Truespeak

Twenty-eight months after his indictment and seven months after his trial began, former Illinois Governor, George H. Ryan (R), has been found guilty on 18 counts of racketeering, mail fraud, false statements and tax violations. Also found guilty was Ryan's close friend and lobbyist, Lawrence Warner. Warner was found guilty on 12 counts of racketeering, mail fraud, extortion, money laundering and evading cash-reporting requirements. It was a long, drawn-out trial but according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Patrick Collins, it had to be that way.

"A lot of critics indicated that this trial took too long, that we put on too much evidence."

"But there was no smoking gun in this case," Collins said. "This case was tried witness by witness, piece of evidence by piece of evidence, and it was only by looking at the totality of the case that the true picture could be shown to this jury.

"And that was a picture of corruption of the highest levels of government."

This is a good sign. Not because a Republican was found guilty, but because it shows that corruption in government will not be tolerated. As the Abramoff scandal grinds on at what appears to be a snail's pace, I think it's important to keep the Ryan trial and Collins' comments in mind. These are complicated crimes where there is no smoking gun, persay. Patience is important.

Whether it involves Democrats or Republicans, corruption needs to be rooted out and stopped. When our elected officials are putting their special interest groups ahead of the good of the nation, America loses. Today, the state of Illinois won. Hopefully this will be a harbinger of good things to come.