GOPUSA Illinois

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois companies pony up to sponsor state’s inaugural ball – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-trump-inaugural-ball-sponsors-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A slew of Illinois companies sponsored Thursday night’s Inaugural Heartland Ball, a gala put on by the D.C.-based state societies of Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Illinois State Society listed a series of sponsors: $25,000 from Abbott Labs and Motorola Solutions; $15,000 from ADM, Monsanto and CME Group; $10,000 from Constellation Brands and Molina Healthcare; and $5,000 from Abbvie and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. On Thursday morning, we noticed the sponsor list also included the Illinois Senate Democrats at the $5,000 level. The ball is a nonpartisan event, so that was a little odd. Senate Democrats said they would inquire. By the afternoon, the Senate Democrats had disappeared from the Illinois State Society website. Organizers expected as many as 1,5000 guests at the Marriott Marquis. Tickets were $500 for dinner and the ball and $300 for just the ball. You can read more about the event here. Among those Illinoisans in attendance who will have some clout with the new administration is Ron Gidwitz, a businessman who led Donald Trump’s Illinois campaign fundraising effort. Gidwitz has been in Washington for much of the week, attending major events featuring Trump, including a dinner with many of Washington’s foreign diplomatic corps in which he sat with Trump’s nominee for housing secretary, Dr. Ben Carson. Others scheduled to be part of the Illinois contingent include national and local conservative fundraiser Richard Uihlein; business consultant Robert Blackwell; state Republican chairman Tim Schneider, a Cook County commissioner; Richard Porter, Illinois’ Republican national committeeman; Trump assistant commerce secretary nominee Todd Ricketts of the Cubs-owning family; prominent Marion businessman Harry Crisp; and Jack Dorgan, a Rosemont trustee and member of the state GOP central committee. Also in town is Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, a member of the state GOP central committee, who hosted a Trump fundraiser; and David MacNeil, the CEO of Bolingbrook-based WeatherTech auto parts who backed Trump after initially supporting Jeb Bush.)
— Illinois prepares for diminished D.C. stature as Trump replaces Obama – Kim Geiger and Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-inaugaration-politics-met-0120-20170119-story.html
— Trump taps low-profile Illinois GOP’ers to serve in his administration – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-roskam-aide-hired-by-trump-0120-chicago-inc-20170119-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump women.
http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/redeye-womens-march-on-washington-20170118-story.html
— Illinois Senate leaders want to grab momentum for massive budget plan next week – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-cullerton-radogno-meeting-met-0120-20170119-story.html
— ‘This is the greatest guy’: Trump meets FedEx courier Shane Bouvet from Illinois, offers him $10K – Justin Jouvenal
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-inauguration-fans-20170119-story.html
— Trump boasts about his ‘big victory’: ‘I outworked anybody who ever ran for office’ – John Wagner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-boasts-about-win-20170119-story.html
— New Illinois laws loosen employment restrictions for ex-offenders – Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz  (DIERSEN: Virtually all of those who glorify and praise ex-offenders demonize, denigrate, and condemn me.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-illinois-laws-criminal-records-118-biz-20170117-story.html
— Local CEOs fight Trump’s immigration plan – Robert Reed  (DIERSEN: Democrats want mass/illegal immigration because immigrants vote for Democrats.  RINOs want mass/illegal immigration because they want cheap labor.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-trump-ceo-immigration-letter-robert-reed-0122-biz-20170119-column.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE IN NAPERVILLE SUN: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump women.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-womens-march-dc-nolan-st-0120-20170119-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kinzinger warns about Russia. Kirk: No ‘white Republicans’ on AF1 – Lynn Sweet and Suzanne McBride
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/kinzinger-warns-about-russia-kirk-no-white-republicans-on-af1/
— Rare and refreshing—Democrat, Republican working together – Mark Brown
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/brown-rare-and-refreshing-democrat-republican-working-together/
— Listen to Illinois Senate leaders and say uncle – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-listen-to-illinois-senate-leaders-and-say-uncle/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump haters promote hatred of Trump.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/steinberg-inauguration-day-a-hard-rains-gonna-fall/
— Illinois Senate leaders push budget plan, won’t cap income tax hike – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/senate-leaders-push-budget-plan-wont-cap-income-tax-hike/
— Ditka a Trump fan, but Da Coach not attending inauguration – Michael Sneed
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/sneed-ditka-a-trump-fan-but-da-coach-not-attending-inauguration/

