-By Warner Todd Huston
In a step closer to formally entering the race for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor, former AG Jim Ryan has launched a Ryan for Governor website. Ryan is styling himself the "Anti-Blagojevich."
With a late entrant into the campaign, Ryan’s bid could shake up the field. Ryan’s polling claims that he is running even with Democrat candidate Dan Hynes and trails incumbent Governor Pat Quinn by only five points.
Of course, Ryan’s last name is a drawback. He is unfortunate enough to share the same last name as the now imprisoned former Governor George Ryan (though no relation). Jim Ryan was last involved in state politics when he ran for Governor against Rod Blagojevich in 2002 and his last name dragged him down even then.
There is one other problem with Jim Ryan’s history. Rich Miller reminds us that it is embodied in two words: Stu Levine.
Levine, of course, pled guilty to using his seats on two state boards to pad his pockets with kickback money. His indictment shocked the Illinois political world because it included lurid details of Levine’s heavy hard drug use and wicked sexual appetites.
Levine and Jim Ryan were law school study mates and Ryan is generally blamed for bringing Levine to the political dance. After Levine was indicted, Jim Ryan was quoted by the Daily Southtown saying this about his longtime friend: “He’s always been a very compassionate person, and I always have liked and respected him, and I continue to call him a friend.”
Will Illinois voters excuse a guy that pals around with criminals and will "continue to call him a friend"?
Perhaps we’ll see.
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as NewsBusters.org, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.
He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
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