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* Former Gov. George Ryan spoke recently to Waukegan Township’s Coalition to Reduce Recidivism…
Ryan was given standing ovations at both the start and end of his speech, during which he focused primarily on his transformation from a death-penalty advocate to an opponent who first imposed a moratorium on executions and then commuted all capital punishment sentences in the state before the end of his term. […]
“I want to make this very clear: Gov. Ryan, we miss you,” [State Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat] said, drawing applause. “(Ryan) knew how to get something done that would affect every person in this room and every person in the state of Illinois in a positive manner, and that’s what we lack in Springfield today.”
At one point, Ryan showed that he hadn’t lost the politician’s touch for engaging an audience when he remarked on an introduction that detailed his entire career.
“Thank you for that wonderful introduction,” he said. “You know more about me than the FBI.”
* Ryan’s hometown paper effused praise…
Now, there are those who will have no use for Ryan’s remarks, and their opposition is based on one of two factors, if not both.
Some will dismiss them because they believe anyone who commits a crime serious enough to draw a felony conviction should carry that label forever. And there are millions of ardent death penalty supporters out there, those who believe the punishment fits the crime.
Others will oppose Ryan’s beliefs because he is a convicted criminal himself, and as such, his message doesn’t carry as much weight as it would otherwise.
But, remember this. He served his debt to society, and amid the actions that got him sent to jail, he accomplished much to help this state. […]
Ultimately, those efforts [to reduce recidivism, abolish the death penalty, etc.] might get something done, which is more than you can say for what is happening in the state’s current political climate.
* A good friend of mine and I drove to Kankakee this summer to have lunch with the former governor. It was off the record, but I can tell you that he remembered almost everything negative I ever wrote about him. Even so, we talked for four hours.
I’ve always been torn about George Ryan, and vice versa. I was born in Kankakee. My family used his pharmacy on Court Street. I never knew him growing up, but my grandfather and his Kankakee mayor brother were pals (although I never knew Tom either). Because I was a K3 guy, George always treated me well. At the same time, because I was a K3 guy, I was supposed to be on “the team,” which I never was, and that irritated him to no end because I whacked him but good on many an occasion.
* But, it is undeniably true that he was the last governor who could actually get big things done on a consistent basis. Rod Blagojevich passed some major bills and so did Pat Quinn, as has our current governor (check out the amazing progress this year on criminal justice reform if you doubt me). But none of them had or has the deft touch of George Ryan. Part of that was because the Republicans controlled the Senate at the time (although Pate Philip and Ryan had many a go-around), but a lot of it was because he was a former House Speaker and knew how to pull the levers and the strings. His successors have had trouble even finding those levers and strings.
I remember sitting in Blagojevich’s office one day and he asked me what I thought of a major bill of his that was stuck in limbo. His chief Senate sponsor was a disaster and the bill was going down hard. I told him his only hope was to call President Bush and ask him to pardon George Ryan and then put him on the payroll because he was the only man on Earth who could pass that turkey.
* Yeah, he made some mistakes, both criminally and governmentally. But, man, could he ever get stuff done. And even if you disagree with what he did accomplish, you have to admit that he was a success in at least that regard.
I’ve often said over the years that if we could just elect a governor who was both competent and not in danger of going to prison this state could do great things.
I somehow managed to convince myself toward the end of last year’s campaign that Bruce Rauner could be that guy - that he had the skill set to be almost as good at governing as Ryan without the legal, um, downsides.
Instead, I’m still waiting.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:44 am
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Interesting that he is held in higher regard now than he was just after he left office. As you eluded to in your piece I believe that has as much to do with the current Governor (as well as his two immediate predecessors) as it does with Governor Ryan. Although I disagree in large part with his death penalty moratorium, it is obvious that major reform was / is necessary going forward.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:50 am
Probably the most pompous man I have ever met. Spending absolutely exploded during his tenure. Did he get “things” done? Oh without a doubt. Did he get good things done? A few. Compared to what came after him and what’s there now, would I prefer George Ryan in the governor’s mansion? 100%. Who knew Illinois would elect such horrible governors after him?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:52 am
I miss George Ryan Big Time. He did many good things for us - and would have done more.
