President Bush gets Shoes thrown at him!

[movie zombie]

Date: 12/16/2008 5:49:00 PM
Author: Allisonfaye

Date: 12/14/2008 9:21:09 PM
Author: ksinger
Calling him a dog and throwing his shoes are both extreme insults in Arab culture, I hear...I''m not sure why, but they are.....


I agree, Bush has some good reflexes!

My theory is that he has practiced dodging shoes from his wife....but it''s just a theory...

that''s a good theory!

movie zombie

 

[Maisie]

I think its amazing how the guy standing next to Bush doesn't even flinch. Watch it back.. he doesn't move a muscle.

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-GB&vid=d590f081-91e0-4365-9779-477ddfb7a8e1&from=today

 

[ksinger]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I thought it was really weird....

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/14/2008 11:21:36 PM
Author: trillionaire
everyone here is being so nice and PC

I''ll admit it, I laughed my @$$ off! SO and I watched it over and over. I don''t agree or condone it, but it still made me laugh, deep in my belly! How crazy.

Karma is funny, sometimes.

I don''t feel bad, so no need shaming me or criticizing.

Actually, it wasn''t funny. It wouldn''t be funny if it was a spitball. It wouldn''t be funny if it was directed at Obama. It was a ridiculous, silly-assed thing to do; and now the thrower will be in serious trouble because - shoe or not - it was an attack. There is nothing funny about such behavior. And that kind of mindless, childish nonsense is why we won''t ever really help these countries change and become a viable part of the twenty-first century. To many of these twits running around.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 12/17/2008 7:41:48 PM
Author: HollyS

Date: 12/14/2008 11:21:36 PM
Author: trillionaire
everyone here is being so nice and PC

I''ll admit it, I laughed my @$$ off! SO and I watched it over and over. I don''t agree or condone it, but it still made me laugh, deep in my belly! How crazy.

Karma is funny, sometimes.

I don''t feel bad, so no need shaming me or criticizing.

Actually, it wasn''t funny. It wouldn''t be funny if it was a spitball. It wouldn''t be funny if it was directed at Obama. It was a ridiculous, silly-assed thing to do; and now the thrower will be in serious trouble because - shoe or not - it was an attack. There is nothing funny about such behavior. And that kind of mindless, childish nonsense is why we won''t ever really help these countries change and become a viable part of the twenty-first century. To many of these twits running around.

Ditto...

 

[Linda W]

Date: 12/17/2008 8:22:20 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 12/17/2008 7:41:48 PM

Author: HollyS

Date: 12/14/2008 11:21:36 PM

Author: trillionaire

everyone here is being so nice and PC

I''ll admit it, I laughed my @$$ off! SO and I watched it over and over. I don''t agree or condone it, but it still made me laugh, deep in my belly! How crazy.


Karma is funny, sometimes.

I don''t feel bad, so no need shaming me or criticizing.

Actually, it wasn''t funny. It wouldn''t be funny if it was a spitball. It wouldn''t be funny if it was directed at Obama. It was a ridiculous, silly-assed thing to do; and now the thrower will be in serious trouble because - shoe or not - it was an attack. There is nothing funny about such behavior. And that kind of mindless, childish nonsense is why we won''t ever really help these countries change and become a viable part of the twenty-first century. To many of these twits running around.

Ditto...

Ditto again. DH and I said what if it had been a knife????

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 12/17/2008 9:58:57 PM
Author: Linda W

Date: 12/17/2008 8:22:20 PM

Author: Kaleigh

Date: 12/17/2008 7:41:48 PM


Author: HollyS

Date: 12/14/2008 11:21:36 PM


Author: trillionaire


everyone here is being so nice and PC

I''ll admit it, I laughed my @$$ off! SO and I watched it over and over. I don''t agree or condone it, but it still made me laugh, deep in my belly! How crazy.



Karma is funny, sometimes.

I don''t feel bad, so no need shaming me or criticizing.

