Month: March 2018

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Who speaks for you? Who speaks for those who voted for Rauner/Sanguinetti? Who speaks for those who voted for Ives/Morthland? Who speaks for the Illinois Republican Party (IRP)? According to the City Club of Chicago  SEE: https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/event/2/1298/the-future-of-the-republican-party-in-illinois, Pat Brady speaks for the 360,000 who voted for Rauner/Sanguinetti and Dan Proft speaks for the 340,000 who voted for Ives/Morthland. IRP Chairman Tim Schneider, IRP National Committeeman Richard Porter, and IRP National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte speak for the IRP. Who speaks for those like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, and the rest of the planks in the IRP platform? – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Gov. Rauner expecting to add another title: Grandpa – Bill Lukitsch
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-grandfather-20180329-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Robberies spike in the Loop, other downtown areas in 2018 – Jeremy Gorner (DIERSEN: Have you ever lived, worked, and/or took classes in Chicago? I lived in Chicago in 1971 and then 1974-1978. I worked in Chicago in 1971 and then 1973-1997. I took classes in Chicago 1966-1968, 1971-1983, and 1992-1997.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-violence-downtown-robberies-spike-20180328-story.html
— Marijuana-friendly states want meeting with Sessions – AP (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-marijuana-friendly-states-sessions-meeting-20180330-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Conservatism goes AWOL in Washington – Mona Charen
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/conservatism-goes-awol-in-washington/

DAILY HERALD
— Return sales tax-collection overage to local agencies – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180329/editorial-return-sales-tax-collection-overage-to-local-agencies

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180330/OPINION/180339997
— Dear downstate Illinois: Please soak Chicago – THOMAS GEOGHEGAN
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180329/OPINION/180329858/downstate-illinois-profits-from-chicago-with-a-progressive-income-tax

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Rauner and the TRUST Act (DIERSEN: Republicans do not do anything that encourages people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, or to bring others to America illegally.)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=262694#.Wr5BqsuKSM8

HERALD & REVIEW
— Now Trump is targeting the paper on which your news is printed. Here’s why that’s alarming. – Editorial (DIERSEN: I pay many thousands of dollars each year for home delivery of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, Naperville Sun, Wheaton Leader, USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Crain’s Chicago Business, etc.)
https://herald-review.com/news/opinion/our-view-now-trump-is-targeting-the-paper-on-which/article_da77200c-d51b-52b3-a314-b1231aab1c80.html

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— With the primary behind us, how often will we see Rauner and Pritzker downstate? – JOSEPH BUSTOS
http://www.bnd.com/latest-news/article207128804.html

DEKALB DAILY JOURNAL & NORTHWEST HERALD
— Concealed carry instructor and longtime firearm handler weigh in on gun control proposals – CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2018/03/29/concealed-carry-instructor-longtime-firearm-handler-weigh-in-on-gun-control-proposals/dr2oy0c/
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/03/29/concealed-carry-instructor-and-longtime-firearm-handler-weigh-in-on-gun-control-proposals/axqlm94/

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Wheaton names former councilman Richard Gerig ‘outstanding citizen’ 95-year-old continues to keep active at Windsor Park retirement community – ERIC SCHELKOPF
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/03/27/wheaton-names-former-councilman-outstanding-citizen/au0tmxf/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Audit Dings Rauner Administration For Lost Property, Vacant Appointments – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/audit-dings-rauner-administration-lost-property-vacant-appointments#stream/0

WGLT
— Rodney Davis Stands Firm For Second Amendment – CHARLIE SCHLENKER (DIERSEN: What do you stand firm for? I stand firm for a) all the planks in the Republican Party platform and in the Illinois Republican Party platform and b) the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes reject some, most, or all of the aforesaid.)
http://wglt.org/post/rodney-davis-stands-firm-second-amendment#stream/0

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Two Graphs Show Why the Chicago Area Is Losing Population Chicagoland’s been adding relatively high earners for the past decade—and while its poor and middle-class population leaves. – WHET MOSER
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2018/Two-Graphs-Show-Why-the-Chicago-Area-Is-Losing-Population/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— State Central Committeeman Races Gearing Up Bob Grogan Looking for Support in 6th Congressional District – Chris Yaeger
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/03/26/state-central-committeeman-races-gearing/

