Muntader al-Zaidi tried to hit President Bush with the ultimate sign of disrespect, twice. This, I can only assume, is the American equivalent of spitting in one's face or, from what I understand, one man slapping another man with an open hand.

What is more shocking than President Bush's amazing agility and lacking Secret Service was the world's response to this act. The world praised this act as nothing short of heroism. And, yes, the world response included the response of many Americans elated that this man was bold enough to sling shoes at President Bush.

Now, I do not agree with President Bush. I have questioned his intelligence; I do not agree with any of his policies; I never voted for him; and I think he has done an astonishingly-horrible job as President of the United States. That said, I am as terrified by Muntader al-Zaidi's actions as I was disgusted when President Bush was booed at the Nationals' game this year.

I fervently disagree with almost everything President Bush has done during his presidency. Disagreement, however, is a far cry from disrespect.

I wonder if any of these Americans stopped, even for a second, to consider the implications of this "heroism" for which they cheered. Those shoes were not thrown at George W. Bush, rather, they were hurled at the President of the United States who just happens to be George W. Bush. President Bush was not visiting Iraq for pleasure, he was in Iraq representing the United States of America.

Like him or not, agree with him or not, George W. Bush is the President of the United States. I recognize that over 70% of Americans are unhappy with the Bush Administration, I am in that majority. But, America is a democracy. He was elected President. Say what you will about the 2000 election but President Bush defeated Kerry with more than 3 million votes and earned 286 electoral votes in 2004. Whether you voted for him, stayed home in silent protest or voted for the losing candidate---we all elected him. This is the democracy we try to spread throughout the world.

Really, what more can be expected from a President elected because he is relatable and seems like someone with whom we'd like to have a beer? We, Americans, did not take our vote seriously and now the world is not taking our President seriously. Those shoes were not just thrown at George W. Bush, those shoes bombarded the prestige, credibility and respect of what was once the most powerful office in the world.

I cannot think of anything that more clearly reflects the degradation of America's status than the image of shoes barreling toward President Bush. Essentially, America was just spit on and bitch-slapped while the world watched and cheered. And many Americans offered the loudest cheers, laughter or both.

As Americans, we should neither praise this act nor laugh about it. In reality, we should all be a little more humble, if not somber. Perhaps now we will approach elections with a bit more deliberation. Perhaps now we will start to elect our president because he or she reflects the image we want the world to have of America. Perhaps now we will give less credence to informal sociability. These, of course, are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

We may not like the world changes made by President Bush but he made them with the power we gave him. Americans elect a president to lead us and, therefore, the world. Every four years, we catapult one American onto the world stage as our representative and foist upon him (or, eventually, her) the power to change the world as we know it.

If the world does not or cannot respect the President of the United States, then the world does not or cannot respect America. If the world does not or cannot have confidence in the President of the United States, then the world does not or cannot have confidence in America. If the world does not or cannot defer to the President of the United States, then the world does not or cannot defer to America.

The vulnerability reflected in images of the President of the United States dodging incoming shoes is the exact vulnerability America now faces. Today the President of the United States and America seem a little more accessible than any other day in my lifetime, save September 11, 2001. I only hope that America is as agile as President Bush.

Remember before the Iraq war when Bush cabinet members promised Congress that Iraqis would welcome us with open arms (they didn't tell us that mean by firing arms) and build statues honoring president Bush?

Is this a sign they may have been mistaken?

I'm NO fan of the idea of people assaulting a U.S. President. In an historical perspective, though, this is a profound moment.

By the way, Rumsfeld also promised Congress that Iraqi oil would pay for the war.

Dear PJS,

I repeat, BUSH IS AN UNREPENTENT WAR CRIMINAL.  

Do you usually openly support war criminals? Torturers?

This is not about liberal or conservative. It is about the simple rule of law.  No man or administration is above the law.  The fact that you try to make it a partisan debate just proves that you do not care about justice.  You just care about shallow politics.  That is pitiful and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Anyone that has watched Bush illegally invade a soverign nation, (killing hundreds of thousands for lies) and make us a torture state without objection is just a tool of those that seek undermine the rule of law.  There is no doubt that this administration has committed numerous war crimes.  There is no doubt that they have violated the US Constitution, International law, Federal law and the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.  The right leaning Supreme Court itself has ruled as such. Maybe you need to go read up on those decisions.  Start with Hamdan vs/ Rumsfeld if you have any intellectual honesty.

They should be punished and sent away for the rest of their lives. The shoe dodging should just be the start.

Stop being a partisan tool and look at the facts.  Bush and his cronies are criminals and they should be treated as such.  Play your stupid partisan games if you'd like.  I'll keep fighting the criminals and demanding justice for them and their vicitms.

DA