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump and those who voted for him.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170120/discuss/170129963/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries do not want Trump to succeed?  ANSWER: Those that are 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170119/discuss/170118687/
— 1 in 4 US men have cancer-linked HPV genital infections – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170119/news/301199904/
— Broda says he’s ‘as enthusiastic as ever about Lisle’s future’ – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170119/news/170118668/
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps and Trump-hater promote Trump-haters.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170120/news/170129945/

ABC7
— CPS TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS STAND UNITED AFTER DEVOS HEARING – Sarah Schulte and Laura Podesta  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps.)
http://abc7chicago.com/education/cps-teachers-students-parents-stand-united-after-devos-hearing/1709891/

NBC5
— ‘Why I Am Attending the Inauguration of Donald Trump’: Durbin Explains Decision to Attend Inauguration  “My presence is an acknowledgement that once again America has achieved what so many nations have failed to do: peacefully transition to new leadership,” Durbin said in a statement. – Tom Schuba  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps.)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Durbin-Explains-Decision-to-Attend-Trumps-Inauguration-411238385.html

CLTV
— Illinois contingent in Washington to celebrate Trump’s presidency
http://cltv.com/2017/01/19/illinois-contingent-in-washington-to-celebrate-trumps-presidency/

DNA INFO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump women.
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170119/downtown/chicagos-womens-march-estimate-swells-50000

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Soldier from Springfield an emphatic part of inaugural ceremony – Bernard Schoenburg  (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997.  My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were nasty. Beginning in 1966, when I was 18 years old and started working part-time for the Park Forest Post Office, they used against me the fact that I sought and obtained student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. They always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a veteran in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a veteran in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted veterans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a veteran in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a veteran in 1986, and g) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170119/soldier-from-springfield-emphatic-part-of-inaugural-ceremony
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In high school, Wilcox was editor of Capitoline – the Springfield High yearbook. After he joined the Army, it was early in his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, that he was among people contacted by a recruiter for The Old Guard. At 6-foot-3, he said, he met the height requirement, which he said is about 6 feet, “but you can get away with 5-11.” General testing scores on subjects including math and literature also qualified him, he said.)

WSIL TV
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Protesters make their mark on Trump’s inauguration.”
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/34305219/protesters-make-their-mark-on-trumps-inauguration

WIBQ AM
— Illinois’ ‘Grand Bargain’ Adds Two-Billion More In Unpaid Bills
http://wibqam.com/news/articles/2017/jan/19/illinois-grand-bargain-adds-two-billion-more-in-unpaid-bills/

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Trump’s Illinois supporters are excited to watch him become president – NONA TEPPER
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article127555069.html

CARMI TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump women.
http://www.carmitimes.com/news/20170119/southern-illinois-solidarity

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Naperville councilman targets real estate taxes – Carol Ostrow
http://willcountygazette.com/stories/511074486-naperville-councilman-targets-real-estate-taxes

HERALD & REVIEW
— Inauguration trip chance to witness history for local residents – RYAN VOYLES
http://herald-review.com/news/local/inauguration-trip-chance-to-witness-history-for-local-residents/article_f3a219ef-07eb-5f96-b084-6cd63037814b.html

JOURNAL STANDARD
— Teaching Trump: Educators look for teachable moments in tumultuous campaign, new presidency – Corina Curry  (DIERSEN: From what I see, teachers in America are overwhelmingly anti-Republican and overwhelmingly anti-Trump. How successful will they be in turning their students against Republicans and against Trump?  Further, based on the way the majority of their students talk and act, teachers in America are overwhelmingly 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20170119/teaching-trump-educators-look-for-teachable-moments-in-tumultuous-campaign-new-presidency

CHICAGOIST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps.
http://chicagoist.com/2017/01/19/how_to_prepare_yourself_for_friday.php

CHICAGO PATCH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps.
http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/donald-trumps-inauguration-chicago-protests-marches-will-welcome-new-president

NPR ILLINOIS
— Rick Perry, Energy Nominee, Says He No Longer Wants To Dissolve Agency – JEFF BRADY  (DIERSEN: In 1981, Charles Bowsher left Arthur Andersen and ran GAO for the next 15 years. Many of his critics believed that he wanted to dissolve GAO and give the agency’s functions to Arthur Andersen.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/rick-perry-energy-nominee-says-he-no-longer-wants-dissolve-agency#stream/0

