October 8, 2004

Multipronged Vision

By Michael Shaw

With the suggestion that life imitates art (think: Manchurian Candidate), there was a lot of internet buzz this week about how George Bush supposedly receives talking points through an earpiece. As evidence for this, various sites posted photos allegedly showing an electronic device showing through Bush’s suit jacket. Also cited as evidence was the fact that Bush uttered the statement: “Let me finish” at a point in the first Presidential debate when neither Jim Lehrer nor John Kerry were talking.

Even if the story is utterly false, however (which I assume it is), what is relevant about the rumor is how well it fits. George Bush might not be remotely controlled in a literal or physical sense, but what is wildly obvious is how tightly he’s programmed.