Month: March 2018

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— MADIGAN, KELLY AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: What congressional district do you live in? Who do you want to represent you on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC)? Who do you want to be the next IRP chairman? Who do you want to represent you on the 2020 IRP Platform & Resolutions Committee? What weighted vote will your next representative on the IRP SCC have, that is, what percent of the approximate 700,000 Republican primary ballots cast statewide were cast in your congressional district?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/3-big-takeaways-from-the-illinois-primary/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rep. Robin Kelly won two victories in the primary from Democratic voters in the 2nd Congressional District. She was nominated for another term in Congress — that’s a clinch for November on this Democratic turf — and she won her race to become one of 38 members in charge of the Democratic Party of Illinois. They pick the chairman. The party chair is state House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has been slammed for his handling of sexual harassment allegations — serious hits in this “MeToo” era. GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to continue to make Madigan a centerpiece of his re-election campaign. Madigan will be up for re-election as state party chair. With Kelly on the committee, there is, for the first time in ages, a viable alternative to Madigan.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Incumbent Roskam already calling for 6th Congressional district debates with Democratic challenger Sean Casten – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: Who badmouths you to Roskam? Who badmouthed you to Hyde? I should write a book about a) those who badmouth me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to Roskam, b) those who badmouthed me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to Hyde, and c) those who since 1989 have badmouthed me to both Roskam and Hyde.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-roskam-casten-6th-race-st-0323-20180322-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Roskam didn’t face a primary challenger, but suburban Democrats see November’s general election as a potential chance to take the seat in November because Democrat Hillary Clinton won the 6th District over Republican President Donald Trump by 7 percentage points in the 2016 election. Roskam prevailed in his race that year by more than 18 points. Roskam has faced tough campaigns before. He has held the 6th Congressional District seat since 2006, when he narrowly defeated Democrat Tammy Duckworth in a nationally watched race. The district’s boundaries have changed since then, and it now includes parts of Naperville, Elgin, Wheaton and portions of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Cook counties.)
— Republicans blame Democrats for allowing Holocaust denier Art Jones with Nazi affiliations to get 20K GOP votes – Ted Slowik (DIERSEN: Why should anyone listen to the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) concerning Jones? Rauner rejects the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP planform. Because the IRP promotes Rauner, the IRP rejects the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-primary-election-recap-st-0322-20180321-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Maybe some of the 13,158 suburban Cook County residents who voted for Jones strongly believe in freedom of speech and Jones’ right to express his views. Perhaps some of the 3,023 voters in Chicago who punched his ticket agree with his positions on immigration (“no more sanctuary cities!”) or his support of 2nd Amendment rights (“concealed carry for personal protection!”). I suppose it’s possible some of the 4,093 people in Will County who cast ballots for Jones did so knowing about his anti-Semitic views but supported him anyway because of his stances against abortion and same-sex marriage. More likely, the 65 DuPage County residents who voted for Jones, 70, didn’t know about his former membership in the American Nazi Party or that he ran for mayor of Milwaukee as a member of the National Socialist White People’s Party in 1976. Jones, however, told me Wednesday he believes the votes for him were no accident. “The people who voted for me knew exactly who I was,” Jones said. “They liked what I had to say.” Jones said the Republican Party sent mailers and made robocalls telling people about his views, so voters must have known. “That might have gotten me a lot of votes,” he said of the party’s efforts. I think it’s more likely the vast majority of Jones voters simply supported whatever GOP candidate happened to be on the ballot. “Yes, I think your surmise is spot on,” said Sean Morrison of Orland Park, chair of the Cook County Republican Party, state committeeman for the 3rd District and Cook County Board member. “Look, the overwhelming majority of most folks in the district have absolutely no idea who the Nazi Art Jones is,” Morrison told me Wednesday. “I feel that they very likely pulled their Republican ballot and voted down the line.” Jones has previously run for the seat, but Republicans either successfully knocked him off the ballot by challenging his petitions or ran legitimate candidates whose totals dwarfed the few votes cast for Jones. This year was different. I asked Morrison why Republicans failed to field a “serious” candidate to challenge seven-term incumbent Democrat Dan Lipinski, a conservative who narrowly withstood a primary challenge from progressive Marie Newman. “Well, it was certainly not for lack of trying to draw in candidates,” Morrison said. “The 3rd Congressional district has historically voted very high for Congressman Lipinski. Even many Republicans vote for him due to his strong family values positions, so he receives a great deal of crossover voters. “He typically wins his general