ILLINOIS HOME PAGE
— Illinois now Purple Heart State (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997.  My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were nasty. Beginning in 1966, when I was 18 years old and started working part-time for the Park Forest Post Office, they used against me the fact that I sought and obtained student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. They always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a veteran in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a veteran in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted veterans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a veteran in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a veteran in 1986, and g) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/illinois-now-purple-heart-state/642724469

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Congressmen say planned boycott and demonstrations distract from true meaning of inauguration
https://ilnews.org/11781/congressmen-say-planned-boycott-demonstrations-distract-true-meaning-inauguration/

CHICAGO MAROON
— Government employees are overly protected from employer sanctions. – Brian Dong  (DIERSEN: Dong should rail against patronage. Democrats run the federal government. I have always been a Republican. GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat who would take the job.  IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat who would take the job.  The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat who would take the job.  Needless-to-say, those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who promote patronage would never hire me to do anything.)
https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2017/1/20/state-union/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It is not a foreign concept that some government agencies are awfully slow and are experts at giving low quality service. Surely, in a private company that offers comparable services, effective managers could make a tangible impact on the quality of service. Alas, the solution will never be as simple for federal organizations with the current system. Lawmakers passed numerous government worker protection laws as part of the civil servant protection system to shield them from arbitrary or political terminations. Today, government employees have been afforded a staggering amount of job overprotection. An investigation by CBS News reported just how difficult it can be to fire a government employee. One official at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was allowed to keep his job after being caught watching porn for several hours per day. Two managers from General Services Administration (GSA) were rehired and even received bonuses after initially being terminated for spending almost $1 million on luxury goods for a conference. There is absolutely no reason why they should be allowed to avoid proper disciplinary action for their professional shortcomings. When employees are allowed to keep their job even when watching porn, performing poorly, slacking off, and participating in other unprofessional and unethical activities, it creates a toxic culture of apathetic mediocrity. There is very little incentive for people to do their jobs adequately if they are almost certain to not be fired. This morale-killing culture is exactly why agencies like the DMV are saturated with incompetent and rude staff. These protections not only make a high-performing federal employee a rarity, but also cause a lot of taxpayer money to be wasted. New York City’s infamous rubber room exemplifies this waste. Due to tenure and union agreements, teachers who are accused of criminal conduct are sent there until they receive hearings. While they wait for their hearings for an indefinite time in the Rubber Room, they continue to receive their salaries and increase their pensions while literally doing nothing. NYC hemorrhages $22 million per year from taxpayers’ wallets, keeping these teachers in limbo because union agreements make the firing process unbearably long and complicated. Clearly, the American public suffers from these practices. However, the intricate web of bureaucratic regulations and union decrees make it anything but easy to effect change. There may only be one Scott Walker, but more people should be cracking down on unions. Making it easy for a manager to fire an employee for simply doing a bad job shouldn’t be a liberal or conservative issue—it’s a common sense issue. The term “civil servant” implies a great amount of accountability and loyalty to one’s country. Indeed, public employees like soldiers, policemen, and firefighters risk their lives every day to defend peoples’ lives. The EPA strives to sustain a better planet to live in. The Food and Drug Administration serves to protect public health. These responsibilities were handed to federal agencies because they are presumably more trustworthy than private institutions and corporations. This greater purpose though, is often completely eroded by the sheer lack of accountability of federal agencies’ employees. With ghoulish bureaucratic procedures, strong union protection, and tenure, it can be very difficult to translate an individual agency’s mission to the United States down to its employees, and this undermines the honor the job is supposed to carry. It’s time government workers are held accountable for their actions and performance.)

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Rachael Lawrence Trump Inaugural Fundraiser at Pablo’s Friday, Channel 7 May Come – Cal Skinner
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/01/19/rachael-lawrence-kicking-off-algonquin-township-trustee-campaign-day-trump-sworn-in-copy/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Audacity of Obama – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/uncategorized/the-audacity-of-obama/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Why Governor Rauner Must Veto SB 3319 – Kirk Allen
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/01/why-governor-rauner-must-veto-sb-3319/

GOPUSA
— CNN Report Speculates on Who Would Take Power If Trump Were Assassinated Today
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=19492
— More speech, not less  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not want me or anyone else to say or do anything without first getting their specific permission.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=19394

