Bush's Baghdad shoe-attack: 'Size 10'

Gee, not rose petals?

W looked like he's had to make that move before.

I thought they were supposed to toss flowers at us.

If this was W's farewell tour it was a complete surprise to the Iraqi press corp, otherwise that shoe thrower would have brought something a little more solid to throw.

Bush is a special kind of arrogant, audacious, insulting, and infuriating. And, the more people exhibit their loathing of him, the more he seems to enjoy himself.

What did mommy and poppy Bush do to him to make him as damaged as he is? In some sort of Freudian psychologically analytical way, I feel for the guy.....but only for a few fleeting moments.

Bush laughed off the incident when the Iraqi journalist noted the widows, orphans and those killed there......No wonder. Iraqi citizens won't ever be planting any poppies in a Flander's Field for Bush or Cheney--nor, sadly, for the 4200+ American troops that have died in the Bush/Cheney Iraq invasion/occupation, or in the civil war there. Its good to see that not all Iraqis are puppets in the Bush assisted al-Maliki regime. I hope the journalist is safe and free now, and long after the spotlight is off.

My sides hurt so badly I may never breathe again.
This is Bush's legacy in Iraq.

It was also reported that Maliki's immediate reaction was to confiscate all the videotapes. Free society or Cheney School of Journalism?

Apparently WH spokesperson Dana Perino got a shiner when she took an elbow when the guy was tackled. Parting gifts keep coming.

looked like another shoe bomber to me.

"Bush is a special kind of arrogant, audacious, insulting, and infuriating. And, the more people exhibit their loathing of him, the more he seems to enjoy himself."

Kinda sounds like a Chicago Democrat.

Sadder than Blagojevich in its way.

Not exactly rose petals and chocolates.

So, this is the reception you get after spending $1 trillion.

At least W didn't use that old line of his, "I guess he just doesn't love freedom."

It is very unfortunate for the leader of the USA to be treated like that;I also question the ineffective role of the SS in this matter.

I guess this journalist was happier with the freedom of press he was afforded under Sadaam.

I've been a heavy, consistent critic of the current President for the past 6+ years but I'll be d**ned if I like some twit throwing anything at him.

I hope that shoe tosser understands that he damaged the prospects for a free press in Iraq more than anything else.

Legacy confirmed.
"Worst President Ever"

I don't know about that legacy statement C.Morris, if that reporter through shoes at Saddam Hussein, he'd be tortured and chopped into little pieces. But, your "Hussein" will be ducking more than shoes when Rezko and Blago spill all the beans! It's going to be interesting Morris!

This is very different than what reporters do at Obama’s press conferences. At his, they put their hands on their heads and scream like it’s a 1964 Beatle’s concert, and throw their underwear up on stage.

Which in the case of Helen Thomas, should actually be considered an attempt to assassinate the President-elect.

Nonetheless, this needs to be investigated. Why did some witness claim to have seen three shoes thrown if the man only has two feet? Who threw the third shoe? How is it that one shoe, apparently bounced off the head of a Jordanian cameraman, changed trajectories in mid flight, and headed straight towards Bush? I’m not buying the “magic shoe” theory some are proposing.

This is very different than what reporters do at Obama’s press conferences. At his, they put their hands on their heads and scream like it’s a 1964 Beatle’s concert, and throw their underwear up on stage.

Which in the case of Helen Thomas, should actually be considered an attempt to assassinate the President-elect.

Nonetheless, this needs to be investigated. Why did some witness claim to have seen three shoes thrown if the man only has two feet? Who threw the third shoe? How is it that one shoe, apparently bounced off the head of a Jordanian cameraman, changed trajectories in mid flight, and headed straight towards Bush? I’m not buying the “magic shoe” theory some are proposing.

