(AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
by Frank James
Iraqi journalist Muntathar al-Zaidi who became famous the world over for pitching a couple of shoes at former President George W. Bush during a Iraq press conference, said in an Iraqi court today that he hadn't gone into that press conference with the notion of flinging his footwear at the American head of state.
Instead, it was Bush's "icy" smile during the press conference that sent him over the edge, he said.
Many American liberals and confirmed Bush haters will be able to relate. They used to have same reaction to that smile as well.
Almost as good as al-Zaidi's explanation was the argument made by his defense lawyers. They argued their client wasn't really guilty of offending a foreign leader during an official visit since Bush's visit to Iraq was unannounced and thus, their argument goes, not really official. Not bad. They could work in Washington with logic like that.
Comments
To bad that guy didn't throw one of Shaq's shoes at W. That would have knocked the smirk off of the boy King's face.
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http://image22.webshots.com/23/0/55/57/216405557yrAfGT_fs.jpg
That would have knocked the smirk off o
Posted by: Republican Talking Point | February 19, 2009 4:33 PM
It was the combination of Jr's smirk and Darth's scowl that put people over the edge. They made no effort to hide their contempt for the "little people".
Posted by: dt☢ | February 19, 2009 4:43 PM
As a liberal and a confirmed Bush-hater (he provided plenty of reason to hate him -- I DID NOT start out that way), I think your statement that "Many American liberals and confirmed Bush haters will be able to relate. They used to have same reaction to that smile as well" to be out of line. It's NEVER understandable to use personal feelings to go to the extreme of physical violence, whether shoe-throwing or any other kind of physical attack. I do NOT relate.
Posted by: Op109 | February 19, 2009 4:52 PM
Op109: I wasn't attempting to justify physical violence. My point was that many liberals and confirmed Bush haters could probably relate to being sent over the edge by Bush's smile/smirk, which drove a lot of his critics to distraction because they thought it smacked of arrogance or smugness. I agree, throwing shoes or other physical violence is unacceptable.
Posted by: Frank James | February 19, 2009 5:25 PM
He also described the smile as "soulless." More accurate than his throwing ability...
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ☯ | February 19, 2009 5:26 PM
Still see there is plenty of Bush Derangement Syndrome to go around.
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I laways thought the liberals were the party of love and tolerance.
Posted by: Terry | February 19, 2009 6:45 PM
laways thought the liberals were the party of love and tolerance.
Posted by: Terry | February 19, 2009 6:45 PM
That's why you're always wrong, Trickle-down boy. You don't think, you just repeat whatever Rush and Hannity tell you to think.
This aint' your daddys Democratic party, Terri.
Posted by: Ned Flanders | February 19, 2009 10:28 PM
I would like to see this grandstanding coward have tried this stunt at a Saddam press conference-
Send him to Gitmo for some "charm lessons"-
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 20, 2009 6:53 AM
I laways thought the liberals were the party of love and tolerance.
Posted by: Terry | February 19, 2009 6:45 PM
I can see why you don't like them then.
Posted by: bill r. | February 20, 2009 8:22 AM
I know what he means; I have ruined many TVs and lost many a pairs of shoes in the past eight years. Now I wear slippers, but since Jan. 20th, I haven't felt the urge.
Posted by: Tim | February 20, 2009 1:23 PM