Month: October 2017

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov race funds top $100 million — due to Rauner, Pritzker deep pockets – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-race-funds-top-100-million-due-to-rauner-pritzker-deep-pockets/
— State budget impasse over, but not social service agency pain – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-state-budget-impasse-over-but-not-social-service-agency-pain/
— Labor leader apologizes, says ‘no sexist intent’ in Kennedy aide rap – Dan Mihalopoulos
Gov race funds top $100 million — due to Rauner, Pritzker deep pockets Tina Sfondeles
— Trump punts on Senate ‘blue slips’ for judges; Chicago impact – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-trump-punts-on-senate-blue-slips-for-judges-chicago-impact/
— Stand up and shout for decent health care in Illinois – Editorial  (DIERSEN: Knowing that the federal government pays 75% of retiree health care insurance helped me endure my Democrat superiors’ tremendous efforts to waste my career and to get rid of me. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-stand-up-and-shout-for-decent-health-care-in-illinois/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner to start borrowing $6 billion today – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-illinois-bonds-20171017-story.html
— Dennis Hastert accuser’s lawsuit invokes Monica Lewinsky, Anita Hill – Christy Gutowski and Hannah Leone
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-dennis-hastert-lawsuit-filing-20171013-story.html
— Bidding high is worth the risk to win Amazon’s second headquarters – Robert Reed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-amazon-magic-number-incentives-robert-reed-1017-story.html
— Trump’s threats against the press are hollow, but not harmless – Margaret Sullivan (DIERSEN: Ever since I started sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails in 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have focused on stopping me from sending out the emails and stopping everyone from reading the emails. They crow that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, etc.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-media-trump-nbc-first-amendment-1017-20171016-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Leonard Pitts says “In an extreme world, Democrats need to move left.”  Ever-increasing, Democrats call members of the following groups White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. What more does Pitts want Democrats to do?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-pitts-democrats-left-agenda-1017-20171016-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Advice for Democrats in Campaign 2018 – Editorial (DIERSEN: What about advising Democrats to stop calling Republicans White supremacists, Nazis, KKK member, haters, racists, bigots, and even worse things?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171016/editorial-advice-for-democrats-in-campaign-2018
— Crime down in Kane County, but domestic violence trend troubling – Harry Hitzeman
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171016/crime-down-in-kane-county-but-domestic-violence-trend-troubling

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ken Griffin is Illinois’ richest resident – LISA BERTAGNOLI  (DIERSEN: Who are the richest people in your municipality, in your township/ward, and in your county?  What do you say to those who try to curry favor with the rich a) by glorifying and praising those who they believe the rich like and b) by demonizing, denigrating, and condemning those who they believe the rich do not like?  I should write a book about the aforesaid in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171017/NEWS07/171019894

WTTW
— Mayor Promises Tax Relief for Homeowners in 2018 City Budget Proposal – Paris Schutz
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/10/16/mayor-promises-tax-relief-homeowners-2018-city-budget-proposal

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA
— Madigan attempting a nasty-to-nice makeover – Jim Dey (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who want to viewed as being nasty and even worse things. They would love it. They do everything that they can to make me angry at them.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-10-17/jim-dey-madigan-attempting-nasty-nice-makeover.html

TIMES
— Marter: Kinzinger not conservative – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/rival-kinzinger-not-conservative/article_56af06f8-56e7-51e1-af24-3076230e54e2.html

WGLT
— Townships Could Revert To Gravel Roads – CHARLIE SCHLENKER
http://wglt.org/post/townships-could-revert-gravel-roads#stream/0

CHICAGO NOW
— GOP efforts to amend Governor Rauner’s abortion bill don’t go far enough – April Leachman
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-on-the-radar/2017/10/gop-efforts-to-amend-governor-rauners-abortion-bill-dont-go-far-enough/
— Who best represents Republicans in 62nd State Rep. District– Conservative Bob Bednar or Moderate to conservative Kenny Idstein? – Jeff Berkowitz  (DIERSEN: I would ask which candidate would do the best job of defending and advancing the Illinois Republican Party platform?)
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2017/10/who-best-represents-republicans-in-62nd-state-rep-district-conservative-bob-bednar-or-moderate-to-conservative-kenny-idstein/

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Socialist state rep. demands Chicago “rent control;” would be a boon to capitalist landlords – W.J. Kennedy
http://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511243905-socialist-state-rep-demands-chicago-rent-control-would-be-a-boon-to-capitalist-landlords

