Bush said he never felt that he was in danger. Why was the guy detained then?
tlsintx
· 11 months ago
everyone was rooting for the shoe thrower.
lark83
· 11 months ago
I would hope somebody would have already checked people to make sure they were not armed before they were allowed entrance.
I wonder what that guy's exact beef was. Maybe he had a pretty decent life under Sadam. Some of them did.
Just Sayin'
· 11 months ago
Rumor has it that they hate us for our air strikes and Abu Ghraib. I'm sure it's all just a rumor. Rugs are 5/$5.00.
lark83
· 11 months ago
Yeah, I know. But I wonder what his exact story is. I read that last year he was kidnapped for 3 days before being released. I'm guessing he is just disgusted with the last 6 years of violence, deaths, and lack of security.
Just Sayin'
· 11 months ago
Weren't the shoes found to be Liberal?
paulbe
· 11 months ago
Yeah funny...Just Droolin''
Just Sayin'
· 11 months ago
Patrick McHenry said they're just some 2-bit security guards.
Just Sayin'
· 11 months ago
I was waiting for Bush to tell them how their new Patriot Act would benefit them. I never understood that....why didn't Iraq adopt a Patriot Act? Why didn't Bush have the balls to introduce one?
Just Sayin'
· 11 months ago
Had it been a handful of shit, he would have needed another shower.
vkobaya
· 11 months ago
Shit is cleaner. Bush would need a shower before shit hit him. If shit hit him, he would be cleaner than he was.
Ben Dover
· 11 months ago
I guess the lesson to be learned here is, don't destroy other people's nations and they won't throw things at you when the opportunity presents itself? The thing that still amazes me is that Bush is so bewildered why anyone would hate him. The man simply has no conscience. None whatsoever.
Gary SF
· 11 months ago
They want to frag him just like the rest of us. Don't count me in the 'violence is horrible camp.' First, is was a shoe, not a bomb. But if there was ever a president in the history of the US that deserves a public hanging it is Bush. 1 million dead, CHECK. Global economy ruined, CHECK. Science and reason drummed out of government, CHECK. Constitution made irrelevant, CHECK. I say we air-drop him in the middle of Baghdad and see how he does.
OT, can somebody tell me how the Republicans can work together to hold up the loan to GM, but the Democrats have not been able to do anything about Bush, the war, etc for the last 7-8 years?
An_American_Karol
· 11 months ago
You'll need to ask Pelosi and Reid that question, Gary
houstonray
· 11 months ago
I'm with ya there. I watched the video on TV and then thought to myself "where was the Secret Service during this?" and so I watched it several times and yeah, it's kind of odd that no one took Bush down (down as in protecting him).
That guy could have thrown a grenade, or a knife or a bottle of acid, it was very odd. And then they let him take have a second go at it!! Go figure....
hopeless pedant
· 11 months ago
This was my thought 12 hours ago - this is shocking. Bush isn't going to be president in a few weeks; Obama will be. Now someone could get the idea - particularly is he/she gets into an inner circle event and doesn't mind if he/she is caught - that a shoe designed, say, with a blade or some other device could be use to even kill any president. Yes, Bush deserved it. But the President of the United States does not. That this guy came close to injuring him is frightening.
Charel
· 11 months ago
He hurled the biggest insult at his diposal at the president of the USA whilst everyone stood and watched. Wish it was me.
ndtovent
· 11 months ago
what if it had been a high heel shoe?
Donna in Rome
· 11 months ago
Or better -- since it was thrown by a man -- a wooden clog.
Nick_the_Dog
· 11 months ago
New press conference rule; Reporters must leave shoes outside the room.
cosanostradamus
· 11 months ago
. Maybe the Secret Service were just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I'm not buying this story of a lone shoeman. There had to be a second shoeman. There's no way a mere journalist standing way out there could have ever hit & killed Bush. Maybe the Secret Service got him, and has him bundled up in Abu Graibh. Maybe he got away. Maybe he never even fired a shoe, simply leaving Lee Al-Harvey Al-Oswald there to take the fall. We'll never know. All I can say is, this is one more excuse to shut down Thom McAnn once and for all.
