Progress Illinois

1. Gov. Ryan has not admitted to his crimes. He admitted to “failings.” We make every other criminal admit to their crimes before they’re paroled, so why should he be different?

2. As both the Trib and Sun-Times pointed out, his crimes caused the deaths of nine people. Additionally, the rampant corruption in the state led to a failure of public trust in our elected officials that should not be taken lightly. Throughout my time campaigning in the last several elections, innumberable people said that they “don’t trust politicians,” or “they’re all the same,” or “they’re just in it for themselves and the money.” That’s exactly what Gov. Ryan proved here to people like that. There's a reason that almost half of the population doesn't vote and doesn't engage in politics.

3. Punishments should serve to deter others from repeating crimes as well. When we let politicians off lightly or release them after serving one year, others think it’s worth the risk. They continue hiding money in their freezers or more insidious systemic crimes.

4. I am sorry for Lura Lynn Ryan's health, and understand that this is part of Sen.Durbin's request, but the public good in this case should outweigh the private need. Setting Gov. Ryan free early sends the message that people with influential friends will always be treated differently.

As a citizen vehemently opposed to capital punishment, I appreciated the dramatic actions that Gov. Ryan took in 2003. This doesn’t clear him of crimes he had already committed. He's at a minimum security prison, and like any criminal, should have lots of time to be shrouded in regret. Ask anyone, in any prison, if they have shamed their families or would do things differently--this isn't criteria for release. Sen. Durbin refers to Gov. Ryan's loss of pension benefits as if it's punishment enough. The Ryans have other means of income and will their economic insecurity while our nation is in recession is not a priority for me.

Count me among those dissatisfied with Ryan's statements of contrition that don't acknowledge criminal wrongdoing.

I don't take pleasure in Ryan's suffering, but his corruption hurt real people, some more directly than others. His corruption undermined confidence in government as an institution to make a difference in people's lives.

If Ryan or his wife get really sick, Obama can commute the sentence at that point. There's no requirement pardons only be issued during lame duck presidencies.

BTW, if we're feeling all charitable about commuting sentences, what about commuting sentences for some of those inmates who are 50+ years old serving long sentences b/c of mandatory sentencing laws, especially "three strikes" laws?

I guess I just don't care if a corrupt old man rots in jail or not. I can understand Senator Durbin's compassion towards Lura Lynn Ryan. I think the Senator feels like he's doing the right thing.

There's an argument to be made that there are plenty of criminals in jail who would also like a pardon and they won't get it because they aren't as high profile as George Ryan. Again, I guess I just don't care.

As Governor in 2002, George Ryan helped avert a hotel workers strike that would have crippled Chicago. Hotel workers won an immediate raise from $8.83 to $10 an hour (and now make $14.25), as well as massive improvements in health care & pension benefits, and better working conditions. He also shamed the hotel owners into giving workers a holiday on the day they become a U.S. Citizen. Without Governor Ryan's help, we might have won all that, but the cost to the City and State would have been much much higher...

The facts are irrefutable. George Ryan committed serious crimes...so serious in fact that had he been sentenced to the full extent possible, his sentence would have been nearly 100 years.

It is also irrefutable that George Ryan did some good in public life that creates mitigating circumstances. His leadership on behalf of death row inmates is most often mentioned.

Ryan's attorney had the opportunity to present ALL of the mitigating factors during the sentencing period of his trial. Those factors have been weighed by the justice system against his corrosive and sometimes tragic crimes.

Now, justice demands full restitution. And I don't think that anyone can suggest that restitution has been reached after barely more than a year has been served, nor has Ryan offered contrition through his public statements...which sound to me like the only thing he's sorry about is that he got caught.

Moreover, releasing Ryan BEFORE Scott Fawell -- who plead guilty and cooperated with federal investigators, providing key testimony -- could very well undermine every future public corruption case in Illinois.

Keep him in jail. It is a shame that a state as significant as Illinois has such small minded and corrupt state government. Our current Gov. is as dim and crooked as the last one. With any luck we could see them as cell mates.

First a question: Lars, what's going on at the Congress? They are still picketing there and have been for years now.

Now, to Ryan: I am of the mind that the reason we got Iraq is because we never did anything about Iran-Contra. Instead of a lesson of what not to do, it became the example to follow. I don’t' think we need to set any similar examples and I am bipartisan on this one issue having little sympathy for anyone from any party who betrays the public trust while in office.

As for compassion, I'm not clear on why someone as privileged as Ryan deserves more compassion than the average incarcerated person. He clearly didn't need to do what he did to eat, cloth or shelter himself or his family. He wasn't undereducated, under privileged or desperate. He was arrogant. I'd imagine there are parents, spouses, siblings in prison who could do some good for their families at home and we're not discussing them here and in the mainstream media. I feel more compassion for those who got caught up in over-politicized mandatory minimums than some sophisticated politician with a team of lawyers who was on the take for campaign donations.

