December 21 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Government shutdown would ‘last for a very long time,’ Trump says – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/government-shutdown-would-last-for-a-very-long-time-trump-says/4941642/
— US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has surgery to remove malignant growths
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/justice-ginsburg-has-surgery-to-remove-malignant-growths/4943286/

 

NBC5
— Bill Daley Proposes Re-Naming Dan Ryan Expressway After Barack Obama A stretch of Interstate 55 is already named after the former president
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/barack-obama-dan-ryan-renamed-503354831.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— President Trump tells House GOP he won’t sign Senate spending bill to avoid government shutdown – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/facebook-instant/trump-lashes-out-as-house-struggles-with-avoiding-shutdown

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Bill Daley wants to rename the Dan Ryan Expressway for former President Barack Obama, his ex-boss – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-barack-obama-bill-daley-20181221-story.html
— Chicago mayoral candidate Bill Daley releases limited tax return showing he made $2.5M in 2017, refuses to disclose more – Bill Ruthhart
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bill-daley-tax-returns-20181221-story.html
— Each day, a plane full of Illinoisans moving to another state – Austin Berg (DIERSEN: Illinois Democrats are overjoyed that those who leave Illinois are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-berg-column-st-1223-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— 400 Illinois National Guard soldiers to deploy to Afghanistan – Eric Peterson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181221/400-illinois-national-guard-soldiers-to-deploy-to-afghanistan

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— ‘It’s a big victory’: Central Illinois farmers among those celebrating $867B farm bill signed by President Trump
https://herald-review.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/it-s-a-big-victory-central-illinois-farmers-among-those/article_3971b049-2918-5911-8bfc-e2d5752eb45c.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Anti-Abortion Group Appeals to Illinois Supreme Court – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=276598#.XB1s-VxKiM8

 

WTTW
— Bill Daley Unveils Partial 2017 Tax Returns – Paris Schutz and Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2018/12/21/bill-daley-unveils-partial-2017-tax-returns

 

WBEZ
— International Students An Increasingly Rare Sight On U.S. College Campuses – Kate McGee
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/international-students-in-the-us-an-increasingly-rare-sight-on-college-campuses/2392e8bc-cbd5-415f-a76d-f10ba797aa5a

 

TRI STATE PUBLIC RADIO
— Life after Layoff from WIU – RICH EGGER (DIERSEN: I should write a book about life after being forced to retire when you are 49 years old.)
http://www.tspr.org/post/life-after-layoff-wiu

 

WEEK
— Rauner names cabinet members to cover for retiring aides
https://week.com/news/illinois-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/12/21/rauner-names-cabinet-members-to-cover-for-retiring-aides/

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— “John Doe,” Claiming to be Part of Illinois Integrity Fund, Asks to Join Case Against Jack Franks’ Ally’s Printer to Seek Minimum Contempt of Court Penalty
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/21/john-doe-claiming-yo-be-part-of-illinois-integrity-fund-asks-to-join-case-against-jack-franks-allys-printer-to-seek-minimum-contempt-of-court-penalty/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— LAHOOD AND BOST EXPLAIN SUPPORTING $5.7 BILLION FOR THE SOUTHERN BORDER
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/lahood-and-bost-explain-their-support-for-57-billion-for-the-southern-border.html
— DUCKWORTH TAKES ON SECOND AMENDMENT AND NRA IN NATIONAL OP-ED
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/duckworth-takes-on-second-amendment-and-nra-in-national-op-ed.html
— IL US SENATORS SHOW NO SIGN OF SUPPORTING BORDER WALL FUNDING, DESPITE DURBIN’S PAST VOTES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/il-us-senator-show-no-sign-of-supporting-border-wall-funding-despite-durbins-past-votes.html
— BLACK LEADERSHIP NETWORK HAILS FOOD STAMP REFORM PROPOSAL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/black-leadership-network-hails-food-stamp-reform-proposal.html

 

FOX NEWS
— RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel: Democrats should stop opposing the wall and sensible border security – Ronna McDaniel (DIERSEN: It would be great if Republican state, county, ward, and township party leaders would issue such statements.)
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rnc-chairwoman-ronna-mcdaniel-democrats-should-stop-opposing-the-wall-and-sensible-border-security

 

SEAN HANNITY
— John Roberts Sides with Liberal Justices, Upholds Block on Trump’s ‘Asylum Ban’
https://www.hannity.com/media-room/breaking-john-roberts-sides-with-liberal-justices-upholds-block-on-trumps-asylum-ban/

 

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— A Golden Opportunity for Republicans
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/21/a-golden-opportunity-for-republicans/

 

BREITBART
— Sanders: ‘Sad Day in America’ When Mexico Does More to Protect the Country Than Senate Dems – Trent Baker
https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/12/21/sanders-sad-day-in-america-when-mexico-does-more-to-protect-americans-than-senate-dems/

 

TPM
— Trump Affirms He’ll Shut Down Gov Over Wall: ‘Chances Are Probably Very Good’ – Matt Shuham
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-affirms-hell-shutdown-gov-over-wall-chances-are-probably-very-good

 

TOWNHALL
— President Trump: It’s Up to Democrats Whether We Have a Shutdown; We’re Prepared for a Long One – Katie Pavlich
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/12/21/president-trump-its-up-to-democrats-whether-we-have-a-shutdown-n2537936
— Roberts Joins Liberal Wing, SCOTUS Refuses To Allow Trump Administration To Enforce Asylum Ban – Matt Vespa
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2018/12/21/roberts-joins-liberal-wing-scotus-refuses-to-allow-trump-administration-to-enfor-n2537952
— Sen. Rubio Compares Border Security to TSA Airport Security – Zachary Petrizzo
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/zacharypetrizzo/2018/12/21/rubio-compares-border-security-to-tsa-airport-security-n2537923
— Democrats Are Choosing Illegal Aliens Over The American People”
https://townhall.com/columnists/jakehoffman/2018/12/21/democrats-are-choosing-illegal-aliens-over-the-american-people-n2537958

 

DAILY CALLER
— THE NEW YORK TIMES WAS AGAINST WAR IN SYRIA BEFORE IT WAS FOR IT – Joe Simonson
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/21/new-york-times-editorial-syria/
— ROBERTS JOINS LIBERALS, THWARTS TRUMP BID TO ENFORCE NEW ASYLUM RULES – Kevin Daley
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/21/supreme-court-trump-asylum-rules/
— JUSTICE GINSBURG TOLD AUDIENCE HER HEALTH WAS ‘FINE’ DAYS BEFORE CANCER OPERATION – Kevin Daley
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/21/ginsburg-hid-cancer-diagnosis/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— Porous border, asylum policy invited a human tragedy – Chad Groening
https://www.onenewsnow.com/national-security/2018/12/21/porous-border-asylum-policy-invited-a-human-tragedy

 

CNS NEWS
— Sen. Mike Lee Blocks EEOC Appointee, LGBT Activist Chai Feldblum – Emily Ward (DIERSEN: How has EEOC impacted you? What did you want when you were young? I wanted a successful career in the automotive industry. EEOC ended all that in 1971 when I was 22 when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. That made me unemployed because Firestone had fired me for accepting that offer. I had to get a job fast because I had a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother. Because of the aforesaid, I accepted a job offer from IRS.)
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/emily-ward/sen-mike-lee-blocks-eeoc-appointee-fears-she-could-threaten-religious

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— The left thumps the Bible to promote illegal immigration – Monica Showalter (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that GOD hates individuals, hates organizations, hates companies, hates governments, and hates countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that GOD wants poverty, crime, welfare, dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, diminishment of First or Second Amendment rights, booze, gambling, pot, or other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/the_left_thumps_the_bible_to_promote_illegal_immigration.html

 

HOT AIR
— Roberts Thwarts Trump, Sides With SCOTUS Liberals To Deny Stay In Key Asylum Case
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/12/21/roberts-thwarts-trump-sides-scotus-liberals-deny-stay-key-asylum-case/
— Mexico Goes Along With Trump’s Caravan Plan – JAZZ SHAW
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/12/21/mexico-goes-along-trumps-caravan-plan/

 

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— McConnell: Senate Should Put National Interest Ahead Of “Personal Spite” For The President – Tim Hains
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/12/21/mcconnell_senate_should_put_national_interest_ahead_of_spite_for_president.html

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— TRIPLE-AMPUTEE VET’S WALL FUND HITS $11.5 MILLION Nearly 200,000 Americans put up cash to build it!
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/veteran-starts-crowdfunding-for-border-wall/


— JUDGE: DEPORTED ILLEGALS MUST BE FLOWN BACK INTO U.S. U.S. agreed in 1980 to implement U.N’s rules on refugees
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/judge-deported-illegals-must-be-flown-back-into-u-s/
— SENATOR BLOCKS VOTE ON EEOC COMMISSIONER WITH ‘RADICAL VIEWS ON MARRIAGE’ Opposes lesbian member of agency that handles discrimination complaints (DIERSEN: How has EEOC impacted you? What did you want when you were young? I wanted a successful career in the automotive industry. EEOC ended all that in 1971 when I was 22 when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. That made me unemployed because Firestone had fired me for accepting that offer. I had to get a job fast because I had a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother. Because of the aforesaid, I accepted a job offer from IRS.)
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/senator-blocks-vote-on-eeoc-commissioner-with-radical-views-on-marriage/

 

ROLL CALL
— Hammered by Conservatives, Trump Pivots to ‘Principles’ and Chaos When Trump is in trouble he incites base and distracts from bad news, expert says: ‘A shutdown is two for two’ – John Bennett
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/hammered-by-conservatives-trump-pivots-to-principles-and-chaos

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— GoFundMe Campaign to Build Border Wall Raises Millions, Riles Migrant Advocates – Dan Levin
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/us/gofundme-wall-border-border-mexico.html
— The Mexican Border as Refugee Camp The Trump administration plans to send asylum seekers back to Mexico. What will happen to them there? – Ioan Grillo
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/opinion/the-mexican-border-as-refugee-camp.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Partial government shutdown assured after House adjourns without spending deal – Erica Werner, Damian Paletta and John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-leans-on-mcconnell-to-pass-spending-bill-with-border-funding-in-senate/2018/12/21/31bb453a-0517-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Migrant caravan in Tijuana hunkers down for the long haul – ANDREA CASTILLO
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-migrant-caravan-jobs-20181214-htmlstory.html

 

FORBES
— Are You Selling Your Experience Or Demonstrating Your Value? – Grace Totoro (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have focused on demonizing, denigrating, and condemning the experience that I gained a) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently, $81,071-$91,880/year, b) working for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325/year, c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, d) earning a bachelor’s degree in management and master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance, and e) serving on the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Executive Committee for 13 years.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/12/21/are-you-selling-your-experience-or-demonstrating-your-value/#45d75ff96afd

 

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Congressman brushes off idea of feds living paycheck to paycheck – Eric White
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2018/12/congressman-brushes-off-idea-of-federal-workers-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/

 

FED SMITH
— Shutdowns Are Part of What Federal Employees ‘Sign Up For’ – Ian Smith
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/12/21/shutdowns-part-federal-employees-sign/

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What campaign promises do you want candidates to make and keep? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

(THE ARTICLE: I want candidates to make and keep the following campaign promises:

 

– To defend and advance all the planks in the Republican Party Platform and in the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform,

 

– To especially defend and advance the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and Second Amendment planks in the IRP platform,

 

– To especially defend and advance the illegal drugs and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform, and

 

– To take no action that promotes poverty, crime, welfare, dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, diminishment of First or Second Amendment rights, booze, gambling, pot, or other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation.)

December 21 Morning Edition

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Is the McHenry County GOP imploding? Some say party must rebuild Some Republican officeholders say party must rebuild – ED KOMENDA
https://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/19/is-the-mchenry-county-gop-imploding-some-say-party-must-rebuild/a9jduy0/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago election board votes to refer nominating petition question in 13th Ward race to federal, county prosecutors – Gregory Pratt
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-david-krupa-marty-quinn-challenge-20181220-story.html
— Start an online post, then delete it? Many websites save it anyway. – Drew Harwell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-websites-recording-deleted-data-20181219-story.html
— U.S. Rep. Gutierrez releases videos, asks for help identifying man shown threatening Logan Square staff – Elvia Malagon (DIERSEN: When will the Chicago Tribune report on what Gutierrez said about The Wall?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-gutierrez-logan-square-police-20181220-story.html
— Washington shutdown strife reawakens Wall Street’s debt-ceiling dread – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-government-shutdown-wall-street-20181221-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chaos. Confusion. Confrontation: No Christmas cheer as Trump rattles Washington – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/chaos-confusion-confrontation-no-christmas-cheer-donald-trump-rattles-washington/
— Most volunteers who got signatures for embattled Ald. Burke can’t vote for him – Tim Novak and Carlos Ballesteros
https://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1572334

 

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Media is tougher on Trump because he fabricates more than his predecessors.”
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181221/cokie-and-steve-roberts-media-is-tougher-on-trump-because-he-fabricates-more-than-his-predecessors
— Prairie State’s Low Income Tax Clinic receives $100,000 from IRS (DIERSEN: Who do you know who works/worked for IRS? I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. Who do you know who works/worked on audits of IRS? I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-12 Step 1-3 levels, currently $96,403-$102,830. I should write a book about those who have done the most to waste my knowledge of IRS. They include my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, my Republican U.S. Senators, my Republican U.S. Representatives, and their staffs.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20181219/prairie-states-low-income-tax-clinic-receives-100000-from-irs

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps glorify and praise “Undocumented immigrant couple sentenced to time served for using fake ID to work.”
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181220/undocumented-immigrant-couple-sentenced-to-time-served-for-using-fake-id-to-work

 

