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Question of the day

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Illinois

Former Gov. George Ryan will be sentenced today in federal court.

Before we get to the question, however, read this quote from Cindi Canary, the director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

“Governor Ryan, just like anyone else, isn’t a one-dimensional character,” Canary said. “I do think he accomplished a lot, and I still get a sense he doesn’t know what hit him. … I think Gov. Ryan, like most elected officials, didn’t go into office saying, ‘I’m going to rob everybody blind.’ He came from the old school. He made some very poor judgments as to how to use state resources.”

That being said, what do you think Ryan’s sentence should be?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:30 am

Comments

Ryan’s sentence should be commuted.

Aren’t you reading all the spin about how old and frail he is? And about how it was all just due to poor judgement..And by the time all the appeals are over, anyway….

Lesson I learned here: Just don’t get caught stealing until you are in your mid 60s. Then hire a PR firm to work your image.

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 6:52 am
Six kids are dead thanks to the corruption that flourished under Ryan. I wouldn’t be disappointed by a sentence that kept him in jail for the rest of his life.

Comment by David P. Graf Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 6:54 am
Make an example of him, 20 years.

Comment by Veritas Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 6:55 am
Eighteen months - suspended sentence.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:08 am
If a gang robs a bank and one of the robbers inadvertently causes the death of a bystander in the bank, are not all robbers accomplices to that “murder” ?

Is not the same true of “white collar” crime? If the criminal actions of politicians inadvertently cause the death of some innocents, those criminals are culpable in that death.

Politicians need to be held to the same standards as the other undesireables.

Comment by spintreebob Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:11 am
The justice system is so far out of whack. There are people that donâ€™t spend a day in jail for reckless homicide, or there are people that receive 3 & 4-year sentences for criminal sexual abuse to a child. Not assault, abuse. Thousands occupy cells in Illinois for petty weed violation. 20 years for this guy?

Give the old man probation; heâ€™s just going to be a burden to the prison system. Special security, monthly doctors visits; Iâ€™m sure that heâ€™s on expensive medications.

Thatâ€™s the problem, Bob. There is no set standard. Prison sentences are all over the place.

Heâ€™s been punished enough.

Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:18 am
Rich, I have a different spin on your Ryan question.

I agree with the Tribune’s John Kass, the real sentence that matters is Larry Warner’s sentence. If he gets a stiff sentence, what type of impact will this have upon the Sorich’s, Reyes’s, Degnan’s, et al of the Mayor’s world?

Is Kass way off in his perspective?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0609030247sep03,1,5302601.column?coll=chi-navrailnews-nav

Comment by Impact of Warner's sentence? Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:27 am
A day longer than Scott Fawell. He had no problem sitting back and keeping silent while Fawell took the fall for him.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:28 am
Solitary confinement with a tv on 24/7 showing only Blagojevich ads.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:30 am
Ryan should be out on appeal until Blago (or his staff)are behind bars. sshe should spend a month with Blago/staff behind bars and then be released on probation for 5 years.

Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:32 am
A great and wise philosopher once said “With great power comes great responsibility”. He violated that power and should be held to a higher standard than a non-elected official, but his age and condition should also be considered. Give him the chair! or in the middle of the sentencing guidelines.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:35 am
Judge Pallmeyer should refuse to consider Prosecutorsâ€™ claim that former Governor Ryan is responsible for the deaths of the Willis familyâ€™s six children, who died in a fire that engulfed their family van. The fire was allegedly caused by a steel taillight/mudflap assembly that broke off a truck operated by a â€œlicense for bribesâ€ driver, somehow igniting the vanâ€™s gas tank.

Comment by Platitudinus Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:37 am
Anon 7:30 -

That would be the harshest punishment of all.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:42 am
Eighteen months - suspended sentence.

agree with Hicky

Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:47 am
Perhaps all those so called “innocent” on Death row will support him. Take his pension away and that should accomplish the same as going to jail. He will have to face his neighbors every day, that kind of shame will be worse than prison. There are bigger crooks to put in jail, like the current Governor. Now there is a real criminal.

