Month: October 2016

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider gave an outstanding presentation at the outstanding Milton Township Republican Central Committee Oktoberfest  Dinner Monday evening, October 3, 2016, at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton. The 160+ attendees included state representatives and senators and candidates Breen, Connelly, Holan, Ives, and Nybo; past and present DuPage County officials and candidates Berlin, Bucholz, Cronin,  Eckhoff, Elloitt, Formento, Grant, Grogan, Henry, Jorgensen, Kachiroubas, King, Krajewski, Larsen, McGowen, Mendrick, A. Murphy, Whelan, and Zay; Milton Township officials Falbo, Heidorn, Hinkle, Keller, LeVan, Molitor, Muehlfelt, and Nathwani; party leaders Carlson and Minor; past and present judges Brennan,  Elsner, Fullerton, Jorgensen, Orel, Popejoy, and Wilson; and many others including Bond, Caruso, Cherry, Crane, Danelgo, Demos, Fitzgerald, Grant, Lofgren, MacNeily, Menna, Rash, Ryan, and Wehling. Major event sponsors included Berlin, Bernard, Breen, Bucholz, Cantore, Carlson, Connelly, Cronin, Demos, Eckhoff, Elliott, Amy Grant, Grogan, Heidorn, Henry, Hinds, Hinkle. Ives, Kachiroubas, Keller, Larsen, LaVanway, LeVan, Mazzochi, McNeily, Minor, Molitor, Muehlfelt, A. Murphy, Nybo, Roskam, Ruscitti, Whelan, Zaruba, and Zay. – Dave Diersen

ABC7
— DUCKWORTH FORCES KIRK TO ADDRESS ABC7 DEBATE AT EDITORIAL BOARD PANEL – Charles Thomas
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/duckworth-forces-kirk-to-address-abc7-debate-at-editorial-board-panel/1537548/

NBC5
— Kirk, Duckworth Square-Off in Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Debate  Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Tammy Duckworth squared-off Monday during a meeting with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, covering a range of topics including national security and the current presidential race. – Tom Schuba
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Kirk-Duckworth-Square-Off-in-Tribune-Editorial-Board-Debate-395720841.html

CBS2
— Kirk, Duckworth Square Off In First Debate For U.S. Senate Seat – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/10/03/kirk-duckworth-square-off-in-first-debate-for-u-s-senate-seat/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Clinton tears into Trump on taxes; he says he’ll save nation – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/209286778-story

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Sugar Grove man Jim Gibson shares inside view of Trump pageant controversy – Denise Crosby
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-trump-pageants-st-1004-20161004-column.html
— Illinois House endorsements, round 1
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-illinois-house-endorsement-madigan-rauner-edit-1004-md-20161004-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Tribune Editorial Board begins its endorsements today for the Illinois House. Of the 118 seats on ballots statewide, only 48 are contested. That’s right. Seventy lawmakers will cruise to another term without a challenger on Nov. 8. We start with districts based in Chicago.)
— Duckworth goes on offensive against low-key Kirk at first Senate race forum – Rick Pearson and Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-kirk-duckworth-us-senate-tribune-met-1004-20161003-story.html
— After rare sighting at opera, Rahm invited to dance in ‘Nutcracker’ – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-rahm-emanuel-lyric-opera-chicago-inc-20161003-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The sexism undergirding Trump’s campaign.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-trump-giuliani-woman-sexism-huppke-20161003-story.html
— Trump says ‘race riots’ are happening every month – Sean Sullivan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-race-riots-20161003-story.html
— Chatty Duckworth makes it hard to evaluate Kirk’s recovery – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-mark-kirk-tammy-duckworth-debate-perspec-20161003-column.html
— Hastert victim joins push to end statute of limitations on child sex crimes – Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-dennis-hastert-statute-of-limitations-met-20161003-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— State gets another credit downgrade due to pension woes – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/state-gets-another-credit-downgrade-due-to-pension-woes/
— Your voice drowned out by big unions and billionaires – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-give-average-voters-voice-in-high-profile-elections/
— Pope to U.S. Catholics: Study, pray, vote your conscience – AP (DIERSEN: What about candidates who 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://elections.ap.org/suntimes/content/pope-us-catholics-study-pray-vote-your-conscience
— Trump voters don’t care if he pays taxes – Mark Brown
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/brown-trump-voters-dont-care-if-he-pays-taxes/

