# Bulge on Bush's Back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340 "2004-10-09T06:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OliverTwistofLime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/1 "2004-10-09T06:14:20Z")
What is that huge bulge on the President’s upper back that was noted on both of his debates with Sen. Kerry? I thought perhaps some bullet proof vest but I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/2 "2004-10-09T11:33:49Z")
The alien parasite that controls him. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/3 "2004-10-09T11:36:19Z")
The stick up his ass is making a break for it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/4 "2004-10-09T11:46:34Z")
Do you have a photo (I didn’t see the debate). :rolleyes: to you two above me 😉 ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/5 "2004-10-09T12:13:02Z")
It’s clearly some sort of secret time-looping device, because I swear I’d read all of these questions–and one-liners–before … > **[Bush's Back Bulge: Tinfoil hat, or shenanigans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279828)** > > Just after the last debate, there was some talk about how Bush’s back had a bulge in it, and that this probably was evidence that he had some sort of wire transmitting radio signals to him throughout the debate. At the time, I dismissed it as a... ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/6 "2004-10-09T15:32:39Z")
It’s the cocaine monkey on his back. someone had to say it ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/7 "2004-10-09T15:35:58Z")
He’s a hunchback. Like Richard III. ---
**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/8 "2004-10-09T15:56:10Z")
I’ll try to provide a factual answer. I haven’t seen a photo, but I believe it’s for the wireless battery pack and trasceiver for the lapel microphone. In the wide angle photo shots of both debates I didn’t see any overhead boom microphones, and I don’t believe the candidates had microphones in front of them. Again, I haven’t seen photos, but if the candidates were wearing lapel microphones, a cord would have run from the microphone to the battery pack and transceiver which would have been clipped to his belt near his back. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/9 "2004-10-09T16:12:39Z")
This is from the NY Times: [Mystery of the Bulge](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/09/politics/campaign/09bulge.html?oref=login) . (There’s a photo clearly showing a rectangular thing on the upper part of his back under his jacket.) > [@](#): > > “There was nothing under his suit jacket,” said Nicolle Devenish, a campaign spokeswoman. > > “It was most likely a rumpling of that portion of his suit jacket, or a wrinkle in the fabric.” > > Ms. Devenish could not say why the “rumpling” was rectangular. > > Nor was the bulge from a bulletproof vest, according to campaign and White House officials; they said Mr. Bush was not wearing one. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulge-on-bushs-back/268340/10 "2004-10-09T16:44:13Z")
Since this is currently being discussed in another forum, I’ll close this thread and direct further comment to the GD thread, linked to above. bibliophage moderator GQ