She made bad choices for herself because she didn't honor herself as a worth-while human being, but Diane just wanted to roast her for being a BAD GIRL. That's baloney! She wasn't cheating on a commitment to someone and letting down her children. She was making what turned out to be unhealthy choices about how to make her way in the world with terrible consequences for herself.

Spitzer's accountability belongs to himself. He made the choices to go to her and break his marriage vows himself. His wife and children get the real betrayal and consequences. They have had to struggle with their choices since then. Ashley knows that. Leave her alone and let her try to salvage her life and her dignity. It won't be easy.

I enjoyed the book and found it a great jumping off point to stimulate real conversation. At dinner the other night, a pilot friend jumped in and said he knew about about the problem in Korea because his airline sent people including his best friend there to help analyze, revamp and reteach the Korean pilots the new assertive cultural norms.

So, I have an eyewitness that that assertiveness training was one strategy the Korean airlines used after their safety problems were preventing them from using some major airports in the world. I'm sure there were others. If an American company has a major catastrophe(s), you can bet that there are a variety of fixes that are implemented.

I'm sick to death of having right wing religion stuffed down my throat by the Bushies and my Texas neighbors. Couldn't have Obama had a Unitarian minister or another liberal religious Pastor give the opening remarks? Then we would have a more balanced views for a change. I and millions like me in this country don't feel the need to pray through Jesus. We figure that God or whatever she is called is happy to hear our thoughts directly. No one ever takes us into account except to say that we are going to hell because we don't follow the right wing dogma.

For Sparky 13. I'm a health care professional and have worked with people with the disease of addiction. You should NEVER try to detox by yourself. Your physician is dangerous. Please find another one immediately!

You need a detox center where they will medicate and observe you so that you don't have seizures. You can die from these seizures so please take this seriously. After you detox, which takes 3-5 days, you can either do inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. Outpatient is much less expensive and can be equally effective. You deserve the best support that fits you and your finances at this time. Some cities have stand along detox centers through the Salvation Army that have little cost. Don't do this alone! Your life depends on it. Best luck!

I work as a volunteer for foster kids removed by CPS for an agency. We are appointed by the court to watch out for the foster kids so they aren't re-abused in the system. I had one family where all of the kids were severely damaged physically and emotionally by parents who used drugs.

The major drug was home-made amphetamines and crack. I won't describe the disabilities because of client confidentiality but suffice it to say the children's problems made me weep on more than one occasion.

My adopted son, now an adult was hurt by drugs. We just found out his grandfather was one of the most recognized politicians in the Nixon/Ford times. His Mother was an alcoholic. My son is doing fine now which is a miracle since she drank alcoholically throughout her pregnancy with him.

Pregnant Moms do damage their fetuses if they use drugs and booze and then also damage the child when they try to raise them while an addict. Of course an addict Dad can be harmful as well. I hate to see kids removed but I hate worse to see kids grow up in an environment where they are abused, neglected and ignored.

I work in a county where we have more affluent people than poor people and much of our racial mixture is middle class or above. Our poor people are of every race and origin. In our courts we have families from all backgrounds. With one of my cases, Mom and Dad were both white and mid-level professionals.

Walk your walk. Nothing gets clear while a person in recovery stops using.

I have no lecture or point to make. Just thanks for opening your heart and sharing your story with your readers. Life is tough sometimes and you and your family went in eyes open to give love, comfort and wisdom for you esteemed dog companion. We are all richer for it.

The diagnosis of sociopath isn't used any more. The replacement for it is Anti-social Personality Disorder. These are the people who do bad things and don't seem to care that they are hurting another person or people. These can be murderers, addicts, robbers, any kind of criminal, someone who hurts children or spouses or hurts animals for fun. It's the person who doesn't seem to have a conscience or pay any attention to the effects upon others from what s/he is doing.

Mr Madoff could have this disorder but it is always a bad idea and professionally and ethically unacceptable to diagnose in public when one have little knowledge of the person. Personality disorders can be learned from bad situations in the person's life from childhood on. There is a little evidence that PD seem more common in one family than another but no proof yet that there is a genetic link.

His family and childhood history might expose some reasons for why he seemed to be able to betray his friends and clients with a seemingly clear conscience.