Actually, it wasn''t funny. It wouldn''t be funny if it was a spitball. It wouldn''t be funny if it was directed at Obama. It was a ridiculous, silly-assed thing to do; and now the thrower will be in serious trouble because - shoe or not - it was an attack. There is nothing funny about such behavior. And that kind of mindless, childish nonsense is why we won''t ever really help these countries change and become a viable part of the twenty-first century. To many of these twits running around.

Ditto...

Ditto again. DH and I said what if it had been a knife????

I''ll ditto too. We should be pretty concerned for our next president after seeing this video...unless the "good" SS folks are over protecting Obama already. Geez.

I will admit to a chuckle to the person who said he probably practiced dodging shoes from Mrs. Bush. She could have probably nailed him though!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 12/17/2008 10:11:41 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 12/17/2008 9:58:57 PM
Author: Linda W

Date: 12/17/2008 8:22:20 PM

Author: Kaleigh

Date: 12/17/2008 7:41:48 PM


Author: HollyS

Date: 12/14/2008 11:21:36 PM


Author: trillionaire


everyone here is being so nice and PC

I''ll admit it, I laughed my @$$ off! SO and I watched it over and over. I don''t agree or condone it, but it still made me laugh, deep in my belly! How crazy.



Karma is funny, sometimes.

I don''t feel bad, so no need shaming me or criticizing.

Actually, it wasn''t funny. It wouldn''t be funny if it was a spitball. It wouldn''t be funny if it was directed at Obama. It was a ridiculous, silly-assed thing to do; and now the thrower will be in serious trouble because - shoe or not - it was an attack. There is nothing funny about such behavior. And that kind of mindless, childish nonsense is why we won''t ever really help these countries change and become a viable part of the twenty-first century. To many of these twits running around.

Ditto...

Ditto again. DH and I said what if it had been a knife????

I''ll ditto too. We should be pretty concerned for our next president after seeing this video...unless the ''good'' SS folks are over protecting Obama already. Geez.

I will admit to a chuckle to the person who said he probably practiced dodging shoes from Mrs. Bush. She could have probably nailed him though!

Yeah from Mrs Bush, I have to laugh, that''s funny, and meant in good fun....

 

[swimmer]

All the reporters were patted down and went through a metal detector before the press conference, so a knife would be unlikely. The shoe was the only thing at hand, but here is a nicely done explanation of the cultural negative association link

 

[AGBF]

Date: 12/14/2008 5:19:15 PM
Author: beebrisk


I guess he preferred living under the Saddam regime where name calling and shoe-throwing would have meant severe torture and certain death.

God bless America.

Well, he was tortured, and is now about to be put to death unless you plan to do something about it. So God bless America. We certainly achieved democracy in Iraq. And how many Iraqis did we kill for it?



Deborah

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/22/2008 6:44:33 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 12/14/2008 5:19:15 PM
Author: beebrisk


I guess he preferred living under the Saddam regime where name calling and shoe-throwing would have meant severe torture and certain death.

God bless America.

Well, he was tortured, and is now about to be put to death unless you plan to do something about it. So God bless America. We certainly achieved democracy in Iraq. And how many Iraqis did we kill for it?



Deborah

Exactly why the shoe incident was a stupid move, and certainly, from all perspectives I think, not funny. If I were President Bush, I would make Iraq aware that they have overdone the punishment of what was basically an insult. But it is also why we can''t really be effective in the Middle East. We aren''t dealing with 21st century logical people. Not at all.

 

[arjunajane]

deleted

 

[ksinger]

Date: 12/18/2008 6:26:10 PM
Author: swimmer
All the reporters were patted down and went through a metal detector before the press conference, so a knife would be unlikely. The shoe was the only thing at hand, but here is a nicely done explanation of the cultural negative association link

Thanks for the link Swimmer. It helps to understand why it was such a harsh insult...

