January 8 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— AUGUST 28, 2017 FLASHBACK: Rauner signs immigration, automatic voter registration bills into law – Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-immigration-voting-met-0829-20170828-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rauner entered a bill signing ceremony at Mi Tierra restaurant in Little Village to cheers from at least 200 supporters of the measure. Outside, an opponent carried a sign that said, “Illinois victim families say no sanctuary state.” The governor’s approach to the immigration bill signing was an indication of his efforts to walk the line between his conservative base and the more moderate constituencies he’ll need in order to win reelection in 2018. Rauner faced an intense lobbying campaign over the bill and warnings last week that he might lose support from conservatives if he were to sign it into law. State Sen. Kyle McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon outside St. Louis, said “this could be the last straw” for Downstate voters who have backed the governor if Rauner failed to veto the bill. So before the governor inked his signature to the legislation, an array of supporters, including members of the law enforcement community and business advocates, appeared on stage to demonstrate broad support. “Contrary to popular belief, this bill does not turn Illinois into a sanctuary state,” said Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, a fluent Spanish speaker who kicked off a slate of more than a dozen speakers with remarks in both English and Spanish.)
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti sticks with Gov. Rauner despite disagreements – Kim Geiger (DIERSEN: If I was still the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, the organization would have invited Sanguinetti and Morthland to debate each other. Conservatives oppose anything that encourages people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, or to bring others to America illegally. Outrageously, if not unethically, Geiger fails/refuses to discuss in this article Sanguinetti’s promoting Rauner’s sanctuary state bill.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-lieutenant-governor-sanguinetti-rauner-20180105-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As Gov. Bruce Rauner weighed the fate of a controversial abortion bill last fall, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti had a decision to make. Born to a teenage mother and deeply religious, Sanguinetti opposes abortion rights. Rauner, who gave money to Planned Parenthood, was about to sign into law a measure expanding taxpayer-funded abortions. “It was not easy,” said Sanguinetti, recalling the discussion she’d had with the governor. “And him and I talked about it, and he did tell me at the end of the day that he needed me to be there with him. And I told him I needed to pray on it.” A re-election bid quickly approached. Would she stay on the team or opt out of the 2018 ticket? She says she took a few days to decide. “I talked to my family about it. And I decided to stand by the governor because in Illinois we have a lot of things that we need to focus on,” Sanguinetti said during a recent interview with the Tribune. “And so here I am, next to him. But was I upset? Yes. Do I remain upset? Yes.” If it’s uncommon to hear about the state’s chief executive and his running mate disagreeing on issues, that’s at least in part due to the fact that it’s rare to hear about Illinois’ lieutenant governor at all. Aside from being first in the line of succession, the office is so light on responsibilities that conversations often crop up about doing away with it altogether. During her first term, Sanguinetti has focused on studying the opioid epidemic and Illinois’ unusually high number of local governments, with mixed results. A newly created task force on opioid abuse, which Sanguinetti co-chairs, has successfully advocated for the creation of a hotline to help addicts, and for a new law requiring doctors to register with a prescription drug monitoring program. But Sanguinetti’s task force on local government consolidation has produced few changes to help rein in Illinois’ 7,000 units of government, beyond a four-year moratorium on the creation of new ones. Despite its longtime punchline status, the office was made a bit more politically useful when election procedures were changed so that candidates for governor and lieutenant governor now run as a team in the primary. The change allows candidates for governor to boost their ticket’s appeal by adding a running mate with a different pedigree. In Rauner’s case, Sanguinetti checked off several important boxes as a Latina woman who grew up poor, counterbalancing Rauner’s background as a wealthy white man who came from privilege. Unlike Rauner, Sanguinetti is a social conservative. In addition, she hailed from the collar counties, a key swing voting region. She also lacked political experience, having served only on the Wheaton City Council for a few years. One of her council colleagues was Jeanne Ives, who’s now a state lawmaker challenging the Rauner-Sanginuetti