George Bush: Wired in First Debate

This news shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
Was President Bush literally channeling Karl Rove in his first debate with John Kerry? That's the latest rumor flooding the Internet, unleashed last week in the wake of an image caught by a television camera during the Miami debate. The image shows a large solid object between Bush's shoulder blades as he leans over the lectern and faces moderator Jim Lehrer.

The president is not known to wear a back brace, and it's safe to say he wasn't packing. So was the bulge under his well-tailored jacket a hidden receiver, picking up transmissions from someone offstage feeding the president answers through a hidden earpiece? Did the device explain why the normally ramrod-straight president seemed hunched over during much of the debate?
We all know that George W Bush can't think for himself, at least not effectively, as evidenced by his 7 minutes of frightened paralysis in Florida on September 11, 2001. I wonder who had George's ear during the first debate? Based on his poor performance with the wire, do you think Karl Rove is more or less likely to have George wired for tonight's town hall event?