Comment by tweedle Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:54 am
My reform governor should start with pardoning all nonviolent felonies so they can get a job and grow Illinois
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:55 am
I would respect him more if he would take responsibility for what he did.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:56 am
I hope you’ll answer this Rich. I’d like to hear more about why you thought Bruce Rauner could “be that guy”? What was it that gave you hope? I would like to know because I will readily admit that my views of BVR are decidedly negative. I don’t like being there. I’d like to start to form a basis for respect, even if only adversarial respect. Just like I now know more about Ryan that I didn’t. Thank you
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:02 am
Is it really rethinking George Ryan to try to ignore the decades of corruption that lead to his and the conviction of dozens of his colleagues?
He had some great accomplishments, sure. But aren’t we already permissive enough towards corruption in this state?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:03 am
So sad. George was there precisely at the time when the feds were changing enforcement of the rules, and he had precisely the wrong people gathered close to him to get him through that transition. Now everyone who runs has to “despise the system” to get elected, when it is skill at manipulating the system that famously made Illinois great and could make it that way again. I want to believe that after this nasty jousting we can get back to business.
Comment by chad Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:04 am
Sometimes people that compromise and get things done compromise themselves as well. It is easy to judge until you are in that situation. We all have faults, we just need a leader with minimal faults.
Comment by pool boy Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:08 am
He is a political animal through and through - for good and for bad.
The “times changed, he didn’t” line is such a cliche, and so not a defense - we don’t overlook people who have failed to adapt to post-60s racial attitudes in America, say - but it is also of course true in his case.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:08 am
== George was there precisely at the time when the feds were changing enforcement of the rules … ==
Whether you agree with what happened before or not, that is the perfect summary of the end of Ryan’s career.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:10 am
I’d stop waiting if I were you Rich, and I certainly hope you’re not holding your breath, because your end-campaign assessment of Rauner couldn’t have been more wrong. The guy is a zealot and a plutocrat to boot who doesn’t give a d*mn how many people get hurt as long as he gets what he wants.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:11 am
I suspect you will be waiting for a long, long time.
Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:12 am
He was a product of an earlier political system that was too old and too entrenched in it to be able to change to keep himself out of trouble. Not an excuse: A fact. As for governor’s, the state blew it when it had the chance to elect Jim Ryan. Period.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:12 am
Great recap on Gov Ryan. I’ve always believed he really cared about state govt, state employees, and services to regular people. He surrounded himself with like-minded staff too who also had a respect for the office and knew how to GOVERN — such as Schnorf, Sullivan, Wright, Urbanek, Perdue, Woodward, Hovanek, etc.
Comment by Just Saying .... Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:13 am
@ Anon 9:12 AM
*** A fact. As for governor’s, the state blew it when it had the chance to elect Jim Ryan. Period.***
I thought you were going to say Glenn Poshard.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:15 am
===As for governor’s, the state blew it when it had the chance to elect Jim Ryan. Period.===
I’d say the same about Dawn Clark Netsch.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:17 am
Without Ryan there would (probably) have been no Blago, either the first time or the second time (when he used the infamous “polka” video of JBT to paint her as corrupt); without Blago, there would not have been Quinn; and without Quinn, there (probably) would not have been Rauner.
Say what you will about Ryan’s ability to “get things done,” you might want to contemplate how different IL would be today had Glenn Poshard been elected governor in 1998.
Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:17 am
During his campaign for Governor in 1998, George Ryan issued a series of white papers on key issues facing the state at the time. He was very transparent about what he intended to do if elected. As a result, voters had a very good understanding of what a Ryan Administration would be like. Contrast that to our current Governor who speaks in generalities and platitudes and fails to explain with facts and specifics how the elements of his Turnaround Agenda will benefit the people of Illinois — all the people of Illinois.
Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:19 am
===you might want to contemplate how different IL would be today had Glenn Poshard been elected governor in 1998. ===
I wrote a Sun-Times column about that very thing.
Reality is, however, that Ryan was elected. No such thing as a time machine.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:22 am
It took real guts to (effectively) end the death penalty in Illinois. I admire the man for that, whatever other faults folks might find.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:23 am
== I somehow managed to convince myself toward the end of last year’s campaign that Bruce Rauner could be that guy … ==
Early in the primary I thought Rauner might not be too bad. But after listening to several tailored versions of his stump speech, I decided he was just another politician who would say anything to get elected and didn’t really mean it.