ticket in the March Republican governor primary. Ives declined an interview request through a spokeswoman. Sheila Simon, who was lieutenant governor under Democrat Pat Quinn but opted to run for a different office in 2014 where she could make a “greater impact,” said she respects Rauner’s running mate choice. Sanguinetti “has different access points than he does — a woman, someone who is fluent in Spanish and is literally going to hear things he doesn’t hear or understand things he doesn’t understand,” Simon said. Simon also noted that the lieutenant governor is “an adviser to the governor that the governor can’t fire.” Indeed, Sanguinetti remains one of the few original Rauner team members following a tumultuous period that included several departures by the “superstars” Rauner had hired early on, plus a spate of staff firings and resignations over the summer. Asked what she and Rauner disagree on, Sanguinetti listed two areas — one serious, one not so much. “So, he doesn’t know how to dress. And I’ve tried to help, but brother won’t listen,” Sanguinetti said, referring to Rauner’s typical uniform of casual ranch-hand slacks with a plaid button-down shirt and ultra-long sport coat. Sometimes, the governor swaps the coat for a vest. “He’s his own person. He beats to his own fashion drum, but that’s one disagreement,” Sanguinetti said. The two also have been at odds over clemency requests. Sanguinetti said she’s often more inclined to grant clemency petitions to people who want their record cleared so they can take a job in law enforcement or help turn around struggling youth in their community. “Because of my backdrop, I’m the one to say, ‘I want him (to get clemency). I would only listen to somebody like this if I was a youth in trouble because he’s an authentic messenger. He’s not somebody starting out of college telling me how I should behave. He’s been through it, and he’s risen from it,’” she said. But as Rauner has diligently cleared a massive backlog of clemency petitions in recent years, he’s granted just 3 percent of the requests. Quinn, by contrast, had an approval rate of around 36 percent. And, of course, the two clashed on the abortion bill. Though she decided to “stand by” Rauner, Sanguinetti was not at the news conference the governor held to announce his position on the bill. Instead, she issued a brief statement saying she “wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for a 15-year-old refugee who chose to have me and keep me.” “While I disagree with the governor on this, we must focus on our areas of agreement — enacting real reforms we need to turn Illinois around,” the statement said. Rauner offered similar logic when he was asked recently why it was important for him to keep Sanguinetti on board. “Getting our state going the right way is going to be a big team effort,” he said. “She’s my lieutenant governor,” Rauner later added. Still, Sanguinetti says, the two are on the same page about most things — a dynamic she credits to the new election system that required them to campaign as a team from the start. “From day one when we were sworn in, we were on the same plane, you know, we were in sync as far as messaging and the things that we believed in and what we wanted to deliver for the people of the state of Illinois,” Sanguinetti said. After winning election, Sanguinetti quickly went to work settling into her Thompson Center office, bringing in a collection of modern art paintings she’d inherited from her father. “My husband hates modern art, so he was very happy to see it in my office,” she said. She held on to several of Simon’s staff members to help with the transition, but ultimately cut her staff size in half and closed down office spaces in Carbondale and Springfield. Sanguinetti says that move was made possible by her close working relationship with the governor — the two are able to share staff for policy issues. But it does limit her independence. Even before the election, Rauner had been traveling the state telling voters that he planned to task Sanguinetti with figuring out ways to consolidate Illinois’ 7,000 units of local government to save taxpayer money. Creating the task force was one of the first things he did when he took office, and Sanguinetti went quickly to work, though she says she was less than excited about the idea. “I wanted to dedicate myself to more issues that are more sexy to your usual person,” Sanguinetti said. “And when you think about consolidation and unfunded mandates, it’s not very sexy, right?” As she set out on her task force mission, Sanguinetti got an on-the-job education about the issue, finding that oftentimes school districts or local fire departments were already cooperating with one another to share resources and reduce duplication. The task force produced 27 recommendations for ways to consolidate local governments and reduce unfunded mandates. But so far, only a handful have made it into law. Sanguinetti says she now sees the issue as “the gift that keeps on giving.” And she’s taken what she learned on the task force and turned it into a journal of “best practices” to highlight areas where local governments