Does anybody have pain killers? My sides hurt too!! I also cant stop watching and laughing... Go Bush! LOL, LOL,LOL.
Does Bush really think he will be able to show his face in public 5,10,20 years after the White House?? I know this guy will go down as the most hated leader anywhere, ever!
If anything, I feel very sad for the good man that threw the shoe, Im sure he's seen the terror Bush & Company has caused his country first hand. Of course us Americans wouldnt know... If Blago can get editors of the Tribune fired for negative press, I'm sure the U.S. Goverment has the media by the nuts. We only hear and see what they want us too. Common sense tells the whole story.

If the shoe fits...Throw it?
... Worst pres ever, for sure.

FLASH: White House correspondents and visitors will be required to wash their feet before entering any room with the President, since the Secret Service no longer will permit them to wear shoes. Pee-eww!

So nice of him to make flip jokes instead of acknowledging all those who have died or had their lives ruined because of his arrogance. This man is truly a psychopath and the sooner he stops ruining everything he touches, the better.

I am by no means a fan of Bush, but those were some Matrix-like moves there. I gotta hand it to him.

kevin, if all you have to attack the president with is the shoes you are wearing, isnt that actually a indication the s.s. is doing a good job? try to think before you write.

Just think.....Bush entered office riding in a motorcade getting pelted with eggs and tomatos. Now, leaving office getting shoes tossed at him. Boy, is this guy popular?

This is outragous! This is an insult to dogs!

Poor little Decider Guy...

No flowers. no candy. no statue. no plaza. no boulevard.

No permanent bases. no usurious resource contracts. no puppet-state.

Just shoes, another failed Republican presidency and another photo-op not making it into the W presidential library.

"W"ORST

PRESIDENT

EVER

Thanks Republicans.....not!

If two is good, then 365 x 8 is better.

Looks like all those cheerleading drills did W. a world of good.
http://www.infowars.com/images2/Bush/cheerleader.jpg

You didn't use Bush's most interesting words...“That’s what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves,” That's right, it's all about this Arab publicity hound. Nothing to do with an unending military occupation that has killed hundreds of thousands. The war, the economy, Katrina. No more "surprise" visits Bush...just shut up and go home.

If the shoe fits, wear it. Many Iraquis are dead because of Bush's War. This is as close to combat as Bush has ever come. He has no idea of the scale of the suffering he is responsible for. At least someone tried to make him aware.

That is the opening shot on the evaluation of the Moronic Presidency. This is what, forcing democracy down a nation's throat will get you. During this Moronic Presidency we had government by greed, from the the OIl Corps to the Mercenary Corps and not a peep from the GOP,Greedy Oilmen Party. Where's mine, could be heard all over the Party's headquarters !! The malfeasance of this administration will be felt for decades to come. It is just too bad that we, as a nation, can't find a way to punish the culprits, such as taking it out of their executive funds for libraries, security staffs, administrative costs. They should not be allowed to benefit from their malfeasance and incompetency, too many lives have been ruined, or lost for that to happen !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

I would have loved to see atleast one of the shoes smacking into the face. But on a serious note, this is terrorism :)

It is very unfortunate for the leader of the USA to be treated like that;I also question the ineffective role of the SS in this matter.

Posted by: kevin | December 14, 2008 10:19 PM

It was noted on the news the people were fully vetted and searched before the conference. They do not make them take off their shoes though.

I've said repeatedly that if our president has to continue to sneak into Iraq, we're not going to win this war. I will now add, if our president has to duck shoes, we're not even going to win kudos for getting rid of Saddam Hussein.

Let all of those (Charles Krauthammer, listen up) who believe that we can win in Iraq if "we" (read "the Obama administration") don't screw-it-up take note. They threw shoes at the "liberator-in-chief"!

There's no getting around this. The Iraqis do not appreciate what GW did; and it's up to the Iraqis to decide for THEMSELVES what their future holds.

Bottom line: Obama cannot "screw-up" what has already been "screwed-up."

"This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Bush's response? Crack some jokes.

What did he expect??He knew when he went into office Iraq was his planned agenda and considering the losses those people have suffered he is lucky it was just shoes.Supposedly now they have freedom of speech over there so this should tell the tale..No one ever said they had to revere Bush..It was only for show he made the trip anyway....Hopefully soon he will be out of office and we can close the Bush Saga...It sucked!!!!...

