The Real Governor Ryan

My what euphoria sweeps the country these days as that seemingly wonderful prince of capital punishment reform (now former) Governor George Ryan of Illinois granted blanket clemency for over 150 death row inmates in the state of Illinois.
I've recently heard Phil Donahue (consider the source) as well as others describe the former governor as a "brave diligent reformer." Governor Ryan has gained national attention by this so-called bravery, but lets have a look back at the real Governor Ryan.
George Ryan rode the coattails of a very successful former 2 term governor named Jim Edgar. Ryan gained statewide attention as the Lt. Governor to then Gov. Ryan in his involvement and sponsoring of the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) program in the state of Illinois. In fact about the only time you would see Ryan in those days is in a photo op with a group of soccer moms at a MADD benefit and Ryan rode that program all the way to the governors chair; where we finally got to see the real George Ryan.
Lets review some of the events during Governor Ryans tenure in office.
The state of Illinois has run increasingly larger deficits under Ryan. Governor Ryan got gambling institutionalized in Illinois promising proceeds to go toward education yet not a soul can trace one dollar of gambling revenues that has went toward education; in fact, the state of Illinois repeatedly REDUCED the education budget. When the state was pressed to put gambling proceeds toward education, they cut the education budget thus there was no increased contributions to education,,, gee, imagine that.
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While George Ryan makes appearances on national television his top aide is currently standing trial for improprieties in office and in fact has confessed to the charges against him, the former governor claims he knew nothing of what was going on with his TOP aide who was provided people political favors, cash..... ah but the governor knew nothing of this hmmmm ..
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Governor Ryans administration also was involved in a license for bribes scandal in the state of Illinois. There were convictions passed down but once again of course Governor Ryan knew nothing of any improprieties going on with his people.
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In the midst of state budgetary crunches, Governor Ryan approved a pay raise for himself and the state reps while shutting down mental health and youth counseling centers throughout the state of Illinois.
Did the former governor mention any of this while parading around on national television?? No? My my im so surprised... a man of such dignity as himself.
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Former Governor Ryan also appointed 30-some of his political pals to office at nearly double the typical salary for such adminstrative positions prior to his leaving office...
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President Bush has visited the state of Illinois on a few occasions, he visited the John Deere facility in Moline Illinois. President Bush also went to meet Mayor Richard Daley (D) in Chicago. Do you see a trend here? Do you know who President Bush does NOT visit?? Governor Ryan is who the President doesnt visit, the President avoids Ryan like the bubonic plague and do you know why? The reason why is because Governor Ryan is literally the sewer hole of the Republican Party. Governor Ryan is associated as one of the most corrupt stinkhole administrations in the state of Illinois in at least the past 50 years.
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Governor Ryan sampled around 10% of the death row cases in the state of Illinois and chose to assume that the other 90% must be speculative and wiped out the whole bunch based on unsubstantiated claims of forced confession as if they applied to any and every case.
Now the former governor; best known as the sewer hole of the Republican Party, now parades around as a saint-like reformer and will certainly go on the lecture circuit and/or write a book making all sorts of money and perhaps even get involved in a special interest movement to abolish the death penalty.
Special interest association, does that ring a bell? Similar to when Ryan buddied up to the MADD program some years ago?
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Some of the crimes of which the former governor gave clemency toward are so grotesque and brutal I wont even discuss them here. I cant imagine what a horrible feeling it must be for the innocent victims, the families who lost loved ones.
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Governor Ryans administration is associated with corruption; a wolf in sheeps clothing and you'd be hard pressed to find an individual in the state of Illinois that approves of this man unless of course he's bought them off somehow.
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I hope that as the former governor parades himself around the national tv networks as a brave reformer that you see the bigger picture of his real associations and his true record in the state of Illinois.
The wolf is hungry, watch your back.