I have to say, animal cruelty is wrong, and I love my animals - if someone were to hurt one of them, I'd be angry.

However, to read about a senator speaking out about this issue, when there are children being molested, and/or worse, while their perpetrators get off with very little jail time? Where are the politicians speaking out about THAT?

This attitude of "our" politicians just boggles the mind.

It is soo funny that this "former" Grand Dragon is speaking about animal cruelty. I wonder how cruel it was when they sicked the dogs on civil rights workers in the 60's. Who were the "animals" then....

Lana, brutality toward animals can be a sign of the potential to abuse humans. Molesters of children often start out (get their first practice) by being cruel to animals.

Byrd was never a Grand Dragon or any such thing. He foolishly followed his stepfather into the Klan briefly in his youth, not in the 1960s, he quit, and ever since he's denounced the Klan vigorously.

NFL, Throw the Book at Michael Vick
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?qp_source=gaba66&gclid=CJjn2%2duMtY0CFSBMGgodbk299g

Now that a federal grand jury has indicted star NFL quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting, the NFL must stop hedging and impose a suitable penalty. Three months ago, suspicions of dogfighting on Vick's property in Virginia came to light along with chilling descriptions of the fighters hanging, electrocuting, shooting and slamming to death dogs who didn't "perform" as desired.

TAKE ACTION
Ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend Michael Vick from the NFL immediately. Anything less would be an outrage.

Byrd was most certainly a higher-up member of the KKK and was at one time responsible for recruiting. The fact that democrats can let this excuse for a human stand among their ranks destroys any creibibilty they would hope for. Byrd has his own special place in hell waiting for him.

I thought the question was about Vick not Byrd. How can anyone justify Vicks actions. My stomach turns at the thought of cruelty towards any living thing.

Vick is NOT a graduate of VT. He attended Tech, but left early for the NFL.

And he deserves to rot away in a prison cell for this.

Vick is NOT a graduate of VT. He left early for the NFL.

And I hope he never again sees the outside of a prison cell.

Vick is NOT a VT graduate. He left early for the NFL.

And this proud VT graduate hopes he rots in a jail cell for this.

It is an old lie that the members of the nation's racist party, the GOP, try to paint Robert Byrd as an unreconstructed racist. True enough, Byrd belonged to the KKK and became a local leader - in 1943! He left after about two years. He remained a segregationist, but renounced that position in the 1960s. Since then, he has been a stalwart supporter of civil rights.

One wishes Republicans were not half as racist as they are. Then they would only be ten times as racist as Robert Byrd.

As reprehensible as dog fighting is, I think the Senate, including Senator Byrd, whom I admire, has more important things to be speaking on and considering. Also in this country indictment does not equal guilt. The press and his employers should not convict Michael Vick before and only if the court system does.

Unlike Mr. Vick, Paul Kane is a well-known lover of dogs and all things living.

Yes, I absolutely condemn anyone to speak on any injustice when it is not among what I consider to be the top injustices. How silly.
Sen Byrd has spoken often and at length on topics most of us would probably consider most important.
He has more sense than most of the Senate combined (which I realize is a pretty modest claim).

I can only wait with baited breath to hear how Al Sharpton is going to come to the rescue of another Black Victim of the Streets. I can only laugh at te attacks on Sen. Byrd only because in actuality, Blacks are still suffering at their own hands at a depth and rate that a racist can only dream of. Lets see some genuine accounability from the Black Community.

Let's be real here. The legal system has been trying to get to Michael Vick for years. I will admit that he's making it extremely easy for his accusers, however we must remember that he has only been accused. He has not been proved to be guilty. If you were accused of something you would want a fair trial. You would sue if you were fired from your job before you were convicted. And you most certainly wouldn't want a US senator expressing his hate for you on the floor of the US senate before you've even heard everything you've been accused of! I don't understand how someone like Robert Byrd could have the audacity to damn someone else to hell. With his affiliations I'm sure Byrd will be there long before Michael Vick. Whether he was in the KKK for 2 years or 2 minutes, what they stand for is far worse than anything MV has EVER been accused of.
Let's let the courts try MV.

The Senator's comments are ridiculous sentimentality. Those equating animal cruelty as some particular form of evil (when this nation permits the slaughter of unborn) is morally infantile.

What a pathetic group of postings! The issue is not the outrage of an ancient politician, or the legality of the acts performed by a doo-rag. The issue is that an adult would participate in acts of cruelty for sport and profit. How do you reconcile that with the responsibility placed on you by your Maker in any translation of the Book of Genesis? You have "dominion" Christian, or do you have no self respect?

Dog fights are not as barbaric as human fights, because the dogs have to be trained by humans to do it. As the United States spends billions of taxpayer dollars to promote human fighting around the world, and Congress passively allows it to happen, I have to wonder if the Senator's attacks are misdirected. Perhaps he should look in the mirror.

Michael Vick is not a graduate of VT. He attended the school for 2 years then left for the NFL. He is not an alumni and is not considered to be a Hokie.

Michael Vick is a disgrace to VT, the state of Virginia, and the human race. GO TO JAIL AND STAY......

I find Robert C. Byrd fascinating. He is constantly making incredibly unique speeches on the Senate floor. They usually occur in a period of morning business where each senator is given the opportunity to speak on any topic after being recognized. Keeping up with the Senate can be a lot more entertaining than we have been led to believe, and it requires little effort. One can simply flip on C-SPAN any time the body is in session, or visit a political blog like:

http://senatus.wordpress.com

where the action is condensed. Either way, it makes for an enlightening, entertaining afternoon at the office.

To all of you who are aruging what school he went to and what a racist the Senator is need to think about the bottom line. Dogs are an essential part of the human life. They are companions and healers for all. Why do you think they are used for therapuetic reasons? They are used by police to find missing persons, drugs, they help the blind and the handicapped. To think that someone could treat a dog with such cruelty churns my stomach. The Humane Society has taken all of his dogs and already have come to teh conclusion as to what happened and this will be brought to court to show what a scum bag Vick and his partners are. The Senator was outraged because the Humane Socitey has brought evidence to the public on what had happened. So to say that he is judging without Vick having a trial is stupid! We alerady have facts and they will come out with more facts. Kicking Vick and the others out of the NFL will show that animal cruelty is not tolerated. Someone without empathy to an animal, especially a dog must have some psychological problems.

Thank You Senator Byrd. The country needs to have such a loud powerful voice against this horrendous abuse of animals. Those folks who are not supportive of Sen. Byrd views are just not animals lovers. If humans fight - they choose to do so. Animals do not have a choice. If a dog happens to have cruel human masters who violate them in any manner the dog cannot just walk away. I coexist with 3 beautiful dogs who light up my life. I shudder at the thought of any harm to them. And yes if you have folks harming animals, they have no problems harming humans. We need more folks to speak against animal cruelty. I also support battered women & children issues. Violence in all forms must stop.

This from a KLANSMEN

This from a KLANSMEN

THERE IS NOT MUCH I AGREE WITH SEN BYRD ABOUT BUT I MUST SAY HE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH VICK IT IS A SICK MIND INDEED THAT COULD DERIVE PLEASURE FROM A TORTURED ANIMAL YES THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE SENATE BUT I AM SURE THEY CAN HANDLE MORE THAN ONE ITEM AT A TIME BOUYAAH TO BYRD

For crying out loud! I'm so sick of hearing "we've got better things to think about!" This is always and eternally true ... for someone. What, are we going to wait to do anything about anything until we can all come to some global agreement about what constitutes a problem and in what order we're going to address them? Yah. There's a recipe for doing nothing.

And Bill ... if you think dogfighting is not morally reprehensible, I urge you to take your kids to one. Put your money where your uninformed mouth is.

I must say I am baffled by all of this talk about Sen. Byrd having been in the KKK... the statement about where is congress on child molester's, etc... This is about animal cruelty, about the possible (and after reading the indictment, I must say PROBABLE) guilt of Michael Vick. THAT is the situation at hand. I am moved by the fact that this Senator had such a reaction. It's about time that something is done about this terrible, underground "sport"!!! It is my personal belief that not only do molesters & rapists too often receive too light of sentences, but that those who are guilty of animal cruelty do as well. If someone can do this to an animal, INNOCENT animals, then who knows what they are capable of doing to humans!!! In my opinion, it shows a complete lack of morality and disrespect for life!!! Personally, I am TIRED of hearing this Vick is innocent til proven guilty crap... yes, that is how our society works and I am not disagreeing with that. However, if you take a look at the evidence... how could you not believe that he is guilty?! To own a home that you have only been to a "few times" and had no idea this was going on for several YEARS. Please. I am also tired of hearing about this as a racial issue. It isn't. It's an issue about animal cruelty and the criminals who commit it. It's disgusting and I hope that Vick gets slammed for this. Perfect time to squash this "celebrities/athletes are beyond human and above the law" way of doing things. It's time to get serious and DO something about this!!!!

