Author: David Diersen

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— In defense of the presumption of innocence – Brendan O’Neill (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be guilty: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-innocense-presumption-guilty-metoo-sexual-misconduct-1128-20171127-story.html
— Outrage further divides us — and doesn’t drive positive change – Leonid Bershidsky (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of Group A promote outrage against members of Group B. Members of Group A are 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 longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-outrage-racist-campaigns-media-coverage-nazi-tony-hovater-swastika-1128-story.html
— From prison, white supremacist Matthew Hale endorses Roy Moore – Mohammed Kloub (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois a) who state that they are conservative and/or Republican and b) who hint/imply/argue/shout at candidates that they should not seek my endorsement, not that my endorsement means anything anyway. They stress my demographics (Trump supporter, baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, old (69), non-poor, gun owner, 100% German American, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, federal retiree, childless, pet-less, etc. and that I am not a member of any church, that I do not attend church services, that I do not give money to a church, and that Crete is my hometown) and hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. They stress that I support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform and in the Illinois Republican Party platform. They stress that I oppose promoting dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-matthew-hale-roy-moore-chicago-inc-20171127-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: TV travel guide Rick Steves to speak out today for legalizing marijuana in Illinois – Robert McCoppin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-rick-steves-illinois-marijuana-legalize-20171127-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois Supreme Court’s health care ruling will cost city retirees – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: Who wants your retirement benefits to be cut, if not eliminated? Of course, my critics/opponents want the federal government to cut, if not eliminate its 75% health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy. Currently, for my wife and I, that subsidy is $17,288/year. We pay only $5,763/year for $23,051/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance. Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois despise, if not hate federal employees and federal retirees. Overwhelmingly, they despise, if not hate wage earners like I was 1964-1997 and other “little people.”)

https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/illinois-supreme-courts-health-care-ruling-will-cost-city-retirees/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: More than 20,000 city employees and retirees have been dealt a crushing blow that could cost them dearly, but end up saving Chicago taxpayers $130 million a year. In a six-word ruling on Thanksgiving eve, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear the retirees’ appeal of a state Appellate Court ruling that essentially upheld Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s now-completed, three-year phase-out of retiree health care coverage and a 55 percent city subsidy for anyone who did not retire by Aug. 23, 1989. Clint Krislov, an attorney representing the retirees, said the decision means those retirees are entitled only to bare-bones protections outlined by lower courts. “For the city, this is a huge benefit. The amount they’re paying is dropped from $137 million a year to between $7 million and $8 million,” Krislov said Monday. “What the [lower courts] have said is that all you get is what’s in the statute. You cannot rely on anything the city tells you unless you can prove that person had authority to bind the city.” Law Department spokesman Bill McCaffrey refused to comment on the ruling while there is “still litigation pending.”)

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTOS OF BIBBIANO AND MENDRICK: Two cops seeking DuPage sheriff’s seat in GOP primary – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171127/two-cops-seeking-dupage-sheriffs-seat-in-gop-primary–
— Contested races expected in Kane, McHenry counties after first day of filing – James Fuller and Lauren Rohr
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171127/contested-races-expected-in-kane-mchenry-counties-after-first-day-of-filing
— Real ID: Why you might soon need a passport even for domestic flights – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171127/real-id-why-you-might-soon-need-a-passport-even-for-domestic-flights

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Wealthy candidates for Illinois governor release tax returns – AP (DIERSEN: Are/were you wealthy? I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who since 1966 have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being wealthy. They stress the new cars that I bought and especially the 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint that I bought in 1966 when I was 17 years old, the 1968 Oldsmobile 442 that I bought in 1967, the 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I bought in 1968, and the 1972 Chevy Corvette that I bought in 1971. They stress the new town home that I bought in 1972, the studio condo that I bought in 1974, and the one bedroom condo that I bought in 1976. They stress 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton that my wife and I bought in 1978 and 915 Cove Court in Wheaton that we had built in 1984. They stress the collector cars that I bought in 1989 and 1994. They stress the money that I paid for tuition and books to earn a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997. They stress the money that I paid for review courses to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and the Certified Internal Auditor examination in 1981. They stress the money that my wife and I have saved for our retirement.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171127/wealthy-candidates-for-illinois-governor-release-tax-returns

SAUK VALLEY
— Petition mission accomplished for Illinois candidates Monday marked the first day established party candidates could file for office, and there were plenty in line, jockeying for top spots on the ballot – Monique Garcia and Rick Pearson
http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/11/28/petition-mission-accomplished-for-illinois-candidates/atslsaw/

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Gubernatorial Candidates Graded by Tax Watchdog Group – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=255909#.Wh0_QMvR-M8

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump: NFL ‘weak’ for allowing kneeling
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/nfl/trump-nfl-weak-for-allowing-kneeling/866427226

NPR ILLINOIS
— Filing For Election, Finding Lines And Friendship – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/filing-election-finding-lines-and-friendship#stream/0

