Michael Vick Officially Pleads Guilty To Federal Dogfighting Conspiracy Charges

AP:

Michael Vick has pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback arrived at the downtown court building in a sport utility vehicle and walked into court flanked by his attorneys. His supporters erupted in a roaring cheer drowning out his opponents, silently holding signs.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[RusStyles]

12:55 AM on 08/28/2007

Read this, and reserve your race-baiting drivel for someone else:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/27/teen.sex.case/index.html?eref=rss_law

And, excuse me, this article only states the 10 year mandatory. But this is tantamount to the typical 20 year in this type of case, where they're usually eligible for parole in 8-10. But one day is too long for this so-called crime.

[RusStyles]

12:45 AM on 08/28/2007

Last point...There are untold cases that slip under the outrage radar, such as Sammy the Bull, who admitted to murdering at least 19 human beings. How much time did he receive? 0 days. Doesn't it seem just a tad unfair that he's living scot free (Since cutting the deal of the century, he's busted a few times for drug distribution, and he's still free.) and a kid is rotting in jail for having sex with another teen. Sick. When Sammy got off there was zero public hue and cry unlike this Vick case where you'd think--by the level of demonization--he was part of the 911 terrorist crew. Why? Some atty on Larry King was asked if this Joe Nobody Smith would this be such a big deal. She said, "Nobody would know about it, but it would stil be a big deal." Right...and I have a deal on a time share in downtown Bagdad.

[RusStyles]

11:51 PM on 08/27/2007

You are way off base! My wife is white, kids, and most of my closest friends are white, and some are even repubs. We travel together, invest in props, etc. So your short-sighted comment is laughable. Any lunatic knows that this kid, had he been from Bel Aire, would not have received a 20 year jail term for allowing a classmate to perform oral sex on him. I have a good friend, a white jewish atty, who's lived in BelAir for 20+ years, who's more upset than moi about this blatant miscarriage of justice. If you can't see this, you need not ever respond to my posts. This is ludicrous; most kids are having sex, even on school grounds, and I'm sure this young man had no idea he could be prosecuted and lock up for two decades for being on the receiving end of a blow job. Rapist and murderers don't get this much time!

Just because racial and class inequities in the judicial system are pointed out here, doesn't mean I'm "race-baiting". Speaking out against injustice is one way the system is improved. I was even more appalled by OJ getting off because of his celebrity status and cash. Do I need proof for that too?
We can't talk because you read into things with a biased lens. Citizens of color who aren't willing to sit idly by and observe blatant racism are race-baiters...The English wanted your founding fathers to shut-up and accept the staus quo. They didn't think the Boston Tea Party was a party. They called it piracy. "Riotous behaviour..." You need to take off the blinders.

[POSTHRUDAHART]

12:27 AM on 08/28/2007

Name the kid, name the location, and as I said before, prove it has anything to do with race other tnan your say so. There are plenty of white folks in prison for long terms for possession of weed, others for stealing pizza, not fair maybe, but legal and not based on race. Your use of the word 'black' is race baiting since you offer no proof that it has anything to do with this individuals circumstance, fair or not.

[blurredtruth]

10:05 PM on 08/27/2007

Michael Vick did the right thing to get himself out of the headlines, besides the fact he is guilty. PETA will pursue him the rest of his life regardless of where he plays...probably Canada. There is no racism here... he broke the law by killing dogs who did fight to his expectations.

[RusStyles]

09:45 PM on 08/27/2007

S.Z.R.:

Bullseye! Action speaks louder than words. Look, we have a black kid (honor student)right now rotting in jail because he had consensual sex with another teenager; not even intercourse, just oral. Finally thay changed this stupid, arcane law, but the DA says it doesn't apply to him. There are countless examples of people serving time unjustly; only because of their financial or melanin status.

Nobody will respond to these factual examples because there's no logical counter argument. They are blatant instances of a less-than-colorblind judicial system. Where's the outrage for this kid rotting away in jail? I'd put my life on it that this injustice would never have happened in Belaire or some other affluent suburb.

[POSTHRUDAHART]

10:47 PM on 08/27/2007

Heres a logical counter argument:
Every time someone tries to make a 'race' issue out of the disgusting and illegal behavior of an individual, I lose one more step of respect for the poor pathetic losers who can't 'be judged by the content of their, character, not the color of their skin', (or gender, sexual orientation, imaginary friend club affiliation etc.) Am I a bigot or a racist because I find the shirking of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and DECENT BEHAVIOR offensive ?
If that qualifies then we are in deep shit.
No discrimination in Bel Air, you'd bet your LIFE on it ? Your blind bigotry has exceeded even my expectations. You would certainly lose that bet since 'discrimination' comes in many forms, but then you only see the one that gives you an excuse for all the bad behavior of the group that you cling to while espousing putting an end to the topic of race. That is unless you want to trot out your tired old song and dance. Pathetic.