DAILY HERALD
— Madigan’s tenure at center of 84th House District race – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161003/news/161009686/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Kirk, Duckworth clash over cops, Syria, Trump’s taxes and more – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161003/BLOGS02/161009988/kirk-duckworth-clash-over-cops-syria-trumps-taxes-and-more

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump running out of time as controversies pile up and Campaign consumed by New York Times fallout.”
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/trump-running-out-of-time-as-controversies-pile-up
— Trump: Military suicides happen to troops who ‘can’t handle it’  Comment comes during military panel in Virginia – CNN  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that while they could “handle it,” I could not.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/trump-military-suicides-happen-to-troops-who-cant-handle-it

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Re-elect Davis – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2016-10-03/re-elect-davis.html

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Indian American GOP group endorses Khouri in U.S. House race – Kerry Goff
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511014680-indian-american-gop-group-endorses-khouri-in-u-s-house-race

MCHENRY TIMES
— Reick recommends reforms for Illinois education spending – Carol Ostrow
http://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511014358-reick-recommends-reforms-for-illinois-education-spending

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS’ JILL STANEK JOINS TRUMP’S PRO-LIFE COALITION LEADERSHIP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/illinois-jill-stanek-joins-trumps-pro-life-coalitions-national-co-chairs.html
— DOLD SNUBS GOP NOMINEE TRUMP AND PARTY PLATFORM IN LATEST AD
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/dold-snubs-gop-nominee-trump-and-party-platform-in-latest-ad.html
— TRYON ENDORSES ALLEN SKILLICORN TO SUCCEED HIM IN 66TH IL HOUSE DISTRICT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/tryon-endorses-allen-skillicorn-to-succeed-him-in-66th-il-house-district.html
— THORNER: ARTICLE V CONVENTION SUPPORTERS ARE DELUSIONAL NEW RINOS  (DIERSEN: Those who want to change the constitution 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://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/thorner-article-v-convention-supporters-are-delusional-new-rinos.html

CAPITOL FAX
— The Illinois campaign money tree has a lot of branches
http://capitolfax.com/2016/10/03/the-illinois-campaign-money-tree-has-a-lot-of-branches/
— Duckworth poll has her ahead of Kirk 46-37
http://capitolfax.com/2016/10/03/duckworth-poll-has-her-ahead-46-37-over-kirk/

LIFEZETTE
— Over 1,000 Illegal Voters in Eight Virginia Localities  New report finds evidence of widespread voter fraud in the crucial swing state – Jim Stinson
http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/bombshell-1000-illegal-votes-cast-eight-virginia-localities/

TOWNHALL
— Hell NO: Duke University Now Has Safe Spaces For Men To Cure Them Of Toxic Masculinity – Matt Vespa
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2016/10/03/hell-no-duke-university-now-has-safe-spaces-for-men-to-cure-them-of-toxic-masculinity-n2227505

BARWIRE
— YES HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US – BILL MUEHLENBERG
http://barbwire.com/2016/10/03/yes-homosexual-marriage-impacts-every-single-one-us/

GOPUSA
— Media Bias Produces Mental Illness ‘Ameriphobia’ (DIERSEN: Just about everyone in the media is 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.gopusa.com/?p=15501
— Judge rejects plea from states to stop U.S. from giving up control of Internet
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=15475
— CA Gov. Brown signs law decriminalizing underage prostitution
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=15514
— Family Bakery Bullied by Militant LGBT Mob Closes
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=15544
— Obama’s hometown paper rejects Hillary, endorses Libertarian
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=15510

CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— IF WE’RE GOING TO TRUST GOVERNMENTS TO ENFORCE LAW, THEN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD OBEY LAW (AND LIMIT LAW) – Kent Kellar  (DIERSEN: Democrats run America. Democrats are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means.  Democrats obey/enforce only those laws that defend and advance the Democrat Party platform.)
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2016/10/03/if-were-going-to-trust-governments-to-enforce-law-then-governments-should-obey-law-and-limit-law/
— STATE AGS FIGHT TO STOP INTERNET SURRENDER AT 11TH HOUR BUT FAIL – Kent Kellar
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2016/10/03/state-ags-fight-to-stop-internet-surrender-at-11th-hour-but-fail/

THE BLAZE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump demeaned women backstage on The Apprentice.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/10/03/report-trump-demeaned-women-backstage-on-the-apprentice/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Lawmakers: Obama’s hiring of political appointees ‘deeply troubling’ – SUSAN FERRECHIO  (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.  IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.  The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lawmakers-obamas-hiring-of-political-appointees-deeply-troubling/article/2603443
(FROM THE ARTICLE: House and Senate lawmakers Monday called for changes to federal hiring practices that appear to be fostering political favoritism in the Obama administration, by making it too easy for political appointees to become career federal workers. A new report issued by the Government Accountability Office found that out of 69 cases in the Obama administration where federal appointees were able to convert political jobs to career federal service positions, a quarter of those hires “did not follow proper procedures intended to prevent improper political favoritism.” The process of political appointees converting their appointments into career positions is known as burrowing. “The nonpartisan watchdog’s findings that one out of every four political appointees who burrowed into the executive branch during this administration did not follow the rules is deeply troubling,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said in a statement. “One of the reasons the federal government has laws on merit-based hiring is to prevent cronyism and political favoritism,” said Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. “GAO’s finding that the Obama administration hasn’t consistently followed these rules is troubling.” The GAO found that among the 30 agencies reviewed, 28 reported “converting 69 individuals from political to career positions from January 1, 2010, to October 1, 2015,” and among those, 17 were hired without required review by the Office of Personnel Management. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, called for the administration to impose “a more stringent process,” for hiring employees who began as political appointees. The largest number of appointee-to-career federal employee conversions took place at the Department of Homeland Security.)

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Reagan’s Son Rails Against Trump In Fiery Tweetstorm.  “If this is where he is going I cannot follow him,” he wrote in a Twitter barrage.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/reagans-son-trump-tweets_us_57f25083e4b024a52d2f9b21

MCCLATCHY DC
— The Latest: Duckworth, Kirk debate college affordability – AP  (DIERSEN: Who paid for your college education? I paid for my bachelors degree and three masters degrees with money that I earned washing dishes, cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, pumping gasoline, delivering mail, working on an automobile assembly line, working as a security guard, selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances, collecting delinquent taxes, and auditing federal agencies.  But that was back in the “good old days” when college expenses were much lower.)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article105654056.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Foundation Ordered to Halt Fundraising in New York  Attorney General Eric Schneiderman cites organization’s failure to properly register with state – JOSHUA JAMERSON
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-organization-ordered-to-halt-fundraising-by-new-york-attorney-general-1475517138?mod=djemalertNEWS

