ANSWERS: 43
  • He's done WAY more than to deserve a single shoe thrown at him. He deserves that and everything that comes after it. We all deserve to throw a shoe at him.
  • I totally agree! Who knows where that shoe has been - Yuck!!
  • And if someone threw a shoe at Obama, the other half of the country would find that amusing instead.
  • It didn't hurt anyone, and as GWB (why doesn't he get called that? There's been JFK, LBJ, FDR and probably more, so why doesn't Bush get GBW? Anyway I digress) said himself, the man needed to make a point on TV a he did so. I don't think it's a joke, but as he said it's the same as rallying at a speech
  • Where the hell were the secret service agents that are supposed to die for him...everyone should be fired!!!!
  • Because it's funny. You can DR me for that if you want, but the guy wasn't hurt, so I find it very humorous. You've got a guy claiming "mission accomplished", there's lots of people (though I don't know if Bush said it himself) claiming that most Iraqis wanted intervention from the US, and here is one Iraqi citizen so disgusted with him that he breaks down and throws shoes at his head. I do find that hysterical. A large portion of our population would love a chance to chuck shoes at his head, but we'd likely be too afraid of the repercussions to take said chance. This guy aimed his shoes representing a big group of people and it tickles me to see their disgust and anger at the man's arrogance take such a form. If he were seriously injured or dead, I'd probably feel differently about.
  • If it would have been thrown at Obama..it would be a whole different issue. But since it was at good ol Bush, everyone thinks it's funny. (Which I have to admit, it kinda was)..
  • What makes it disgusting? It was intended as an insult, to be sure, but disgusting? . Seems far less so than what Bush has done to Iraq. But maybe it's just me thinking invading and occupying a sovereign nation, destabilizing it's infrastructure to the point of almost negating it, letting lose a civil war... and doing all the above really, really badly are worse than a potential bump on the head... but that's just me.
  • Bush is lucky to have got off as lightly as that. It's the least of what he deserves. Bush is a disgrace and a disgusting human being. It might have sullied the poor shoes if they'd hit that prick.
  • Honestly! Who throws a shoe?
  • it's no joke to me and I don't see why more Americans are not outraged. Somebody threw a shoe at the President of the united States. Hell if some body threw a shoe at me I'd knock them out much less at POTUS
  • The shoe incident is not a joke, it's a shame - a shame that there wasn't a stick of dynamite in it! As for the disgusting part, well, it's not the incident that is disgusting but the individual it was perpertrated against. Anybody that defends or condons the acts of that madman is, in my opinion, as low and despicable if not more so than Bush hismself. As for Bush, he ain't no human being, he's a disgrace to human kind
  • Yeah, 2 misses isn't funny, coming home with a big heel print on his forehead, now THAT would've been funny! Oh well, better luck next time.
  • It was a strong act of protest, but it did not intend to kill or harm seriously. It became also some support in the region. 1) "Muntadhar al Zaidi (Arabic: منتظر الزيدي) (alternative spellings in the western media: Muthathar, Muntadar, Muntazer, or Muthathi - al Zaidi or al Zeidi) is a broadcast journalist who works as a correspondent for Cairo-based, Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadia TV. He first became internationally known for having been detained by "gangs" in Baghdad in 2007 and was also arrested twice by the United States armed forces. On December 14, 2008 Zaidi drew international attention by throwing his shoes at George W. Bush at a press conference in Baghdad. As he threw the shoes, Al-Zaidi called Bush a "dog" and said "this is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq." Two New York Times reporters described al-Zaidi as having been "embraced around the Arab world." Al-Zaidi found support from his employer, thousands of protesters in Iraq, people in Syria, a charity in Libya, and from "around 200 lawyers" including some U.S. citizens. Al-Zaidi's action was criticised by the Iraqi government." "In an interview to the BBC, his brother reported Muntadar al-Zaidi as having suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntadhar_al_Zaidi 2) "During a December 14, 2008 press conference discussing the signing of the pact with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in his palace in the heavily fortified Green Zone, U.S. President George W. Bush dodged two shoes which were thrown at him from the audience. The man who threw the shoes, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist with Egypt-based al-Baghdadia television network, could be heard yelling in Arabic: "This is a farewell ... you dog!" When throwing the second shoe, he could be heard yelling "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” While pinned on the ground by security personnel, he screamed: "You killed the Iraqis!" As the man’s screaming could be heard outside, Bush said “That’s what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves." Zaidi was detained on unspecified charges. A large blood trail could be seen on the carpet where he was dragged out of the room. One of his brothers said that a police officer who picked up Zaidi's cellphone had threatened the family. In Sadr City, thousands of people marched in Zaidi's defense. In Syria, Zaidi was hailed as a hero. In Libya, Zaidi was given an award for courage. In the Iraqi city of Najaf, demonstrators chanted: “Bush, Bush, is a cow, your farewell was by a shoe” and “the shoe got its goal straightly, but Maliki turned it away.” In Mosul, residents supported the shoe-tossing Iraqi journalist. In the city of Kirkuk, many people praised the actions of the Iraqi journalist. However, in Sulaimaniya residents condemned the incident.