races in 70 percent to 30 percent margins. Most prospects see the seemingly futile attempt in running against him.” In other words, the problem isn’t so much that 20,000 Republicans may have just voted for a Nazi. It’s the partisan political system where the party in power gets to redraw district maps every 10 years to maximize odds of retaining power by keeping races noncompetitive. “The seat is mathematically drawn like the majority of districts as a Democrat district seat,” Morrison said. “This is the larger issue citizens should recognize and be concerned about in Illinois. “The Democrats have controlled the district remap drawings for several decades now. The Democrat-controlled gerrymandering is unabashed and (is the reason) why we have a real one-party system throughout Illinois.” I accept Morrison’s explanation as based in fact and admire his skill at spinning this as the fault of Democrats. Still, I think the candidacy of Jones harms the Republican brand more than it does the Democrats.
On a national scale Wednesday, reaction to Jones’ win ranged from shock and disbelief to outrage across traditional and social media channels. “Arthur Jones is a Nazi, not a Republican. It is a disgrace that he has won the Republican nomination,” Norman Coleman, chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said in a statement. “The GOP didn’t invite Jones into the party,” Coleman said. “The only mistake was not running a candidate in an uncompetitive, safe-Democrat district.” The Illinois GOP continues to denounce Jones. A state party spokesman told The New York Times the party would devote resources to supporting a Republican to run as an independent against Lipinski in November. “Arthur Jones is not a real Republican; he is a Nazi whose disgusting, bigoted views have no place in our nation’s discourse,” Tim Schneider, the Illinois Republican Party chairman, said in a statement. The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement that did not mention Jones by name. . .”There is no gerrymandering in Illinois,” Brown said. “Their whining about that is not factual.” There was ample publicity prior to the election about Jones’ Nazi affiliations, he added. “How anybody could vote for this individual is mind-boggling,” Brown said. “It was a conscious effort to cast those votes.” I think the number of votes cast for Jones is another statement about the perils of uneducated voters. Despite record early-voting numbers, turnout ended up at just 28.5 percent of suburban Cook County’s 1.5 million registered voters. Turnout among younger voters was notably low — at 3.4 percent — despite heightened interest in the Lipinski-Newman race and a nonbinding referendum asking whether Cook County should legalize marijuana for recreational use. The measure passed by a nearly two-to-one margin. Millennials ages 18-27 cast just 16,780 ballots, Clerk David Orr reported. That was the lowest of any age group and compares to 76,696 for ages 58-67, 67,302 for ages 48-57 and 48,225 for ages 68-77.)
— Former campaign worker Alaina Hampton sues Madigan fund, Democratic Party in sexual harassment case – Ray Long, Stacy St. Clair, Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-madigan-lawsuit-sexual-harassment-20180321-story.html
— U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve presided over Trump case and scolded him: ‘I do not follow tweets!’ – Kim Janssen (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) who read my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails religiously and b) who crow that they do not read the emails. In Diersen v. GAO, Peter Fitzgerald appointed both the district court judge, Amy J. St. Eve, and the attorney who represented GAO, Patrick Fitzgerald. All of the aforesaid made it very clear that they favored patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Eve granted Patrick Fitzgerald’s motion to deny me my 7th Amendment rights, that is, to deny me a jury trial. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes used that to hint/imply/argue/shout that Peter Fitzgerald, Eve, and Patrick Fitzgerald viewed me as being someone who was lazy, stupid, bad, and even worse things.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-trump-st-eve-0322-chicago-inc-20180321-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: She may have both slapped him down and ruled in his favor back in 2013, but don’t count U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve among President Donald Trump’s Twitter followers. St. Eve — nominated by Trump to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning. When U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin asked her what she made of Trump’s tweets crowing about his victory in a trial St. Eve presided over, the judge replied with magisterial hauteur. “I have heard that, but I do not follow tweets!” she told the committee. The hearing was plain sailing for St. Eve and fellow nominee Michael Scudder, who have the backing of both Durbin and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth.)
— Kane County Board candidates separated by three votes – Sarah Freishtat
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-kane-county-board-three-votes-st-0322-20180321-story.html
— Tired of hearing from rich white guys? Get ready for $300 million more, Illinois – Rex Huppke
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-met-rauner-pritzker-illinois-governor-huppke-20180321-story.html
— 3 Republican incumbents ousted from Will County board – Susan DeMar Lafferty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-will-board-races-st-0322-20180321-story.html
— Whittling government excess? Start with the townships – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-township-government-abolition-20180313-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— A deeper look at what elections say about choices – Jim Slusher
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180322/slusher-a-deeper-look-at-what-elections-say-about-choices

