May 9, 2019

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Past and present candidates and elected officials who spoke at Milton Township Republican Central Committee’s (MTRCC) outstanding meeting Wednesday evening, May 8, 2019, at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall included Bucholz, Ives, Jorgensen, Kachiroubas, Keller, Larsen, LeVan, Molitor, Monino, Sanguinetti, and Whelan. DuPage County Recorder Fred Bucholz announced that he was not running again and endorsed Babette Holder for the position. Meeting attendees included Almiron, Bohn, Carlson, Caruso, Cooper, Crane, Dangelo, Elliott, Falbo, Fitzpatrick, Galvin, Holder, Jensen, Kinzler, Krzyzewski, Lofgren, Lollino, McGowen, Muehlfelt, Nathwani, Rash, Ryan, Shaw, Slinger, Smith, and Tatro. How fast and how far have the organizations that you are a member of moved to the left? I should write a book about how fast and how far the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the MTRCC have moved to the left. 10 years ago, I easily got the MTRCC to pass a resolution against video gambling. Today, I doubt that I could get the MTRCC to pass a resolution against recreational pot. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Too many articles? My critics/opponents say that GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails contain links to too many articles. The articles that they want me to cut are those which a) promote Trump, b) promote the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform and the Republican Party platform, and/or c) promote the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) resolution against video gambling. The only articles that they want you to see are those that the IRP, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and MTRCC officers approve of. They want you to a) spend all your time on their websites and Facebook and b) spend none of your time reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They demonize, denigrate, and condemn the format that I use for GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

GOPUSA ILLINOIS 
— How bad are your demographics? How soon, if not already, will political parties officially declare a) that their officers must be minority, female, and/or younger, b) that they will only back candidates who are minority, female, and/or younger, and c) that they are dumping voters who are White, male, and/or older? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Marijuana legalization may create more problems than it solves, cautions former candidate Ives – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/512480916-marijuana-legalization-may-create-more-problems-than-it-solves-cautions-former-candidate-ives

CATHOLIC CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS
— Ten Reasons to Oppose Legal Weed in Illinois – Mary Anne Hackett
https://catholiccitizens.org/news/86727/ten-reasons-to-oppose-legal-weed-in-illinois/

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TV
— City Council Discusses Recreational Marijuana (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, each and every mayor and each and every city council member in Illinois and each and every candidate for the aforesaid positions should state on the record that they will vote to pass ordinances a) to “opt out” of the retail sale of pot and b) to impose zoning restrictions on the commercial growing of pot. The Wheaton City Council is seeking applicants for city’s vacant North District City Council position. Applicants are asked to submit a statement identifying the three most important issues that they believe the city needs to address in the next two years as well as their opinion on how those issues could be addressed. Needless-to-say, applicants should state that discouraging pot usage is one of Wheaton’s most important issues. According to Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller, “Dude, I got news for you: Cannabis is already in your neighborhood. Your neighbors are consuming it, perhaps even right this moment. And most of your neighbors want it legalized.” SEE: https://capitolfax.com/2019/05/07/moylan-apparently-doesnt-realize-that-people-use-cannabis-now/)
https://www.nctv17.com/news/council-discusses-recreational-marijuana/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Governor J.B. Pritzker recently introduced a bill that would legalize the sale and possession of recreational marijuana statewide. And with the Democratic Party in control of the Illinois House and Senate, Illinois becoming the 11th state to legalize cannabis is likely. City council discussed what that means for Naperville at its most recent meeting. “Will we see an increase in crime? Will we see a decrease in medical calls? What have other similar communities like ours seen after legalization that we should consider?” asked Councilwoman Patty Gustin.)

WEEK
— Law enforcement, NAACP, Catholic bishops stand united against recreational pot legalization
https://week.com/news/political/2019/05/08/law-enforcement-naacp-stand-united-against-recreational-pot-legalization/

WQAD
— Tobacco-inform group lobbies against Illinois legalizing recreational marijuana – KATRINA LAMANSKY
https://wqad.com/2019/05/08/tobacco-inform-group-lobbies-against-illinois-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/

WGLT
— McLean County Libertarians Host Illinois Separation Founder – ERIC STOCK (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you are not religious, you are not conservative, and you are not Republican. You are Libertarian.)
https://www.wglt.org/post/mclean-county-libertarians-host-illinois-separation-founder-0#stream/0
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The party’s McLean County chairman Steve Suess acknowledged any effort to create a 51st state has little chance of going anywhere, but he said he wants to start a philosophical debate, something he said the party has succeeded in doing in the past. “The Libertarian Party has supported cannabis legalization since 1971 when it was formed, and look at where we are now,” Suess said. “The Libertarian party has supported gender and sexual minority rights since it was founded. It’s first presidential candidate was openly gay.” Suess said the county’s libertarians haven’t taken a formal stance on separation, but he endorses it. He said Illinois’ regional differences are too great to be governed by the same state legislative body.)