Don't let Homeland Security see this! None of us will be allowed to even wear shoes again!

Its very sad, Jorge from Bloomington, that you think that the president of the free world is sneaking around. Lets just remove the secret service, put them in the unemployment line. that way all presidents, including your soon to be KING OBAMA, THE MESSIAH BARAK , can just defend themselves. we'd have to have elections every other day to elect a new president. How long do you think ANY president would last, in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, anywhere that terrorist still live,

Too bad they weren't spikes.

Some hero, I'd have liked to see him try this stunt at a Sadaam press conference.

Send this coward to Gitmo for some charm lessons-

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

I don't know if I should cry (for the Iraq's frustration) or laugh for the way Bush responded...

Well, at least he ducked. I didn't exactly see a lot of Iraqi security closing in around Bush. One more cowardly, Iraqi "journalist" lashes out against the evil western world. Once we leave they'll have the whole lovely country to themselves and I can only hope we never send another dollar or a crumb of bread to those people.

Wow, nice dodge!
EVERYONE deserves to be treated with respect, even if you vehemently disagree with them. Why do people, including many of you providing comments, seem to think throwing a shoe is appropriate? You say we shouldn't use force to push our agenda, but then you are OK with it when used against someone you don't like. Where is the consistency and integrity?

my favorite moment thus far
for this administration.

I say we all mail GWB a shoe
or two before he leaves office.

that address would be:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20050

They will greet us as liberators!

Nice quick reflexes.

So, what happened to the 'journalist'? For that matter, what about security. Obviously they don't seem to have a lot in that country. Scary to think our leader went there and they didn't take precautions.

"...I know this guy will go down as the most hated leader anywhere, ever!..."

Posted by: Rick S | December 14, 2008 11:23 PM

Rick S.- Anti Bush syndrome has manifested itself into making folks like you suspend any hold you may have had on reason or even common sense..

Take your definitive statement above and then do a little research on Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao Tse tung, Nikolai Ceausescu and then try to make your case.

The shoe throwing image is funny I have to admit- but the reality is that if this brain stem had thrown something that could have killed or seriously injured Bush - think about what would have happened in Iraq ...if you think the pre surge sectarian violence was bloody and horrible think about what would have gone down if the militant anti democratic Iraqi's would have seen this as an opening to start all of the fun again...

Ignore your political views for a few minuted and try to understand how bad this could have gone if it was more than a shoe that was thrown..

Comforting that the average Iraqi shoe size measures at twice our "leader's" IQ.

No matter what you think of President Bush, where was and what took his Secret Service detail so long to act. This guy had enough time to take off and lob one shoe and then the other at the President.

People that could have been something a bit more serious and dangerous than dirty, stinking shoes.

People. Get over the fact that George W. Bush was President. Let it go. This unforgiving, vilification of the man is to no purpose. And get some perspective. Rick S .... "I know this guy will go down as the most hated leader anywhere, ever!"?? Really?!? Pol Pot's Cambodia, Stalin's Russia, Milosevich's Ethnic cleansing, Apartheid in South Africa ... and, oh yeah, Hitler's Holocaust. These atrocities pale in comparison to what Bush has done. And those are only from the past 100 years or so.

If you think you are insulting Obama by calling him "Hussein" than you are an ignorant backwoods racist

The video was the bright spot during these bleak times. I haven't laughed that hard since seeing *Airplane* for the first time.

This picture, more than any other, will be the way most of us will remember W and appropriately so.

Has the Secret Service also become inept? Where were they? Not a very good performance on their part. Perhaps they need a good half time talk from KNute Rockne, eh?

At least someone said something on behalf of all of the unfortunate civilians who happened to stand in the way of the US and its oil obsession. This really reflects badly on our country that we would tolerate the level of BS that enabled this administration to slaughter people without any ethical reason. It's mind-numbing how we can consider ourselves the "good guys" after allowing this for such a long time. Bush is a symptom of a larger disease of a country that needs to reinvent its industries to be self-sustaining and a whole lot greener.