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Batinick says Exelon bailout bill had many problems – Marian Johns
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511373091-batinick-says-exelon-bailout-bill-had-many-problems

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— CASTEN RESPONDS (DIERSEN: Will Casten call for Roskam to increase the $10,000 SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly? Government should encourage marriage and homeownership.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/03/30/rahm-gives-deposition-in-police-shooting-case-chicagos-population-draining-while-high-earners-are-moving-in-casten-and-roskam-debate-parallel-tax-claims-261106
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sean Casten, Democratic nominee for Congress challenging incumbent Peter Roskam in the 6th District, refuses to define Roskam’s claims this week involving a property tax deduction as “a success.” Roskam’s office received word from the U.S. Treasury Department that suggested Illinois taxpayer who filed before Jan. 1 can deduct their property taxes. Casten called a foul, asking, “Does Roskam think we’re going to forget that he was largely responsible for hitting us with this unfair tax hike in the first place?” He writes: “Hard-working homeowners throughout our district were counting on that property tax deduction, and Roskam sold them out in favor of the wealthy special interests that fund his campaign. Instead of writing self-serving letters to the Treasury Department, Roskam should try doing the job he was elected to do — working on behalf of the people who live right here in the 6th District.”)
— ROSKAM HITS BACK
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Also on Thursday, Roskam released a statement that blasted Casten for not saying whether he agrees or not with a tax plan proposed by Congressional Democrats if they win the majority in the midterm elections. Democrats are proposing a repeal of major pieces of President Trump’s tax reform legislation. Their plan would raise taxes on corporations and high-income households in order to pay for a $1 trillion infrastructure package. “The thousands of families who have received meaningful tax relief this year deserve to know whether Sean Casten fully supports his party’s efforts to raise tax rates and fully reinstate the Alternative Minimum Tax,” said Roskam for Congress spokesman Veronica Vera. “Now that his party has committed to increasing taxes on families and small businesses, Sean Casten has a responsibility to Sixth District voters to be honest about his intentions to raise their taxes.”)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/03/30/rahm-gives-deposition-in-police-shooting-case-chicagos-population-draining-while-high-earners-are-moving-in-casten-and-roskam-debate-parallel-tax-claims-261106

GOPUSA
— Ingraham apologizes; Hogg says not enough (DIERSEN: What applications have you made that were rejected? After 1974, my Democrat IRS superiors rejected all my applications for GS-13 positions. Between 1980 and 1985 and after 1988, my Democrat GAO superiors rejected all my applications to be assigned to audits of IRS. After 1986, my Democrat GAO superiors rejected all my applications for GS-14 positions.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=42614
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The backlash began earlier in the week, when Ingraham made fun of Hogg, who has been a vocal activist after the Feb. 14 shooting that claimed 17 lives, for being rejected from four universities in the University of California school system. She tweeted a story by the Daily Wire addressing the rejections, adding on Twitter, “David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA…totally predictable given acceptance rates.)” Hogg, who has a 4.2 GPA, was accepted by Florida Atlantic University, Cal Poly and Cal State San Marcos. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior was in the school when shooter Nikolas Cruz opened fire, killing 14 students and three faculty members.)

IMMIGRATION REFORM
— California Sheriff Rejects “Sanctuary” Law, Makes Information on Illegals Public – JOE GOMEZ (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba should do this immediately. Federal law trumps state law.)
https://immigrationreform.com/2018/03/27/california-sheriff-rejects-sanctuary-law-makes-information-illegals-public/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has announced that it will begin publishing a list of criminal aliens who are inmates in the county jail, as part of its existing “Who’s in Jail,” online database. The information made public will also include when criminal aliens are released from jail, a move that comes in direct retaliation to the state’s “sanctuary” laws which prohibit cooperation between police and federal immigration officials. “This is in response to SB-54 limiting our ability to communicate with federal authorities and our concern that criminals are being released to the street when there’s another avenue to safeguard the community by handing them over (to ICE for potential deportation),” Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes said. California’s “sanctuary law” has recently encountered resistance to this dangerous policy from multiple communities in California. Most notably, the City Council in Los Alamitos voted last week on an ordinance to exempt the city from state law over concerns that it is unconstitutional. The Yorba Linda City Council agreed to file an amicus brief to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against California. The Orange County Board of Supervisors are also expected to consider a range of possible actions against the state law as well. Open borders groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have been actively working to prevent cities in California from opposing the states “sanctuary” laws.)
— “Progressives” are Campaigning to Abolish Immigration Enforcement. Here’s What They Would Get – SPENCER RALEY
https://immigrationreform.com/2018/03/28/progressives-campaigning-abolish-immigration-enforcement-heres-get/

