GOOD TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL - SORT OF

As some of you may know, all persons waiting on death row in Chicago, IL have had their death sentences commuted by outgoing Governor George Ryan. If anyone would like to know more about this, read the article in the Chicago Tribune here. The username and password to read the article are both "butthead".

While this is a very big step in the right direction - one that is more welcome in all the doom, gloom and bullshit of late, the fight to rid Illinois of one of the most disgusting acts a government can impose on its people is far from over.

Incoming Governor Blagojevich has no plans on abolishing the death penalty. I quote from the Chicago Tribune article linked above:

It also falls to an incoming governor who does not share all of Ryan's thoughts on the topic. Gov.-elect Rod Blagojevich said Saturday that he disagrees with Ryan's decision to commute all the death sentences to life in prison and that he thinks the governor made "a big mistake."

Blagojevich is against two of the most significant recommendations from Ryan's commission, including mandatory videotaping of interrogations and reduction of the number of offenses that make a person eligible for the death penalty.

While I am very happy that the 160+ people are finally getting a just punishment, it is important to remember that while this particular battle over the death penalty has been one, the war is far from over.

If you would like to contact Gov.elect Blagojevich as I have, to let him know you think he ought to re-think his position on the death penalty post haste, here is his contact information:

Office of the Governor
207 Statehouse
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-0244
217-782-2239 TDD
217-524-4049 FAX
governor@state.il.us