ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— ILGOP Chairman Responds to Madigan Resignation “Chairman Madigan’s legacy is that of presiding over the decline of a once great state, ballooning pension liabilities by hundreds of billions of dollars, and the accumulation of historic political power that primarily benefited government insiders and special interests. Chairman Madigan may no longer be a state representative, but he is still Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois where he personally controls over $15 million in campaign cash.” – ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy
https://mailchi.mp/094562a7870a/icymi-pritzker-admin-mia-while-over-20-of-lasalle-veterans-home-residents-die-of-covid-4753144
ABC7
— Former GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole has advanced lung cancer. “While I certainly have some hurdles ahead, I also know that I join millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own,” Dole, 97, wrote on Twitter. – CNN
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/former-sen-bob-dole-announces-he-has-stage-4-lung-cancer/10350527/
— Mike Madigan, longtime IL House speaker and representative, announces resignation after 50 years in post. Rep. Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch took Madigan’s place as House speaker last month. – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/madigan-resigning-as-il-rep-after-50-years/10350577/
— US Sen. Ted Cruz ‘regrets’ decision to take Mexico getaway with his family during crisis – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/ted-cruz-regrets-decision-to-take-mexico-getaway-during-crisis/10350591/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— With Rush Limbaugh’s death, conservatism needs a new voice – MICHAEL RYAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-rush-limbaugh-conservative-voice-20210218-utfrvndkxvgzrg57sb4tujyezq-story.html
— Michael Madigan resigns from Illinois House after being ousted as speaker, defends his legacy in face of ‘vicious attacks’ – RICK PEARSON and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-michael-madigan-resigns-20210218-aznvmcwc7rfsxpn6jso6b2c7ee-story.html
— Michael Madigan resigns: Read his letter to the House speaker
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-michael-madigan-resignation-letter-20210218-ffx3pitrcjdfvgj44inboz5eam-story.html
— Illinois identifies 17 more cases of UK coronavirus variant – JENNY WHIDDEN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-uk-variant-20210218-u6vbtgdxz5bsxmjbjlmsxfxibe-story.html
— Madigan exiting legislature, still state Democratic Party chair | City watchdog hammers CPD response to summer looting, unrest | Rush calls for USPS postmaster to resign – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-madigan-resigns-city-watchdog-police-response-spin-20210218-vfvxdcyjvffdrd5m7r4fphgxqe-story.html
— Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 73,091 administered vaccine doses, 1,966 new cases, 72 additional deaths reported as activists lambaste Chicago mayor over federal COVID-19 relief fund spending
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-aud-covid-19-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20210218-4uhioeo5fnbenj74ld7gssewcm-story.html
— ‘Obviously a mistake’: Sen. Ted Cruz returns stateside after family trip to Cancun as Texas struggles through winter storm crisis – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-ted-cruz-cancun-trip-texas-storm-20210218-mbk7r3pl65gqlmpw23cgstxirq-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Madigan resigns state House seat ‘at peace with my decision’ — and with power to handpick his successor. As 13th Ward committeeperson in the Cook County Democratic Party, Madigan has 56% of the weighted vote that will decide who replaces him in the House. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/2/18/22289313/michael-madigan-resigns-state-representative-22nd-district
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater asks “Will Trump face the music, finally?” and says “That only a handful of Republicans could vote to convict him is a sign of deep rot. And it has left millions of Americans who thirst for justice unsatisfied.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/2/18/22289593/donald-trump-consequences-investigations-mona-charen
DAILY HERALD
— Watch debate between candidates for the College of DuPage board
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210218/watch-debate-between-candidates-for-the-college-of-dupage-board
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Madigan resigns from Illinois General Assembly The Southwest Sider, forced from his job as House Speaker earlier this year, says he leaves office “at peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I have made.” – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/madigan-resigns-illinois-general-assembly
HERALD & REVIEW
— Michael Madigan is resigning. Here’s what his annual pension amount will be. – SARAH MANSUR
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/watch-now-michael-madigan-is-resigning-heres-what-his-annual-pension-amount-will-be/article_c482b1fd-5d50-549d-9262-cf8838c29eab.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Madigan is in line for an annual pension of $85,117.32 upon retirement after paying $351,013.73 into the General Assembly Retirement System over 50 years. His annual pension would jump to $148,955.28 on July 1, 2022.)