I think mr. popularity will now be more than happy to live out his retirement on the ranch in total obscurity, even after the divorce. I don't think it will rear it's ugly head for quite some time. "And that's.....a good thing...."
Rob Mule
· 11 months ago
Somewhat like Putin, Bush looked into the journalist's sole...
cowboyneok
· 11 months ago
The Secret Service certainly didn't make a good show of protecting the President that is for sure. Even if they were in a secure room, and the people had been screened there are obviously weapons of opportunity. The Secret Service should have to explain why it took so long to respond to the first thrown shoe. It is a serious question of security.
Bush certainly was his usual smartass smug self during and after the incident. When I saw that stupid smirk on his face, I thought, "Typical... he thinks this somehow makes him look tough instead of the obvious disastrous metaphor and cultural insult that had just occurred. Its all about President Bush in his mind. He does not give a shit what it says about the war or how it reflects on his disastrous policies in Iraq.
vkobaya
· 11 months ago
Bush certainly was his usual smartass smug self during and after the incident. When I saw that stupid smirk on his face
That clearly demonstrates Bush expects the hatred and anger at him and his contempt for us, that what he did was all deliberate, malicious and he intended all the pain he has caused.
fdtate
· 11 months ago
The Secret Service was also slow to react when a grenade was thrown at Bush when he visited Georgia (the country, not the state) a couple of years ago.
elRey
· 11 months ago
well Josh's point is a little bit interesting, but I'm sure that the SS did clear everyone that entered that room and they knew there were no weapons... a shoe! Who knew!
What is more interesting and noteworthy in my book is the amount of distain the citizens of Iraq have for this bozo, and the United States, THAT is the story. For bush to joke and say that it was 'a size 10 shoe.." just proves what an insensitive moron he is, with no understanding whatsoever of the culture of the country he invaded and now occupies. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on this fiasco and did not earn one ounce of respect from the citizens of Iraq.
The response time of the secret service is indeed something to worry about but its obvious to me, this event is an emblem of Mr. Bush's legacy; GET THE F*CK OUT!! Don't say another word. JUST GO!!!
I think at the inauguration as Bush drives off we should ALL THROW OUR SHOES AT HIM.
shell
· 11 months ago
Great idea!!! I won't be there, but millions will be. Everyone should bring an old pair of shoes to throw at his motorcade, as he leaves. Much better than the eggs they threw at his inaugural. And with Keith and Rachel on TV now, maybe we can see it this time! (In 2001, all the egg-throwing was completely blacked out. I only saw film later.)
cowboyneok
· 11 months ago
Yes, instead of eggs - SHOES! OLD SHOES! Great idea!
Chris From Maine
· 11 months ago
yeah, I thought that too.. what if that shoe was something like a grenade?
my favorite comment was bush said in an interview afterwards "I dont know what his beef was me was".. maybe because you invaded and occupied his country... dumbass.
S_in_Tokyo
· 11 months ago
Maybe the shoe thrower was reacting to AmericaBlog's latest rhetorical question: "Is it ever okay to assassinate foreign leaders?"
dula
· 11 months ago
If only it was a steel toed boot and George remained looking down at his notes. Does this mean we can't bring footwear to the airport?
ricardotoronto
· 11 months ago
I've read the comments and all joking aside but the hurling of shoes in Iraqi culture is the equivalent of giving the finger here if not more so. It is a huge insult. Just remember the images of the citizens of Baghdad beating the statue of Saddam with their shoes when it was torn down after the fall of the city. What struck me as odd however about the reaction of the Secret Service was that they all filed out of a door that was to the side of the Malaki's podium. The journalist was apprehended by obvious Iraqi security. Is no one else surprised by this?
rosalind
· 11 months ago
after the second shoe throw a secret service agent rushes up to bush and it looks like he waves him away...and the secret service guy stops in his tracks. that shocked me. they didn't know at that point what exactly was going down, and instead of moving to ensure the president's safety, they let bush's mr. macho act dictate their moves.
paulbe
· 11 months ago
Yeah, bit like 911 and the Secret Service that didn't feel the need to get in that room and get Bush out of there during what was supposedly a "surprise" attack.