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— BOOK ANALYZES CAMPUS WAR AGAINST FREEDOM OF THOUGHT  Review of No Campus for White Men: The Transformation of Higher Education into Hateful Indoctrination, by Scott Greer – Jay Lehr
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/book-analyzes-insanity-gripping-modern-campuses
— POLL: PUBLIC VASTLY UNDERESTIMATES AVERAGE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER SALARY – Harry Painter
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/public-vastly-underestimates-average-public-school-teacher-salary-poll-shows

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Report calls Rauner’s fiscal management second-worst in country
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-report-calls-rauners-fiscal-management-second-worst-in-country/

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Republicans push back against abortion bill  GOP fights taxpayer funded abortions – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/capitol-connection/republicans-push-back-against-abortion-bill/836417858

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— HARIBO TO CREATE 55 NEW JOBS IN ROSEMONT FOR $1.67M IN EDGE TAX BREAKS  Under its agreement with the state of Illinois, the candy company Haribo of America will bring 25 new jobs to its Rosemont headquarters by October 2018, followed by another 30 by October 2021. – Brendan Bakala
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/haribo-to-create-55-new-jobs-in-rosemont-for-1-67m-in-edge-tax-breaks/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Medusa’s Pink Hat & the ERA – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/medusas-pink-hat-era/

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Illinois GOP, return Bruce Rauner’s $4.45 million pro-abortion bribe (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes.)
https://realgopillinois.com/2017/10/17/return-4-45-million-bribe-rauner/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Remember how Republican officials were so outraged over Governor Bruce Rauner on his HB40 vote to begin taxpayers-funded abortions in Illinois? And did you hear the one about Rauner signing the Democrats bill making Illinois a sanctuary state? RAUNER GIVES $4.45 MILLION TO IL GOP AFTER ABORTION VOTE The Republican outrage, for public relations purposes, now appears to have stilled. Recently, Rauner dumped another $4.45 million into state Republican piggy banks and not a whimper or moan from our Grand Old Party about how Rauner broke his promise to voters. Illinois GOP chief TIM SCHNEIDER claims the money isn’t “hush” money. “Gov. Rauner has shown time and time again that he is committed to revitalizing the Republican Party in the state of Illinois. Thanks to Gov. Rauner’s unprecedented commitment, we are now closer than ever to retiring Speaker Mike Madigan once and for all,” Schneider said in a statement. Republicans have been taking money from left-wing donor Bruce Rauner since 2013 claiming “Because, Madigan.” Is Rauner any different from Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan? Hasn’t he done everything Madigan has wanted? RAUNER IS A MADIGAN DREAM COME TRUE Rauner is a Madigan dream come true – he’s driven up billions in debt, squealed surrender on a major income tax increase, signed sanctuary state legislation, forced doctors to promote Planned Parenthood, given pro-abortion groups state grants, and signed legislation to force taxpayers to fund abortions. Every cash payment Rauner made to Illinois Republicans and conservative groups is hush money paid to keep their mouths shuts and they have “shut up” for four years counting. RAUNER GAVE $16 MILLION TO GOP OFFICIALS IN 2016 In 2016, Rauner donated $16 million to the Illinois Republican Party, accounting for 96% of its funds and that is how he has been able to control it. In 2016, as an elected Republican, Governor Rauner donated $3 million to left-wing Democrat KEN DUNKIN after a mailer accused him of being a convicted criminal and a deadbeat dad. Bruce Rauner and his Illinois Turnaround PAC donated $6 million to DAN PROFT and Liberty Principles PAC. Illinois Policy Institute is a private tax-exempt group and it does not reveal its donors. JOHN TILLMAN of Illinois Policy Institute has acknowledged receiving $625,000 from Bruce Rauner between 2009 and 2014.  Tillman has never disclosed the millions in donations his other non-profit groups receive from Rauner and his donors. REPUBLICANS HAVEN’T GIVEN RAUNER A DIME OF HIS MONEY BACK None of the Republicans mentioned above have given any of the money Rauner donated to them back since his vote on HB40 to begin taxpayer-funded abortion in Illinois and none of them are disclosing how much money they have received in total from the Governor since they helped him win election. Rauner, who was well known as a major donor to Planned Parenthood prior to his election, is the first U.S. Governor in history to force taxpayers to fund abortions. Real GOP Illinois doesn’t believe Republican officials who say they didn’t know Governor Rauner was an extremist on the abortion issue. We don’t believe them when they claim Rauner lied. RAUNER FUNDED BY HILLARY CLINTON’S BIG DONOR Rauner has plenty of money to spare. He received a $20 million contribution from Illinois’ richest man, billionaire KEN GRIFFIN, who bankrolls the campaigns of HILLARY CLINTON and RAHM EMANUEL, in May. How many Republicans will that buy? Columnist Terri Koyne said it best when she wrote on Illinois Review, “Rauner didn’t betray or deceive anyone [on his abortion views] – Rauner money grabbers did.” Until Republicans return Bruce Rauner’s donations, why should any voter believe them on anything?)