[POSTHRUDAHART]

10:59 PM on 08/27/2007

This is the second time that you, the guy who makes no mention of race, has trotted out this 'black kid', with the implication that he is in his predicament because of his race, not his BEHAVIOR. Do you have proof that this is the case, or are you the typical black race baiter, who simply regurgitates that line every time someone of the color you claim doesn't matter, is in trouble ?

[S.Z.R.]

08:58 PM on 08/27/2007

I believe the comment this is a race issue begins at who gets charged and when. Recently Lyndsay Lohan was caught for the second time with cocaine. Simple residue is considered to be Felony possesion, however Miss. Lohan wasn't even charged for having it, and recieved one day in jail as punishment for her sixth D.U.I.(some of which she was charged with as a minor). At no point was it made public that she was to become a "snitch" for the feds and have to testify about who gave her the drugs or alcohol, even when she was a minor, but the feds are forcing Vick to testify and take lie detector test about any and all crimes he may be aware of. Needless to say, Vick will not do one day in jail and his crime endangered ZERO humans. Additionally, first time offenders in cases such as Vick's are not given jail time at all. That is at the least unfair if not questionable behavior.

[luckysun]

06:45 PM on 08/27/2007

... or if they were troops being blown apart by IEDs for the sake of war contracting and Big Oil.

It's possible to hate what Vick did AND recognize it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things.

If this many people complained about the death and destructiuon wrought by Bush/Cheney they'd be impeached by now.

Yes -- dog fighting bad. Michale Vick -- very bad... The American people putting up with Bush/Cheney's policies while complaining about Michael Vick -- even worse.

[rivrgrrl]

07:09 PM on 08/27/2007

The torturing and killing of animals is on the same continuum of torturing and killing humans. I am equally appalled and disgusted by both and see no conflict in discussing either for they both lead to the same end; a sickness in humans that needs to be addressed and corrected.

But then again, I don't believe in a Sky Fairy who tells me humans are better than any other creature who walks, crawls or slithers across our planet.

If humans are so much more superior, why are polluting our planet, killing for pleasure and generally destroying the only home we have?

[luckysun]

07:21 PM on 08/27/2007

Acutually it's my common sense that tells me humans are superior to dogs, not a fairy in the sky (or as once referred to in the Simpsons, "the giant invisible man that you turn to when you die.") And just because humans use that superiority unwisely doesn't change that they're the superior species. If you feel dogs and humans are on the same level, or that this story is as worthy of comment as the torture of humans for corportste profit, fine. I disagree.

[RusStyles]

08:48 PM on 08/27/2007

Based on your line of logic--that "The torturing and killing of animals is on the same continuum of torturing and killing humans."--one could deduce that you belive animal lives are as valuable or on par with human beings. And, if you agree with that, it illuminates the point that the level of outrage, disgust, hate-spewing, publicity, etc...is greatly disproportionate with the "crime". There's a smoorgasbord of more heinous examples of animal cruelty that occurs with virtual impunity. I've heard all the excuses why this one fired-up all the animal rights activists, and that's all they are: excuses.

Animals eat and procreate, they don't have the intellectual capacity to pollute. That makes them equal? There's no comparison between animals and people. Where does it end...Should we preserve the right of insects? And they do kill for reasons other than sustenance. My cat has killed off all the chipmunks, and just plays with unti lit stops moving (dies). Sounds like torture from the chipmunk's perpsective. I appreciate your passion for your point of view. It's been interesting...

[hip dibler]

06:32 PM on 08/27/2007

this story has gotten way too much publicity. yes, dogfighting is bad, yes, he should be punished.

but we're talking about dogfighting here, okay?

if the dogs were iraqis this story would be over by now.

[RusStyles]

06:43 PM on 08/27/2007

I regret to concur with that premise, but...you're absolutely correct. And that's at the heart of the perversity of this...

[Blurp]

06:14 PM on 08/27/2007

My heart goes out to the many animals maimed and killed in these barbaric acts; they've been betrayed by human beings who should be their stewards. This is a dark sickness of the human soul. We should all work to eradicate it in our lifetimes.

[luckysun]

06:13 PM on 08/27/2007

Yes, you are. It's obvious he was wrong, evil, stupid, immature, whatever you want to call it, alright? Going on and on about him as if he were the second coming of Satan and everyone else were his infallible judge is getting to be a little much in my opinion.