SOUTHERN
— Assessing Rauner’s legacy as governor – Dan McCaleb
https://thesouthern.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-dan-mccaleb-assessing-rauner-s-legacy-as-governor/article_54bf834a-df85-52e1-b7d9-46d2bf41eba5.html

 

WQAD
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois population falls for fifth straight year with decline of 45,000 (DIERSEN: To vote for a Democrat is to vote to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. In my precinct, in the November 6, 2018 election, 196 voted for Casten, that is, 196 voted to get rid of me.)
https://wqad.com/2018/12/20/illinois-population-falls-for-fifth-straight-year-with-decline-of-45000/

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Slashing townships wouldn’t cut taxes – Chuck Layer, supervisor, Blackhawk Township
https://qconline.com/opinion/letters/letter-slashing-townships-wouldn-t-cut-taxes/article_f4950d06-63c1-56d4-8323-28298a6280ed.html
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: People moving out of Illinois lowers state to 6th largest
https://qconline.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/people-moving-out-of-illinois-lowers-state-to-th-largest/article_6543efe9-ac96-5925-9312-33aebe67c99f.html

 

MDJ ONLINE
— Even with low unemployment, nearly all Illinois counties dodge work rules for food stamps – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If/when pot is legalized in Illinois, how many millions of Illinois residents will become stoners so that they can be disabled and not have to work?)
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/even-with-low-unemployment-nearly-all-illinois-counties-dodge-work/article_ae07ade2-5957-501b-b0eb-b21d4dafbf4d.html

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: The SHRINKING congressional delegation – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/21/redistricting-at-lincoln-levels-rauner-not-giving-up-pritzkers-team-tracking-tickets-368498
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rauner sends thank-you letters to state employees. Any thank-you letters that Bowsher may have sent to GAO employees would have gone to those GAO employees who did the most to help him get rid of GAO’s employees like me who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who GAO had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/21/redistricting-at-lincoln-levels-rauner-not-giving-up-pritzkers-team-tracking-tickets-368498
— Candidate In 45th Ward Had Order Of Protection Issued Against Him Last Year By Ex-Girlfriend
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/21/redistricting-at-lincoln-levels-rauner-not-giving-up-pritzkers-team-tracking-tickets-368498

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— The Tight Noose of Leaders – Mike Madigan and Jack Franks
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/the-tight-noose-of-leaders/

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: EACH DAY, A PLANE FULL OF ILLINOISANS MOVING TO ANOTHER STATE It’s the fifth year in a row Illinois has lost people. And the fifth year in a row that the loss has gotten worse. No other state finds itself adrift in five consecutive years of worsening population decline. – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/each-day-a-plane-full-of-illinoisans-moving-to-another-state/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— WATCH: ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN STORMS OUT OF HEARING AFTER CLAIMING TRUMP WOULD’VE HELPED KILL BABY JESUS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/watch-illinois-congressman-storms-out-of-hearing-after-claiming-trump-wouldve-helped-kill-baby-jesus.html
— FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE NOW OBTAINING GUILTY PLEAS FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT CRIMES.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/federal-prosecutors-are-now-obtaining-guilty-pleas-for-things-that-are-not-crimes.html

 

FOX NEWS
— Is That From the ‘Book of Obama’?: Tucker Blasts Gutierrez for Saying Trump Wall Would’ve Killed Jesus Christ (DIERSEN: According to Democrats, Gutierrez speaks for all Hispanics. In your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois, how many of the Trump-haters agree with Gutierrez? What will those Trump-haters do to get rid of Trump and his supporters once and for all?)
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/20/luis-gutierrez-slams-nielsen-says-trump-border-wall-would-kill-jesus

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Gutierrez: Trump’s border policies would have killed Jesus – Jessica Chasmar
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/20/luis-gutierrez-trumps-border-policies-would-have-k/

 

TOWNHALL
— Gutierrez Says Trump Administration Would Have Killed Baby Jesus – Lauretta Brown
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/laurettabrown/2018/12/20/rep-gutierrez-says-trump-administration-would-have-killed-baby-jesus-n2537883

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— Gutierrez: TRUMP’S BORDER POLICIES WOULD HAVE KILLED JESUS ‘Thank God there wasn’t a wall that stopped him from seeking refuge in Egypt’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/congressman-trumps-border-policies-would-have-killed-jesus/

 

GOPUSA
— Gutierrez: Trump’s border policies would have killed Jesus
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61476

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Trump Keeps His Promise – Congress In Disbelief
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/29357

 

THE HILL
— Bobby Rush calls on Facebook to fire Zuckerberg – TAL AXELROD (DIERSEN: GAO works for Congress. I would not be surprised at all to learn that Bobby Rush directed my GAO superiors a) to force me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, b) to give me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, c) to always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and d) to not promote me beyond GS-13.)
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/technology/422202-dem-rep-calls-on-facebook-to-fire-zuckerberg

 

CNS NEWS
— Gutierrez: Trump’s Border Wall Would Have Killed the Baby Jesus – Craig Bannister
https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/rep-gutierrez-trumps-border-wall-would-have-killed-baby-jesus

 

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Unhinged Gutierrez Rants About Trump Killing the Baby Jesus
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/20/unhinged-gutierrez-rants-about-trump-killing-the-baby-jesus/

 

DAILY WIRE
— Gutierrez Storms Out Of Hearing After Claiming Trump Would’ve Helped Kill Baby Jesus – RYAN SAAVEDRA
https://www.dailywire.com/news/39560/democrat-says-trump-wouldve-been-responsible-ryan-saavedra

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An America-hater says “None of Us Deserve Citizenship” and asks “On what moral grounds can we deny others rights, privileges and opportunities that we did not earn ourselves?” The more of the following that you are, the more that America-haters want to get rid of you once and for all: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, the aforesaid are buying firearms and ammunition for their self-defense.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/opinion/sunday/immigration-border-policy-citizenship.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Pope Francis tells priests guilty of sexual abuse that the church won’t shield them. ‘Hand yourself over to human justice.’ (DIERSEN: Democrat superiors in the federal government make it very clear to their supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates that they will be shielded if they discriminate against federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/12/21/pope-francis-tells-priests-guilty-of-sexual-abuse-that-the-church-wont-shield-them-hand-yourself-over-to-human-justice/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Lawyers Have Rights, Too In 18 states, they’re forced to pay fees to politicized bar associations. – Jacob Huebert and Timothy Sandefur
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawyers-have-rights-too-11545350433
— FRONT PAGE: ‘Just Unbearable.’ Booming Job Market Can’t Fill the Retirement Shortfall Nearly eight million older Americans are out of work or stuck in low-quality jobs, denying them a crucial time to accumulate savings – Ruth Simon
https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-a-booming-job-market-cant-fill-retirement-shortfall-for-older-workers-11545326195
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Even though the official unemployment rate is just 3% for older workers, the actual jobs environment is surprisingly bleak. Nearly eight million older Americans are out of work or stuck in low-quality jobs that offer little opportunity to prepare for retirement, a Wall Street Journal analysis of government data shows. At Risk Nearly eight million older Americans are out of work or stuck in low-quality jobs that offer little opportunity to prepare for retirement. The figures include the nearly 2.1 million Americans who are out of work, working part time because they can’t find a full-time job or have stopped looking because they don’t think anyone will hire them. Another 5.8 million Americans—or 23% of full-time, year-round workers ages 55 and older—are employed in what economists describe as “bad jobs” that offer no health benefits and typically pay poorly. A decade ago, about 20% held these jobs, according to census data compiled by the Minnesota Population Center.)

 

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: The maker of Budweiser is partnering with Tilray to explore pot-infused drinks – Ben Tobin
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/12/20/budweiser-maker-partners-tilray-explore-pot-infused-drinks/2373429002/
— Poll: Americans can agree that the nation is divided. Beyond that, they don’t agree on much. – Susan Page and Bill Theobald
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/20/poll-democrats-republicans-agree-us-divided-worry-trump-health-border-issues/2349589002/
— Facebook’s really bad, horrible 2018 can only improve next year, right? – Jefferson Graham
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/12/19/facebooks-really-bad-2018-can-only-improve-2019-right/2364211002/

 

ATLANTIC
— What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency From seizing control of the internet to declaring martial law, President Trump may legally do all kinds of extraordinary things. – ELIZABETH GOITEIN (DIERSEN: Obviously, Trump-haters want Trump to declare a state of emergency.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/presidential-emergency-powers/576418/

 

FCW
— Will Democrats revive the Office of Technology Assessment in 2019? – Chase Gunter (DIERSEN: In 1997, I was a “casualty of Republican cost-cutting.”)
https://fcw.com/articles/2018/12/07/2019outlook-ota-revival-gunter.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: From 1972 to 1995, the Congressional office provided scientific and technological advice to lawmakers, penning more than 750 studies and, at its peak, supporting 140 staffers with a budget exceeding $30 million in today’s dollars. When Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House, the office became a casualty of Republican cost-cutting. . .One alternative emerging among conservatives is to increase resources to offices with technological focuses that already receive funding, like the Government Accountability Office’s IT oversight arm. “There is this sort of natural skepticism of expert bureaucracies and the optics of recreating a new federal agency,” said Graves, who has also worked at R Street and Cato Institutes. “Republicans are going to be much naturally more favorable to doing this in GAO rather than OTA.” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who led this year’s Senate-side push to revive OTA, isn’t limiting the path for improving tech capacity in Congress just to OTA. Keith Chu, Wyden’s press spokesperson, said the senator will look at a range of options to bring tech expertise to Congress, “whether it’s through reviving the OTA, giving GAO additional resources, or encouraging programs like TechCongress fellowships.” But boosting funding for GAO without bringing back an agency with OTA’s mission comes with downsides, because the two have fundamentally distinct visions, said Schuman. “GAO is an agency that has a waste, fraud and abuse mission — that is the organizational culture approach, that is the way they think about things,” he said. “OTA is often about imagining what’s possible and not criticizing what currently exists.”)

 

GOVERNING
— All or Nothing: How State Politics Became a Winner-Take-All World – ALAN GREENBLATT
http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-state-politics-governors-2019.html

 

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS
— We’re in this together
https://www.spj.org/together.asp
(FROM THE POSTING: The Society of Professional Journalists is troubled by the continued layoffs and buyouts in journalism. Our members are the lifeblood of our organization, and it has been painful to watch as many of our friends, perhaps you, have lost their jobs as a result of dramatic industry changes. As the nation’s oldest professional journalism organization, we stand with you during these trying times, and we thank you for your vigilance in pursuit of truth.)

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What do those who want Republicans to lose want Republican party leaders to do? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

 

(THE ARTICLE: What percent of those individuals, organizations, and companies that are leaving Illinois, leaving DuPage County, and leaving Milton Township are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time – 98%, 99%, 100%?

 

Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend their platform. Those who want dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, and even worse things ALWAYS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

 

QUESTION: What do Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs in Illinois, in DuPage County, and in Milton Township want Republican party leaders to do?

 

ANSWER: They want the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee to downplay, to ignore, if not to strike the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and Second Amendment planks in the IRP platform and the illegal drugs and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. They know that downplaying, ignoring, and striking the aforesaid planks will drive individuals, organizations, and companies out of Illinois that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.

 

Further, those who want Republicans to lose want Republican party leaders to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.

 

Further, those who want Republicans to lose want Republican party leaders to banish individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)

December 20 Evening Edition

DONALD TRUMP
— Democrats, it is time to come together and put the SAFETY of the AMERICAN PEOPLE before POLITICS. Border security must become a #1 priority!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075870519046610945

 

ABC7
— Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down after clashes with Trump – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/defense-secretary-mattis-leaving-after-clashes-with-trump/4938018/
— Trump defends move to risk government shutdown – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-defends-move-to-risk-government-shutdown/4935197/
— Trump pushing rule making work mandatory for food stamps – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-proposes-rule-requiring-job-for-food-stamps/4937976/
— GoFundMe for Trump’s border wall has raised more than $6M
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/gofundme-for-trumps-border-wall-has-raised-more-than-$6m/4935637/

 

NBC5
— NBC 5 Sues for Documents From Federal Raids on Ald. Burke’s Offices The lawsuit follows the denial of a request to release search warrants and subpoenas – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/nbc-5-goes-to-court-seeking-documents-from-federal-raid-on-ald-burke-503246421.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker names three heavy-hitting deputy governors but mum on salaries – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/pritzker-announces-heavy-hitters-deputy-governor-positions/
— U.S. says asylum-seeking migrants to wait in Mexico – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/asylum-migrants-mexico-us-border/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The abuse scandal: Next steps for Madigan and the church – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-sexual-abuse-catholic-priests-chicago-archdiocese-20181220-story.html
— Trump administration moves to tighten work requirements for food stamps – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-food-stamps-snap-work-requirements-20181220-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Pritzker should set goal of making tollway more patronage-proof – Editorial (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote patronage and reject the decision in Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html). My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me like I was part of a plot to stop them from hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. They knew that my wife had helped elect Jim Thompson. They were fully aware of the arguments that Thompson and Jim Edgar made in Rutan that government employers should be allowed to engage in political affiliation discrimination.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181220/editorial-pritzker-should-set-goal-of-making-tollway-more-patronage-proof
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Today, we share our ideas for true tollway reform: Reduce political hiring. Patronage hiring is permitted in too many jobs, which are called “Rutan-exempt” in Illinois legal shorthand. That allowed the tollway to flood the agency with highly-paid top Republican insiders. More of these jobs needs to be designated as patronage free so they go to the most qualified, not the most connected.)

