Pardon Me?

[Dazzler]

RYAN WANTS A PARDON



The US Supreme Court has refused to hear Gov. George Ryan's appeal to overturn his sentence.  His attorney, another former Illinois governor, James Thompson will now ask President George Bush for an executive pardon...and it's entirely possible he'll grant it since Bush has handed out so many clemencies for people in high places...

This is just so unreal.  Why are politicians above the laws that they make?  They seem to think they deserve some special treatment just because they were elected officials.  All the more reason they deserve to serve out their sentences...for violating public trust. 

Ryan has been imprisoned for about six months and he can't take it anymore.  He's old and frail and misses his family.  Well, la-di-friggen-dah.....so do alot of Illinois inmates that have been sitting and rotting in one of the prisons he let go to hell....

Let's talk about the hundreds of frail, sick Illinois inmates who are dying in Illinois prisons after looong, extended prison terms, well past paying back their debt to society and long past the point they'd be a threat to anyone in the free world.  Tough on crime translates to soft on politicians.

Thousands of Illinois inmates have requested clemency and been ignored, some with very serious innocence issues and dire health concerns.  But they are refused because they aren't 'special' people.  It might appear that our govenor is soft on crime if he releases someone who's spent 30 years in prison.  Ryan's request for clemency after 180 DAYS is a slap in the face to all Illinoisans.

Ryan, tooted as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize for ordering a moratorium against executions in Illinois, did the right thing.  He recognized that Illinois' system of justice is corrupt and many death row inmates were innocent.  He released 167 inmates from death row before leaving office.  But this doesn't give him a 'get out of jail' card for free.  He's been in a federal camp for SIX MONTHS...and he can't take it anymore? 

I can't believe the arrogance of elected officials in thinking they are so special, so much more privileged because they were elected officials who cheated, stole from, lied to their constituents and wheeled and dealed at our expense.  No one likes prison...no one likes having their lives ripped apart and being separated from family and friends.  That's supposed to be the deterrent to keep people from committing crimes....but what will stop all elected officials from screwing over the public if they are granted executive clemency just because they served their city, state or country....what BS.  They didn't serve anyone but themselves and they can't accept the laws they helped to manufacture or sit in the prisons they helped create for the 'little' people. 

I just have no sympathy for him.  He got a candy-ass six year sentence and he just won't accept it.  He cites the fact that this sentence could be a death sentence for him....oh well, substandard diets, poor medical care, risky environments are fine for the 'little' people....

Lest we not forget he handed a few innocent inmates LWOP sentences when he commuted their death sentences...so he didn't appear to be too soft....he knew they were innocent also....

Maybe Karma jumped up and bit him in the ass..... 

[Schrader42]

Isn't Karma grand?  I doubt Bush will grant him a pardon but let's see what happens.

[Dazzler]

When Georgie leaves office he just might.....

[Jims]

I think the pardon list will be long and shocking when Ole Boy leaves office.

[Dazzler]

Yeah, me too...he's already done some shocking pardons....and he'll undoubtedly take care of the good ol' Republican boys club when he leaves office.

[griz bear]

Yeah, Ryan was under investigation when he released those inmates from death row.....he knew he was guilty and he did the right thing for the wrong reason......and of course I believe Ryan will be pardoned......just a scooter was....George isn't going to suddenly get a conscious now... he killed his conscious long ago...griz

[Still love my son]

 

Speaking of frail ill dying inmates has anyone gt an update on Montell lately?
We have heard nothing???????

 

[babybabybaby]

George Ryan. I don't believe we share much in political ideology. lol  I am a Democrats Democrat.

But just like an 'ouchie for one is an ouchie for all' if he gets a good turn, there is more hope for our lo's.  The public needs to see that prisoners are not bad people. Good people do bad things, sometimes. George, has been quoted as saying that there are many nice people in prison. I hope he continues to be an advocate on our behalf and especially for our loved ones.
 I also give ol George a lot of props for freeing those folks on death row. The last time he was in a position to do good for the convict, he did the right thing. Let's ride that wave. We need someone in that conservative camp to be able to see things as we do and communicate it to their cronies.
We as a society are being too hard on folks for crime. This is costing us a lot of money and doesn't make us any safer. yeah, yeah, I'm totally preaching to the choir here. Get him out here and let him sing. There are many persons who will not listen to what we have to say but will listen to him.
George, took it hard when that family (forgive me I don't recall their name) was hit (and killed) by the goon 'he' sold the license to. He was behind selling those licenses to bulk up his campaign coffers. And he was like Rostenkowski. They are old, that was how politics was done. That doesn't excuse it. There was a more excellent way and they choose wrong. But it was always done the other way and even worse ways. Then the tide changes and they are caught up in the crack down. That has to suck. Just like it sucked for all our loved ones, who were in a funk or had a bad day or chain of events and got caught up in some crap. Lighter sentences are needed and he would make a good advocate.
 
I give big Jim Thompson props too. At least he could run the state.  Jim Edgar too. Big Jim has stood by Ryan when Ryan, was in an uncomfortable situation. Being a loyal friend is always cool. I wish I could afford Big Jim to represent my loved one and get him out. Woo whee that would be great. I wish we all could afford the best lawyers.

