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  We asked if you think Sen. Durbin should ask President Bush to commute former Gov. George Ryan's sentence. Here are your responses: 

Yes. He'd paid the price. --Beverly Gaabo

NO. Why, because he did what they charged him with, why should he get off early. P.S. I used to work for L. Warner --C

Absolutely NOT! Nothing makes his guilt of criminal activity any less onerous or deserving of punishment than any other convicted criminal. Not a single valid or extenuating reason has been given to consider commutation of his sentence that could not also apply to most other current Illinois convicts. His crimes were actually more serious because of the power that his elected position afforded him. He must serve his full (and very lenient) sentence. --Walt Kilmanas

Only one word comes to mind - digust! Children are dead because of him and he shows absolutely no remorse. He needs to pay for his crimes! --Pat Atteberry

Yes --Steven Edwards

No! I think a President or Governor should not be able to pardon anyone that was convicted for any crime. In Ryan's case I feel he should rot in Hell because of all of the heinous criminals he let get free of the death penalty. These criminals were convicted after a judge or jury decided that the evidence against them was strong enough to convict them and their crimes were of such a heinous nature that they deserved to die for what they did. He took all of these low lifes off of death row just because of his beliefs, so my belief is he should stay in jail until he rots. --skipharhog

No, he should not be pardoned, and further more, maybe someone should take a closer look at Durbin for even considering something like this. The man committed a crime, got caught, and was convicted in a court of law. Too bad he fell on hard times. When he serves his full sentence and is released, maybe he will reconsider how he chooses to live his life going forward. --J Cee

No, he should not. He used his public office for personal gain and his punishment should be an example for future public officials. --Sebastian

Absolutely not. His arrogance before and during the trial was atrocious. God only knows how much he really got away with during his tenure. He should serve every last day of his sentence which I felt was extremely lenient. --Rose Mary Ruszkowski

No George Ryan broke the law and if he was an ordinary citizen no one would commute his sentence. It will show if your a politician or rich you can get away with anything. --Sharyn

Absolutely not...as an "elected" representative of the people, he used his authority/power for his benefit. Too much documented evidence of financial gain and vacations, etc. He should serve out his sentence. --Thomas Mulhern

No way! He did the crime and now he should do the full time. His age shouldn't give him a "get out of jail free" card as he was old and should have known better when he willingly did his dirty politics. Can Ryan commute the death sentence of the 6 children that died in their family van, as a result of his illegal drivers license scheme? --CJ Bachar

No - He shows no remorse --G. Harp

No! and I find it disturbing that senator Durbin waited until after the election to make this public. this sounds like a Stroger deal.Durbin should be ashamed of himself and if he does go through with this that the voters of Illinois remember that he pulled this stunt and vote him out. --Michael Sinnott

No. It will send a wrong message. Times are changing and people are tired of bailouts and pardons, especially to white collar workers, corporations and political figures. The average person doesn't have that luxury or clout. Dick Durbin better be careful here. People are watching. --Mary Morris

NO! Pols must set the example, so they must expect the same as any citizen, not special favors. He acted, he gained, he was caught. As to the effect this has on his family, it was his decision not ours, he effected his family not us, not the system. --Dave

Absolutely not. I feel no sympathy for George or Lura Ryan. They both lived lavish lifesytles all on the taxpayers dime. Maybe not directly, but at minimum through their pay to play policies. The prisons are filled with men and women who have left behind lonely and sad family members. That is the price you pay. Durbin would only perpetuate the disdain most taxpayers have towards Illinois politians should he get Ryan released early. Then again, since when do these politicians really act on behalf of their constituents before their own needs. --Chris Hogan

Definitely Not --Frank

NO. the man has never once shown any remorse & STILL doesn't think he did anything wrong. If the good Senator does this i will never vote for him again. --Tom Hampton

Absolutely not! He did the crime, now he should do the time. I'm sure there are other prisoners that are older that are paying their debt to society. --Tina

