Conspiracy

Okay, I thought the rumors about Bush's jacket "bulge" in the first debate were silly conspirary theory, or worse, a tool of distraction from actual issues (actually, that's still a distinct possibility). Until this article from the front page of the New York Times gave me pause:

First they ["White House and campaign officials"] said that pictures
showing the bulge might have been doctored. But then, when the bulge turned out
to be clearly visible in the television footage of the evening, they offered a
different explanation.
"There was nothing under his suit jacket," said Nicolle Devenish, the Bush campaign's communications director. "It was most likely a rumpling of that portion of his suit jacket, or a wrinkle in the fabric."

Umm, how weird is it that:
a. they tried to say the photo was doctored
b. the communication peopple had no plausible explanation whatsoever - the pictures clearly do not show a rumple, but something with a definite form underneath the jacket (see Salon.com for a clear picture)

Whatever, like the questionable authenticity Bush's National Guard papers, this could only prove what we already know to be true: that Bush's brain is full of mush and dead flies and someone else pulls the strings. It's funny, isn't it, that Laura's the one who acts and dresses like a Stepford wife (although not the sexier, updated version)? She outbrains and outclasses Bush and is capable of stringing together coherent sentences. I still hate her.

For the record, I don't think this story is going anywhere (although I am encouraged by the cautious Times picking it up at all).

For the record, also, I really thought the ALDS series was going to go five games. Even after the Sox were ahead five runs in the seventh. Yes, Jeffrey, you were right and I was wrong. Even though I was nearly right as the Red Sox proceeded to blow the five run lead and had to go into extra innings. Besides, there's no percentage in being an optimistic Sox fan. You know this. Consequently, there is no joy in being a fan. Only a feeling of being set up for even greater disappointment. Actually, that's kind of how I felt after Edwards mopped the floor with Cheney the other night.

There really is a lot to be said about the debate tonight, but what's the point? I got really excited a few times (enough to scare my dogs, although they should've been used to the shouting after the Red Sox game). I especially got excited when Bush yelled/whined at the moderator who had given him the go-ahead. I thought maybe it would be a turning point in the election. Alas, none of the networks cared to put that dramatic scene on a loop. And then they chose to spin what was clearly a knockout victory for Kerry as a draw or even a victory for Bush. Not that they were trying to appear fair or anything. And clearly no one pays attention to any of it anyway. I tend to think anyone responsible enough to sit home on a Friday night to watch a debate probably reads actual newspapers and already knows what's going on in the world and would never vote for Bush. I don't think the ridiculous timing was a coincidence.