23 Comments - Norseman - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:42 pm: RIP Governor. He did do good things and cared about governing. His problem is that he was an old time pol caught up in a changing environment of low tolerance on that help me, I’ll help you tradition of old. His faults are penny-ante compared to the graduate-level grift now in vogue in the party that consumed Ryan’s. - NIU Grad - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:47 pm: I doubt we’ll ever see a career path like his again: State Rep., Speaker, Lt. Governor, SecState, and then Governor. - DuPage Saint - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:53 pm: I met him a few times he was a very likable man in my opinion. Yes he was as old school and it cost him. May he rest in peace - low level - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:09 pm: ==but he got a lot of stuff done in four years.== He really did. Everytime I ride fhe Brown Line, I remember how it was his Illinois FIRST program that redid all the stations on the northside, enabling longer trains to service those areas. Some of those stops dated to the 19th Century. He could have been one of the greats but as others have pointed out, what was consdiered acceptable changed during his time in office. He and MUM were very very much alike. Different parties but same philosophy. They started out hating each other but wound up working very closely with each other. Someone could write a book just on that alone. - Just Me 2 - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:21 pm: He was the last Governor we had that wanted to make a deal and move on to the next issue. Compromise and negotiation was a part of the process. Since then every Governor has taken a “screw you” approach to Governing. - Thad - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:26 pm: He certainly did wrong, but he did a lot that was right. I didn’t always agree with him — I am not GOP — but I did and still do respect him. He will be missed despite his many faults. RIP. - So_Ill - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:26 pm: RIP - Frida’s boss - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:30 pm: Lots of things can be said, in my mind his real legacy was ending the death penalty. After his tenure he became a national advocate and spokesperson. His mistake is what is defining him today in the headlines but I agree with an earlier statement that he really looked to negotiate deals not punish or hold grudges against those who didn’t agree with him 100%. - Did It - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:33 pm: Many who were around in those days still strongly suggest that the last time the governmental trains were running on time in Illinois was under George Ryan. Largely because of his Legislative experience and his ability to cut the deal. The above is from Democrat leaders. RIP Governor. - @misterjayem - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:46 pm: Few lives have been more tragic (in the literary sense). – MrJM - Ink-Stained Wretch - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:48 pm: ==“Justice is supposed to be blind, but the fact is most people are blind about the justice system,” Ryan said.== What about those six children who died in that unspeakable crash? Where was their justice? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:57 pm: I met Governor Ryan and his wife on Inauguration Day in 1999, I happened to be manning the door while he was waiting to be admitted to address the Chamber, so the three of us had a good ten minute chat. He was I believe a decent man and I am a pretty solid judge of character. Yes, his level of machine corruption at the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office would be considered a trifle compared to today’s White House standards. But we must also not forget that the Willis family would likely be alive today but for that corruption. No matter how seemingly trivial, we owe the public honest services in every action as public servants. That said I am sure the man I met deeply regretted the harm he caused. Yes, he was a political dinosaur at the end of an era of state patronage and cronyism, doing what others around him had done for more than 50 years in state government, but that does not bring the Willis family back. People are complicated, but I hope he rests in peace and his family and friends are blessed with good memories. - West Sider - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:57 pm: In my experience he was a good governor- the last Illinois Republican (save JBT) capable of doing the job. However I had a dear friend, who had been a loyal Republican, and who retired from a lifelong career at Il Sec of State- who couldn’t have a civil conversation regarding Ryan- because of the constant (usually golf- related) employee shake-downs they had experienced. - low level - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:02 pm: I’lll never forget the 2000 (2001?) state of the state address when he talked about same sex marriage and was booed by House Republicans. Not missing a beat, he said in reply “That’s why you’re in the minority” - Annon'in - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:07 pm: Good person. His efforts concerning the death penalty was government at its best. From this vantage point it was clear that he got screwed by his “friends”. RIP. Prayers for Homer and the rest of the family - FGFM - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:11 pm: Last Republican for whom I voted. - Bob - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:12 pm: “You guys wouldn’t believe how horrible this system is that I helped build!” - George Ryan Republicans never care about anything until it happens to them. - Amalia - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:14 pm: ending the death penalty without reviewing each case. a terrible way to administer justice. and in the midst of his own troubles. not noble. - charles in charge - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:37 pm: ==ending the death penalty without reviewing each case. a terrible way to administer justice. and in the midst of his own troubles. not noble.== Whatever. State-administered murder is not noble. Abolishing it in Illinois is a great legacy. - old guy - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:48 pm: I was proud to be appointed to a Commission while Ryan was SoS, so knew him passingly. He was a “courthouse” politician who sought to do good and did good in public service. He did not deserve the treatment given by the Feds that were making up law as they went along. His concern about the Death Penalty was admirable and should be his legacy. - City Zen - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:06 pm: I attended an Ani Difranco concert in the early 00s where she stopped the concert to thank Ryan for ending the death penalty. No mention of the other stuff though. RIP. - anon2 - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:23 pm: As Secretary of State, Ryan was also responsible for lowering the legal limit for DUI to 08%. He had to beat the alcohol industry to do so. - Cosgrove - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:23 pm: He vetoed the only anti-abortion bill that made it to his desk, directly addressing the cruelty of denying access to abortion care for low-income women. His veto was sustained. RIP. TrackBack URI Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.