I don't know the answer to this one, but he certainly seems to have redeemed himself.  There is a news story that Pres. Obama personally telephoned the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles to congratulate him on signing Vick and giving him a second chance in the NFL.

No one in his/her right mind would condone what Vick did with the dog fighting ring.

But as the news folks are saying, and correctly so in my book, the man faced his punishment, did his time in Leavenworth, and is so far redeeming himself like a gentleman.

Obama pointed out that few former cons get a chance to re-enter the real world, and perhaps Vick's popularity will change that.

I personally think that non-violent offenders, who pose no real and present danger to other people, deserve a chance to prove that they are ready to resume a productive role in society.  As for ax murderers, and other violent offenders, it's a different story, most of the time.

One of my law school classmates is doing 20 years to life in an Ohio prison.  He came home one night to find his wife dispensing her pleasures to another fellow, and unloaded a 9mm into her.  His first parole hearing was this month, and he was refused, and his next chance to get out is in 2015.  Is he a danger to others?  Probably not.

Contrary opinions, anyone?

we have a local sportscaster here in St. Louis who contents Vick 'murdered' the dogs and shouldn't play football again. Now, I have a dog and have what I would call an average affection towards dogs, but I would never use the term 'murder' to describe killing a dog. I think murder should be reserved for human beings. I've tried calling in a few times, but my drive home was always too short to get on. I've not listened to him since, but I suspect he's going after Vick  even harder now that he's possibly on his way to MVP.

18 months in jail for breeding and knowingly introducing dogs to a sport that will quickly kill most of them seems to me about right. Caught again, 5 years.

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 12/27/10 at 14:18:37:

In my humble opinion YES he should have  been let out 10 years ago.
his crime was one of passion . A devorce is the right way to go as we all know, but in that crazy moment you see your wife in bed with anothere dude some guys just cant stand it.
If it had been me I would have told them both to leave , and tell my wife to never come back. I abhor violence.

I almost hate to post this, but here goes anyway.

First, Vick.  Yes, I absolutely disagree with dog fighting.  But I do think he didn't act alone, he took most of the blame, he did his time, he has made major retribution... let the man be.  I would wager that he will never get involved in anything like that again.  I doubt it was an addiction that he can't control, type of thing that he's gonna have to run out and do again.  He is one talented athlete and I think he deserves to be allowed to play... and play well he does.

Your classmate.  Well, he did take a life.  But how many murderers get lesser sentences and are out before 20 years?  I think I'm a pretty sympathetic person, in general.  He killed her for a "reason" (granted, not a very good one, but still).   To me, it doesn't sound like he did it for kicks, sounds like he snapped.  How many get off with a temporary insanity plea?  (btw, seems like that should have worked for him).  But in general, I would guess that he's not going to turn into some serial killer/axe murderer... guessing of course.  But my question is... what was their reason for denying parole?  Has he been violent while imprisoned?  Has he threatened others?  Parole board must have seen something.  Basically, I would say at 64 years old, and already served over 20 years, it would seem plausible to let the man out.  So why didn't they?

babyhog wrote on 12/27/10 at 14:50:37:

very good question Babyhog.

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 12/27/10 at 14:50:33:

Jerry I did not mean war time violence,I meant unnessary violence,Like the guy we are talking about,he could have have did as I would have done.
Put a few terrorist in front of me wanting to do me or my family harm
I would kill them without batting an eye.

This article is about the former mayor of Washington, D.C. For the U.S. House member, see Robert Marion Berry. For the fruit, see Marionberry.
Marion Barry

Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
for the 8th Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2005
Preceded by      Sandy Allen
In office
January 2, 1993 – January 2, 1995
Preceded by      Wilhelmina Rolark
Succeeded by      Eydie D. Whittington
2nd Mayor of the District of Columbia
In office
January 2, 1979 – January 2, 1991
Preceded by      Walter Washington
Succeeded by      Sharon Pratt Kelly
4th Mayor of the District of Columbia
In office
January 2, 1995 – January 2, 1999
Preceded by      Sharon Pratt Kelly
Succeeded by      Anthony A. Williams
At-Large Member of the
Council of the District of Columbia
In office
January 2, 1975 – January 2, 1979
Preceded by      None
Succeeded by      John L. Ray
Born      March 6, 1936 (1936-03-06) (age 74)
Itta Bena, Mississippi
Political party      Democratic
Spouse(s)      Blantie Evans (1962-1964)
Mary M. Treadwell (1972-1977)
Effi Slaughter (1978-1993)
Cora Masters (m. 1994)
Children      Christopher Barry
Tamara Masters Wilds (stepdaughter)
Lalanya Masters Abner (stepdaughter)
Alma mater      LeMoyne–Owen College
Fisk University
Profession      Investment Banking
Religion      Baptist
Website      dccouncil.us/barry/

Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. (born March 6, 1936) is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995 to 1999. In addition to his current term, Barry also served two other tenures on the D.C. Council, as an At-Large member from 1975-79, and as Ward 8 representative from 1992-95. In the 1960s he was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as the first president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Barry came to national prominence as mayor of the national capital, the first prominent civil-rights activist to become chief executive of a major American city[1]; he gave the presidential nomination speech for Jesse Jackson at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. His celebrity transformed into international notoriety in January 1990, when Barry was videotaped smoking crack cocaine and arrested by FBI officials on drug charges. The arrest and subsequent trial precluded Barry seeking re-election, and Barry served six months in a federal prison. After his release, however, he was elected to the D.C. city council in 1992 and ultimately returned to the mayoralty in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.

Despite his history of political and legal controversies (which continues to the present day), Barry remains a figure of enormous popularity and influence on the local political scene of Washington D.C. The alternative weekly Washington City Paper nicknamed him "Mayor-for-Life," a designation that remained long after Barry left the mayoralty.[2] The Washington Post has stated that "To understand the District of Columbia, one must understand Marion Barry."[3]

BH -

Martha Stewart was a scapegoat, pure and simple.  If she did anything wrong at all, it was only following advice from a stockbroker.

But of course, in this day and age, prosecutors revel in the chance to derail someone of wealth and prominence.

Look how that scumbag Eliot Spitzer has rebounded and is now a TV commentator.  The lives he destroyed on his quest for political power were pitiful.