are already consolidating and sharing services and expenses. Ives spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy suggested the task force was an example of the Rauner administration’s failure to live up to its promises. Also on Sanguinetti’s list of duties is the opioid epidemic — another issue that she says she didn’t know much about before taking office. It was the DuPage County coroner, she said, who alerted her last year that the epidemic had reached into the suburbs. “You know about Wheaton, Ill. We are very religious and conservative there,” Sanguinetti said. “And he was telling me about all the people that were dying and the fact that it knew no neighborhood and no class.” Drug use and gang violence associated with the drug trade have plagued Chicago for decades, and Downstate communities have battled meth use for years. Sanguinetti traveled the state to hear about the crisis and says she now views the opioid epidemic as a public health issue. She’s been trained to administer Narcan, an antidote that’s used to reverse opioid overdoses, and is defensive when challenged by people who question giving addicts access to unlimited doses of the antidote. “The first thing I tell these people is it’s time to change the lexicon because science is telling us that this is a disease,” she said, likening Narcan to the drugs she uses to treat her multiple sclerosis. “The way I choose to treat my disease, nobody questions it because it’s a disease. We need to think of substance abuse disorder and accept it for what it is, it’s a disease.”)
— Senator Silverstein accused of sexual harassment fighting to stay on ballot – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-ira-silverstein-ballot-challenge-20180108-story.html
— In next round of budget talks, ‘dreamers’ are set to dominate – Ed O’Keefe, Mike Debonis and Erica Werner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-budget-talks-dreamers-20180107-story.html
— Age gap awkwardness – Brent Gleeson (DIERSEN: Have you had to work for some who was younger than you? During my last 4 years at GAO 1993-1997, I reported directly to a GS-15 Step 10 (currently $164,200) who was much younger than me. During the previous 4 years, my supervisor reported to her. Most, if not virtually all of my GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates DID NOT want to work for her or work with her because she was very demanding, female, younger, Jewish, and wealthy. She had an MBA from the University of Chicago and had passed the CPA examination on her first attempt. To turn her against me, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates stressed to her that I was conservative (she was liberal), Republican (she was Democrat), I was 100% German national origin (she was 100% Russian national origin), I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran (she was Jewish), and that my ancestors had been in America since the 1840s (her ancestors were recent immigrants.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180108/281852938962479
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: New mindset needed for budgeting goals – Jill Schlesinger DIERSEN: What are you spending less on? Since my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in 1997 in cutting my income by $73,528/year (59%), that is, from $125,392 down to $51,869 in today’s dollars, my wife and I have spent even less on immediate pleasures including vacations, restaurant meals, entertainment, etc.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/jillonmoney/tca-new-mindset-needed-for-successful-saving-20180105-story.html
— It’s time for the Census Bureau to stop dividing America – Ward Connerly and Mike Gonzalez (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes talk and/or act like they believe that the following demographics are terrible: 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-census-bureau-race-population-trump-0108-20180104-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The American people are dangerously divided, but one event looming on the horizon has the potential to put us on a path toward unity: the U.S. census. If President Donald Trump makes no changes, the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020 will again seek to shoehorn some 330 million Americans into official racial and ethnic categories. This system doesn’t just ignore science. It also completely overlooks a burgeoning “mixed-race” population that resents arbitrary racial straitjackets.)
— Could Texas’ Big Bend be the border’s weakest link? Smuggling of drugs and immigrants is on the rise – Molly Hennessy-Fiske
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-border-patrol-big-bend-texas-20171226-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Steve Bannon’s olive branch said to be too late for angry Trump – Bloomberg
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180108/steve-bannons-olive-branch-said-to-be-too-late-for-angry-trump
— Some shopping malls may be in deeper trouble than you think – Bloomberg
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180108/some-shopping-malls-may-be-in-deeper-trouble-than-you-think

