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Shoes thrown at Bush on Iraq trip

dclxvinoise said:
I think a lot of people are making a far bigger deal out of this than it warrants. Was it disrespectful to throw a shoe at our President? Absolutely. It would be to do so to any world leader. However, it was just a shoe. The most that is going to be made out of this is that it is going to get a few hundred thousand hits on Youtube and it will probably get a brief mention on Best Week Ever. Stuff like this is the lifeblood of internet video like Youtube. Who cares? The absurdity of it only underlines the fact that we should all be able to laugh about it and move on rather than take it seriously in any way.
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I guess that's possible, but I go with my gut instinct, which has been very reliable for me. I immediately said, "OH MY GOD" when I saw that incident. Personally, it disturbed me. Anytime someone is assaulted unprovoked and in an angry manner is something I cannot dismiss easily. But that's me.

I remember witnessing a woman get her hair pulled by another woman totally unprovoked and in a violent manner. That scene has stayed with me--this happened over 20 years ago.
 
bush.gif


Is it just me or does Bush smirk at the guy as soon as he realizes what's happening?

This is probably Bush's greatest unifying moment since the invasion of Afghanistan. Today, all of the US comes together as Americans to make fun of Arabs throwing shoes :D
 
aps said:
I guess that's possible, but I go with my gut instinct, which has been very reliable for me. I immediately said, "OH MY GOD" when I saw that incident. Personally, it disturbed me. Anytime someone is assaulted unprovoked and in an angry manner is something I cannot dismiss easily. But that's me.

I remember witnessing a woman get her hair pulled by another woman totally unprovoked and in a violent manner. That scene has stayed with me--this happened over 20 years ago.
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I understand what you are saying, but it was just a shoe. Bush handled the situation with class. Immediately after the shoe was thrown he had a smile on his face and even made a funny joke about it. Even he didn't take it seriously. I see it as Youtube fodder and nothing more.
 
Kernel Sanders said:
bush.gif


Is it just me or does Bush smirk at the guy as soon as he realizes what's happening?

This is probably Bush's greatest unifying moment since the invasion of Afghanistan. Today, all of the US comes together as Americans to make fun of Arabs throwing shoes :D
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The more I see this video, the more impressed I am. Our President has some pretty amazing cat-like reflexes.
 
dclxvinoise said:
I understand what you are saying, but it was just a shoe. Bush handled the situation with class. Immediately after the shoe was thrown he had a smile on his face and even made a funny joke about it. Even he didn't take it seriously. I see it as Youtube fodder and nothing more.
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I think it is a little more than youtube fodder. Thousands are already marching to demand the release of the man. If few more stunts against the president on his home terf by Americans happens now then watch how much jump on the anti-Bush wagon. As long as they are not obsene I imagine. But if a few more of his little shindigs get crashed then his image will degrade extremely fast. **** like this gets bigger as it rolls down hill. Unless some dip**** takes it too far. I'd really like to see the rotten fruit thing make a come back though.
 
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dirtpoorchris said:
I think it is a little more than youtube fodder. Thousands are already marching to demand the release of the man.
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I believe that's called having too much time on your hands.
 
Actually, I favor the journalist's release on one condition - Bush gets to throw shoes at him. Put it on prime time TV, or even pay per view. I would pay to see that. LOL.
 
danarhea said:
Actually, I favor the journalist's release on one condition - Bush gets to throw shoes at him. Put it on prime time TV, or even pay per view. I would pay to see that. LOL.
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Actually I would too. I'm willing to bet his reflexes aren't nearly as good.
 
It would be interesting that the man who threw his shoes at Bush had realised that had he done this to President Saddam Hussein he would by now along with his entire family been arrested, tortured.
With some semblance of Democracy, none of this is likely to occur.
This quite simply reinforces my opinion of the average Mid Easterner, they react on emotion, are without any common sense and have virtually no ability to recall what life was like under the previous Baathist regime.
 
Kernel Sanders said:
bush.gif


Is it just me or does Bush smirk at the guy as soon as he realizes what's happening?

This is probably Bush's greatest unifying moment since the invasion of Afghanistan. Today, all of the US comes together as Americans to make fun of Arabs throwing shoes :D
Click to expand...

I'll tell you this - Bush was clearly not frightened - his expression showed amusement - and wow, quick reflexes, quicker than the security detail, and he stood his ground.:lol:
 
azura28 said:
I'll tell you this - Bush was clearly not frightened - his expression showed amusement - and wow, quick reflexes, quicker than the security detail, and he stood his ground.:lol:
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CIA training will do that to ya.
 
