1. What would happen if he threw the shoe at Saddam Hussein?
He would have either be executed or thrown in jail the rest of his life, and beaten if thrown in jail, no difference here.

2. What if he threw the shoe here in the USA?
He would have be shot dead by the President’s bodyguards or severly wounded and still possibly die. If he lived he would have been thrown jail a lot longer than 1 year, and think what would happen to him here in jail, a lot worst than happen there especially if he was in generally population, i.e. rapped, etc.

guy did some annoying shit and got the crap beat out of him, who cares?

if the guy got shot on site, no one would throw any more fucking shoes – there would obviously be a liberal shit storm about human rights, but at least then, i would never have to hear about this bullshit again

forget bush, forget iraq, forget your stupid politics

As to those who feel that our president commands respect no matter what grief he has presented, I cannot agree. Unfortunately, we are governed by a president and vice-president who have no respect for the Constitution or for the general well being of citizens of the United States. Sadly, neither deserve respect from anyone.

He’s lucky that’s all he got away with

I think ALL secret service that were there should have the same punishment

After the ‘attack’, and while the reporter was being hauled away and beaten, President Bush made light of the matter. He could have defused the entire incident right then and there by asking that no harm come to the assailant and letting him be released after the president left but instead, Mr. Bush decided to mock him.

There is little doubt that the Iraqis would have honored any clemency as a political favor had such a request been made.

Instead, Mr. Bush laughed and joked as the poor guy was hauled away to be beaten by his captors. Now, the Arab world sees the assailant as a hero and the Iraqis are coming together for perhaps the first time since the invasion. But are they coming together in support of American ideas about freedom and democracy? I think not. I think that the incident will have a long lasting galvanizing effect on relations between the United States and the rest of the world.

The man was just doing what a lot of people were wishing they had the nerve to do and we attempt to treat it as though it were anything other than what it was; A political statement.

True, it was not a very smart thing to do, but the intent was not physical harm, but an emotional one. Our response (it IS a collective one) is to ridicule the guy, beat him mercilessly, throw him in prison for 15 years and proudly wash our hands of it because he is a ‘criminal’. All this will serve to do is to add fuel to the already significant anti-American sentiment around the world.

If we are to have any leadership on the world stage, we should be appealing for clemency on his behalf, not gloating on his demise. One more human sole rotting away in prison is not going to make a difference one way or the other, but showing the world that we can take an insult without resorting to the use of an iron fist would be priceless.

The reporter knew exactly the repercussions of his insult/assault. Suppose if the shoe stuck the president and injured his eye?

If you want to play with fire prepare to be burnt.Do not degrade the presidency for the man.There are other ways to protest.

I wonder whether US would have invaded Iraq if their main asset was broccoli and coffee beans and not oil.(Not my own)