Michael Vick Arraignment Circus Update

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

Michael is IN THE BUILDING!!

What a zoo. What a joke!! What a (apparently) slow news day...

I took a stroll over to the Fed Courthouse to stretch my legs and it's a total zoo. I saw at least 5 mounted (horse) cops and several bicycle cops, cruisers, foot police, rent-a-cops (I have no idea why - unless they too, were "stretching their legs...), there are several hundred protesters both pro and con Vick. PETA seems to be out in force (Tee shirts that say "My dog HATES Michael Vick" and "Michael Vick IS Bad Newz" (referring to the name of the alleged dog fighting kennel...). News helicopters over head, 20+ news satellite trucks, people tripping over cables and cameras and reporters (I was just looking up at the helicopter ;-) ) - and I now have 9 marked and unmarked police cars and a mobile command post outside my office.

Lord - if only the MSM put so much effort into real news of concequence... Oh well - one can dream.

That's all - I'm outa here. Got to go talk to a man about a bike...

[cynatnite]

1. It reminded me of when McVeigh was escorted out a courthouse...

Was really weird to listen to it when Vick was going inside.

[mikeytherat]

2. Mrs. Rat works downtown. On Thursdays, however, she works from home.

She is SO glad to be home today!

mikey_the_rat

[shain from kane]

3. Any police dogs on the premises? Legal for the police, illegal for others to have attack dogs.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

5. No dogs seen n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

26. that sure is an interesting comparison

and a shitty one at that...you simply cannot equate the two...

sP

[shain from kane]

44. Police dogs are chosen and trained for their viciousness to attack human beings; fighting dogs are

chosen and trained for their viciousness to attack other dogs. You're right, it isn't the same thing.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

50. sorry...thought you were comparing police dogs to the

vicious animals that Vick helped to create...

sP

[LanternWaste]

36. Like armored assault vehicles, too.

Like armored assault vehicles, too...

Every good 'murikan should have the right to an armored assault vehicle-- if the cops can have 'em, why can't we?

[Bluebear]

4. Extreme animal cruelty IS news of consequence. nt

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

6. Wouldn't be if it was Bubba Gump and not Vick IMHO

[Bluebear]

12. So this is all race-based?

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

18. Not "race based" at all. Celebrity based (n/t IMHO)

[Bluebear]

20. Good! So the problem of breeding dogs for sadistic games is getting attention!

[IndianaJones]

21. Not all, but certainly partially. nt.

[Bluebear]

23. Oh, brother. nt

[IndianaJones]

25. exactly...oh brother.nt.

[Bluebear]

29. Yes, if Tom Brady did this he would get a pass!!!

:eyes:

[IndianaJones]

32. I did say partially...

If Tom Brady did this, chances are we would not know, because an investigation would not have been carried out.

[Bluebear]

35. Oh yeah: "Do any white guys break the law in the major sports?"

I had forgotten about your thread there.

[IndianaJones]

41. I know it is hard for some to believe that the American justice system and media...

treat blacks different than whites, but it is the case.

[Bluebear]

43. Don't play that shit on me.

You basically have barged into DU inferring we are all ignorant racists here and it's not acceptable.

[IndianaJones]

46. Actually, I have inferred that our justic system and media are guilty of...

institutional racism. Disagreement with that assertion does not necessarily make one a racist.

[Bluebear]

48. This is about animal cruelty, not racism.

It's not the first thread in which you bemoan Vick's publicity in this case. I'm sorry that he is African-American, but he is, and he stands accused of horrible animal cruelty crimes.

[IndianaJones]

51. I agree...he does stand accused of horrible crimes...

that does not change my view that he is treated differently for being an african american, due in no small part to institutional racism in the media and justice system.

[LanternWaste]

37. What do you base this assertion on?

What do you base this assertion on? :shrug:

[stirlingsliver]

15. Correct. Vick Is High-Profile

You're quite correct.

Vick is high-profile, Bubba Gump isn't.

Is kind like Linsey Lohan.

No one cares about kids who get arrested for DUI.

Unless they are high-profile.

[butterfly77]

7. Evidently, this is the crime of the century..

too bad we can't see this when there are child predators being put on trial. I want to know why this is so outstanding compared to other crimes?