Comment by The Conservative Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:54 am
Why don’t we all gather around and sing The Old Rugged Cross! Hey, this guy knew what he was doing was wrong. He didn’t hesitate to take the money and use the power to his personal benefit. He didn’t hesitate to let Fawell take the fall. Why he was just an olâ€™ time politician. Give me a break. 20 years should send a message. And that message is “do the crime, do the time.” Illinois needs to climb out of the moral hole we have permitted ourselves to be put in by Ryan. This doesnâ€™t diminish the good he did but it lets people know that you canâ€™t do good with the one hand and expect that to be a permission slip to be do corrupt things with the other. As an olâ€™ time politician he could have helped make Illinois great. Instead he chose to line his pockets. The pattern continues with Blogo and his staff of inept cronies and hacks. WE THE PEOPLE need to stop this insanity of allowing corruption to flourish.

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:13 am
Most of the posters on this site, work in or near government, and you can see their politics in their comments. Hang Ryan, Blogo is an idiot, you get the drift. So for someone who is in the private sector I think Ryan should get the max, if not none of the egomaniacs that get elected will ever get it! There are lots of good pols, but we need to sort out the bad apples, and then send them up the river.

Comment by Dr. Yan Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:13 am
15 years in jail…and then a pardon by Rod “Gerald Ford” Blagojevich who owes his term (note the singular use of the word term) in office to George’s problems.

Comment by 4% Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:37 am
never thought i’d say i agree with both hickey and baar, but i do…18 months suspended sentence…

Comment by the other side of.. Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:38 am
I think if he got a year that would pretty much be a life-sentence….

Comment by Lovie's Leather Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:43 am
Professional courtesy and hopes for a future quid pro quo will result in a pardon from Rod Blagojevich.

Comment by Chicagograssroots Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:45 am
I’d like to balance the internal conflict I have over this issue and then come to a decision:

“George is a tired old man who has been shamed by the courts with a confession and whose legacy is forever tarnished. He should be allowed to live the remainder of his life with his wife, kids and grandchildren without his pension in Kankakee.”

versus

“He should be sentenced to six years. One for each of the deceased Willis children.”

My decision: give him leniency. He did not drive the truck that killed those kids. I bet he thinks about those kids everyday and that is sentence enough. Remember this: don’t relish someone else’s downfall too much because someday someone else will relish yours.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:47 am
I would like to balance the internal conflict I have over this issue and then come to a decision:

“George is a tired old man who has been shamed by the courts with a conviction whose legacy is forever tarnished. He should be allowed to live the remainder of his life with his wife, kids and grandchildren without his pension in Kankakee.”

versus

“He should be sentenced to six years. One for each of the deceased Willis children.”

My decision: give him leniency. He did not drive the truck that killed those kids. I bet he thinks about those kids everyday and that is sentence enough. Remember this: don’t relish someone else’s downfall too much because someday someone else will relish yours.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:50 am
I predict a 2-year sentence with time off for good behavior and an early parole. Anything less would be an insult to the justice system.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:52 am
Given that Ryan has never expressed remorse or asked for forgiveness, the book should be thrown at him. He should get the max. And instead of giving him 60 days or whatever to report to the Pokey, take him away immediately from the court room and put him in cuffs and orange jumpsuit.

Get him in the van to whichever facility. Let him pray there is no unsafe semi out there driven by a driver who got his license with a bribe during his corrupt SOS days.

That’s how you send a message to an arrogant crook.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:57 am
I agree with Gregor. Two years with time off for good behavior would be fitting. Ryan should have a taste of being behind the bars for his conviction. No more than that, because I can’t stand the thought of citizens tax dollars housing and feeding him, again!

Comment by Walking Wounded Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:04 am
Everyone loves to pull the trigger on someone they don’t like personally. Always ready to say “throw the book at him.” Judge not, lest ye be judged.” I didn’t vote for George Ryan and I don’t agree with the policies he put forth, but it makes me shiver to see people so willing to condem a man. More partisan knee-jerk reactions. I wonder how many of these posters have ever gotten a little too drunk and drove their vehicle even once in their lives. Or sped 10 miles over the limit potentially killing families driving the road. Both are deliberate acts of malice.

