Month: October 2016

ABC7
— PROTESTERS FACE OFF OUTSIDE TRUMP TOWER IN CHICAGO – Diane Pathieu and Leah Hope
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/protesters-face-off-outside-trump-tower-in-chicago/1560546/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Dueling groups of protesters faced off Tuesday in front of Trump International Hotel and Tower. Both groups said they want their voices heard and plan to keep supporting their candidate until Election Day. During the busy Tuesday morning rush hour, a group of self-described feminists carried graphic pro-women signs referencing lewd comments Trump made about groping women in a 2005 conversation with TV host Billy Bush. A recording of the exchange was made public this month. Many of the signs could not be shown on TV. But their message was clear: they believe Trump is a sexist, who has gotten away with years of mistreating women. “Women are angry. I mean, we’re tired of being silenced. Sexual assault and rape culture is nothing new so Trump is just giving us a visible reason, but I think a lot of women who are here today are here about things they have been feeling for a long time,” said Alicia Swiz, an anti-Trump protest organizer. Some gathered at the protest highlighted the power of the female vote, chanting “women united will never be defeated.” Another group, which was much smaller but just as vocal, was stationed across the street. They said they believe Trump is the right candidate for president, not Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton, and believe the women protesting him have a skewed view of reality. “Donald Trump loves women! He loves all of you [expletive],” a pro-Trump protester yelled. “I’m offended at the hypocrisy because they support a candidate that has Validated Bill Clinton’s sexual assault for decades. Hillary Clinton has enabled Bill Clinton. More women were sexually assaulted because of Hillary Clinton’s actions,” said Suzanne Monk, a pro-Trump protester. Dozens of Chicago police officers surrounded both groups and barricades were set up around Trump Tower to ensure a safe and peaceful environment. The Chicago protest was in conjunction with other anti-Trump protests across the country, including Washington D.C. and New York. Some of the women at Tuesday’s protest left to register to vote.)
— ABC7 CHICAGO TO PARTNER WITH LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, UNIVISION CHICAGO FOR US SENATE DEBATE, 2 US CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/abc7-chicago-to-host-us-senate-debate-2-us-congressional-debates-/1561132/

NBC5
— Rep. Bobby Rush to Revisit Black Panther History This Week  Rep. Bobby Rush is scheduled to take part in a special program at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Power movement. – Tom Schuba  (DIERSEN: In 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors acted like Bobby Rush had ordered them to force me to retire so that GAO could give my job and my preferred corner office to one of my subordinates who was one of Bobby Rush’s constituents.  My Democrat GAO superiors could stress that Jim Thomson and Jim Edgar promote patronage and political affiliation discrimination and that “what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Rep-Rush-to-Revisit-Black-Panther-History-397479811.html

CBS2
— Women Protest Trump On His Own Turf  About 200 protesters gathered at Trump Tower to blast GOP nominee’s treatment of women.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/
— Trump Voter Fraud Charge Not Scaring Local Election Officials – Derrick Blakley  (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct?)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/10/18/trump-voter-fraud-charge-not-scaring-local-election-officials/

FOX NEWS CHICAG
— Illinois football player stands alone during national anthem
http://www.fox32chicago.com/sports/212250296-story

