March 1 Evening Edition - GOPUSA Illinois

ABC7
— Chicago shootings: 25 shot, 5, fatally, in weekend violence across city
https://abc7chicago.com/25-shot-5-killed-in-chicago-weekend-violence/10379595/

NBC5
— Florida Gov. DeSantis Accused of Favoritism in Distributing Covid Vaccine, Congress Urged to Investigate – Will Feuer (DIERSEN: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that BECAUSE OF PAST/PRESENT DISCRIMINATION, those who are White, male, older, heterosexual, healthy, law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time SHOULD POSTPONE VACCINATION UNTIL ALL THOSE WHO ARE minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, not healthy, criminals, Trump-haters, moderate, liberal, anti-patriotic, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, RINO, citizens of foreign countries, non-married, poor, non-gun owners, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-Italian American, non-German American, and those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/florida-gov-desantis-accused-of-favoritism-in-distributing-covid-vaccine-congress-urged-to-investigate/2450150/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democratic voting bill would make biggest changes in decades – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/3/1/22307471/democratic-voting-bill-make-biggest-changes-decades
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republicans see those very measures as threats that would both limit the power of states to conduct elections and ultimately benefit Democrats, notably with higher turnout among minority voters. . .Yet to many Republicans, it amounts to an unwarranted federal intrusion into a process that states should control. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., excoriated the measure during a House hearing last week as “800 pages of election mandates and free speech regulations” that poses a “threat to democracy” and would “weaken voter confidence” in elections.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Kinzinger says he’s OK making Trump’s ‘enemies list’ | Democrats to gather Wednesday on Madigan’s replacement for state party chair | Johnson & Johnson vaccine headed to Chicago, Lightfoot says – LISA DONOVAN (DIERSEN: I should write a book about all those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that have/had me on their enemies lists and why they have/had me on those lists.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-kinzinger-trump-alderwoman-sanchez-lightfoot-democratic-party-spin-20210301-ao2dkjpliffoppsorwavdfzcjm-story.html
— Illinois, don’t be tempted to use COVID-19 aid as a bureaucracy bailout – TOM DEMMER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-federal-stimulus-illinois-pritzker-demmer-20210301-vlhczfvf4bdyhnh6rkz22zsfdy-story.html
— ‘Soul of a Nation’ program highlights Evanston’s racial reparations plan – TRACY SWARTZ (DIERSEN: Candidates on April 6 ballots should be asked the following questions: If elected, would you encourage or discourage promotion of the following: a) reparations, b) BLM, c) LGBTQ, d) dependency on government, e) dependency on charity, f) abortion, g) mass/illegal immigration, h) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, i) more gun controls, j) patronage, k) political affiliation discrimination, l) reverse discrimination, and m) age discrimination?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/what-to-watch/ct-ent-soul-of-a-nation-evanston-reparations-20210301-n2g7dueuoveure6p5hhxe6sul4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Behind the Curtain: The newspaper’s role in election coverage – John Lampinen (DIERSEN: Candidates on April 6 ballots should be asked the following questions: If elected, would you encourage or discourage promotion of the following: a) reparations, b) BLM, c) LGBTQ, d) dependency on government, e) dependency on charity, f) abortion, g) mass/illegal immigration, h) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, i) more gun controls, j) patronage, k) political affiliation discrimination, l) reverse discrimination, and m) age discrimination?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210223/discuss/210229081/

NAPERVILLE PATCH
— Vote for Darren Bailey to save Illinois. Bailey has high hopes for Illinois and is running for Governor to protect the freedoms sacred to all that call the Land of Lincoln home. – Natalia Dagenhart
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/vote-darren-bailey-save-illinois

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IN MEMORIAM: ANDREW BREITBART AT RIGHT NATION 2010
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/03/in-memoriam-andrew-breitbart-at-right-nation-2010.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Chicago GOP censures Kinzinger
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/01/chicago-gop-censures-kinzinger/
— Teacher shortage persists (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/01/teacher-shortage-persists/
— 1,143 new confirmed and probable cases; 20 additional deaths; 1,288 hospitalized; 308 in ICU; 2.4 percent average case positivity rate; 2.7 percent average test positivity rate; 77,876 average daily doses; COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/01/1143-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-20-additional-deaths-1288-hospitalized-308-in-icu-24-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-27-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-77876-average-daily-doses-covid/
— Report: Nearly 19 percent of Uline’s Illinois workers have tested positive
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/01/report-nearly-19-percent-of-ulines-illinois-workers-have-tested-positive/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Pandemic of people’: Border catch-and-release risks spread of COVID-19 – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/28/biden-catch-and-release-strategy-threatens-communi/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Trump CPAC Speech Breaks The Internet – George Rasley
https://www.conservativehq.org/post/trump-cpac-speech-breaks-the-internet

DAILY WIRE
— Alyssa Milano Calls CPAC Attendees ‘Nazis,’ Floats Conspiracy About Stage, Targets Hotel Chain For Hosting Event – Amanda Prestigiacomo
https://www.dailywire.com/news/alyssa-milano-calls-cpac-attendees-nazis-floats-conspiracy-about-stage-targets-hotel-chain-for-hosting-event

NEWS BUSTERS
— NY Times: GOP Questioning of Puberty Blockers Are ‘Tirades,’ ‘Ugly Attacks’ on Kids – Clay Waters
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2021/02/27/ny-times-gop-questioning-puberty-blockers-are-tirades-ugly-attacks