 

[klewis]

What I think is amazing is that so many think it is amusing, and some think it''s appalling that Bush had a shoe thrown at him. For goodness sake, he lead an internationally illegal invasion to depose a man that was supported by you all in the first place - you turned a blind eye to , in fact supported, his torture and killing of his own people while it served you, and then when it didn''t, you all became holier than thou and invaded Iraq on a blatant lie that was obvious to most of the rest of the thinking world and it will never be righted until the criminals are brought to trial. But the US refused to sign the treaty that would allow those responsible to be prosecuted as international criminals - somehow you are immune. In my opinion the amazing an fantastic country, USA faces it''s most important hour - does it hold itself responsible for its actions, or is that something that it requires only of others? Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Americans citizens dead and all because of a lying President - what''s a thrown shoe? America was once the leader of the "free" world.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 12/26/2008 2:57:46 AM
Author: klewis
What I think is amazing is that so many think it is amusing, and some think it''s appalling that Bush had a shoe thrown at him. For goodness sake, he lead an internationally illegal invasion to depose a man that was supported by you all in the first place - you turned a blind eye to , in fact supported, his torture and killing of his own people while it served you, and then when it didn''t, you all became holier than thou and invaded Iraq on a blatant lie that was obvious to most of the rest of the thinking world and it will never be righted until the criminals are brought to trial. But the US refused to sign the treaty that would allow those responsible to be prosecuted as international criminals - somehow you are immune. In my opinion the amazing an fantastic country, USA faces it''s most important hour - does it hold itself responsible for its actions, or is that something that it requires only of others? Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Americans citizens dead and all because of a lying President - what''s a thrown shoe? America was once the leader of the ''free'' world.

As an American, I''m sad to say that I too see our collective penchant for applying a different moral yardstick to actions, depending on WHO is doing them - US: OK, THEM: NOT OK, - rather than the actions themselves. Of course, while that is glaringly obvious right now, it is hardly a unique American trait, but an all too human one. As is lumping groups of people into "you all". Do please remember that while most - but not ALL - the American people supported the war at its beginning, 1) like any other national group, we are conditioned and predisposed to believe and trust our leaders, 2) we were LIED to, 3) we would have been led to war regardless of public opinion, and 4) American public opinion about this war and many other things is about as deeply polarized as it has ever been during the course of our history.

So while I dislike being lumped into "you all", or as we say in my part of the world,"all y''all", I can''t argue too much. I too think we need to bring ourselves in line and submit ourselves to the International Criminal Court.

What I thought was interesting is Bush''s response to the shoe. He either was unaware of, or simply refused to acknowledge, the actual seriousness of the sentiment behind the action of the shoe-throwing. But then, ignoring reality is, for Bush, a character trait.

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/26/2008 2:57:46 AM
Author: klewis
What I think is amazing is that so many think it is amusing, and some think it''s appalling that Bush had a shoe thrown at him. For goodness sake, he lead an internationally illegal invasion to depose a man that was supported by you all in the first place - you turned a blind eye to , in fact supported, his torture and killing of his own people while it served you, and then when it didn''t, you all became holier than thou and invaded Iraq on a blatant lie that was obvious to most of the rest of the thinking world and it will never be righted until the criminals are brought to trial. But the US refused to sign the treaty that would allow those responsible to be prosecuted as international criminals - somehow you are immune. In my opinion the amazing an fantastic country, USA faces it''s most important hour - does it hold itself responsible for its actions, or is that something that it requires only of others? Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Americans citizens dead and all because of a lying President - what''s a thrown shoe? America was once the leader of the ''free'' world.

And who, exactly, are you? If you aren''t an American, I for one, do not wish to see any more of your anti-American diatribe here on PS. If you are an American, you''re completely and utterly misinformed.

 

[klewis]

ksinger - Thanks, I do take your point, and I should not have used "you all" and lumped absolutely everyone together.
My hope is that USA is able to regain it''s true moral leadership in the world which I believe can only happen when Bush & Co are brought to justice.

 

[klewis]

Hi HollyS. I''m not American, I''m a New Zealander. Exactly what part of what I said is uninformed? America puts itself forward as the leader of the free world and as a member of the free world I have a right to criticize, but criticizing America doesn''t make me anti-american. What America does affects us all so much, so we must comment if we want to preserve democracy and freedom.