 I am glad for anyone who can make the break with the prison system and come out on the out side. Even if he isn't the same as me.

And as for Blogo, I feel bad for him too. He has a wife and kid. But get his cell ready. He needs a conviction. That #%^&  turned his back on the Union!    lol  I hope he gets the top bunk and does some real hard time. No just kidding. I don't much care what kind of time he gets.  BUT he must be convicted. Coming in after a convicted governor and then doing the same thing! While pointing at how bad that last guy was. Come on! what a bold faced mockery of us! The persons who put him in there. gasp. Hand him down a conviction and call him a @#%#$. This crap has got to stop. Honest government shall prevail. Let us be the state to set the bench mark and show the other states how it is done.

Go! Patrick Fitzgerald! As a matter of fact I think Patrick Fitzgerald needs a whole squad of cheer leaders and a big brass band there every day when he comes to work. GO! Pat, GO!  As soon as he steps out of the car until he gets to the building. Shall we point him to  IDOC? Let's invite him to stop by and take a look around. I wonder if he has any friends who are interested in a class action suit? I will bet he knows a good lawyer. That Pat is a heck of a guy.

[Dazzler]

I highly doubt that George will champion for inmates if he's released early.  I tend to think he'll try to put it all behind him just as other high-profile inmates have done.  I remember Martha Stewart saying she wanted to work to change the prison system and haven't heard a word about any efforts she's making either. 

Blago turned his back on the Union because it's killing the State's budget.  Perhaps he didn't realize once he got in bed with AFSCME it would be a lifelong affair....Union wages, benefits, protection and pensions are a high price to pay for loyalty.  I worked as a Union organizer and a negotiator for several years.  One of the places I organized was a large State agency.  After winning the campaign and a contract I can't tell you how many employees I had to attend hearings for and win their jobs back for misconduct,  failure to perform their duties, laziness, stupidity and more....many were employees who more than deserved to be fired but they kept their jobs because of Union intervention.  The contracts are so airtight it's difficult to fire anyone for anything.   When private sector employers have poor fiscal years their employees don't get raises but government workers keep racking up the raises year after year, whether the state budget can afford it or not.    And it's the gift that keeps on giving...with outlandish pensions paid for life by we, the taxpayers.

I'm afraid George's 'cronies' have turned their backs on him and I don't think they'll be backing any prison reform ideas he might have.  There's a world of difference between a state prison and a federal prison camp.....

It'll be business as usual in Illinois regardless which party is in control.  Both parties are corrupt and the state is run on a rewards system.   Until Illinois voters get informed about their choices and start electing upstanding candidates things will never change.  Even upstanding citizens elected to office have been overcome with the greed and 'power' they possess.  When politicians all operate in the same cesspool they have a tendency to cover each others' backs rather than expose the corruption.  It's a never ending cycle....

Patrick Fitzgerald has been investigating the IDOC for over two years now....so is the US Justice Department. 

 

[JDsMom]

Adding to the Blago bandwagon, WE the taxpayers of this state, pay for this idiot to FLY from Chicago to Springfield because he didnt want to live there......for one reason or another, I can't remember where I read that, some newspaper awhile back, but I was APALLED, why do we allow this???? Make the SOB pay for the flights himself, why should WE pay for it ??????? Are you all registerd voters yet ??????? PLEASE get registered to vote and VOTE!! When is Blago's term over anyway....??????

[babybabybaby]

Not soon enough, there is actually a movement to impeach him.

[Delvallle]

Oh boy don't get me started I am so sick of all of these politicians I could just throw up. I am also sick of these lawyers as far as I am concerned they are just legal theives. I better stop now it is Sunday morning and I am up too early because of another sleepness night. I could go on and on but I won't. They all promise you the world and then NOTHING. That's what we get nothing. Our loved ones nobody cares about them but us.
Delvallle

[griz bear]

  yeah lawyers have a rackett going just like the insurance companies.....they take your money for nothing just because they are the only game in town..........I haven't had a good experience with any of them.......even when it went OK it sure cost alot more than the product they delivered was worth....if I wasn't so old I'd go back and get my law degree and do research and help only the people who have limited or no funds.......it amazes me that as a nurse I only get $28/hr with peoples lives in my hands; but lawyers get > $150/hr with people's lives in their hands.........they don't have to deal with blood; or other bodily fluids.....doesn't seem equitable....just another frustration of life; and if my Mom was right...."what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" then this group of people are the strongest in the world..... griz.

[baust02s]

I'm always amazed at what a person can get awat with when they have money. I wonader if this was a person of color that this was happening to; would a pardon be even discussed?

[Dazzler]

I highly doubt it baust02s, but that's an interesting question.  I would be curious to see a breakdown by race the few pardons our governor has finally granted in his six years in office....and with the disparity of the racial makeup of our inmate population it would be even more ludicrous.   Then again so many innocent inmates have been exonerated who were never guilty in the first place, yet, because of their color they were railroaded...

BTW, welcome to the forum. 

[baust02s]

This is what we do. the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Our prison system is so messed up. It is no longer Justice for all but Justice for those who have the money and the friends in high places.