Posted on 12/10/2007 7:46:54 AM PST by thefactor
Vick given a 23 month sentence. Plus 3 years of probation. Breaking.
The judge by disregarding the prosecutors recommendations did several negative things. First he screwed Vick somewhat harder than Vick had anticipated. Second he undermined the trust that anyone who might in the future take a plea deal would have in the system, thus lowering the number of potential plea deals. Third he showed that the judicial system is open to pressure from extremist groups such as "animal rights" activists.
I think discostu summed it up in post #155.
Vick originally claimed he was innocent, until his co-defendants started making deals, and the evidence against him piled up.
And I think one reason the feds got involved was because the locals were dragging their feet.
I think Vick is only sorry that he got caught.
When the sentencing story broke this morning, I saw two NFL players on ESPN defending Vick. I had to change channels.
No,
What it demonstrates is that we now are civilized and smart enough to recognize deviant and potentially harmful behaviors in other humans.
As in “Someone who is cruel and tortures animals is someone with strong sociopathic tendencies and at high risk for harming humans in like manner, especially helpless humans.”
Its a marker.
Like,
Would YOU want Vick babysitting your kids or caring for your granny in a nursing home?
To me it’s the lie detector and the drug test that really demonstrate that all his contrition is just for show. If he really thought he did something bad he wouldn’t lie when giving the feds evidence about his partners in crime, and if he really was turning his life around he wouldn’t be smoking pot. I don’t think 2 years is that big a deal, and anybody comparing it to other sentences in other crimes that probably means the other sentence was too short not that Vick’s is too long.
Every report I've read has said that - the prosecutors can recommend something and the judge has the power to accept the recommendation and follow it or discard it.
The judge by disregarding the prosecutors recommendations did several negative things. First he screwed Vick somewhat harder than Vick had anticipated. Second he undermined the trust that anyone who might in the future take a plea deal would have in the system, thus lowering the number of potential plea deals. Third he showed that the judicial system is open to pressure from extremist groups such as "animal rights" activists.
Who really cares what Vick "had anticipated"? He knew he was rolling the dice with his plea bargain. He still avoided the maximum sentence that a jury might have delivered, so I'm failing to see where the negative is.
Will this really reduce other pleas? I doubt it, since the feds don't go after somebody they have a solid case against - that tends to make people receptive to a bargain.
For your final assertion, that sounds like you're willing to let this criminal off the hook because holding him responsible happens to also make some liberals happy. Again, who cares what they have to say?
And the winner of the “Turn A Vick Thread Into An Abortion Thread” is you.
I’m surprised it took this long
See #160.
Actually it could read "Turn Any Animal Cruelty Thread Into An Abortion Thread."
It's FReepers like Lou L that turn threads like these into a big flamewar.
Envy?
5 years was the max.
He got off easy. Too easy.
I think there could be some constitutional problems with such a suspension.
Constitutional problems? Since the NFL is not the government, there’s nothing in the Constitution that would prevent the NFL from banning him for life if they wanted to.
A person has the constitutional right to the benefit of his labor, intellect, and skills. His conviction has nothing to do with playing football.
It matters not that the NFL Players Association may have bargained away his constitutional right in that regard. No party has a right to waive the constitutional rights of others.
What exactly is "one like [me]..." that bores you so?
If you check my posts, you'll ses I rarely make a comment on abortion. Every so often, I read stories like this, and I'm doubfounded by the irony that people are disgusted by tortured dogs, but they're not nearly as disgusted about aborted fetuses.
My intention was not to "start a flame war," nor was it to hi-jack this thread. Maybe I'm finally seeing what those who are more ferverently opposed and more vocal than I, regarding abortion.
If you don't want it to become a flame war however, ignore my post.
He might have the right to the benefit of his labor but that’s doesn’t imply a right to labor. The NFL has suspended him until further notice, the primary thing he has been suspended for is being involved in gambling, “a taint that cannot be allowed near the game”, unless Goodell has a major change of heart about gambling it’s unlikely he’ll ever be allowed to be involved in the NFL again. He can go benefit from his labor all he wants, but that labor will more than likely not be for the NFL or an NFL team.
If all players who gambled on anything were banned from the NFL, most of the players would be out of the league.
Looks like the “Mean Machine” just got their new quarterback.
Let me see if I understand you. You believe that training dogs to fight for sport and gambling purposes, being involved in a venue in which drug dealing is taking place (on his own property no less), and brutally murdering these animals after they are no longer able to provide you with income is an okay thing to do, and that society has tossed out it's values when they try an punish such individuals for their barbaric treatment of these animals? Oh my!!!!!! Please do not ever be one of my neighbors.
There is no parole for federal crimes. There is time off for good behavior, but that cannot exceed 15% of the sentence. So he must serve, at a minimum, 85% of 23 months (too lazy to do the math right now).
You are right.
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