ABC7
— Illinois Primary: Holocaust denier officially claims 3rd Dist. GOP nomination on 7th try – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/holocaust-denier-officially-claims-3rd-dist-gop-nom-on-7th-try/3242614/

WTTW
— Backed by Rauner, Former Miss America Harold is GOP Pick for AG – Paul Caine (DIERSEN: Who backs you? According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, if anyone backed me, I would still be 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, GAO employee, etc. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who hint/imply/argue/shout that I cause all my own problems.)
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/03/21/backed-rauner-former-miss-america-harold-gop-pick-ag
— Mudslinging Begins as Democrats Look to Take Back Governor’s Mansion – Amanda Vinicky (DIERSEN: Who are/were the lead mudslingers in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about past and present mudslingers in my precinct, in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, etc.)
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/03/21/mudslinging-begins-democrats-look-take-back-governor-s-mansion

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Metro Chicago shrinks again – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs focus on driving out of the Chicago metro area and out of all of Illinois individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180322/BLOGS02/180329954

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Democrats turn out in big numbers for Illinois primary – AP (DIERSEN: Of the 203 ballots cast in my precinct, 105 (52%) were Republican and 98 (48%) were Democrat.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180321/democrats-turn-out-in-big-numbers-for-illinois-primary
— Pritzker on spending: Like Simon said, no unilateral disarming – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180321/bernard-schoenburg-pritzker-on-spending-like-simon-said-no-unilateral-disarming

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Expect Rauner, Harold campaigns to partner up – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-03-22/tom-kacich-expect-rauner-harold-campaigns-partner.html

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— B-N goes for Rauner, Biss, Quinn; local turnout low – Derek Beigh
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/b-n-goes-for-rauner-biss-quinn-local-turnout-low/article_3fd2a76a-73bb-53b1-8cdb-c71e8b657f9d.html

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Ives carries Knox County Republican vote – Rebecca Susmarski (DIERSEN: How many voted for Ives in your precinct? Of the 504 registered voters in my precinct, 64 voted for Ives and 41 voted for Rauner.)
http://www.galesburg.com/news/20180321/ives-carries-knox-county-republican-vote

QUAD CITY TIMES
— Rauner’s millions might not save him – Editorial (DIERSEN: What will Rauner do? Will he officially banish from the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), from the DuPage County Republican Central Committee and other Republican county party organizations, and from the Milton Township Republican Central Committee and other Republican township/ward party organizations those like me who voted for Ives, that is, those like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and the rest of the planks in the IRP platform? Who does Rauner want the next 18 IRP State Central Committee members to be?)
http://qctimes.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-rauner-s-millions-might-not-save-him/article_16403745-e7a5-56f3-a28f-e70f008873ec.html

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Campaign between wealthy Rauner, Pritzker for Illinois governor expected to be expensive, brutal and long – Rick Pearson
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20180321/campaign-between-wealthy-rauner-pritzker-for-illinois-governor-expected-to-be-expensive-brutal-and-long

801. LOUIS TODAY
     — After dismal primary showing, turbulent times ahead for Illinois’ GOP – Editorial (DIERSEN: Anti-Republicans want the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) “to field more palatable candidates,” that is, to field candidates who reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform.).
     http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-after-dismal-primary-showing-turbulent-times-ahead-for-illinois/article_1994ac4b-7a5d-59d7-948c-7332abc0b801.html

WQAD
— Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner thanks Quad City republicans voters after close election victory – LAUREN SIMONE (DIERSEN: How many voted for Rauner in your precinct? Of the 504 registered voters in my precinct, 41 voted for Rauner and 64 voted for Ives.)
http://wqad.com/2018/03/21/illinois-governor-bruce-rauner-thanks-quad-city-republicans-voters-after-close-election-victory/

WVIK
— Rauner And Pritzker To Face Off In November’s Illinois Governor Race – DAISY CONTRERAS
http://wvik.org/post/rauner-and-pritzker-face-novembers-illinois-governor-race#stream/0

WTVA
— DEMOCRATS GET HIGH TURNOUT AGAIN, THIS TIME IN ILLINOIS (DIERSEN: Of the 203 ballots cast in my precinct, 105 (52%) were Republican and 98 (48%) were Democrat.)
http://www.wtva.com/content/national/477554533.html?ref=533

NPR ILLINOIS
— In a case with potentially broad implication, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it harder for the federal government to prosecute people for obstructing IRS enforcement of the tax code. – NINA TOTENBERG (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS for almost 9 years. Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are filled with hatred against IRS, against its former employees, against it current employees, and against its future employees.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/hiding-income-and-destroying-records-obstruction-maybe-not#stream/0

