Secret Service polishing shoe defense

Nope, Secret Service screwed up.

The response, reacting to the shoe throwing, may have been appropriate, but agents should have noted the activity of the angry journalist.

Another tape of this incident surfaced, shot from the back of that room. Maliki's thugs in black leather jackets had the reporter on the ground punching him out, pronto.

Bush I and II seem to have an affinity for shoes.

In 1992 Bush I threw up on the shoes of the Japanese Prime Minister.

BBC had a complete tape of this and did broadcast it, but it was suppressed in the US . On Bended Knee, etc.
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Some UToob entrepreneur is going to put out a compilation of the Bush Dynasty's greatest hits (or near hits as in this case).

Does anyone hold them accountable at this point of his presidency. The world around 5 times would throw their shoes at him, probably dirty diaper and any dirty object of clothing (which is dirty) to represent which group of citizens are sick of his @#$%!

There isn't a member unsoiled with what Bush has done to the world and is going to take 5 times the people to undo the mess with (Iraq war part II).

It might be cheaper to impeach the president. He is the worst example of a president (in the USA) which doesn't deserve capitol letters.

More importantly It would take the armed forces to guard him (Just how many people would want to assassinate him anyway, but know it isn't worth the price of a bullet or having Chaney rule ( if anyone has been watching the news, is the second worthless leader and counting) just go down the rank until you reach the first Democrat.

Not that I would do such a thing no matter how bad a leader they be. I still believe in "Thou Shalt Not Kill," others still too many to count view it as a "Self defence," sort of thing and this is a start. our country is in such a state, that either way "economically not sound."

The people I worry about the most is the babies born in this time. they aren't going to see economic sound times their whole lives. Guess I'm there because of the parents I've been born to will take my whole lifetime.

Not everyone is so lucky that way. Mine were mentally unbalanced and irresponsible...

What a relief to know, that in several weeks, President Bush will no longer be our representative, abroad. He has the world laughing at America, while gritting their teeth !! It almost appeared to be a SNL skit !!
All I will say is, thank God, America chose President-elect Obama; no saviour, but certainly more honest and forthright, than President Bush and Vice-President Cheney !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

It's about time the Secret Service has admitted they erred.

Imagine the world reaction if one of the shoes had hit the President.

For that matter, what would a mid eastern country do if someone in our country tossed a shoe at their leader and actually hit him? I'd hate to think of the things they would want in retribution.

bush would have us believe that we have 'liberated' 25 million Iraqis.

I think the shoe conference is a more honest reflection of the true state of affairs in iraq.

we have destroyed a nation. killed tens of thousands of iraqis, and created a power vacuume that has lead to extreem violence in country that continues without an end in sight.

the shoe thower said "this is for the widows and orphans of Iraq" this is an honest, emotional response to bush.

The Secret Service is a continuing joke that on a regular basis shows they have no more rational thought put into their jobs than a dog licking itself. Look at JCK and the uneven security there. Gates block of pedestrian access on all four sides, but two sides are pushed about 50-100 feet out from the building. On the other two sides it is flat against the pillars. Where is the thought? Thugs and knuckledraggers who spend more time Bi**ching about the city than actually protecting something (or someone).

I hope the agents don't get hit by the door when they finally leave this city. DON"T come back now, ya hear?

Thank God this moron will soon be gone. I wish him well in his retirement playing with legoblocks and mumbling incoherently to himself." I was a president(small letters), I was the decider, I was the divider.

In the few times President Bush has visited Iraq or Afghanistan, I am surprised a shoe in the face has been the only narrow miss he's had to deal with. It is unfortunate Bush has put our armed forces into combat situations exponentially more hellish than a well deserved heel could ever inflict.

Looking at the ignorant comments above, maybe the Secret Service should just OVER REACT and shoot the guy. It is easy for you to sit in your recliner and be critical of those out there actually doing the job. Watching a TV show about being a cop, fireman, or even a Secret Service Agent does not make you an expert on how to respond to this type incident.