I was partly right and partly wrong. He DID mean all the anti-union stuff he said early on. He also DID mean running the State like a business, except where we thought it would be financial skills and process improvement, he meant bust-out and bankruptcy.
Right now the state needs a competent politician, not a dictator …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:24 am
Certainly a good lesson for our kids - “But, man, could he ever get stuff done.”. Yes, he eliminated unemployment and built the Autobahn. Oh, wait that was the other great facilitator.
Comment by Weltschmerz Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:26 am
Like him or not, George is a public servant at heart.
Like him or not, Bruce is not a public servant at heart.
That shouldn’t be construed to suggest one would be more fun to have a beer with than the other.
Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:26 am
Steven B. Small was buried alive and either suffocated or died of a heart attack. His murderer was convicted and sentenced to death. His was one of many Ryan commuted based on principal. Governor Ryan showed amazing courage and fortitude, Steven Small was his babysitter and lived next door. The Governor new him as a little boy. George Ryan was and is a profile in courage.
Comment by Ottawa Otter Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:33 am
He accomplished more during his damaged single term in office than the guys we’ve had since. Yet there was always something about him that kept me from trusting him way before his gubernatorial election. I wanted to like him, but he never won me over even after personally meeting him a few times. He seemed big, powerful and arrogant and I couldn’t escape my gut feeling that he didn’t think of himself as a public servant, but as a dealer. I never saw him in the moment.
Then there was his staff and I didn’t like the ones I met. Creeps.
Then when the scandal cost him his job, reputation, freedom and family, it was a very high price to pay. Now, I feel obliged to reconsider his abilities.
The governors we have had since George Ryan have been pathetic. Blagojevich and Rauner are far more alike personally, than they are different, yet Blagojevich was far more charismatic and likeable than Bruce. I never warmed up to Pat Quinn. He is odd.
So Old George, (I always called him that), is a retired player who could cut deals like no one since. Yet this new attraction is a default response because the guys since have sucked so badly.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:35 am
sorry, wrote too fast and somewhat emotionally, correct to “principle” and “knew”
Comment by Ottawa Otter Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:36 am
The first time I attended a post-session buffet party at the Mansion it was mud-evening. Probably 80% of the people in the statehouse when gavel went down–legislators, staff, lobbyists, mokes like me–were milling about the driveway eating beans and coleslaw and hot dogs. I will never forget Ryan standing the doorway of one of the garages, beer in hand, and talking to whomever came up to him. Whatever his mistakes and faults, I felt he was genuinely human. It is still a fond memory.
Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:37 am
“It took real guts to (effectively) end the death penalty in Illinois. I admire the man for that”
I agree with his ending the death penalty but I do NOT admire the way Ryan went about it.
Not only did he empty death row by executive fiat on one of his last days in office (when he could no longer suffer any political consequences from his decision), he put the families of the death row murder victims through the grind of the death penalty hearings beforehand (yes, I know that local prosecutors wanted those hearings but still, couldn’t he have said no?), holding out to them a false hope that they might change his mind, and putting them through all that agony for nothing.
I realize he didn’t change his mind all at once, but still, I can’t help but suspect his mind was made up long before he actually made the clemency decision, and that the process was needlessly prolonged.
Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:37 am
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d83451b4ba69e20148c6f48283970c-pi
Comment by sparky791 Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:38 am
There were direct signs that the Feds were ramping-up over a number of years — big and little things. Bill Scott, enforcement of political party postal permit use, the mishandled MSI prosecution and Tristano. MSI in particular was a near-miss for a lot of people, and was probably the biggest “message” to those engaging in loose practices that things were indeed changing. The Feds clearly got their act together and went after others similarly-positioned. The violations George went down on were not violations of subtly-interpreted rules. This was mostly obvious stuff that could have and should have been prevented by those who were charged to protect him in the new enforcement environment. Instead, those folks committed political malpractice, and are partly responsible for our “new era”. I’m not in a position to judge anyone, but the change was clear and obvious.
Comment by chad Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:38 am
Kudos to Gov. Ryan for putting the brakes on the death penalty, when there were innocent people on death row. I used to support the death penalty, but because of wrongful convictions I no longer support it.
