Chicago, Illinois - (US Graft News): Former GOP Illinois Governor George Ryan, who lost his corruption appeal today and faces an imminent custodial sentence, has been hailed by Alaska's Corrupt Bastards Club as a major role model.
The federal appeals court ruling which upheld Ryan's racketeering and fraud conviction means his six and a half years jail time could start as early as tomorrow.
Ryan has been one of Illinois's most powerful Republican politicians.
Corrupt Bastards Club grandees said today that his eminent career has been an inspiration to their organization and they only wished to emulate his achievements which prosecutors detailed at length in ublic today.
These include his conviction last year on racketeering conspiracy, fraud and other offenses related to taking payoffs from political insiders in exchange for state business.
These offenses spanned his career as Illinois secretary of state from 1991 to 1999 and subsequently as Governor from 2000 - 2004.
CBC members noted today that Ryan's exemplary career had showed them the path to steering state contracts and leases to insiders and using tax dollars in their own political campaigns.
"We're thinking of erecting a statue to Gov Ryan right here in Anchorage," a close pal of Senator Ted Stevens said today.