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Pritzker assembles strong team to make Illinois a winner – Editorial
https://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20181220/our-view-pritzker-assembles-strong-team-to-make-illinois-winner

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump tells GOP leaders he won’t sign bill to avoid shutdown – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/speaker-ryan-says-trump-will-not-sign-bill-to-keep-government-open
— Mattis leaving as Pentagon chief after clashes with Trump – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-announces-defense-secretary-mattis-to-retire-in-february

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Algonquin Township Road District Levy Drama – Cal Skinner
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/algonquin-township-road-district-levy-drama/
— Algonquin Township Board to Undo Damage Done by Previous Refusals to Approve Road District Levy
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/algonquin-township-board-to-undo-damage-done-by-refusal-to-approve-road-district-levy/
— Appellate Court Denies Jack Franks’ Ally’s Printer’s Appeal to Stop Illinois Integrity Fund Identification Process
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/appellate-court-denies-jack-franks-allys-printers-appeal-to-stop-illinois-integrity-identification-process/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Reader comments closed until January 7th (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/reader-comments-closed-until-january-7th/

 

FOX NEWS
— Gutierrez: Trump’s Border Wall Would Have Gotten Jesus Killed as Herod Intended
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/20/luis-gutierrez-slams-nielsen-says-trump-border-wall-would-kill-jesus

 

BREITBART
— Luis Gutierrez: Trump Would Have Killed Jesus with Inhumane Border Policies – Pam Key
https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/12/20/luis-gutierrez-trump-would-have-killed-jesus-with-inhumane-border-policies/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump’s veto threat pays off: House approves $5.7B for border wall – Susan Ferrechio
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/trumps-veto-threat-pays-off-house-approves-5-7b-for-border-wall

 

DAILY CALLER
— E-VERIFY — THE IMMIGRATION SOLUTION CONGRESS IS LOOKING FOR – Ken Blackwell
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/e-verify-solution-to-immigration/
— TRUMP MOVES TOWARDS SHUTDOWN OVER WALL FUNDING – Saagar Enjeti
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/trump-shutdown-wall/
— GOFUNDME FOR TRUMP’S BORDER WALL SURPASSES $5 MILLION IN LESS THAN FOUR DAYS – Jason Hopkins
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/border-wall-gofundme-millions/

 

EAGLE ACTION REPORT
— Rand Paul: ‘The Deep State Needs More Oversight’ – Sean Moran (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote patronage and reject the decision in Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html). My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me like I was a member of the deep state, that I was part of a plot to stop them from hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. They knew that my wife had helped elect Jim Thompson. They were fully aware of the arguments that Thompson and Jim Edgar made in Rutan that government employers should be allowed to engage in political affiliation discrimination.)
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/rand-paul-the-deep-state-needs-more-oversight
— Will We Ever Get A Wall? – Derek Hunter
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/will-we-ever-get-a-wall

 

CAMPUS REFORM
— 5 most politically biased courses of 2018 – Grace Gottschling
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11665

 

NEW AMERICAN
— Immigrationists Try to Wreck Tucker Carlson as Illegals Wreck Our Land – Selwyn Duke
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/30971-immigrationists-try-to-wreck-tucker-carlson-as-illegals-wreck-our-land

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Mexico Is Building Its Wall — and the U.S. Is Paying for It – KEVIN D. WILLIAMSON
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/mexico-border-security-us-foreign-aid-good-idea/

 

CNN
— GUTIERREZ CALLS TRUMP OFFICIAL KIRSTJEN NIELSEN ‘LIAR,’ STORMS OUT
https://www.wthitv.com/content/national/503264361.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Planned Parenthood Is Accused of Mistreating Pregnant Employees – Natalie Kitroeff and Jessica Silver-Greenberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/business/planned-parenthood-pregnant-employee-discrimination-women.html
— For American Workers, 4 Key Retirement Issues to Watch in 2019 – Mark Miller
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/business/retirement-pensions-social-security-2019.html

December 20 Morning Edition

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Richard Porter was the fourth person Gov. Bruce Rauner approached to run for governor. The Chicago attorney who also serves as an Illinois RNC National Committeeman told POLITICO it wasn’t so gauche as to be an outright ask. “I would have described it as more of an aside in a strategy conversation focused more on how he could win (rather) than an offer,” Porter said of their telephone call. Rauner also approached state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, Cubs owner Todd Ricketts and then-GOP attorney general candidate Erika Harold. Rauner “was in to win,” Porter said. “He was never a quitter. To the contrary. He was always focused on finding the best path to winning. And if that meant he should fall on his sword, then he was willing to do that — and give millions of his money away to boot. I think Rauner’s comments on this have been misunderstood.” Porter’s referring to political watchers who say Rauner’s courting of others was a desperate act by a candidate who thought he’d lose. But Porter says Rauner just wanted to be assured of a win. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406
— PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook will not publish from Dec. 24 to Jan 1. It will be back in your inbox Jan. 2. (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406

 

ABC7
— With Senate passage, bill to prevent shutdown goes to House – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/with-senate-passage-bill-to-prevent-shutdown-goes-to-house/4935197/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: More than 500 priests accused of sexual abuse not yet publicly identified by Catholic church, Illinois attorney general finds – Elvia Malagon
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-illinois-attorney-general-catholic-priest-abuse-20181219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps promote illegal immigration.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-ice-protest-portage-st-1220-story.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, LGBTQ promoters promote LGBTQ activity.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-barrington-rainbow-flag-theft-20181219-story.html
— It was always about the wall – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/sns-201812191031–tms–vdhansonctnvh-a20181220-20181220-column.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PHOTOS OF MADIGAN AND CUPICH: State AG: Church underreported number of priests with sex misconduct allegations – Robert Herguth
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/illinois-attorney-general-says-catholic-church-seriously-underreported-number-priests-sexual-misconduct-allegations/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PHOTOS OF MADIGAN AND CUPICH: Lisa Madigan: 500 more sex allegations against Illinois priests ‘have not been adequately investigated’ – Michelle Boorstein
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/lisa-madigan-500-more-sex-allegations-against-illinois-priests-have-not-been-adequately-investigated

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— AG: Catholic Church withheld names of more than 500 Illinois priests accused of abuse – Brenden Moore
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181219/ag-catholic-church-withheld-names-of-more-than-500-illinois-priests-accused-of-abuse
— Short-term senator gets committee leadership pay – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20181219/bernard-schoenburg-short-term-senator-gets-committee-leadership-pay
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Republican state senator appointed to the legislature to fill a 45-day gap is getting not only his base pay, but $1,270 extra to be minority spokesperson on a committee that hasn’t met since months before he took office and has no meetings planned. Sen. YADAV “NICK” NATHWANI of Glen Ellyn was sworn in Nov. 26 after being appointed to the vacancy left with the resignation of former Sen. CHRIS NYBO, R-Elmhurst, who lost the Nov. 6 election to Democrat SUZY GLOWIAK of Western Springs in the 24th Senate District. In addition to filling out Nybo’s term, Nathwani is listed as minority spokesman of the Senate’s financial institutions committee. That committee hasn’t met since May 23. Nathwani will be out of office when Glowiak is sworn in on Jan. 9. Base pay for legislators is $67,836 annually, and committee chairs and minority spokespeople get an extra $10,327 annually. For his 45 days, Nathwani will thus get about $8,360 in base pay and about $1,270 in pay for his committee position. I asked JASON GERWIG, spokesman for Senate GOP Leader BILL BRADY, R-Bloomington, if it was right for Brady to name Nathwani to the leadership post for such a short stint in the Senate and when the committee is apparently not meeting. “Unfortunately, we don’t control the scheduling process of when committees meet,” Gerwig responded. “Maybe if we get a fair map that’ll change someday.” Gerwig noted that Nathwani served the last three days of the veto session and will be there for session on Jan. 7 and 8, before the swearing in on Jan. 9 of the new General Assembly. A message left for at Nathwani’s Senate office went unanswered. He is chief financial officer of Professional Paving & Concrete Co. in Glen Ellyn, a Milton Township trustee and vice-chair of the Milton Township GOP. Nathwani came on my radar due to a something published on the Chicago Tribune website headlined: “From the community: New Senator seeks input from residents.” The author of the piece, which quotes Nathwani encouraging constituents to “reach out to me during this time to discuss the state and local issues important to them,” was listed only as “Community Contributor tbryers.” That would be TIM BRYERS of Elmhurst, who is on the Senate GOP communications staff. He said he is a community contributor to the Tribune, and said in this case, he posted a news release. He said other communications people, as well as representatives of local community groups, use that and similar sites to get out community information. The Trib website says that community contributors are registered users of TribLocal.com and Chicagotribune.com who have photos, articles, announcements and local events to share. The site is not for advertisers. Bryers also said that with many newspapers having fewer reporters than in the past, such openings for outside digital content allows information to get to the public. The Tribune used to have two reporters based in Springfield and there was one in recent years, but since MONIQUE GARCIA left in August to join a public affairs firm, nobody from the Trib is based in the capital city. MARISA KOLLIAS, spokeswoman for the Tribune, had no comment on the status of the Springfield opening, but did say the Tribune “is committed to state government coverage.” As to having a news release from a state staffer published on the Trib website as community news, Kollias had no comment.)

 

JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES COURIER
— How to Properly Use Internships to Find Employees – Daniel B. Kline (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 Step 1 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://jg-tc.com/business/investment/personal-finance/how-to-properly-use-internships-to-find-employees/article_bfd5f85b-d90a-5388-9b5a-59eff7f7c2a1.html

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/piece-pot-money-and-weed-illinois#stream/0
— Judge Who Invalidated Obamacare Has Been A ‘Go-To Judge’ For Republicans, Critics Say
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/judge-who-invalidated-obamacare-has-been-go-judge-republicans-critics-say#stream/0

 

BOLINGBROOK PATCH
— Bolingbrook Hate Crime Convict Back In Will County’s Jail Rachel Tuszynski of Bolingbrook is back in the Will County Jail again. -John Ferak
https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/woman-guilty-hate-crime-mayor-claars-house-jail-again

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— The Land of Lincoln is losing 313 residents per day to other states. – Bryce Hill and Robert Teresi
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-population-loss-worsens-for-5th-straight-year/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— “Trans” Madness: De-Sexing the World – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/trans-madness-de-sexing-the-world/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— The 2018 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best elected statewide official goes to Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/question-of-the-day-golden-horseshoe-awards-78/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Although her office doesn’t have any specific duties outside of being 2nd in line and doing what the governor wants, Sanguinetti and her staff have done a lot on the issue of local government consolidation, reducing LLC fees (she took the lead on that before Rauner), rural education and healthcare, and aggressively working to fight against and recommend the best policies that help those suffering from opioids. She may not get most attention due to the position or administration, but the Lt. Gov has done good work she can be proud of during her 4 years of service. Sanguinetti only received one nomination, but it was so strong that it convinced me.)
— Richard Porter was fourth person Rauner asked to run in his place
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/richard-porter-was-fourth-person-rauner-asked-to-run-in-his-place/
— AG Madigan finds 500 additional allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/ag-madigan-finds-500-additional-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-by-catholic-priests-and-clergy/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— It was always about the wall – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/19/for-democrats-a-successful-border-wall-means-bad-p/
— Trump’s push on prison reform called ‘goodwill’ to minorities President scores win that eluded Barack Obama in reducing long mandatory minimum sentences – S.A. Miller
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/19/first-step-act-prison-reform-called-trump-goodwill/

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Immigration Is Making U.S. Poorer and Dirtier – Pedro Gonzalez

Immigration Is Making U.S. Poorer and Dirtier


(FROM THE ARTICLE: As a matter of fact, immigration is making our country poorer—save for those who profit from cheap labor—for one simple reason: we are absorbing masses of poor people who remain concentrated in lower-skilled, low-paying jobs. Many of those poor, whether they arrive illegally or by chain migration, happen to be minorities, and in particular Latinos. Latinos experience the third-highest rate of poverty behind blacks and Native Americans—but as the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, they constitute a greater number of poor than blacks and Native Americans combined (10.8 million, 9 million, 700,000, respectively), according to the Center for American Progress. So, yes, immigration is bringing in disproportionate numbers of poor people and making America poorer.)

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Why We’re Divided – Jeffrey Folks
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/why_were_divided.html

 

NEWSMAX
— White House Rips Asylum Ruling as ‘Judicial Activism’ – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/asylum-liberal-activism-immigration-law-open-borders/2018/12/19/id/895209/

 

BREITBART
— Gutless President in Wall-Less Country – Ann Coulter
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/coulter-gutless-president-in-wall-less-country/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Paul Ryan promotes open borders, that is, Paul Ryan promotes the end of America.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-immigration-rules-should-offer-jobs-to-anyone/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Retiring Paul Ryan today lamented his failure to deliver a global supply of migrant labor to businesses and investors — regardless of ordinary Americans’ desire for decent wages. Ryan’s failure was ensured by Donald Trump’s 2016 election — and so Trump’s “Hire American” policy is now allowing Americans’ wages to rise amid a shortage of blue-collar workers and protests by business leaders. Ryan’s lament came as his final efforts to outsource more Americans jobs to foreign workers were discarded in the confused negotiations over Congress’s failure to pass a 2019 budget for the Department of Homeland Security. That defeat for Ryan was missed by media coverage over funding for the border wall.)

