Author: David Diersen

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner, Madigan start annual push to avoid blame for lack of budget – Monique Garcia and Haley BeMiller  (DIERSEN: Will they blame Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?  Just kidding, but not completely. Today, a Trump supporter blamed me for Rauner being elected and for Pat Brady being the face of the Illinois Republican Party.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-madigan-state-budget-met-0517-20170516-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Rauner Chicago Alderman Carrie Austin on Chicago Public Schools: “Take Rauner by his neck and wring it.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-austin-cps-comments-met-0517-20170516-story.html
— Crippling overdue penalties — another reason to fix the state budget now – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-illinois-overdue-bills-zorn-perspec-0517-md-20170516-column.html
— Is Putin the alt-right’s BFF? – Clarence Page  (DIERSEN: Russians have a much higher opinion of members of the following groups than anti-Trumps do: Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.  Actually, anti-Trumps despise if not hate members of the aforesaid groups.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-trump-putin-russia-perspec-0517-20170516-story.html
— Southland residents urge budget passage in march to Springfield – Ted Slowik  (DIERSEN: According to the Democrats, you are rich if you are not on welfare.  Democrats always want Republicans to pay more taxes.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-budget-march-st-0517-20170516-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I admire the people walking 200 miles from Chicago to Springfield to urge lawmakers and the governor to pass a fair state budget. They’re expending a tremendous amount of energy for their personal convictions. They’re raising awareness about their desire for Illinois to tax the rich more to fund state services.)
— BEYOND TRAGIC: Workplace drug testing finds cocaine, marijuana use at 12-year high – Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-drug-testing-workplace-0517-biz-20170516-story.html
— Why you can’t afford a house (Hint: It’s not the avocado toast) – Jessica Roy  (DIERSEN: When did you buy your first home, where, and how old were you?  I bought a new town home in University Park in 1972 when I was 24 years old.  What helped you buy your first home? I had no debts, I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, I was taking graduate business courses at Loyola, IRS was paying me $54,864/year in today’s dollars, I worked part-time pumping gasoline, I owned a 1972 Corvette and a 1962 Chevy BelAir, and I was no longer subject to the draft.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/national/ct-avocado-toast-housing-20170516-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-credibility-crisis-20170516-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner accuses Madigan, House Dems of trying to ‘derail’ Senate talks – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-accuses-madigan-house-dems-of-trying-to-derail-senate-talks/
— Emanuel’s CPS rescue plan gets cool reception from aldermen – Fran Spielman
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/emanuels-cps-rescue-plan-gets-cool-reception-from-aldermen/
— Callista Gingrich gets nod to be ambassador to the Vatican – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/callista-gingrich-gets-nod-to-be-ambassador-to-the-vatican/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you promote illegal drugs in America, you promote the destruction of America.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/is-the-war-on-drugs-a-bigger-threat-than-illegal-drugs/
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/jeff-sessions-cruel-and-stupid-ramping-up-of-drug-punishments/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/a-president-who-throws-away-his-credibility-cannot-lead/

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps “slam Trump over sharing information with Russians.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170516/suburban-democratic-lawmakers-slam-trump-over-sharing-information-with-russians
— Democrat takes Maine Township office after recount – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170516/democrat-takes-maine-township-office-after-recount
— Congressman Roskam congratulates Palatine for making safe cities list – Bob Susnjara
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170516/congressman-roskam-congratulates-palatine-for-making-safe-cities-list

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: A decade later and still down. Homeowners in many Chicago-area ZIP codes have yet to share in the recovery that is boosting values in hot city neighborhoods and a handful of suburbs. – DENNIS RODKIN
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170516/CRED0701/170519900/a-decade-later-and-still-playing-catch-up
— Look who turned down the Sun-Times –
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170516/NEWS06/170519884/look-who-turned-down-the-sun-times
— Here’s how much new college grads can expect to make – JUDITH RUIZ-BRANCH (DIERSEN: In 1971, in today’s GS-7 dollars, IRS hired me at $44,853. I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.  My critics/opponents have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 33.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170516/NEWS13/170519886/heres-how-much-new-college-grads-can-expect-to-make
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Based on those 25 positions, 2017 college grads nationwide can expect an average salary of $49,785, compared to $48, 270 last year. In Chicago, the average is $54,515, up from $51,649 last year.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump “Quigley calls Trump’s Russia disclosure a horrible mistake.”  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have called just about everything that I have done since 1948 as being a “horrible mistake.”  They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170516/BLOGS02/170519891/quigley-calls-trumps-russia-disclosure-a-horrible-mistake