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump tells supporters to watch polls in Chicago, St. Louis and Philadelphia on Election Day – Jenna Johnson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-voter-fraud-chicago-st-louis-philadelphia-20161018-story.html
— It’s the misogyny, stupid – Mary Schmich  (DIERSEN: What about Bill and Hillary Clinton?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/schmich/ct-misogyny-election-mary-schmich-1019-20161018-column.html
— Top of ticket differentiates 6th district candidates – Gary Gibula
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-congress-6th-preview-st-1019-20161018-story.html
— Are you voting for Clinton or Trump? A Twitter tool may already know. – Ally Marotti
http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-twitter-tool-predicts-votes-bsi-20161018-story.html
— DuPage Circuit clerk race offers political choice – Gary Gibula
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/wheaton/news/ct-nvs-circuit-clerk-dupage-preview-st-1019-20161018-story.html
— Is Melania Trump devilishly clever — or totally out of touch? – Jennifer Rubin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-melania-trump-interview-donald-boy-talk-20161018-story.html
— Vote ‘no’ on roads amendment. Then vote ‘yes’ for change in Cook County. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-illinois-election-referendum-roads-recorder-clerk-1019-md-20161018-story.html
— If the Ricketts family supports Trump, then I can’t support the Cubs – Tony Farina, Concord, Mich.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-if-the-ricketts-family-supports-trump-then-i-can-t-support-the-cubs-20161018-story.html
— Arkansas is pleased to forget Hillary Clinton – Bloomberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-hillary-clinton-arkansas-politics-bill-20161017-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov. Bruce Rauner target of $3 million Democrat ad blitz – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: Who targets you?  The following target me: those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/gov-bruce-rauner-target-of-3-million-democrat-ad-blitz/
— Donations at odds with Mendoza’s labor message – Dan Mihalopoulos  (DIERSEN: If you are a Republican candidate, elected official, or party leader, you should not seek or accept donations from individuals, organizations, or companies that are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/mihalopoulos-donations-at-odds-with-mendozas-labor-message/
— Our endorsements in 9 Illinois Senate races  (DIERSEN: Only 2 of the 9 are men.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-our-endorsements-in-9-illinois-senate-races/
— Rauner averts food stamp cutoff – Mark Brown
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/brown-rauner-averts-food-stamp-cutoff/
— Museums join in hope of unifying city’s black, Latino communities – Maudlyne Ihejirika  (DIERSEN: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-White want minorities to unite against Whites and to get rid of Whites.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/museums-join-in-hope-of-unifying-citys-black-latino-communities/
— Lightfoot urges local police apology to people of color – Fran Spielman  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats viciously demonize, denigrate, and condemn police as being racist and even worse things.  Ever-increasingly, Democrats blame police for the problems that minorities have had, are having, and will have.  How should police react to that?)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/lightfoot-urges-local-police-apology-to-people-of-color/
— Miserable milestone: Chicago surpasses 600 homicides this year – Sam Charles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/miserable-milestone-chicago-at-600-homicides-so-far-this-year/

DAILY HERALD
— What some Trump supporters think a ‘rigged’ election would look like – Jenna Johnson (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/news/161018814/
— ‘Mom coach’ tackles sexism while leading Arlington Heights football team – Jamie Sotonoff  (DIERSEN: Did you play football when you were young?  I did not because I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease).  I washed dishes in the basement of the S.S. Kresges in Chicago Heights evenings and Saturdays while I was a junior and senior in high school 1964-1966 and 40 hours a week during the summer of 1965.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/sports/161018835/
— Cook County: Merge or not? Voters have final say in recorder, clerk offices – Anna Marie Kukec
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/news/161018744/
— DiCianni to speak at GOP event in Schaumburg
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/submitted/161018750/
— DuPage tourist office fosters ties with China
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/business/161018822/
— Dold way ahead of Schneider when it comes to campaign cash – Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161018/news/161018742/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Duckworth wants a bonus for Social Security recipients – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: Civil Service Retirement System recipients like me get the same COLA that Social Security recipients get. The COLAs that I have received since I retired in 1997 have been far less then what inflation has been in Wheaton since 1997.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161018/BLOGS02/161019815/duckworth-wants-a-bonus-for-social-security-recipients
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Is she playing Santa Claus right before a big election? Or just helping out little folks who need money at the expense of greedy corporate types? Decide for yourself, but Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Tammy Duckworth surely wants to get some attention with her renewed call today to give every single Social Security and SSA recipient, and those receiving veterans’ benefits, an annual 3.9 percent bonus. That could amount to $581 a head—”almost three months of groceries for seniors or a year’s worth of out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs for the average Medicare beneficiary—Duckworth said in a statement. With roughly 70 million people getting the extra check, the total cost to the treasury would be about $40 billion. Duckworth’s action came in a joint statement with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of the Senate’s leading progressives, a day after officials announced that the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be a near-invisible 0.3 percent for 2017 after zero this year. The Social Security Administration says the modest hike is all that’s warranted, given inflation. But Duckworth termed it “another disappointment” and “inadequate.” Warren and Duckworth said 3.9 percent amounts to the average percentage raise that top corporate CEOs received in the last year. And to pay for the Social Security bonus, the two would eliminate business’ tax deductibility for bonus payments on top of salary that some companies make to their chiefs. In fact, Duckworth’s office says, such corporate “performance” payments now amount to 55 percent of total CEO compensation. The underlying bill Duckworth and Warren favor to accomplish this has been stalled in the GOP-dominated Congress for a while. But they’re clearly hoping to jump-start it. Duckworth’s opponent, incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., had no immediate comment.)
— Behind that police union endorsement of Donald Trump – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161018/BLOGS02/161019819/behind-that-police-union-endorsement-of-donald-trump