I love dogs two..and feel that Michael Vick should do some time (6-8). But for a Senator at a time when the White House is bending Congress over its knee telling it who it can talk to and who it can't...that should be his concern.

I own a pure bred American Blue Pit-Bull, and he is the kindest dog i have ever owned. I couldnt imagine ever hurting him.
Michael Vick, along with all other pit-bull fighters are the scum of the earth. It is one of the most inhumane crimes out there, and im extremely upset that his Max sentence is only 5 years...

The Senate is a representitive body. We send people there to represent us. I think Mr. Byrds remarks echo the hearts and minds of many people in our country. Thanks Mr Bryd, I wish you were from Texas

Thank you Senator Byrd! Sentimental or an outcry at the underground gambling culture that pervades and perverts our society, dog fighting is morally wrong. Battles, whether they be in Iraq or in a dog fight are all about killing and / or maiming a being, whether it be a canine or human, plain and simple.

Sen. Byrd may be a pompous old windbag, but he is right on target here.

Come on, really, this guy is the last person in the world to lecture anyone about mistakes that they may or may not have made. Mr. Byrd wants all of us to forgive him of his past, but doesn't extend the same courtesy to Mr. Vick. Can you spell HYPOCRITE!

Come on, really, this guy is the last person in the world to lecture anyone about mistakes that they may or may not have made. Mr. Byrd wants all of us to forgive him of his past, but doesn't extend the same courtesy to Mr. Vick. Can you spell HYPOCRITE!

Wow, I'm just shocked - SHOCKED - that one of today's NFL players could somehow turn out to be a brutal, mindless thug in real life.

After all, we've seen SUCH an improvement in the standards of the NFL over the past few decades. COUGH.

I think it's completely ludicrous to make comments such as the one I copied below my comment. Let's stop comparing brutal and disgusting crimes! They are all wrong. The fact that the Congress is even speaking up about anything important these days is enough! Let's try to look at things positively not negatively all the time!

"I have to say, animal cruelty is wrong, and I love my animals - if someone were to hurt one of them, I'd be angry.

However, to read about a senator speaking out about this issue, when there are children being molested, and/or worse, while their perpetrators get off with very little jail time? Where are the politicians speaking out about THAT?

This attitude of "our" politicians just boggles the mind."

According to the Devil, the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who have sex with their children, the younger the child, the lower and hotter in hell. The Devil does not even want some of those beasts, the Devil mutilates them limb by limb and they are then fed to beasts of the Devil's choice, to rid hell of the those beasts, a kind term, according to the Devil. The Devil then places their remains, if there are any, under hell, where the remains roast on a spit of hell fire, hotter fire than any in hell. The ashes are then radiated to dust, according to the Devil. The dust is transported to a planet, beyond the universe, to burn perpetually. This is at God's direction.

Byrd is wrong, Michael Vick, because of good deeds, and a misdeed with animals, for which he can atone by being especially good to animals, healing and saving them, is going to medium-low heaven. He can ascend if he saves, heals, animals, according to God.

Byrd is wrong, Michael Vick, because of good deeds, and a misdeed with animals, for which he can atone by being especially good to animals, healing and saving them, is going to medium-low heaven. He can ascend if he saves, heals, animals, according to God.

According to the Devil, Sen. Robert C. Byrd is not wanted in hell. His fate is to be mutilated limb by limb in hell by a beast of the Devil's choice, to burn in hell fire under hell, and the ashes to be transported to a planet in another universe to burn in fire hotter than hell perpetually, according to the Devil.

Michael Vick has vowed to save and heal animals from this day foreward. This will secure his place in high heaven. He is doing this to repent, from his soul, for God, as one of God's children.

To all of you who keep saying "why would a Senator spend time on this when other important things are going on," I just want to say two things. First, Congress can do more than two things at once. Second, what would you have the Senate do? Keep holding losing cloture votes on anti-war legislation?

There are 3 things that make southern politicians popular in a hurry: talking about dogs, guns and bar-b-q. This is why in West Va., Sen. Byrd is legandary.

God Bless Senator Byrd! I think all normal, mentally healthy human beings hearing about this horrible sport are feeling sickened. It is hard to understand how a human being can become so violent and cruel. And, if they are this cruel to dogs, surely they are also this way to other people. These are not people who should be walking around lose! I, for one, thank Senator Byrd for speaking out about it.

Instead of discussing issues of dog-fighting and of personal matters, the Senate floors should be discussing issues like poverty. According to the Borgen Project, After the September 11th, terrorist attacks, a group of prominent business leaders (including Bill Gates Sr.)
began discussing what could be done to prevent future attacks. The group
determined eliminating extreme global poverty is the most important issue
facing the U.S. Corporate leaders understand this issue as important, but why not the Senate?

Kudos to Robert Byrd for bringing the plight of dogs used for recreation and blood sport to the public. I'm only disappointed that such felons only get a few years for their terrible acts.

Good for Sen. Byrd for speaking out on this disgusting practice. People who are cruel to animals are simply defective human beings and they should have done to them what they do to these creatures. And Mike Vick is a waste of a human being.

This is racist to the core! An ex-KKK Grand Wizard calling black people "animals" and calling for the execution of Michael Vick!! Sounds like a call for a lynching to me!! Racist old man!!

Dogs is part of my people's culture, and no old white man has the right to tell us we can't keep dogs on our property. Vick is innocent until PROVEN GUILTY, not guilty because he was indicted.

We're talking about dogs fighting each other, and there are white people sentenced to less time in jail for violence against African Americans, or even walking free because of white people on juries letting their people off, than what they're trying to hang on Vick over DOGS!! Dogs!!

This is obviously another attempt by the Bush Justice Dept. to tear down another wealthy African American, another black hero, and hold black people in general. These racists like KKK-Bobby Byrd place more value on the lives of dogs than they do on young African American men!! He just said it, he called us all animals!!

Take a look at the Georgia Bulldogs mascot, and the Georgetown Hoyas mascot. Tell me those dogs is going to come up and lick you on the face!! They are fighters, that's what those dogs are. That's why they are depicted as violent fighting dogs at University of Georgia and Georgetown U.!! Get a grip white people!!

RACISTS!! Vick will walk on these charges and show you all!!

Katharine: As the United States spends billions of taxpayer dollars to promote human fighting around the world, and Congress passively allows it to happen, I have to wonder if the Senator's attacks are misdirected. Perhaps he should look in the mirror.

****
Don't you recall? Byrd was one of the few original opponents to the invasion of Iraq. He led a filibuster against the infamous go-ahead-Bush-and-do-what-you-want resolution. Here's a link to an editorial published 3/23/03 entitled "Why I Weep for my Country": http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,920027,00.html. And here's a quote: "No more is the image of America one of strong yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned."

Regarding all the comments from other posters claiming Byrd *is* a racist, yes, he's got a checkered past concerning the KKK and after he'd disavowed them, he still was resistant to the civil rights movement in the '60's but his consciousness has been raised over time. I'm a Democrat who decried the bashing Strom Thurmond got in his last years for the racism of his early years that he'd long since disavowed and even reversed (he worked for integration the last decades of his life). But what I've read about both of these Southern white males born during a time of darkened understanding in the US hasn't given me the impression that their changes were mere opportunism. I think that the distance each had to travel to leave their upbringing behind is significant and worthy of acceptance.

If we don't believe that people can change, why waste the energy moving our fingers on our keyboards trying to present alternate views?

Even if Byrd did travel a road and "change", he just called Michael Vick an "animal" and called for his execution. Sounds from his rhetoric yesterday that the Senator has many roads left to travel in race relations.

It's pretty clear he prefers dogs to black people. That's his choice, but it says a lot about him as a human being.

Thr Senator is speaking with emotion,
beautiful speach as always.
Continue on Senator.
God Bless you, and God Bless America.

Beautiful speech as always?

He described in graphic detail what happens in pitbull fights and called for people to burn in hell. That's beautiful, alright. Almost brings a tear to one's eye.