 

DAILY CALLER
— LAURA INGRAHAM, JIM JORDAN CRITICIZE TRUMP, REPUBLICANS ON BORDER WALL RETREAT – Scott Morefield
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/laura-ingraham-jim-jordan-border-wall/
— TUCKER ADDRESSES AND CLARIFIES IMMIGRATION COMMENT BACKLASH – Mike Brest
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/tucker-dershowitz-immigration-backlash-tijuana/
— CNN’S 2014 JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR RESIGNS AFTER ADMITTING TO FALSIFYING STORIES – Mike Brest
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/cnn-journalist-der-spiegel-resigns/

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Pro-life law firm asks Illinois Supreme Court to stop taxpayer funding of abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-life-law-firm-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-stop-taxpayer-funding-of-a

 

PJ MEDIA
— Merry Christmas, Mexico! Here’s Five Billion Dollars! – MEGAN FOX
https://pjmedia.com/trending/merry-christmas-mexico-heres-five-billion-dollars/

 

COLLEGE FIX
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who promote LGBTQ activity crow about their successes.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/christian-college-group-formally-endorses-lgbt-protections-in-federal-law/

 

THE HILL
— White House slams judge’s ruling on Trump asylum policy: ‘The latest example of judicial activism’ – EMILY BIRNBAUM
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/422207-white-house-slams-judges-ruling-on-trump-asylum-policy-the-latest

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Paul Ryan Played Dumb On Donald Trump All The Way To The End The departing GOP House speaker leaves a legacy of willful ignorance. – Hayley Miller
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-ryan-donald-trump-legacy_us_5c17d212e4b05d7e5d84cf99

 

POLITICO
— Ryan’s legacy can’t escape Trump The retiring House speaker touted a series of accomplishments in his farewell address, but Trump will loom over his tenure. – RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-legacy-trump-congress-1070782
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Indeed, when Trump won the presidential election, the hard-line Freedom Caucus stood at the ready to push Ryan out of office for jabbing Trump on the campaign trail. The only reason Trump kept him around was because Vice President Mike Pence and other pro-Ryan Republicans argued in favor of having a true legislative tactician and wonk shepherding his priorities through a convoluted Congress. Had Ryan forcefully criticized Trump during his presidency, the leader of the party might have come after him, Ryan’s allies say. “That’s the toughest job in American politics,” said former Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), an Illinois Republican who lost in the midterm election.)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: Catholic Church in Illinois Withheld Names of at Least 500 Priests Accused of Abuse, Attorney General Says – Laurie Goodstein and Monica Davey
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/illinois-attorney-general-catholic-church-priest-abuse.html
— Senate Passes Stopgap Spending Bill That Would Avert Shutdown – Emily Cochrane
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/politics/government-shutdown-threat.html
— ‘The Effects Cannot Be Overstated’: When Tech Invaded Media Jim Rutenberg reflects on the convergence of technology with media, and how that has changed his consumption habits and coverage.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/technology/personaltech/media-tech-effects.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration reaches deal that will force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as cases are processed, DHS’s Nielsen says – Nick Miroff and Nick Miroff
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dhs-secretary-kirstjen-nielsen-to-face-questions-from-lawmakers/2018/12/20/f7d2ffea-0460-11e9-8186-4ec26a485713_story.html

 

THE WIRE
— Caravans – the New Face of Migration to the US, With No End in Sight Thousands of mostly Honduran migrants have become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s tough policies on immigration. – Reuters
https://thewire.in/world/caravans-the-new-face-of-migration-to-the-us-with-no-end-in-sight

 

FLORIDA WATCHDOG
— Proposed 2019 E-Verify bills likely to revive bitter feud among Republicans – John Haughey (DIERSEN: Obviously, those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that oppose E-Verify illegally benefit from illegally employing illegals.)
https://www.watchdog.org/florida/proposed-e-verify-bills-likely-to-revive-bitter-feud-among/article_a593c45c-03b2-11e9-84b3-f7729c3b20b8.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Women Who Love Trump His approval among female Republicans is 93%—higher than among GOP men. – Daniel Henninger
https://www.wsj.com/articles/women-who-love-trump-11545264804
— The Lamest Lame Duck Trump’s shutdown folly has cost the GOP any last-ditch victories. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-lamest-lame-duck-11545265379
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps and those who want cheap labor argue for open borders for Hispanic women.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/it-is-better-not-to-have-a-daughter-here-latin-americas-violence-turns-against-women-11545237843

 

BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats shout at women that Republicans cause all the problems that women have in the workplace.
https://www.business.com/articles/workplace-culture-gender-equality/

 

INC.
— The Top 50 Best Places to Live in America Right Now. Quality of life, affordability, and ease of living were all taken into account. – Betsy Mikel (DIERSEN: Wheaton is ranked 27th.)
https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/the-top-50-best-places-to-live-in-america-right-now-spoiler-not-a-single-big-city-made-list.html
http://time.com/money/collection/2018-best-places-to-live/5361480/wheaton-illinois/

December 19 Evening Edition

ABC7
— FBI investigating fraudulent signatures in 13th Ward race – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/abc7-exclusive-fbi-investigating-fraudulent-signatures-in-13th-ward-race/4931368/

 

NBC5
— Nearly 187K Register to Vote Using New Illinois System The state’s new automatic voter registration system went into effect July 1
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/nearly-187k-register-to-vote-using-new-illinois-system-503149241.html

 

CBS2
— Nearly 187K Register To Vote Using New Illinois System
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/19/nearly-187k-register-to-vote-using-new-system/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GoFundMe page to fund border wall has raised over $1M in 2 days
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/gofundme-page-to-fund-border-wall-has-raised-over-1-million-dollars-in-2-days
— Chick-fil-A will soon be the No. 3 fast-food chain in America, research firm claims
http://www.fox32chicago.com/facebook-instant/chick-fil-a-will-soon-be-the-no-3-fast-food-chain-in-america-research-firm-claims

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois declines in population for fifth year in a row with more than 45,000 fewer residents With exodus continuing, Illinois could lose a congressional seat after next census- Angie Leventis Lourgos
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-census-illinois-population-20181219-story.html
— How bad does the ‘Illinois Exodus’ have to get? – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats believe that for every Republican individual, organization, and company that they drive out of Illinois, one or more Democrat individuals, organizations, and companies will move into Illinois.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-population-loss-madigan-exodus-20181219-story.html
— Senate poised to vote to keep government running into 2019, with no wall funding in sight – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-20181219-story.html
— Liberal startup reports on brands’ political spending, hopes shoppers opt for blue Christmas – Rachel Siegel
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-shopping-corporate-political-spending-20181219-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— The war against the trolls: We must reassert humanity in the face of cruelty – S. E. Cupp
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/the-war-against-the-trolls-we-must-reassert-humanity-in-the-face-of-cruelty/
— Feds eye move to regulate legal sports betting nationwide – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/sports-gambling-regulation-bill-united-states/

 

DAILY JOURNAL
— Contested council races in store for several DuPage communities – Robert Sanchez and Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/contested-council-races-in-store-for-several-dupage-communities

 

JOURNAL TOPICS
— Town Hall On Recreational ‘Pot’ Set For Jan. 4
https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/town-hall-on-recreational-pot-set-for-jan-4/

 

WQAD
— Anti-abortion group asks Illinois Supreme Court to nullify abortion law
https://wqad.com/2018/12/19/anti-abortion-group-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-nullify-abortion-law/

 

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Tax Raisers ready for massive Gas Tax increase
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2018/12/19/tax-raisers-ready-for-massive-gas-tax-increase/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives speaks out against proposed gas tax increase – Kyla Asbury
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511684828-ives-speaks-out-against-proposed-gas-tax-increase

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Assessing Rauner’s legacy as governor – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-assessing-rauner-s-legacy-as-governor/article_abd32a7a-030c-11e9-8030-7be48a6ab0ab.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— GAS TAX HIKE RUMORS STIR OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE STATE LAWMAKERS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/gas-tax-hike-rumors-stir-opposition-from-conservative-state-lawmakers.html
— MEDIA AIDS DEMOCRATS IN EASING TAXPAYER CONCERNS ABOUT STATE’S FINANCES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/media-aids-democrats-in-easing-taxpayer-concerns-about-states-finances.html
— THORNER & O’NEIL: TRUMP FIGHTS BACK AGAINST UNHINGED MEDIA AND OUTRAGED GLOBALIST ELITES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/thorner-oneil-trump-fights-back-against-unhinged-media-and-outraged-globalist-elites.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— More controversy over Satanic Temple display in Rotunda
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/more-controversy-over-satanic-temple-display-in-rotunda/
— The hollowing-out of state government
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/the-hollowing-out-of-state-government-4/
— Quit the union and use that cash for Christmas shopping!
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/quit-the-union-and-use-that-cash-for-christmas-shopping/
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois lost 45,116 people in one year
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/illinois-lost-45116-people-in-one-year/

 

GOPUSA
— Trump impeachment countdown is on
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-impeachment-countdown-is-on/
— Judge: Cops, schools had no duty to protect Parkland students from shooting
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61273
— Boston mayor doubles down on support for illegal aliens after plea from ICE to rid communities of public safety threats
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61277
— Time to finish the Wall
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61198

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— New York Times tries and fails to paint Trump administration as racist – Rick Esenberg
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/new-york-times-tries-and-fails-to-paint-trump-administration-as-racist

 

BREITBART
— Chicago Tribune: Gun Control Not the Solution for American Firearm Deaths – Awr Hawkins
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/chicago-tribune-gun-control-not-the-solution-for-american-firearm-deaths/
— Poll: One Third of Republicans Would Pitch in to Build Wall – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/poll-one-third-of-republicans-would-pitch-in-to-build-wall/

 

DAILY CALLER
— JEWISH PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WALLS – Rabbi Yechezkel Moskowitz
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/jews-traditionally-pro-wall/
— JUDGE THWARTS TRUMP BID TO LIMIT ASYLUM ELIGIBILITY – Kevin Daley
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/trump-asylum-domestic-violence/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Gaming the system: Two congress members escort favored illegals into the U.S. – Monica Showalter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/gaming_the_system_two_congress_members_escort_favored_illegals_into_the_us.html

 

LIBERTY NEWS NOW
— Chick-fil-A Is Now America’s #3 Fast Food Chain – Jessica Cambridge
https://libertynewsnow.com/chick-fil-a-is-now-americas-3-fast-food-chain/article10327

 

THE HILL
— Conservatives blast GOP, Trump over spending deal – NIV ELIS
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/422123-conservatives-blast-gop-trump-over-spending-deal
— Michelle Malkin, other conservatives rip Trump over border wall funding – JOE CONCHA
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/422116-michelle-malkin-other-conservatives-rip-trump-over-border-wall-funding
— Why Americans are so tired of Trump news – JOE CONCHA
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/422080-why-americans-are-so-tired-of-trump-news

 

NBC NEWS
— Times Square billboard calls out migrant deaths, slams border wall – Nicole Acevedo
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/times-square-billboard-calls-out-migrant-deaths-slams-border-wall-n950121
— Asylum seekers ‘elated’ after judge strikes down Trump rules – Daniella Silva
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/asylum-seekers-elated-after-judge-strikes-down-trump-rules-n950116

 

WASHINGTON POST
— How to save the jobs of GM workers Opponents of General Motors’ immoral moves need a strategy that reflects the company’s history – Jason Weixelbaum (DIERSEN: In 1970, I lost my part-time job working for Chrysler in Belvidere when Chrysler suspended production there.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/outlook/2018/12/19/how-save-jobs-gm-workers/

 

SUN TIMES NEWS
— OUTSTANDING: Dexter Township Looking to Prohibit Commercial Marijuana Establishments – Lonnie Huhman
https://thesuntimesnews.com/dexter-township-looking-to-prohibit-commercial-marijuana-establishments/

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Voters Consider a Cyberattack an Act of War (DIERSEN: Acts of war include a) illegally sending many millions of your citizens into another country illegally, b) illegally keeping many millions of your citizens illegally in another countries illegally, and c) illegally sending many mountains of illegal drugs into another country illegally.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2018/most_voters_consider_a_cyberattack_an_act_of_war

 

USA JOBS
— GAO Intern announcement: Chicago (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/518365800

 

NEWSWEEK
— GOFUNDME PAGE FOR DONALD TRUMP’S BORDER WALL RAISES MORE THAN $900K IN 3 DAYS – CHRISTINA ZHAO
https://www.newsweek.com/gofundme-page-trumps-border-wall-raises-over-800k-3-days-1265744
— ANN COULTER SAYS TRUMP MAY HAVE BEEN ‘SCAMMING VOTERS’ WITH WALL PROMISE, PREDICTS HE WON’T BE RE-ELECTED – TIM MARCIN
https://www.newsweek.com/ann-coulter-donald-trump-border-wall-1265332

 

THE WEEK
— Ann Coulter predicts Trump will be the last Republican president
https://theweek.com/speedreads/813647/ann-coulter-predicts-trump-last-republican-president

December 19 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE: How Chicago became a key hub in El Chapo’s massive U.S. drug operation: Chicago twin testifies in historic trial – Jeff Coen
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-el-chapo-trial-chicago-drug-dealer-testifies-20181217-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Some who are anti-religious promote devil worship.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-satanic-temple-statue-springfield-dupage-meeting-prayer-1219-20181218-story.html
— Get used to it, America: We’re no longer No. 1 – Noah Smith (DIERSEN: Anti-Americans and America-haters vote for Democrats.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-china-economy-growing-fast-trade-war-trump-1219-20181218-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE IN THE NAPERVILLE SUN: Voters to choose in contested races for districts 203 and 204, College of DuPage boards – Suzanne Baker
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-candidate-filing-last-day-st-1219-story.html
— Elon Musk unveils underground tunnel, offers bumpy rides to VIPs – AP (DIERSEN: Have you driven in “soul-destroying traffic?” I did 1966-1968 when I commuted to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC, first in a 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint and then in a 1968 Oldsmobile 442.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-elon-musk-boring-tunnel-debuts-20181218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Elon Musk unveiled his underground transportation tunnel on Tuesday, allowing reporters and invited guests to take some of the first rides in the revolutionary albeit bumpy subterranean tube — the tech entrepreneur’s answer to what he calls “soul-destroying traffic.”)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— The political war for your right to health care – Phil Kadner (DIERSEN: If I sought a government or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would demonize, denigrate, and condemn the fact because I am a federal retiree, my wife and I pay only $6,000/year for $24,000/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/affordable-care-act-obamacare-medicare-for-all/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: Rules Committee: Where thousands of Illinois bills go to die – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/rules-committee-where-thousands-of-illinois-bills-go-to-die
— Lawlor re-emerges after rehab stint and quitting politics – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/lawlor-re-emerges-after-rehab-stint-and-quitting-politics
— Hot races taking shape in several DuPage school districts – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/hot-races-taking-shape-in-several-dupage-school-districts
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Wheaton Warrenville 200 Of three board members with expiring terms, only Chris Crabtree, a former District 200 teacher who won her first term in 2015, is vying to keep her seat. Incumbents Jim Vroman and Jim Gambiani did not file to seek re-election. But newcomers Susan Booton of Wheaton, Dave Long of Winfield, Harold Lonks of Winfield and Mary Yeboah of Wheaton all entered the race, setting a field of five candidates for three seats. . .College of DuPage Four candidates are seeking two 6-year terms on the College of DuPage board. Incumbents Alan Bennett and Joe Wozniak are not seeking re-election, leaving newcomers Annette Corrigan of Wheaton, Marc Incrocci of Darien, Dan Bailey of Wheaton and Maureen Dunne of Naperville to compete for the seats.)

