# Corrupt, convicted Governor, locked up in Federal pen? Nah, Bush ought to let the m **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351 "2008-12-02T15:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/41 "2008-12-03T21:25:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > And he realizes now that he has to go to prison how wrong it was. That’s just it, though. As far as I know, he’s been defiant and has never publicly apologized for anything, even after being convicted and sent to jail. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/42 "2008-12-03T21:35:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > That’s just it, though. As far as I know, he’s been defiant and has never publicly apologized for anything, even after being convicted and sent to jail. I think what **Shodan** is saying is that Ryan is more sorry that he got caught than he is sorry that he did what he did. It’s not that he regrets taking bribes and fixing licenses, it’s that he regrets being found out and convicted for it. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/43 "2008-12-03T22:00:55Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I think there’s a very strong attitude of "that’s the way it works…everyone does it And the saddest part is that they’re not even as good at being crooks as the guys were back in years gone by. John Stroger was crooked and machine as they come, but the city wasn’t spectacularly going bankrupt under his watch the way it is now. His son on the other hand has all the notion of Machine Privilege and none of the wiles to steal while still making things get done. How can you tell when an Illinois politian is lying? His lips are moving. Rosty deserved what he got, Ryan deserved what he got, Daley deserves more than he’ll ever get, and the rest of the scoundrels should be forced to live with the decisions that they’ve made to bleed not only the city dry, but all of Cook county as well. I got out when they raised the sales tax to 10% and still cried broke, and I’m never moving back unless something drastic happens. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/44 "2008-12-03T22:31:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I think what **Shodan** is saying is that Ryan is more sorry that he got caught than he is sorry that he did what he did. It’s not that he regrets taking bribes and fixing licenses, it’s that he regrets being found out and convicted for it. I know. To me, I read **Shodan** ’s comments as he’s like any other prison who puts on an act of being sorry, with the lowercase commentary indicating what he’s really sorry about. I’m saying, George Ryan isn’t even doing _that_. He’s not expressing any remorse whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/45 "2008-12-03T22:34:20Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > And the saddest part is that they’re not even as good at being crooks as the guys were back in years gone by. John Stroger was crooked and machine as they come, but the city wasn’t spectacularly going bankrupt under his watch the way it is now. His son on the other hand has all the notion of Machine Privilege and none of the wiles to steal while still making things get done. > > How can you tell when an Illinois politian is lying? His lips are moving. > > Rosty deserved what he got, Ryan deserved what he got, Daley deserves more than he’ll ever get, and the rest of the scoundrels should be forced to live with the decisions that they’ve made to bleed not only the city dry, but all of Cook county as well. I got out when they raised the sales tax to 10% and still cried broke, and I’m never moving back unless something drastic happens. I’ve lived in Cook County every minute of my life except for college, and I’ve had it. My husband and I are looking to move to DuPage as soon as we can. The taxes where we are now are ridiculous. Which I could live with if the money was used for something other than paying Stroger’s relatives for “working” at non-existant jobs. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/46 "2008-12-03T22:36:43Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I’ve lived in Cook County every minute of my life except for college, and I’ve had it. My husband and I are looking to move to DuPage as soon as we can. The taxes where we are now are ridiculous. Which I could live with if the money was used for something other than paying Stroger’s relatives for “working” at non-existant jobs. I do have to say, taxes don’t really bug me usually, but 10.25% sales tax? And despite the increased tax revenue, there’s _still_ not enough money in the city’s coffers? Thankfully, we have the internet to order online… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/47 "2008-12-03T22:44:37Z")
Amazing that Barack Obama was able to swim in that sewer of Illinois politics and come out as clean as a whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/48 "2008-12-03T22:49:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I do have to say, taxes don’t really bug me usually, but 10.25% sales tax? And despite the increased tax revenue, there’s _still_ not enough money in the city’s coffers? Thankfully, we have the internet to order online… I’m usually in favor of consumption taxes, but when they are levied by the city or county, I’m not so sure. You and I might have access to the internet or a car, so we can avoid the tax.Heck, we can move out of the city altogether, as I am planning to do. The inner-city poor may not have that luxury. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/49 "2008-12-03T22:51:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Amazing that Barack Obama was able to swim in that sewer of Illinois politics and come out as clean as a whistle. Well, there is the whole Rezko deal, so I wouldn’t say he’s completely spotless. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/50 "2008-12-03T22:52:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Amazing that Barack Obama was able to swim in that sewer of Illinois politics and come out as clean as a whistle. That IS amazing. I’d almost call it…unbelieveable! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/51 "2008-12-04T02:06:58Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, there is the whole Rezko deal, so I wouldn’t say he’s completely spotless. Just this. In a normal city Obama would be a hopelessly compromised politician - by Chicago standards he is a saint. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/52 "2008-12-04T02:20:31Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Just this. In a normal city Obama would be a hopelessly compromised politician - by Chicago standards he is a saint. Rezko slimed onto everyone he could; that’s how he got to the position he did. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351/53 "2008-12-04T04:53:01Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > [From the _State Journal-Register_](http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x596321715/Our-Opinion-George-Ryan-should-finish-his-sentence): > > And Durbin wants to stick his neck out for this guy? I genuinely like Dick Durbin and think he is a very decent man, but he is dead wrong about this one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-convicted-governor-locked-up-in-federal-pen-nah-bush-ought-to-let-the-m/475351.md?page=2)