NPR ILLINOIS
— Republican Backer Of Recreational Cannabis Jason Barickman Says No To Democrat Proposal – JACLYN DRISCOLL (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you are not religious, you are not conservative, and you are not Republican. You are Libertarian.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/republican-backer-recreational-cannabis-says-no-proposal#stream/0

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Legal marijuana opponents express concerns over safety, commercialization – Cassie Buchman 
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190508/legal-marijuana-opponents-express-concerns-over-safety-commercialization

HERALD & REVIEW
— Cannabis equity group proposes changes to Illinois legalization bill – JERRY NOWICKI
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/cannabis-equity-group-proposes-changes-to-illinois-legalization-bill/article_741ca058-a51e-5afc-b33f-fee93b6ecd0a.html

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Legal marijuana opponents express concerns over safety, commercialization – Cassie Buchman
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190508/legal-marijuana-opponents-express-concerns-over-safety-commercialization
— House Republicans say no tax hikes needed with improved state finances – DOUG FINKE
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190508/house-republicans-say-no-tax-hikes-needed-with-improved-state-finances
— Lawmaker proposes higher gas tax, car fees for road projects – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190508/lawmaker-proposes-higher-gas-tax-car-fees-for-road-projects
— Nearly 200 women urge House Dems to resurrect abortion law rewrite – Rebecca Anzel
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190508/nearly-200-women-urge-house-dems-to-resurrect-abortion-law-rewrite
— Small businesses opposed to increase in video gaming tax – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190508/small-businesses-opposed-to-increase-in-video-gaming-tax

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Police oppose marijuana legalization in Illinois, but want a bigger cut of the proceeds if law passes – Robert McCoppin
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-police-oppose-marijuana-legalization-in-illinois-20190508-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An abortion promoter promotes abortion.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-abortion-heartbeat-late-term-trump-20190508-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats love it every time the Pope says or does something that is 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.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-pope-francis-catholic-heresy-letter-20190508-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Abortion promoters promote abortion.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190508/women-urge-democrats-to-act-on-abortion-legislation
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that if you are a Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, the more reparations that you should pay. 
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20190509/a-deeper-look-into-the-sabotage-of-reconstruction
— Second COD president finalist meets the public – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190508/second-cod-president-finalist-meets-the-public

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Emanuel’s new pension Rx: tax high-end retirement income With other ideas stalled, the outgoing mayor comes up with one for paying off state and city pension debt: tax retirement income of over $100,000 a year. – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: Would that be $200,000 for married filing jointly?)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/emanuels-new-pension-rx-tax-high-end-retirement-income

WBEZ
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow about their success in attracting citizens of foreign countries to Illinois. Democrats focus in driving out of Illinois those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. 
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/when-migrant-students-come-to-illinois-schools-adjust-and-embrace/46dcac3b-6b19-4af8-9e8d-953b4c5aed77

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Business owners wage preemptive fight against video gambling tax hike No bill filed yet, but governor has voiced support for raising tax on gaming revenue – Grant Morgan
https://www.nwherald.com/2019/05/08/business-owners-wage-preemptive-fight-against-video-gambling-tax-hike/az20bfq/

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— State officials put great effort into conning public on pensions – Jim Dey
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2019-05-08/jim-dey-state-officials-put-great-effort-conning-public-pensions.html

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— GOP: No new taxes needed with unexpected revenue – JERRY NOWICKI
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/05/08/gop-no-new-taxes-needed-with-unexpected-revenue/aqqmmp1/

MORRIS HERALD NEWS
— Against the current Bucking statewide trends, Grundy County adds population – Drew Zimmerman
https://www.morrisherald-news.com/2019/05/08/against-the-current/a8r6wfq/

SOUTHERN
— OUTRAGEOUS, DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Bill allowing undocumented immigrants to access student financial aid goes to governor – PETER HANCOCK 
https://thesouthern.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/bill-allowing-undocumented-immigrants-to-access-student-financial-aid-goes/article_aa38820c-0f12-59e5-9e28-b75d1d95ea51.html

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Trust hard to come by when promises broken in Springfield – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-trust-hard-to-come-by-when-promises-broken/article_4c65058c-71a6-11e9-97e7-ff806a907097.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Illinois Policy Institute open letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker opposing the progressive income tax amendment
https://capitolfax.com/2019/05/09/opposition/
— G-PAC poll: 66 percent support “Fix the FOID Act” (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they want to abolish the Second Amendment.)
https://capitolfax.com/2019/05/09/g-pac-poll-66-percent-support-fix-the-foid-act/
— Sports betting details
https://capitolfax.com/2019/05/09/sports-betting-details/

