Much has been rumored in the blogistan about the mysterious bulge on the back of president Bush's suit jacket during the first presidential debate. What on earth could it have been? A rectangular patch, right between Bush's shoulder blades?
Speculation has ranged from a back brace via a Kevlar vest to a hidden radio receiver or its battery back. Even the possibility that this is where the key goes in has been raised. Now the mainstream press has caught up. A New York Times article contained this statement by a member of the Bush campaign:
"There was nothing under his suit jacket," said Nicolle Devenish, a campaign spokeswoman.
"It was most likely a rumpling of that portion of his suit jacket, or a wrinkle in the fabric."
Ms. Devenish could not say why the "rumpling" was rectangular.
Nor was the bulge from a bulletproof vest, according to campaign and White House officials; they said Mr. Bush was not wearing one.
Supposedly this has been verified by Bush's tailor, who admitted to such bad tailoring like a pucker in the back seam of the jacket.
I don't believe this. I have made a suit, once, just to find out how hard it is, and no self-respecting tailor would leave such a pucker in. It's just not done, especially in a very expensive suit made for the president of a country. Nope. The tailor's admission is like a surgeon saying that he cut into a patient with a hacksaw.
My personal favorite among the theories is that the mysterious bulge was caused by Bush dressing himself and for a moment forgetting where extra padding goes...