If the shoe fits, wear it

Michael Balter 12/14/2008 09:57:00 PM Politics
Here is the video, courtesy of the BBC. I have to admit that Bush showed good ducking reactions and kept his cool. Of course, it's not his life that has been ruined by the war in Iraq.

Photo: Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Update: Ah, I found an embeddable version of the video:



Update: The shoe-thrower, Muntader al-Zaidi--who, because he is a journalist, I am obliged to call my colleague--has become a hero in the Muslim world. No surprises there.

Hit Bush with a shoe game (from Norway.) I recommend setting vinkel at 10 and stryke at 50 (with thanks to RP.)
Michael Balter

Posted by Michael Balter

I have been a working journalist for more than 40 years, beginning in Los Angeles as an investigative reporter and then in Paris as a travel, food, and science writer. For more than 20 years I have covered anthropology and archaeology writer for Science, Audubon, Scientific American, SAPIENS, and other publications. I have also covered sexual misconduct for The Verge, Scientific American, and others; I write about mental health, especially schizophrenia; and I engage in occasional media criticism. I returned to the USA in October 2017 after 30 years in Paris, and now live in the New York City area, where I currently teach journalism at City College of New York (I previously taught journalism at Boston University and New York University.) For more about me and what I do, copies of my articles, information about my book, and other goodies, please visit MY WEB SITE

Post a Comment

9 Comments

Anonymous said…
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but if you watch that footage very carefully, it almost seems like Old Dubya saw that shoe coming. Maybe someone tipped him off? Or maybe it was just that mysterious sock on the grassy knoll?
December 15, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Anne Gilbert said…
Andrew:

Apparently Mr. Zaidi had some plans to "show Bush", that he announced over a year ago. Bush may even have known(if he even cared) that there were threats against him, and he must have known that he would face at least some opposition to his presence there. But that doesn't add up to knowing that this journalist was going to throw shoes at him. Judging by the video, I have a feeling that Mr. Zaidi was planning something but the act itself was more or less spontaneous.
Anne G
December 15, 2008 at 6:34 PM
terryt said…
When he stood up to throw the shoes he would have caught Bush's eye so the ducking response is not at all surprising.
December 15, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Mark said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
December 15, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Michael Balter said…
I think Andrew might have been kidding, at least partly, but I will leave it to him to clarify his remarks!

I still give Bush high marks for good reflexes. It's one thing to know you have to duck, another to duck just at the right moment. And all that while keeping that idiotic smirk on this face. Small men are often talented in small things (and by small I don't mean his size.)
December 15, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Anonymous said…
Michael's right: I was joking. I don't think Bush really saw that shoe coming. But the dark side of this story, which isn't a joke, is that al-Zaidi has suffered severe beatings in police custody. Hopefully, with Bush out of the White House, Obama will press for reforms to create a more democratic Iraq where these sorts of abuses are less commonplace.
December 16, 2008 at 9:04 AM
terryt said…
I was amused to hear that some Iraqis believe al-Zaidi deserves to be in jail: he missed.
December 16, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Loan Offer said…
Are you in need of a loan? Do you want to pay off your bills? Do you want to be financially stable? All you have to do is to contact us for more information on how to get started and get the loan you desire. This offer is open to all that will be able to repay back in due time. Note-that repayment time frame is negotiable and at interest rate of 3% just email us (urgentloan22@gmail.com)
May 1, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Loan Offer said…
Are you in need of a loan? Do you want to pay off your bills? Do you want to be financially stable? All you have to do is to contact us for more information on how to get started and get the loan you desire. This offer is open to all that will be able to repay back in due time. Note-that repayment time frame is negotiable and at interest rate of 3% just email us (urgentloan22@gmail.com)
May 1, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Post a Comment