FOX NEWS
— Trump defends national emergency declaration at Mexico border, says Dems ‘don’t mind crime’ – Victor Garcia
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-rally-florida-mexico-immigration-drugs-crime-national-emergency

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Warren Has Proposed or Backed Plans Totaling Estimated $129 Trillion in Government Spending Three of Warren’s major proposals alone cost $2.365 trillion – David Rutz
https://freebeacon.com/politics/warren-has-proposed-or-backed-plans-totaling-estimated-129-trillion-in-government-spending/

TOWNHALL
— Racist Liberals Attack Tiger Woods – Derek Hunter
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2019/05/09/racist-liberals-attack-tiger-woods-n2546033

NEW AMERICAN
— Facebook’s “Click-Gap” System Favors Establishment Media Over Alternative Media – Raven Clabough (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want you to a) spend all your time on their websites and Facebook and b) spend none of your time reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.) 
https://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/computers/item/32235-facebook-s-click-gap-system-favors-establishment-media-over-alternative-media

AMERICAN THINKER
— After the Boomers Are Gone, the Bloodshed Begins – Cam Brown
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/05/after_the_boomers_are_gone_the_bloodshed_begins.html

BREITBART
— ‘Sanctuary City’ Oakland, Near-Broke, Will Use Gas Tax Money to Keep Lights On – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/09/sanctuary-city-oakland-near-broke-will-use-gas-tax-money-to-keep-lights-on/

BLAZE
— Joe Biden says the U.S. is obligated to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants He hasn’t committed to any particular healthcare plan yet – Aaron Colen (DIERSEN: Citizens of foreign countries, and especially those who are minority, female, and/or younger, illegally come to America illegally a) to get free housing, free food, free clothing, free healthcare, free education, free etc. and b) to take advantage of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion.) 
https://www.theblaze.com/news/joe-biden-says-the-u-s-is-obligated-to-provide-healthcare-to-illegal-immigrants

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Athlete could lose $4 million contract for quoting the Bible on sinfulness of homosexuality – Martin M. Barillas
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/athlete-could-lose-4-million-contract-for-quoting-the-bible-on-sinfulness-of-homosexuality

EPOCH TIMES
— Amazon’s Use of Southern Poverty Law Center ‘Hate List’ Challenged by Consumer Group – MATTHEW VADUM
https://www.theepochtimes.com/amazons-use-of-southern-poverty-law-center-hate-list-challenged-by-consumer-group_2912718.html

THE HILL
— About half of white Republicans, 18 percent of white Democrats would be bothered to hear foreign language in public – ARIS FOLLEY (DIERSEN: Those who want to turn America into Mexico want to force everyone in America speak, read, and write Spanish. 
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/442749-about-half-of-white-republicans-18-percent-of-white-democrats

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Democrat Illinois comptroller honors GOP trailblazer Topinka (DIERSEN: The more planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform that you reject, the more that Illinois Democrats honor you.)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Democrat-Illinois-comptroller-honors-GOP-13831382.php

ABC NEWS
— Mayor Pete Buttigieg asks for help diversifying his base – BEATRICE PETERSON (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will political parties officially declare a) that their officers must be minority, female, and/or younger, b) that they will only back candidates who are minority, female, and/or younger, and c) that they are dumping voters who are White, male, and/or older?) 
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mayor-pete-buttigieg-asks-diversifying-base/story?id=62878522

CBS NEWS
— Trump defends “tax shelter” practice after report that his businesses lost millions – KATHRYN WATSON, CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (DIERSEN: In 1978, the Democrats at Money Magazine and at IRS hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my education deductions were improper tax shelters.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-defends-tax-shelter-practice-after-report-that-his-businesses-lost-millions/

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats and RINOs oppose anything that discourages citizens of foreign countries from a) coming illegally to America illegally and b) staying illegally in America illegally. 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/05/09/trump-administration-wants-charge-asylum-some-refugees-price-may-be-too-high/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters crow about their success in turning Britain against America.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/09/pompeos-visit-britain-shows-special-relationship-adrift/
— Still traumatized from 2016 loss, Democrats weigh how much to reach out to rural America – Holly Bailey (DIERSEN: How fast and how far have the organizations that you are a member of moved to the left? I should write a book about how fast and how far the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) have moved to the left. 10 years ago, I easily got the MTRCC to pass a resolution against video gambling. Today, I doubt that I could get the MTRCC to pass a resolution against recreational pot.) 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/should-democrats-bother-reaching-out-to-rural-america/2019/05/07/23c80a16-6db4-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Democrats face a challenge finding a messenger — and a message — who can appeal to both worlds, especially as the party’s move to the left on subjects like gun control makes outreach to small-town America harder.)

