They finally nailed that rat bastard, George Ryan (R-IL)!

[Padraig18]

Ex-Gov. Ryan indicted

December 17, 2003

BY MIKE ROBINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Gov. George Ryan was charged in a federal racketeering indictment Wednesday with taking payoffs, gifts and vacations in return for government contracts and leases while he was secretary of state.

Ryan, 69, a Republican known worldwide as a leading critic of the death penalty, gradually became the focus of a corruption investigation that began even before his 1998 election as governor. The growing scandal was a factor in Ryan's 2001 decision not to seek a second term.

The indictment alleges Ryan received illegal cash payments and gifts, vacations and personal services. It says members of his family got cash loans and gifts totaling $167,000....

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[phillybri]

1. Funny how the networks ain't covering this...

If that were a D after his name, I'm sure they would be!!!

[Padraig18]

3. They broke in on the radio here to announce it.

A 22-count indictment! WOO HOO! :)

[phillybri]

14. My mistake. CNN and Faux are on it....HI MARTIN!!!

:hi:

[Sequoia]

2. Now, now...don't jump to conclusions.

Everyone deserves a fair trial. Do you know something we don't? Why is he a rat bastard anyway. I'm inclined to think frame up considering how many "special interests" folk he angered by springing those men on death row.

[Padraig18]

6. I know the story well.

I agree he deserves a fair trial, but I also remember the scummy media attacks he ran against the Hon. Glenn Poshard, who opposed him for Governor. Congressman Poshard was one of the most honest and decent people to ever seek the governorship, and he told people about this 5 years ago, because someone in Ryan's office gave him documents about it (which he turned over to the Feds immediately). Ryan was able to 'shout him down' in the media, because the Poshard campaign was broke and couldn't afford air time to answer.

Here's to you, Glenn--- you were right! :toast:

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Then You Thought Wrong

Everyone here in Illinois was aware of what has been going on in the Republican leadership for the last 20 years. These recent charges are only what they are able to prove.

The Legislative leadership, and the last 3 governors were all in it to their eyeballs.

The only thing that kept them in power that long was their ability to play the Downstate v. Chicago angle. Downstaters became convinced of their lies that Chicago got all the state money, while they paid for it from 250 miles away. When, in fact, the opposite was true. More than 80% of the money came from Chicago and the collar counties, and those 6 counties got 41% of the spending. But, the anti-Chicago sentiment made people vote against their own best interests and kept crook after crook in power.

The only righteous thing Ryan ever did was the moratorium. And some here think he made that move to polish his image as the crooks surrounding him were beginning to fall.
The Professor

[Padraig18]

12. Deep Southern Illinois never wavered in their "D" support.

What you say is correct, but isn't it odd that the only downstaters the Repugs never managed to fool were the 'redneck hillbillies' in the hills of Southern Illinois, who remained loyal to the Democratic party? Maybe they deserve our respect, in hindsight, because apparently they realized something a lot of the state didn't.

On edit: They're conservative Democrats down there, but they are loyal conservative Democrats. Maybe Democrats on the whole could take an object lesson from their example...

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Yeah. You're Right About That, For Sure

The Repub base in their anti-Chi voting was from about Bloomington to Decatur. Farther south, people stopped being so anti-Chicago that they voted against their own interests and put crooks in power.

I mean, Peoria has to be part of the problem. They keep electing LaHood, don't they?
The Professor

[Padraig18]

15. Yep!

Just talked to my bro, who worked on several campaigns, including CMB's and Dawn Clark Netsch's; he was campaigning in Marion for Netsch, and said one guy told him "I don't much care for her liberal politics, but she's a Democrat, so she's got my vote--- Democrats don't screw ordinary working people, like Republicans do." :P

[terrya]

4. The only good thing I can say about George Ryan...and it IS a good thing..

Is that he imposed the moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois. Which Governor Blagojevich has continued to maintain.

[Padraig18]

7. I agree.

It was the right thing to do, and remains so.

[Blade]

5. So when are the Feds gonna bust Dubya...

and his misadministration? Cough*Enron insider trading*cough excuse me, frog (:bounce:) in my throat.

[Flaxbee]

8. I don't know much about him / the corruption scandal, but

the speech he gave when he annulled all those death penalty sentences was one of the best things I've ever heard. You might say it was all cold and calculating, an effort to be remembered for something other than his crimes, but I was impressed and admire him for that speech.

He saved many lives, and I don't give a shit if he got a trip to Hawaii and a fancy wristwatch ---

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Then I guess...

it would have been really embarrassing if he got the Nobel he was nominated for over the DP moratorium.

[chiburb]

11. I've been asking for a year...

If they'll let him out of prison on a pass to go to Stockholm?

[ProfessorGAC]

16. He Won't Go To Jail, Unless. . .

. . .they turn up more cash than this. The party is already in disarray and the impact of this will resonate around here for several years. He's too old and will get the suspended sentence pass. But, i think he'll get convicted on more than half the charges. Just a guess.
The Professor

[Padraig18]

17. HOLY SMOKES!

It took the US Attorney, Mr. Fitzgerald, twenty-nine minutes to read the precis of the indictment! Leapin' lizards, Sandy!

:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:

[scarlet_owl]

18. Yeah, I saw that on the news!

Heh heh. What an ass! I'm glad he's getting what he deserves.

[Padraig18]

19. It was THE lead story on all 3 major networks here!

I think George is going to do time...

[kanrok]

20. He will definitely do time

The Feds don't prosecute unless they have the case tied up in a nice tight package. Fitzgerald continues to impress, even despite his being a Repug appointment.

[Padraig18]

21. True, BUT...

Fitzgerald is also a career DOJ prosecutor who busted up The Mob in NYC (Gotti, et al), before coming to Chicago. The man's a thorough professional. :thumbsup: