I’m not convinced that the "let me finish" was due to an earpiece. He did appear to look right at Jim Lehrer when he said it, and I’ve noticed him use this same phrase on several other occassions where no one was attempting to interrupt him. He seems to use the phrase as a kind of habitual preemptive strike, as if to say "I know I’m not giving you a good answer, and you’re about to put me on the spot, so I’ll pretend you’re trying to interrupt me to keep you from getting a word in edgewise, and hopefully make you appear rude in the process."
There is also a plausible alternative explanation for those strange several second mute delays from Bush: it was just stress keeping his sputtering, alcohol damaged neurons from firing.
I’m not convinced that the "let me finish" was due to an earpiece. He did appear to look right at Jim Lehrer when he said it, and I’ve noticed him use this same phrase on several other occassions where no one was attempting to interrupt him. He seems to use the phrase as a kind of habitual preemptive strike, as if to say "I know I’m not giving you a good answer, and you’re about to put me on the spot, so I’ll pretend you’re trying to interrupt me to keep you from getting a word in edgewise, and hopefully make you appear rude in the process."
There is also a plausible alternative explanation for those strange several second mute delays from Bush: it was just stress keeping his sputtering, alcohol damaged neurons from firing.