# Man Thows Shoes at W: Can He Sink Lower? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137 "2008-12-14T18:21:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wiltshire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ea5d25/32.png) [@Wiltshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wiltshire)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/41 "2008-12-14T20:48:30Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Where was Bush’s security detail? Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hah-ha! I can remember news reports that explained the cultural background behind why people were taking off their shoes to pound Saddam Hussein’s likenesses. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/42 "2008-12-14T21:08:22Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > How many people threw shoes at Saddam Hussein… and lived? “Sorry about destroying your country and turning it over to Iran, but hey, feel free to wing a Chuck Taylor at the President!” ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/43 "2008-12-14T21:09:38Z")
Since we’re mentioning the fall of the statue I’d like to remind about how the US government staged it and it was anything but a spontaneous demonstration of new found Iraqi freedom. [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toppling\_the\_statue\_of\_Saddam\_Hussein](http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toppling_the_statue_of_Saddam_Hussein) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/44 "2008-12-14T21:13:18Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > When Saddam’s statue was taken down and dragged through the streets, people ran alongside and beat it with their shoes. What, both of them? (Both people, I mean, not both shoes.) ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/45 "2008-12-14T21:20:11Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > What, throwing shoes at someone _isn’t_ an insult in the United States? If it were _me_, _I’d_ take it as an insult. > > Next Bush appearance, nobody will be allowed in with shoes. That was my first thought\*. I mean, once we get into ‘flinging footwear at someone’, I think your meaning is going to be pretty universally clear. I’d be pretty surprised if anyone, anywhere took having a shoe thrown at them as anything but a clear insult. \*after I stopped giggling, I mean. The BBC has great footage of it [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7782422.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/46 "2008-12-14T21:23:41Z")
If they were sneakers, that would make them Nike missiles. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/47 "2008-12-14T21:25:05Z")
No fan of Dubya I, but c’mon. He is soon to be relegated to the trash heap of history. You want to gloat over the fact that there are some Iraqis who dislike him? That is a surprise to you? That’s as low as he can go? No, his low points are many - this isn’t even close. I am actually giving him points lately for working to make the transition successful and for doing what I consider the right things on some difficult issues lately - over the objections of many in his own party. This is just ped-y … uh I mean petty. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/48 "2008-12-14T21:28:49Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > That was my first thought\*. I mean, once we get into ‘flinging footwear at someone’, I think your meaning is going to be pretty universally clear. I’d be pretty surprised if anyone, anywhere took having a shoe thrown at them as anything but a clear insult. > > \*after I stopped giggling, I mean. The BBC has great footage of it [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7782422.stm) That was funny! If he’d been that quick-witted earlier in his career, he wouldn’t be dodging shoes now. Anyone else want to praise the throwee’s aim? You can’t say he was half-hearted. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/49 "2008-12-14T21:57:56Z")
This may be one of the few brushes with reality that could penetrate his bubble and prey on his mind for a couple of nights. Half a million dead, a war of aggression sold with lies, a million refugees, and covering up the outing of a CIA agent… for which he’ll collect a hefty pension and and enjoy a life of fine dining at the best tables. Kudos to the dedicated journalists of Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/50 "2008-12-14T22:04:06Z")
Afterwards, George said - something like - “It’s just like a political rally, where people heckle you, or when a car drives by, and someone waves less than 5 fingers!”. No, George. A more suitable comparison would be if menstruating women threw their tampons at you! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/51 "2008-12-14T22:14:24Z")
Waaaay back when, I went to go see the Butthole Surfers (who were incidentally opening for Nirvana, who I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about.) A few minutes into their first number, some little twit tossed a shoe at Gibby, and they immediately pulled the plug on the whole show and went home. If only… ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/52 "2008-12-14T22:16:30Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > That was my first thought\*. I mean, once we get into ‘flinging footwear at someone’, I think your meaning is going to be pretty universally clear. I’d be pretty surprised if anyone, anywhere took having a shoe thrown at them as anything but a clear insult. > > \*after I stopped giggling, I mean. The BBC has great footage of it [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7782422.stm) From the side angle you could see how fast the shoe traveled. It was a nice dodge. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/53 "2008-12-14T22:33:39Z")
Yet another terrorist attack foiled by Bush. This terrorist allegedly trained and prepared for this attack for years in the borderland between Pakistan and Afghanistan, only to be stopped by an unexpected ducking maneuver by Bush. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/54 "2008-12-14T22:38:32Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > Yet another terrorist attack foiled by Bush. This terrorist allegedly trained and prepared for this attack for years in the borderland between Pakistan and Afghanistan, only to be stopped by an unexpected ducking maneuver by Bush. If only he’d been wearing a pair of [these](http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.exotic-footwear.ru/big_jpg/clown.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.exotic-footwear.ru/eng/clown.htm&usg=__-VlKIOMN4ibP3uTADdWOcp-eyM4=&h=487&w=700&sz=137&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=24TQcPs_xyM26M:&tbnh=97&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dclown%2Bshoes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN)! ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/55 "2008-12-14T22:52:24Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > No, George. A more suitable comparison would be if menstruating women threw their tampons at you! kinda like ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HEOhZ4wfRIc/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/HEOhZ4wfRIc?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque to bad it wasnt Bush ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/56 "2008-12-14T22:53:32Z")
“Mr. President, what was that?!!” W: “A shoe!!!” “What???” W: “A shoe!!” **GESUNDHEIT!!!** Sorry, I just couldn’t resist it!!! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/57 "2008-12-14T22:58:32Z")
The more I watch that clip the more convinced I become that the shoes were thrown by two separate shoe throwers. Start watching the clip around the 0:32 mark, then go back, and to the left… back, and to the left… they’re trying to say some magic shoe almost hit him and the guy next to him when it clearly came from a sandy knoll on the other side of the room. And seriously, I can understand being able to throw one shoe without the Secret Service having you pinned down, but _two_? If I were president I’d want security to have him cuffed, on the ground, possibly kneecapped, and to know his name and aliases and the names of his parents and cousins before the second shoe was thrown. I hope they’re more conscientious with Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/58 "2008-12-14T23:09:15Z")
Those were nice throws. I wish I had that kind of aim under pressure. Two other reporters [were detained after the incident](http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/936786.html) because they called the shoe-throwing “courageous.” Let’s all pat ourselves on the back for the “freedom” we’re exporting to the Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/59 "2008-12-14T23:13:10Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Since we’re mentioning the fall of the statue I’d like to remind about how the US government staged it and it was anything but a spontaneous demonstration of new found Iraqi freedom. > > [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toppling\_the\_statue\_of\_Saddam\_Hussein](http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toppling_the_statue_of_Saddam_Hussein) “Staged” it? Really? :rolleyes:You might want to read your own cite and/or look up the meaning of “staged”. But thanks for reminding everyone of what they already knew, even though it’s not what you claim. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137/60 "2008-12-14T23:13:59Z")
1. If this is the worst thing that happens to President Bush in Iraq, he’s getting off light. Hell, if he were to get shot in one of his limbs, that would also be getting off light. 2. It was a nifty dodge. 3. It was also a good throw – if not for that nifty dodge, the shoe would have hit the President right between in the eyes, and the throw was made in a pressure situation with good velocity. The Mets should consider signing him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-thows-shoes-at-w-can-he-sink-lower/477137.md?page=4)