March 17 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— House Republicans hammer out platform they pledge will ‘reshape,’ ‘re-find’ and ‘reimagine’ Illinois Part of the GOP’s “Reimagine Illinois” platform, the focus is on four “common sense” areas: rooting out corruption in the statehouse, instituting fiscally responsible leadership, growing jobs and the state’s economy and ensuring public safety. – Rachel Hinton
(DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The 2020 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform is at https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020PlatformoftheIllinoisRepublicanParty.pdf . That platform includes planks titled “ADVOCATING A ‘FRONT DOOR’ POLICY ON IMMIGRATION” and “PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO LIFE” and “EMBRACING THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.” In addition, the IRP adopted 13 resolutions at its 2020 State Convention. SEE: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t07rif5nyqf0v1g/AAAGUA9bl5LTRjdfiefoT3DHa )
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/3/17/22336550/house-republicans-platform-they-reshape-reimagine-illinois-corruption-budget-durkin-bourne-murphy
— Ford Motor Co. tells 30,000 employees they can work from home indefinitely – AP
(DIERSEN: I have worked from home since 2000 putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ford-motor-work-from-home-20210317-7dtnwjehebggnkpkm7utugwqoa-story.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Republicans turning their focus to immigration as border crossings surge – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-republicans-immigration-border-crossings-20210317-wyzbj6li5jhwrm66l6eqltjqe4-story.html
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces Chicago vaccination expansion | Ineligible Trump Tower staff received shots | Ad blitz salutes Underwood, other House Democrats in swing districts for backing COVID-19 relief package – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-expanding-vaccination-eligible-underwood-covid-relief-ad-spin-20210317-3utbgf7icvbmbijpbmzghq26bq-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois House Republicans unveil legislative platform – RAYMON TRONCOSO
(DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The 2020 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform is at https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020PlatformoftheIllinoisRepublicanParty.pdf . That platform includes planks titled “ADVOCATING A ‘FRONT DOOR’ POLICY ON IMMIGRATION” and “PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO LIFE” and “EMBRACING THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.” In addition, the IRP adopted 13 resolutions at its 2020 State Convention. SEE: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t07rif5nyqf0v1g/AAAGUA9bl5LTRjdfiefoT3DHa )
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210317/illinois-house-republicans-unveil-legislative-platform
— WLS picks Dan Bongino as replacement for Rush Limbaugh – Dave Feder
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210317/feder-wls-picks-dan-bongino-as-replacement-for-rush-limbaugh

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois can change, but only with a change of leadership. We need to rethink what government does and restructure accordingly. – RICHARD PORTER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/illinois-can-change-only-change-leadership
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Herb in the burbs: Pot firm plans new growing facility – JOHN PLETZ
(DIERSEN: To push pot on an individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marijuanacannabis/herb-burbs-pot-firm-plans-new-growing-facility

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— House GOP announces platform to ‘Reimagine Illinois’- Ben Szalinski
(DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The 2020 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform is at https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020PlatformoftheIllinoisRepublicanParty.pdf . That platform includes planks titled “ADVOCATING A ‘FRONT DOOR’ POLICY ON IMMIGRATION” and “PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO LIFE” and “EMBRACING THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.” In addition, the IRP adopted 13 resolutions at its 2020 State Convention. SEE: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t07rif5nyqf0v1g/AAAGUA9bl5LTRjdfiefoT3DHa )
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/03/17/illinois-house-republicans-announce-new-reimagine-illinois-legislative-platform/4731527001/

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy hopes to unify party’s factions, defeat Pritzker next year – BRENDEN MOORE
(DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. I have always been a platform Republican. I should write a book about Illinois Republican Party leaders who have worked the hardest since 2000 to get rid of Republicans like me who support the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/illinois-gop-chairman-don-tracy-hopes-to-unify-partys-factions-defeat-pritzker-next-year/article_9fb79584-66de-5b8a-8d47-5acfddd9bd71.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Tracy is hoping to take the same approach with the Illinois Republican Party, an organization that has been divided between the traditional moderate wing that dominated for decades with central figures like Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar; and an ascendant, conservative wing that has gained traction with the rise of the Tea Party movement and the election of President Donald Trump in 2016. “I think those are the kind of issues that are somewhat similar for a party,” Tracy said. “And you can recognize pretty early on in a family business in a large family that the perfect is the enemy of the good. And in the Republican Party, unfortunately, we’ve had experience with people thinking you have to be perfect to be a Republican, and that that’s not true.” . . . However, Tracy said he will put practicality over purity as he seeks to steer his party back to relevance. He said he envisions a big tent party. In fact, it’s a necessity. “The Reagan rule is 80%. If someone agrees with you on 80% of the issues if a Republican, that means that that Republican is your ally, not your enemy,” Tracy said. “If we don’t unite the party, almost nothing else that we do next year will matter,” Tracy said. “We’re a minority party — a Republican Party in a deep blue state. And we have to have all Republicans working together, not always agreeing about everything, but working together to make this state into a two-party state again.” . . . Exacerbating the problem is a national party that is increasingly out of step with the diversifying, socially moderate Chicago suburbs, albeit increasingly reflective of conservative bastions downstate.)