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Billboard taunts Trump in Arabic  Ads put up in Michigan, Chicago, Orlando  (DIERSEN: Ever increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/billboard-taunts-trump-in-arabic

NORTHWEST HERALD
— 6th Congressional District candidates Peter Roskam, Amanda Howland differ along party lines – KEVIN P. CRAVER
http://www.nwherald.com/2016/10/18/6th-congressional-district-candidates-peter-roskam-amanda-howland-differ-along-party-lines/acqd25h/

WSIL TV
— ‘Stop whining,’ Obama tells Trump, chiding for fraud talk – AP (DIERSEN: QUESTION FOR OBAMA: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/33413130/stop-whining-obama-tells-trump
— Trump to bring Obama’s half-brother to debate – AP
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/33416247/the-latest-pence-calls-firebombing-political-terrorism

WJBD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps Still Promoting Remarks from 2005 Video
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2016/10/18/trumps-supporters-still-downplaying-remarks-from-2005-video

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Local tax agent’s suit alleges he was forced out after suffering stroke – DON O’BRIEN
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article108907212.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to the lawsuit, Kibort began working for the Department of Revenue at the end of March 2015. He previously had spent more than 30 years with the Internal Revenue Service, working on cases that involved tax fraud and money laundering. The lawsuit said he worked with a fraud group and served as an expert witness in criminal tax proceedings on behalf of the government.)

8. LOUIS TODAY
   — DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrat media suppresses “Clinton email woes ahead of debate.”
   http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/govt-and-politcs/republicans-revive-clinton-email-woes-ahead-of-debate/article_ad1b6496-374b-53b2-a54f-53d94d3aa9d8.html

CHICAGO PATCH
— New survey results spell bad news for Gov. Rauner  Rauner did not fare well in a recent survey of registered voters on whether they approve or disapprove of their governor’s job performance.  (DIERSEN: What do you do and who judges your performance?  I send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and I am judged by everyone in Illinois.  The following disapprove of what I do: those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/new-survey-results-spell-bad-news-governor-rauner
— Anti-Donald Trump Demonstrators Protest Outside Candidate’s Hotel  The rally was held in response to the “blatant misogyny displayed” by the GOP presidential candidate’s campaign. – Joe Vince  (DIERSEN: What about Bill and Hillary Clinton?)
http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/anti-donald-trump-demonstrators-protest-outside-candidates-hotel
— Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez: Refusal to Stay at Donald Trump’s Chicago Hotel a Private, Personal Matter  In May, the 1st baseman quietly asked to stay at another hotel during games vs. the Cubs. That request is making headlines 5 months later. – Joe Vince  (DIERSEN: The more hatred of Trump that you display, the more the following love you: those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/dodgers-adrian-gonzalez-refusal-stay-trumps-chicago-hotel-private-personal-matter