Since when was an indictment a conviction? All you self righteous hypocrytes make my stomach turn. Yea, yea, dogs are God's creatures too but too much attention is being given to this crap.

Duhh! Don't you remember our troops are trying to survive in a foreign country without adequate equipment, cause and support.

You want to charge someone Mr. Senator, then charge your boss with lying to the American people. Huh! I don't hear any WMD going off...!

We have a dog. My wife, daughter, and I love him, and he loves us.

The grizzly acts of cruelty that Vick has performed on innocent, helpless dogs, are the acts of a monster. The punishment that he will face will be nothing compared to the suffering he has caused. My heart aches for the innocent victims.

An excellent floor speech by Senator Byrd. I applaud him for speaking out. Completely agree with everything he said. Anyone with a beloved dog or cat can relate to his emotion.

I can't believe the nutcases on this board who would actually defend dogfighting.

I'm not playing the race card but Byrd did once belong to the KKK. Is it possible that those old feelings come back once in a while and subsequently the extra harsh words for Vick. Don't you think sending him to hell is a little over the top?
Just a thought

Let's get this straight:

Senator Byrd is supposed to be forgiven and retain his Senate seat for decades after being a high ranking figure in the KKK when he was a young man in his 20's.

Michael Vick is not forgiven, held in contempt, should lose his job and endorsement deals, and should burn in hell for owning a property where his cousin ran a kennel and is alleged to have held fights between pitbulls, all also when he was a young man in his 20's.

It sounds like a double standard.

Senator Byrd and his Klan buddies trained and used their dogs to chase down blacks and Jews, but at least they didn't let them fight other dogs. The moral compass of the U.S. Senate!

1. The 1920's and 1930's are not now - there are different standards
2. In case no one noticed, the Justice Department has spent many months working on this case. Yeah, I do believe in innocent before guilty, but this ain't the Duke rape case - I seriously doubt that charges would have been brought in this case unless they damn sure could prove them.
3. To the guy who talks about the Georgetown Hoya and the Georgia Bulldogs. You write very well - now get your head out of your posteror. That has to be the silliest screed by either side of the political debate that I've ever heard - If Vick did what he is accused of, he's guilty of cruelty to animals - how society chooses to punish him will be interesting, but please - let's stop bring up all these excuses, etc. about Byrd being a member of the Klan, our soldiers fighting in Iraq and whatever. The dude was brutally abusing animals for his pleasure. That's just plain wrong.

1. The 1920's and 1930's are not now - there are different standards
2. In case no one noticed, the Justice Department has spent many months working on this case. Yeah, I do believe in innocent before guilty, but this ain't the Duke rape case - I seriously doubt that charges would have been brought in this case unless they damn sure could prove them.
3. To the guy who talks about the Georgetown Hoya and the Georgia Bulldogs. You write very well - now get your head out of your posteror. That has to be the silliest screed by either side of the political debate that I've ever heard - If Vick did what he is accused of, he's guilty of cruelty to animals - how society chooses to punish him will be interesting, but please - let's stop bringing up all these excuses, etc. about Byrd being a member of the Klan, our soldiers fighting in Iraq and whatever. The dude was brutally abusing animals for his pleasure. That's just plain wrong.

John D: The local prosecutor called the whole case a "witch hunt". Google it. The fact that the Fed prosecutors would spend many months working on this case is further indication to back up the local Virginia prosecutor's claim, and shows how the Federal government wastes time on cases they ordinarily would never bring unless the defendant is rich and famous.

It's clear that the only reason this case was brought is because Mr. Vick is one of the highest paid and most famous athletes in America. Maybe it isn't the Duke lacrosse case, time will tell, but there is much evidence to suggest the Fed prosecutors (as opposed to the local ones) were clearly motivated by Mr. Vick's high profile.

This case smacks of racism and so does Senator Byrd's inflammatory and embarassing rhetoric on the floor of the Senate.

To all of you so busy condemning Senator Byrd for "convicting" Michael Vick, he didn't say the name of Michael Vick in this speech anywhere. Get that race chip off your shoulder! This isn't about race....it's about cruel, inhuman treatment of innocent creatures. The fact that anyone would try to defend this kind of behavior is just crazy to me!

No one is defending dogfighting!!!!!!!

What about the inhuman treatment of innocent creatures called black men, women, and children by the klan, which byrd was a member of???? we all know who byrd was talking about, he was talking about vick, and it's not a coincidence that vick is black and byrd's a well documented racist and segregationist.

Vick had a legal kennel operation. Someone who knew his cousin got busted for drugs and dropped a dime on him to save himself from the federal pen. Why don't you let the facts of the case come out in court instead of convicting Vick from what is obviously a racially charged indictment? The racial chip on our shoulder comes from racist people like byrd who did this as much to raise racial tensions and go after a well known black man as much as he did to talk about how much he loves dogs. this case is all about race, not dogs. the dogs they took from the property were not harmed,nor showed any signs of abuse. it was a legal kennel operation.

First of all, if most of the people who left comments are regular readers of the Washington Post, then the Post is not attracting too many people who seem to know what happens in congress. Secondly, for those who say the senate should be discussing more important issues, they probably are. I don't think a 24 minute speech from the president pro tempe is the only thing the senate does. as for the person named "reason" who wrote about us "southern" west virginians, first of all, we are not ALL southern. in fact most of don't relate to the south AT ALL. and barbecue isn't particularly popular in this state. we have some cook outs in the summer time, but we aren't texas or alabama. i'm not bashing on those states, but people i've met from there tell me they love the barbecue. robert byrd supported the EVERY civil rights bill (and bill trying to end poverty for the person with the comment about that issue) that came to the senate since his career began, which is another reason we allegedly southern west virginians are proud of him. also, if you want to talk about racist issues, then i suggest you look up GOP's golden boy strom thurmond. while robert byrd may have been in the klan for a very short time (and keep in mind, we allegedly "southern" west virginians didn't really get into the whole lynching thing - in fact, since the 1800s more whites were lynched in the state than blacks. granted I am not supporting vigilante justice (except in cases of ridiculous animal cruelty where jerks with money won't serve any time) it can be argued that west virginia was one of the least racist states in the union. anyway, bravo to robert byrd, and hopefully this jerk will go away for a long time, and thanks to the media attention that senator byrd has given to the issue there will be much longer or painful prison terms than 5 years for jerks who want to torture defenseless creatures.

I agree there should be outrage over the way these unfortunate creatures are treated by torture & killing. Just curious where the outrage is for the barbaric killing of innocent human life within their mother's wombs. Well over 40,000,000 to date in the past 35 years.
Where is this nation's sense of proportion? What is more valuable, the life of a dog or the life of a human being?

I forgot, regarding you idiots that think Robert Byrd supported this mess in Iraq - he was one of the few who voted against the war. Look it up on project vote smart.

I agree there should be outrage over the barbaric torture & killing of innocent dogs. Just wondering where the outrage is over the barbaric killing of well over 40,000,000 innocent human babies within their mothers own wombs since 1972. Where is this nation's sense of proportion?

What is worse, the killing of innocent human life or the killing of animal life???
Especially when the Planned Parenthhod & doctors target African-Americans babies who are aborted at a 40 percent rate when they are only 13 percent of the population.

Talk about genocide under our very noses!

gomer sounds like someone who knows an awful lot about Sen. Byrd, makes you wonder if he met him for the first when the senator pulled his hood off to say hi and give him the secret handshake with flames crackling in the humid West Va summer air. Don't worry gomer, we know what kind of barbeques you hold down there in West Va. ;)

The only thing Michael Vick is guilty of is owning a dog while being black. This will be the next way the white law enforcement racial profiles us. Watch out black people, don't get caught owning a pitbull or you might get reported to the feds.

Is there a statue of one of Ole Man Bob's dawgs down thar in WV??????? There must be a school or a bridge named after one of his dawgs!!!!!!!!!! Maybe Ole Man Bob thought they meant hogfighting, as in pork?????? I hear that Ole Man Bob loves him some pork!!!!!!!!

Thank you Senator Byrd for speaking from the heart in regards to this disgusting issue. The more attention we can bring to this issue the better. I only pray Vick and everyone that participated in this will be tortured just as those poor, helpless animals were. For any of you out there that support this...you too will get your day to burn in HELL!

Michael Vick is a worthless piece of s*** that deserves to rot in hell!! There's nothing to argue about--that's the bottom line. Period.