NBC5
— Pritzker Defends Property Tax Reduction Application – Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Pritzker-Defends-Property-Tax-Reduction-Application-422628984.html

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Rauner calls Dems offer to discuss budget terms ‘distraction’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/254960397-story

WLS AM
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Kinzinger says “If true, Trump leaking is highly irregular and highly problematic.”
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/05/16/kinzinger-if-true-trump-leaking-is-highly-irregular-and-highly-problematic/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Lawmakers want investigation into Springfield warehouse lease – Brian Robbins
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170516/lawmakers-want-investigation-into-springfield-warehouse-lease
— House Democrats, Republicans say they’ll talk, then point fingers – Doug Finke  (DIERSEN: Who points their fingers at you and what do they blame you for?  I should write a book about a) those who point their fingers at me and b) what they blame me for.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170516/house-democrats-republicans-say-theyll-talk-then-point-fingers

NORTHWEST HERALD
— New Algonquin Township highway commissioner fires predecessor’s sons-in-law in first minutes on the job  Local 150 files grievance over “outrageous” action – KEVIN P. CRAVER  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/05/15/new-algonquin-township-highway-commissioner-fires-predecessors-sons-in-law-in-first-minutes-on-the-job/axxh4bp/

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— American Health Care Act making the rich even richer – John J. Dunphy
http://thetelegraph.com/opinion/102086/dunphy-american-health-care-act-making-the-rich-even-richer

4. LOUIS TODAY
   — Latest bipartisanship ranking of Congress may surprise you – Chuck Raasch  (DIERSEN: To be bipartisan is to reject planks in your political party’s platform.  Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform.  The more bipartisan that you are, the sooner that you should leave your political party and run as an Independent.)
   http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/latest-bipartisanship-ranking-of-congress-may-surprise-you/article_5968e035-6b31-5ee7-881d-1873cdd6c2c4.html

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— ‘Pay Trump bribes here’ sign projected onto Trump’s DC hotel – NICOLE CHAVEZ AND EMILY SMITH
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/pay-trump-bribes-here-sign-projected-onto-trumps-dc-hotel/714714702

FOX NEWS ILLINOIS
— Dueling Press Conferences held by House Democrats and Republicans – Rachel Droze
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/dueling-press-conferences-held-by-house-democrats-and-republicans

WYMG
— Rauner’s response: House Dems want “distraction”
http://wymg.com/news/101101-rauners-response-house-dems-want-distraction/

HARDWARE RETAILING
— 2017 Young Retailer of the Year: Jason Plummer – Hilary Welter (DIERSEN: My grandfather on my father’s side and his father before him ran Crete’s only hardware store for 100 years. I lived with my parents in an apartment above that hardware store 1948-1954.)
http://www.hardwareretailing.com/2017-young-retailer-year-jason-plummer/

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives rejects allowing undocumented students to be university trustees – Hoang Tran  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they want to replace citizens of America with citizens of foreign countries.)
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511116628-ives-rejects-allowing-undocumented-students-to-be-university-trustees

WIRE POINTS
— New Stanford Study Exposes Illinois Pensions as the Farce They Are – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/new-stanford-study-exposes-illinois-pensions-for-the-farce-they-are-wirepoints-original/

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Trump to end Rauner’s $32 million dollar tax dodge  (DIERSEN: What tax dodges have your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes charged you with taking advantage of unfairly, unethically, and/or immorally?  Since 1972, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have charged me with unfairly, unethically, and immorally taking advantage of the education tax dodge. I deducted job-related graduate business, accounting, and finance courses 1972-1980 and 1992-1997 while I worked for IRS and then for GAO.  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout that those courses were not job-related, did not help me carry out my job duties, were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and were a distraction.)
https://realgopillinois.com/2017/05/16/trump-promises-end-rauners-32-million-dollar-tax-dodge/

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Realtors: Most Illinois homes worth less than their value 10 years ago – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: What was your home worth in 2007 and what is it worth today?)
https://ilnews.org/news/economy/realtors-most-illinois-homes-worth-less-than-their-value-years/article_576b0a60-38e8-11e7-bd45-5b6607fa2847.html
— Illinois a good state to be a cop – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who demonizes, denigrates, and condemns law enforcement? ANSWER: Those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://ilnews.org/news/justice/illinois-a-good-state-to-be-a-cop/article_e82dbac2-39a4-11e7-b855-2bef9225b307.html#new_tab