Kernel Sanders said:
[

Is it just me or does Bush smirk at the guy as soon as he realizes what's happening?

This is probably Bush's greatest unifying moment since the invasion of Afghanistan. Today, all of the US comes together as Americans to make fun of Arabs throwing shoes :D
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Yes! he's in 6th grade playing a fun game of dodgeball. I think he was disappointed the guy ran out of ammo.
 
Some in the Arab world (especially arab media) are making a big deal out of this. Bush actually saved this man by stopping his secret service detail from springing into action. Bush gave them a hand signal to stay put when one started to approach him, and no doubt they would have gone after the journalist given a few more seconds. You have to give Bush credit for keeping cool, and later acknowledging the man's free speech rights.
 
American said:
Some in the Arab world (especially arab media) are making a big deal out of this. Bush actually saved this man by stopping his secret service detail from springing into action. Bush gave them a hand signal to stay put when one started to approach him, and no doubt they would have gone after the journalist given a few more seconds. You have to give Bush credit for keeping cool, and later acknowledging the man's free speech rights.
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Bush handled it very well, IMO.

Even though I'm sure I'll get flack from Bush-haters for saying it, I think Bush is compassionate enough to understand that the guy had emotional reasons for the outburst and I think that is part of what caused him to handle it so well.
 
American said:
Some in the Arab world (especially arab media) are making a big deal out of this. Bush actually saved this man by stopping his secret service detail from springing into action. Bush gave them a hand signal to stay put when one started to approach him, and no doubt they would have gone after the journalist given a few more seconds. You have to give Bush credit for keeping cool, and later acknowledging the man's free speech rights.
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I'm hearing stories that this man was tortured at the hands of Americans. Can anyone confirm this? There must be a reason why he was so raged.
 
Tucker Case said:
Bush handled it very well, IMO.

Even though I'm sure I'll get flack from Bush-haters for saying it, I think Bush is compassionate enough to understand that the guy had emotional reasons for the outburst and I think that is part of what caused him to handle it so well.
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Bush have compassion? I thought he was a cold, heartless, uncaring, evil war monger with no compulsion for sending people to their deaths and expresses joy at the rising death count. Wow. He actually has a heart.... Amazing. :mrgreen:
 
ludahai said:
Where are you hearing these stories from?
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My local radio news that reported that it came from Iraqi TV. Of course it's far from being confirmed, and I don't want to make any rash judgements. Having said that, this man was raged and wanted to make a statement.
 
I read that he belongs to the Shiite pro Iranian group JAM whose members in parliament all voted against the recent military agreement with the US.

Was likely educated by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Was kidnaped by the militia and released after 2 days unharmed.

But none of this was official, just what a blogger had found out.
 
Middleground said:
I'm hearing stories that this man was tortured at the hands of Americans. Can anyone confirm this? There must be a reason why he was so raged.
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I'm hearing he's being held by Iraqi police. I doubt Americans are having anything to do with him.
 
Much as I dislike Bush, he is a sitting US president and the lack of security there appalled me. You'd think that someone would be on the ball enough to notice a reporter removing his shoes in the middle of a press conference; that alone should have sent red flags up to the secret service.

If a visiting dignatary... even an unpopular one... were assaulted while under our protection by an American reporter, it would be a national shame and embarrassment. And yes, that reporter would end up charged with attempted assault.

For me, seeing this was frankly horrifying. All I could think of was what if there had been explosives ala the shoe-bomber in those shoes. I've seen the assassination of one American president; I don't want to see that ever again.
 
American said:
I'm hearing he's being held by Iraqi police. I doubt Americans are having anything to do with him.
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I don't think the story meant at present. More like he was tortured before this incident, if true.
 
dirtpoorchris said:
CIA training will do that to ya.
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So will playing baseball and having to duck 90 mph fastballs.

While his family lived in Houston, Texas, George W. was sent back east to enroll at Phillips Academy, a private school in Andover, Massachusetts. Although George W. became actively involved in sports, playing baseball, basketball, and football, his high school academic record was far from exceptional. However, through his family's powerful connections, Bush landed a spot at Yale University in Connecticut, where both his father and grandfather had attended.

At Yale, Bush was a popular student. He became president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and enjoyed socializing, watching and playing football, and dating. Grades were not a high priority, and because of his mischievous behavior, Bush had a few minor run-ins with the law. Despite his background of privilege, Bush became more at ease with all kinds of people in college. "I was never one to feel guilty," he said about his wealth and family connections. "I feel lucky."
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George W. Bush Biography
 
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