[55] "Millions of Iraqis or rather millions of the people of the world wish to do what Muntadhar did," Mundathar's brother said. Demonstrations in Basra and Najaf saw some Iraqis throw shoes at a US convoy.[56] A statement released by Al-Baghdadia television said, "Al-Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntadhar al-Zaidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people." The "vast majority" of viewers of al-Baghdadia TV who telephoned to the station in order to express their opinions said that they approved al-Zaidi's actions. The government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki called the shoe throwing "a shameful savage act" and demanded a public apology from Al Baghdadia. "The act damaged the reputation of the Iraqi journalists and journalism in general," a statement said." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.-Iraq_Status_of_Forces_Agreement#December_14th.2C_2008_press_conference Further information: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28232519/
  • It was a shoe, duh. And, it was only disgusting if it stank (which you have no proof of).
  • National differences. It was intended as a gross insult but in America it is a ridiculous thing to do - a meaningless assault. So far no news report I've seen has said what it is actually supposed to mean. It's hard to get seriously offended by "unspecified grave insult" In the HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, there is a word that embodies a concept so vile it is only used by utterly debased persons and the residents of a small blue-green planet where they don't know what it means. That word is "belgium"
  • So let me get this straight mans man: You're downrating everyone who doesn't agree with you and that finds some sort of humor in the situation? I wonder what's the point of asking then, if you're not willing to hear dissenting opinions.
  • you dont see a shoe thrown at a head of state everyday, thats why i thought it was funny. The guy threw like a tranny having a hissy fit anyway, lighten up! I bet our guy (rudd) would have got smacked in the face hahahaha
  • because, let's face it, he's earned it.
  • That is the only funny thing that has happened during Bush's reign of terror and the only disgusting thing about is the way he dodged it, just like he has dodged everything else for the past 8 years
  • It would be interesting to see what those same people would say if Bush had done things a bit differently. Russia went after a ragtag band of guerillas in Afghanistan head on, just like most of them wanted Bush to do, and it worked REALLY well for them. It trashed their economy, destroyed their army and toppled their government. It was the last straw that brought down the iron curtain. After Afghanistan, they didn't have enough money or army to maintain all that. It worked really well for Great Britain too. And I believe the Ottoman Empire had their issues with Afghanistan too. The terrain is so rough and so full of caves and hidey holes that a few men with guns can hold it against a whole army, but for some reason these experts in warfare and history would rather he tackled that head-on and lost the country than to have him come up with a more intelligent alternative. And because he didn't do things their way, they call him a terrorist and target him for their aggression. The other alternative, of course, would be to ignore the acts of war in New York City, Washington D.C. and Somerset, PA. There are some who thought the people who died in those acts of aggression somehow deserved it, because of the nature of their work, and we should just accept that they were justly killed by the people they harmed. Those are probably the same people who are jealous of everyone who does well in life and would like to see them die so they could have their material wealth (which is the same reasoning Hitler used to slaughter the Jews). And they forget that while some bankers did die, so did an awful lot of cooks, waitstaff, janitors, firefighters and police. So if their argument is this is class warfare and the rich people should die for what they do to the poor, their argument is flawed because an awful lot of poor people, some recent immigrants, died in the World Trade Center too. I think the bottom line is, some people just like to be angry. They like to have something to yell and swear about, and to feel superior to other people over. They don't want to think too deeply about the issue, or to see the big picture, or to study the history and strategy behind something, because if they did, they might come to respect their leaders and then they wouldn't be able to be angry and yell and swear anymore. So typically, the best thing to do is ignore them. They usually haven't thought things through enough to have anything to add anyway.