CAPITOL FAX
— ILGOP accuses Pritzker of lying
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/16/ilgop-accuses-pritzker-of-lying/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rich Miller sides with Madigan and Cullerton against Rauner.
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/16/because-madigan-37/
— GOP Rep. Dave Severin takes sick day after pressure from above  (DIERSEN: To what extent can/do those “above” you pressure you to do things? Those who are “above” me are furious that they cannot take away from me my Civil Service Retirement System pension ($50,856/year), my federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy ($17,288/year), or my Social Security ($2,028/year).  However, they have succeeded in taking the following away from me: my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship, my Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership, my service as the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, my Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership, my American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership, my GAO employment, etc.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/16/gop-rep-takes-sick-day-after-pressure-from-above/
— Pritzker addresses racism in unions that endorsed him
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/16/pritzker-addresses-racism-in-unions-that-endorsed-him/
— Pritzker makes eerily familiar pledge to black banks
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/16/pritzker-makes-eerily-familiar-pledge-to-black-banks/

CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— IS ANN COULTER OFF THE TRUMP TRAIN?  (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want everyone to be “off the Trump train.”)
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2017/05/15/is-ann-coulter-off-the-trump-train/

BREITBART
— Student Journalist Fired for Tweeting Video of Muslim Panelist’s Comments on Non-Believers Under Koranic Law – TOM CICCOTTA  (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents in the media can be fired by their bosses and/or by those who they depend on for money.  If their bosses or those who they depend on for money tell them to harm me, of course, they harm me.  He who pays the piper calls the tunes.)
http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2017/05/16/student-journalist-fired-for-tweeting-video-of-muslim-panelists-comments-on-non-believers-under-koranic-law/

THE BLAZE
— Ben Sasse: Our country has created perpetual adolescence like ‘Peter Pan’ – Brandon Morse  (DIERSEN: Dr. Dan Kiley had 910 Cove Court built in my cul-de-sac with profits from his book titled “The Peter Pan Syndrome.”  SEE: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/27/us/dan-kiley-54-dies-wrote-peter-pan-syndrome.html  FROM THE ARTICLE: After the book was published by Dodd, Mead, it became an immediate sensation, staying on The New York Times best-seller list for months and selling more than 200,000 copies in hardcover. Millions of copies of the book have been sold in the Avon paperback and international editions; it has been translated into 22 languages and was a best seller in both Brazil and Japan. The success of the book made Dr. Kiley, a big, bearded, silver-haired man, a fixture on the television talk-show circuit and led him to write a 1984 spinoff, “The Wendy Dilemma,” about women who inappropriately mother the men in their lives.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/05/16/ben-sasse-our-country-has-created-perpetual-adolescence-like-peter-pan/

GOPUSA
— Illegal alien teens arrested for kidnapping of county attorney from his home
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=24470

NEWSMAX
— Trump’s Not Draining the Swamp, He’s Only Restocking It – Michael Shannon
http://www.newsmax.com/MichaelShannon/fbi-leakers-republican-yates/2017/05/16/id/790518/

DAILY CALLER
— Immigration Opponents Trash GOP Border Security Bill – WILL RACKE
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/16/immigration-opponents-trash-gop-border-security-bill/
— Only Named Source In WaPo Report On Trump’s Leaking Of Classified Information Denies It – RYAN PICKRELL
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/15/only-named-source-in-wapo-report-on-trumps-leaking-of-classified-information-denies-it/
— Before Lois Lerner Targeted The Tea Party, She Helped The Clinton Foundation – Mark Tapscott
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/15/before-lois-lerner-targeted-the-tea-party-she-helped-the-clinton-foundation/
— Mizzou Hemorrhages More Students And Cuts Jobs Because Of Black Lives Matter Protests – Eric Owens
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/16/mizzou-hemorrhages-more-students-and-cuts-jobs-because-of-black-lives-matter-protests/
— Washington Post Writer Sneers At Rubio For Posting Bible Verses On Twitter – Peter Hasson  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes always sneer at everything in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/16/washington-post-writer-sneers-at-rubio-for-posting-bible-verses-on-twitter/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— GAO: Veterans discharged for misconduct need better mental health evaluations – Todd Shepherd  (DIERSEN: Since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had not avoided the draft, I would have been severely injured physically and/or mentally in Vietnam if not killed because I am stupid and lazy and because my judgment and motives are terrible.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/gao-veterans-discharged-for-misconduct-need-better-mental-health-evaluations/article/2623269

