CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The cost of Rauner’s loose bankruptcy talk – Chris Kennedy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-rauner-bankruptcy-chris-kennedy-perspec-1023-md-20161021-story.html
— Buckle up for the ‘sexism’ tsunami – Heather Wilhelm (DIERSEN: Democrats crow about their success in getting women to hate men who are Republican.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-sexism-feminist-hillary-perspec-1021-md-20161021-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps boo Trump at New York charity dinner.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/la-na-pol-al-smith-dinner-20161020-snap-story.html
— Illinois Appellate Court Upholds Decision Granting Unwed Father Visitation – Jennifer Whiteside
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/community/chi-ugc-article-illinois-appellate-court-upholds-decision-gra-2016-10-19-story.html
— For Trump, the real dirty word is CFPB (Consumer Finance Protection Bureau) – Brian J. O’Connor
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201610170000–tms–fmoneyctnoc-a20161017-20161017-story.html
— TRAGIC: Jim McMahon stumps for legalizing marijuana in Arizona ad – Phil Thompson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-jim-mcmahon-marijuana-ad-20161020-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— We endorse Dan Patlak for Board of Review
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-choose-your-poison-in-board-of-review-race/
— A ‘moral obligation’ to pay workers fairly – MARLEN GARCIA (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always shouted that I was overpaid. But they have not done that for my coworkers who were Democrats, minorities, females, younger, and/or veterans.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/marlen-garcia-a-moral-obligation-to-pay-airport-workers-fairly/
DAILY HERALD
— State Senate candidates Murphy, Thillens debate ties to party bosses – Christopher Placek
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161021/news/161029841/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois secure in election readiness despite database hack – AP (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161020/NEWS02/161029978/illinois-secure-in-election-readiness-despite-database-hack
NBC5
— For First Lady, Trump is He Who Shall Remain Nameless Mrs. Obama’s rhetoric shows her trying to balance her position as first lady — a figure long viewed as out of the political fray — while also holding little back in a race she clearly feels strongly about – Thomas Beaumont (DIERSEN: Those who speak at Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) meetings and events know that those who dominate the MTRCC do not want me or my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to be mentioned. Those who dominate the MTRCC blame me for their problems, they blame me for your problems, they blame me for my problems, and they blame me for everyone’s problems.)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/For-First-Lady-Trump-is-He-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless–397863341.html
CHICAGO REPORTER
— Is Illinois’ school funding discriminatory? Urban League pushes for court ruling – Curtis Black (DIERSEN: How much real estate tax have you paid? I have paid real estate taxes every year since 1972 (in University Park 1972-1984 and in Chicago 1974-1978) and my wife and I every year since 1978 in Wheaton, but we have never sent any children to any public grade schools or high schools. Our parents paid lots of real estate taxes for many decades, but I attended public schools only 4 years (Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966) and my wife never attended a public school.)
http://chicagoreporter.com/is-illinois-school-funding-discriminatory-urban-league-pushes-for-court-ruling/
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 386 state jobs could relocate to Springfield – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161020/survey-386-state-jobs-could-relocate-to-springfield
FOX ILLINOIS
— Hackers Do Not Pose A Treat For Election Night (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/hackers-do-not-pose-a-treat-for-election-night
— Duckworth Campaigns At Closed Event In Springfield (DIERSEN: What do you say to Democrat plant, Libertarian plant, Green plant, and RINO activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who do NOT want me to a) know about their events and other activities, b) promote their events and other activities, c) attend their events, or d) report on their events and other activities?)
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/duckworth-campaigns-at-closed-event-in-springfield-10-21-2016
ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Election Spending Examined – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=227298#.WAoEQegrKM8
ROCK ISLAND TIMES
— What has expanded video gambling done to Illinois? – Phil Ciciora (DIERSEN: Gambling is a vice. To promote gambling is to promote vice. Those who promote vice oppose me.)
http://rockrivertimes.com/2016/10/20/what-has-expanded-video-gambling-done-to-illinois/
CHICAGO PATCH
— Illinois Ranked Among Best States for Teachers Not many states have a higher teacher-friendliness index than Illinois. – Tim Moran (DIERSEN: What professions do/did you have? What is their “friendliness index?”)