BREITBART
— Democrats Fear Illegal Aliens Losing Elected Representation After 2020 Census – JOHN BINDER (DIERSEN: Of course, Democrats what to fill all the states, counties, township/wards, municipalities, and precincts in America with illegals and then demand that elected officials “represent” those illegals.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/29/democrats-fear-illegal-aliens-losing-elected-representation-after-2020-census/

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Should We Be Able To Vote In Mexico?’ — Tucker Takes On Supporter Of Illegal Immigrants Voting In U.S. – Justin Caruso (DIERSEN: What if America illegally sent many millions of its citizens illegally into Mexico illegally? What if America illegally kept many millions of its citizens illegally in Mexico illegally? What if America illegally sent many mountains of illegal drugs illegally into Mexico illegally?)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/29/tucker-illegal-immigrant-vote/

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— Cabinet Member Allegedly Downplays Diversity, Meets with Adversity CNN controversy swirls as interior secretary continues to face blowback over statements that seemed to favor merit-based hiring – Michele Blood (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always a) opposed merit-based hiring, retention, and promotion and b) promoted patronage. 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.lifezette.com/popzette/cabinet-member-allegedly-downplays-diversity-meets-with-adversity/

THE HILL
— GOP tax message hits a snag – NAOMI JAGODA AND NIV ELIS
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/380886-gop-tax-message-hits-a-snag?rnd=1522404325
— Trump prizes loyalty over experience in Cabinet – NIALL STANAGE (DIERSEN: Who demands blind loyalty? My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/380953-the-memo-trump-prizes-loyalty-over-experience-in-cabinet

POLITICO
— Federal workers spill on life in Trump’s Washington From marital strife to high anxiety, civil servants reveal how the Trump administration has changed agency life. – ANDREW RESTUCCIA (DIERSEN: Do you know anyone who is or was a federal employee? I should write a book about the a) almost 3 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post office 1966-1969, b) almost 9 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS in Chicago 1971-1980, and c) the almost 18 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO in Chicago 1980-1997. When Republicans got elected, my Democrat superiors worked even harder to get rid of me.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/30/trump-washington-civil-servants-492347
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One Health and Human Services employee swore off online dating after potential suitors repeatedly got upset that he worked for the Trump administration. An Education Department fellow eagerly returned to teaching after listening to Betsy DeVos bash public schools. And one Environmental Protection Agency official said staffers are distraught at having to personally dismantle regulations they spent years crafting. This is Donald Trump’s government 14 months into his presidency. Interviews with nearly three dozen current and recently departed workers across the ideological spectrum and across the federal bureaucracy — from the State Department to the Interior Department — show that Trump’s presidency has fundamentally altered the lives of government workers in ways big and small. Trump’s frequent attacks on the “deep state” have engendered deep distrust between career and political employees, pushing many long-time civil servants toward the exits and raising the possibility of a government-wide brain drain. And while some workers, such as Border Patrol agents, are feeling newly empowered under Trump, morale at other agencies is so low that some employees said they were suffering from increased anxiety and depression that has complicated their personal relationships and even led to heavier drinking. Several career employees said they were keeping their heads down and ignoring possible avenues for promotions because they have little interest in being subjected to the political infighting that has taken hold in many agencies. “It’s the worst administration and I’ve dealt with all of them from Ronald Reagan all the way forward,” said Jeffrey David Cox, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the country’s largest federal employee union. “The worst with morale of employees. The worst with constantly wanting to take away rights and benefits. And the worst in trying to starve the agencies of resources.”)

