Ryan should not get clemency. This is one of the worst types of crimes out there: abuse of authority and political office for personal gain. Ryan should serve all his time.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy?

I wouldn’t hold your breath George, that’s a good place for ya..!

Ex-Governor Ryan should only get clemency unless he states publicly that he was guilty, that what he did was wrong.
The model of plea agreements in criminal proceeding and parole applications, is a good one. They don’t get a lesser sentence or get released early, until they plead guilty, or state to the parole board that they did wrong, and how they’ve changed to deserve early release.
If Ryan is going to continue to maintain that he did nothing wrong, and that his conviction was wrong, because other people have done it, then he should not be released before his sentence is served.

NO! NO! NO! Former Gov. Ryan betrayed the trust of the people of Illinois and should serve his sentence. The powerful should not have a way to skirt the rules and receive favorable treatment. It is a tragedy, but one that could have been avoided. Gov. Ryan’s punishment sends the right message to deter others in the future.

I think that Gov. Rod should take his place in jail.

The second I started reading this story I realized why Gov. Rod is pushing for Ryan’s clemency, and it was stated in the final paragraph of the article. Blagojevich will also be a jailbird at some point in the future and he wants Ryan’s sentence commuted to help make the same thing happen for him.

I think he should stay in prison. I don’t feel sorry for his situation, he created it.

So Mrs. Ryan, in poor health, should suffer not having assistance from him by her side? I don’t know what’s worse, his crime or your feelings toward seniors in poor health.

NO CLEMENCY. Absolutely not. I’m sick of this. Politicians all stick together because they are all crooks and they all know that someday they could be in Ryan’s position. Let him spend the rest of his days in prison if that is what it takes.

Unbelievable!! I agree with JGB that Gov. Rod should take his place. Durbin should be ousted from office for considering such nonsense. We know that this is Rod’s last term. It’s obvious that Durbin doesn’t belong in politics either. Can Illinois politicians be any more corrupt? I know of two politicians that I will never vote for. Hopefully they’ll both be in jail before the next elections.

Blagojevich is just worried he will be in the same boat some day as Ryan,,,he wants someone to come to bat for him…

Isn’t Rexko one of Obama’s friends…?

No favors,they all belong to the same gang.Just be careful.

If some Judge lets Ryan out,the Judge should be sentenced to finih Ryan’s time.

Not a dimes worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans, they just talk different during election campaigns, once they get into their offices and commence “business as usual” its just one big club (and you and I aren’t in the big club).

I don’t care if they let him out early, in fact I hope they do. I believe prison should only be for those folks too dangerous to have loose in public. In prison for being a corrupt politician?……HA, thats like putting a dog in prison for p*ssing on a fire hydrant.

The man was caught at being corrupt, and loosing his political job (and any influence cash proven that he received) should have been the only punishment.

We are too quick to imprison people in this country….thats why our prisons are so overcrowded. There are people in America doing hard time for being caught with a small bag of reefer in their posession……this country is crazy that way.

Same as it ever was. You can take Ryan’s situation and apply it to thousands in prison. Age, ill spouse, some good karma built up. What’s usually missing are the political connections one needs to advance a request for a presidential pardon/clemency. Even with prison or sentencing activist groups behind it, one still needs the grease politicians provide.

Durbin and Blagojevich are not known as advocates of prison/sentencing reform, and like most politicians, tend to rubber stamp criminal justice proposals. So it’s relevant to question their motivation in support of Ryan’s clemency, versus their lack of support of others so situated.

I guess Rod thinks if he begs for clemency for Ryan, that he won’t seem hypocritical when he is begging for clemency from Obama in a couple years.

Regardless, they should let Ryan rot in jail…

Scott Simon:

So, let me get this straight: Ryan’s crimes allowed a family to have the lives of their six children taken from them. Ms. Ryan may not have Mr. Ryan by her side in her final years, but those parents will never get to experience the joy of watching their children ever ride a bike again, throw a football again, go to the prom, get married, or live out their lives. Those children will never have to live their final years away from the love of their life because their life was taken from them. And Ryan’s crimes enabled that to happen.

Additionally, Ryan has never said he was guilty or said he was sorry. He continues to maintain his innocence. Fine. If his family name is so important to him, he can continue to make the case from behind bars. No person should ever be pardoned or have their sentence commuted unless they either admit guilt and ask for forgiveness from society, or prove to society why they are innocent. Ryan, failing to do either, should remain until he meets one of those two criteria, at the very least.

Since this the season for Prsidential pardons, I have been wondering if the President will pardon that masher and rapist William Jefferson Clinton?.