Comment by anon 9:10 Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:07 am
A couple of years and, more importantly, the cancellation of his luxurious state pension of, I believe, $200,000 a year. He’ll still have Social Security and I’m sure superrich Big Jim Thompson will give him a nice stipend. If not, hey, there’s always Walmart.

And Cindi Canary should be ashamed of herself.”He made some very poor judgments as to how to use state resources”????? This is the woman who is supposed to be a leading voice for political reform?

Looks like Cindi needs to be reformed out of
the ICPR. This organization is a whimper at best but maybe with new staff they could improve…or maybe they should disappear if their reps are going to keep making remarks like this.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:27 am
It has been suggested that Blago will pardon Ryan (in jest, I’m sure).

Can a governor pardon a federal felon?

Comment by curios Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:31 am
I was never a fan of George Ryan - he killed ERA in the state. But when he was Governor he did certain things that outweigh his wrongs. His action with the death penalty was heroic for a Republican!

I think a sentence of 20 years - with all but one year being suspended is in order. I would also have him work on good deeds the rest of his life.

He could do wondeful work worldwide to abolish the death penalty. He could raise many dollars for people in poverty. This would be a further sign of his redemption.

Doug Dobmeyer

Comment by Doug Dobmeyer Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:39 am
Anon 9:10,

Full agreement. However, it is always been my sad experience to note the ‘holier-than -all of youse’ crowd seem to be comprised of people that would call the cops on a crippled newsey for making a racket and disturbing the welkin.

They have big mouths; short arms and deep pockets.

Damn, them 18th Century Empiricists for prejudicing me so.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:39 am
8 years and no suspended sentence. If you suspend his sentence then you should suspend the sentences of all convicted felons.

Comment by not a Blago fan Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:41 am
5 years, it’ll get overturned on appeal due to Judge Pallmeyer’s incompetence. It’ll be interesting to see if she issues an appeal bond, a rarity in federal court these days.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:41 am
Ryan has been doing his civil service as an elected official for over 30 years. He didn’t invent corruption, but he did know how to make it efficient. He mastered the system. He was a very good crook.

Right now, everyone wants to hang him because that is what we do as punishment for serving yourself in public office. Additionally, the system that served him, indirectly killed six children in an unforgivably horrific manner.

Corruption kills. It kills when buildings collapse, bridges fall, and levees break. Corrupt officials don’t consider how their crimes adulterate their community’s safety at times. Ryan is guilty of this.

Ryan should serve the rest of his life in jail. His belief in his corrupted political system robbed six children of their most precious gift. When considering a fair sentence, one can be cynical enough when dealing with the funds stolen. But we as a society should absolutely never be cynical when dealing with our children’s lives. Give him life.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:42 am
Loved Kass column this a.m.

Ryan played and now he pays. As honcho in a political Mafia, he should get a Mafia length sentence.

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:45 am
Poor George….? Hey, please, It’s not partisan politics to want someone to pay for their CRIME. Its the law of the land. It’s what is right. It’s what separates us from dictatorships. He was the architect of his own downfall. His punishment should be harsh as he was trusted to do what was right for all the citizens of Illinois and he chose to help himself and his close friends. The message is simple, we need to clean up our act or we will all lose in the long run. Illinois is on the bottomâ€¦not near the bottomâ€¦on the bottom. Who do you think helped get us there? It was US, WE, OURSELVES, because we continue to look the other way and not hold these â€œsweet old peopleâ€ and these â€œenchanting politiciansâ€ accountable for betraying the trust of the people. I think we are a lot better than that and itâ€™s time we start showing it. Illinois can be a great state, but we must decide to be. And no, I am not a State employee, I do not work for the government. I am a private sector individual who thinks we can do much, much better. We can be great, but we must clean house and get started in the right direction. Dealing out justice, with compassion for those wronged, is a good start.

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 9:46 am
Are you kidding Anon 9:10? You want to attribute the public’s call for justice as “More partisan knee-jerk reactions?” Citizens shouldn’t care when public officials violate their trust and rip them off?

