A review of the debate rules, set forth in the James Baker/Vernon Jordan Joint Letter Memorandum of Understanding (and available in the above link), dated Sept. 20, 2004, suggests that if Bush was wired, he violated the debate rules.
Consider the following:
1. a prohibition on bringing in "tangible things" into the debate by any candidate:
"No props, notes, ... or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by any candidate."
2. a prohibition on "audience participation" (in the first and third debates):
"There shall be no audience participation in the September 30th or October 13 debates."
3. for the town hall debate, audience participation only as carefully prescribed:
"There shall be no audience participation in the October 8 debate except as described below."