HUFFINGTON POST
— Mitch McConnell Shrugs Off Trump’s Leak To Russia As ‘Drama’ And Distraction  Even Republicans who cried foul offered zero suggestions to hold the president accountable. – Michael McAuliff
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mcconnell-shrugs-off-trump-russian-leak-as-drama-and-distraction_us_591b12d4e4b0809be1585269
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Whites say “Lawmaker Running For Jeff Sessions’ Old Seat Is Obsessed With ‘War On Whites’  Rep. Mo Brooks is cut from the same anti-immigrant cloth.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mo-brooks-alabama-senate-jeff-sessions_us_591a093de4b0809be1574519

ABC NEWS
— New Miss USA responds to health care backlash  (DIERSEN: While I was a federal employee for almost 30 years, being a member of the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan (SEE: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/plans/2017/state/il) and knowing that my wife and I could continue as members after I retired, helped me overcome tremendous pressure from my Democrat superiors to get rid of me and to replace me with a young Democrat minority or a young Democrat female.)
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/miss-usa-responds-health-care-backlash-47434180

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Free Advice to Trump Aides: Quit While You Can.”  (DIERSEN: With only rare exceptions, the longer that you work for the federal government, the more impossible it is to get a job outside of the federal government. By the time I was 21, I had worked for the federal government for almost 3 years. By the time I was 49, I had worked for the federal government for almost 30 years.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/opinion/free-advice-to-trump-aides-quit-while-you-can.html

WASHINGTON POST
— I was arrested for asking Tom Price a question. I was just doing my job.  I wasn’t trying to make news. I was trying to report it. – Dan Heyman  (DIERSEN: Since I became the GOPUSA Illinois Editor in 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I disrupt press conferences.  Needless-to-say, that is slander, and I should sue those who slander me. The aforesaid slanderers did not notify me of the Illinois Republican Party’s May 9, 2017 press conference and they almost succeeded in keeping me out of Roskam’s press conference Thursday evening, May 4, 2017, at Sanguinetti’s fundraiser at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/05/16/i-was-arrested-for-asking-tom-price-a-question-i-was-just-doing-my-job/

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— GAO: Majority of troops booted from military for misconduct suffered from PTSD, brain injury and other mental issues – Megan Cerullo  (DIERSEN: Since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, their dupes a) have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me for avoiding the draft and b) have hinted/implied/argued/shouted at veterans that I am a patriotic hypocrite, a coward, and even worse things.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/troops-booted-military-misconduct-sufferd-ptsd-article-1.3170594

USA TODAY
— Most troops booted from the military for misconduct had mental issues – Tom Vanden Brook  (DIERSEN: Democrats make it clear that they believe that if you do not promote the Democrat Party platform, you have “mental issues.”)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/16/most-troops-booted-military-misconduct-had-mental-issues/101611276/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS AND ON AMERICA TIGHTENS: Big Developers Roll Out Co-Living Units to Woo Millennials  One real-estate firm offers apartment-sharing option in Chicago; ‘All you want is a room’ – Peter Grant
https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-developers-roll-out-co-living-units-to-woo-millennials-1494956907
— McMaster Says Information Trump Shared With Russians Was ‘Wholly Appropriate’  National security adviser says Trump didn’t discuss Islamic State-controlled territories that weren’t already publicly known – Louise Radnofsky and Rebecca Ballhaus
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcmaster-says-information-trump-shared-with-russians-was-wholly-appropriate-1494954616

FORBES
— Sean Spicer: What Happens When Credibility Goes Up In Smoke – John Baldoni  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always done everything that they could to destroy my credibility.  They crow that I am no longer the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, that I am no longer a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, that I am no longer the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, that I am no longer an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, that I am no longer an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, that I am no longer a GAO employee, that I am no longer etc.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2017/05/16/sean-spicer-what-happens-when-credibility-goes-up-in-smoke/#66320a5f3e52

