Sunday, December 14, 2008

Extra, extra: Bush beaned in Bagdad!

>


Following up on our report on the Bush regime's excellent adventure in Iraq, we can't resist passing on this report from ThinkProgress (note that their own version contains both links and video clips):
Iraqi Journalist Throws His Shoes At Bush During Press Conference In Baghdad (Updated)

President Bush is in Baghdad today on a surprise farewell visit highlighting the security deal recently reached between the U.S. and Iraq. CNN Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware reports this afternoon that during a press conference with Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an Iraqi man threw a shoe at Bush — "a grave insult in the Arab world" — but "it just sailed past his head":

WARE: Well, Wolf, the most extraordinary thing. You may or may not believe this. We're getting reports from the press pool that flew in with President Bush and apparently just a short, short time ago in a press conference with Prime Minister Maliki, an Iraqi man stood up in the press conference and threw a shoe at President Bush. But the reports we're getting, it just sailed past his head and while the man was dragged out of the room, President Bush is said to have remarked that, “This was a size 10 shoe he threw at me you may want to know,” even as the man was heard screaming in the hallway.

McClatchy identified the man as Iraqi television journalist Muthathar al Zaidi and reports he threw both of his shoes at Bush just after he finished prepared remarks.

The New York Times notes that the first shoe “narrowly missed” and the second shoe also missed. “This is a farewell kiss, you dog,” Zaidi shouted.

Apparently, Bush was unfazed by the incident. “I didn’t feel the least bit threatened by it,” he said.

UPDATE: MSNBC has video of the incident with correspondent Patty Culhane reporting that Bush was "not injured" but that White House Press Secretary Dana Perino received a black eye in the scuffle of trying to contain Zaidi. Watch it [clip on TP site].

#

Labels: ,

9 Comments:

At 2:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where's Howie really?

I have heard he is MUCH bigger than a size 10?

 
At 2:45 PM, Blogger KenInNY said...

LOL!!!

Well, I had an e-mail about an hour ago that CLAIMED to come from Dakar, but I take your point, Bil.

I think Howie is too, er, thrifty to throw his own shoes -- but if he got hold of an abandoned pair . . .

Ken

 
At 4:18 PM, Blogger Daro said...

I hope someone in the press pool just took the opportunity of the melee to whack Perino in the face with the nearest object to hand ( a microphone).

 
At 4:55 PM, Blogger KenInNY said...

Well, I wouldn't wish our Dana any harm, but seeing stuff coming isn't exactly her strong suit, is it?

Ken

 
At 5:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Props KenI,
You should get an award for That Perino*!
(did we just invent a new word? RUN to the
urban dictionary >>>>

"but seeing stuff coming isn't exactly her strong suit, is it??"

any truth to the rumor that Howie was the "puncher" as well as the "shoe launcher"?

Perino'ed...hit by anything karmic you didn't see coming.

 
At 6:29 PM, Blogger VG said...

LOL to all-

Ken, thanks for holding the fort and holding forth in such an auspicious and delightful way while Howie travels.

I hope you will put up another musical guessing game, btw. I really had fun trying to figure out the answer.

xxoo

VG

 
At 2:49 AM, Blogger DownWithTyranny said...

The shoe incident is the top news in Senegal. Everyone is talking about it and everyone loves it. Bush is almost as hated around the world as he is in the non-Confederate states.

 
At 5:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you look at the photos, the man standing next to Bush at the dais KNEW the shoes were going to be thrown. He is standing straight and tall as if nothing were going on, while Bush is ducking and covering. Very strange.

 
At 10:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Second that VG, although I am hoping for better prizes in the next round.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home