We all know, by now, that President Bush narrowly escaped an attack via a shoe of mass destruction.  While any assault on the President should be taken seriously, I couldn't help but chuckle at the following paragraph from today's New York Times:

"In the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, people calling for an immediate American withdrawal removed their footwear and placed the shoes and sandals at the end of long poles, waving them high in the air. And in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, people threw their shoes at a passing American convoy."

One of my all-time favorite movies is "The Life of Brian."  In the scene where Brian is declared the messiah, his new followers immediately split into two factions.  One follows the gourd, the other, the shoe.  The latter remove one shoe and place it atop their walking sticks.  (For complete background and explanation on why these groups split, rent the move.  It's worth it.)

I'm sorry.  I know it's not politically correct, but I'm still laughing.