JamesR
· 11 months ago
Considering we all have to take our shoes off to fly they're so dangerous I find this richly ironic. And I'm gonna be sorely tempted to ask "Where's George?" next time I fly. If I have time to spare for the stripsearch.
Heckofajob Bushie: ya brought Democracy to Iraq in the form of good 'ol civil disobedience. I was wondering where it went. I wonder if that journalist knows how many American friends he has now?
TomJoad
· 11 months ago
Haven't read the earlier comments yet (will now...) but in case it wasn't mentioned, grudgingly I do have to say, Bush's reaction was pretty quick. That kind of reaction I think comes from childhood (i.e. you learn it early or not at all) and I'm thinking, the type of smirk he is, I bet he got a lot of stuff thrown at him by other kids. Maybe a little extra training from his drinking days, when Laura had a vase or two up her sleeve?
I think it was a perfect "last trip" to the country he chose to invade, and do it badly, and ruined....while he's trying to polish a turd, it's only right someone got to let him and us know the sentiment.
Kozar
· 11 months ago
Oh,this is an insult! I get it now. I was assuming it was the Iraqi way of greeting liberators. I stand corrected.
paulbe
· 11 months ago
The Iraqis now a liberation from an occupation. Pity this guy only had shoes to throw and wasn't better prepared.
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 11 months ago
Well I surely hope the SS is ready for a black president if they were not ready for this one. Somewhere down here in Jesusland there is some white trash cracker shooting at tin cans in the woods somewhere, practicing. Can America do anything right anymore? Where the hell does all our money go for these bozos. It took them far too long to react here.
debbers
· 11 months ago
They never thought of that one! I'll bet that if there are any more press conferences, everyone will have to take their shoes off at the door.!
Indigo
· 11 months ago
I assume, possibly wrongly, that the not-so-Secret Service men who stand near the talking bush have been vetted for political suitability. Those guys are not standing there protecting a president of these United States, they're the first line of the choir of parrots that echo the nonsense spilling from W's mouth.
putaro
· 11 months ago
Flowers, Florsheims, what's the difference?
ponchoinparadise
· 11 months ago
If a pair of shoes from every person whose death was caused by the actions of this President he would have suffocated on shoe leather.
NMRon
· 11 months ago
I was wondering if anyone else noticed the lack of 'urgency' in security's response and especially the way the Iraqi PM watched in detached amusement. It's like when the guy missed with his first throw, everyone in the room looked at him and said, "Lame, man. Try again."
NMRon
· 11 months ago
BTW, I love the idea of the crowd throwing shoes at FratBoy as he drives away from BO's inauguration. Actually can we start early?
NMRon
· 11 months ago
I get it now. They weren't trying to wrestle him to the ground after his second miss. Everyone was trying to get to the line saying, "Jehezus, man! Here, let me show you how to do it."
marblex
· 11 months ago
Pity he missed
LuZenMyMnd
· 11 months ago
I was looking at that. If it would have been a bullet, Bush would've been hit.
Oh...the Iraqi leader DID raise his hand in a feigned attempt to block the hit.
TomJoad
· 11 months ago
Reported that thousands of Iraqis are demonstrating for that reporters release.
If Bush had an ounce of class, he'd make the gesture to publicly call for the reporter to be released also. The amount of good will while not atoning for all of his mess, would at least be a decent gesture.
Don't hold your breath for it though.
th
· 11 months ago
I'm no fan of Bush, but I was impressed at how calmly and nimbly he dodged the shoes....If McCain were up there he would have a big heel print on his forehead....
Rufus
· 11 months ago
Bush appears to have enjoyed the event. Bet he thought he was back in the frat house. Our president, sigh.