CHICAGO REPORTER
— In Illinois, a fight between big money and grassroots insurgencies rages on – Curtis Black
http://www.chicagoreporter.com/in-illinois-a-fight-between-big-money-and-grassroots-insurgencies-rages-on/

ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN FOR POLITICAL REFORM
— Democratic Turnout Surges, While GOP Turnout Drops in IL Primary (DIERSEN: Of the 203 ballots cast in my precinct, 105 (52%) were Republican and 98 (48%) were Democrat. I expect that some, if not many, of those 98 who cast Democrat ballots a) were Democrats who had never voted in a primary before and b) were Democrats who had unethically cast Republican ballots before “to do what damage they could.”)
https://mailchi.mp/ilcampaign/illinois-governors-race-on-track-to-break-us-spending-record-51517
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1.92 million people voted in yesterday’s Primary Election, after nearly a year of full-fledged campaigning from candidates on both sides of the aisle. Overall, turnout this year was the highest for a gubernatorial Primary Election since 2002. Democratic turnout increased by 325,000 from 2010, the most recent year with a competitive gubernatorial Primary on the Democratic ballot. In contrast, Republican turnout dropped 138,000 since the last contested primary, which took place in 2014.)

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Grant wins out in three-way GOP race in Ives’ district – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511367327-grant-wins-out-in-three-way-gop-race-in-ives-district
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511367306-amy-grant-beats-minor-byrne-in-gop-race-for-house-seat-in-42nd-district

AMERICANS FOR TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
— LaBarbera Discusses LGBTQ Lobby’s Intolerance on VCY America Crosstalk Radio
https://americansfortruth.com/2018/03/21/labarbera-discuss-lgbtq-lobbys-intolerance-on-vcy-america-crosstalk-radio/

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— After narrow primary defeat, Ives supporters mixed on whether they’ll support Rauner in November – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: Of course, after Jim Ryan won the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2002, I fully supported him. But to this day, because I supported Pat O’Malley in the primary, those who supported Ryan in the primary blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for Ryan’s losing the general election.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/after-narrow-primary-defeat-ives-supporters-mixed-on-whether-they/article_ace2cf86-2d3f-11e8-bf37-b366d49ea566.html
— Even if he rallies his base, Gov. Rauner faces uphill general election campaign – Dan McCaleb (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What is Rauner’s base? ANSWER: Individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform.)
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-even-if-he-rallies-his-base-gov-rauner/article_4361f138-2d01-11e8-8b0f-9b14c6cae712.html
— One ‘Madigan Republican’ State Rep. David Reis, R-Olney loses seat in Republican primary – Benjamin Yount
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/one-madigan-republican-loses-seat-in-republican-primary/article_78aa4d10-2d13-11e8-911c-6bd3e5eaf339.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Another Disruptive Political Stunt Coming to Schools in April: Day of Silence – Laurie Higgins (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrat teachers a) encourage children to engage in LGBTQ activity and b) make it clear that they want to destroy the traditional family.)
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/another-disruptive-political-stunt-coming-to-schools-in-april-day-of-silence/

POLITIFACT ILLINOIS
— Bruce Rauner cites own remarks as proof of outside support for election night claim – Kiannah Sepeda-Miller (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who cite their own statements as proof for their claims against me. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I did not want to continue on as 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, GAO employee, etc. and that I easily could have continued on if I had wanted to.)
http://www.politifact.com/illinois/statements/2018/mar/21/bruce-rauner/rauner-cites-own-remarks-proof-outside-support-ele/

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner had weakest primary showing by a GOP governor since 1928 (DIERSEN: How many voted for Rauner in your precinct? Of the 504 registered voters in my precinct, 41 voted for Rauner and 64 voted for Ives. 41 X $130/vote is $5,330.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/03/22/rauner-had-weakest-primary-showing-by-a-gop-governor-since-1928/
— A very rough road ahead for Rauner
https://capitolfax.com/2018/03/22/a-very-rough-road-ahead-for-rauner/
— Rauner campaign warns on Pritzker tax hike
https://capitolfax.com/2018/03/22/rauner-campaign-warns-on-pritzker-tax-hike/

PJ MEDIA
— Former RNC Chairman Criticizes GOP ‘Spending Spree’ Under Trump as ‘Bad Politics’ – NICHOLAS BALLASY
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/former-rnc-chairman-criticizes-gop-spending-spree-trump-bad-politics/

GOPUSA
— ACLU: Shield illegal immigrants from deportation by not enforcing low-level crimes
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=41993