I can't believe what I'm reading from some of you! How can you stick up for this monster, Vick? How can you justify how these poor dogs are being treated?

Another thing - why are you bringing up race? This has nothing to do with being white, black or brown! What does race have to do with anything. I don't agree with Senator Byrd on a lot of issues but I am very happy to see this issue get attention like it is. Vick did this to himself...no one wants to see this happen, believe me. Yes, Vick is black and yes he's a black athlete but Vick is also a grown man making lots of money and is a role model for children. Do you want your kids idolizing an athlete who supports violence, death and harm to animals? Even if Vick was white, I guarantee you that Byrd along with many others would still be speaking up in support of these poor, helpless animals. This has absolutely nothing to do with race.

Get over it and grow up!

Tina, Michael Vick has not been found guilty of anything. He has the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence until such time as a jury finds him guilty of a crime. Like it or not, this case is dripping with racial overtones. Michael Vick has been a lightning rod for racist attacks his whole career in Atlanta, perhaps you are not aware of this in case you are not an NFL fan. His NFL team has had white backup quarterbacks his whole career, and many in Atlanta have wanted him benched so the other players could take over his job. There is more to this case than whether he engaged in dog fights. Haven't we learned from enough cases in the last few years to judge defendants before they go to trial?

A little perspective about dogs. They aren't all God's innocent little harmless creatures:

According to the Centers for Disease Control, dogs bite 4 million to 5 million Americans every year. Few attacks are fatal (25 in 1996), but serious injuries--everything from a gash in the arm requiring a few stitches to severed hands and fractured skulls--continue to rise and now stand at more than 750,000 annually, up nearly 40 percent from 1986. Dog bites are one of the top causes of non-fatal injuries in the nation.

Children are the most frequent victims, accounting for 60 percent of the dog bites and 20 of the 25 dog-bite fatalities in 1996. Dog attacks are now the No. 1 reason that children wind up in hospital emergency rooms. Incredibly, nearly half of all American kids have been bitten by the age of 12. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that more than $100 million gets spent yearly treating dog bites in the nation's emergency rooms, and U.S. insurance companies paid out $250 million in dog-bite liability claims in 1996.

These caveats notwithstanding, a CDC study detailing dog bite related fatalities in the US between 1979 and 1998 reveals that roughly one-third were caused by Pit Bull type dogs. The highest number of attacks (118) were by Pit Bull type dogs, the next highest being Rottweilers at 67.

I could be wrong, but isn't Blackmail illegal? Suspend a innocent man ( innocent until proven guilty)or you loose something. Is this how our government works?????? Dont we have something called Due Process?

Senator Bryd is a Disgrace to this Country

Senator Byrd is a real animal lover. Until he pays someone to slit the throat of a cow so he can have a steak, that is. There is no Humane way to murder a animal - none.

Senator Bryd is a hypocrit

Let me first state that I have a dog i love animals. But I am disgusted with how all of those who have formed an opinion of guilty which you are entitled to wish to throw stones before letting the court system do its job not yours. We do not know what happened on moonlight road if you do go be a witness and come with some things that will make me believe VICK did wrong. Now none of us are without SIN. If you call your self a GOD FEARING INDIVIDUAL YOU WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT WHAT YOUR DOING TO THIS MAN. NO ONE CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT(VIDEO,PICTURES,ETC) ALL HAVE TOLD A LIE TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE SO CAN YOU REALLY BELIEVE A PERSON ALREADY CONVICTED OF DOG FIGHTING TRYING TO REDUCE HIS SENTENCE. WALK IN VICK SHOES SAY IT WAS YOU AT YOUR JOB AND THE WHOLE WORLD SAID YOU WERE GUILTY. and it was not true but certain things made it SEEM THAT WAY

WWJD GOD BLESS

WE ALL SEE HOW KKK BYRD WANTS JUSTICE FO BLACK FOLKS NOW....HE LIKES IT OLD SKOOL STYLE LYNCHING!!!!!!!!!!! THEM DOGS WASN'T HURT BY VICK, HE DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN THAT HOUSE. THE DOGS THE COPS TOOK OUT WEREN'T HARMED, THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD BEEN TREATED WELL AND CARED FO. FUNNY HOW THEY TIMED THEIR INDICTMENT FO THE WEEK BEFORE THE FALCS TRAINING CAMP STARTS SO THE WHITE BOYS CAN STEAL HIS JOB WHILE THEY GOT VICK IN THE COURTROOM!!!!!!!! BAMBOOZLED!!!!!!! SAME AS THEY DONE TO THE BLACK FOLKS IN NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!!

This is funny that people feel so strongly about this vicious breed of bulldog. These pit bulldogs are responsible for killing more toddlers and small children than any other breed.

Two weeks ago a Los Angeles police officer was forced to shoot a pit bulldog to death because it had a smaller dog in a deathlock bite and would not let go. People in the neighborhood called the LAPD after they were unable to seperate the pit bulldog from the little dog. The officer tried everything to get the pit bulldog to loosen its grip, but to no avail. He finally had to shoot and kill the pit bulldog. Luckily the smaller dog survived the ordeal.

These are truly dangerous animals whose ownership should be regulated like the deadly weapons that they potentially are. No wonder these violent pit bulldog breeds are illegal to own in many cities in this country and around the world.

Dear Senator Byrd,

You are truly an inspiration. Thank you so much for speaking up for the voiceless. Your passionate speech against the vicious and cruel practice of dog-fighting and the horrendous and bloody end of a fight,was eloquent and heart felt. Thank you again.

Dear Senator Byrd,

You are truly an inspiration. Thank you so much for speaking up for the voiceless. Your passionate speech against the vicious and cruel practice of dog-fighting and the horrendous and bloody end of a fight,was eloquent and heart felt. Thank you again.

Dear Senator Byrd,

You are truly an inspiration. Thank you so much for speaking up for the voiceless. Your passionate speech against the vicious and cruel practice of dog-fighting and the horrendous and bloody end of a fight,was eloquent and heart felt. Thank you again.

Dear Senator Byrd,

You are truly an inpiration. Thank you so much for hating blacks all these years. Your passionate speech against those horrible african americans and how they treat their pets was eloquent and heartfelt. I'm sure you are right that this villian is guilty and will burn in hell. Just look at his skin color, that's all we need to know to be able to judge him. If only we could have more dogs and less blacks. Put all the blacks behind bars and let the poor little innocent dogs run free. Thank you again dear Senator.

Mike Vick is a piece of very dark soul.

This speech would be better with a banjo and blowjugs as background music, and a split screen of a cross burning when Byrd talks about burning in hell. Kind of give it that hometown feel for Senator Byrd, who, rumor has it, was born in his mamie's outhouse but somehow survived.

I think that if Mr. Vick is guilty of what he was accused of then he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. This has nothing to do with race or "white people tring to keep another black successful man down." This has to do with morals. I am sick and tired of every time a black celebrity finds him or herself in trouble they play the race card. It is time for you people to stop making excusses for the things that you do, and just take responsibility. Noone is out to "get you." Gangbangers and PacMan Jones are not possitive roll models. A possitive roll model would be Opera, Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell; someone who has made a beneficial impact on your community. I see the things that go on in my community, and now it is "cool" to walk around with your pants falling off of your ass. It has to be the most ridiculous thing that I have ever seen in my life. These kids walk around looking like jackasses, and they wounder why noone takes them seriously. Stop being fools; stop poisoning your communities and your youth. Stop being idiots!!!!

Good for you Senator Byrd! You gave a wonderful speech and spoke the truth. Michael Vick has a special place in Hell waiting for him. To pay millions to people that are inhumane to the helpless is shameful to our nation. He needs to be suspended from the NFL and sit in prison for the next lO years.

The pro-life people seem to drag their point of view into as many discussions as possible. First of all, the dogs are living, and do not need sustenance from their mothers.' Aborted fetuses cannot live except from their mothers' umbilical cords. And the mother has a right to make a decision on whether to give life to that fetus or not. It is a choice that is not made lightly.

Dogs are wonderful creatures which we have bred to be friends, companions and often valued helpers, and it is terrible to treat them cruelly.

Thank you, Senator Byrd.

The owners of teh pitbull who killed a little kid in San Fran a few years ago only got 2 years in jail, and some of you people want Michael Vick to get 10 years in jail and burn in hell? Get a grip people! Pitbulls are not bred to be friendly. They are vicious fighting dogs by nature. That's why Mayor Newsome in San Fran took action to make sure they are all neutered and spayed. This breed of dog is a menace to society and kills small children.