THE BLAZE
— Chicago gun control advocates dealt yet another major blow – Jon Street
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/19/chicago-gun-control-advocates-dealt-yet-another-major-blow/
— Rand Paul absolutely destroys Bernie Sanders’ talk about how uncompassionate America is – Brandon Morse  (DIERSEN: My nasty/troubled/failed/vicious critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always a) stressed that they are a member of a church, that they attend church services, and/or that they give money to a church, b) painted themselves as being extremely compassionate, and c) viciously demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being not compassionate.  Should I write a book about the aforesaid. They talk and act like they want me to.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/19/rand-paul-absolutely-destroys-bernie-sanders-talk-about-how-uncompassionate-america-is/

PUBLIUS FORUM
— Black Professor and CNN Mouth Calls All Blacks Who Dare Meet With Trump ‘Mediocre Negroes’ – Warner Todd Huston
http://www.publiusforum.com/2017/01/19/black-professor-cnn-mouth-calls-blacks-dare-meet-trump-mediocre-negroes/

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Archbishop: I ‘will not comply’ with law forcing Church to hire abortion activists – Lianne Laurence
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archbishop-will-defy-proposed-st.-louis-law-forcing-church-to-hire-abortion

THE HILL
— The Trump era begins – NIALL STANAGE (DIERSEN: From now on, how strongly will anti-Trumps blame Trump supporters for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/315155-the-trump-era-begins

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Protesters, Trump supporters clash outside ‘DeploraBall’ in Washington, DC
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/34304985/protesters-trump-supporters-clash-outside-deploraball
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Protesters and supporters of President-elect Donald Trump clashed outside a pro-Trump event in Washington the night before his inauguration. Police used chemical spray on some protesters in an effort to control the unruly crowd. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the National Press Club in downtown Washington, where the “DeploraBall” was being held. The name is a play on a campaign remark by Hillary Clinton, who once referred to many of Trump’s supporters as a “basket of deplorables.” Protesters booed any time presumed ball-goers in suits, tuxedos or dresses came in or out of the event. One man waving a pro-Trump flag had debris thrown at him and was chased to the nearby Warner Theater, where Fox News Channel personalities Sean Hannity and Geraldo Rivera happened to be outside waiting to go into another event. Hannity engaged hecklers by raising his fist; Rivera laughed and smiled before entering the theater.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Russian political elites revel in Trump’s inauguration.”  If Putin ran the United States, I doubt that he would have let Mexico and other foreign countries invade the United States like Obama and Bush did.
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/34305030/russian-political-elites-revel-in-trumps-inauguration

NBC NEWS
— Democrats: Left in the Lurch  The curious decline and uncertain future of the Democratic Party – ALEX SEITZ-WALD and SAM PETULLA
http://www.nbcnews.com/specials/democrats-left-in-the-lurch

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump Wall Street women.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/business/dealbook/womens-march-wall-street.html
— New Yorkers Rediscover Activism in the Trump Presidency Era – GINIA BELLAFANTE (DIERSEN: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and counties do New York activists want to get rid of the most, those that are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, or those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/nyregion/trump-presidency-new-york-city.html
— A Trump Administration, With Obama Staff Members Filling In the Gaps – MAGGIE HABERMAN and GLENN THRUSH
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/trump-cabinet-picks-inauguration.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trumps and Trump-haters promote Trump haters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/opinion/the-internal-invasion.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/opinion/donald-the-unready.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/opinion/obama-shouldnt-go-quietly.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/opinion/how-the-womens-march-could-resurrect-the-democratic-party.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— As soon as he is inaugurated, Trump will move to clamp down on immigration – Brian Bennett
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-trump-immigration-actions-20170119-story.html

USA TODAY
— Trump: ‘The next time we’re going to win the old-fashioned way’ – Gregory Korte
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/01/20/trump-next-time-were-going-win-old-fashioned-way/96817236/
— DIERSEN HEATLINE: Those who are anti-men promote those who are anti-men.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/19/womens-march-on-washington-survey-trump-clinton/96731542/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Companies Pony Up for Donald Trump’s Inauguration  UPS, Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola all didn’t give or reduced donations to last year’s GOP convention – REBECCA BALLHAUS
http://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-pony-up-for-donald-trumps-inauguration-1484843370
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Donald Trump Seen Bringing ‘Deliberate Chaos’ to the White House.”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-seen-bringing-deliberate-chaos-to-the-white-house-1484843995
— Protesters Look to Disrupt Trump’s Inauguration Weekend  Authorities prepare for hundreds of thousands of demonstrators; Women’s March is expected to be biggest –  BYRON TAU, JANET HOOK and BEN KESLING
http://www.wsj.com/articles/protesters-look-to-disrupt-trumps-inauguration-weekend-1484840632