 

[Rank Amateur]

The Iraqi people have their country back. What they choose to do with it is anybody''s guess. Hopefully they don''t gravitate toward the same dictator/father/tyrant figure which seems to thrive over there.

Maybe they can get together to end the maddening posturing and shoe-throwing and take advantage of their great people and abundant natural resourses.

 

[Rank Amateur]

Date: 12/26/2008 1:25:40 PM
Author: klewis
America puts itself forward as the leader of the free world

Amercia doesn''t "put itself" forward as the free world, it IS the leader of the free world. Our economic and military power put the US is positions where it needs to make the tough decisions. Let the criticism come. Let it come from all corners of the world. People in Iraq and New Zealand will throw their shoes. The US will go on shouldering the responsibility, making the best decisions it can at the time, knowing little credit will be given and all blame will be assigned back to us.

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/26/2008 3:16:31 PM
Author: Rank Amateur

Date: 12/26/2008 1:25:40 PM
Author: klewis
America puts itself forward as the leader of the free world

Amercia doesn''t ''put itself'' forward as the free world, it IS the leader of the free world. Our economic and military power put the US is positions where it needs to make the tough decisions. Let the criticism come. Let it come from all corners of the world. People in Iraq and New Zealand will throw their shoes. The US will go on shouldering the responsibility, making the best decisions it can at the time, knowing little credit will be given and all blame will be assigned back to us.

Exactly.

We ARE the leaders of the free world. And Mr. klewless can thank his lucky stars that we are. It''s for darn sure New Zealand will not have to worry over the strain of maintaining such status in the world.

Those who can, DO. Those who can''t ( or don''t want to), criticize.

 

[klewis]

Hi Rank Amateur - The Iraqi people always had their country, but run by a tyrannical leader who got there with the full support of the US. That''s an important fact. What they have now is a far less stable country-it''s essential services have been bombed to smithereens by an univited "libertator" but actually an invader, who now wants to get out of that place, leaving the country in a much worse state than before it liberated/invaded. Yes leading is hard, and having superior economic and military power can make it a dominator but not necessarily a leader.

Hi HollyS - It lacks any kind of class to deliberately misspell or pronounce a persons name in the way you did mine and to take this discussion to this kind of level is a shame.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 12/26/2008 11:38:19 PM
Author: klewis
Hi Rank Amateur - The Iraqi people always had their country, but run by a tyrannical leader who got there with the full support of the US. That''s an important fact. What they have now is a far less stable country-it''s essential services have been bombed to smithereens by an univited ''libertator'' but actually an invader, who now wants to get out of that place, leaving the country in a much worse state than before it liberated/invaded. Yes leading is hard, and having superior economic and military power can make it a dominator but not necessarily a leader.

Hi HollyS - It lacks any kind of class to deliberately misspell or pronounce a persons name in the way you did mine and to take this discussion to this kind of level is a shame.

Yeah, well, welcome to the political threads klewis.

Criticism of America by "them dang feriners" is usually met with knee-jerk circling of the wagons to beat chests about our "shining city on the hill", put a dramatic hand to forehead and declaim about how benighted and ungrateful the rest of the world is to not recognize and welcome our every intervention as utterly pure in motivation, and to deny that WE could ever do ANYTHING wrong....EVER.

I will say this, as a New Zealander, you are expressing sentiments shared by more than a few Americans. Some of us do recognize that military and economic might alone do not constitute "leadership". They constitute raw power, which of course may be used in divers ways. And some of us recognize that since we have thrust ourselves into the far corners of the world - especially economically (free trade rammed down everyone''s thoat and WHO bankrolled our bacchanalian spending spree of the last decades? Anyone? Anyone?) that we now have actually invited intense scrutiny. So observe away. PS is NOT an American site and you took no oath to never criticize the US. You have every right to express your opinions here. Of course I too reserve the right to disagree with them. But I promise not to call you names if I do. At least not on the board.