  • Yes, and besides that, it showed the evidence of mass destruction weapons.
  • Because the dude threw a shoe..that's funny!
  • Disgusting? No. Going to war without a good reason is disgusting. Gutting our civil liberties is disgusting. Taking the economy from a surplus to a deficit is disgusting. Throwing a shoe? Not so much.
  • To me, my opinion here, it wasn't funny. Now my best friend thought it was very funny, and I dont think any less of her or her opinion. I can completely understand how someone could find that funny. I find it kind of sad; sad because this is what we have come down to as a society. I believe we should respect the office of the presidency despite what we think of the president as a person.
  • well considering all of the disgusting acts Bush perpetrated on many many many many many people I think he got off pretty easy with just getting a shoe thrown at him..if it were up to me he'd be sitting in a jail cell somewhere...and not one of those pretty celebrity minimal security "vacation" prisons either.
  • Bush made it funny it is not like he was shot and people say he is mean, this was a way to nake him appear to be more human at no lose for Bush.
  • These are my thoughts: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4897507 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4904717
  • Well, even Bush joked about it. Americans don't see it as the high insult that people of that country do. There, it's the biggest of insults, and I just read this morning you can get up to two years in prison for it (but, it will probably take a long time before he's tried). In the states, throwing a show is just...odd! I gotta hand it to Bush for having quick reflexes!
  • It's a shoe! Not a knife. And he ducked it. It's like when that guy threw an egg at John Prescott. Everybody thought that was hilarious. It's not as if it was life threatening, and I'm not going to sit and laugh about it, but it was mildly amusing.
  • its not a joke, its funny because he ducked really good twice.
  • I see that you are conservative Republican.
  • I don't like G Bush, but i found it disgusting and assualt, i was impressed with his ducking skills!
  • And if an American had thrown his shoes at the President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani (or any other muslim in power), the muslims would be calling for their head, literally! I think the guy should be jailed for assaulting the President.
  • Also, I just read that Bush himself is joking about it. "I didn't know what the guy said, but I saw his sole."
  • It is funny because this incident sums up GWB's presidency..."failure". It is also funny because he ducked. I wish his mind was as fast as his duck (But unfortunately we know this is not the case). I would like to know how that second shoe got past the secret sevice.
  • Shoes? Disgusting? Aren't we getting a little emo about it "man's man"?. A disgustng act against a human being would be to napalm a wedding party. Throwing shoes at a corrupt windbag imbocile posing as the leader of the free world disgusting? Naw. A flaming bag of shit would be a tad more disgusting than a reporter's shoes -- and a lot more appropriate.
  • I really didn't think it was all that funny. I was more like "dang, bush's got some fast reflexes" But, it's a disrespectful act in the country, but I'm glad that guy is in jail.
  • after the crap going on right now with rolling back the endangered species act, I'd throw a lot more than shoe at him. Idiot. Can he do anything that makes me happy? Well, he's got 35 days to try.
  • yes I found it quite offensive for Mr. Bush to be speaking in public. Thanks for pointing this out.
  • I consider the invasion of Iraq to be an extremely disgusting act against humanity in general. If I were that journalist, I would have snuck in a handgun instead.
  • Well I thought it was quite amusing, because it is usually pretty funny when eggs and the like are thrown at public figures. it hardly qualifies as a very disgusting act to me, as it was only a shoe, and Bush seems to have laughed it off.
  • I think you need to rephrase your ? to...an act against a very disgusting human being...!

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