President Bush Dodges a Bullet

Ok that may be an overstatement on my part but at least it got your attention right? and although he didn't dodge a bullet he was on the receiving end of the worst of all Middle Eastern insults on the weekend when an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at the outgoing US president at a press conference in Baghdad. Throwing a shoe at a person's head isn't, of course, considered insulting in only the Islamic world, though it does carry a particularly degrading symbolism (showing the sole of your shoes is considered deeply offensive; when the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in Baghdad in 2003, Iraqis beat it with their shoes). However, this may improve Bush's image slightly

As he dodged the shoes he came out with a grin and a sharp gaze at his now sock-footed assailant as if to say, "I'm the President Bitch!!" Both shoes would have struck Bush if not for his quick reaction, which is being lauded by political analysts for both its physical deftness and the no-nonsense swagger that followed.

Through his eight years as president, President Bush has found himself in several embarrassing situations, from falling off his bike and a segway to nearly choking to death on a pretzel. With little over a month remaining in his term, however, the "shoe incident" could become a favourable bookend for that list, with the outgoing President calmly responding with humour, not to mention quick reflexes, when attacked. Bush waved off approaching security agents, barely missing a step before pushing for the meeting to continue.

"Everybody calm down please," he said over his attacker's shouting from the next room, before a small grin returned to his face. "First of all, thank you for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me. If you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe." One must admit that the President handled this situation calmly and gracefully too bad he couldn't do that when it actually mattered like when they were considering going to war and then ultimately rushed the decision and fucked up their country economically or when he did nothing when hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. And while the act might have won over some analysts and commentators in the twilight of Mr. Bush's presidency, his fiercest critics remain unmoved, like me. Thank god your leaving President Bush it was a crappy eight years, but I will say this you are better at dodging shoes than reporters' queries

Here's the vid,


Peace and Much Love To Ya