# More Debates About the Debate: Did Kerry/Bush Bring Notes? The Bush Earpiece Theory **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 4, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465 "2004-10-04T15:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/41 "2004-10-04T21:14:37Z")
> [@jkusters](#): > > Personally, I think Bush has a [keeper](http://www.infinicorp.com/VEX/aliens/keeper.htm). Sentient parasite with tentacles? Sounds like Cheney to me. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/42 "2004-10-04T21:27:48Z")
Pic of the Cheat Sheet? [http://americablog.blogspot.com/archives/2004\_10\_03\_americablog\_archive.html#109690608330802330](http://americablog.blogspot.com/archives/2004_10_03_americablog_archive.html#109690608330802330) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/43 "2004-10-04T21:34:21Z")
Even if that photo does show a very detailed, small-print “cheat sheet” on Bush’ podium (it’s indistinct enough that you see what you want to see), Bush would be seen reading it during the debate. He didn’t take many notes and didn’t look down much. Kerry and Bush’ camps made the rules. Why would they make rules and break them with risky, easily-discovered strategies that would make them look like dorks? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/44 "2004-10-04T21:37:29Z")
I agree. It’s just sort of funny to watch Republicans desperate for SOME excuse to explain why their guy is such an empty bumbler, try to make what is at worst a pen look like the explanation for why Kerry dominated. At least they’ve stopped blaming hurricane victims, like drudge tried to spin right after the debate. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/45 "2004-10-04T22:04:08Z")
Cheat sheet my ass, I’m floored by the posture of Bush _fils_ in that photo. Next in line for the C. Montgomery Burns lookalike prize, he is. And I sincerely doubt that he’ll be bringnig anyone any love or peace anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/46 "2004-10-05T00:41:30Z")
I’m thinking that if Bush had an earpiece in (I don’t think he did, myself) I seriously doubt that it’d be susceptible to being hijacked by just anyone with a wireless transmitter. At least, not if the people who set it up have any brains. If I were going to set up a wireless system for such a situation, you can damn well bet the signal would be encrypted digital, not just a open analog system for anyone with a scanner to pick up. Dollars to donuts someone in the press corps did have a scanner anyways, and can you imagine the embarrassment of a recording of the transmissions being released? With an encrypted digital signal, all a scanner would pick up would be static, and even if you transmit crap on that frequency, the worst you could do would be to hiss static in the president’s ear. So no calling his mother names, or feedback squeals at inopportune times. Which is a pity, really, cuz it’d be funny to see him suddenly clutching at his ear. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/47 "2004-10-05T00:59:00Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > So it could be that Bill Clinton is not the expert extemporaneous speaker he’s said to be and that hearing aid isn’t really a hearing aid and he spent eight years being fed answers by Carville? When’s the last time you could clearly discern anything Carville said? Clearly, Carville was only for distraction purposes, which is why they always shined a spotlight at his head. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/48 "2004-10-05T01:05:36Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > “I have poopy pants! I lied about WMDs! Go fuck yourself, America!” 😃 I can get behind that message. That’s the sort of thing that would win my vote. I might even work for that campaign. Honesty in politics; It’s Time. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/49 "2004-10-05T01:05:38Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Clearly, Carville was only for distraction purposes, which is why they always shined a spotlight at his head. One of the funniest bits on TV, ever, IMHO: Peter Griffin on ‘Family Guy’ sees James Carville, and exclaims something like “Ah God!! Did somebody open the Ark Of The Covenant?” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/50 "2004-10-05T02:30:58Z")
I always enjoyed Dennis Miller’s description of Carville as “a muppet that got left in the dryer too long.” Makes me smile every time. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/51 "2004-10-05T03:24:04Z")
Maybe GWB wasn’t using an earpiece, maybe he was using [this](http://www.wordspy.com/words/directedsound.asp) . > [@](#): > > A person can speak in a normal voice and be heard privately up to 600 yards away ? yet anyone more than a couple of feet to either side of the intended listener won’t hear a thing. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465/52 "2004-10-05T05:56:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I hate to be the one to bring this up, but \*please \* try a little harder than that, okay, friend? Aw, geez, it’s hard enough getting time to contribute, now you want _cites,_ too? What’s this world coming to??? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-debates-about-the-debate-did-kerry-bush-bring-notes-the-bush-earpiece-theory/267465.md?page=2)