Kevin S. got it right earlier on - I shudder to think of what would have happened to the shoe thrower under Saddam. So - it's a GOOD thing that Bush dodged a couple size 10s - let's hear it for free speech!

Was Eric Zorn the shoe chucker?

I can't believe no one has said this yet...

Who throws a shoe? Honestly!

Worst president ever?

When was the last time a president-elect got into his first related scandal BEFORE he took office?

Bush will be remembered fondly by the time the chosen one is done with us.

How could they miss from soooooo close ?

A freed Iraqi citizen is now able to throw his shoe at the man he is angry at. Does anyone else see the irony in all of this? That same man would have been hung or shot by the Hussein Regime for throwing his shoe at a press conference with Saddam hussien at the podium. The beauty of this whole this is in the act of throwing your shoe at a sitting president and knowing you will receive a fair trial for the crime you are accused of. Even knowing you have the freedom to express yourself, in any unhealthy way, happens to be the right of this man and now we have no right to take that freedom away from him or any other Iraqi who chooses to throw his shoe at the wrong person. This man could not have thrown his shoe at Saddam Hussein, he would have been killed for expressing his frustration at that dictator/totalitarian/fascist/murderer. This man is now free to throw his shoe at anyone without fear of being killed for expressing his thoughts. Although this man is free to express himself, his frustration is channeled in the wrong direction, he should have been throwing his shoes at Saddam Hussein, Even if that meant he would have been killed for it.

"I don't know what his beef is.." ???
I feel embarrassed to be an American with comments like that. What an idiot.

Let's not talk about all of the Iraqi's that can't throw shoes, due to the fact that they are dead, or displaced, by this Moronic Presidency. What a nonsensical assumption, because a person in a Photo-Op, threw his shoe, he is expressing, without fear of retaliation, free speech. If that was the case, he wouldn't need to be throwing his shoe, in the first place. Iraq would be paradise, but we all know, that, given President Bush's entrance and exit were top secret, not all is well, in paradise !! One could even say, Iraq is worse off, now, than since Hussein's execution !! Those Republicans sure are rocket scientists, aren't they !!!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

This morning news accounts reported that the shoe throwing journalist could get 2-7 years in prison. Bush should pardon the guy--since, in fact, Bush and Cheney are responsible for killing so many Iraqi citizens and making so many widows and orphans--as the shoe thrower noted before he hurled.

"Bush, uninjured, laughed off the incident: "All I can report is it is a size 10.''

I thought the video was pretty funny too, except that NBC5 reported this morning that in Iraq throwing a shoe is one of the biggest insults one can do (he didn't throw a shoe just because). With that being said, the Iraq insulted the president and Bush laughs it off. That is so sad.

Bushs' Iraq legacy; Sole survivor.

First time in eight years that a reporter threw him a hard question.

Where were the secret service on that one? A little slow to react where the journalist was able to bend down and get the other shoe off to throw it at Presidnet Bush before anyone came out to protect either President really, you'd think in Iraq they would be on gaurd the entire time.

Just another citizen expressing his views of the "well HEELED" Bush baby, whose presidency has been LACED with stupidy and corruption.
Instead of TOEing the line, this guy chose to become an ARCH enemy.
Shoo, Bush baby, Shoo...

While I am not a Bush supporter, I find it appalling that this man was allowed to chuck not one but two shoes at the President of the United States. Where was the Secret Service after the first shoe was thrown? Shouldn't they have been up there as soon as the reporter tossed the first shoe at Bush?

Yeah... right....SS should invest on a shoe defense system...that's the smart way to handle things... Having an actual ethical president, who people around the world respect isn't...