AMERICANS FOR TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
— Ex-‘Gay’ Leader Stephen Black to Keynote AFTAH Banquet and Teach-in Oct. 20-21 – Peter LaBarbera
https://americansfortruth.com/2017/08/24/ex-gay-leader-stephen-black-to-keynote-aftah-banquet-and-teach-in-oct-20-21/

CAPITOL FAX
— Biss again demands that Pritzker and Kennedy release their tax returns
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/17/biss-again-demands-that-pritzker-and-kennedy-release-their-tax-returns/

GOPUSA
— Illegal alien minors seeking abortion pose legal, religious clashes
http://www.gopusa.com/illegal-alien-minors-seeking-abortion-pose-legal-religious-clashes/
— Trump chides Hillary for defending NFL’s national anthem kneelers: ‘Please run again!’
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-chides-hillary-for-defending-nfls-national-anthem-kneelers-please-run-again/

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Total Division Within Our Society’: Tucker Sounds Off On Immigration – Justin Caruso  (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, because of the Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, more and more and more people in my precinct, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, and America are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/16/total-division-within-our-society-tucker-sounds-off-on-immigration-video/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fox News host Tucker Carlson sounded off on mass immigration Monday, saying that there is currently “total division within our society.” The Daily Caller co-founder said, “So we are at a moment and every survey shows it, of total division in our society. People have less in common with each than they ever have. And we’re asking basic questions like ‘What ties us all together? Why are we all in this together?’” “Do you not see any correlation between massive immigration since 1965 and where we are now? The country much less united, much less willing to [ask] basic questions like ‘is the Bill of Rights worth continuing?’ things like that. That’s not related to immigration? Of course it is.” Juan Williams also appeared on the segment, pushing back against some of Tucker’s claims, saying that the key was “assimilation.”  “Do you share American values? Do you believe in God-given rights and democracy and representation and law and order? That’s the key. And but it’s not about, at this point, a sort of tribal fight between native born Americans and immigrants,” Williams said.)

WEEKLY STANDARD
— Republican Congressman Urges Trump to Block Boeing’s Deal With Iran Air  Peter Roskam wrote a letter to the president claiming that the civilian airline is sending troops and weapons to Syria to support Bashar Assad. – JENNA LIFHITS
http://www.weeklystandard.com/republican-congressman-urges-trump-to-block-boeings-deal-with-iran-air/article/2010086

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Colin Kaepernick is a deceitful hypocrite, and his defenders have double-standards – Jennifer Kerns
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/colin-kaepernick-is-a-deceitful-hypocrite-and-his-defenders-have-double-standards/article/2637705

POLITICO
— Efforts to pry loose Trump tax returns hit a wall  California Gov. Jerry Brown warns against ‘slippery slope precedent.’ – DAVID SIDERS (DIERSEN: What else should candidates be required to disclose – all transcripts all the way back to kindergarten, all performance appraisals received for all jobs held, all memberships, all subscriptions, all income, all expenses, all assets, all debts, etc.?)
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/16/trump-tax-returns-release-efforts-stall-243819