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Darin LaHood: Roy Moore’s Behavior ‘Disqualifies’ Him From Senate – RYAN DENHAM (DIERSEN: If you sought a government office or a political office, what allegations would your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes make against you? Would LaHood believe them?)
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/lahood-roy-moores-behavior-disqualifies-him-senate#stream/0

WILLIAM J. KELLY
— Kelly launches new ad, “Thanks, Bruce Rauner!
http://www.williamjkelly.org/news/kelly-launches-new-ad-thanks-bruce-rauner

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Gubernatorial candidates received wide range of grades for taxpayer friendliness in survey – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: What percent of Illinois voters a) pay little or no taxes and want everyone else to pay more taxes, b) are Democrats who want Republicans to pay more taxes, and/or c) have less money than others and want those who have more money to pay more taxes?)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/gubernatorial-candidates-received-wide-range-of-grades-for-taxpayer-friendliness/article_eb0c13cc-cfb5-11e7-9a2d-279bd512fa4e.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For the first time, group President James Tobin said a sitting Illinois governor received a score of more than 70 percent. “Gov. [Bruce] Rauner had a score of 92 percent,” Tobin said. “That is an incredibly high score.” Tobin said Rauner’s veto of the income tax hike this summer will help his score in the next survey, which will be out after next year. “But it’s been bad for taxpayers this year because with the income tax being raised by 32 percent, we still remain bankrupt,” Tobin said. Another first in the report for the 99th General Assembly were three state lawmakers getting a perfect score of 100 percent. Those were state Reps. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, Tom Morrison, R-Palatine, and Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton.)

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Rauner silent on tax bill that would net him millions more each year (DIERSEN: Diersen has not been silent on bills that would force him and his wife, his aunt, and all taxpayers who have large itemized deductions to pay significantly more federal income tax.)
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-rauner-silent-on-tax-bill-that-would-net-him-millions-more-each-year/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Three Convincing Reasons to Boycott Target this Christmas – Tim Wildmon (DIERSEN: So that I can publicly rebut them, it would be great if my leading critics/opponents would come out from behind their operatives and their dupes and publish their top three reasons why they want everyone to boycott GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/11/three-convincing-reasons-to-boycott-target-this-christmas/

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker campaign responds *** ILGOP claims Pritzker and Madigan “continue to push for higher taxes on Illinois families”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/11/27/ilgop-claims-pritzker-and-madigan-continue-to-push-for-higher-taxes-on-illinois-families/
— Rotheimer: “I understand now more clearly than before why I am the only one who named a name” (DIERSEN: Because they knew that proving that GAO was guilty of reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid was extremely difficult, virtually all of my GAO coworkers who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran “cut deals” with GAO to keep their jobs. Most commonly, they agreed to help GAO get rid of its employees who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/11/28/rotheimer-i-understand-now-more-clearly-than-before-why-i-am-the-only-one-who-named-a-name/
— Bost is fourth Republican congressman to pass on endorsing Rauner
https://capitolfax.com/2017/11/28/bost-is-fourth-republican-congressman-to-pass-on-endorsing-rauner/

BLAZE
— Undercover reporter reveals ‘brutal’ working conditions at Amazon – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11/27/undercover-reporter-reveals-brutal-working-conditions-at-amazon

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— Feds Going After Fast-Food Chain Employing Illegal Immigrants ICE is investigating allegations that the company paid the workers less than the minimum wage, says report – Brendan Kirby (DIERSEN: RINOs want cheap labor.)
http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/report-feds-going-after-fast-food-chain-employing-illegal-immigrants/

GOPUSA
— Official language could save big bucks (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries discourage people from speaking English? ANSWER: Those that are 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 longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.gopusa.com/official-language-could-save-big-bucks/
— Floods are inevitable. Soaking taxpayers isn’t.
http://www.gopusa.com/floods-are-inevitable-soaking-taxpayers-isnt/

