Durbin should think of people Ryan hurt

By sending his letter to President Bush asking for commutation of former Gov. Ryan's sentence, Dick Durbin has committed the ultimate act of betrayal to the people of Illinois.

To those families that lost loved ones due to former Gov. Ryan's felonies, it's a slap in the face!

Dick Durbin seems to think former Gov. Ryan deserves some sort or leniency or mercy for his crimes. Well Mr. Durbin, where is the leniency or mercy for those innocent people who died as a result of Gov. Ryan's felonies? Make no mistake about it. Gov. Ryan has no remorse for the felonies he committed and was convicted of.

As far as I am concerned, Gov. Ryan deserves far more than a measly 6 1/2 year sentence and certainly deserves to spend every day in prison to ponder the errors of his ways. It's unthinkable to imagine Dick Durbin doing something like this. He must not be planning to run for another term in six years, or hopes we will all forget this incident. If he announced his intentions before the election, does anyone think he would have been re-elected? Of course not.

If Dick Durbin is so concerned about the well-being of others, I call upon him to submit to a recall election, so the citizens of Illinois can express their appreciation for such a serious lapse in judgment.

Steve Safley

Schaumburg