Of course Michael Vick knew what he was doing. he was dogfighting, something many tens of thousands of others do in this country. In poor communities like the one Vick grew up in, people who fought dogs had respect. That mentality, sadly, doesn't disappear with an NFL contract. However, unlike many others, Michael Vick went to prison and lost everything he had worked for in the years preceding his arrest. Hitting bottom can often be the catalyst for introspection.

Given the injustice that is Donte Stallworth's prison time for killing a person, I fail to see why we heap so much scorn on Vick. He did real prison time for his crime. Leavenworth is no country club. Meanwhile, a judge signed off on a plea deal that let's Stallworth avoid any significant prison time. What was it, 30 days? I could throw up. That's a disgrace to everyone involved. The prosector, the family and the judge. They should all be ashamed.

Forgiveness, however, shouldn't be about people accepting what Michael Vick has done and "moving on." If Vick wants people to move on, he will have to demonstrate that he's changed in some fundamental ways. I have a feeling that the Eagles and Michael Vick are aware of this and that he will be doing plenty in the city and with the organization to show he's better man than before.

As a person who grew up in Philly and now works there, I know that dogfighting is a huge problem in the city. Having adopted 2 dogs, I've seen the kennels filled with pitbulls and rottweilers, those canine trappings of reflected power and respect, tossed out because the owners are highly ignorant about the breeds and unprepared to care for them. If Michael Vick can be the messenger about what he's learned, there's a chance some of the young men in this city might listen to what he has to say.

What happens on their property is their responsibility. I think they're just trying to intimidate the plaintiff into dropping her case or settling for far less. In this case, the bad publicity might make the Marriot settle faster. Whoever came up wiith this defense needs their head examined.

My son also wears a swim shirt and that would be banned in a French public swimming pool as well. One thing that posters have to realize is that France has a different culture than we do in the U.S.. Things like sanitary clothing in swimming pools are a big deal to them and they've made it into a regulation for public swimming. Since they have easily accessible, public swimming pools and I had to buy & build an in-ground pool for my backyard because we have NONE in my area, I still think the U.S. has the short end of the stick. Dress apropriately or don't use the free, clean swimming pool.

Finally. Guess the lies couldn't continue in the face of a grand jury subpoena for the ex-girlfriend.

It really diminishes Edwards to have to lie about having another child. It's rough and all being married and having another family but they will get over it. They have to. Hopefully,everyone can be adult about it and let the child share in a positive if unconventional family life.

France has strict sanitary laws regarding public swimming. Clothing like the "burqini" can be worn as outside clothing not just as a swimsuit and is banned as a result. It should also be noted that bermudas that many americans wear and t-shirts that are allowed in pools in the U.S. are also not allowed in French public swimming pools.

"Alienation of affection?" Did John Edwards leave his wife for Rielle Hunter? No.

I wish that there was a giant cosmic hand that would slap up people when they treated others disgracefully but there's not. Rielle Hunter is not a good person but she's really not Elizabeth Edwards's problem. The problem is her lying husband.

You keep using the metaphor of the immoral,effective doctor and the ineffective good doc. When was the last time John Edwards ran anything. He's a one-term senator for goodness sakes. What's more, his last big "job" was running for president of the United States. Did he use good judgement in doing so while having a sloppy, poorly hidden affair in his closet? I don't think so. He treated some of his closest political friends and colleagues very poorly in the process. He may also have committed illegal ethical lapses by using campaign funds for his mistress. So what does that say about where his immorality ends and his alleged effectiveness as a politician begins?

Last time I checked, John Edwards was a grown man. Rielle Hunter is an amoral a-hole but that doesn't make her responsible for the Edwards family. John edwards is solely responsible for his bad judgement which I'm basically certain include knocking up his girlfriend.

Elizabeth Edwards also has a choice: she can leave. She chooses to stay so she's in for a penny, in for a pound as they say. I can't imagine the situation is easy for her and she's certainly in no way to blame. However, once you hitch your cart (or stay hitched) to a philanderer, you are responsible for the situation as it unfolds. Her pointed refusal to address the possibility that her children have another sibling is sad and disappointing.

The only person totally blameless in the fiasco is little Frances. She deserves a father and she has one. There is no excuse for her being ignored by her own family.

Just because John edwards hasn't had a "job", doesn't mean he doesn't have income. That's how child support is assessed and it would be significant for a child (born out of wedlock or not) of a man worth about 20+ millions dollars.