FOX ILLINOIS
— Migrants on the move again in Mexico and Central America – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/migrants-on-the-move-again-in-mexico-and-central-america-02-18-2021
ROBERT FEDER
— Future of WLS 890 AM up in the air without Rush Limbaugh
https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/02/18/robservations-future-wls-890-air-without-rush-limbaugh/
CITY JOURNAL
— Chicago’s Big Education, Inc. The teachers’ union’s outsize power comes at the expense of students, parents, and taxpayers. – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.city-journal.org/reining-in-the-chicago-teachers-union
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Madigan – TelliTuby Bye, Bye
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/18/madigan-bye-bye/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DOUBLE AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF IMPROVEMENT – Brad Weisenstein
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-unemployment-claims-rise-again-ranking-it-2nd-worst-in-u-s/
CAPITOL FAX
— 1,966 new confirmed and probable cases; 72 additional deaths; 1,655 hospitalized; 386 in ICU; 2.7 percent average case positivity rate; 3.3 percent average test positivity rate; 61,132 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/18/1966-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-72-additional-deaths-1655-hospitalized-386-in-icu-27-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-33-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-61132-average-daily-doses/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump courts billionaire backers as he plans conservative-friendly social media platform – Rob Crilly (DIERSEN: I should write a book about anti-conservatives. I would focus on those who a) falsely claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican, b) have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County’s 4th District, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and/or for everyone’s problems, d) were candidates on ballots in my precinct, e) were major donors for candidates on ballots in my precinct, f) were political consultants for candidates on ballots in my precinct, g) were campaign managers for candidates on ballots in my precinct, h) were campaign staff members for candidates on ballots in my precinct, and i) were leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-courts-backers-plans-conservative-friendly-social-media
GOPUSA
— The War On Texas Is A War On America
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106577
TOWNHALL
— Biden’s Massive Amnesty Bill is Here – Katie Pavlich
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2021/02/18/bidens-massive-amnesty-bill-is-here-n2584934
— Biden’s Bigotry of No Expectations – Larry O’Connor (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs use “up-or-out” to get rid of those who are Republican, White, and/or male, but not for those who are Democrat, RINO, minority, and/or female.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/larryoconnor/2021/02/18/bidens-bigotry-of-no-expectations-n2584955
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One of President George W. Bush’s most enduring moments that had nothing to do with the essential and existential global war on terrorism had to do with his hopes and dreams for domestic policies that did not condescend and patronize minority Americans animated by what he called the “soft bigotry of low expectations.”)
ONE NEWS NOW
— Biden announces amnesty plan for millions of illegals – AP
https://onenewsnow.com/ap/politics/biden-announces-amnesty-plan-for-millions-of-illegals
COLLEGE FIX
— Chicago spends billions of dollars on teachers who won’t teach in-person, watchdog Adam Andrzejewski finds
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/chicago-spent-billions-of-dollars-on-teachers-who-wont-teach-in-person-watchdog-finds/
AMERICA MAGAZINE
— Catholics are overrepresented in the 117th Congress
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/02/18/catholics-congress-representation-nones-239997
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Although Catholics make up about 20 percent of the U.S. population, they represent 30 percent of the 117th Congress, according to the Pew Research Center. Protestants still dominate with 55 percent of the seats in the House and Senate—they represent 43 percent of the population—but they are splintered into more than a dozen different denominations. That makes Catholics the single largest faith group in the House and Senate for 2021. From 1965 to 2021, the Catholic share of the House rose from 22 percent to 31 percent, and the Catholic share of the Senate rose from 14 percent to 24 percent.)