FORBES
— Mark Kirk And The Failure Of GOP Moderates – Chris Ladd
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisladd/2016/10/03/markkirk/#218d229b5c09
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois sent a Republican to the US Senate in 2010. Mark Kirk won in an otherwise solidly Democratic state by positioning himself as a unique brand of Republican. Voters saw him as a courageously pragmatic voice, a counterbalance to the extremism sweeping the GOP elsewhere in the country. Senator Kirk has been a bitter disappointment, slipping into the timid habits of the party’s other moderates. Now Illinois voters are about to bring him home. Sending Mark Kirk to the Senate has accomplished nothing for Illinois other than to empower outrageous characters like Ted Cruz and Jim Inhofe. When Senator Ted Cruz held the entire country hostage to his filibuster of a budget compromise, how did Kirk protect his constituents? By sitting in the background, waiting for a green light from Senate Republican leadership to end the filibuster. Kirk did nothing to mobilize opposition to Cruz’s goals or tactics and never opposed him publicly. Like other reasonable Republicans in Washington, he kept his head down, missing every opportunity to rally sane, pragmatic Republicans into a relevant power bloc. When Senator Rand Paul organized a bizarre, paranoia-laden rant of a filibuster to halt the appointment of the CIA Director, Illinois voters might have expected their Senator speak up for their interests against the “whacko bird” caucus. Instead, Kirk brought Senator Paul a snack. Contrary to popular belief, the Republican Party still retains a core of solid citizens with the country’s best interests at heart. Many of those Republicans, like Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rob Portman, occupy positions from which they could affect change in the party. Unfortunately, sensible Republicans have consistently been spineless in the face of opposition from the party’s fringes. Elect a reasonable figure like Mark Kirk and he will meekly place every ounce of his (your) power and influence in the service of the carnival barkers at the party’s extremes. Speaking to audiences in Illinois, Kirk has been proud to support immigration reform. In Washington, silence. In Illinois, Kirk has claimed to embrace scientists’ positions on climate change. In Washington when he could have taken a stand that mattered, he blinked. Facing friendly audiences in Illinois Kirk admits to being pro-choice. When he gets to Washington his pro-choice credentials are hidden in some obscure Senate closet, only taken out be used on votes with no consequence. Kirk has refused to support Donald Trump, but like almost every other prominent Republican he has done so quietly and ineffectively, in a manner calculated to deliver the weakest impact. On issue after issue, Kirk lines up with Illinois voters until he leaves the state. In the face of opposition from other Republicans in Washington, Kirk takes the safe route. Blind to the irony, Kirk has made “courage” the signature of his campaign for re-election. His remarkable recovery from a stroke, which features at the center of his campaign message, makes his Senate record all the more awkward. Kirk struggled back to health in the face of  paralysis, eventually scaling several flights of stairs in the Willis Tower in a remarkable demonstration of grit and determination. Clearly the man possesses a powerful well of courage. Where was that steely force when Illinois voters needed it? Kirk will claim that he’s been courageous in taking a stand with Democratic Senator Menendez to impose sanctions on Iran. What courage does that take exactly? What powerful, well-funded lobby supports Iran in Washington? In Washington, “taking on Iran” is about as courageous as taunting an asthmatic kid on the playground. It would take actual courage for a Republican Senator to champion a rational response to climate change or gun violence. That is the force Illinois voters thought Kirk would bring to bear on their behalf in the Senate. Instead, Kirk has trained his courage on a politically impotent force, one of the least popular countries on the planet. Kirk has reserved his courage for political targets that won’t fight back. In private, sensible Republicans who occupy influential positions in Washington will claim that they are doing all they can. They will claim that they are carefully picking their battles. Climate change, immigration reform, and restructuring the tax code are issues they would like to push forward, but the party at the national level is not ready for sound solutions. These timid moderates are right about the party’s serious problems. Their complicity is making the party’s sickness more severe. Sensible figures like Susan Collins and Mark Kirk have come to play a toxic, enabling role in the GOP’s descent into madness. Their placid party loyalty lends credibility to outlandish characters like Louie Gohmert, Ted Cruz, Steve King and Donald Trump. Republican leaders like Kirk cannot continue to evade responsibility for the extremism they legitimize. Until someone in the Republican Party is willing to take a visible, courageous stand for sanity in the style of John McCain circa 2000, there is no reason to keep electing them. Any vote for a supposedly “sane” or “reasonable” Republican unwilling to confront the party’s extremes is a vote for those extremes. Electing Mark Kirk is a mistake Illinois voters are unlikely to repeat.)

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Say Their Politics Aren’t Influenced By Social Media
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/september_2016/most_say_their_politics_aren_t_influenced_by_social_media

ACCOUNTING WEB
— GAO Critical of IRS’s Field Collection Processes – Terry Sheridan  (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $77,899-$88,286).  GAO audits IRS.  I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980.  GAO intentionally wasted my knowledge of IRS. GAO assigned me to audits of IRS for only 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO and they were audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division 1986-1988.  GAO would not have wasted my knowledge of IRS if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
http://www.accountingweb.com/tax/irs/gao-critical-of-irss-field-collection-processes