REBOOT ILLINOIS
— “In the Loop” assesses Bruce Rauner’s performance as midterm elections near (DIERSEN: What do you do and who judges your performance?  I send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and I am judged by everyone in Illinois.  The following disapprove of what I do: those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://rebootillinois.com/video/loop-assesses-bruce-rauners-performance-midterm-elections-near/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IN FRONT OF BILLY GRAHAM CENTER IN WHEATON, “DONALD TRUMP IS ANTICHRIT” (DIERSEN: Of course, obviously, needless-to-say, without question, all elected officials who represent all or part of Wheaton, all candidates who are seeking to represent all or part of Wheaton, all officers of political parties that represent all or part of Wheaton, all those who have religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, and everyone else should strongly condemn this.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/in-front-of-billy-graham-center-in-wheaton-donald-trump-is-antichrit.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: WHEATON – While evangelist Billy Graham’s son Franklin Graham stands solidly behind the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, students at the elder Graham’s alma mater Wheaton College are evidently not in agreement. “Donald Trump is the ‘Anti-Chrit'”, a misspelled chalking said on the steps of the evangelical school’s Billy Graham Center. Although Graham has declared his continuing support for Trump despite videos revealing and rumors suggesting immoral behavior which Graham preaches against, he wrote on his Facebook page this week that he’s not condoning Trump’s behavior: “A lot of people are slamming evangelicals for supposedly giving Donald J. Trump a pass. That’s simply not true. No one is giving him a pass. I’m certainly not, and I’ve not met an evangelical yet who condones his language or inexcusable behavior from over a decade ago. However, he has apologized to his wife, his family, and to the American people for this. He has taken full responsibility. This election isn’t about Donald Trump’s behavior from 11 years ago or Hillary Clinton’s recent missing emails, lies, and false statements. This election is about the Supreme Court and the justices that the next president will nominate. Evangelicals are going to have to decide which candidate they trust to nominate men and women to the court who will defend the constitution and support religious freedoms. My prayer is that Christians will not be deceived by the liberal media about what is at stake for future generations.”)
— WHERE’S WEYERMULLER?AT #P**SSYGRABSBACK PROTEST AT CHICAGO’S TRUMP TOWER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/wheres-weyermullerat-pssygrabsback-protest-at-chicagos-trump-tower.html
— THORNER: TIME TO VIEW TRUMP THROUGH A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/thorner-time-to-view-trump-through-a-different-set-of-eyes.html#more

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democratic heads roll after video shows agitators planted at Trump rallies – Valerie Richardson
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/18/undercover-video-shows-democrats-saying-they-hire-/

GOPUSA
— Fears rise that GOP office firebombing will stifle free speech as election nears  (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois, how many do not display Trump signs because they fear theft, vandalism, or even worse things?  Clinton supporters are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means.  They are disciples of Saul Alinsky and even worse people.)
http://www.gopusa.com/fears-rise-that-gop-office-firebombing-will-stifle-free-speech-as-election-nears/
— Dangerous leftists ones we really need to worry about  (DIERSEN: Who are the dangerous leftists in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?  Should I write a book about dangerous leftists who have threatened me?)
http://www.gopusa.com/dangerous-leftists-ones-we-really-need-to-worry-about/
— Shepard Smith admits he’s homosexual to the surprise of no one  (DIERSEN: Those who promote LGBTQ activity, their operatives, and their dupes have always worked the hardest against me.  Should I write a book about them?)
http://www.gopusa.com/shepard-smith-admits-hes-homosexual-to-the-surprise-of-no-one/

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— Dem Operatives Admit on Hot Mic They Started Chicago Riot That Shut Down Trump Rally & That’s Not All – VICTORIA TAFT
http://ijr.com/2016/10/715882-dem-operatives-admit-on-hot-mic-they-started-chicago-riot-that-shut-down-trump-rally-thats-not-all/

