Bush improve Turkey economy before stepping down.

[NoShangriLa]

Maker of 'Bush shoe' helps Turkey's trade balance

ISTANBUL: When a pair of black leather oxfords hurled at President George W. Bush in Baghdad produced a gasp heard around the world, a Turkish cobbler had a different reaction: They were his shoes.

"We have been producing that specific style, which I personally designed, for 10 years, so I couldn't have missed it, no way," said Ramazan Baydan in Istanbul. "As a shoemaker, you understand."

Although his assertion has been impossible to verify - cobblers from Lebanon, China and Iraq have also staked claims to what is quickly becoming some of the most famous footwear in the world - orders for Baydan's shoes, formerly known as Ducati Model 271 and since renamed "The Bush Shoe," have poured in from around the world.

A new run of 15,000 pairs, destined for Iraq, went into production Thursday, he said. A British distributor has asked to become the Baydan Shoe Co.'s European sales representative, with a first order of 95,000 pairs, and a U.S. company has placed an order for 18,000 pairs. Four distributors are competing to represent the company in Iraq, where Baydan sold 19,000 pairs of this model for about $40 each last year.

Five thousand posters advertising the shoes, on their way to the Middle East and Turkey, proclaim "Goodbye Bush, Welcome Democracy" in Turkish, English and Arabic.
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For now, Baydan's customers will have to take his word for it. The journalist who launched the shoes at a news conference a week ago, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, was wrestled to the ground by guards and has not been seen in public since. Explosives tests by investigators destroyed the offending footwear.

But Baydan insists he recognizes his shoes. Given their light weight, just under 11 ounces each, and clunky design, he said he was amazed by their aerodynamics. Both shoes rocketed squarely at Bush's head and missed only because of deft ducks by the president.

Throwing a shoe at someone is a gross insult in Arab countries, and Bush is widely unpopular in much of the region. But as he enters his last weeks in office, he seems to have gained a small foothold of appreciation here.

Noting the spike in sales, Serkan Turk, Baydan's general manager, said, "Bush served some good purpose to the economy before he left."

Nice, even American are buying them aerodynamic shoes.

 

[winnar111]

Could only imagine John Kerry as President there, his enormous head with a big lump on it.

 

[NoShangriLa]

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

 

[Throckmorton]

I would spend my hard earned money on some more precise shoes

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

Most Rep & Dem voted for war was base on the information available at that time. And, the information was misconstrue by Bush & Co. in order to sell it to the senates.

I'm sorry, but your fearless leader soon going have some explaining to do in court for lying.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

Most Rep & Dem voted for war was base on the information available at that time. And, the information was misconstrue by Bush & Co. in order to sell it to the senates.

I'm sorry, but your fearless leader soon going have some explaining to do in court for lying.

And after WMDs weren't found, Kerry still said he would have voted in favor of the war.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

Is he also responsible for the conduct of the war?

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

Is he also responsible for the conduct of the war?

If he was President? Certainly.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

a U.S. company has placed an order for 18,000 pairs.

Nice, even American are buying them aerodynamic shoes.

Will the secret service track who buys those shoes in the US?

 

[Jhhnn]

Damn. Buyers of those shoes will probably go straight onto the no-fly list, which has become increasingly good company.....

 

[Squisher]

How about making shoe throwing an Olympic event?

 

[GroundedSailor]

http://www.sockandawe.com/




My score was 5. What's yours?

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
http://www.sockandawe.com/




My score was 5. What's yours?

11... Bush is pretty quick though.

 

[Oric]

Turkish economy

 

[KB]

It must have gotten easier. 14 here. That was fun.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

John Kerry wouldn't be one of the best President America ever had, but I'm sure that he isn't stupid enounght to get involve in Iraq to be in the line of pelting shoes.

He voted in favor of the war.

Is he also responsible for the conduct of the war?

If he was President? Certainly.

he's not and i doubt he would gone in on such flimsy evedence.