MONEY MAGAZINE
— Millionaire to Millennials: Stop Buying Avocado Toast If You Want to Buy a Home – Jennifer Calfas  (DIERSEN: When did you buy your first home, where, and how old were you?  I bought a new town home in University Park in 1972 when I was 24 years old.  What helped you buy your first home? I had no debts, I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, I was taking graduate business courses at Loyola, IRS was paying me $54,864/year in today’s dollars, I worked part-time pumping gasoline, I owned a 1972 Corvette and a 1962 Chevy BelAir, and I was no longer subject to the draft.)
http://time.com/money/4778942/avocados-millennials-home-buying/

FED SMITH
— Smart and Pretty: Federal Employee Crowned Miss USA – Ralph R. Smith
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/05/16/federal-employee-crowned-miss-usa/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For the second year in a row, the winner of the Miss USA pageant is from Washington, D.C.  Miss District of Columbia, Kara McCullough, was crowned as the new Miss USA last Sunday at the Las Vegas pageant. McCullough is a 25-year-old scientist who works for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, Maryland. She was born in Naples, Italy and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is the daughter of a now retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer. As a result, she has traveled and lived in numerous locations around the world including Sicily, Japan, South Korea and Hawaii. Her salary at the agency is $77,490.00 according to data from FedsDataCenter.com. McCullough earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Radiochemistry from South Carolina State University. Her major provided her the opportunity to intern at several universities. This paved the way to her current career at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The newly crowned Miss USA said she wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA. Perhaps one of the hardest parts of becoming a celebrity overnight is learning how to deal with the media. The new Miss USA quickly found herself embroiled in the health care controversy. When asked during Sunday night’s pageant whether she thinks that affordable health care for all U.S. citizens is a right or a privilege, she said it is a privilege. As a government employee, I’m granted health care and I see firsthand that for one to have health care, you need to have job. That, predictably, was not what some people wanted to hear as they believe health care is a guaranteed right. Twitter, of course, lit up with various views reflecting some of the issues in political divide in America that now infects most of our lives. Here is a brief sample of the variety of comments.)
— Is Social Security a Safety-Net or a Stipend For Wealthy Seniors? – Brenton Smith  (DIERSEN: According to Democrats, anyone who is not on welfare is wealthy, if not undeservedly filthy rich.  My Social Security ($2,028/year) is dramatically reduced because I get a $50,856 Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension.  My CSRS pension is dramatically reduced because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 yeas old.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/05/16/social-security-safety-net-stipend-wealthy-seniors/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— A Chemist at a Federal Agency Wins Miss USA – Eric Katz
http://www.govexec.com/federal-news/fedblog/2017/05/chemist-federal-agency-wins-miss-usa/137853/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A federal employee working at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was named Miss USA on Sunday evening, and pledged to spend her year with the crown encouraging more women to join government and eventually, agency leadership ranks. Kara McCullough, a 25-year-old chemist in NRC’s Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, represented Washington, D.C., in the annual competition. McCullough grew up in the federal ranks as a military brat, with her father serving as a Navy chief petty officer. In addition to her NRC employment, McCullough volunteers annually at a science fair hosted by the Food and Drug Administration as a judge. McCullough said she would be an ambassador to bring more women into government science, technology, engineering and mathematics positions. She noted that in her experience in federal service, women are often underrepresented. “Personally, I want to see more women possessing leadership positions in private and government energy and health sciences agencies; not just conducting laboratory research,” McCullough said after her victory. “As a woman scientist in the government, I have witnessed and been in many meetings where the ratio of men to women is 10:2. I believe more women should be given the opportunity to be representatives in the energy and medical fields.” On stage, McCullough even made a passing reference to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Asked whether she believed affordable health care for all Americans is a privilege or a right, she said in a response that made waves that it was a privilege, explaining: “As a government employee, I am granted health care and I see first-hand that for one to have health care, you have to have jobs.” NRC tweeted out a congratulatory message to McCullough on Monday.)

ATLANTIC
— Did the Russians Dupe Trump?  Putin has long used the pretext of counterterrorism cooperation to get what he wants from the West. It just paid off again. – JULIA IOFFE  (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who have had the greatest success in duping individuals, duping organizations, duping companies, and duping governments against me.  They have had great success in getting individuals, organizations, companies, and governments to blame me for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/05/trump-disclosure-russia-intelligence/526845/

CATO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, CATO acts like it is a paid agent for individuals, for organizations, for companies, for governments, and for countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.cato.org/blog/e-verify-has-held-or-cost-jobs-half-million-legal-workers