NO, he did the crime now he should to the time, just because he's old means nothing, if that was the case we all can wait till we're old and do the crime, cuz we'll get off early because of our age. NO HE SHOULD DO THE WHOLE 6 1/2 YEARS --Beverly

Definitely not!!!!!! If you are going to do the crime be prepared if caught to do the time. Let him rot!!!! --Beverly

This man is a convicted felon. One who claims to be innocent. One who thinks that what he did was not wrong. If George Ryan gets a pardon, don't forget all the other felons in Illinois prisons, who claim to be innocent also. YOU BETTER GET PARDONS FOR THEM TOO!!!! Why stop with Illinois --MaryE

No! George Ryan is a criminal and needs to spend his 6+ years in prison. He should also loose his pension from the state. Criminals who are convicted shouldn't have any of the perks they earned while taking money for payoffs while they're in office. In the real world if you did what George Ryan did you'd be in jail for much longer and loose a whole lot more. Although, I made a bet with some that Bush will commute Ryan's sentence before he leaves office. Criminals always look out for eachother. --Penny

YES I think he should ask and YES I think President Bush should commute his sentence. No one will ever know if he's guilty or innocent but what we do know is that he did a tremendous amount of good for the State of Illinois and he is no threat to anyone. Let him live the rest of his life in peace with the wife & family that he so truly loves --Kathleen Buchanan

No! The convicted felon has not shown any remorse or admission of guilt. The evidence was overwhelming and presented the type of arrogance most Illinois politicians are made of. Perhaps if he treated the people of Illinois with respect and told the truth, then he might deserve a favor, but he still thinks he is above the citizens that elected him. Keep him where he is and have him make up another bunk for the next special arrogant gov from Illinois. --JLB

No. George Ryan is a corrupt public official who was tried by a court of law, was found guilty, appealed his charge, the guilty verdict was upheld by the appeals court. George Ryan appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, who refused to hear the case. George Ryan deserves the time that he is serving and Senator Dick Durbin loses my respect and my future vote if he asks President Bush for a pardon. What is the point of a judicial system, if corrupt and convicted public officials (George Ryan) do not serve the time the judicial system has told them that they should? Senator Dick Durbin should be spending his time helping out Illinois Tax Payers, not a convicted felon in George Ryan. --Joe Illinois Voter

NO, 1,000 times no! George Ryan is the most pompous, arrogant SOB of this era. Despite having been tried and convicted of his crimes, he continues to show no remorse or offer any excuses for his actions. Six years was a gift, he should have been sent away for 20 years and should never be let out until he gets down on his knees and offers an apology to the citizens of Illinois. That'll be the day he gets out!  --Dennis DeLockery

Absolutely not! He has been defiant since Day 1 regarding the charges against him and has continued this folly in spite of being convicted by a jury of his peers. He has also never apologized to that beautiful family who lost so many loved ones due to the corrupt environment of his administration. Why should anyone give HIM a break? --Mark Ursa

Absolutely NOT! He has suffered enough??? What about the Willis Family? His wife if in frail health? Boo HOO, the Willis Children are DEAD.This poor family finally thought they saw justice now after one year we are all supposed to feel sorry for George Ryan, sorry. Why do these politicians keep torturing the Willis Family??? Let him rot in jail. --Sherry Walski

No, I feel he should he should serve his time like anybody else, and doing this will only show favoritism. and stir up a big rucket. --Delia M. Davenport

No - Nada - Never. What respect did George Ryan show to the people that voted for him and whom he worked for during his various administration? Lastly, he shows no remorse or admittance of doing anything wrong. --Trudy

Absolutely not! Ryan was clearly guilty. If he and his wife are suffering now, Ryan should have thought of that before his heinous acts. In addition to keeping Ryan in jail, we need to reform executive pardons/commutations, the vast numbers of which subvert our justice system. --Peggy

No way. Then you might as well empty all the jails. What he did was murder. For Durbin to even think this he should be place in the cell next to Ryan. --Pete