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: GateHouse Media Illinois likes watching scantily clad young women fight each other.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180107/lincoln-fighter-sets-her-goal-to-reach-ufc

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Protests urged for Trump Atlanta visit.”
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/the-latest-protests-urged-for-trump-atlanta-visit/906401747
— Trump allies defend him against book’s claims – AP (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/entertainment/trump-allies-defend-him-against-books-claims/905943506

 

WJBD RADIO
— Trump administration officials defend president’s mental fitness (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2018/01/07/trump-administration-officials-defend-presidents-mental-fitness

 

CHICAGO FEDERALIST SOCIETY
— Tavern Debate Thursday, January 18: Resolved: The Media are Biased, So Tweet Away, Mr. President
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tavern-debate-resolved-the-media-are-biased-so-tweet-away-mr-president-tickets-41643594111

 

WIRE POINTS
— Illinois Treasurer Frerichs Playing Activist Shareholder With College Savers’ Money – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-treasurer-frerichs-playing-activist-shareholder-with-college-savers-money-wirepoints-original/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Report shows federal bloat in Illinois – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was federal bloat and that a) the Post Office should NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS should NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS should NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO should NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO should NOT have promoted me in 1986. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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 32.))
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/report-shows-federal-bloat-in-illinois/article_dd852dd4-f255-11e7-a9d6-fba849f89a97.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— MARCH FOR LIFE CHICAGO 2018 NEXT WEEKEND
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/march-for-life-chicago-2018-next-weekend.html
— ABORTION COULD BE KEY ISSUE IN IL 3RD CD DEMOCRAT PRIMARY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/abortion-could-be-a-key-issue-in-il-3rd-cd-democrat-primary.html

 

BLAZE
— Democratic billionaire is sending controversial Trump book to every member of Congress – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/07/democratic-billionaire-is-sending-controversial-trump-book-to-every-member-of-congress

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— GOP strategist Karl Rove: Republicans in ‘big trouble,’ could lose House in 2018 – Bradford Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/7/karl-rove-gop-strategist-republicans-in-big-troubl/
— Obama gun boom ends: Background checks fall from record-breaking 2016 – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/7/gun-purchase-background-checks-drop-2017/
— Feminism, once noble — now nutty – Cheryl K. Chumley
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/4/feminism-once-noble-now-nutty/

 

FOX NEWS
— Bannon expresses ‘regret’ for comments attributed to him in ‘Fire and Fury’ – Joseph Weber
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/07/bannon-expresses-regret-for-comments-attributed-to-him-in-fire-and-fury.html
— Media go crazy over book claiming Trump is mentally unfit to be president, and other journalistic garbage – Dan Gainor
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/06/media-go-crazy-over-book-claiming-trump-is-mentally-unfit-to-be-president-and-other-journalistic-garbage.html
— Will disgraced Steve Bannon be invited to speak at CPAC? – Todd Starnes (DIERSEN: Which organizations do not invite you? Organizations that promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and/or Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and/or even worse things do not invite me. Organizations 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 do not invite me. The aforesaid organizations that claim to be conservative and/or Republican refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. The aforesaid organizations do not want me a) to know about their events and other activities, b) to promote their events and other activities, c) to attend their events, or d) to report on their events and other activities. One could argue that if the aforesaid organizations invite me, I should decline the invitation.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/07/will-disgraced-steve-bannon-be-invited-to-speak-at-cpac.html

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Diversity Mania Rages On – George Leef
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/455173/michigan-university-diversity-plan-martin-center

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Tell-all author: Trump’s White House staffers talk about the 25th Amendment ‘all the time’ – Kyle Feldscher
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tell-all-author-trumps-white-house-staffers-talk-about-the-25th-amendment-all-the-time/article/2645221

 

THE HILL
— Democrats out of order on DREAM Act – NOLAN RAPPAPORT
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/367744-democrats-out-of-order-on-dream-act

 