Let me first state that I have a dog i love animals. But I am disgusted with how all of those who have formed an opinion of guilty which you are entitled to wish to throw stones before letting the court system do its job not yours. We do not know what happened on moonlight road if you do go be a witness and come with some things that will make me believe VICK did wrong. Now none of us are without SIN. If you call your self a GOD FEARING INDIVIDUAL YOU WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT WHAT YOUR DOING TO THIS MAN. NO ONE CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT(VIDEO,PICTURES,ETC) ALL HAVE TOLD A LIE TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE SO CAN YOU REALLY BELIEVE A PERSON ALREADY CONVICTED OF DOG FIGHTING TRYING TO REDUCE HIS SENTENCE. WALK IN VICK SHOES SAY IT WAS YOU AT YOUR JOB AND THE WHOLE WORLD SAID YOU WERE GUILTY. and it was not true but certain things made it SEEM THAT WAY

WWJD GOD BLESS

WOW.....a whole lot of haters on this blog.....sound like the grand cyclops byrd.....calling my man MV a gangsta cuz he got braids......R-A-C-I-S-M!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

grand cyclops looks awful shakey when he talk......he used the N-WORD on tv a few years back too......R-A-C-I-S-T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Racism,pro-life,pro-choice,civil rights,KKK,animal rights,animal cruelty,Democrat,Republican,profanity,Christianity,persecution,prosecution -is there any extremism that isn't mentioned in these messages? This issue has fueled the fires in everyone, it seems. For those who want to say that Michael Vick had NO idea what was going on on HIS OWN property, PLEASE? Do you think that particular defense would hold up for YOU yourself in court or in the court of public opinion? Could YOU personally explain the presence of canine corpses, of a "raping stand" (please take a moment to picture that), the ring itself, the electrotuting mechanisms, etc., and claim that YOU had NO knowledge whatsoever of what was going on there? In this country of infinite possibilities, a multi-million dollar football star is backed by an NFL team which paid him $160M AND the NFL, which is struggling to save its image from THUGS. From thin air, an all-star defense team appears, which can hopefully dazzle 12 work-a-day jurors into acquitting a man whom these well-payed actors/attorneys mold from THUG into innocent victim before their very eyes in the course of 14 days. Before it's over, the dogs which he tortured and mutilated, eventually killed, while watching them twitch and beg, whelp, cry for their very lives, deserved what they got. At the hands of the well-paid attorneys, Michael Vick will look like the victim and will probably get a pay raise. And THUGS like Michael Vick will get their multi-million dollar paychecks, and fans will continue to think that just because he owned the land and visited it every now and then, and just because etc, etc, but the main reason, as we all know, is because the Atlanta Falcons are out $160M, regardless of the fact that they should have paid more attention to his regard for the law, unless they knew that didn't matter anyway. Hey, if you can toss a football, sink a jumpshot, it really doesn't matter, does it?

First to those that say pit pulls are born to be vicious - this is untrue. It's the vicious people that breed them to be that way.

Second - I'm so sick of hearing about racisim. Just because Vick is black doesn't mean that we're picking on him because of it. I was a huge fan of his until I found out about this. What makes me so upset is that racisim is even brought into this picture. Why? Because Senator Byrd spoke us about the issue? Because Senator Byrd is a racist? Guess what - this isn't about Senator Byrd. This isn't about race. For everyone that thinks it is, you need to grow up and get over it. It's not about YOU!

It's about these poor animals, not RACE!

First to those that say pit pulls are born to be vicious - this is untrue. It's the vicious people that breed them to be that way.

Second - I'm so sick of hearing about racisim. Just because Vick is black doesn't mean that we're picking on him because of it. I was a huge fan of his until I found out about this. What makes me so upset is that racisim is even brought into this picture. Why? Because Senator Byrd spoke us about the issue? Because Senator Byrd is a racist? Guess what - this isn't about Senator Byrd. This isn't about race. For everyone that thinks it is, you need to grow up and get over it. It's not about YOU!

It's about these poor animals, not RACE!

"Dog fights are not as barbaric as human fights, because the dogs have to be trained by humans to do it. As the United States spends billions of taxpayer dollars to promote human fighting around the world, and Congress passively allows it to happen, I have to wonder if the Senator's attacks are misdirected. Perhaps he should look in the mirror."

What?! In case you haven't noticed, humans get a trunkload of money for the boxing they do in a ring. They use padded fists, not teeth and claws. It is a sport. Dog fighting is not, and I hardly think the dogs are as generously rewarded or as quickly and easily patched up as boxers. You are an idiot.

i hope the nfl will look at their potential players a bit more seriously. we have guns, rapes, drugs, drunks, no child support paid to three different past wives, a whole host of social issues that our young people DON'T NEED TO ADMIRE. now we have brutality/cruelty to animals.
go figure.

maybe "it" needs to go back and finish college? maybe "it" will be able to get a job then? maybe not? he certainly DOESN'T belong in the nfl and YES the court of public opinion is what counts especially in the sports world. you don't need to be a genius to KNOW THAT!

Michael Vick is only the tip of the iceberg. Dogfighting has been going on for years in our country while authorities look the other way, if not participating themselves.

This is truly an amazing discussion. Something cruel and horrible is going on, and it needs to be condemned. It needs to be stopped. It isn't about whether those who are doing it are black, white or green. Does racism exist in the country? Of course it does. Should we put a stop to it? Of course. But what we're talking about here is dogfighting. An abomination. Anyone involved should be punished. And it should be stopped now.

If God dealt with each of us according to our sins, who then could stand? The hatred displayed in some of these posts appears to come from those without sin. We all need forgiveness,so perhaps it is not for us (or the politicians) to cast stones. Each of us has a mirror by which we can see our own faults. Trial by media and public opinion has not proven to be the best indicator of truth.

Wow. I'm stunned by people who say that there are more important things to talk about than this. You know, there is always something that someone considers more important. But does that mean we just ignore everything else? Life is full of all levels of problems, but we don't just give up on all the rest until the most "important" is taken care of. I feel that the way our children see us treat animals is crucially important. Kindness and empathy are virtues that are withering away in our society. As well as shunning people who behave badly. We need both. Vick needs to be publicly embarrassed and pay for his crimes. It's "just an animal" is the excuse from people who don't have a lot of breadth or depth, and are emotionally sterile.

People who are involved in animal abuse, or whose friends or relatives make money from animal abuse, will ALWAYS try to deflect attention from the issue.

They will start whining that people should instead be talking about the war, or "kids," or "really important things."

That is one of the reasons that we have not dealt more firmly with the issue of animal abuse in this country (and by the way, animal abuse often leads to or is concurrent with PEOPLE abuse.)

We have let the abusers and criminals distract us.

"Vick had a legal kennel operation."

FALSE! This was NOT a licensed, inspected, legal operation and he did not pay taxes or collect sales taxes from his breeding & selling income.

Dog breeders (in Virginia and all other states) fight against attempts to license, inspect and regulate dog breeding operations because MANY MANY MANY are making big money in untaxed, unreported (or under- reported) income.

Licensing and inspections and rules would expose these illegal businesses.

THe AKC, for example, fights against licensing and inspections because the AKC makes most of its money from registering puppy mill puppies. The AKC lobby PROTECTS the illegal breeders' interests.

Once dog breeders are licensed and inspected and follow rules like other businesses, then not only will these breeders stop cheating us out of taxes, but the dog fighting industry will be exposed.

What kind of person could remotely think of hurting one of our living creatures? I was appalled that Michael Vick and his associates are not behind bars yet. (I have a better suggestion for animal abusers and it is not putting them behind bars) however at the minimum, they should be so they at the least can't hurt another! Cruelty to animals is unforgivable and unforgettable. I have a mortifying picture in my mind of these poor dogs getting torn to peices and tortured by their owners. I hate anyone who is associated with dogfighting!

To the guy who says "WALK IN VICKS SHOES"- Are you kidding me, you must be a relative!
I am not in the same category as that scumbag loser! I wouldn't walk in his shoes, I know that I am not cruel to animals you idiot! I know there aren't dogs buried in my yard and illegal dog fights going on! The equipment and the dogs are on his property! How could Michael be guilty he only had 30 dogs buried in the back yard, how could he be guilty for that!

Nice try!