STATELINE
— New challenger for Adam Kinzinger is US Navy veteran
https://www.mystateline.com/news/new-challenger-for-adam-kinzinger/

WGLT
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Mandatory Sex Education Bill Advances In Illinois House – CHRISTINE HATFIELD
https://www.wglt.org/post/mandatory-sex-education-bill-advances-illinois-house

CHICAGO READER
— Tough times for the machine. The old Democratic bosses have been taking a beating. – Ben Joravsky
https://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/madigan-garcia-burke/Content?oid=87207172

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois redistricting hearings begin with questions about what data will be used – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-redistricting-hearings-begin-with-questions-about-what-data-will-be-used/article_f35d7ede-8764-11eb-bf92-f77f158ccf7a.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Despite what you may have seen in recent Chicago media reports, African-Americans are actually becoming much less hesitant about vaccinations
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/17/despite-what-you-may-have-seen-in-recent-chicago-media-reports-african-americans-are-actually-becoming-much-less-hesitant-about-vaccinations/
— 1,655 new confirmed and probable cases; 17 additional deaths; 1,143 hospitalized; 259 in ICU; 2.2 percent average case positivity rate; 2.6 percent average test positivity rate; 102,223 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/03/17/1655-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-17-additional-deaths-1143-hospitalized-259-in-icu-22-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-26-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-102223-average-daily-doses/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— White House says Trump’s COVID language elevated threat to Asian Americans – Rob Crilly
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will blame Trump and blame those who voted for Trump for everything that is bad. Of course, they stress that he was a United States President for 4 years. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame me for all the defeats that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered since 2000. They stress that I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000 and a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999. They stress that I was a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/atlanta-shooting-joe-biden-asian-american-massage

BRIETBART
— Poll: 47% Say ‘Others Making Decisions’ for Joe Biden at White House – KYLE OLSON
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/03/17/poll-47-say-others-making-decisions-joe-biden-white-house/
— Democrat Tammy Duckworth Promotes ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban: I Want My Daughters to Grow Up in a Country that Will ‘Protect Them’ – AWR HAWKINS
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/03/17/democrat-tammy-duckworth-promotes-assault-weapons-ban-i-want-daughters-grow-country-protect-them/
— Large Migrant Groups Continue Crossing Border into Texas — 24K in Two Weeks – BOB PRICE
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2021/03/17/large-migrant-groups-continue-crossing-border-into-texas-24k-in-two-weeks/
— Poll: Working Class, Swing Voters Most Opposed to Amnesty for Illegal Aliens – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/03/16/poll-working-class-swing-voters-most-opposed-to-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens/

CHRISTIAN POST
— Biden slammed for firing EEOC lawyer who worked to combat religious discrimination in workplace – Ryan Foley
(DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout a) that if my U.S. Senators and my U.S. Congressmen had sided with me, they would have gotten GAO to offer to settle Diersen v. GAO and/or b) that they rejected the equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) plank in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.christianpost.com/politics/biden-slammed-for-firing-trump-nominated-eeoc-lawyer.html

DAILY WIRE
— Wheaton College Removes Plaque Honoring Martyred Missionaries Because It Used Word ‘Savage’ – Jon Brown
https://www.dailywire.com/news/wheaton-college-removes-plaque-honoring-martyred-missionaries-because-it-used-word-savage
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The class of 1949 gifted the plaque to the school in 1957 to commemorate their slain classmates, who were killed in 1956 during their attempt to bring the gospel to the violent Huaorani, or Auca Indians, in the rainforest of Ecuador. Elliot and McCully, along with fellow missionaries Nate Saint, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian, initially made friendly contact with the tribe and exchanged gifts for several months. On Jan. 8, 1956, however, a group of Huaorani warriors fell upon them, spearing them to death and throwing their bodies in the river.)