http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/illinois-ranked-among-best-states-teachers
- LOUIS AMERICAN
— Damage control in the voting booth in East St. Louis – James T. Ingram
http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/james/damage-control-in-the-voting-booth-in-east-st-louis/article_1577a6e2-95bc-11e6-ac53-d763bd216611.html
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— TRUMP SUPPORTER REPORTED ON CANCELLED CHICAGO RALLY AGITATORS IN MARCH
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/10/trump-supporter-reported-on-cancelled-chicago-rally-agitators-in-march.html
GOPUSA
— Podesta: All You Need is a Driver’s License to Vote (DIERSEN: How many of the many millions who are in America illegally will use their false identifications to vote for Clinton and for the other Democrats in the November 8, 2016 election?)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=16265?omhide=true
HOT AIR
— Poll: Majority of Republicans say Trump, not Paul Ryan, represents what the GOP should stand for politically (DIERSEN: What does Paul Ryan think of you? From what I see, Ryan wants to get rid of me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails because I promote too many planks in the Republican Party platform that he rejects.)
http://hotair.com/archives/2016/10/20/poll-majority-republicans-say-trump-not-paul-ryan-represents-gop-stand-politically/
NEWSMAX
— DePaul University to Student GOP: No ‘Unborn Lives Matter’ Posters
http://www.newsmax.com/US/DePaul-Bans-Posters/2016/10/20/id/754505/
— Sen. Jeff Sessions: Clinton’s ‘Radical View’ of Immigration Dangerous – Sandy Fitzgerald
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/Jeff-Sessions-Clinton-Radical-View-Immigration/2016/10/20/id/754504/
— Clinton Leads Left-Leaning Top 10 ‘Islamic Money in Politics’ List
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/islamic-money-politics-Hillary-Clinton/2016/10/20/id/754588/
BREITBART
— ‘I Had Nothing to Do With That!’ Obama Dodges Blame For Skyrocketing Premiums – CHARLIE SPIERING
http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/10/20/nothing-obama-dodges-blame-skyrocketing-premiums/
FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— THE LEFT IN POWER: CLINTON TO OBAMA How the Democrats became a leftwing party. – Lloyd Billingsley
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/264559/left-power-clinton-obama-lloyd-billingsley
TOWNHALL
— Trump’s Al Smith Dinner Speech Gets Too Political, Draws Boos – Cortney O’Brien
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2016/10/20/trumps-al-smith-dinner-speech-gets-too-political-draws-boos-n2235347
HANNITY
— FLASHBACK: Hillary Didn’t Accept The Results Of The 2000 Election
http://www.hannity.com/articles/hanpr-election-493995/flashback-hillary-didnt-accept-the-results-15221824/
THE HILL
— Trump booed at Al Smith dinner – Ben Kamisar and Harper Neidig
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/302133-trump-booed-at-al-smith-dinner
— High anxiety for GOP – Niall Stanage (DIERSEN: Who will the “GOP Establishment” blame for Republican losses on November 8, 2016?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/302125-high-anxiety-for-gop
POLITICO
— Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele won’t back Trump – NOLAN D. MCCASKILL (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. Trump has pledged to defend and advance the Republican Party platform.)
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138
NBC NEWS
— Trump’s Media Attacks: ‘Biting the Hands That Fed Him’? – ALIYAH FRUMIN (DIERSEN: How many in the media wanted Trump to win the Republican primary because they believed that Trump would be the easiest to defeat on November 8, 2016?)