My female pit was thrown into the ring to teach males how to kill. Because she is part whippet, they apparently couldn't catch her. The ring leaders then decided she might make a good fighting dog, so they tried to torture her into aggression. Because she wouldn't "turn," after all their efforts at torture, they got pissed off and tied her to the back of a car to drive her back legs off.

After coming upon her limping out of someone's backyard, right rear leg open to the bone, left rear leg looking like a chainsaw had gone after it, My boyfriend dashed her to the vet. I was called at work and told she would have to be put down due to abused pit laws, and burst into tears. The vet said he wouldn't tell anyone about her, but that even if she wasn't put down, her legs would have to be amputated. I couldn't stop crying, and told him we just couldn't make that decision right away. My boyfriend and I took her home, and even though we are not religious, we prayed for two days solid for help. That Thursday, we took her back to the vet, fearing the worst. Instead, he came running out from behind the desk in wonder, even calling the staff to join him! Apparently her tendons and ligaments had started to bind and heal back together enough that he was willing to let us bandage her and monitor her condition.

$1000 in vet bills later, she is our healed angel baby - the best dog we two dog lovers have ever had - and I still cry 5 years out when I tell this story. My only prayer to this day is that I wish all these people who had never met one of these amazing dogs in real life would stop writing these opinionated stories about how awful they are, and just go to a shelter and foster or rescue one of them yourselves. You will find out that the main reason, besides strength-to-size muscle mass, that these dogs have been singled out for ring fighting, is that they love their human so much, they wll do anything - including die in the ring for you - to make you happy.

My most painful story is a friend of mine who worked at a Bay Area shelter where at least one third of the dogs were rescued pits. She used to be the one to hold the dogs when they were to be put down, and try to give them a peaceful death. She quit mysteriously one day, and I finally ran into her and asked why. She said she had been able to handle the situation until one day a black and white male pit came in, throat slit from ear to ear, full body third degree burns. She said she couldn't even fathom what kind of pain he was in, and as she was gathering him in her arms to hug him and talk him through his inevitable death, she began to cry uncontrollably. She said what did it for her was that the dog was more concerned for the pain she was in than his own brutal condition, so that as he was breathing his last breath, he was trying to lick the tears off her face. She said she just couldn't go back to work again because it had become impossible to see the brutality inflicted on these huge-hearted creatures, and she just needed to go away for awhile. A long while.

Please folks, Mike Vick and these other people who do these things have no hearts - but the animals they so brutally torture do. Can we turn this into a dialogue about how to protect these magnificent human-loving creatures, and can some of these oh-so-opinionated bloggers please try to befriend at least one of these abused or abandoned spirits, before they write such uninformed and misguided stories about them. These dogs are not born this way, and it is a form of animal racism that they get singled out for these horrific fates! Please try to get some personal experience with these pitty babies, and then you will understand why we rescuers view this as being as important as the war or child abuse. Microcosm is macrocosm - what we do in the privacy of our homes is what we will do in the world - and pit bull torture reflects quite well the same values that would lead us into war without questioning our own motives.

Make friends with a pit bull today, and you will become a pit bull advocate with a much bigger heart and a much more painful understanding of the hidden violence our culture engenders through its championing of might over right, and its selling of its own bully tactics over any kind of diplomacy or understanding. These angels need understanding - they need as much love from you as they are willing to offer, and I pray we will become a society that raises the pit bull back to its all American dog status, as it was at the turn of the last century. All we are saying is...give pits a chance.

Vick is a scumbag and should never see the light of day. Congrats to Sen. Byrd for calling it like it is.

Michael vick should be banned but wont be,this is a country established by euthanizing a race of people, and raping the land and the wildlife herin,shut your liberal mouths and stop acting suprised and outraged at the atrocities that happen here furthermore the only way this society will ever be just is when every responsible adult owns a gun and knows how to use it!

Michael vick should be banned but wont be,this is a country established by euthanizing a race of people, and raping the land and the wildlife herin,shut your liberal mouths and stop acting suprised and outraged at the atrocities that happen here furthermore the only way this society will ever be just is when every responsible adult owns a gun and knows how to use it!

The pro wrestler Goldberg once said he would love to put a dog fighter in a room with him,my self I see no problem in torturing and maming these vile and disgusting,pathetic individuals there no different than violent child offenders, but as long as there are those who dont believe in an eye for an eye this society will continue to decline,thanks liberal scum.

To all misguided pit bull haters,the original fighting breeds were killed off if they ever bit a human few,if any,other breeds have had this type of conditioning there are more pitbulls in the usa than ever they very well may be the most prevalent breed,but others bite,just as many or more incidents ,out of much fewer numbers,they just dont sound as good on the evening news. As with dobermans,rotweillers,dalmaitions and even german sheperds when the breed becomes popular people seek them out enmass only to find out the hard way that "they are not able or not willing to properly train them and they end up in the pound or a tragic and usually preventable incident occurs. Most bulldog breeds are not registered because of the breed banning scares of the past years. Ignorance and pacificism are the most violent aspects in our society,Mike vick should be made example of and kept on a shock collar and beaten hourly if found guilty,Ill happily voulunteer my time.

To those posters who said Vick did nothing but own and operate a legal kennel, let's see what happens if we locked the gates to the Bad Newz hellhole with Vick inside and let the surviving dogs out to greet their master. I'll bet he'd run like he never ran before.

I can't wait for the evidence to show Michael Vick is GUILTY. There is already hard evidence against Vick, if all of you Michael Vick lovers would watch the news you would see that. I do hope those of you who he is innocent will apologize to Senator Byrd because he is absolutely right.

THANK YOU SENATOR BYRD FOR SAYING WHAT SO MANY OF US FEEL..

Kathleen - Pittsburgh

I can't wait for the evidence to show Michael Vick is GUILTY. There is already hard evidence against Vick, if all of you Michael Vick lovers would watch the news you would see that. I do hope those of you who he is innocent will apologize to Senator Byrd because he is absolutely right.

THANK YOU SENATOR BYRD FOR SAYING WHAT SO MANY OF US FEEL..

Kathleen - Pittsburgh

I can't wait for the evidence to show Michael Vick is GUILTY. There is already hard evidence against Vick, if all of you Michael Vick lovers would watch the news you would see that. I do hope those of you who he is innocent will apologize to Senator Byrd because he is absolutely right.

THANK YOU SENATOR BYRD FOR SAYING WHAT SO MANY OF US FEEL..

Kathleen - Pittsburgh

I feel that this is the lowest of the low. Children that are being molested grow up and can voice things to someone. An animal will never ever understand why this is happening to them. It makes me sick that someone like Michael Vick could get away with something like this. There is no doubt in my mind that he was involved this.

I too hope he burns in hell for this act. He is a waste of human space. I feel no remorse for him or the others involved. I hope he is punished to the full extent of the law and loses all endorsements because of this. He will get his in the end.

I feel that this is the lowest of the low. Children that are being molested grow up and can voice things to someone. An animal will never ever understand why this is happening to them. It makes me sick that someone like Michael Vick could get away with something like this. There is no doubt in my mind that he was involved this.

I too hope he burns in hell for this act. He is a waste of human space. I feel no remorse for him or the others involved. I hope he is punished to the full extent of the law and loses all endorsements because of this. He will get his in the end.

if you have never had a pit-bull or been around them then thru the media and actions of some cities they appear to be something to be aware of,i felt that way,scared instantly inside at there sight. after owning 3, the breeds vulnerability it appears to me is they will do anything or allow you to do anything to them to make you happy and interact with you.
my teenage son would wheelbarrow them up and down the stairs,swing them around by their hind legs,though they were not having fun they would be anxious to do it again for the attention and the laughter from my son. have pictures of them at parties where 3 or 4 dogs are present being piled up in odd poses to capture the expression with a camera. they were just happy to participate and went thru the bad willingly because there was more good. they loved him most for it because he produced more interaction. he is older and thru that fortunately. they will curl up or put their head on your feet just to let you know their there thru a double feature home video and have a way of showing appreciation for everything you do for them never taking you for granted.i have read the jaw locking was taught by cowboys to hang on to a stray steer,tire him until he could be rounded up. they are time consuming however with their attitudes you can't do enough for them. comparing them to humans they seem like children who appreciate. with the topic at hand i think a human that could treat a pitbull or any animal the way they have been accused has the mental capacity to take advantage of anything that is vulnerable if it produces excitement,profit or satisfaction in anyway. it appears to me children or elderly, a weaker person. isn't this what was talked about of the nazi's at the end of WW II the ability to isolate identity,empathy from others. seems to me the same state of mind.a friend when on a safari some yrs ago, another member shot an elephant(not a rogue) that went to its knees and cried big tears and noises almost human. many of the natives went to one knee and cried also and left the party as did my friend(a normal human reaction).what we are addressing is a state of mind that is an age old thing and should be recognized with a real effort made to eliminate it. is 5yrs enough to rehabilitate in any situation where atrocities have occurred to the vulnerable. that is my question.how can we be successful at rehabilitation? if we see money prevail and the crimes are not dealt with for what they really are then we can say "hail to money" to hell with everything on a humane level and the betterment of our society. how dare this be allowed in the US.