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Gave Republicans The Playbook For 2022 And 2024
https://dailycaller.com/2021/03/17/donald-trump-ronald-reagan-trumpism-2022-election/

ROLL CALL
— Senate hearing showcases deep partisan divide over LGBTQ legislation. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle shared personal stories to explain their stances. – Todd Ruger
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about the many adverse actions that LGBTQ-promoters, their operatives, and their dupes have taken against me because I have always promoted the traditional marriage/family plank in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/03/17/equality-act-2021-hearing-senate-judiciary-committee/

THE HILL
— Democrats bet on stimulus bill to boost them in 2022 – MAX GREENWOOD
(DIERSEN: What do you say to those who vote for those candidates who promise to use government a) to take money away from others and b) to give that money to them?)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/543534-democrats-bet-on-stimulus-bill-to-boost-them-in-2022
— House Republicans vote to support earmarks – JULIEGRACE BRUFKE
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/543618-house-republicans-vote-to-support-earmarks

NEW YORK POST
— Rep. Steve Scalise urging Republicans to vote against Dream Act – Mark Moore
https://nypost.com/2021/03/17/steve-scalise-urging-republicans-to-vote-against-dream-act/

ARKON NEWS REPORTER
— OUTSTANDING: Lincoln Day Dinner returns with enthusiasm – JO ANNE BUSING
https://www.akronnewsreporter.com/2021/03/16/lincoln-day-dinner-returns-with-enthusiasm/

DAILY FREE PRESS
— Paywalls act as deterrents to the public, but are necessary for financial prosperity in the journalism industry – Editorial
(DIERSEN: My www.gopillinois.com website has never had a paywall, and it never will. GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter subscriptions have always been free and advertising free, and they always will be. All the time, money, experience, and ability necessary to put together and send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and to post copies of those newsletters on www.gopillinois.com com each and every morning and each and every evening comes from me and from me alone.)
https://dailyfreepress.com/2021/03/17/editorial-paywalls-act-as-deterrents-to-the-public-but-are-necessary-for-financial-prosperity-in-the-journalism-industry/

PHYS
— Democrats and Republicans live in partisan bubbles, study finds – Christina Pazzanese
(DIERSEN: What kind of bubble do you live in? 269 in my precinct voted for Biden, but only 157 voted for Trump. 39,530 voted for Biden in Milton Township, but only 26,080 voted for Trump. 281,222 voted for Biden in DuPage County, but only 193,611 voted for Trump. Ever-increasingly, I am a Republican who lives in a Democrat bubble. I should write a book about that.)
https://phys.org/news/2021-03-democrats-republicans-partisan.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: New research on political behavior finds that most Democratic and Republican voters live in partisan bubbles, with little daily exposure to those who belong to the other party. For instance the typical Democrat has “almost zero interactions” with Republicans in their neighborhood, according to an article by Harvard doctoral student Jacob R. Brown and government Professor Ryan D. Enos published March 8 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. “There’s a lot of evidence that any separation between groups has a lot of negative consequences. We see this in race; we see this in religion; we see this in all kinds of things,” said Enos. “And increasingly, we see this in partisanship in the United States.” . . . No area of the country is immune to the segregation, but its intensity varies. Democrats in large, densely populated cities like New York are the most politically isolated, with 10 percent of them encountering a Republican only one out of 10 times in their neighborhood. Republicans in rural areas are similarly segregated. Overall, most Democrats and Republicans live in levels of partisan segregation that exceed what scholars of racial segregation consider highly segregated, the study found. . .”Even within a neighborhood, Democrats and Republicans are separating from each other a little bit,” said Enos. That seems like “an almost unnatural level of segregation” given the similarities people from the same neighborhood usually share and “might indicate there’s something pretty pernicious going on,” he added.)

FIVE THIRTY EIGHT
— 9 Of The 10 House Republicans Who Voted For Impeachment Already Have Primary Challengers – Geoffrey Skelle
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/9-of-the-10-house-republicans-who-voted-for-impeachment-already-have-primary-challengers/

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— 75% Support Voter ID Laws
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/march_2021/75_support_voter_id_laws

LGBTQ NATION
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, LGBTQ-promoting individuals, organizations, companies, municipalities, townships, counties, states, and countries destroy individuals, organizations, companies, municipalities, townships, counties, states, and countries that do not promote LGBTQ.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/03/christian-conservatives-use-facebook-ads-spread-misinformation-equality-act/

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.