 

WBBM 780
— Illinois Opponents Of Gas Tax Hike Invoke ‘Yellow Vest’ Imagery – CRAIG DELLIMORE
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/illinois-opponents-gas-tax-hike-invoke-yellow-vest-imagery

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Nearly 187,000 use automatic voter registration – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Did you register for the draft? I did in 1966 when I was 18 years old. I was classified 1-A notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease).)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181218/nearly-187000-use-automatic-voter-registration

 

HERALD NEWS
— Townships, what are they good for? Government bodies provide services despite some negative headlines – ALEX ORTIZ
https://www.theherald-news.com/2018/12/17/townships-what-are-they-good-for/amykuv2/

 

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Their numbers growing, Latinos gain clout in new Congress – AP (DIERSEN: How much clout do those who share your demographics have a) in the world, b) in America, c) in Illinois, d) in your county, e) in your township/ward, f) in your municipality, and in your precinct? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in my precinct are overjoyed that those who share my demographics are doomed. I should write a book about those who share my demographics who demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who share my demographics to curry favor with individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, 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.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Their-numbers-growing-Latinos-gain-clout-in-new-13467581.php

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Abortion Foes Take Public Funding Fight Back To Illinois Supreme Court – BRIAN MACKEY
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/abortion-foes-take-public-funding-fight-back-illinois-supreme-court#stream/0

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Republicans raise alarm over apparent attempt to sideline Madigan’s 19-year-old challenger Krupa – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: What had you done by the time you were 19 years old that demonstrated your potential? According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, by the time I turned 19 years old in 1967, I had demonstrated nothing. They would stress that I had done yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; and delivered mail since 1966. They would stress that I had requested and obtained draft deferments. They would not stress that UIC had accepted me in 1966, that I had bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966, or that I had bought a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511684787-republicans-raise-alarm-over-apparent-attempt-to-sideline-madigan-s-19-year-old-challenger-krupa

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Federal government shutdown could affect 6,200 employees in Illinois – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: I was a federal employee in Illinois 1966-1969 and 1071-1997.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/federal-government-shutdown-could-affect-employees-in-illinois/article_4ea98834-02f9-11e9-8c89-73b300f53810.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Free Exercise of Religion on Display in the Capitol
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/podcast/the-free-exercise-of-religion-on-display-in-the-state-capitol-spotlight-125/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Spiritual Warfare: Standing Strong – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/faith/spiritual-warfare-standing-strong/
— Religious Freedom is on Display in State Government
https://illinoisfamily.org/video/religious-freedom-is-on-display-in-state-government/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Fight for change, but don’t succumb to cynicism in the meantime (DIERSEN: What change do you fight for? I fight for getting the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) to back candidates who can and will defend and advance a) the IRP platform, including its traditional family, right to life, immigration, and Second Amendment planks, b) the Republican Party platform, including its illegal drugs and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks, and c) the MTRCC resolution against video gambling. Previously, I fought for TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and the Illinois Center Right Coalition to do the aforesaid.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/fight-for-change-but-dont-succumb-to-cynicism-in-the-meantime/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— VERY TROUBLING: Trump businesses shun E-Verify system, hire illegal immigrants Only 5 out of 565 companies sign up for service – Stephen Dinan and S.A. Miller
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-times-daily/20181207/281479277493400
— Democrats say wealthier households need tax break Plan to roll back state and local limits – David Sherfinski (DIERSEN: According to anti-Republicans, you are wealthy if you itemize your deductions and you pay more than $10,000 a year in SALT taxes.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-times-weekly/20181210/281517932200391

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— BOYCOTT-HIT CHICK-FIL-A FLYING HIGH IN FAST-FOOD RANKINGS ‘They are doing in 6 days what other chains can’t do in 7’ (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/boycott-hit-chick-fil-a-flying-high-in-fast-food-rankings/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Hall of shame: Advertisers sign up for boycott of Tucker Carlson for telling the truth on illegal immigration – Thomas Lifson (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/hall_of_shame_advertisers_sign_up_for_boycott_of_tucker_carlson_for_telling_the_truth_on_illegal_immigration.html

 

TPM
— Fox News Slams Carlson Boycott: We Won’t Be Silenced By ‘Agenda Driven Intimidation’ – Nicole Lafond (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fox-responds-carlson-wont-be-silenced-agenda-intimidation

 

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— IHOP Boycotts Tucker Carlson But Not Saudi Arabia – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/ihop-boycotts-tucker-carlson-but-not-saudi-arabia/

 

BREITBART
— State Department Pledges $10 Billion to Develop Central America, Southern Mexico – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/12/18/state-department-pledges-10-billion-to-develop-central-america-southern-mexico/

 

LIFEZETTE
— Many Border Migrants ‘Are Not Legitimate Asylum Seekers’ – Kathryn Blackhurst
https://www.lifezette.com/2018/12/many-border-migrants-are-not-legitimate-asylum-seekers-says-homan/

 

ROLL CALL
— Here Are the House Members Who Have Skipped Votes This Lame-Duck Session Most of the absentees are members who lost re-election, ran for another office or are retiring – Lindsey McPherson
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/members-whove-skipping-votes-lame-duck-session
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Peter Roskam, R-Ill., who lost his re-election bid, missed 10.)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants Internal documents show that the social network gave Microsoft, Amazon, Spotify and others far greater access to people’s data than it has disclosed. – Gabriel J.X. Dance, Michael LaForgia and Nicholas Confessore
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/technology/facebook-privacy.html
— FRONT PAGE: Addicted to Vaped Nicotine, Teenagers Have No Clear Path to Quitting – Jan Hoffman
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/health/vaping-nicotine-teenagers.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— ‘A Feudal Regime’: How Gangs Extort Mexico Extortion is becoming more pervasive across Mexico and Central America, where organized crime groups are regulators of a corrupt underground ecosystem – Santiago Pérez (DIERSEN: Of course, anti-Trumps use this to justify granting mass asylum requests.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-feudal-regime-how-gangs-extort-mexico-11545215400
— Teen Vaping Has Created Addicts With Few Treatment Options Concentrated doses of nicotine prompt higher rates of addiction than cigarettes. With few treatment options for teens, the FDA plans public hearings. – Betsy McKay
https://www.wsj.com/articles/surge-in-teen-vaping-gives-rise-to-nicotine-addiction-11545142195

 

BLOOMBERG
— Americans Earning Over $200,000 Are Flocking to These Neighborhoods Everyone knows wealth is concentrating. This is where the rich are going.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-12-18/these-are-the-neighborhoods-attracting-america-s-richest

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cook County, Illinois Cook County, which includes the county seat of Chicago, is home to the No. 1 and No. 7 fastest-growing concentrations of $200,000-plus households. No. 1 is, ironically, the area around where the Cabrini-Green public housing projects once stood. Cabrini-Green was notorious for violent crime, poverty and de facto racial segregation until its demolition beginning in the 1990s at the behest of the Chicago Housing Authority. Even back then, authorities fretted that redevelopment plans might displace low-income families. They were right to be worried. Two decades later, the area’s concentration of $200,000-plus households has skyrocketed from zero to 39 percent. For some of the longtime residents who remain, the neighborhood’s transformation has been isolating. . .About 20 miles to the north, Cook County has another top 10 neighborhood: the Glen, in the suburb of Glenview. Converted from what used to be Naval Air Station Glenview, the planned community has hundreds of families living in condos, town houses and single-family homes that go for as much as $2.5 million each, according to realtor Margaret Ludemann.)

 

USA TODAY
— ‘Unscrupulous politicians’ blamed for worst year on record for journalist killings – Kim Hjelmgaard (DIERSEN: I should write a book about politicians and others who have demonstrated the most hated of me.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/18/more-journalists-killed-2018-than-any-other-year-record-driven-unscrupulous-politicians/2346797002/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The hatred of journalists that is voiced, and sometimes very openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic consequences on the ground and has been reflected in this disturbing increase in violations against journalists,” said Reporters Without Borders’ Secretary-General Christophe Deloire. “Amplified by social networks, which bear heavy responsibility in this regard, these expressions of hatred legitimize violence, thereby undermining journalism, and democracy itself, a bit more every day,” he said.)
— Retail workers tested positive for drugs at the highest rate last year, Quest study shows – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/12/19/drug-testing-workplace-retail-had-highest-rate-positives-tests/2315373002/

 

AUSTIN STATESMAN
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Texas marijuana advocates set sights on 2019 legislative session – Bob Sechler (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) member Bob Grogan to appoint me to the 2020 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee, like IRP SCC member Ron Smith appointed me to in 2008? ANSWER: Those who reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and/or Second Amendment planks in the 2016 IRP Platform. Those who are anti-Trump, 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.statesman.com/news/20181213/texas-marijuana-advocates-set-sights-on-2019-legislative-session
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The 2018 platform of the state’s Republican Party is among their evidence. It includes a plank calling for civil, instead of criminal, penalties for possessing small amounts of pot, as well as one calling for expansion of the Compassionate Use Act “to allow doctors to determine the appropriate use of cannabis to certified patients.” In addition, Gov. Greg Abbott for the first time recently voiced support for reducing penalties for some pot possession — albeit not all the way to a mere civil offense. Abbott, a Republican, said during his successful re-election campaign against Democrat Lupe Valdez that he’s open “to talking to the Legislature about … reducing the penalty for possession of 2 ounces or less from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor” because he doesn’t want to see “jails stockpiled with people who have possession of a small amount of marijuana.”)

 

PACIFIC STANDARD
— A LEGISLATIVE BATTLE LOOMS OVER ARIZONA’S REPRESSIVE LGBT EDUCATION LAWS It is one of seven states with laws that prohibit the promotion of homosexuality and that expressly forbid teachers of health and sexuality education from discussing LGBT issues in a positive light—if at all. – RIKER PASTERKIEWICZ & SABIA PRESCOTT (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) member Bob Grogan to appoint me to the 2020 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee, like IRP SCC member Ron Smith appointed me to in 2008? ANSWER: Those who reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and/or Second Amendment planks in the 2016 IRP Platform. Those who are anti-Trump, 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://psmag.com/education/the-education-legislation-battle-coming-to-arizona

 

NEW YORKER
— The Search for Anti-Conservative Bias on Google – Sue Halpern
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-search-for-anti-conservative-bias-on-google

 

CATO
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.cato.org/blog/new-cato-report-border-wall-wont-stop-drug-smuggling-marijuana-legalization-has

 

SOCIALIST WORKER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Socialist workers say “HEY TRUMP, DON’T HOLD US HOSTAGE FOR THE RACIST WALL.”
https://socialistworker.org/2018/12/19/hey-trump-dont-hold-us-hostage-for-the-racist-wall

December 18 Evening Edition

ABC7
— State Rep. Ives throws support behind aldermanic candidate David Krupa
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/state-rep-ives-throws-support-behind-aldermanic-candidate-david-krupa-/4924256/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: During an election board hearing last Monday, Krupa and his attorney said only 187 of the people who signed a revocation affidavit actually signed his nominating petitions, meaning 2,600 were fraudulent. “I think they’re intimidated by someone who hasn’t backed down to them. Their whole game is do anything possible to make the person intimidated enough to back away either by their support or bully them out,” Krupa said Saturday. He also addressed an old order of protection against him from a previous relationship. Krupa said allegations made in the order were false and filed by the girl’s family and the order has been vacated. Krupa believes the order resurfacing was an attempt to mislead voters away from his campaign efforts.)