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-s-media-attacks-biting-hands-fed-him-n670256
REUTERS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats run America. The more that you fight voter fraud, the more that Democrats demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a racist and even worse things. Like Hitler did with the Jews, Democrats shout at minorities that Republicans have caused, are causing, and will forever cause all the problems that minorities have had, are having, and will have.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-election-debate-voting-commentary-idUSKCN12K0AQ
NEW YORK TIMES
— In Debate, Hillary Clinton’s Clarion Call for Women Thrills Many – FARAH STOCKMAN (DIERSEN: DEMOCRATS SHOUT AT WOMEN THAT REPUBLICANS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WOMEN.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/us/politics/hillary-clinton-women.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DEMOCRATS SHOUT AT HISPANICS THAT REPUBLICANS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HISPANICS.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/opinion/too-bad-youre-latin.html
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— This election is much more than Clinton vs. Trump. It’s old America vs. new America – Cathleen Decker and Noah Bierman (DIERSEN: This election is Clinton supporters, that is, those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors AGAINST TRUMP SUPPORTERS, that is, those who are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-election-contrast-20161020-snap-story.html
— The U.S. may be the ‘Great Satan’ in Iran, but some still want to win the U.S. visa lottery – Ramin Mostaghim and Shashank Bengali
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-iran-us-visas-20161019-snap-story.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s inner circle knows he has lost – Jennifer Rubin (DIERSEN: Whose inner circles are you in? I am NOT in the inner circles of those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid or those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/10/20/trumps-inner-circle-knows-he-has-lost/
— Why doesn’t Clarence Thomas get his due? He’s a black man who challenged liberal orthodoxy. After a remarkable 25-year career on the nation’s highest court, the fact that he’s not celebrated by all Americans is a travesty. – Mark Paoletta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/21/why-doesnt-clarence-thomas-get-his-due-hes-a-black-man-who-challenged-liberal-orthodoxy/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— With Donald Trump as Candidate, Republicans See Cuban-American Support Shrinking Doubts over GOP nominee could make Hillary Clinton first Democratic presidential candidate to win a majority among the community – BETH REINHARD
http://www.wsj.com/articles/with-donald-trump-as-candidate-republicans-see-cuban-american-support-shrinking-1476991341
— Donald Trump Draws 2000 Election Parallels Amid Vote Challenge Comments Republican nominees compares his refusal to accept Hillary Clinton victory to Al Gore’s recount fight – BYRON TAU
http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-draws-2000-election-parallels-amid-criticism-over-debate-comments-1477007375
— Plummeting Newspaper Ad Revenue Sparks New Wave of Changes With global newspaper print advertising on pace for worst decline since recession, publishers cut costs and restructure – SUZANNE VRANICA and JACK MARSHALL
http://www.wsj.com/articles/plummeting-newspaper-ad-revenue-sparks-new-wave-of-changes-1476955801
— College Sex Meets the Star Chamber At Yale’s sexual misconduct tribunals, defendants can’t even cross-examine witnesses. – JENNIFER C. BRACERAS
http://www.wsj.com/articles/college-sex-meets-the-star-chamber-1477001578
USA TODAY
— After 25 years, Clarence Thomas still dissents – Richard Wolf
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/21/supreme-court-clarence-thomas-25-years-scalia/92063306/
MASHABLE
— 8 marginalized groups still fighting for the freedom to vote in the U.S. – KATIE DUPERE (DIERSEN: DEMOCRATS SHOUT AT MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE CAUSED, ARE CAUSING, AND WILL FOREVER CAUSE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS HAVE HAD, ARE HAVING, AND WILL HAVE.)
http://mashable.com/2016/10/21/voting-rights-marginalized-groups/#9JG9lUJFm5q9
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. People with limited mobility. . .2. People without valid ID. . .3. Individuals with felony convictions. . .4. Individuals deemed “mentally incompetent”. . .5. Undocumented immigrants. . .6. Low-income individuals. . .7. People experiencing homeless. . .8. Indigenous communities)
KCRG
— First-time voters eager for say In presidential election – Fenna Semken (DIERSEN: In your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America, what percent of educators a) preach hatred to Trump and b) preach hatred of Trump’s supporters?)
http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/First-time-voters-eager-for-say-In-presidential-election-397854291.html
FEDERAL TIMES
— Justice Department to dispatch fewer election observers in 2016 – AP
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/justice-department-to-dispatch-fewer-election-observers-for-2016
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— An Establishment in Panic – Pat Buchanan
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_pat_buchanan/an_establishment_in_panic2
— Most Still Say Clinton Should Have Been Indicted
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/most_still_say_clinton_should_have_been_indicted
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— Inflammatory and Turned Away Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos is touring college campuses across America, and some universities have shut him out because of his rhetoric against groups too numerous to list. – Kasia Kovacs (DIERSEN: Who demonizes, denigrates, and condemns you as being inflammatory? The following demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being inflammatory: those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/10/21/several-universities-cancel-appearances-conservative-writer-milo-yiannopoulos
CORNELL SUN
— Students Debate Implications of Race-Based Admissions for Asian Americans – Emma Newburger (DIERSEN: To give preference to one group is to discriminate against another group.)