I was once arrested for something I didn’t do. The cops threatened to charge me with a felony but wound up charging me with a misdemeanor. I had absolutely nothing to do with the alleged crime. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was a sham charge, and no one showed up in court, so it got tossed. Even though it was a misdemeanor, it was one of the scariest experiences of my life. I can’t imagine the fear and pain of being convicted of a capital crime that I didn’t do, and spending years in prison for it while awaiting execution.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:39 am
An interesting “Ends justify the means/Boys will be boys” argument. The same might be made about Richard Nixon.
Competency and honesty seem to be a rare combination in government leaders, especially in Illinois. It seems like you get one without the other.
I have to wonder how bad the current governor will let things get before he starts talking to the other side. Mike Madigan is not going away any time soon, so Rauner needs to face that truth and work with him.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:41 am
Unless this has changed since the article was written, then I have no respect for former Governor Ryan. He may have a heavy heart, but actions speak louder than press clippings.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Willis-children-accident-George-Ryan-Illinois-governor-prison-release-266051151.html
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:43 am
How do I feel about Ryan? I wrote his name in for governor rather than the vote for either of the two choices on the ballot!
Comment by Geneseo Gent Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:48 am
Len Small and George Ryan were both from Kankakee. Is there something in the water out there?
Comment by After Further Review Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:52 am
Forgive the past? Yes, and I do believe he is sorry for his mistakes and the pain to others they caused.
Elevate to respected statesman? No - that was lost forever through the choices he made.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:52 am
> ut none of them had or has the deft touch of George Ryan
None of them were in office at a time when Illinois’ credit rating was as high as it was when Ryan was in office.
It is really easy to be a great politician in Illinois during boom times when the checkbook is flush, ESPECIALLY if you are borrowing money future administrations must pay back, and skipping out on current obligations.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:56 am
It was so fun being a small part of Illinois FIRST. I loved being along for the ride of getting communities money for bridges and infrastructure. It was probably paid for with money that rightfully should have gone to pensions though.
Comment by Rayne of Terror Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:58 am
===really easy to be a great politician in Illinois during boom times===
Um, you must’ve missed the post Sept. 11th recession.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:04 am
He is a very nice man who really messed up.
Comment by chiatty Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:06 am
Per Team Sleep, the late Steve Neal wrote in the Sun-Times on 5 April 2002 (no free link available) that the SOS commercial drivers’ license debacle was “the worst scandal in Ill_ history because there are human casualties” including at least 9 deaths. “There is blood on the highways” …
Comment by The Historian Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:15 am
== Um, you must’ve missed the post Sept. 11th recession. ==
LOL! Just borrow more!
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:17 am
Legislators from both sides of the aisle praised Ryan as knowing how to work effectively with the Legislature. No personal experience with him.
Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:18 am
When I think of George Ryan, I think of redemption.
Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:22 am
I forgot Ryan was a Republican.
Comment by Bob the Slob with a Cushy State Job Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:35 am
Ryan succeeded in moving the Hillside Strangler one mile east. Although I wouldn’t call that a success.
Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:36 am
I prefer not to rethink George Ryan, but I agree he was a masterful dealer who got things done.
He was “old school” are didn’t adapt. He was personally responsible for the horrible Willis tragedy, but he tolerated and benefited from the environment from which it sprang. And yet, he still refuses to acknowledge it.
I applaud him for helping to end the death penalty in Illinois, but even then I think he was trying to make a deal. I don’t think he would have done it if he didn’t believe there was something in it for him. But that’s just my opinion.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:37 am
Horrible typos this morning: He was NOT responsible for the Willis tragedy. Sorry.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:39 am
By the end of last year’s campaign, I was convinced that Rauner just wanted the gig as a rich man’s trophy, and he really had no agenda at all.
I was way wrong. The trophy is union-busting. That’s all he wants out of the gig. And he has shown a willingness to destroy in order to get it.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:48 am
To 47th Ward’s point, I think there were dueling Sunday newspaper headlines when Ryan announced his death penalty decision with the Tribune carrying that news and the Sun-Times having the headline to the effect of “Ryan Knew of Probe” regarding the internal SOS investigation of the Willis tragedy. As is the case with almost all things in politics, Ryan’s death penalty decision was not made in a vacuum.
Comment by Betsy Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 10:49 am
Unless I’m mistaken, Ryan said he’d review each case of persons on death row to determine who goes and who gets life. He did no such thing. He arbitrarily and unilaterally acted in favor of the convicted murderers
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 11:01 am
===. He arbitrarily and unilaterally acted in favor of the convicted murderers ===
You could also say that he simply decided in the end that the death penalty was wrong and rife with problems and very expensive for the state.