NEW YORK TIMES
— Parkland Activist Got Some College Rejections. He’ll Major in ‘Changing the World’ – Audra D. S. Burch (DIERSEN: In retrospect, with benefit of hindsight, what would your undergraduate major have been? For me, it would have been accounting. I did not major in accounting because I thought I could never pass the CPA examination. However, almost 9 years after I graduated with a degree in management, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. I credit my having taken the Becker CPA review course, my taking graduate accounting courses at DePaul, my taking graduate business courses at Loyola, and my having worked for IRS for almost 8 years.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/us/parkland-students-college-admission.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s pick to head veterans department faces skepticism over his experience – Lisa Rein, Seung Min Kim, Emily Wax-Thibodeaux and Josh Dawsey (DIERSEN: What work experience do you have? I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned the work experience that I gained working for the Post Office 1966-1969, for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, and for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325. What opinion do those who dominate your municipality, your township/ward, your county, and Illinois have of the work experience that you have? Based on their words and their actions, those who dominate Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois have an extremely low opinion of the work experience that I have.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-pick-to-head-veterans-department-faces-skepticism-over-his-experience/2018/03/29/b2677c4e-335d-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow over their success in using people as their operatives and as their dupes.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/03/30/even-before-the-march-for-our-lives-protests-against-gun-violence-multiplied-in-february/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— John Bolton to Exit Politics Ahead of White House Job Future national security adviser must end political groups that bear his name, leave conservative nonprofit chairmanship, officials say – Julie Bykowicz (DIERSEN: If I had been active in Republican politics while I attended Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966, the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics while I attended UIC 1966-1968 or NIU 1969-1970, IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics while I attended Loyola 1972-1976 or DePaul 1976-1980, GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-bolton-to-exit-politics-ahead-of-white-house-job-1522407600

FORBES
— From Diversity To Inclusion: Three Strategies To Become An Employer Of Choice – Stacey Gordon (DIERSEN: To attract and retain Democrats, minorities, females, younger people, and veterans, GAO could stress how it treats its employees who share my demographics, that is, how it wastes the careers of and gets rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who GAO does not promote to GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, to GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, to GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and to Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/03/29/from-diversity-to-inclusion-three-strategies-to-become-an-employer-of-choice/#312187cc2d08

EAST COUNTY TODAY
— John Cox Praises Orange County Supervisors for Courageously Standing up to Attorney General Xavier Becerra (DIERSEN: Do those who run your county oppose sanctuary state policies?)
http://eastcountytoday.net/john-cox-praises-orange-county-supervisors-for-courageously-standing-up-to-attorney-general-xavier-becerra/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: California – Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox praised the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ for supporting the rule of law and opposing Governor Jerry Brown and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom’s devastating Sanctuary State policy. “I applaud the Orange County Supervisors who have courageously stood up to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra illegal actions,” said Cox. “They have made clear their intent to obey federal immigration law and uphold their oaths to the Constitution”. “I am thrilled to see communities like Escondido in my home county of San Diego and our San Diego County Board of Supervisors potentially following suit,” Cox said.)

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— The Final Surrender of Anti-Trump Conservatism – Jonathan Chait
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/the-final-surrender-of-anti-trump-conservatism.html

GOVERNING
— Can Democrats Flip Crucial Governors’ Seats? In the 36 gubernatorial races this fall, all but 10 of the states are currently led by Republicans. – LOUIS JACOBSON
http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-2018-governors-races-republicans-election.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) Even before the March 20 primary, Rauner was vulnerable, thanks in part to an ongoing battle with the Democratic-controlled legislature, which kept the state without a full budget for more than two years, as well as from a conservative backlash over his decision to sign a bill providing state funding for abortions for low-income women. On primary day, he barely edged out socially conservative challenger Jeanne Ives. Meanwhile, J.B. Pritzker, a multibillionaire and the brother of the former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, easily defeated Chris Kennedy, a businessman and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, and progressive state Sen. Daniel Biss. The contest between Rauner and Pritzker is expected to get ugly, as Rauner has already been spending money on TV ads attacking Pritzker, linking him to impeached and jailed former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But in a Democratic state in a Democratic year and with an unpopular Republican governor who has lost faith on the right, this is Pritzker’s race to lose.)