THE HILL
— 2020 Dems compete for top campaign operatives – REID WILSON AND AMIE PARNES (DIERSEN: I should write a book about operatives and dupes who work for my critics/opponents. Are my critics/opponents paying them at least $15 an hour?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/379647-2020-dems-compete-for-top-campaign-operatives?userid=3526
— Omnibus spending bill gives IRS $320M to implement tax law – NAOMI JAGODA (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS for almost 9 years. Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are filled with hatred against IRS, against its former employees, against it current employees, and against its future employees.)
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/379675-omnibus-spending-bill-gives-irs-320m-to-implement-tax-law

CNN
— Democrats get high turnout again, this time in Illinois – Harry Enten (DIERSEN: Of the 203 ballots cast in my precinct, 105 (52%) were Republican and 98 (48%) were Democrat. I expect that some, if not many, of those 98 who cast Democrat ballots a) were Democrats who had never voted in a primary before and b) were Democrats who had unethically cast Republican ballots before “to do what damage they could.”)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/21/politics/democrat-high-turnout-illinois/index.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The primaries in Illinois on Tuesday night were, for the most part melodramatic — some big names got scares but there were no major upsets. There was, however, some good news for Democrats: In the second of two statewide primaries this year (Texas being the other), turnout was significantly higher for Democrats than in either 2010 or 2014. There were just under 1.3 million votes cast in the Illinois Democratic primary Tuesday to just over 700,000 in the Republican primary. Put another way, 64% of the votes cast were on the Democratic line, compared with only 36% on the Republican line. Now, Illinois is a blue state, but even taking that into account, it was an impressive performance for Democrats. Dating back to 1998, there has never been a midterm year in which there was a higher percentage of two-party votes cast in the Illinois Democratic primary compared with 2018. Importantly, this includes 2010, when both the Democrats and Republicans had competitive gubernatorial primaries, like this year. In 2010, just 54% of all primary votes were cast in the Democratic primary when Republicans gained over 60 seats across the country and control of the US House.)

MSN
— Is Bruce Rauner Re-electable? (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What is Rauner’s base? ANSWER: Individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/lifestyle/is-bruce-rauner-re-electable/vp-BBKxvBS

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Republican John Cox inches ahead of Antonio Villaraigosa for second place in California governor’s race, new poll finds – PHIL WILLON
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-california-governor-senate-poll-20180321-story.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Dead End of Identity Politics To expand the base is almost inevitably to shrink it equally. – Crispin Sartwell (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who pander to those who are anti-Trump supporters, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dead-end-of-identity-politics-1521671743
— Retirees Reshape Where Americans Live Baby boomers fuel growth in retirement hot spots, new census figures show – Janet Adamy and Paul Overberg (DIERSEN: To get my wife and I to leave, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that in my precinct, a) only 21 voted for Trump in the 2016 Republican primary election, b) only 137 voted for Trump in the 2016 general election, c) 98 cast Democrat ballots in the 2018 primary election, and d) only 64 voted for Ives in the 2018 Republican primary election.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/retirees-reshape-where-americans-live-1521691261
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Americans are relocating to retirement hot spots scattered around the country and returning to suburbia, according to Census Bureau figures released Thursday. The population of federally designated retirement destination counties rose 2% last year, almost three times the rate of national population growth, according to census county population estimates for the year that ended July 1. Almost three-quarters of a million Americans during that period moved into one of the 442 counties that the Agriculture Department tags as retiree spots. The figures are a fresh sign that the nation’s 74 million baby boomers—those born between 1946 to 1964—have dug out from the 2007-09 recession that locked many of them in place when home and stock values plummeted.)

SLATE
— Illinois Governor Spent $130 Per Vote, and That Was the Easy Part – JOSH VOORHEES (DIERSEN: How many voted for Rauner in your precinct? Of the 504 registered voters in my precinct, 41 voted for Rauner and 64 voted for Ives. 41 X $130 is $5,330.)
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/illinois-gov-bruce-rauner-spent-usd130-for-each-primary-vote-he-got-tuesday.html

FED SMITH
— Back to the Future: How to Cut Federal Salaries and Agency Programs – Ralph R. Smith (DIERSEN: In 1997, when my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer,” they cut my $125,325 federal salary in today’s dollars to zero. Previously they gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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 $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/03/21/back-future-cut-federal-salaries-agency-programs/

SUN DAILY
— Facebook, Google warn Singapore against ‘fake news’ law (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, the only news that is not fake is the news that they put out or bless.)
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/03/22/facebook-google-warn-singapore-against-fake-news-law