Sole Man!
MSNBC reports that President Bush deftly ducked a particularly difficult Iraqi heckler at his news conference in Iraq today:
An Iraqi television journalist hurled two shoes at President Bush on Sunday during a joint news conference Bush was holding with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to mark the signing of a U.S.-Iraq security agreement.
Bush had just finished his prepared remarks in which he said the security agreement was made possible by the U.S. surge of troops earlier this year, whhen the journalist, Muthathar al Zaidi pulled his shoes off and hurled them at the president. “This is a goodbye kiss, you dog,” Zaidi shouted.
Bush dodged the shoes and was not struck. Bodyguards quickly wrestled Zaidi to the floor and hauled him, kicking and screaming, from the room. Two other Iraqi journalists were briefly detained after one of them called Zaidi’s actions “courageous.”
Fortunately, the AP reports the President was quick enough to duck, not once, but twice. “‘All I can report,’ Bush joked of the incident, ‘is a size 10.'” Moreover, “Bush brushed off the incident, comparing it political protests at home.’So what if I guy threw his shoe at me?'”
Maybe, with his reactions still intact, the President might be able to play shortstop for the Texas Rangers next year? Or at least, dodgeball. Remember, “If you can dodge a wrench,” or shoe, “you can dodge a ball.”
For now, though, he’s our national “Sole Man”!
