Quite The Lame Duck

[Dr. Shane]

If he is not busy bailing out the financial industry and the Big 3 auto makers he is over in Iraq dodging shoes! Has there ever been such an active lame duck President?

Bush on farewell visit to Iraq dodges flying shoes

Quote:

In a sign of lingering anger over the war that will define the Republican president's foreign policy legacy, an Iraqi journalist shouted in Arabic "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," and hurled his shoes at Bush during a news conference with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Throwing shoes at somebody is a supreme insult in the Middle East. One of the shoes sailed over the president's head and slammed into the wall behind him and he had to duck to miss the other one. Maliki tried to block the second shoe with his arm.

"It's like going to a political rally and have people yell at you. It's a way for people to draw attention," Bush said. "I don't know what the guy's cause was. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

The journalist was leapt on by Iraqi security officials and U.S. secret service agents and dragged from the room screaming and struggling.

Bush's fleeting visit to Baghdad was aimed at marking the recent passage of a U.S.-Iraq security pact that paves the way for U.S. troops to pull out of Iraqi cities by July next year and withdraw completely by the end of 2011.

It was also meant to hail a recent sharp fall in the sectarian violence and insurgency that raged after the 2003 U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, and to show support for Iraqi police and soldiers as they take on increasing responsibility.

[Bravus]

Just as well it wasn't Richard Reed, I guess

[Neil D]

Re: Iraqi journalist throwing shoes at the president

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"It's like going to a political rally and have people yell at you. It's a way for people to draw attention," Bush said. "I don't know what the guy's cause was. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

This speaks volumes....

What can be said? The US president is the symbol of the US and the policies that we have implemented toward Iraq. As I understand it, a shoe being thrown at you, is not a good thing. In fact, it is an insult.

I still have the memory of the Iraqis, as they dragged the statue of Saddam away, riding the statue and taking thier shoe and hitting it.

We have substituted one dictator for another, it seems to me...and this one, appears clueless.

[Kountzer]

If that had happened in the USA that guy would go to prison.

[Neil D]

If that had happened in the USA that guy would go to prison.

No, I don't think so...He would have been held for the better part of 48 hours, posted bail, and then been arranged and given community service and a fine....at the least... for irresponsible talk.

Now, if convicted to harm the president, yeah, but I doubt that a shoe could be construded as something that can kill.... So, yeah, maybe you are right....given jail time, but less than 8 months..

[Dr. Shane]

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This speaks volumes....

Indeed. Bush's calm and cool reaction speaks volumes. He even shewed away the Secret Service when they came to his aid. He just shrugged it off. That is what we call being thick skinned. He doesn't make mountains out of mole hills.

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As I understand it, a shoe being thrown at you, is not a good thing. In fact, it is an insult.

It is about equal to giving someone the finger here in the US.

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We have substituted one dictator for another, it seems to me

Actually I have memory of a recent election that I participated in. I am expecting to see the peaceful transfer of power next month.

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this one, appears clueless.

He certainly is active whatever he is. I cannot recall any other lame duck President that has been so active.

[Neil D]

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It is about equal to giving someone the finger here in the US.

Try throwing excrement.......

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He certainly is active whatever he is. I cannot recall any other lame duck President that has been so active.

"Active", you say....Let's see...He calls together some people to talk about the financial crisis and wants them to solve the problem...they get bogged down and haven't come up with anything yet. Then the Auto industry is hogging the news. He tells congress "come up with a finacial package"...In his book back in 98, he talks about how he would invade Iraq if given the chance, ruin the Unions if possible, and you say he is active....?

It's easy to call other people to come together to figure it out....It's something totally different to come up with your own plan...

Oooh, wait a minute...maybe you are correct...he is active....at ruining the country..

[Woody]

Quote:

Oooh, wait a minute...maybe you are correct...he is active....at ruining the country..

This is so interesting.

Can you imagine the names that I would be called if I said this about Obama. And does no one see the hypocrisy in this?

[Dr. Shane]

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It is about equal to giving someone the finger here in the US.

Try throwing excrement.......

[Woody]

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He is an exemplary role model for each of us. It is times like this that I am proud to be an American.

Yes he is. Unbelievably active. The term "lame duck" hardly applies although technically it is applicable. Talk about going out with a bang. GW is the man.

I could not agree with you more Shane. How true. I am certainly proud to be an American. However ... unlike the Obamas ... this is not the first time. But I do fear it may be the last time for a few years.

