December 17, 2008
Well the GOP is pushing for a special election – not that they have a chance in hell. Illinois is the bluest state there is. But why not? Rod sure blew it for alot of people, including convicted felon ex-Gov George Ryan, who did do some good work. In 2002, he put a moratorium on the death penalty. At that point, 12 men had been executed and 13 released. And in 2003, just prior to leaving office, he commuted the sentences of all 167 conviction death row to life. And in 2005 he was a Nobel Prize nominee.
But his Secretary of State’s office issued licenses to unqualified truck drivers by way of bribes. One such driver fell asleep and killed the Willis children – six siblings – in a fiery car accident. The father heard and saw his children dying and could do nothing. The horror. A family wiped out by corruption. Ryan had never apologized until recently when his chance at clemency was running out. Even Sen Dick Durbin (D-IL) argued on his behalf but then blagojevich happened and end of story.
(12-12) GEORGE RYAN APOLOGY:
I must say something that I have known in my heart has been a long time coming. And that is a truly heartfelt apology to the people of Illinois. It has been a difficult journey for me to get to this point, as I truly believed in my service to the people, but it was less than my best, and for that I am sorry.
I sincerely hope that by coming forward today, my words in some way might help in the healing process of restoring the people’s faith in their government and others that want to serve. In addition to damaging the public’s trust and confidence in government, I realize my mistakes had other implications and tangible effects on my constituents and the citizenry. I know that Reverend and Mrs. Willis suffered such effects — an unimaginable pain and loss — from mistakes made in my administration, both by me and others on my watch. My heart has and always will go out to the Willis family. They, like all of the people of Illinois, deserved far better than I gave them.
Ad running here in Chicago.