Bail MI out
· 11 months ago
Poor Bush. He got the left AND right shoes thrown at him.
timeoutofmind
· 11 months ago
too bad hand grenade slippers are out of fashion.
skylights
· 11 months ago
Actually, watching it in slow motion, Maliki does dodge a wee bit on the first throw. Then he reaches out to stop the second shoe, but withdraws prematurely, because, ewww, shoes are dirty.
All Comments
I wonder what that guy's exact beef was. Maybe he had a pretty decent life under Sadam. Some of them did.
The thing that still amazes me is that Bush is so bewildered why anyone would hate him. The man simply has no conscience. None whatsoever.
OT, can somebody tell me how the Republicans can work together to hold up the loan to GM, but the Democrats have not been able to do anything about Bush, the war, etc for the last 7-8 years?
That guy could have thrown a grenade, or a knife or a bottle of acid, it was very odd. And then they let him take have a second go at it!! Go figure....
Now someone could get the idea - particularly is he/she gets into an inner circle event and doesn't mind if he/she is caught - that a shoe designed, say, with a blade or some other device could be use to even kill any president.
Yes, Bush deserved it. But the President of the United States does not.
That this guy came close to injuring him is frightening.
Wish it was me.
Maybe the Secret Service were just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I'm not buying this story of a lone shoeman. There had to be a second shoeman. There's no way a mere journalist standing way out there could have ever hit & killed Bush. Maybe the Secret Service got him, and has him bundled up in Abu Graibh. Maybe he got away. Maybe he never even fired a shoe, simply leaving Lee Al-Harvey Al-Oswald there to take the fall. We'll never know. All I can say is, this is one more excuse to shut down Thom McAnn once and for all.
Cheer yourselves up with some protest music, XXXTREME style.
.
Grazie.
.
Watch out for Jack Shoebie.
.
Bush certainly was his usual smartass smug self during and after the incident. When I saw that stupid smirk on his face, I thought, "Typical... he thinks this somehow makes him look tough instead of the obvious disastrous metaphor and cultural insult that had just occurred. Its all about President Bush in his mind. He does not give a shit what it says about the war or how it reflects on his disastrous policies in Iraq.
That clearly demonstrates Bush expects the hatred and anger at him and his contempt for us, that what he did was all deliberate, malicious and he intended all the pain he has caused.
What is more interesting and noteworthy in my book is the amount of distain the citizens of Iraq have for this bozo, and the United States, THAT is the story. For bush to joke and say that it was 'a size 10 shoe.." just proves what an insensitive moron he is, with no understanding whatsoever of the culture of the country he invaded and now occupies. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on this fiasco and did not earn one ounce of respect from the citizens of Iraq.
The response time of the secret service is indeed something to worry about but its obvious to me, this event is an emblem of Mr. Bush's legacy; GET THE F*CK OUT!! Don't say another word. JUST GO!!!
I think at the inauguration as Bush drives off we should ALL THROW OUR SHOES AT HIM.
my favorite comment was bush said in an interview afterwards "I dont know what his beef was me was".. maybe because you invaded and occupied his country... dumbass.
Does this mean we can't bring footwear to the airport?
What struck me as odd however about the reaction of the Secret Service was that they all filed out of a door that was to the side of the Malaki's podium. The journalist was apprehended by obvious Iraqi security. Is no one else surprised by this?
Heckofajob Bushie: ya brought Democracy to Iraq in the form of good 'ol civil disobedience. I was wondering where it went. I wonder if that journalist knows how many American friends he has now?
I think it was a perfect "last trip" to the country he chose to invade, and do it badly, and ruined....while he's trying to polish a turd, it's only right someone got to let him and us know the sentiment.
by the actions of this President he would have suffocated on shoe
leather.
Oh...the Iraqi leader DID raise his hand in a feigned attempt to block the hit.
If Bush had an ounce of class, he'd make the gesture to publicly call for the reporter to be released also. The amount of good will while not atoning for all of his mess, would at least be a decent gesture.
Don't hold your breath for it though.
shoe game from italy