THE HILL
— Poll shows most GOP voters back Trump 2024 bid – MAX GREENWOOD
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/541033-poll-shows-most-gop-voters-back-potential-trump-2024-bid
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The poll shows 52 percent of GOP voters back Trump, who has floated a potential comeback in 2024 after losing to President Biden in November. That makes him far and away the favorite for his party’s presidential nod; former Vice President Mike Pence placed second with 18 percent support, while former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley came in third with only 7 percent support. If Trump ultimately decides against another presidential bid, however, it’s Pence who picks up the most support, according to the poll. Forty-one percent of GOP voters surveyed said they prefer Pence for the nomination if Trump isn’t on the ballot. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) takes second place in that scenario, garnering 16 percent support, while Haley remains in third with the backing of 10 percent of GOP voters.)
— Trump: ‘I can’t imagine’ any Republican would beat me in 2024 primary if I run – JULIA MANCHESTER
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/541067-trump-i-cant-imagine-any-republican-would-beat-me-in-2024-primary-if-i-ran
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters say Biden’s approval tops 60 percent. Biden will use that as a mandate a) to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and b) to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are law enforcement, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/541032-bidens-approval-tops-60-percent-in-new-poll

YAHOO NEWS
— Donald Trump could become a ‘kingmaker’
https://news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-could-become-kingmaker-123016307.html

NBC NEWS
— Biden admin will let migrant families separated under Trump reunite inside U.S. Lawyers for the families had asked the Biden administration to let parents deported without their children come back to the U.S. to reunify the families. – Jacob Soboroff, Julia Ainsley and Geoff Bennett
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/biden-admin-expected-let-migrant-families-separated-under-trump-reunite-n1259141

NEW YORK POST
— Trump shows signs of being king-maker rather than king – Miranda Devine
https://nypost.com/2021/02/28/trump-shows-signs-of-being-king-maker-rather-than-king/

USA TODAY
— At CPAC, Donald Trump targets the Republican Party of Liz Cheney and Mitch McConnell – David Jackson (DIERSEN: I should write a book about Republican activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. a) who have rejected the most planks in the Republican Party platform and b) done the most to drive platform Republicans like me out the Republican Party.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/01/cpac-donald-trump-targets-republicans-liz-cheney-mitch-mcconnell/6868099002/

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters say “Rewriting January 6th: Republicans push false and misleading accounts of Capitol riot.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-riot-false-accounts/2021/02/28/9230e3b6-784c-11eb-9537-496158cc5fd9_story.html
— White House and press are at odds over plan to charge reporters for coronavirus testing – Paul Farhi
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/white-house-press-covid-tests/2021/02/26/d623f316-7855-11eb-948d-19472e683521_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Reporters who cover the White House may soon be paying what amounts to an admission fee to do their jobs. Starting Monday, the White House’s press office said it will start charging journalists for coronavirus tests, which are required for anyone entering the White House grounds. The proposed cost for each test: $170. With dozens of journalists at the White House each day, the fees could add up to tens of thousands of dollars flowing from newsrooms, many of them small and cash-strapped, into government coffers. Until now, the cost of testing has been borne by the White House. But officials there contend that the cost of maintaining the testing regime for nearly a year has strained its budget. So it wants to shift the burden onto news organizations: No test, no entry to the White House. The plan has alarmed the White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents reporters in issues affecting the presidential press corps. The organization has objected to the proposal because of the financial burden it would impose on news organizations, especially smaller ones for whom a $170 daily fee would be onerous. “It sets up a means test for White House coverage,” said one correspondents’ association member familiar with the proposal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the policy hasn’t been formally announced. No other federal agency charges journalists a test fee, this person said. The fees would add up quickly for larger news organizations, too. The TV networks send as many as eight people a day to the White House grounds to report, produce and operate cameras and equipment. It would cost $1,360 a day to test an eight-person crew under the White House plan. News organizations collectively are limited to 80 people a day on the White House grounds because of coronavirus restrictions. This includes those working in the briefing room and workspaces behind it as well as those who maintain TV camera positions outside the Oval Office on the North Lawn. News organizations have long paid many of the costs of covering the White House. When reporters travel with the president on Air Force One, for example, they are billed by the White House for the trip. They also pay for temporary office space during presidential trips, and for meals when they accompany the president on “pool” duty assignments. But health and security measures have typically been the responsibility of the White House — in other words, taxpayers — not news organizations. “Nobody asked us to pay a fee to put up the fence,” said one journalist, referring to new security barriers around the White House complex. The White House Correspondents’ Association declined to comment, as did White House press secretary Jen Psaki. The tests would be administered under a contract with CVS Health. After prodding from the correspondents’ association, White House officials agreed this week to accept proof of an outside test as an alternative condition for entry. Private tests in the region range from around $50 to $200 or more, depending on the speed, location and method used. But it’s still unclear what kinds of outside tests would satisfy the White House. Some have suggested that making vaccinations available to White House reporters, or even requiring that journalists get vaccinations on their own, could resolve the daily testing issue. But scientists still aren’t certain whether vaccinated people can spread the coronavirus, even if they are immune to its symptoms. In another concession, the White House officials agreed to continue covering the costs of tests administered to pool reporters — those assigned to follow the president when he travels and for those attending daily press briefings. That would cover only a small number of reporters, however. Social-distancing rules adopted last year by the White House Correspondents’ Association limit the number of reporters attending the daily briefings to just 14 at a time.)

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. View all posts by David Diersen