BLOOMBERG
— Imagine a Gracious Trump – Albert R. Hunt  (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about the rudest activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois?  They would love it.  They are very proud of their rudeness.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-01-20/imagine-a-gracious-trump

FED SMITH
— Trump Administration Proposing Drastic Cuts to Federal Workforce – Ian Smith  (DIERSEN: Most, if not virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican hate past, present, and future federal employees.  I was a federal employee for almost 30 years 1966-1969 and 1971-1997.  What do you say to the aforesaid haters?)
http://www.fedsmith.com/2017/01/20/trump-administration-proposing-drastic-cuts-to-federal-workforce/

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— I do solemnly swear that I will … – Jeff Neal (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government treated me as though I had failed/refused to carry out their orders to give preference to their employees because they were Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger. They never charged me with the aforesaid because I never did the aforesaid; I always carried out their orders to give preference to their employees because they were Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger.  Nevertheless, because I disagreed with the aforesaid and because I objected to the aforesaid, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims.  My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests.)
http://federalnewsradio.com/commentary/2017/01/i-do-solemnly-swear-that-i-will/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: People in the private sector do not take an oath of office when they get a job. They get an offer, report to work, and that’s it. For federal employees it is different. Reading so many articles about the inauguration that refer to the president-elect taking the oath of office on Jan. 20 got me thinking about oaths and what they mean. I have taken that oath of office as a civil service employee. Raising your right hand and swearing to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” is not something most people take lightly. It is a solemn oath and it means something to most people who take it. . .The oath is relatively straightforward, but what does it mean? I see the oath as having three important aspects. First, the employee swears to support and defend the Constitution against enemies. Second, s/he swears allegiance to the Constitution. Finally, the employee promises to do his/her job well. How does the oath manifest itself in day-to-day work? Does it provide any protection for an employee who refuses an order s/he believes would be a violation of the oath? That question is far more complex than the oath itself. Federal employees are required to follow lawful orders, even if they disagree with them. 5 USC 2302(b)(9)(D) gives employees the “right to refuse” with respect to unlawful orders. But what happens when an order violates a regulation or rule, but is not technically illegal? A 2015 Merit Systems Protection Board decision directly answered that question. MSPB outlined the issues in the case, writing “Specifically, the appellant asserted that the agency violated 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(D), which protects employees from retaliation “for refusing to obey an order that would require the individual to violate a law.” 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(D). He alleged that the agency improperly stripped him of particular job duties and gave him a subpar performance rating for disobeying an order that would have required that he violate (1) a Federal Acquisition Regulation that limits the authority of a contracting officer’s representative (COR), and (2) “PA296: How to be a COR,” the agency’s training course for COR certification, which further clarifies the limitations to this authority.” MSPB’s final decision said “… we hold that the right-to-disobey provision at section 2302(b)(9)(D) extends only to orders that would require the individual to take an action barred by statute. Because the appellant in this case contends that he disobeyed an order that would have required him to violate an agency rule or regulation, his claim falls outside of the scope of section 2302(b)(9)(D).” The oath of office does not grant any protection for deciding that an order is a bad idea, bad policy, or morally or ethically wrong. In fact, the oath does not grant any protection from anything. It is an oath of allegiance and a promise to do good work. Employees who believe they are being ordered to act in a manner inconsistent with their oath of office may pursue other options, such as whistleblower complaints or any other avenue provided by law or regulation, but disobeying direct orders is generally not one of the available options. That means an employee who wants to argue that s/he is adhering to the oath of office by disobeying orders has a very tough hill to climb. There is also the option of going to the press, but that can bring its own set of risks.)

THE DAILY BEAST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Rain, Mass Protests Loom for Trump’s Inauguration.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/01/20/trump-inauguration-crowds-gather-as-dc-braces-for-protests.html

BUZZFEED NEWS
— Lawyers Are Descending On Washington To Help Protesters  Hundreds of legal volunteers are fanning out across the city to document potential abuses of protesters and are ready to go to court if needed. – Zoe Tillman
https://www.buzzfeed.com/zoetillman/lawyers-descend-on-washington-to-aid-trump-protesters

NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM
— CORVETTE MUSEUM AND MOTORSPORTS PARK ACHIEVE INCREASED ATTENDANCE FOR 2016
http://www.corvettemuseum.org/corvette-museum-and-motorsports-park-achieve-increased-attendance-for-2016/