No, I don't think he should be granted a pardon! He should serve his full sentence. Why is George Ryan special than any other criminal? If a person commits a crime, then they have to pay the punishment. He new exactly what he was doing, so he should pay for it, just like any other person! --Irma Fernandez

Yes, mainly because of his age. At this time he should spend his time with his family. Especially his wife. --Janelle

YES... if the parents of the six kids lost in the motor vehicle accident with an illegal licensed driver can forgive then I guess we should?! then I --Gary Eich

no Is Mr Ryan a special kind of crook and needs special treatment? Sen.Durbin needs to get a real job he is not working for the people of Ill. --Frank Schicke

Absolutely not. He has been given every benefit of the doubt, and continued to cost Illinois citizens with his appeals even when he knows he is absolutely guilty. He needs to pay the full price! --Marilyn Corbett

I do not think Sen. Durbin should commute George Ryan's sentence. He committed a crime and should pay for it. He cheated the tax payers, so in other words, he stole our money and should stay in prison. --Paulette

Yes. George Ryan did no more than other politicians did except he delayed some executions and people were after him. He needs to be home. --Mrs. Sandra Stoakley

I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR LESSER CRIMES TO LET GEO. RYAN'S SENTENCE BE COMMUTED. AS A PUBLIC FIGURE,HE OF ALL SHOULD HOLD UP THE INTEGRETY OF HIS OFFICE. KEEP HIM IN PRISON FOR HIS FULL TERM !!!!! --Paul M. Gozder

I think Sen. Durbin should listen to the people. George Ryan already got the best defense team money could buy. Had it been a normal person he would had got a longer sentence without all the legal friends to help him out. He was sentenced by the people for the people let it stand. - Patrick Carroll

Did the crime, please do the time, like any other citizen of this nation. We had enough of special treatments, if it was ordinary Joe, nobody will be asking for his sentence to be commuted. - Red

No, I do not. Because he is a government official is all the more reason that he should finish out his sentence. Ryan "should have known better" than to do what he did. He was found guilty and needs to pay the penalty for his actions. Would Sen. Durbin be taking the same action if Ryan was 20 yrs younger? Unfortunately Illinois government is corrupt enough and to go that route is a bigger crime. - Sally Zychowski

Yes. He's old and sick and gave a lifetime of mostly good service to the state. He is a danger to no one now. He and Mrs. Ryan should be allowed to live out their lives in peace. - Robert Coates

Ryan should NOT be set free. Let's think about those 6 kids who burned to death in the van -- they're gone -- no hope of freedom, no nothing. No WAY SHOULD RYAN GO FREE. NONE!!!! - Karen Koller

: NO! NO! NO! I say vote against Dick Durbin. He must be just as corrupt as Ryan to even suggest this. - Sue S

NO!!!! NO !!!!!! He should COMPLETE his sentence. Other inmates have to, regardless of age, sickness, celebrity. - Rose Garcia

I do not feel Sen. Durbin SHOULD ask Pres. Bush to commute G. Ryan's sentence. He committed the CRIME and just because he is elderly or ill does not give him the right to get off. Any other individual would have to serve their time, he should too! Sorry he is ill, but he cheated. You REAP WHAT YOU SOW. - Mrs. P.

No, I do not. We need to let the folks that are draining Illinois know that they are going to jail. He needs to serve all his time. I hope Daley and Blago are next. - Kathleen L. Dusing

Absolutely NOT! Do the crime, serve the time like every criminals did! It doesn't matter if he's a public figure or not. He disobeyed and corrupted the oath that he took to serve the people of Illinois. Must serve the full extent of his term behind bars! - Bill

NO! I honestly feel bad for Gov. Ryan's family. But he committed crimes, and must pay his dues. There are hundreds of others sitting in prisons who have family members who think they would be better off at home. You don't see anyone trying to commute their sentences. What about all those who died because of his scandals? Their families will never be reunited. We already wasted enough tax payer's money on proving Ryan's guilt, why waste more to get him out early. Sorry - he must pay for his crimes just like everyone else who did the same crime. - Sue, Orland Park

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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