News flash, the man was convicted on all 18 criminal counts by a jury of his peers. And he had the most high powered legal representation anyone could hope for - and for free. That was another perk the run of the mill crook could only dream of.

This is a legal case, not a political partisan issue. You are the one that’s bringing in knee-jerk politics.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:03 am
Whatever sentence Ryan gets Blago’s will be twice as long.

Comment by KenoMan Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:05 am
I agree with those posting comments that ryan should be made an example of in his sentencing and also feel that even a 5-6 year sentence could very well be a life sentence but it’s the only way to scare politicans into not taking bribes and kickbacks. However, would it make anyone feel better if the truck driver that was involved in the accident that killed those children was legally licensed? If he was, would that have been Ryan’s fault? Couldn’t that accident happen to even the best driver?

Comment by anon Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:07 am
I think he only loses his pension from the Secretary of State’s office. I think he gets to keep his pension from the IL House, Lt. Gov., and Governor. Does anyone know for sure? Rich?

Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:45 am
Hickey and Barr are right — for once. suspend any jail time
The other option would be to tack his time on to Scooter and Dr. Don
Once again Cindi Redfield shows how big a dope she is and demonstrates to donors that their money better spent by tossing it in Lake MI.

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:46 am
I expect Judge Paymayer will split the difference.

She will sentence Ryan to 8 years, and thereby make the defense unhappy with a long(er) sentence and the prosecution happy with a sentence in their recommended range. (She has to sentence Ryan to a term longer than she sentenced Fawell (6.5 years), because Fawell pled guilty and spared the court and the prosecution the expense of a trial, and now an appeal, and also because Judge Pallmayer wants to incentivize defendants to flip and cooperate with investigations.)

However, she will release Ryan on bond pending appeal, and thereby make the defense happy that Ryan gets to spend at least another year with his family and make the prosecution unhappy that Ryan isn’t going directly to jail and possibly may never spend anytime in jail if the appeal is successful.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:57 am
I must say, I have to laugh at all those wanting to go by the letter of the law yet see a difference when it comes to an ILLEGAL violating the law for personal gain ( a job is personal gain). Sorry folks I think their is a lot of democrat hypocrits. A violation of the law is the same. so if you want to hang George then hang the Illegals as well.

Comment by The Conservative Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 11:48 am
It’s all moot in 45 minoots.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:16 pm
Six months in a Utah ski resort(closed), during the summer, with only Rod there to talk to. No radio, TV or internet.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 2:03 pm
To paraphase Jesse “The Body” Ventura “Pity. I ain’t got time for pity.” Ryan had no problem messing over many other people and letting others take the fall. Now his time has come and he got caught. Too bad he has money enough to appeal and friends(?) enough willing to go pro bono. He is an old man with health problems? Too bad. He’ll get 8 years to beat Falwell, but somehow keep appealing to stay out of prison for the next year. Just keeps using the system?

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 2:41 pm
Sentence him to six years of prostituting for Phil Gramm for president…

Comment by Lovie's Leather Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 2:47 pm
I’m still interested in the “academic” question of whether a State Gov can pardon a Federal felon; I’m no lawyer, but don’t think so.

As far as the pension, there is a fairly recent decision that could give George room to argue that he should lose only the SoS years out of his pension as opposed to the whole thing. Having said that, I suspect the pension fund will yank the whole thing and let him sue them and make that argument.

Comment by NumbersGuy Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 2:59 pm
Wow. Looks like he did get one year for each dead Willis child.

Comment by woe is us Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 5:34 pm
Canâ€™t wait to see the new ad showing Judy dancing the, I just got the 6 1/2 year sentence polka, with George.

Try as she might; sheâ€™ll never be able to tag George Ryan to Rod. He is all hers, 100%.

Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:26 pm
B Hicks i dont think she knows how to dance i never saw her at dance class. Is there any chance gr and fawell end up in the same cell or next door with warner on the other side of gr. What the heck would they talk about. rs you can really than gr for this mess sentenced 2 mos before election we couldnt have paid him to handle this any better thanks for the big assit in the election. And the real funny part you rs are all now saying you knew he was crooked well why the hell didnt you do something about it? What were you thinking?

Comment by sang dem Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 11:04 pm