Ban that CLIENT from the NFL. He doesn't appreciate anything. If anything he is a GREEDY person. We paid his way to get to the NFL and now he wants to sacrifice lives of innocent animals? He is nothing but a murderer. He is a low life slime ball, lower than whale poop loser. Send him to jail, send him somewhere, but if he back in the NFL in August, there will be more fans switching to the New Orleans Saints once again. Atlanta...give up your football team. All you get are total, low class, welfare client losers like Michael Vick. He should be put in a ring with some pit bulls. I would bet money on the dogs.

YOU REALLY HAVE TWO CHOICES. PERIOD.
1. PAY THE ATTORNEYS WITH A QUESTIONABLE OUTCOME.
2. PLEAD GUILTY AND THEN SUPPORT THE "FAMILY" EXTENDED...OR NOT WITH WHAT IS LEFT. (BEST CHOICE IMHO)
WHAT SOULD WARREN MOON DO?
YOU ARE DONE IN THE NFL. GET A LIFE!

ONE CANNOT ESCAPE THE FACT THAT ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF MICHEAL VICK, ALSO BELIEVE THAT O.J. SIMPSON IS INNOCENT OF MURDER. IS THIS A CORRECT STATEMENT ??

ONE CANNOT ESCAPE THE FACT THAT ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF MICHEAL VICK, ALSO BELIEVE THAT O.J. SIMPSON IS INNOCENT OF MURDER. IS THIS A CORRECT STATEMENT ??

IF VICKS LAWYERS ARE SMART THEY WOULD GET THIS TRIAL TO BE TRANSFERED TO LOS ANGELES...AKA..O.J. SIMPSON !!

Michael Vick may or may not be guilty. He will be tried by a jury. That's the way our justice system works. Sometimes innocent people are found guilty and sometimes guilty ones are found not guilty. More often than not - the system gets it right.

It's not perfect but it's the least imperfect system in the world.

The media hype around celebrity cases always taints the jury pool to some degree and it's a shame. While Senator's Byrd's sentiments on this subject are good - he probably should have kept his mouth shut until after Vick's trial.

As for whether or not a former KKK member can be "reformed" in his beliefs - of course he can.

As for whether of not an animal abuser can be reformed - of course he can. If, however, Vick is guilty - it's a little far fetched to think that he has become an animal rights proponent in a matter of days.

As for whether or not there is any racism in Byrd's comments on animal rights - that's ridiculous and quite frankly the ongoing outcry every time a black person is accused of a crime is a bit offensive.

There are bad black people - evil black people.

The are bad white people - evil white people.

Someone should not be judged as bad because he is black but neither should they be automatically deemed as "persecuted".

Someone mentioned Al Sharpton above. He, most likely, WILL get involved. His position on these kinds of issues is almost laughable. To hear him and his supporters tell it, no black people have ever done anything wrong.

If Vick is guilty then he should be condemned and punished. So should anyone else who is guilty of these types of crimes.

"It is a brutal, sadistic event motivated by barbarism of the worst sort and cruelty of the worst, worst, worst, sadistic kind," Byrd said in a 24-minute address on the matter.

If only he and all the other Senators of this great country got this passionate about the atrocities of abortion.

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Jesus talking to the righteous in Matthew 25:40

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Byrd on Michael Vick: Going to Hell
In a floor speech Thursday, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) lashed out, indirectly, at Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently charged with running a dog-fighting ring in Virginia. The speech might have seemed unusually apocalyptic to those who don't know how much the octogenarian senator loves dogs (view the video below).

Play Video
VIDEO | Byrd Likes Dogs

In biblical terms, Byrd -- wearing a navy-blue tie spotted with dog images -- attacked animal cruelty in ways that only he can.

"It is a brutal, sadistic event motivated by barbarism of the worst sort and cruelty of the worst, worst, worst, sadistic kind," Byrd said in a 24-minute address on the matter. "One is left wondering: Who are the real animals? Who are the real animals, who are the real animals -- the creatures inside the ring or the creatures outside the ring?"

Byrd did not specifically address the charges against Vick, a former Virginia Tech football star [We earlier said Vick was a graduate of VT. Vick actually left the school early to join the NFL. Thanks to readers for correcting our mistake], but attacked the nature of Vick's alleged crime in soaring rhetoric usually reserved for war speeches or Supreme Court confirmation battles: "The training of these poor creatures -- weigh those words -- the training of these poor creatures -- weigh them -- the training of these poor creatures to turn themselves into fighting machines is simply barbaric. Barbaric! Barbaric! Barbaric! Let that word resound from hill to hill and from mountain to mountain, from valley to valley across this broad land. Barbaric, barbaric!"

Byrd's love of dogs is a well known fact around the Senate. In April 2002, when his beloved dog Billy Byrd passed away, Byrd announced the death at an Appropriations Committee hearing, darkening the spirit of the Senate, whose galleries had heard the senator invoke his dog on many, many occasions. "I lost one of my best friends today," he said.

That day, when Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) bounded onto the floor for a vote, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) played a trick on Schumer and told him of the dog's passing, encouraging the New Yorker to pay his respects as a way to suck up to the Appropriations chairman. Schumer inquired what the dog's name was.

"Fido," Kennedy replied, hiding the laughter as Schumer bounded across the chamber to offer his condolences.

At the last second Schumer realized something was amiss and barked at Kennedy for trying to embarrass him in front of Byrd.

While Billy, a Maltese, was irreplaceable, Byrd soon got a new Shih Tzu, named Trouble. And trouble is what Vick received in the tongue lashing from Byrd delivered today.

"The Book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible, the King James Bible, tells us a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel," Byrd said. "The immortal Dante tells us the divine justice reserves special places in Hell for certain categories of sinners. Madam president, I am confident -- madam president, I am confident that the hottest places in Hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt! I yield the floor."

By Paul Kane | July 19, 2007; 7:40 PM ET | Category: Senate
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CommentsPlease email us to report offensive comments.

I have to say, animal cruelty is wrong, and I love my animals - if someone were to hurt one of them, I'd be angry.

However, to read about a senator speaking out about this issue, when there are children being molested, and/or worse, while their perpetrators get off with very little jail time? Where are the politicians speaking out about THAT?

This attitude of "our" politicians just boggles the mind.

Posted by: Lana | July 19, 2007 08:58 PM

It is soo funny that this "former" Grand Dragon is speaking about animal cruelty. I wonder how cruel it was when they sicked the dogs on civil rights workers in the 60's. Who were the "animals" then....

Posted by: | July 19, 2007 10:15 PM

Lana, brutality toward animals can be a sign of the potential to abuse humans. Molesters of children often start out (get their first practice) by being cruel to animals.

Posted by: catlady | July 19, 2007 10:18 PM

Byrd was never a Grand Dragon or any such thing. He foolishly followed his stepfather into the Klan briefly in his youth, not in the 1960s, he quit, and ever since he's denounced the Klan vigorously.

Posted by: To 10:15 | July 19, 2007 10:22 PM

NFL, Throw the Book at Michael Vick
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?qp_source=gaba66&gclid=CJjn2%2duMtY0CFSBMGgodbk299g

Now that a federal grand jury has indicted star NFL quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting, the NFL must stop hedging and impose a suitable penalty. Three months ago, suspicions of dogfighting on Vick's property in Virginia came to light along with chilling descriptions of the fighters hanging, electrocuting, shooting and slamming to death dogs who didn't "perform" as desired.

TAKE ACTION
Ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend Michael Vick from the NFL immediately. Anything less would be an outrage.

Posted by: Take action | July 19, 2007 10:39 PM

Byrd was most certainly a higher-up member of the KKK and was at one time responsible for recruiting. The fact that democrats can let this excuse for a human stand among their ranks destroys any creibibilty they would hope for. Byrd has his own special place in hell waiting for him.