 

NBC5
— The $100,000 Question – How One Check Can Produce Millions for Politicians While it is all legal, critics argue the $100,000 rule is just another example of how the campaign finance law in Illinois can benefit the politically powerful and wealthy. – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/how-one-check-can-produce-millions-for-politicians-503070041.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Shutdown talk recedes after White House eases border wall threat – AP (DIERSEN: The border wall is a threat to those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, 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.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/white-house-says-trump-is-willing-to-work-with-congress-to-avert-a-partial-shutdown

 

WLS AM
— Ives unloads on Rauner, Madigan and a possible gas tax hike. – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/12/18/ives-unloads-on-rauner-madigan-and-a-possible-gas-tax-hike/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Jeanne Ives trying to raise money for 19-year-old challenging Madigan lieutenant – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/jeanne-ives-marty-kevin-quinn-david-krupa-michael-madigan-13th-ward-ballot-petition-challenges-alaina-hampton-2019-election/
— Watchdog to oversee complaints involving lawmakers –– after four year gap – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/watchdog-to-oversee-complaints-involving-lawmakers-after-four-year-gap/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lake County: Aaron Lawlor on addiction, mental health problems: ‘I have found belonging, purpose, inspiration and accountability’ – Frank Abderholden
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lawlor-talks-addiction-st-1218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “I was a gay Republican in the suburbs for heaven’s sake, and if you look up self-loathing in the dictionary it should read ‘gay Republican,’” he said, eliciting laughs from the crowd. “So the story I told was that I was a lonely, alcohol- and drug-addicted, HIV positive, gay, elected official, Republican in the suburbs,” he said. “I was an egomaniac with a raging inferiority complex.”)
— Elk Grove Village says $300K sponsorship of Bahamas Bowl has already paid off, though some residents are skeptical – John Keilman
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-bahamas-bowl-college-football-elk-grove-village-makers-wanted-20181213-story.html
— Illinois lawmakers to get new top watchdog with ‘strong background in sexual harassment’ – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-legislature-watchdog-sexual-harassment-20181218-story.html
— Trump relents on $5 billion for border wall, but shutdown still possible after Democrats reject new GOP offer – Erica Werner, Damian Paletta and John Wagner
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-border-wall-government-shutdown-20181218-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Opportunity is here to set a new tone for the tollway – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181218/editorial-opportunity-his-here-to-set-a-new-tone-for-the-tollway
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: The tollway, managed by a board of supervisors appointed by the governor, has long been criticized as a body with too much patronage and too little responsiveness to the hundreds of thousands of us who travel its roadways every day. The tollway’s defenders are not helped by the types of activities our transportation expert Marni Pyke has uncovered. These include a $157 million contract that went to a company that has contributed to two board members’ charities and employs the daughter of the tollway board chairman; the hiring of the Republican House minority leader’s sister-in-law for an engineering management position even though she had no engineering experience; hiring three public relations companies for various projects despite having its own in-house PR team; and including among those three deals a $6.6 million subcontract with a communications company whose CEO is married to a GOP Chicago lawmaker. Tollway leaders suggest each of these cases is isolated by specific circumstances, and they repeated them at a state Senate hearing in Chicago last summer. What they don’t seem to understand is that at some point an accumulation of isolated circumstances adds up to a trend. And the trend that appears to be developing here is that Republican political connections helped get jobs and contracts for those doing business with a tollway board put in place by a Republican governor. The absolute worst response that could follow is that a year from now Pyke finds herself reporting on how Democratic political connections are helping get jobs and contracts for those doing business with a tollway board put in place by a Democratic governor.)
— After Senate reports, Facebook and Twitter face wave of criticism – Hamza Shaban and Taylor Telford
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/after-senate-reports-facebook-and-twitter-face-wave-of-criticism

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Former judge, Menard Co. state’s attorney named legislative inspector general
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181218/former-judge-menard-co-states-attorney-named-legislative-inspector-general

 

WJBC
— Illinois political pundit Rich Miller says Gov. Rauner will not be missed – Dave Dahl
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/12/17/illinois-political-pundit-says-gov-rauner-will-not-be-missed/

 

JEANNE IVES
— Representatives Allen Skillicorn and Jeanne Ives hold yellow jacket rally to oppose gas increase
http://www.jeanneives.org/2018/12/representatives-allen-skillicorn-and.html

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Anti-abortion group asks Illinois Supreme Court to nullify abortion law – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/anti-abortion-group-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-nullify-abortion/article_349d988c-0316-11e9-b8f2-535e02574892.html
— Committee nominates retired judge for legislative watchdog post – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/committee-nominates-retired-judge-for-legislative-watchdog-post/article_cf7fe302-0314-11e9-8542-6bcff78b3342.html
— Illinois law enforcement groups eye teen marijuana use trends – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/illinois-law-enforcement-groups-eye-teen-marijuana-use-trends/article_7b6b3e7c-02ee-11e9-afbc-7b610697160c.html

 

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— PRESIDENT URGED TO DECLARE ‘WAR ON WASTE,’ GOVERNMENT SPENDING – Jeff Reynolds (DIERSEN: The federal government wasted me and wasted my federal career. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the federal government would not have done that. It would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old. The federal government uses Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to get rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who it does not promote to GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/president-urged-to-declare-war-on-waste-government-spending
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Andrzejewski says it was difficult to pick just 100 examples of government waste to highlight. “Examples of waste could fill every page of every newspaper in the country,” Andrzejewski said.)

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives backs Krupa even after allegations emerge
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/ives-backs-krupa-even-after-allegations-emerge/
— Representatives Allen Skillicorn and Jeanne Ives hold yellow jacket rally to oppose gas increase
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/live-coverage-133/

 

BREITBART
— Nancy Pelosi: Democrats Will Act ‘Boldly’ to Criminalize Private Gun Sales – AWR Hawkins
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/18/nancy-pelosi-democrats-will-act-boldly-to-criminalize-private-gun-sales/
— Tucker Carlson Defiant After Losing Three More Advertisers to Left-Wing Blacklisting Campaign (DIERSEN: Which individuals, organizations, companies, and governments blacklist you? I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that blacklist me and why they do that.)
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2018/12/18/tucker-carlson-defiant-after-losing-three-more-advertisers-to-left-wing-blacklisting-campaign/

 

BLAZE
— More than a dozen advertisers quit Tucker Carlson show over immigration comment — here’s his defiant response – Carlos Garcia
https://www.theblaze.com/news/more-than-a-dozen-advertisers-quit-tucker-carlson-show-over-immigration-comment-heres-his-defiant-response

 

CNBC
— Democrats are going to attack the GOP tax law from several angles, including SALT caps and breaks for corporations – Ylan Mui
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/18/democrats-are-going-to-attack-trump-gop-tax-law.html

 

CBS NEWS
— How does federal judges’ health insurance stack up? – WALECIA KONRAD
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-does-federal-judges-health-insurance-stack-up/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Like the vast majority of federal employees of all ranks, the government’s judges have the option of enrolling in plans offered by the Federal Employee Health Benefits system. It includes hundreds of plan choices throughout the U.S. — far more than even the largest private employers. Many plan options also have broad networks of providers, often nationwide. So finding coverage for specialists and out-of-network services isn’t as tough a problem for judges as it can be in the often narrow networks ACA enrollees rely on. And federal employees have the option of keeping their coverage into retirement, unlike many private employer plans. Still, the insurance isn’t as comprehensive as one might imagine a federal judge or Supreme Court justice would get. Unlike the so-called Cadillac plans that top corporate executives often enjoy that fully cover a host of health care expenses, the federal plans have deductibles, premium costs, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses. Like any employer offering health insurance, the federal government pays a good portion of employees’ premiums. Except for some negotiated union contracts with postal workers, the feds generally pay about 72 percent of premium costs. But that’s less than the average 80 percent that private sector employers kick in. Even judges pay premiums That means judges who opt into the system pay premiums, just like the rest of us. They may even pay a bit more than the average private-sector employee. In addition, depending on what type of plan judges pick, like private-sector employees they may have high deductibles or high co-insurance for certain services. As in the marketplaces, it’s all about what plan they choose.)

 

FORBES
— Who Wants To Be A Millionaire On Mayor Bill De Blasio’s New York City Workforce? – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2018/12/18/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-on-mayor-bill-de-blasios-new-york-city-workforce/#2cd8e1376a99

 

NEWSWEEK
— Trump Caves on Border Wall Funding – RAMSEY TOUCHBERRY
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-government-shutdown-republicans-confused-1263050


— HOW RICH ARE THE RICH? FAR MORE THAN YOU THINK – GIL B. MANZON JR.
https://www.newsweek.com/how-rich-tax-poverty-inequality-trump-chris-rock-1263157

 

ATLANTIC
— COVER STORY: The Real Roots of American Rage The untold story of how anger became the dominant emotion in our politics and personal lives—and what we can do about it. – CHARLES DUHIGG (DIERSEN: Members of Group A promote anger against members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, 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 and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Is the Federal Workforce Reaching Its Breaking Point? – Howard Risher
https://www.govexec.com/excellence/management-matters/2018/12/federal-workforce-reaching-its-breaking-point/153616/

December 18 Morning Edition

ABC7
— New Laws 2019: Illinois laws that take effect January 1
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-laws-2019-illinois-laws-that-start-january-1/4918510/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New Senator Yadav “Nick” Nathwani seeks input from residents
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmhurst/community/chi-ugc-article-new-senator-seeks-input-from-residents-2018-12-17-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-selle-marijuana-st-1218-story.html
— Paging all prosecutors to Chicago’s 13th Ward – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-madigan-quinn-chicago-alderman-13th-ward-corrupt-20181217-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Take commuter tax off the table – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181218/editorial-take-commuter-tax-off-the-table

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing/when-baggie-just-wont-do-packaging-age-legal-pot

 

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Illinois among the most financially unprepared states in U.S. – Rachel Droze (DIERSEN: Should all candidates for government and political offices be required to prove that they are financially prepared for their retirement? According to some financial advisors, if you are not on track to have at least $1,000,000 when you retire, you are not financially prepared. SEE: https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/10/14/why-1-million-may-not-be-enough-to-retire-comforta.aspx)
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/report-illinois-among-the-most-financially-unprepared-states-in-us

 

WGEM
— Quincy aldermen vote to raise property taxes
https://wgem.com/2018/12/17/quincy-aldermen-vote-to-raise-property-taxes/

 

WREX
— Rockford approves new commission to battle discrimination (DIERSEN: The more of the following demographics that you have, the more that Democrats demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a discriminator: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://wrex.com/category/2018/12/17/rockford-approves-new-commission-to-battle-discrimination/

 

KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— REFERENDUMS, MAYORAL, SCHOOL BOARD CONTESTS TAKE SHAPE FOR APRIL 2 ELECTION
http://kanecountyconnects.com/2018/12/referendums-mayoral-school-board-contests-take-shape-for-april-2-election/

 

ONE ILLINOIS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.oneillinois.com/stories/2018/12/17/legal-cannabis

 

CITY CLUB OF CHICAGO
— VIDEO: Christmas with Rich Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE7-GzPEW4Q

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Jeanne Ives is back. The conservative state lawmaker who lost the 2018 primary race to Gov. Bruce Rauner, is now championing David Krupa—the kid candidate in the 13th Ward aldermanic race. That’s right. Ives has emailed supporters asking that they donate to the 19-year-old running against veteran alderman Marty Quinn, a friend and ally of House Speaker Mike Madigan. Ives sees this as a David v. Goliath race after learning Quinn supporters filed some 3,000 affidavits to revoke signatures for Krupa—even though he only collected 1,700 names. “I am sending this to my entire statewide email list and beyond. And I am asking all of you to send this guy $10 to keep his fight going against the Madigan Machine,” Ives says in her email. She links to stories in the Tribune, which feature Krupa as a little guy trying to beat the establishment. Ives’ email doesn’t mention yesterday’s POLITICO story detailing Krupa’s backstory. A year ago, he had an order of protection against him to stay away from his former girlfriend. – SHIA KAPOS and ADRIENNE HURST
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/18/mendozas-plan-for-underused-schools-ives-rallies-for-kid-candidate-preckwinkle-to-donate-burke-monies-366110

 

WIREPOINTS
— Flashback to 1994 reveals Edgar’s ramp up of Illinois pension crisis – Ted Dabrowski
https://www.wirepoints.com/flashback-to-1994-reveals-ramp-up-of-illinois-pension-crisis/
— “Illinois true retirement costs would consume 50% of the budget. In most states, it’s 15%” – Ted Dabrowski
https://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-true-retirement-costs-would-consume-50-of-the-budget-in-most-states-its-15-ted-on-wjpf/

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Treasurer of McHenry County Republican Party Resigns
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/17/treasurer-of-mchenry-county-republican-party-resigns/
— Pam Althoff Wins Township Officials of Illinois President’s Award
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/16/pam-althoff-wins-township-officials-of-illinois-presidents-award/

 

ILLINOIS CONSERVATIVE UNION
— Conservatives Letter to Santa
http://www.ilpac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/121618-Release_Santa-Letter.pdf

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Judge’s ruling could make government shutdown even more costly – Stephen Dinan and David Sherfinski (DIERSEN: Of course, since 1966 when I was 18 years old and became a federal employee, I have been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being a nonessential, worthless, and overpaid federal employee. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/17/government-shutdown-threatens-federal-employees-ho/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: More than 400,000 essential government employees could be forced to stay on the job throughout a government shutdown — even if they’d already planned to take holiday vacations. A quirk of federal law says paid leave is considered government spending, and since no unauthorized spending can happen during a funding lapse, no one can take vacation. The silver lining, though, is that government workers could be eligible for double pay should the shutdown last long enough to make them miss a paycheck, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling earlier this decade. Those are just some of the factors in what could be one of the weirder government shutdowns in memory.)