DAILY CALLER
— Activist Who Took Credit For Violent Chicago Protests Was On Hillary’s Payroll – Blake Neff
http://dailycaller.com/2016/10/18/activist-who-took-credit-for-violent-chicago-protests-was-on-hillarys-payroll/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Eric Holder named to lead effort to destroy GOP after Hillary wins the presidency – Thomas Lifson
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/10/eric_holder_named_to_lead_effort_to_destroy_gop_after_hillary_wins_the_presidency.html#.WATpTTs1mGc.facebook

LIFE SITE NEWS
— DePaul blasts ‘Unborn Lives Matter’ posters as ‘bigotry,’ bans them on campus – Lisa Bourne  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who dominate DePaul show that they are anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.  How soon, if not already, will DePaul acknowledge that it is a disgusting arm of the Democrat Party.)
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/depaul-university-president-calls-unborn-lives-matter-posters-bigotry-bans

THE HILL
— Republicans bristle at notion they failed to vet Trump – Jonathan Swan  (DIERSEN: Who is responsible for vetting Republican candidates in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?  How comprehensive is their vetting?  What criteria do they use to recommend a candidate or not?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/301616-republicans-bristle-at-notion-they-failed-to-vet-trump
— Trump proposes term limits for Congress – Harper Neidig  (DIERSEN: Constructively, non-veteran White male federal employees are term limited.  The federal government wastes their careers gets rid of them if they do not make GS-13 ($92,632) by age 25, GS-14 ($109,463) by age 30, GS-15 ($128,759) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($160,300) by age 40. It is called reverse discrimination and age discrimination.)
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/301611-trump-proposes-term-limits-for-congress-members
— GOP senators avoid Trump questions on rigged election – Peter Sullivan  (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/301680-gop-senators-avoid-trump-questions-on-rigged-election

POLITICO
— RNC members agree with Trump: It’s rigged  Many top GOP officials believe the fix is in. – Kyle Cheney  (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/republican-national-committee-election-rigged-229936

CNN
— Obama: Trump’s rigged election claim ‘whining before the game’s even over’ – Kevin Liptak  (DIERSEN: QUESTION FOR OBAMA: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/18/politics/obama-trumps-rigged-election-claim-whining-before-the-games-even-over/index.html

REUTERS
— WOMEN TO TRUMP: HANDS OFF  Eve Rydberg (L) and Megan Lee pose for a portrait with their sign as they take part in a protest against Donald Trump outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, Illinois.
http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/women-to-trump-hands-off?articleId=USRTX2PDN0