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Denver votes to decriminalize magic mushrooms, in unofficial results – DAVID KELLY (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you are not religious, you are not conservative, and you are not Republican. You are Libertarian.)
https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-magic-mushroom-denver-decriminalization-20190508-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In a last-minute surprise, it appears this city has lived up to its libertarian leanings and passed an ordinance decriminalizing hallucinogenic magic mushrooms, the first measure of its kind in the nation.)
— Trump complained about Amazon’s tax breaks — even as he used them himself – LAURA DAVISON (DIERSEN: In 1978, the Democrats at Money Magazine and at IRS hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my education deductions were improper tax breaks.)
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trump-taxes-writeoffs-depreciation-20190508-story.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Republicans Hire Nine Regional Directors for Trump 2020 Election Re-election team plans to more than double number of communications staff from 2016 – Michael C. Bender
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-campaign-hires-nine-regional-directors-for-2020-election-11557355628
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ohio Valley region: Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois will be overseen by Clayton Henson, the party’s coalitions director in Ohio in 2016 and a former regional political director for the Office of Political Affairs in the Trump White House.)
— Chick-fil-A’s Lean Menu Helps Chain Bulk Up Sales tripled over past decade at fast-food company focused on chicken; new markets could test expansion – Micah Maidenberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chick-fil-as-lean-menu-helps-chain-bulk-up-11557313200
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Now, five decades later, the closely held company this year is poised to become the third-biggest U.S. restaurant chain by sales behind McDonald’s Corp. and Starbucks Corp. according to food-service consultancy Technomic Inc. The growth reflects Chick-fil-A’s expansion over the past decade, as well as consumers’ broader turn toward chicken.)
— Bernie Sanders Tax Return Shows Perils of Do-It-Yourself Tax Prep Sanders underpaid by $4,479 in 2009, an accountant says. He promptly fixed any mistakes, his campaign says. – Richard Rubin
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bernie-sanders-tax-return-shows-perils-of-do-it-yourself-tax-prep-11557307800

WTOP
— House Judiciary Committee hears contempt resolution against Barr – Nahal Amouzadeh (DIERSEN: How fast and how far have the organizations that you are a member of moved to the left? I should write a book about how fast and how far the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) have moved to the left. 10 years ago, I easily got the MTRCC to pass a resolution against video gambling. Today, I doubt that I could get the MTRCC to pass a resolution against recreational pot.)
https://wtop.com/government/2019/05/watch-house-judiciary-committee-hears-contempt-resolution-against-barr/

FORBES
— Reimagining Your Channels, Rebooting Your Strategy – Mat Zucker (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who demonize, denigrate, and condemn the format that I use for GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2019/05/01/reimagining-your-channels-rebooting-your-strategy/#761970ec7587

NPR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters hate Trump and his supporters. Trump-haters hate Republicans and/or pander to those who hate Republicans. Trump-haters hate Americans and/or pander to those who hate Americans. Trump-haters hate Whites and/or pander to those who hate Whites. Trump-haters hate men and/or pander to those who hate men. Trump-haters hate Protestants and/or pander to those who hate Protestants. Trump-haters hate German Americans and/or pander to those who hate German Americans. Trump-haters hate rich people and/or pander to those who hate rich people. Trump-haters hate those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and/or pander to those who those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. 
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/07/721165704/white-nationalism

VOX
— Poll: Elizabeth Warren’s handling of her DNA results hurts her favorability — but not her electoral chances About one-fifth of Democratic voters say they view her less favorably after she released the results. – Li Zhou (DIERSEN: What if I had successfully claimed Swedish ancestry? During the 1840s and 1850s, all my ancestors immigrated to northeast Illinois from what is now Germany. Of course, needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. In my defense, I stress that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans during WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans during WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans during WWII if he had not been 4-F. Further, according to http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. Again, what if I had successfully claimed Swedish ancestry?)
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/8/18535741/poll-elizabeth-warren-dna-test-2020-democratic-primary

EDUCATION WEEK
— Whites, Blacks Divided on Value of Neighborhood Schools and Diversity, Survey Finds – Christina Samuels 
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2019/05/pew_survey_diversity_neighborhood_schools.html

BJG CONSULTING
— How Well Do You Know Your Competition? (DIERSEN: Who competes against you? Those who compete against me, my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and my www.gopillinois.com website a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid.) 
https://bjg-consulting.com/how-well-do-you-know-your-competition/

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
— Illinois Press Foundation Creates Statehouse News Bureau – Evelyn Mateos 
https://www.editorandpublisher.com/a-section/illinois-press-foundation-creates-statehouse-news-bureau/

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.