CNN
— Oprah Winfrey ‘actively thinking’ about running for president – Brian Stelter
http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/08/media/oprah-golden-globes/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Bannon Wilts Under Attacks From Ex-Allies – Jeremy W. Peters and Michael Tackett
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/us/politics/stephen-miller-cnn-trump-bannon-apology.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/opinion/trump-stable-genius-smart.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/opinion/jeff-sessionss-war-marijuana.html
— Trump Administration Rules That Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans Must Leave, Officials Say – Miriam Jordan (DIERSEN: Because Democrats shout at everyone that the U.S. is run by White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, why would these Salvadorans want to stay in the U.S.?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Public school buildings are falling apart, and students are suffering for it While the grown-ups argue over whether federal aid would interfere with local control, kids sit in freezing classrooms. – Rachel Cohen
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/01/08/public-school-buildings-are-falling-apart-and-students-are-suffering-for-it/
— White House adviser Stephen Miller calls Bannon an ‘angry, vindictive person’ – David Nakamura (DIERSEN: I should write a book about the most “angry, vindictive” people in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/07/white-house-adviser-stephen-miller-calls-bannon-an-angry-vindictive-person-over-comments-in-wolff-book/
— Bannon apologizes, but Trump’s fury persists – David Nakamura, Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bannon-apologizes-but-trumps-fury-persists/2018/01/07/e12942f4-f3c2-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Refugee Admissions to U.S. Off to Slow Start in Fiscal Year 2018 Trump refugee policies helped slow inflow to just over 5,000 in first quarter – Laura Meckler (DIERSEN: Because Democrats shout at everyone that the U.S. is run by White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, why would any refugee want to come to the U.S.?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/refugee-admissions-to-u-s-off-to-slow-start-in-fiscal-year-2018-1515330001
— Scholars Get The Real Scoop on ‘Fake News’ It turns out the people likeliest to read false stories are the ones who read lots of hard news too. – Allysia Finley (DIERSEN: I read “lots of hard news” while I spend 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out. Ever-increasingly, I see editorials that promote the Democrat Party platform being published that are unethically made to look like news articles. Ever-increasing, I see that news that cannot be spun to promote the Democrat Party platform is downplayed if not censured.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scholars-get-the-real-scoop-on-fake-news-1515360315
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Bannon Works to Mend Rift Over Book Critical of White House Ex-Trump strategist tones down some of his comments as fallout reverberates – Rebecca Ballhaus and Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bannon-apologizes-for-role-in-book-critical-of-white-house-1515349254
— My Favorite Writers on Retirement Planning Retirement columnist Glenn Ruffenach also answers questions about Social Security and volunteering – Glenn Ruffenach (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of retirement on? I base my knowledge on what I have learned from being retired since 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-favorite-writers-on-retirement-planning-1515098781
— Book Banning Bunkum Trump’s feckless bluster isn’t a threat to the First Amendment. – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want to ban me and ban my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/book-banning-bunkum-1515361290

 

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Allies Flood Airwaves to Defend the President – Ros Krasny and Jordan Yadoo (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-07/trump-allies-flood-airwaves-to-defend-president-from-new-book

 

USA TODAY
— In reversal, anti-immigration groups are open to deal to let 800,000 DREAMers stay – Alan Gomez
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/08/reversal-anti-immigration-groups-open-deal-let-800-000-dreamers-stay/1004430001/
— Haley: World perception of Trump as ‘unpredictable’ isn’t a bad thing – Nicole Gaudiano (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes know that they cannot call me unpredictable. They know that I always promote the Republican Party and the Illinois Republican Party platforms and especially their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They know that I always promote the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. They know that I always oppose the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and/or Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and other terrible things things.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/07/haley-world-perception-trump-unpredictable-isnt-bad-thing/1011070001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump gives advice on how to get rid of Trump.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/08/donald-trump-stable-genius-reality-check-america-doesnt-have-new-normal-column/1011220001/

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Trump Washes His Hands of Insurgency Against GOP Incumbents Trump says he’ll campaign aggressively for Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections but not for the GOP insurgents. – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2018-01-07/trump-washes-his-hands-of-insurgency-against-gop-incumbents

 

NEW YORKER
— When Deportation Is a Death Sentence hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. may face violence and murder in their home countries. What happens when they are forced to return? – Sarah Stillman (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps glorify and praise foreign countries.)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/when-deportation-is-a-death-sentence

 

ATLANTIC
— The False Promises of Worker Retraining Despite assurances from policymakers that retraining is the key to success, such programs have consistently failed to equip workers with the preparation they need to secure jobs. – JEFFREY SELINGO (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. One could say that between 1992 and 1997, I retained myself. In 1992, I started taking graduate courses at IIT, and in 1997, I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading. I did that because my Democrat GAO superiors had assigned me to audits of federal financial industry regulators and they had made it clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS. I had worked on audits of IRS 1986-1988 and I had worked for IRS 1971-1980.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/01/the-false-promises-of-worker-retraining/549398/