 

BREITBART
— Democrat Reps., Lawyers Escort Caravan Migrants Across the Border – Neil Munro
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/18/democrat-reps-lawyers-escort-migrants-across-the-border/
— Democrats Funded ‘Wall’ Under Bush, Obama–Refuse Same Barrier to Trump – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/17/democrats-funded-wall-under-bush-obama-refuse-same-barrier-to-trump/
— Business Group: Labor Shortages in Trump’s Economy Boost Blue-Collar Voters – Neil Munro
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/17/business-group-labor-shortages-in-trumps-economy-boost-blue-collar-voters/

 

TOWNHALL
— Mexico Has a Plan to Deter Illegal Aliens From Flocking to the United States. Here’s What It Entails. – Beth Baumann
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2018/12/17/mexico-has-a-plan-to-deter-illegal-aliens-from-flocking-to-the-united-states-her-n2537660

 

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— VISA/MASTERCARD AND THE ASSAULT ON CIVIL RIGHTS – Wallace Nunn
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/272269/visamastercard-and-assault-civil-rights-wallace-nunn

 

CNS NEWS
— ICE: 158,581 Illegals Arrested in FY2018; Those Arrested Had 1,641 Homicide Convictions, 1,294 Kidnap Convictions – Michael W. Chapman
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/ice-2018-158581-illegal-aliens-arrested-including-1294-kidnappers

 

ACCURACY IN ACADEMIA
— OUTRAGEOUS: University of Illinois Department Calls Abolishing ICE – Malcolm A. Kline
https://www.academia.org/university-of-illinois-department-calls-abolishing-ice/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— 10 REASONS OBAMA WAS THE WORST PRESIDENT — EVER – Larry Tomczak
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/10-reasons-obama-was-the-worst-president-ever/
— NEW YORK AG HOPES TO DESTROY TRUMP Mychal Massie claims Letitia James doing the bidding of her ‘white handlers’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/new-york-ag-hopes-to-destroy-trump/

 

COLLEGE FIX
— University of Southern California trustees bless decision to dump business dean for ‘lack of diversity’ – GREG PIPER (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors were always in danger of being dumped a) if they did not hire, retain, and promote enough young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) if they did not get rid of enough of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/usc-trustees-bless-decision-to-dump-business-dean-for-lack-of-diversity/

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Inmate says his religion entitles him to smoke marijuana in prison
https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/inmate-says-his-religion-entitles-him-to-smoke-marijuana-in-prison

 

CBS NEWS
— How I tried and failed to quit Google – DAN PATTERSON
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-i-tried-and-failed-to-quit-google/

 

CNN
— The real problem with the American auto industry – Chris Isidore
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/17/economy/us-auto-plant-glut/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: SUVs are suddenly popular Consumers’ changing tastes have also contributed to the supply glut. The relatively sudden shift in car buyers’ preferences from traditional sedans to SUVs and trucks has left some of the plants building cars with way more capacity than they need to satisfy demand. Some SUV plants are actually straining for capacity. Some auto plants have changed from cars to SUVs or trucks. Ford took a plant that had made the Ford Focus and put it to use building the new Ranger pickup. Ford is also is cutting 1,150 jobs at some underutilized plants and shifting most of the workers to plants building SUVs. Chrysler is reportedly planning to take a closed engine plant in Detroit and reopen it to build the Jeep Cherokee. But shifting a plant from cars to trucks is an expensive process. The growing popularity of SUVs isn’t enough to fill all of the unused capacity at car-making plants. And it will take some time for electric cars and self-driving vehicles to pick up the slack. That’s why GM is planning to close plants and Ford is cutting shifts and jobs at one of its few remaining American plants that makes cars.)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Russian 2016 Influence Operation Targeted African-Americans on Social Media – Scott Shane and Sheera Frenkel
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/politics/russia-2016-influence-campaign.html
— Facebook Blocks Netanyahu’s Son, Saying His Posts ‘Included Hate Speech’ – Isabel Kershner
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/world/middleeast/yair-netanyahu-facebook-hate-speech.html
— Voter Suppression and Racial Targeting: In Facebook’s and Twitter’s Words – Tiffany Hsu
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/business/russia-voter-suppression-facebook-twitter.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Study Shows Big Rise in Teen Vaping This Year – Jan Hoffman
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/health/ecigarettes-teens-nicotine-.html

 

USA TODAY
— More teens vape, but binge drinking and opioid use are down – Ken Alltucker
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2018/12/17/teen-vaping-rises-drug-use-drinking-and-opioid-use-all-decline/2301914002/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— De Blasio Sees Too Many Asians A lawsuit accuses New York’s mayor of using racial discrimination to promote ‘diversity.’ – William McGurn
https://www.wsj.com/articles/de-blasio-sees-too-many-asians-11545090940

 

FORTUNE
— NAACP Joins Growing List of Civil Rights Groups Criticizing Facebook – Bloomberg
http://fortune.com/2018/12/18/facebook-naacp-russian-hacking/

 

NEW YORK POST
— Behind Andrew Cuomo’s sharp left turn – Editorial
https://nypost.com/2018/12/17/behind-andrew-cuomos-sharp-left-turn/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Benefits (and Risks) of the Mental-Health Day More workplaces are allowing time off for employees facing stress, anxiety or depression, but not all bosses are understanding of their workers’ needs – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Of course, to get rid of me, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did everything that they could to promote stress, anxiety, depression, lack of self-confidence, etc. in me. I should write a book about them. At GAO, they succeeded in forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, giving me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, not promoting me beyond GS-13, getting rid of my mentor in 1987, keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forcing me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. At IRS, they succeeded in not promoting me beyond GS-12, disallowing my education deductions in 1978, getting rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowing my partial day per diem claims in 1974. At the Post Office, they succeeded in forcing me resign in 1969 and disallowing my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-benefits-and-risks-of-the-mental-health-day-11545060850

 

INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY
— California Companies Flee Business-Hostile State In Droves – Editorial
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/california-companies-leave-taxes/

 

FED SMITH
— Best Places to Work: What the Partnership’s New Rankings Tell Us – Jeff Neal (DIERSEN: One would expect that the federal government would be ranked very highly by its employees who are Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran because the federal government gets rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/12/17/best-places-work-partnerships-new-rankings-tell-us/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Best Places to Work Index is based on the percentage of positive responses to three questions that address workplace satisfaction: 1) I recommend my organization as a good place to work. 2) Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your job? 3) Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your organization?)

 

INDEPENDENT
— TWITTER IS ‘TOXIC PLACE’ FOR WOMEN, FINDS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT A study by Amnesty International found black women were 84 per cent more likely to be mentioned in an abusive tweet than white women – Katie O’Malley
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/twitter-women-sexist-amnesty-international-diane-abbott-report-a8688426.html

December 17 Evening Edition

CBS2
— Illinois Has The Highest Cell Phone Taxes In The Nation
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/17/cell-phone-taxes-illinois/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Get ready, Illinois, for the government you chose – Kristen McQueary (DIERSEN: On November 6, 2018, I voted for all the Republicans on the ballot in my precinct.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mcqueary-taxes-pritzker-rahm-emanuel-pensions-1218-20181217-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: New year, new governor, new legislature. Among Illinois Democrats, there’s a thrill of excitement only Chris Matthews’ leg during a Barack Obama speech could appreciate. In January, Democrats will increase their control of Illinois, Cook County and suburban governments. In the Illinois House, Democrats will hold 74 seats to Republicans’ 44. In the Senate, Democrats will hold 40 seats to the GOP’s 19. For the most part, voters swept out the suburban Republicans who have often served as the General Assembly’s only fiscal disciplinarians. So please, suburbanites. Stifle your complaints about high taxes. This is the government you chose. The majority party also took every statewide office including governor. And on the Cook County Board, only two of 17 seats remain in Republican hands. That is if you consider Commissioner Peter Silverstri of Elmwood Park a Republican, and no one really does. Democrats, you dominated. Spike the ball in the end zone. Body surf House Speaker Michael Madigan across a sea of pink hats. Treat the start of the spring legislative session like a locker room victory party. Champagne hairspray, everyone. The Democrats already are rolling out plans for higher taxes, more gambling, legalized dope and additional borrowing, particularly if it’s the risky pension bond-sale variety. Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for a change to the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause to control pension costs. But the most likely action at the city and state levels will be can-kicking and borrowing — exactly what got us here.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Donald Trump’s border wall demand is dressed up with more lies about immigrants.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/donald-trump-border-wall-mexico-immigration-reform-policy/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters use children as cannon fodder.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/migrant-girl-7-years-old-dies-border-donald-trump-terrorists/

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— OUTSTANDING: Peoria doctor Raymond Bertino opposes the proposed legalization of marijuana in Illinois for recreational purposes – Dean Olsen
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20181215/peoria-doctor-raymond-bertino-opposes-proposed-legalization-of-marijuana-in-illinois-for-recreational-purposes

 

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Pritzker minimum wage deal might work for Democrats & Republicans Next Illinois governor proposes small business tax credits – Jim Niedelman
https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/4-the-record/pritzker-minimum-wage-deal-might-work-for-democrats-republicans/1663683024

 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
— Chicago Booth’s Marianne Bertrand examines the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, 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 a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/whats-holding-women-back-top-paying-jobs

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Batinick addresses Rauner concerns: Republicans must unite to win – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511683546-batinick-addresses-rauner-concerns-republicans-must-unite-to-win
— 82.3 percent of Crete-Monee teachers stay put; average earns $59,303.62 per year
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511677692-82-3-percent-of-crete-monee-teachers-stay-put-average-earns-59-303-62-per-year

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey says Rauner just trying to save face – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511683540-bailey-says-rauner-just-trying-to-save-face

 

CHAMBANA SUN
— Caulkins says Rauner not helping GOP cause – Glenn Minnis
https://chambanasun.com/stories/511683535-caulkins-says-rauner-not-helping-gop-cause

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER/O’NEIL: IS A “WELL-INFORMED ELECTORATE” A THING OF THE PAST, OR HAS IT EVER EXISTED? (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents discourage everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They discourage voters, activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, and everyone else from reading the emails. My critics/opponents want everyone to know only what they tell them, no more and no less.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/thorneroneil-is-a-well-informed-electorate-a-thing-of-the-past-or-has-it-ever-existed.html

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups want America to surrender to Mexico and surrender to the rest of the foreign countries: anti-Trump, 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/leading-gop-pollster-trumps-focus-on-immigration-sunk-house-majority

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Retiring Republicans May Not Show Up to Vote, Threatening Border Wall Vote – Rachel del Guidice
https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/12/17/retiring-republicans-may-not-show-up-to-vote-threatening-border-wall-vote/

 

NEW AMERICAN
— Democrats and Trump Agree: Shutdown Is Coming Over Wall – R. Cort Kirkwood
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/30944-dems-and-trump-agree-shutdown-is-coming-over-wall

 

GOPUSA
— Schumer, Democrats: Trump should understand ‘he is not going to get the wall in any form’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61143
— Open Borders, Build the Wall Groups Meet in San Diego
http://www.gopusa.com/open-borders-build-the-wall-groups-meet-in-san-diego/

 

HOT AIR
— Log Cabin Republicans Plan To “Push” Trump On LGBT Rights
https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2018/12/log-cabin-republicans-plan-push-trump-lgbt-rights/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Obama said illegal alien parents put their children’s ‘lives at risk’ – Keith Edwards
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/obama_said_illegal_immigrant_parents_put_their_childrens_lives_at_risk_.html

 

CAMPUS REFORM
— Feds shell out $10 million for STEM diversity – Sergei Kelley
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11648

 

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump’s latest big immigration bet is looking like a loser.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-latest-big-immigration-bet-looking-loser-n948981
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Americans don’t think Trump got message from midterms.”
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/12/17/poll-americans-dont-think-trump-got-message-from-midterms/23620694/

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Politicians have caused a pay ‘collapse’ for the bottom 90 percent of workers, researchers say – Christopher Ingraham
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/17/politicians-have-deliberately-eroded-workers-power-resulting-collapse-pay-bottom-percent-researchers-say/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “The signs are mounting: Trump has been badly weakened. It will get worse for him.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/17/signs-are-mounting-trump-has-been-badly-weakened-it-will-get-worse-him/

 

BOSTON HERALD
— Traditional values strengthen society – Star Parker
https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/12/17/traditional-values-strengthen-society/

 

BLOOMBERG
— How Democrats Can Thrive in the Age of Trump A Q&A with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel about tactics for expanding on this year’s electoral victories. – Albert R. Hunt
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-12-16/rahm-emanuel-q-a-how-democrats-can-thrive-in-the-age-of-trump

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— These Are the 10 Best Colleges for Transfer Students – KAITLIN MULHERE (DIERSEN: I transferred from UIC to NIU in 1969.)
http://time.com/money/5479015/2018-best-colleges-transfer-students/

 

EDITOR & PUBLISHER
— New Report on Russian Disinformation, Prepared for the Senate, Shows the Operation’s Scale and Sweep – Craig Timberg and Tony Romm (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, a) I spread disinformation with my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) all information is disinformation except for the information that they spread or bless.)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/new-report-on-russian-disinformation-prepared-for-the-senate-shows-the-operations-scale-and-sweep/
— The Future of the Deepfake—And What It Means For Fact-Checkers – Tim Hwang  (DIERSEN: What are your qualifications to be a fact checker? While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, I increasingly worked as a referencer, that is, as a fact checker. That work required assuring the accuracy and support for each and every word, number, table, graph, chart, conclusion, opinion, and recommendation in GAO reports. I worked 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. My other fact checking qualifications include my becoming a Forensic Accountant in 1997, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and a CPA in 1979.)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/the-future-of-the-deepfake-and-what-it-means-for-fact-checkers/

December 17 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump tweets support for Patti Blagojevich, doesn’t mention clemency – Rick Pearson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-trump-blagojevich-tweet-20181216-story.html
— Wage gap even worse than we had thought – Jill Schlesinger (DIERSEN: If I had not been denied my 7th Amendment rights in Diersen v. GAO, I would have presented a jury with many examples in which GAO paid its female employees more than it paid its male employees who had more job-related work experience, education, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/jillonmoney/tca-wage-gap-even-worse-than-we-had-thought-20181211-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I know you probably want good news for the holiday season, but women workers — and the guys who root for them — it’s high time to argue for an end-of-year bonus or salary increase, because you are coming up short. According to a report from the Institute for Women’s Policy, the gender wage gap is even worse than previously thought. Unlike Census Bureau data that examines the current state of wage disparity in a given year, this report looked at a 15-year time period (from 2001 through 2015) to better gauge the gender wage gap that exists. The extended time period captures something called “work force attachment,” which takes into account when people leave the workforce voluntarily or involuntarily. (The study followed the same people over the time period.) While men were also penalized for time out of the workforce, women’s earnings losses for time out were almost always greater than men’s. With a longer lens, the gender wage gap balloons from the often-cited 20 percent to a jaw-dropping 51 percent. Did you catch that? Women made 49 cents for every dollar a man made.)
— To improve savings plan, imagine your retirement – Eileen Ambrose
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/kiplinger/tca-to-improve-savings-imagine-your-retirement-20181207-story.html
— Blue collar labor shortage means ‘lower income workers are doing better’ – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-too-few-blue-collar-workers-20181217-story.html
— 25 best places to work – Peter Economy (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the federal government would be a better place to work if it got rid of its employees who were Republican, and especially those who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/inc/tca-glassdoor-reveals-25-best-places-to-work-20181206-story.html
— White House closer to partial shutdown with wall demand – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-border-wall-funding-shutdown-20181217-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— If you want to play with the big boys and girls, you’ve got to be one – Laura Washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/laura-washington-chicago-mayoral-election-petition-challenges/

WGN TV
— President Trump tweets support for Patti Blagojevich as husband seeks clemency
https://wgntv.com/2018/12/16/president-trump-tweets-support-for-patti-blagojevich-as-ex-governor-seeks-clemency/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE OF UNDERWOOD: Suburban congressional newbies adjust to life in Washington – Marni Pyke (DIERSEN: Has Hultgren announced if he is going to run against Underwood in 2020? Has Roskam announced if he is going to run against Casten in 2020? In 1974, my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I got promoted to a GS-12 (currently, $81,071/year) Revenue Officer position in the Loop and bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building so that I could walk to work and to graduate business classes at Loyola. In 1990, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I got to pick a better office in the new 200 West Adams building that GAO moved into because of the almost 12 years of federal seniority that I gained working for the Post Office 1966-1969 and for IRS 1971-1980.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181217/suburban-congressional-newbies-adjust-to-life-in-washington
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sean Casten is finalizing the purchase of a studio condo. . .The two suburbanites also participated in a tradition: entering a lottery for dibs on the best offices on Capitol Hill. Casten drew No. 80, putting him among the last to pick. “If you want to come over in the fall and see the (metal) rebar change colors, there’s a great view,” he said of his utilitarian space in the Cannon House Office Building. Underwood did a little better. She selected 70 and is ensconced in the Longworth House Office Building.)