But I doubt you would.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 11:03 am
=== I somehow managed to convince myself toward the end of last year’s campaign that Bruce Rauner could be that guy - that he had the skill set to be almost as good at governing as Ryan without the legal, um, downsides. ===
All I can tell you Rich is you are not alone. Except I think there are a lot of folks who are no longer waiting but have given up hope.
To the piece: My favorite move is not something that the governor got done, but something he made not happen. He used his amendatory veto to expand a bill to prohibit the discrimination against motorcyclists (who were being refused service in restaurants) to also prohibit discrimination under the human rights act based on perceived sexual orientation. It killed the underlying bill (as I recall the Senate sponsor refused to call it during veto), but that high profile action by a leading Republican got the ball rolling to pass the McKeon bill.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 11:12 am
I respect his stand and actions on the death penalty. We forget those who were wrongfully convicted. This approach has been followed across the country. I also say thank you to him for his stand/funding etc. of social, health and addictions services. He is also the last Gov. to have included merit comp in the cola raise the unions get with their step increases.
Comment by tweedle Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 11:21 am
As far as I am concerned there is only one good reason not to have the death penalty. And that is the person may have been wrongly convicted. And I have to admit that is a very, very good reason.
If I only had a magic truth machine to determine the guilt of someone who has take an individuals life in a premeditated manner then I would fully support their execution.
As far as Ryan- he is a disgrace. Let the PC crowd applaud him I will not.
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 11:57 am
Just saying…. I am for the death penalty. Just wondering…. What part of the pension crisis does Ryan own? Was he the giver of lifetime 3% COLA or was he the guy that doled out early retirement with lifetime health coverage?
Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 12:07 pm
To paraphrase an old computer saying: competence, honesty, electability, you get to pick two.
Comment by a drop in Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 12:24 pm
== Was he the giver of lifetime 3% COLA or was he the guy that doled out early retirement with lifetime health coverage? ==
a) 3% compounded AAI was implemented in 1989, long before Ryan.
b) Ryan signed the 2002 ERI bill that both D & R wanted passed. R’s wanted it as an escape valve for the faithful to retire and D’s wanted it to open up jobs for their expected victory. It should be noted that the ERI started out for just a select few but, to be legal (equal treatment), had to be offered to everyone, which resulted in about 11,000 retiring.
c) The (initially 8, later 20 year service requirement) retiree health insurance for life existed long before Ryan took office.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 12:42 pm
People have multiple attributes. It is usually misleading to think of them as good or bad.
My in-laws were in an ambulance broadsided by a semi. They were injured, but the attendant with them was thrown 40 feet and killed. During the civil suit for damages we learned the semi driver got his license illegally, thanks to George Ryan. I have trouble getting past that.
I understand people with an absolute moral objection to the death penalty. I don’t share that belief. John Wayne Gacy was indisputably guilty of multiple murders. Maybe it is not worth the effort to create a better system to handle outliers like him.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 12:57 pm
When Ryan came out against the death penalty, there were already strong indications of a federal investigation that could lead to his indictment. Cynical lawyers I know is think he had the jury pool in mind when he made his decision. Others think he had a genuine change of heart. Some wonder if his motivations were mixed.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 12:57 pm
RNUG-thanks. Couldn’t remember the sequence, but thought his hands weren’t clean.
Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 1:06 pm
My original comment was too subtle. These comments for the most part are disgusting. I regularly drove to Milwaukee and on the inside divider was a burned area that was there for years. Before you buiid a statue for this bum, maybe you should ask the Willises what screaming babies sound like.
Comment by Weltschmerz Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 1:10 pm
== Yeah, he made some mistakes, both criminally and governmentally. But, man, could he ever get stuff done. ==
Maybe time dulls memories. Not convinced that what happened during his SOS years gets a ‘made some mistakes’ (Willis family) pass.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Ryan grew up in a system where everyone took a little graft and it seemed to hurt no one significantly. The graft was predicated in being a dealmaker. So his greatest strength grew from his greatest weakness. George failed to see the world change around him, and he got too greedy. The fundraising and gift requirements placed on employees grew from minor political tribute to outright racketeering. You have to look at him as a man who stayed at the party too long.