January 7 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— States exploring tax changes in response to federal overhaul – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–tax-overhaul-states-20180106-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In New Jersey and California, top Democratic officials want to let people make charitable contributions to the state instead of paying certain taxes. In Connecticut and New York, officials are exploring a switch from income taxes to new ones on payroll. A few governors have even called for tax cuts. The ideas are bubbling up as state lawmakers begin their 2018 sessions and assess the effects of the Republican tax overhaul that President Donald Trump signed into law last month. Lawmakers and governors in some states are grappling with how to protect their constituents. . . In high-tax states, officials have been focused on protecting taxpayers from the impact of a new $10,000 cap on deductions for paying state and local taxes. In California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, more than one-third of tax filers claim the state and local tax deduction on federal taxes; the average deduction in each state is over $15,000.)
— A look at prosecutors who will decide on marijuana crackdown – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–legalized-pot-prosecutors-glance-20180105-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Suburban libraries working to be more accommodating to the homeless – Sarah Freishtat
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-library-homeless-st-0105-20180105-story.html
— Trump cools to idea of reducing spending on welfare programs, seeing little chance of success – Josh Dawsey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-agenda-20180106-story.html
— Talk of bipartisanship in Republican-only meetings with Trump at Camp David – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-republicans-camp-david-20180106-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Families lost loved ones to Legionnaires’ but can collect only minimal damages – Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/state-law-caps-legionnaires-family-lawsuits-100000/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow over their success in getting “religious leaders” to serve as operatives or dupes for the Democrat Party.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/let-sacred-traditions-guide-our-fight-against-injustice-just-relations/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump washes his hands of insurgency against GOP incumbents – AP (DIERSEN: Have you ever been an insurgent, that is, have you ever ran against an incumbent Republican? I have not.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180107/news/301079975/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump says he’s done campaigning for insurgents challenging incumbent Republican members of Congress. Trump told reporters after meeting GOP House and Senate leaders at Camp David on Saturday that he’s planning a robust schedule of campaigning for the 2018 midterm elections and that includes involvement in the Republican primaries. He’ll campaign for incumbents, he said, and “anybody else that has my kind of thinking.” But after a stinging loss in Alabama, Trump said he’s done supporting challengers, declaring: “I don’t see that happening.” Trump had supported Roy Moore after he won the GOP primary. Moore’s defeat in the subsequent special election handed Democrats another seat in the Senate.)
— Trump’s furious response to tell-all book – Editorial (DIERSEN: When my attorney Walter T. Charlton filed Diersen v. GAO in 1998, GAO was not furious at all. Instead, GAO responded to the lawsuit like the lawsuit helped GAO hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. The lawsuit showed that GAO wastes the careers of and gets rid of its non-veteran White male employees who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180107/editorial-trumps-furious-response-to-tell-all-book

 

ABC7
— Local leaders (Luis Gutierrez and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia) push to protect DACA recipients as budget deadline looms – Michelle Gallardo
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/local-leaders-push-to-protect-daca-recipients-as-budget-deadline-looms/2874740/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— DACA battle heats up, Gutierrez responds to Trump
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/daca-battle-heats-up-gutierrez-responds-to-trump

 

WBEZ
— ‘It’s A Crime’: Illinois Cap On Legionnaires’ Payouts Lowest In U.S. – Dave McKinney, Tony Arnold
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/its-a-crime-illinois-cap-on-legionnaires-payouts-lowest-in-us/f3d332bc-4d1d-4150-9865-cdffc3046fe6

 

ROCK RIVER TIMES
— Illinois legislators react to possible DOJ move on marijuana prohibition – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://rockrivertimes.com/2018/01/07/illinois-legislators-react-to-possible-doj-move-on-marijuana-prohibition/

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DOJ Pot Follow Up – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=258032#.WlI146inGM8