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

8. Because there's a sports "role model" involved (n/t)

[butterfly77]

40. Please!

there are many high profiled sports figures and they don't go this crazy. I guess it is because dogs are more important than people. People have been asking for him to be strung up.

[cynatnite]

9. It is revolting if he's guilty...

but people only care because dogs are cute and almost human-like.

on edit: and he's famous.

[sammythecat]

30. Child predation IS big news.

I think there is a TV show (or segment) called "To Catch a Predator". There is LOT of news, national and local, on this topic. There are umpteen million parents in this country who are very interested in this and the news media knows this.

As for this dog fighting thing, I think many were unaware this despicable practice still occurred at all, let alone on the large scale that is becoming evident. That makes it newsworthy in my opinion. Plus it involves a well known sports "hero". I'm sure this is front page news in the Atlanta papers.

I'm an animal lover and a football fan. I'm interested in this.

This is an "acute" type news story, unlike Iraq which is a chronic news story. In a month you probably won't hear much about this outside the sports section. I think this is a little like someone who's been battling cancer for several months spending a day bitching about the ankle they sprained that morning. They're allowed. Their whole life isn't, and can't be, about cancer.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Not really.

It's not news. It's entertainment. Just like this Vick thing.

[sammythecat]

33. Not sure I understand.

Child predation is not news. Do you mean because it's a chronic situation that is no longer "new"?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. Yup.

Like dog fighting.

[sammythecat]

45. Well, it was news to me.

I've heard of dog fighting, my grandpa came from Ireland and it was popular when he was a boy, but I thought it was pretty much gone here nowadays. Maybe a few psychos in the backwoods here and there, but not the interstate, big money, enterprise that it appears to be. This is news to me. Unwelcome news, and I hope bringing attention to it will help to eradicate it.

[butterfly77]

47. I have heard plenty of stories about dogfighting...

and there hasn't been anything done about it. I know that it is because he is some someone who sports fans look up to but this is getting to be ridiculous, some of the comments that I have heard about what should be done to him. Yes, he should face the consequences of his actions if he is guilty.

[sammythecat]

53. I'm sure you have heard plenty of stories

about dogfighting. I never meant to suggest otherwise, only that myself and (many?) others have not heard a lot of stories about dogfighting. And I wish I could count on this being the last story I hear.

[anniebelle]

10. This is major news in my world of animal lovers.

This has been a problem for so long in this country and if it takes this POS to get it in the public eye, so be it. This is just another low point of this out-of-control society we're supporting in this country. Would you rather see Anna Nicole or Paris perhaps?

[cynatnite]

11. I'd rather see the same level of outrage given to child predators n/t

[Bluebear]

13. Start a thread on child predators, I think you will find plenty of outrage.

[stirlingsliver]

19. Do You Ever Watch "To Catch A Predator"??

Honestly, do you really think people aren't outraged at child predators?

Do you know there is a program on MSNBC -- an HOUR-LONG program -- that shows child predators being caught?

[cynatnite]

24. I watched it once...

how many times do we see child predators being protested in the way that Vick was done today? Hell, Michael Jackson was celebrated by fans when he was brought up on charges.

We're a fucked up society.

[sammythecat]

39. Michael Vick has his supporters too,

just like Michael Jackson had his. To suggest that either has or will, benefit in ANY way from being exposed is just wrong I think. And too think that the many, many, millions of parents in this country aren't vitally concerned about child predation is wrong as well.

[LanternWaste]

38. Extreme outrage isn't being leveled at child predators?

Extreme outrage isn't being leveled at child predators? :shrug:

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

16. No. I'd rather see

Gonzo and Bush and Cheney and the whole lot of criminals investigated within an inch of their life instead of, for the most part, being given a pass by the MSM. I want the White house press core to grow some balls like Helen Thomas. In fact, I'd love Helen Thomas cloned 100 times over.

I totally agree with your sentiment about the problem of animal cruelty - don't get me wrong. It's the celebrity aspect of this that makes me sick. Personally, if guilty, I hope they hang him out to dry...

[_testify_]

14. ESPN.com had a blurb on the front page

Something like 'Tune into ESPNews for 5 hours of coverage'.

I can't watch 5 hours of anything!

[A wise Man]

17. CNN 's paper reading news woman

trying to be a court experts. Without hearing charges, Vick has been convicted in this media while Bush and his cronies get away with any and everything.

[Highway61]

22. If Michael Vick did this...

(looks like he did) He is a scum bag. Period. As for child molesters....trust me, you would get a HUGE out cry from DU if you started a thread on that subject.

[KharmaTrain]

27. Cheap Easy News...

Ain't it nice this is happening right down the street from CNN Center. This is a tough story to cover...just like a hurricane or missing blonde. Spare no expense to send out the satellite truck and hype the crap out of it...it's predictable, easily packaged and manipulated. Also it brings in far greater financial returns than hiring investigative journalists who do "boring stuff".

I recall how crazy CNN went with the gunman who escaped the Federal Court house...the one that ended up with the bizarre woman doing drugs with her captor. Had this happened in Fargo, we wouldn't have seen such a circus, but since it was right in town, let the circus begin.

Enjoy the show...it's hillarious to see all these news crews fall all over each other.

[pettypace]

28. I'm curious how many DUers know who Mike Vick is?

Before all of this unpleasantness that is.

After seeing the video of his arrival, it was analogous to a rock star.

Thats it - Mike D. Vick is a rock star!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

42. I never heard of him until this was all over the media.

However, whoever he is, I'm glad that animal cruelty is being brought to light.

[Blue_Tires]

52. sure...plenty of us know...

I even remember him (vaguely) as a high-schooler, and he still has a lot of local support...but i'm thinking his career is over if he is convicted because this is a PR nightmare for the league

[SoCalDem]

49. You KNOW there are pictures or videos..

EVERYONE has camera-phones and he's a celebrity.. people like to film shit like this and watch it over and over.

I just wish that the prosecution would just say ."we have video showing him participating"..and then say nothing more until after the trial.

The whole "uncertainty"..maybe he did..maybe he didn't is just a clever way to keep people talking and to allow the NFL some wiggle room..

EVERY contract has a "morals clause" and can make the whole contract VOID.. If there are pictures or videos, they need to be shown to the Union and the NFL, and he needs to be fired FOR CAUSE..and with NO $$$ pay-out.

He cannot play under the cloud of suspiscion, and for the team to have to pay him millions to sit-out , is ridiculous.

It's not fair to the other players or to the fans.

[Marnieworld]

54. read the subpoena

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0717072vick1.html

18 horrifc pages of detail. I have no doubts after reading this. Names of dogs, dates of "fights", amount of purses. Video would be excellent of course but I am optimistic that they have enough for a guilty verdict. They have all of these details from at least 4 Cooperating witnesses. Besides that it's clear that none of this would have existed without him, none of it because he was "The Bank."

It seems that he was involved in gambling on dog fights as a student at VTech. Then, after he got drafted he chose to create this enterprise with his football money. No money no dogfights period. How could he answer why the property was purchased? favor for a relatove maybe if that's all there was but then a fence had to be built, kennels had to be installed- who paid for that? there are records of him buying the dogs- why would he be doing that? I read recently that Federal prosecutors have a 95% conviction rate so I'm confident that they have a case.

That's what the NFL is doing- analyzing the evidence to see if they could cut him loose.

If Vick was not such an asshole he would have the sense to step away voluntarily until it is resolved. His circus will be that teams circus, and it will travel from city to city and dmage the league. It's selfish and also self-destructive of him to fight the charges and play. If acquited it would be a lot easier for him to come back to the Falcons or the NFL if he plays nice right now. Instead he puts the team and the league in a horrible position to determine what is the best way to deal with it financially and to protect the league. If they take any action that isn't 100% kosher then the Player's Union would be obligated to defend him- which they of course don't want to defend a dogfighting monster. 3 different groups of people are being harmed by him staying, 3 groups that he should be begging for forgiveness and help from, yet he is only thinking of himself. Not surprising of course considering who we know him to be now.

Since the undercover informant appeared on ESPN in May I have been saying that he will never play again. I hope that I am right.