Comment by Relocated Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 1:35 pm
Do not forget he signed legislation raising the plate fees from $48 to $96. Where did all that money go to???
Comment by SICK OF "RINOS" Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 2:07 pm
One of my favorite memories of George Ryan was his last speech to the Illinois General Assembly. He discussed his desire to see more tolerance for the LGBT community, and was booed by the Neanderthals from his own party. Without missing a beat he growled back, “And that is why you will lose.”
Comment by phocion Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 2:24 pm
To the Post,
Thinking about GHR, I find my self making two lists; one list of his unquestionable positives and one list his obvious negatives.
The two lists, they had the same exact points viewed in different prisms.
Cronyism to loyalty, deal maker to crooked deals, GHR was a walking duality, seen as you want to see him, shown as one wants him shown.
It’s not wrong or right, ironically, it’s just true.
When - Norseman - suggested Rauner and Madigan have Geo. Ryan mediate, I could see many merits to it. I have/had hoped Rauner would reach out to GHR, off time, off the record, use the knowledge George could pass on.
George is also the “Alpha” to the demise of the ILGOP, which ushered in Rauner, with Rauner riding the GHR, and others, poor governance and cronyism into the Mansion.
I’ve had the discussion myself; GHR was about a decade too late for his “governing”. While criminally true, the governmental and political “touch” Gov. Ryan had, that was, and is, timeless. The stories, the deals, the legislative accomplishments were grounded on the bedrock of the political “touch” of GHR.
We all have made reference to “Goodfellas” here. George Ryan, for better or worse, was “Paulie Cicero” who achieved being “Boss” when dozens of “Henry Hills” were conspiring for George, but bringing George closer and closer to his demise.
As GHR faced trial, sat in court, even awaited prison, I thought “Paulie”, I thought how George’s world was brought down by those he trusted as they all looked to game the system the best they could.
The cigar, the actual larger than life persona and stature, the voice, the language, the stare… George H. Ryan was the policeman for Illinois Graf, while running the legitimate Cab Stand and Pizza Parlor, all going on simultaneously.
GHR could be the “Nixon” touchstone to the interworkings of the Executive and Legislative branches.
It just matters what you see… and it matters how you want to show George’s worth to others.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 2:57 pm
To those who continue to push the tripe that Governor Ryan did not do individual reviews as part of the pardon/commutation/clemency process– you are wrong. Indeed, that is a complete fabrication. I was there. He did. And it was a painful, draining, time-consuming and tortuous process.
To those who disagree with his ultimate decision, that’s your own opinion. But you are not entitled to make up your own facts to support that opinion.
Thank you too Mr. Miller for your accurate rejoinder above.
Comment by Matt Bettenhausen Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 5:14 pm
Much respect to Governor Ryan, how he has managed to carry on, is a mystery to me. He has more faith, than I do.
Comment by UsedtobeGOP Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 7:27 pm
@Relocated:
Thank you for your post. I am surprised others see GHR as standing up for the little people and workers. That was not my impression.
@OW : Thank you for you post as well. There are many ways to view our former governor.
Comment by DuPage Grandma Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:11 pm
sick, if you don’t know the answer to you own question you’re outta your league posting here
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 8:46 pm
I have always thought Gov. Ryan went to prison for appointing some characterless individuals, and then standing loyally by them. Nothing I have read today changes that. Several things reinforce that.
Comment by Behind the Scenes Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:01 pm
Sorry Rich, but G Ryan took in way too much cash as Sec of State to get my benefit of the doubt. His current forgiveness tour leaves me cold.
To his credit, he ended the Thompson and Edgar practice of requiring annual donations from us non-union state employees. Mainly because he knew he was under investigation for his sleazy practices as Sec. of State.
He has suffered imprisonment and the loss of his wife, and as a human being he has my sympathy.
But as a public figure he should shut up and go away. Sorry George, but you brought it on yourself.
Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 9:36 pm
I was never asked for a campaign contribution when I worked in the Thompson administration. I wasn’t even told when the fundraisers were. I worked for Governor Edgar for some 18 years. I would be interested in know what department Dave worked in where non-union employees were “required” to make annual contributions, because I was never aware of it.. I suspect i won’t hear.
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Oct 16, 15 @ 12:24 pm