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Mike Pence calls firebombing in North Carolina ‘political terrorism’ – Kurtis Lee
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-mike-pence-calls-firebombing-in-north-1476815612-htmlstory.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Federal retirees to get small sip of COLA – Eric Yoder (DIERSEN: Civil Service Retirement System recipients like me get the same COLA that Social Security recipients get. The COLAs that I have received since I retired in 1997 have been far less then what inflation has been in Wheaton since 1997.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/10/18/federal-retirees-to-get-small-sip-of-cola/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Annuity benefits to retired federal employees will increase by 0.3 percent in January, the government announced Tuesday, a cost-of-living adjustment that translates into a monthly boost averaging around $10. The adjustment, or COLA, to federal retirement benefits mirrors that for Social Security and is based on the change in an inflation index from the third calendar quarter of one year to the next. Tuesday’s announcement follows the release of the inflation figure for September, the last month of that count. As of Oct. 1, 2015, there were about 2,054,000 federal retirees plus about another 545,000 survivor beneficiaries, according to the Office of Personnel Management. There are about 44,500 retirees or survivor beneficiaries in the District, about 163,200 in Maryland and about 144,500 in Virginia. California has the most, 215,500. Seventy percent of federal retirees draw their benefits from the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), which generally applies to those first hired before 1984; by contrast, more than 90 percent of current federal employees are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which generally applies to those first hired in 1984 or after. The average monthly annuity of a CSRS retiree as of October 2015 was $3,529, while the average for those retired under FERS was $1,355. Average monthly benefits for survivor beneficiaries of deceased retirees were $1,560 and $544, respectively. There was no cost-of-living increase under either federal retirement program or under Social Security in January of this year, because the inflation count for the measuring period toward that adjustment ended in negative territory. In that situation — which has happened two other times in recent years — benefits are not cut. The two federal retirement programs differ in that FERS employees pay into Social Security as well as into the federal retirement fund and become eligible for a benefit from that program. Social Security is not part of the CSRS system, although some under CSRS become eligible for a Social Security benefit through other work or through a spouse’s employment; in those cases, offsets commonly reduce or even eliminate that benefit. The average monthly Social Security benefit nationwide is $1,355. FERS employees also get employer contributions, of up to 5 percent of salary, toward the Thrift Savings Plan, the 401(k)-style retirement saving program for federal workers, while CSRS employees don’t. But while all CSRS retirees receive a full COLA regardless of age, those retired under FERS don’t receive COLAs until age 62 unless they fall under certain exceptions. Also, a FERS COLA is reduced if the inflation count exceeds 2 percent, a provision that hasn’t applied since the 2012 boost. A COLA applies only to retirees, not to active employees, most of whom are in line for a raise averaging 1.6 percent in January. Increases for the two groups are set through different processes, and the amounts don’t necessarily track each other. Federal retirees commonly use increases in their health insurance costs as a comparator to the COLA. In the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) — for which most federal retirees are eligible — the enrollee share of premiums will increase by 6.2 percent on average in January. That translates into about $11 a month more on average for self-only coverage, about $22 more for self-plus-one coverage and about $28 more for family coverage. However, enrollees have the choice of many plans in an upcoming open season — 31 in the Washington area — and some insurers are holding premiums about steady or even decreasing them slightly. . .National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association President Richard G. Thissen said the developments show that the COLA increase should be determined by a separate inflation measure that specifically tracks spending patterns of retirees. “Given the large increase in health care and insurance costs, it is crystal clear that the current formula does not accurately reflect how seniors spend their limited annuities,” he said in a statement. Many federal retirees also are enrolled in Medicare, which acts as the first payer for those who also have FEHBP coverage. About half of those retired under the CSRS, along with certain other Medicare enrollees, could face much higher premiums for their Part B (physicians and related services) coverage in 2017 than others will pay. That’s due to a “hold harmless” provision protecting most enrollees from Medicare hikes that exceed the increase in their Social Security benefits — effectively passing the entire Medicare premium cost increase to those not protected. Next year’s Medicare premium rates are to be announced in November. Last year, Congress provided partial relief for the 2016 plan year for those affected, and a coalition including federal employee and retiree groups recently wrote to Congress seeking an extension. “Congress must act now to prevent a massive increase in Medicare Part B premiums for this group of retirees,” American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox Sr. said in a statement. “Although most seniors would be protected, this group will have to pay more solely because of the uniqueness of their pension system.”)

USA TODAY
— Mark Kirk faces Trump’s shadow in Illinois Senate race – Aamer Madhani
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/18/mark-kirk-tammy-duckworth-illinois-senate-race-trump/92326256/

MONEY MAGAZINE
— 20 Top Colleges Where Most Students Graduate Debt-Free – Kim Clark  (DIERSEN: Did you graduate debt-free?  I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE a) because my outstanding parents provided me with room and board while attended UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969 and b) because I worked all the hours that I could for the Park Forest Post Office part-time while UIC and NIU were in session and full-time during the summers of 1967, 1968, and 1969.)
http://time.com/money/4534408/colleges-where-most-students-graduate-debt-free/
— 6 Signs You’re Working for a Sinking Ship – Kristen Bahler  (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, as Republican politicians cut GAO’s budget in relative if not absolute terms, GAO was a sinking ship, and especially for its employees like me who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://time.com/money/4531787/sinking-ship-failing-company/