He's a folk hero to me, too.

I'm going to break with the theme of my blog, and instead talk about what I didn't read on Wikipedia. Some Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at Bush in a press conference, and became a folk hero in Iraqi culture. Apparently he's become a folk hero here, as well; the incident was widely disseminated on the internets, mainly with a positive slant. I would just like to be one more guy who calls him a hero. Props to you, named-but-largely-unknown-Iraqi-journalist, for having the balls to throw your footwear at the worst president in the history of the US.

Okay, okay, that's my own personal opinion talking. According to some other blogger who may or may not be worth reading, there are at least 5 other US presidents with whom Bush will need to contend for that title. One of them, James Buchanan, was so bad he lost a war with Utah!

"Wait, what?" you say. "We went to war with Utah?" Apparently we did, and while it wasn't a loss like Vietnam, it ended with negotiation that included compromise on both sides (how un-American is THAT?) and was labeled "Buchanan's Blunder" by the press. I wonder what the Second Gulf War will be labeled by historians. "Dubya's Duplicity"? "Georgie's Gross Misunderestimation"?

There are two quotes from the Wikipedia article on the Utah War I'd like to call to your attention. First, that the Utah War pitted "nearly one-third of the US Army against what was arguably the nation's largest, most experienced militia." For some reason, I can see the Mormon militia being pretty well organized and formidable. If nothing else, they had the "if you can't beat them, outbreed them" thing down pat. Second, I love this quote:

Other incidents of violence can also be linked to the Expedition, such as an Indian attack on the Latter-day Saint mission of Fort Limhi in eastern Oregon Territory which killed two Mormons and wounded several others. Historian Brigham Madsen relates that "the responsibility for the [Fort Limhi raid] lay mainly with the Bannock. Above and beyond any influence exerted by trader, soldier, or missionary, a situation existed in February 1858 which gave the Bannock an almost unrivaled opportunity to indulge in their age-old customs of horse stealing and war."

Wow. While I'm a fan of competing viewpoints, I like for them to be at least a little bit credible. I'm sure that someone named "Brigham" is going to be an unimpeachable source for historic accuracy regarding a clash between Mormons and Native Americans. It's really hard for me to fathom why a quote like this would even be in such an article, except to show that white man wasn't the only one to blame for white man's problems. Blasted Injuns. I'm surpised it took twenty more years for the Bannock War to break out after that...I mean, everyone knows they're only dark because of their wickedness and corruption.