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: As U.S. Confronts Internet’s Disruptions, China Feels Vindicated – STEVEN LEE MYERS and SUI-LEE WEE (DIERSEN: Ever since I started sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails in 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have focused on stopping me from sending out the emails and stopping everyone from reading the emails. They crow that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/world/asia/china-internet-cyber-control.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In the United States, some of the world’s most powerful technology companies face rising pressure to do more to fight false information and stop foreign infiltration. China, however, has watchdogs like Zhao Jinxu. From his small town on the windswept grasslands of the Inner Mongolia region of China, Mr. Zhao, 27, scours the internet for fake news, pornography and calls to violence. He is one of a battalion of online “supervisors” whom Weibo, one of China’s biggest social media platforms, announced last month it would hire to help enforce China’s stringent limits on online content. For years, the United States and others saw this sort of heavy-handed censorship as a sign of political vulnerability and a barrier to China’s economic development. But as countries in the West discuss potential internet restrictions and wring their hands over fake news, hacking and foreign meddling, some in China see a powerful affirmation of the country’s vision for the internet. “This kind of thing would not happen here,” Mr. Zhao said of the controversy over Russia’s influence in the American presidential election last year. Besides Communist Party loyalists, few would argue that China’s internet control serves as a model for democratic societies. China squelches online dissent and imprisons many of those who practice it. It blocks foreign news and information, including the website of The New York Times, and promotes homegrown technology companies while banning global services like Facebook and Twitter.)
— Tech’s Troubling New Trend: Diversity Is in Your Head – BÄRÍ A. WILLIAMS  (DIERSEN: There was a tremendous lack of diversity while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, for IRS 1971-1980, and for GAO 1980-1997. Extremely few of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Republican, and at times, virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were veterans. The jobs that I had were so bad that few Democrats, few minorities, few women, and few veterans wanted them.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/opinion/diversity-tech-women-silicon-valley.html
— Upswingers and Downswingers – David Brooks  (DIERSEN: When have you been an upswinger?  When have you been a downswinger?  Every year that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, my salary increased because of COLAs, step increases, and/or promotions, except 1980 when I took an $18,847 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. In today’s dollars, I started at $15.56/hour in 1966 and ended at $122,991/year in 1997.  But since 1997, my Civil Service Retirement System pension, currently $50,856, has only increased by COLAs.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/opinion/american-economy-progress-mobility-.html
— College Advice I Wish I’d Taken – Susan Shapiro  (DIERSEN: In retrospect, with benefit of hindsight, I would have majored in accounting at UIC and at NIU.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/opinion/college-advice-professor.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The New York Times’s Double Standard on the NFL  The paper says pro football players have speech rights it denies to its own reporters. – William McGurn (DIERSEN: Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-york-timess-double-standard-on-the-nfl-1508194661
— Fixing Up the Labor Market – Lev Borodovsky and Colin Barr  (DIERSEN: When were you “prime age,” that is, 25-54?  I was “prime age” 1973-2002.  What did you do while you were “prime age?” Between 1973-2002, I worked for IRS 1973-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173, and for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $94,610-$122,991. I earned a) job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.  All that ended in 1997 when my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.”)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fixing-up-the-labor-market-1508168363

BLOOMBERG
— Facebook Is Looking for Employees With National Security Clearances – Sarah Frier and Bill Allison (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government because they cannot pass a background investigation.  Additional reasons include a) federal pay and benefits are terrible, b) advancement opportunities are terrible, c) they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) they cannot pass an employment examination, e) they cannot pass a physical examination, f) they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or g) they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-16/facebook-is-said-to-seek-staff-with-national-security-clearance

USA TODAY
— Who needs Florida? More retirees plan to stay put. – Paul Davidson (DIERSEN: My wife and I are going to stay put notwithstanding the fact that more and more and more of those in our precinct, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/17/who-needs-florida-heres-where-people-approaching-retirement-plan-live/741040001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Despite images of retirees lounging on Florida beaches and playing on Arizona golf courses, many middle-aged and older Americans plan to stay right where they are when they hit their golden years. Forty-three percent of 45- to 65-year-olds anticipate remaining in their current residence throughout their retirement, according to an Ipsos/USA TODAY survey of 1,170 adults in that age bracket conducted Aug. 30 to Sept. 5. At the same time, home values that have recovered from the mid-2000s housing bust appear to be making a smaller but growing number of people to set their sights on other regions of the country, with 33% of people in that age range saying they’ll move. Another 24% aren’t sure what they’ll do. “The vast majority of older adults want to stay in their homes and communities,” says Rodney Harrell, director of livability thought leadership for AARP. “They want to be near their family and near their church” and friends.)

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Retiree COLA trumps employee pay raise – Mike Causey (DIERSEN: On average, medical expenses for retirees are far higher than for employees.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2017/10/retiree-cola-trumps-employee-pay-raise/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DoJ Official Had Sex With ‘Numerous’ Women on Federal Property, Then Lied About It – Eric Katz
http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2017/10/doj-official-had-sex-numerous-women-federal-property-then-lied-about-it/141812/