http://cornellsun.com/2016/10/20/students-debate-implications-of-race-based-admissions-for-asian-americans/
THE CRIMSON
— I am Not Your Enemy – ELIZABETH Y. SUN (DIERSEN: Who treats you like you are their enemy? The following teat me like I am their enemy: those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/10/17/sun-not-your-enemy/
COLLEGE FIX
— Harvard student calls out social justice warrior peers as narrow-minded tyrants A self-proclaimed social justice warrior has had enough of social justice warriors – JENNIFER KABBANY
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/29576/
— Midwest universities offer to train students in leftist activism, better protesting – MATT LAMB (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, universities talk and act like they want their graduates to be “good little Democrats,” that is, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/29577/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DePaul wants more protests? Some Chicago-area universities are sponsoring training in political activism this fall – but it appears to be tilted towards progressive causes only. The administration at Northwestern University is putting on “Social Justice Advocacy Training” Friday. The promotional poster for the event promotes liberal causes such as Black Lives Matter and NU Divest, which advocates boycott, divestment and sanction against Israel. Sponsored by the Leadership and Community Engagement office, participants will learn how to “Articulate the dynamics of political power, how to change those dynamics, and determine how and where to engage in policy change for social justice.” They will “Apply research, planning, and organizing strategies to engage and empower citizens and grassroots groups.” Hey big spender Right before Halloween, Loyola University Chicago is hosting a training to teach students how to lobby Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for more funding under the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant program, similar to the federal Pell grant program. For more than a year, MAP has faced a reduction in funding due to a budget impasse over a $4 billion deficit. In April, Rauner signed an education bill funding $170 million worth of MAP grants, about half the amount in a 2015 budget bill. Called the “MAP Advocacy Student Leader Summit,” the Oct. 29 summit promises to “give student leaders an opportunity to join a statewide coalition of grassroots advocacy on behalf students who receive MAP grants.” It is open to all “student leaders from Illinois public, private, and community colleges and universities, as well as government relations, media relations, and financial aid staff members.” Participants will be trained on how to lobby the government for more money for Loyola, a Jesuit school. They will: Learn valuable advocacy tools for engaging legislators Be able to coordinate their institution’s efforts with others Have the opportunity to network with fellow student leaders Play an instrumental role in saving MAP Grants. Training new union activists Last month, DePaul University hosted an “Activism Training” where anyone could “learn all about activism, protest and demonstrations” and “Learn what to do if you get arrested.” Participants at the Catholic school learned “new methods for starting a movement” and “about protesting on campus or off campus.” DePaul does not seem to have a problem with insufficient protests: Students took over an event by gay conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos this summer, unimpeded by campus security. President Dennis Holtschneider blamed “both sides” for “intentionally provoking the others with inflammatory language.” DePaul, with the backing of union leaders, also sponsors a training school for future union activists, including mock collecting bargaining simulations. Loyola Chicago’s government affairs office, the lobbying arm of the university and sponsor of the MAP summit, did not respond to an email from The College Fix seeking more information on other trainings it offers to students. Northwestern’s media relations department did not respond to requests for comment.)
CHEAT SHEET
— Why the Ford Thunderbird is One of the Most Important Cars Ever – James Derek Sapienza (DIERSEN: I owned a red 1990 Ford Thunderbird LX 1989-2012, a red 1993 Ford Thunderbird 1993-1994, and I have owned a red 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX since 1995.)