POLITICO
— APRIL 25, 2017 FLASHBACK: Capitol Hill correspondents committee declines to credential Breitbart – HADAS GOLD (DIERSEN: All news organizations engage in political advocacy. Illegitimate news organizations deny that they engage in political advocacy. GOPUSA ILLINOIS is a legitimate news organization because it proudly states that advocates for the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/04/25/capitol-hill-correspondents-committee-breitbart-237577
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Capitol Hill Standing Committee of Correspondents has voted to table Breitbart News’ credential process and declined to extend the organization’s temporary credentials to cover Congress, which expire at the end of May. The committee, which permits media access to the U.S. Capitol only to outlets it considers legitimate news organizations, not political advocacy or other groups, expressed frustration over Breitbart’s inconsistent answers to questions about its masthead and office space, among other problems. Breitbart CEO Larry Solov, in correspondence with the committee since its most recent meeting, asserted that Republican megadonor Rebekah Mercer had no editorial input, that a managing editor who also had a role in an advocacy group was no longer on the masthead, and that the site was having trouble finding office space in part because of security issues. The committee said Breitbart could reapply for credentials if it addresses the concerns. Otherwise, three staff members who currently have temporary credentials (which the site has had for more than two years) will no longer have access after May 31. Breitbart reporters could still attend events on Capitol Hill that are open to the public without the credentials, but the lack of credentials would limit their access in the complex and hamper their ability to get other credentials, such as permanent White House passes. “Breitbart News is unequivocally entitled to permanent Senate Press Gallery credentials and is determined to secure them,” Chad Wilkinson, a Breitbart spokesperson, said in a statement Tuesday. Among the issues raised by the Capitol Hill committee were concerns that members of Breitbart’s masthead, provided last month by Solov, were also employed by the Mercer-funded Government Accountability Institute, which was co-founded by now-White House chief strategist (and former Breitbart chairman) Steve Bannon. The GAI and the work and advocacy it does would not be in line with the committee’s guidelines for credentialing. In a letter to the committee, Solov said that although Managing Editor Wynton Hall was listed on the masthead as of last month, he actually resigned in February and the position “has remained vacant since then.” “We have fully and fairly cooperated with your inquiries in good faith and believe that we have met and responded to the concerns you have raised,” Solov wrote. Breitbart “is an editorially independent news organization and is entitled to and deserves issuance of its permanent Senate Press Gallery credentials.” The committee also noted that Bannon’s Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure had a different date for his separation from Breitbart than what Solov had indicated in their last meeting. Solov has asserted that Breitbart is completely editorially independent, without influence from Bannon or Mercer. But the committee expressed some doubts. “I don’t know how we get Breitbart to prove that Bannon isn’t picking up the phone and talking to them,” said standing committee chairman Billy House, a reporter with Bloomberg News. Last month, the committee, composed of five journalists, also expressed frustration that Breitbart may have misled them on where the site’s offices are located. A Capitol Hill townhouse, known as the “Breitbart Embassy,” had been provided as the address of the company’s Washington office, and the committee was told that Breitbart was leasing the space as a “mixed use” place for both corporate housing (often where Bannon stayed), events and office space. But the committee last month noted that the townhouse is not technically zoned for commercial use and that the owner of the house filed taxes as the sole occupant, meaning that a commercial lease would not even be legally possible. (Most Breitbart writers work remotely.) Solov told the committee that Breitbart has yet to find a new office space and likely would not for some time, partly because of security issues. “I still want to give them the benefit of doubt on these things, that it’s misunderstandings or confusion [instead of] something more nefarious, but we still have these office space issues,” said committee secretary Joseph Morton, who works for the Omaha World-Herald. “The whole thing suggests to me that they’re just not ready for a credential.” In another letter to the committee, sent two days ago, Solov argued that individual members of Breitbart would and should qualify for credentials. But the committee said it doesn’t credential individuals but instead looks at the entire organization and leadership. Solov also insinuated in the letter that there are other organizations that deserve the same scrutiny Breitbart is getting. “Without limitation, is it the Standing Committee’s position that a news organization cannot be credentialed if it employs any editor and/or reporter who is also employed by or affiliated with any advocacy group or non-profit?” he asked. “Of course, we respectfully assert that any such rules, standards and/or criteria must be reasonable and realistic, and transparent — and applied equally and fairly to all news organizations.” During the meeting on Tuesday, the committee said it would happily look into any credentialed reporter and potentially revoke their access if they were found to also be employed or affiliated with an advocacy or nonprofit group. “This is not content driven, we aren’t singling out Breitbart either for extra scrutiny or special treatment,” House said. “This is our job as a board, and these rules have been in place long before any of us came to the board. Our job is to do the best we can and see whether the information they’ve provided meshes with the requirements.”)

WASHINGTON POST
— A woman approached The Post with dramatic — and false — tale about Roy Moore. She appears to be part of undercover sting operation. – Shawn Boburg, Aaron C. Davis and Alice Crites (DIERSEN: Does Darin LaHood believe this woman and her allegations?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/a-woman-approached-the-post-with-dramatic–and-false–tale-about-roy-moore-sje-appears-to-be-part-of-undercover-sting-operation/2017/11/27/0c2e335a-cfb6-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Wealthy candidates for Illinois governor release tax returns – AP
http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-il–illinois-governor-2018-20171127-story.html

USA TODAY
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: How Net-neutrality repeal affects you. New rules allow internet providers to block or slow any website, app – Rob Pegoraro (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents want internet providers to “block or slow” my www.gopillinois.com website and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. What will my critics/opponents do to get internet providers to “block or slow” my www.gopillinois.com website and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails? My critics/opponents are 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 longer than their ancestors. They 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://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/11/28/after-net-neutrality-how-tell-if-your-isp-slowing-your-internet/898098001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Can Anyone Save Neighborhood Journalism? Joe Ricketts spent millions trying, only to be smeared once he moved on. – Alfred Levitt
https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-anyone-save-neighborhood-journalism-1511825846