# Bush's Back Bulge: Tinfoil hat, or shenanigans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 8, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184 "2004-10-08T12:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/141 "2004-10-14T18:06:58Z")
> [@Grossbottom](#): > > It’s nothing. > > Or if it is something, Kerry can tell you, since he patted George Bush on the back before the debate started. I remember it clearly, since I’m voting for Kerry, and I commented, “Great, I’m voting for a back-slapper. Swell.” > > He patted him right between the shoulder blades or slightly below. Actually, Kerry was trying to disconnect Bush’s battery. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/142 "2004-10-14T18:08:26Z")
It may interest everyone in this thread that some evidence has come to light that [both men](http://www.msnbc.com/comics/editorial_content.asp?sFile=jd041014) were listening to a radio … ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/143 "2004-10-14T18:12:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > IF the device were a radio receiver, then how pray tell did the sound get to his ear? If by wire, there were no wires visible. If by a radio signal, why on earth would you beam a radio signal from the outside to a receiver on his back, only to relay the signal to a receiver in his ear? If his equipment men have the budget, surely they could design an undetectable ear piece that could be broadcast to directly from the outside with no need for a receiver/antenna/transmitter on his back. > > I think John Edwards was right “It’s his battery.” We didn’t read post #109, now _did_ we? The Bone Fone? Pay attention, **BobLibDem** , you’re making us look bad. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/144 "2004-10-14T19:57:49Z")
[One more idea](http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/stevebell/0,7371,1325238,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/145 "2004-10-14T20:05:40Z")
You know I was thinking about this just last month - “If I had a large, fist size object I wanted to hide on someone, where would I put that?” Great minds think alike! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/146 "2004-10-14T20:43:00Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > We didn’t read post #109, now _did_ we? The Bone Fone? > Pay attention, **BobLibDem** , you’re making us look bad. 😉 My bad and my apologies. As punishment I will read the debate transcripts. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/147 "2004-10-15T00:09:53Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > It’s called a “spine.” It looks more like a [wish bone](http://images.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/13/bulgefoto/story.jpg) to me. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/148 "2004-10-15T00:16:39Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > My bad and my apologies. As punishment I will read the debate transcripts. No no, not the transcripts. Anything but that. I wouldn’t ask Bush himself to read the transcripts. As if he _could_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/149 "2004-10-15T01:16:16Z")
Maybe it’s related to his back surgery? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/150 "2004-10-15T01:47:54Z")
Not bad SimonX. I am not a Doctor. However, [google images](http://images.google.com/images?q=back+brace&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N) [displays](http://www.nbak.tierranet.com/pixs/crstine2.jpg) [a wide variety](http://frath.net/images/art/brace-back.jpg) [of back braces](http://www.orthopedicquestions.com/ortho-catalog/bird-n-cronin/back/comforbuckle-bg.jpg). (Also, here’s a [link](http://milwaukee.brace.nu/) to a medical site with a larger variety of braces, some with frontal nudity, alas. I respected the one click rule.) Some of these contraptions are for the treatment of scoliosis, which I assume that the President does not have. Can any medical Dopers comment? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/151 "2004-10-15T01:52:26Z")
Oh yeah. [Dr. Zebra](http://www.doctorzebra.com/prez/g43.htm), who has compiled a web page with the medical histories of all the Presidents, cannot pinpoint the date of W’s back surgery. The existence of said surgery was referenced in Allen, Mike. “Bush found to be fit; 3 lesions removed”. Washington Post. 5 August 2001, page A16. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/152 "2004-10-15T02:15:39Z")
I know this has been discussed, but it looks to me like a rear closure on a bullet resistant garment. The ones that chaps such as the pres gets are much more intricate, and have a much higher threat level (meaning they can take a hit from a heavier round), so they’re thicker than normal. Every time I’ve been around or seen a sitting President (which was a LOT in the late 90’s) he was in a BRG, which, by the by, is AFAIK, layered within suit jackets as well as under shirts in vest form. This is the most likely scenario. Well that, or the tinfoil hat. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/153 "2004-10-15T05:39:50Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > It’s called a “spine.” Bush keeps his spine in his _jacket?_ :eek: Man, no _wonder_ he’s been unable to take any responsibility or admit to any mistakes for the last four years! ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/154 "2004-10-15T05:41:03Z")
Dude, take a break. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/155 "2004-10-15T05:46:17Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Dude, take a break. [demo]Right, like Kerry broke Bush’s spine. What? Don’t have the ------ “spine” to spine up to Bush’s mistakes?[/demo] ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/156 "2004-10-15T12:02:20Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > I know this has been discussed, but it looks to me like a rear closure on a bullet resistant garment. It’s possible, but all the pictures of said garments that have been posted here have side closures. Can you provide a picture of one with a rear closure? ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/157 "2004-10-15T13:35:52Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > It’s possible, but all the pictures of said garments that have been posted here have side closures. Can you provide a picture of one with a rear closure? Doesn’t have to be a closure IMO - if you look at all the pix showing the mystery object they’re all with light striking at an extreme angle, exaggerating the slightest bump. Even super-expensive deluxo body armour (like you’d expect to be wrapped round a President) isn’t going to conform to the body exactly like an expensive tailored suit jacket (Though I have visions of Bush’s people trying desperately to stick the bump down with toupee tape now it’s become such a big deal) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/158 "2004-11-05T21:13:45Z")
It looks like _The Hill_ has the scoop – [http://www.hillnews.com/under\_dome/110404.aspx](http://www.hillnews.com/under_dome/110404.aspx) – > [@](#): > > Call off the conspiracy freaks. Now it can be told: That mysterious bulge on President Bush’s back during the first presidential debate was not an electronic device feeding him answers, but a strap holding his bulletproof vest in place. > > … > > But sources in the Secret Service told The Hill that Bush was wearing a bulletproof vest, as he does most of the time when appearing in public. The president’s handlers did not want to admit as much during the campaign, for fear of disclosing information related to his personal security while he was on the campaign trail. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/159 "2004-11-05T22:26:03Z")
So… he _is_ a girlie-man. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184/160 "2004-11-08T11:19:40Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > It’s possible, but all the pictures of said garments that have been posted here have side closures. Can you provide a picture of one with a rear closure? It’s not a rear closure, it’s the side closure that ends in the rear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-back-bulge-tinfoil-hat-or-shenanigans/268184.md?page=9)