Posted by: Hally | July 19, 2007 11:35 PM

I thought the question was about Vick not Byrd. How can anyone justify Vicks actions. My stomach turns at the thought of cruelty towards any living thing.

Posted by: bolero | July 20, 2007 12:34 AM

Vick is NOT a graduate of VT. He attended Tech, but left early for the NFL.

And he deserves to rot away in a prison cell for this.

Posted by: Proud Hokie | July 20, 2007 06:56 AM

Vick is NOT a graduate of VT. He left early for the NFL.

And I hope he never again sees the outside of a prison cell.

Posted by: Hokie Proud | July 20, 2007 06:58 AM

Vick is NOT a VT graduate. He left early for the NFL.

And this proud VT graduate hopes he rots in a jail cell for this.

Posted by: oilhistorian | July 20, 2007 06:59 AM

It is an old lie that the members of the nation's racist party, the GOP, try to paint Robert Byrd as an unreconstructed racist. True enough, Byrd belonged to the KKK and became a local leader - in 1943! He left after about two years. He remained a segregationist, but renounced that position in the 1960s. Since then, he has been a stalwart supporter of civil rights.

One wishes Republicans were not half as racist as they are. Then they would only be ten times as racist as Robert Byrd.

Posted by: John | July 20, 2007 08:43 AM

As reprehensible as dog fighting is, I think the Senate, including Senator Byrd, whom I admire, has more important things to be speaking on and considering. Also in this country indictment does not equal guilt. The press and his employers should not convict Michael Vick before and only if the court system does.

Posted by: Richard | July 20, 2007 09:31 AM

Unlike Mr. Vick, Paul Kane is a well-known lover of dogs and all things living.

Posted by: Jerome from Southeast | July 20, 2007 10:16 AM

Yes, I absolutely condemn anyone to speak on any injustice when it is not among what I consider to be the top injustices. How silly.
Sen Byrd has spoken often and at length on topics most of us would probably consider most important.
He has more sense than most of the Senate combined (which I realize is a pretty modest claim).

Posted by: steve | July 20, 2007 10:18 AM

I can only wait with baited breath to hear how Al Sharpton is going to come to the rescue of another Black Victim of the Streets. I can only laugh at te attacks on Sen. Byrd only because in actuality, Blacks are still suffering at their own hands at a depth and rate that a racist can only dream of. Lets see some genuine accounability from the Black Community.

Posted by: jjh0159 | July 20, 2007 10:33 AM

Let's be real here. The legal system has been trying to get to Michael Vick for years. I will admit that he's making it extremely easy for his accusers, however we must remember that he has only been accused. He has not been proved to be guilty. If you were accused of something you would want a fair trial. You would sue if you were fired from your job before you were convicted. And you most certainly wouldn't want a US senator expressing his hate for you on the floor of the US senate before you've even heard everything you've been accused of! I don't understand how someone like Robert Byrd could have the audacity to damn someone else to hell. With his affiliations I'm sure Byrd will be there long before Michael Vick. Whether he was in the KKK for 2 years or 2 minutes, what they stand for is far worse than anything MV has EVER been accused of.
Let's let the courts try MV.

Posted by: Natasha | July 20, 2007 10:34 AM

The Senator's comments are ridiculous sentimentality. Those equating animal cruelty as some particular form of evil (when this nation permits the slaughter of unborn) is morally infantile.

Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2007 10:36 AM

What a pathetic group of postings! The issue is not the outrage of an ancient politician, or the legality of the acts performed by a doo-rag. The issue is that an adult would participate in acts of cruelty for sport and profit. How do you reconcile that with the responsibility placed on you by your Maker in any translation of the Book of Genesis? You have "dominion" Christian, or do you have no self respect?

Posted by: rcrtr | July 20, 2007 10:58 AM

Dog fights are not as barbaric as human fights, because the dogs have to be trained by humans to do it. As the United States spends billions of taxpayer dollars to promote human fighting around the world, and Congress passively allows it to happen, I have to wonder if the Senator's attacks are misdirected. Perhaps he should look in the mirror.

Posted by: Katharine | July 20, 2007 11:04 AM

Michael Vick is not a graduate of VT. He attended the school for 2 years then left for the NFL. He is not an alumni and is not considered to be a Hokie.

Posted by: Hokie323 | July 20, 2007 11:05 AM

Michael Vick is a disgrace to VT, the state of Virginia, and the human race. GO TO JAIL AND STAY......

Posted by: Hokie323 | July 20, 2007 11:07 AM

I find Robert C. Byrd fascinating. He is constantly making incredibly unique speeches on the Senate floor. They usually occur in a period of morning business where each senator is given the opportunity to speak on any topic after being recognized. Keeping up with the Senate can be a lot more entertaining than we have been led to believe, and it requires little effort. One can simply flip on C-SPAN any time the body is in session, or visit a political blog like:

http://senatus.wordpress.com

where the action is condensed. Either way, it makes for an enlightening, entertaining afternoon at the office.

Posted by: Publius | July 20, 2007 11:17 AM

To all of you who are aruging what school he went to and what a racist the Senator is need to think about the bottom line. Dogs are an essential part of the human life. They are companions and healers for all. Why do you think they are used for therapuetic reasons? They are used by police to find missing persons, drugs, they help the blind and the handicapped. To think that someone could treat a dog with such cruelty churns my stomach. The Humane Society has taken all of his dogs and already have come to teh conclusion as to what happened and this will be brought to court to show what a scum bag Vick and his partners are. The Senator was outraged because the Humane Socitey has brought evidence to the public on what had happened. So to say that he is judging without Vick having a trial is stupid! We alerady have facts and they will come out with more facts. Kicking Vick and the others out of the NFL will show that animal cruelty is not tolerated. Someone without empathy to an animal, especially a dog must have some psychological problems.

Posted by: Michelle | July 20, 2007 11:26 AM

Thank You Senator Byrd. The country needs to have such a loud powerful voice against this horrendous abuse of animals. Those folks who are not supportive of Sen. Byrd views are just not animals lovers. If humans fight - they choose to do so. Animals do not have a choice. If a dog happens to have cruel human masters who violate them in any manner the dog cannot just walk away. I coexist with 3 beautiful dogs who light up my life. I shudder at the thought of any harm to them. And yes if you have folks harming animals, they have no problems harming humans. We need more folks to speak against animal cruelty. I also support battered women & children issues. Violence in all forms must stop.

Posted by: MAlmendarez | July 20, 2007 11:31 AM

This from a KLANSMEN

Posted by: | July 20, 2007 11:36 AM

This from a KLANSMEN

Posted by: | July 20, 2007 11:36 AM

THERE IS NOT MUCH I AGREE WITH SEN BYRD ABOUT BUT I MUST SAY HE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH VICK IT IS A SICK MIND INDEED THAT COULD DERIVE PLEASURE FROM A TORTURED ANIMAL YES THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE SENATE BUT I AM SURE THEY CAN HANDLE MORE THAN ONE ITEM AT A TIME BOUYAAH TO BYRD

Posted by: JNB1263 | July 20, 2007 11:39 AM

For crying out loud! I'm so sick of hearing "we've got better things to think about!" This is always and eternally true ... for someone. What, are we going to wait to do anything about anything until we can all come to some global agreement about what constitutes a problem and in what order we're going to address them? Yah. There's a recipe for doing nothing.

And Bill ... if you think dogfighting is not morally reprehensible, I urge you to take your kids to one. Put your money where your uninformed mouth is.

Posted by: KPage | July 20, 2007 11:42 AM

I must say I am baffled by all of this talk about Sen. Byrd having been in the KKK... the statement about where is congress on child molester's, etc... This is about animal cruelty, about the possible (and after reading the indictment, I must say PROBABLE) guilt of Michael Vick. THAT is the situation at hand. I am moved by the fact that this Senator had such a reaction. It's about time that something is done about this terrible, underground "sport"!!! It is my personal belief that not only do molesters & rapists too often receive too light of sentences, but that those who are guilty of animal cruelty do as well. If someone can do this to an animal, INNOCENT animals, then who knows what they are capable of doing to humans!!! In my opinion, it shows a complete lack of morality and disrespect for life!!! Personally, I am TIRED of hearing this Vick is innocent til proven guilty crap... yes, that is how our society works and I am not disagreeing with that. However, if you take a look at the evidence... how could you not believe that he is guilty?! To own a home that you have only been to a "few times" and had no idea t