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry County GOP Treasurer Rachael Lawrence resigns – ED KOMENDA
https://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/15/mchenry-county-gop-treasurer-rachael-lawrence-resigns/a6edqg2/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Catholic group prays for removal of Satanic Temple display in Capitol – Crystal Thomas
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181216/catholic-group-prays-for-removal-of-satanic-temple-display-in-capitol

 

JOURNAL COURIER
— Legislation would make road district consolidation easier – Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Legislation-would-make-road-district-13471232.php

 

TIMES
— Illinois will roll out several new laws in 2019
https://www.mywebtimes.com/2018/12/15/illinois-will-roll-out-several-new-laws-in-2019/aelx6dw/

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Now there’s a new chapter in the race as Krupa is having to answer for abusive behavior spelled out in a court filing. In 2017, he was accused of abuse by his former high school girlfriend. An emergency order of protection was granted in June 2017 and extended for nine months after Juliet Schmidt filed her complaint, according to court documents sent to POLITICO. The filing in the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence division describes Krupa as a “controlling” boyfriend who “isolated” Schmidt from her friends, whom he referred to as “liberal faggots.” The document details incessant text messages and an incident in which he chased Schmidt in his car while she was walking. “It was emotionally abusive,” Schmidt told POLITICO in an interview Sunday. “It wasn’t healthy for me to continue the relationship. He had a lot of issues of control. I could see him taking advantage of that in political office.” In seeking the order of protection, Schmidt wrote, “I am afraid that David Krupa will continue to physically abuse me, harass me, interfere with my personal liberty and stalk me. Therefore, I fear for the safety of myself.” The order of protection ran nine months and ended when neither Schmidt nor Krupa could agree on a hearing date, Schmidt said. The judge didn’t rule on the case and Schmidt left Chicago to attend college out of state. Krupa has denied the allegations. In a TV interview and with POLITICO, he accused Schmidt of being manipulated by Madigan because she had interned for the Madigan-Quinn service offices in 2016. Schmidt says the summer office internship isn’t connected to her court filing. In an interesting twist, POLITICO has learned Krupa also worked for Madigan-Quinn at one point. “I picked up garbage at a public park” in the summer of 2015, he said. “It was for a month. It was a minimum wage job and I don’t care about it.” But he did try to get rehired in 2016. He didn’t get the job, he says, because Madigan took retribution for Krupa’s father saying he wouldn’t vote for the House speaker. Krupa sees it as another effort by Madigan to “strong-arm” voters. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/17/krupas-other-challenge-trump-tweets-about-blago-next-gigs-for-roskam-lisa-madigan-365577
— Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan, who didn’t seek re-election, and U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who lost his race, have been named fellows for the University of Chicago Institute of Politics for the upcoming winter quarter. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, accused that chamber of being dysfunctional in her final Senate speech last week, also is part of the fellows group. Institute of Politics founder and director David Axelrod said fellows will interact with students looking to gain insight and experiences “at every level of government.” Two party leaders from other states as well as Chicago journalist Laura Washington also are among the group. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/17/krupas-other-challenge-trump-tweets-about-blago-next-gigs-for-roskam-lisa-madigan-365577

 

JEANNE IVES
— Meet David Krupa and help him take out Mike Madigan’s General!
https://mailchi.mp/b6cf78490c1b/meet-the-college-kid-taking-on-madigan-he-deserves-our-support

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives : Rauner’s lack of interest cheated GOP voters – Hoang Tran
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511677926-ives-rauner-s-lack-of-interest-cheated-gop-voters

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOTALITARIANISM
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/the-technology-of-totalitarianism.html


— WHY YOU SHOULD BE A NATIONALIST
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/why-you-should-be-a-nationalist.html

 

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— Did Trump Sign An Executive Order To Prevent Illegal Immigrants From Getting Welfare? – Emily Larsen
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/did-trump-sign-an-executive-order-to-prevent-illegal-immigrants-from-getting-welfare/

 

TOWNHALL
— Pat Buchanan: We Are Not a Democracy—And the World Needs to Learn From Us – Arthur Schaper
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2018/12/17/mr-buchanan-we-are-not-a-democracyand-the-world-needs-to-learn-from-us-n2537569

 

PJ MEDIA
— Trump Aide Miller Says They Will Do ‘Whatever Is Necessary’ to Build Wall – RICK MORAN
https://pjmedia.com/trending/trump-aide-miller-says-they-will-do-whatever-is-necessary-to-build-wall/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— The Immigration Ultimatum – John S. Allen
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/the_immigration_ultimatum.html
— Gun Confiscation Begins in New Jersey – Daniel John Sobieski
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/gun_confiscation_begins_in_new_jersey.html

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Globalist Mindset: They Hate You – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.amgreatness.com/2018/12/16/the-globalist-mindset-they-hate-you/

 

DAILY CALLER
— PITTSBURGH MAYOR DECLARES INTENT TO BAN GUNS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/16/pittsburgh-mayor-declares-intent-to-ban-guns-in-violation-of-state-law/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— THE ORWELLIAN LEXICON OF THE LEFT Lowell Ponte challenges Christians not to surrender to forces of darkness
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/the-orwellian-lexicon-of-the-left/

 

NEWSMAX
— WSJ: Blue-Collar Vote Remains Up for Grabs in 2020 – Eric Mack (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on if not despise blue-collar workers.)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/bluecollar-voters-2020-republican/2018/12/16/id/894665/

 

GOPUSA
— Democrats blame Trump for death of child brought 2,000 miles by father
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61158
— The Imbalanced Scales of Justice (DIERSEN: I should write a book about judges who by their rulings make it clear that they reject laws that prohibit political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61140

 

BREITBART
— Pope Francis Lauds U.N. ‘Global Compact’ for Immigration – Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2018/12/17/pope-francis-lauds-u-n-global-compact-for-immigration/

 

ABC NEWS
— Black conservatives to GOP: Reach out to black voters – BEATRICE PETERSON (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? How strongly does the GOP reach out to those who share your demographics? Democrats want the GOP to dump voters, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
)https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/black-conservatives-gop-reach-black-voters/story?id=59430955

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: A Shutdown Looms. Can the G.O.P. Get Lawmakers to Show Up to Vote? – Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Emily Cochrane (DIERSEN: Has Hultgren announced if he is going to run against Underwood in 2020? Has Roskam announced if he is going to run against Casten in 2020?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/us/politics/congress-trump-shutdown.html
— The Secret to Winning in 2020 – David Leonhardt (DIERSEN: From what I see, to win on April 2, 2019 and November 3, 2020, RINO political consultants in Illinois will advise Republican candidates in Illinois to hint/imply/argue/shout that they are not only anti-Trump, but that they are 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, anti-draft avoiders, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. These RINO political consultants will advise Republican candidates in Illinois a) to not read Diersen’s emails, b) to not return phone calls from Diersen, c) to not seek or take any advice from Diersen, d) to stop Diersen from learning about their press conferences, fundraisers, and other activities, e) to stop Diersen from promoting or attending their press conferences and fundraisers, f) to stop Diersen from asking questions or speaking with anyone at their press conferences and fundraisers, and g) to stop Diersen from reporting on their press conferences, fundraisers, and other activities.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/opinion/democrats-2020-election-economic-populism.html
— More Powerful Than a Russian Troll Army: The National Enquirer – Jim Rutenberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/business/media/national-enquirer-trump-mistresses.html
— ‘They’re Not Fact-Checking’: How Lies on College Applications Can Slip Through the Net – Anemona Hartocollis (DIERSEN: In 1978, my Democrat IRS superiors charged me with lying on my 1972 Loyola application and on my 1976 DePaul application. IRS encourages its Revenue Officers to take business, accounting, and law courses. But according to my Democrat IRS superiors, the real reason why I wanted to take graduate business courses at Loyola and graduate accounting courses at DePaul was TO GET A JOB IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/us/college-admission-applications.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: In China, ‘Re-education’ Leads to Forced Labor – Chris Buckley and Austin Ramzy (DIERSEN: In America, Democrats want to re-educate you to be anti-Trump, 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/world/asia/xinjiang-china-forced-labor-camps-uighurs.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration disputes falling federal employee engagement findings Criticism of leadership criticized – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, virtually all my superiors and supervisors were Democrats. They did not want me to be “engaged,” they wanted to get rid of me. They wanted to give my job to a Democrat, to a minority, to a female, to someone younger than me, and/or to a veteran. They were furious when I did things that demonstrated my “engagement” including my earning a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/17/trump-administration-disputes-falling-federal-employee-engagement-findings/

 

NEW YORK POST
— Don’t trust the government to make Big Tech behave – F.H. Buckley
https://nypost.com/2018/12/17/dont-trust-the-government-to-make-big-tech-behave/

 

USA TODAY
— Obamacare unconstitutional? That’s a cruel mistake, not ‘great news for America’ – Andy Slavitt (DIERSEN: If sought a government or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would demonize, denigrate, and condemn the fact because I am a federal retiree, my wife and I pay only $6,000/year for $24,000/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/12/16/trump-ensures-2020-another-health-care-debacle-republicans-column/2330158002/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. Homelessness Edges Higher Again After Seven Years of Declines Lack of affordable housing fuels the problem in major cities, though L.A. makes progress – Laura Kusisto and Nour Malas (DIERSEN: Since 1972, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I should help the homeless a) because I bought a new town home in 1972 when I was 24 years old, because I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building in 1974, and because I bought a one bedroom condo in that building in 1976 and b) because my wife and I bought 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978 and because we had 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton in 1984.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-homelessness-edges-higher-again-after-seven-years-of-declines-11545022860
— Blue-Collar Voters Are Up for Grabs in 2020 Compounding the problem for Republicans may be a slowing automobile industry – Dante Chinni (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on if not despise blue-collar workers.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/blue-collar-voters-are-up-for-grabs-in-2020-11544976000
— Tips on Deciding Which Tax-Filing Status Is Best for You Do you file jointly or separately? There may be some powerful reasons to do the latter. – Tom Herman (DIERSEN: My wife and I have paid the marriage penalty big time since we got married 40 years ago in in 1978.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tips-on-deciding-which-tax-filing-status-is-best-for-you-11545015960
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Marriage bonus or penalty: Getting married this month, or postponing the official ceremony until next year, might have a surprising impact on your taxes in certain cases. For example, some two-income couples who get married this year and are in the top brackets may wind up owing more in combined federal income tax than they would if they had each remained single—commonly known as the marriage penalty tax. But in other cases, a married couple winds up paying less total tax than if each spouse had remained single. Lawmakers have taken steps to reduce or eliminate the marriage penalty in certain cases and to increase the amount of the bonus in many others. But these issues haven’t disappeared entirely.)
— Four Simple Changes to Bring Social Security Into the 21st Century The program was devised for a totally different era and now it’s time to update – Alicia H. Munnell (DIERSEN: My Social Security is dramatically reduced because I get a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension. My CSRS pension is dramatically reduced a) because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and b) because they succeeded in getting me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/four-simple-changes-to-bring-social-security-into-the-21st-century-11545016080

 

BLOOMBERG
— Nearly 156 People Leave Chicago Daily: Demographic Trends – Alexandre Tanzi and Wei Lu (DIERSEN: How many of these 156 a day a) move to Republican areas to take advantage of the prosperity and safety that Republicans created there and b) bring with them their hatred of Republicans, and especially their hatred of Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/chicago-exodus-sees-city-shrink-by-156-daily-demographic-trends#gs.AUOw7HU

 

DAILY BEAST
— Log Cabin Republicans Plan to ‘Push’ Trump on LGBT Rights Jerri Ann Henry, the new executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, ‘would take a meeting’ to work on LGBT-related policy with President Trump, if he would meet with her. – Samantha Allen
https://www.thedailybeast.com/log-cabin-republicans-plan-to-push-trump-on-lgbt-rights