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IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BULGE

By Mary Starrett
October 16, 2004
NewsWithViews.com

It was dismissed as first a "conspiracy" and later a "rumple". That rectangular bulge in between President George W. Bush's shoulder blades during last week's Miami debates had everyone buzzing about just what was filling out the back of the man's suit jacket.

Initially the internet pictures were brushed off by the White House as having been "doctored". The implication from those who first questioned the oddly-shaped outline was that Bush-never one to think quickly on his feet- needed a little assistance from quicker-thinkers like White House advisor Karl Rove.

After a few days it became apparent the buzz wasn't about to die down when articles appeared in publications from The New York Times to Salon and everything in between. The president's handlers at first said internet conspiracy theorists had phonied up the bulge in the photograph. When videotape taken during the debate showed the same shape underneath Bush's jacket the White House changed its explanation.

"It was most likely a rumpling of that portion of his suit jacket" said campaign spokeswoman Nicole Devenish.

Clearly, the outline of a rectangular shape under Bush's jacket is neither the result of internet myth nor wrinkled fabric. It looks like it's a radio receiver designed to help the President with those tough(!) questions he might not know the answer to, but that someone back at Command and Control would likely be better at answering. No matter. It's really not about the bulge.

What Americans should instead be focusing on is not whether, or if, their current president isn't smart enough to answer rote queries by himself, but whether there exists a REAL conspiracy to keep them from knowing the truth. Because whether most of us realize it or not both these candidates are really one in the same and we have been hoodwinked into believing electing one or the other would result in any measurable difference in the direction the country's heading.

Let Bush and Kerry pretend there's a wit of difference between them. Let them pretend they're really battling it out for the top spot. ( They're not, you know. That's already been pretty much determined.) Even still, we have two guys who are: 1) For the Nazi-like Patriot Act (despite Kerry's protestations he admits "I voted for it") 2) For continuing the un-Constitutional and highly immoral Iraqi war 3) For corporate welfare and big government and 4) Bonesmen .

That's just for starters.

Neither candidate offers us a real choice despite what the ads say.

Why haven't we heard from candidates who would offer us a different course? Why are these debates excluding real, viable candidates like the Constitution Party's Michael Peroutka? Most Americans, given the choice, would welcome a tough immigration policy. Bush/Kerry are all for allowing illegal aliens to overtake and bankrupt our nation (while talking tough on cracking down on "terrorists" who might sneak into our country!). Peroutka would arrest and deport all those here illegally and put some teeth into enforcing our existing immigration laws.

Bush/Kerry say we need to stay in Iraq "until the job is done"(exactly what job would that be?)

Peroutka says we're there under false pretenses and we need to get out. Now.

Bush/Kerry say the Patriot Act is "necessary". Peroutka says it's a frightening violation of our God-given Constitutional rights.

If Americans heard these differences and the plan that Peroutka has laid out they'd really hear some "debate"- not the choreographed dog and pony show we've been subjected to twice so far. When we watch these debates what we see is really collusion-a bi-partisan "conspiracy" if you will to delude Americans into thinking they can actually choose between distinctly different ideologies. Why not let the other candidates offer their positions? The answer is because then Americans would say a resounding "NO" to both of the "major" party candidates and what they had to offer.

So, you see, it's not about the bulge.

� 2004 Mary Starrett - All Rights Reserved