Senator Durbin is wasting his time on convicted criminals. When asked to help a constituent with a long term, easily solvable problem, Mr. Buckner on his staff did his best to do nothing after seven months of waiting. The act Durbin's office was asked to help with was not criminal, but the person was a Hispanic, maybe that shows where Durbin's real sentiments are.

Ellen,

Our feature article back in June on the Congress Hotel strike offers an update on the state of that dispute:

http://progressillinois.com/2008/06/11/features/walk-the-line

Did Lars really just suggest that Ryan should be released because he helped broker a deal between a union and a corporation? Is that a joke? He once successfully performed one of his myriad jobs as governor, so he should be exonerated for actual crimes that resulted in nine deaths? This line of argument is too absurd to warrant a serious reply.

In truth, this question isn't even close. Ryan committed horrible crimes; he hasn't shown sufficient remorse; his term is already way too short compared to the damage he did; and this state, perhaps more than any other, suffers from a lack of ethics in government. There is simply no merit to this question even arising, and Dick Durbin should be ashamed of himself.

I cannot believe that Senator Durbin is wasting his time on this. It lowers my opinion of him as an elected official.

Governor Ryan is a convicted criminal who's illegal actions caused the deaths of 9 innocent children; under no circumstances should he be given preferential treatment, and Governor Blagojevich should be convicted and put in the cell right next to him for all of his apparent wrong doings.

A thousand good deeds would never justify commuting the prison sentence of a man that caused the death of even one person, directly or indirectly. Public Administration is about being human, making mistakes, and the public trust continually benefits.

George Ryan has no clue what any of that means.
Deaths of human lives resulted.
Now he wants a commuted sentence because he did nothing wrong.

Only in his mind.

Q: If someone other than an influential politician was requesting a commuted sentence, what would the response be?
A: No

After 30 years, clemency for a genuinely innocent man, Leonard Peltier, has yet to happen.

Ryan can stay right where he is. It is where he belongs.

ALISON, MPA
http://philosopheforum.blogspot.com/
"Responsible Leadership Serving the Public Trust"

If black and brown men who have been sent to Tamms maximum security, solitary confinement prison - without viable reason to their knowledge and no filing according to IDOC - can't be released to attend their mother or grandmother's funeral, then former Governor Ryan should not be let out to visit his ailing wife.

Let the same crooks who financed Ryan's lifestyle take care of his family. I also agree with Yellow Dog Democrat, releasing Ryan before Fawell gets out not only sends an awful message it could cripple future investigations.

Elected officials who betray the public trust are the worst kind of law breakers. We expect the desperate, drug addicted and/or career criminals to do what they do. Politicians have no excuse. If Ryan wanted to live the life of a multimillionaire he should have retired from public life and put his considerable talents to use in the private sector.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am in Dick Durbin for proposing this. Couple it with the eight minute standing ovation Ted Stevens received in the senate for his last speech, a man convicted on seven felony counts, and you have a peek inside an institution whose members evidently value the exalted status of their club and their friendships more than the public good.

Someone above mentioned Iran/Contra. I say it goes back to Ford's pardon of Nixon. Rumsfeld was Ford's chief of staff and when he moved over to be the youngest Secretary of Defense in history Cheney got the job. You can see the lessons they learned from Nixon's downfall. Seize as much power as possible, never admit a mistake, never give an inch and above all keep virtually everything you do cloaked in national security secrecy.

Ryan should serve his full term. He's already cost the US taxpayer enough for his trial and the people of Illinois in lives, reputation, cash. Not to mention the electoral prospects of his party. I don't care if he expresses remorse. The greater good says he stays in prison. And DIck Durbin ought to get back to work in the US senate instead of shilling for this convicted felon.

I'm with Bridget. I feel worse for someone who sold crack in the 80s that is sitting in jail than someone who betrayed the public trust in committing white collar crimes. I do feel bad for his family, but, he knew that his 'failings' would have consequences.

If he doesn't admit to what he did, it's hard to pardon him for it.

Frankly, what impressed me the most was his amnesty for everyone on death row. I think that should be taken into consideration.

Keep him in jail. These people who have violated the law and the public trust deserve more punishment than the average citizen. Why does a state with such a prominent position nationally have such low brow leaders? If the population and media think GW Bush is a moron why are they not commenting the bozos that have run Illinois?

I do not believe that he should be let out. He has done damage to peoples lives without remorse. He hasn't claimed any responsability for his actions. I'm sorry his wife is ill but when regular people kill others they are givin the death sentence. He got 6 1/2 yrs. We as tax payers will have to deal with the fact that there are people on the roads that shouldn't be there because his people took money and gave them a licence when they shouldn't have one. And most of them are driving trucks that can kill alot of other innocent people. Should he get special treatment when others don't If Vets shouldn't get special treatment than neither should Ryan. He said in one of his interviews that Vets in this State get to many benefits and shouldn't. So I don't think politicians should be above everyone else. I feel our vets Deserve alot more than they are getting.