EPOCH TIMES
— Texas Power Crisis Puts Keystone XL Cancelation in Perspective – TERRI WU
https://www.theepochtimes.com/texas-power-crisis-puts-keystone-xl-cancelation-in-perspective_3699890.html
THE HILL
— Trump-McConnell rift divides GOP donors – ALEX GANGITANO (DIERSEN: I should write a book about Republican candidates and Republican political organizations that act like their major donors are anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I would focus on candidates and organizations that act like their major donors reject the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on candidates and organizations that act like their major donors promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/539514-trump-mcconnell-rift-impacts-gop-donors
— Biden’s dangerous border policy – TOM FITTON
https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/539337-bidens-dangerous-border-policy
— Former Illinois House Speaker resigns amid bribery investigation – JORDAN WILLIAMS
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/539402-former-illinois-house-speaker-resigns-amid-bribery-investigation
— Beto O’Rourke: ‘We are nearing a failed state in Texas’ due to Republican leaders – DOMINICK MASTRANGELO
https://thehill.com/homenews/539147-beto-orourke-we-are-nearing-a-failed-state-in-texas-due-to-republican-leaders
— Facebook, Google, Twitter CEOs to testify at House hearing on misinformation – REBECCA KLAR (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, www.gopillinois.com is a misinformation website. Should I sue my critics/opponents?)
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/539471-tech-ceos-to-testify-at-house-hearing-on-misinformation
ROLL CALL
— To retake House, centrists say GOP needs candidates who can win swing districts – Stephanie Akin (DIERSEN: GOP “centrists” a) most commonly reject the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity planks in the Republican Party platform and b) focus on destroying those who support the aforesaid planks.)
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/02/18/to-retake-house-centrists-say-gop-needs-candidates-who-can-win-swing-districts/
CNBC
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Democrats introduce sweeping immigration bill with 8-year pathway to citizenship – Hannah Miao (DIERSEN: To come to a country illegally is to show disrespect for the rule of law. To stay in a country illegally is to show disrespect for the rule of law.)
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/18/immigration-democrats-to-introduce-bill-with-pathway-to-citizenship.html
— Generac CEO says demand for power generators is high: ‘We can’t make them fast enough’ – Tyler Clifford
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/17/generac-ceo-on-meeting-generator-demand.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Should the Feds Guarantee You a Job? Not long ago, the question was rarely asked. Now, politicians and economists of various stripes are willing to consider it. – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: Should those jobs be “good” jobs? Should those jobs be appropriate based on one’s work experience, education, and professional licenses/certifications?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/business/economy/job-guarantee.html
— Fox News devotes hours to Rush Limbaugh tributes. – Katie Robertson
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/business/fox-news-devotes-hours-to-rush-limbaugh-tributes.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Equality Act would give LGBTQers even more power to destroy individuals, destroy organizations, destroy companies, destroy governments, and destroy countries that do not promote LGBTQ.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/18/equality-act-introduced/
CBS SACRAMENTO
— New California Bill Would Make Political Affiliation A Protected Class (DIERSEN: In my precinct, 269 voted for Biden and only 157 voted for Trump.)
https://news.yahoo.com/ca-bill-political-affiliation-protected-074839893.html
LIMA OHIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Someone who paints himself as being a spokesperson for Blacks promotes hatred against Republicans.
https://www.limaohio.com/opinion/columns/448509/leonard-pitts-jr-gop-believes-in-trump-not-america
FORBES
— Trump Calls Rush Limbaugh A ‘Fantastic Man’ As GOP Tributes Pour In – Joe Walsh
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/02/17/the-biggest-reactions-to-rush-limbaughs-death/
NEWSWEEK
— Kinzinger Asks Fellow Republicans to Reject Donald Trump’s Ongoing Election Claims – JACOB JARVIS
https://www.newsweek.com/adam-kinzinger-asks-republicans-reject-donald-trump-election-claims-1570224
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Trump Still Favorite of Most GOP Voters After Impeachment Trial
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/trump_still_favorite_of_most_gop_voters_after_impeachment_trial
GUARDIAN
— Republican leaders in Texas face growing backlash as power crisis deepens. Residents struggle with lack of power, food and water following deadly storm while state’s leaders try to deflect responsibility. – Tom McCarthy and Erum Salam
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/18/republicans-texas-power-winter-storm