I ask you... would you be willing to take a shoe for that man?

the love in the comments is overflowing, i'm glad these loving caring people will be taking charge. better not say or do something they don't like!

The journalist is absolutely in the wrong profession. Get this guy a football and a Bears Jersey right away. Amazingly, the man was able not just throw one shoe, but two. And with the defense (i.e. Secret Service) ready to blitz. There is definitely some untapped talent in the Middle East.

I'd say the SS needs some better screening processes. Especially for foreign countries where we are at war!

there was a second shoe-thrower, in the grassy knoll!

Thank goodness for President Bush. He has held himself respectfully against the world and FOR AMERICA. Here is to those of us who do not care what others "think of us," or "think we should be doing." Mr. President, thank you for doing what is right for us...and nice moves around those shoes.

At least he didn't light the shoe first. Usually they light their shoes before they throw them, don't they?

Yes, Mitch, you're right. Iraq was a peaceful country before we arrived. Citizens would frolic in the square and the Iraqi government provided wonderful social services. Wake up idiots! We may not have the best President in history but had this reporter done this to Saddam Hussein he and his entire family would have been publicly executed. You people seem to forget who Saddam Hussein was. And don't forget we haven't exactly been electing great Presidents. Look at Clinton (I dropped my pants), Carter (Hiding in the Rose Garden) and Nixon. If we continue to accept poor leadership in the name of party loyalty we will continue to get the same thing.

I think Rafe at 10:24 AM pretty much nailed it. I was pretty impressed with the speech and accuracy in which he whipped those things. Of course it was inappropriate, but I think it goes to show how angry many Iraqis are regarding the war.

Now W knows what the Iraqi people really think of him.

I can understand the journalist's animosity. Life was so much better in Iraq under the reign of Saddam Hussein!

Kevin at 11:43 AM forgot Reagan napping in the Oval Office.

The Secret Service BLEW their assignment. If this was a hand gernade, they and Bush would all be dead. If they were athletes they would be cut or benched immediately. Should have shot the guy afterwards.

how would any of you guys know if life is better or worse in Iraq than when Saddam was in power when you haven't even lived there? at least here you get to see what many Iraqis think about Bush and what we've done to their country....

Isn't throwing an object at the President of the United States with intent to hit, an assault? Isn't that an indignity to all Americans?
You must honor the rank, if not the man.

Reading the comments above, it's clear that people don't 'get it'. There's a difference between presidential politics and The President.

You can hate Bush all you want. Nevertheless, as an American, you shouldn't be casually laughing at an assault at the man that - for better or worse - is the embodiment of the Executive Branch of the government. It's not funny.

As you might guess, I'm not an Obama fan - I voted for McCain and I'm not looking forward to the next (hopefully only 4) years.

Would I respond the same way if this incident happened to Obama? Absolutely, without a doubt.

My POLITICS, may be against Obama, but my LOYALTY is to our country, regardless of who is elected. Attacks on the President of the United States of America - regardless of his party or policies - are craven and worrisome events.

This isn't SNL. (And, FYI, for any of you who have lived through the assassination of an elected leader, you know that, regardless of your position on him or her, the fact that they have been dispatched outside the control of the People is a disturbing and hard thing to swallow.)

People need to grow up and stop this infantile polarization.

What if there were weapons of mass destructions and we didn't do anything about it. What about the millions that could have been killed because we failed to act on information that was questionable.

Who does one blame?

OBAMA is now backing the war, so does Hilary. I guess when you're in charge your view and reponsiblity to the world changes doesn't it?

Never honor the rank. Totalitarianism lies down that road. Always honor the man.

GWB should get on the back channel and tell his puppets in Iraq to let the guy go.

I think Andy Frain provided better security at a 70's rock concert.

They were deep in the palace. Heavily screened--no weapons, so the secret service did the right thing.
This was political theatre. That "our" allies have thugs who brutalized this man and OUR MEDIA SUPPRESSED THIS VIDEO is the real story.
another aspect of the real story is the genocide and resultant disruption to the region caused by this lying pretender to the presidency.
he stole 2 elections.