U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin opened Pandora's box when, in answer to a question at a news conference, the recently re-elected senator said he was "reviewing" whether to ask President Bush to commute the sentence of former Gov. George Ryan.

Durbin ought to borrow a phrase from NFL football referees who evaluate calls with instant replays: "Upon further review, the play stands."

Gov. Rod Blagojevich already has called for Bush to show compassion toward Ryan. And Ryan's attorney, former Gov. James Thompson, is characterizing Durin's comments as supporting clemency - even though Durbin just said he was considering such support.

Ryan's 6½-year sentence for racketeering conspiracy, tax fraud and mail fraud should stand.

He has only served a little more than a year of that sentence and has shown no repentance or remorse for the acts that landed him in a minimum-security federal prison and caused him to lose his state pension. The pension ruling is still the subject of a court battle.

Have Ryan and his family suffered? Certainly. We are not without compassion for his wife, Lura Lynn, who is described as being in "frail health." But Ryan brought this on himself.

Durbin said "the question is whether continued imprisonment is appropriate at this point."

The answer, Sen. Durbin, is "Yes."

The answer is "yes" because releasing Ryan at this point would send a bad message - several bad messages, actually - and would further erode the public's faith in government integrity, a faith already battered by the Ryan's role in what became known as the licenses-for-bribes scandal.

Freeing Ryan from prison now would send a message that those with powerful political friends get favorable treatment in our justice system.

Commuting his sentence would send a message to other politicians that engaging in corruption doesn't carry a great price or big risk - even if you get caught and convicted, you can get a break.

Executive clemency also would send a disheartening message to the investigators and prosecutors who worked hard to build the case against Ryan and his cohorts. It would tell them that their efforts are not valued. That's a bad message to send at any time, but especially when many of the same prosecutors are in the midst of investigating more political corruption cases in Illinois.

A commutation also would send a poor message to the families of those who were killed in accidents involving truckers who received their licenses by paying bribes - bribes that were part of the case against Ryan.

So, our message to Durbin - and to President Bush - is to leave Ryan's name off the list of consideration for a reduction in his sentence.