[thetruthfairy]

05:44 PM on 08/27/2007

luckysun is drowning in apathy, am being holier than thou when i attempt to distingush good from evil ?

[RusStyles]

06:00 PM on 08/27/2007

No, lucksun is swimming in the ocean of common-sense. You might want join him/her...

[argentino]

06:07 PM on 08/27/2007

yes, and he can drown some dogs while he's at it right?

[bluescat47]

05:20 PM on 08/27/2007

Hard to believe Vick is sincere in his apology. His was not an "immature act," it was a sadistic and cruel act, and done multiple times over a two year period. It wasnt one "mistake." If my kid killed dogs, psychological evaluation would be mandated immediately by the court.
And - lo and behold - now he has found Jesus! The guy knows how to play to his audience.

[RusStyles]

06:10 PM on 08/27/2007

What/who endowed you with the powers to know what level of pain he feels in his heart? Can you feel his shame? Explain how you can measure the regret he feels. If he was trying to con somebody, perhaps he words would have been more measured, don't you think? I know if it were me, I'd feel an unexplainable amount of shame, regret, and pain for the pain tha I caused. I don't know--for sure--what MV feels, but I'm willing to hold judgement and give him a chance to manifest his regret. I lack those mind and heart-reading powers you seem to possess.

[rivrgrrl]

06:45 PM on 08/27/2007

Rus, if you want to defend vick and his actions, have the balls to come right out and say so.

bluescat merely stated that in HIS opinion, vick did not seem sincere. This is an open blog where opinions are encouraged, yours as well. The tell is that you disparage others opinions with your own that you presume is the only right one.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.

But the facts are indisputable; vick gets pleasure from the suffering of others. Because he got caught and invokes the name of Jesus, all should be forgiven and forgotten? Do you think he would still be doing this if he hadn't gotten caught? Would you want this "man" as a friend? Allow him to watch your children? Allow your children to worship him as a sports hero?

[thetruthfairy]

05:20 PM on 08/27/2007

invoking religion is grasping at straws and the last gasp of a scoundrel- may you rot in jail

[argentino]

05:57 PM on 08/27/2007

very well said truthfairy...

[thetruthfairy]

05:18 PM on 08/27/2007

stop the racism ! black or white the cruel and greedy actions of this moron will be his undoing

[luckysun]

04:46 PM on 08/27/2007

OK, Vick did a really stupid thing for which there's no excuse. Being such a public figure he's understandably taking a beating in the press. He pleaded guilty, lost his job, lost his endorsements and will soon be sentenced. So... can we stop with the holier-than-thou bullcrap now? It's getting ridiculous. Isn't everyone just being a tad self-righteous? I mean, come on. Were you really outraged about dog fighting before Vick? Maybe it's because no other athlete has been charged with this particular offense, I don't know. But we get it: Vick bad, everyone else good.

[rivrgrrl]

05:03 PM on 08/27/2007

He made his bed, let him lie in it. Whatever scorn he receives, he's still better off than the dogs he killed with his own hands.

And yes, I was concerned about dog fighting before this, have been for many years. The only good thing to come from this is that the issue has finally gotten the attention it deserves.

[luckysun]

05:16 PM on 08/27/2007

But does Vick's case REALLY deserve all this attention and holier-than-thou posturing? They even had to use another SERVER for all the comments. You may have been previously outraged by dogfighting as you say, but most people on here are just spouting off because Vick is an easy target. Meanwhile our government has been hijacked by corpratists who endorse endless war and are torturing and killing HUMAN BEINGS. Anyone who's not a dog fighting activist, please challenge your rage to other more important issues. I think we've covered dog fighting pretty well at this point.

[RusStyles]

05:16 PM on 08/27/2007

rivrgrrl:

Please help me to understand:

If you're going to put dogs on the same level with humans, why stop with canines? Squirrels, bats, snakes, hamsters (a rodent), hyenas, etc, should be deemed just as important. Hey, what if he (VM) trained bats to go at it? and he drowned 6-8 losing bats. Bats have feelings too. Would we see mouth-foaming vitriol? It's only because "someone" made the decision that dogs are more important, and crafted the laws to suit the majority's preference. I think dogs are great, but no greater than the cardinals that visit my backyard every morning. Can we have little balance here? Make it a stiff fine; if you tap deep enough into a person's wallet, they'll get the message. But sitting in jail?

If Vick was hillbilly in Appalachia, we wouldn't even know about, and he certainly wouldn't be doing time. Why should Vick? Look-up the amount of people serving hard-time for this...ANd in some cases it's been going on the same clans for generations. The hypocritic stench is as nauseating as killing and training dogs to fight for money and entertainment--America's two favorite raison d'etres...