[Doug]

I found a better camera angle.

[Woody]

Yeah. And he took it like a Man.

[Neil D]

Quote:

Iraqi TV al-Sharqiya just reported on the news that AL-Zaidi is transferred to Camp Cropper prison [the Airport prison, managed by the American forces].

The TV Channel announced that Al-Zaidi is in a difficult condition, with broken ribs and signs of tortures on his thighs. Also he can not move his right arm.

Let's see....This man was held by american forces twice, according to his brother....seen many Iraqis killed by american forces, sees the American forces as occupyers, not as liberators, sees American forces torturing fellow Iraqis....

....and now, if this report is true, this.....

[Dr. Shane]

Is it time to get back on topic yet?

[Woody]

Quote:

Iraqi TV al-Sharqiya just reported on the news that AL-Zaidi is transferred to Camp Cropper prison [the Airport prison, managed by the American forces].

The TV Channel announced that Al-Zaidi is in a difficult condition, with broken ribs and signs of tortures on his thighs. Also he can not move his right arm.

Let's see....This man was held by american forces twice, according to his brother....seen many Iraqis killed by american forces, sees the American forces as occupyers, not as liberators, sees American forces torturing fellow Iraqis....

....and now, if this report is true, this.....

He is being delt with according to Iraqi law which states that if you try to attack a foreign dignitary that you can face up to 17 years I believe it was according to Fox News.

[Neil D]

Quote:

...if you try to attack a foreign dignitary that you can face up to 17 years ....

Can you say that throwing two shoes is considered an attack?....that is, to fall upon someone violently?

Even when those shoes missed it's entended target?

[Woody]

So, firing a gun at a President Obama would not be an attack if the shot missed? I am trying to make it personal since I know you have no regard for GWB.

[Bravus]

The law of assault and battery shows that the attack is an offense in itself, whether successful or not, and that makes sense.

[Neil D]

So, firing a gun at a President Obama would not be an attack if the shot missed? I am trying to make it personal since I know you have no regard for GWB.

Let's see....a gun kills...that is what it was designed to do...fire bullets designed to penetrate the body of animal/person and to stop him. A shoe is designed to be walked upon. It is not designed to be a weapon of injury. A shoe is slower, when thrown, than a speeding bullet.

Now, I suppose, that a shoe would have killed, if thrown correctly, and aimed just right and at the right speed....but that is very unlikely. The mannor that it was used, in this case, was to humiliate and make someone feeling insulted. Which, Mr. Bush was not able to do, as he didn't "get what his problem was."

Neither was the shoe traveling at a speed that was intended to do more than just bruise the man.

So again, how was this an attack of violence?

[Woody]

The idea is that it was an attack on a foreign dignitary. It need not result in injury.

However ... It could have resulted in severe injury of the President. Let me give you an example. A few years back a Pro Football player was a mindin his own business when the referee threw the flag for a foul on another player.

The flag hit the player ... minding his own business ... it hit him in the eye and ended his career due to becoming blind.

The flag was not a dangerous weapon but it did a dangerous work. The shoe was much more dangerous than the ref's flag. Need I say more or can I rest my case?

[Dr. Shane]

I think that President Bush should step forward, publicly forgive the man and request his release. Of course the radical, Islamic hate-mongers would see that as a sign of weakness and maybe that is why he doesn't do it. But... it would be the right thing to do. After all, Bush said he didn't feel insulted so why should he even want the guy to be punished?

[Woody]

It may be coming Shane. The presidential pardons usually come at midnight before the term is ended. At least that is what Clinton did.

[Dr. Shane]

Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush asks for pardon

Quote:

A spokesman for Iraq's prime minister says the journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush has asked for a pardon.

Spokesman Yassin Majid says that in a letter sent Thursday to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki the journalist described his behavior as "an ugly act" and asked to be pardoned.

Majid says that Muntadhar al-Zeidi in the letter recalls the kindness the prime minister once showed him during an interview in 2005 and asked for al-Maliki to show him kindness once again.

Al-Zeidi, a correspondent for an Iraqi-owned television station based in Cairo, Egypt, could face two years imprisonment for insulting a foreign leader.

[Bravus]

Bush can't pardon him because he's held under Iraqi law, not US law.

[Woody]

Bush can still pardon him ... not that it would have legal binding ... but it would informally make it easier for the Iraqi president to do the same and not lose face.