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/ford-thunderbird-important-cars.html/
BLOOMBERG
— Baby Boomers Are Getting Too Old for Sports Cars – David Welch (DIERSEN: Are you one of those hated baby boomers? I am. I was born in 1948. What “midlife crisis” sports cars do you own? I have owned my 1972 Chevy Corvette since 1971, my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX since 1995, my 2005 Chevy Corvette since 2005, my 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS since 2010, my 2013 Dodge Charger R/T Max since 2012, and my 2016 Ford Mustang since 2016.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-21/baby-boomers-swap-corvettes-for-comfort-as-sports-car-sales-fall
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Mustangs, Porsches slip as buyers favor new sporty SUVs Chevy marketing less-expensive Camaro to younger consumers Baby boomers are starting to outgrow their midlife crisis years, and that’s bad news for automakers who want to sell sports cars. It was a sign of things to come this month when Ford Motor Co. idled its Mustang plant for a week as sales for the year fell 9 percent. Other sports cars have faded at a similar rate, and even stalwarts like the Chevrolet Corvette and most Porsche models are slumping. While there are still plenty of buyers who love the passing lane, automakers face a pesky reality. Men born between 1946 and 1964, who buy most sports cars, are cruising past their peak spending years. And as age 70 beckons, folding up like an accordion to get into the front seat of a speedy roadster is hardly the prescription for an aching back. Some are even turning to high-powered versions of luxury sports utility vehicles. “Boomers are starting to age out of sports cars,” said Eric Noble, president of the CarLab, a consulting firm in Orange, California. “When you get into your 60s, comfort becomes more important. Sports cars are not going away, but the market will get smaller.” . . . The generational handoff won’t help sports cars much either, Noble said, because there are fewer Generation Xers, or those about 35 to 50 years old. And the boomer children — the millennial generation — aren’t yet earning enough money to buy Mustangs, which start at $24,915, let alone a Corvette Z06 that can sell for more than $100,000, Noble said. Ford will probably sell more than 100,000 Mustangs this year, but through July about 25 percent have gone to car-rental agencies and other corporate fleets, according to R.L. Polk & Co., which tracks vehicle registrations. Even with that many cars going to fleet buyers, sales are off. This year, about 40 percent of Mustang buyers were baby boomers, down from 50 percent in 2013. The good news is that consumers in their 20s and 30s now make up 22 percent of Mustang buyers, compared with 15 percent three years ago, said Mark Schaller, marketing manager for the Mustang. But the buyer pool has shrunk. “We are seeing some older boomers move out,” Schaller said. “The Mustang is a life-stage vehicle.” Corvette, Camaro Ford isn’t alone in seeing declines. Sales of the Camaro and Corvette are down 11 percent and 14 percent, respectively, this year. Part of Camaro’s drop is because General Motors Co. sells fewer of them to fleet buyers. Retail sales fell only 1 percent. “I don’t have one reason why it’s down,” said Todd Christensen, marketing manager for the Camaro and Corvette. “Boomers are still buying them, for sure.” Still, Chevy is trying to market the Camaro to younger buyers by promoting its smaller, cheaper 2-liter turbo engine in a package with high-performance parts that make the car handle like more expensive versions, Christensen said. Lifestyle Shift Porsche may be seeing a similar shift, said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with Edmunds.com, a car-shopping website. Coupes are no longer seen as cooler than a four-door car or SUV, she said. And with luxury brands like Porsche and Mercedes selling sporty-driving SUVs, the well-heeled can make a more practical purchase and still have some fun behind the wheel. A car that fits someone’s lifestyle and is still sporty is a better option than a true sports car, she said. That makes sense when you look at Porsche. This year and in 2015, the brand’s passenger car sales have fallen by 8 percent. At the same time, the Macan SUV has grown by 30 percent this year and is now Porsche’s top seller. Company spokesman Christian Koenig said the sales decline is due to replacement of the 911 and Boxster sports cars, which caused shortages of inventory, and the announcement of a new Panamera coming in January. Porsche believes the new sports cars will once again juice sales, he said. “We don’t really see a decline,” Koenig said. “Sports car sales in the U.S. has been a rock-solid business.” Research shows that car buyers, especially 20-somethings, still like sporty cars, according to Noble of the CarLab. They especially favor classics from the 1970s, the golden age of muscle cars. They just can’t afford them yet. And boomers want something comfortable but sporty. ‘Spirited Driving’ That’s why sales of BMW’s M edition and the Mercedes AMG are up, he said. Both are high-horsepower versions of existing models. BMW M-edition sales are up 2 percent this yea. AMG sales are down among pre-existing models. Add in the new SUVs, and the performance line is up about 60 percent to almost 16,000 vehicles this year, said Branden Cote, AMG manager for Mercedes-Benz U.S. What does a high-performance SUV look like? The AMG GLS63 is a seven-passenger, three-ton vehicle that comes with a 577-horsepower engine and starts at $124,000. It also comes with an Airmatic suspension that the driver can lower to the ground if he wants to zip in and out of a tight turn. That’s the kind of “sports car” that is fueling growth of Mercedes’s AMG line, Cote said. “Boomers are coming out of pure sports cars, but they’re not willing to sacrifice pure driving,” Cote said. “The idea of a sports SUV was incomprehensible 10 years ago. They’re not giving up spirited driving; they’re going to a different type of sporty driving.”)