 

[klewis]

thanks ksinger - Yes I was beginning to think I had strayed through immigration without the necessary documentation. In political thread like this you do expect discussion, opinion and disagreement. You mentioned knee-jerk, there are more knee-jerks here than in a wrestling match!

But back to the shoe..... I lived in South India for a couple of years and there if someone accidentally touched you with their foot they would usually perform a kind of apology in a sequence of movements. For example if someone inadvertently touched your leg with their foot they would then, with their right hand, touch your leg, their chest and then their forehead.

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/26/2008 11:38:19 PM
Author: klewis
Hi Rank Amateur - The Iraqi people always had their country, but run by a tyrannical leader who got there with the full support of the US. That''s an important fact. What they have now is a far less stable country-it''s essential services have been bombed to smithereens by an univited ''libertator'' but actually an invader, who now wants to get out of that place, leaving the country in a much worse state than before it liberated/invaded. Yes leading is hard, and having superior economic and military power can make it a dominator but not necessarily a leader.

Hi HollyS - It lacks any kind of class to deliberately misspell or pronounce a persons name in the way you did mine and to take this discussion to this kind of level is a shame.

Oh my. Do you think that deliberately baiting people by criticizing America is the "high road"? You get the response you were hoping for, and then you cry foul. Please.

The pseudo-polite speak you''re so fond of hiding behind doesn''t do much to disguise your guile, I''m afraid.

 

[miraclesrule]

klewis,

For what it's worth. I feel much the way you do and I am an American. What disgusts me about the incident was how ridiculous it is that the punishment isn't fitting the "crime" of "shoe tossing". But a war based on an intentional deceptiion??? There really is no reasoning. Furthermore, even when provided proof beyond all doubt, people will continute to believe lies if they choose to in order to justify their chosen thought process.

It also troubles me that our lame duck President has so alienated the world, that nobody was was willing to jump in front of a shoe to protect him. A shoe!?!? There are people who will take a bullet proudly to defend their Ruler. Not us. Nobody will even jump in front of a shoe.

 

[klewis]

Did you say the "high road" HollyS?

 

[E B]

klewis,

Don't let the more vocal PS conservatives scare you away. There are quite a few of us "dirty liberals" who frequent this board as well, though things have settled a bit since the election. Please stick around- we welcome your opinion(s).

 

[Rank Amateur]

Don''t let the more vocal PS conservatives scare you away. There are quite a few of us ''dirty liberals'' who frequent this board as well, though things have settled a bit since the election. Please stick around- we welcome your opinion(s).

This board is absolutely teeming with liberals.

 

[klewis]

Date: 12/28/2008 1:14:32 AM
Author: miraclesrule
klewis,


For what it''s worth. I feel much the way you do and I am an American. What disgusts me about the incident was how ridiculous it is that the punishment isn''t fitting the ''crime'' of ''shoe tossing''. But a war based on an intentional deceptiion??? There really is no reasoning. Furthermore, even when provided proof beyond all doubt, people will continute to believe lies if they choose to in order to justify their chosen thought process.


It also troubles me that our lame duck President has so alienated the world, that nobody was was willing to jump in front of a shoe to protect him. A shoe!?!? There are people who will take a bullet proudly to defend their Ruler. Not us. Nobody will even jump in front of a shoe.

Miraclesrule - Yes that''s what I find so astounding - when it comes to Iraq and all the issues that lead to the invasion, people ( and not only Americans ) refuse to accept the truth when it has been clearly proven. It does make you wonder about democracy when the disinterested, uninformed, the misinformed and the downright stupid get to vote. (I''m speaking generally here and certainly including my own country) and maybe there should be a means test before we have the right to vote. Luckily for us in New Zealand we don''t have any breathtakingly biased news channels like FOX NEWS. Actually I saw the results of a survey that showed those who got most of their news from FOX were, when compared to other news channel viewers, less likely to know the accepted truth about facts relating to the Bush presidency and the invasion of Iraq than viewers of other other news channels.

ebree - Thank you for your comments