I agree with the the writer, if the shoe fits wear it

There's a certain special justice in this incident. Several years ago, in one of W's failed peace making attempts, the Tribune published a front page picture of an obviously staged photo op taken in, I think, Israel. Bush had just met with representatives of the two sides. My recollection of who the two parties were is poor, but I think he was posed between the then Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian representative. Bush sat with one leg crossed over his knee and the sole of his shoe facing the Palestinian. There was no comment on this insult. I'm sure Bush did not intend the insult, but I have always wondered what briefing failure on his people's part or what carelessness or inattention on his part could have led to it.

I have tried repeatedly to find this picture in the Tribune's Web archives but without success. Can anyone out there dredge it up?

That Bush character otta walk a mile in those shoes.

A SHOE IN THE BUSH IS WORTH TWO IN THE HAND!!
- http://www.cafepress.com/shoebush -

It seems that Mr PRESIDENT is well trained on how to avoid shoes threwers. He is been trained at home very well.....
Those shoes should be sold on Auction, i am sure that they will make alot of money..

Could the arab guy imagine doing something like that to Bush and not him and all his family being wiped out. Let's see it the other way. It shows their freedom

Wow. Bush has great reflexes. The incident was a but funny, but serious. This image is silly: http://spacedust.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/bushs-shoe-attack-tshirt/

Actually, under Saddam, not only would a person pulling a similar stunt be killed in a most painful manner, but in all likelyhood, his immidiate family would also have killed and possibly his village / negihbourhood tortured or otherwise punished.

Those, who ignore this suffering caused by dictatorships, and seemingly believe that because nobody throws a shoe at Castro, Hitler, Saddam, Stalin, Mao or Hu, then these leaders supposedly enjoy more "popularity" than Bush, are at best stupid and at worst a serious danger to democracy.

Having said that, then yes, it does look funny :-)

"Posted by: Ahmad | December 16, 2008 12:57 AM"

Ahmad,

We don't know that won't happen.

Throw a shoe at a liberal and get the pair back with new soles & a shine.

.There is one consolation: For the next 30 days or so, no one can call Georgie a "Lame Duck"... his duck was actually pretty good.

To all you people who think Iraq is sooo much better now... have you been there? Not so pretty if you've been there, watching innocent men and women and children killed indifferently next to the people who oppressed them. What justice the US brings to these people, and what justice the 4000 troops who died there have experienced.

This is unbelievably entertaining. I love my country and served it honorably, more than once. However, I am no bush fan at all. Too much big business and conflicts of interests in this administration. While Im glad it wasnt a bullet, I do kind of wish that one of those size tens connected with Georgies dome, and ricocheted off and popped Cheney in the nugget just for effect. Im certain it would make the guy he went hunting with and carelessly shot in the face with a bird gun smile a little. Bravo 25, out.

thank god this move was done . it was suppose to stick in his dirty face! look how damage bush did and also how damage he did to the journalist. now he has his hand broken and some other bones. shame on bush, he was laughing while he was insulted by a SHOE !!

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR THROWIN (the Ballad of Muntazer Al Zaidi)

(These Boots Are Made for Walikin-Nancy Sinatra)

WilliamBanzai7

SING ALONG LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OU7Nezg7Ls

You keep saying troops will soon be withdrawin.
Just like you said something about finding WMD, but confess.

You've been messin' too long in IRAQ where you shouldn't be a messin'
and now everyone is gettin' shafted in the mother of all sorry messes.

These shoes are made for throwin, and that's just what I'll do
one of these days these Vibram Mocs are gonna get thrown right at you!

You keep lying, when you oughta be a truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.

You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

These shoes are made for throwin, and that's just what I'll do
one of these days these Vibram Mocs are gonna get thrown right at you!

You keep playin' Commander where you shouldn't be playin
and you keep thinkin' that your sorry legacy will never get burnt.

Ha! I just found me a brand new box of Timberlanders yeah
and what I know you ain't HAD time to learn.

These shoes are made for throwin, and that's just what I'll do
one of these days these Vibram Soled Mocs are gonna get thrown right at you!

Are you ready shoes? Start flyin'!