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Few specifics are available on progressive tax amendment – Jim Dey (DIERSEN: What about retirement income? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are beyond furious that my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension and my Social Security are not subject to state income tax. In today’s dollars, since 1997, CSRS has paid me $1,050,246 and since 2010, Social Security has paid me $14,964.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/jim-dey-few-specifics-are-available-progressive-tax-amendment.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: He proposed levying a 6 percent tax rate on incomes of $1 million or more, a roughly 20 percent increase for that category of income earners. At the same time, he would levy a 1 percent tax rate on incomes between $2,500 and $24,999, a 2.25 percent rate on incomes from $25,000 to $44,999, a 3.75 percent rate on incomes from $45,000 to $149,999 and a 4.95 percent rate on incomes from $150,000 to $999,999. But there’s a problem with Daiber’s tax proposal — it’s a bait and switch. He gives the impression that most people will get a tax cut and only a few — “the millionaires and billionaires” — will get a tax increase. That won’t work because backers of a progressive income tax desperately want billions of dollars more in revenue. Under Daiber’s proposal, the state would generate less revenue than it receives under the current flat tax. The problem? Illinois doesn’t have enough people with annual incomes of $1 million and up. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue 2013 tax figures, about 32,000 individuals or families out of 6 million tax filers reported annual incomes between $1 million and $25 million. They paid $2.5 billion of the $16.9 billion in income tax revenue that year. Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute reports that in 2015, just 18 percent of taxpayers earned $100,000-plus. They paid 84 percent of all state income taxes.)
— Cunningham Township Assessor’s action sparks inquiry – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-01-07/assessors-action-sparks-inquiry.html
— Lots of work, few to do it at assessor’s office – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/tom-kacich-lots-work-few-do-it-assessors-office.html
— Kennedy alleges ‘gentrification plan’ – RICH MILLER
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2018-01-07/rich-millercapitol-fax-kennedy-alleges-gentrification-plan.html
— Gambling-parlor issue looming large in Champaign – Natalie Wickman (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who promotes video gambling? ANSWER: Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/gambling-parlor-issue-looming-large-champaign.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump washes his hands of insurgency against GOP incumbents – AP (DIERSEN: Have you ever been an insurgent, that is, have you ever ran against an incumbent Republican? I have not.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-washes-his-hands-of-insurgency-against-gop-incumbents/904940250
— Trump wishes for better libel laws after book slams him – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes erroneously believe that because I do not send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to make money, they are free to slander and libel me.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-wishes-for-better-libel-laws-after-book-slams-him/904961203

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— The liberal media have all the facts! Except when they don’t. – Jack Hellner
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/the_liberal_media_have_all_the_facts_except_when_they_dont.html

 

THE HILL
— Blue-state officials plot response to GOP tax law – NAOMI JAGODA (DIERSEN: If you pay lots of real estate tax and/or state income tax in Illinois, have the Republicans succeeded in motivating you to do more to get those who run Illinois, who run your county, who run your township/ward, who run your municipality, who run your school district, who run your park district, who run your etc. to curb their taxes and to curb their spending? What if the majority of the voters in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois want taxpayers like you to pay higher taxes?)
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/367696-blue-state-officials-plot-response-to-gop-tax-law
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Elected officials in high-tax Democratic-leaning states are looking at creative ways to prevent the new tax law from raising their residents’ bills. The new law, which passed in December with only Republican votes, caps the state and local tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000. GOP lawmakers said they hoped that would motivate high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California to curb their own taxes and spending. But politicians in blue states view the tax law as an attack on them, and are pushing back. “We sort of have two choices. One choice is to step back and let this happen to us. Or the other is to get into the arena and fight like heck,” New Jersey Gov.-elect Phil Murphy (D) said at a news conference Friday. “And this is New Jersey after all.” The tax law is just one of the ways Republicans have taken aim at Democratic-leaning cities and states in recent months.)

 

ABC NEWS
— Trump wishes for better libel laws after book slams him – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes erroneously believe that because I do not send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to make money, they are free to slander and libel me.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-wishes-libel-laws-book-slams-52189356

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In Clash Between California and Trump, It’s One America Versus Another – Tim Arango (DIERSEN: How soon will California leave America and join up with Mexico? Constructively, Mexico has declared war on America a) by its sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally, b) by its keeping many millions of its citizens in America illegally, and c) by its sending mountains of illegal drugs into America illegally.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/us/california-sanctuary-marijuana.html
— Elgin Man Who Sheltered Homeless People in His Basement Stops After City Order – Maya Salam
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/chicago-homeless-basement-weather.html
— Retirement Tips for the Age of Trump – Charles J. Sykes (DIERSEN: Since I retired in 1997 when I was 49 years, sadly, I have come to realize that far too many 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 who claim to be Republican are not really Republican. They are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs. 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 and/or they 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/retirement-tips-trump-age.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Originally, my plan was to sit in a rocking chair, and after a few weeks to start rocking. But the election wrecked those plans, making retirement in the Era of Trump a complicated affair. I started thinking about that this past week, when Orrin Hatch, the seven-term Republican senator from Utah, announced that he wouldn’t run for re-election this year. He joins two Republican colleagues, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, in announcing retirement. Word is that Steve Bannon is also very likely to have a lot more free time on his hands soon, especially since the billionaire Mercer family has cut off his funding, one of the few things that has kept him relevant. So even though they didn’t ask, I’m going to offer some pointers.)
— