -- we've got a great country. I love our values. And I recognize I made some decisions that have caused people to not understand the great values of our country.

God. What a boob.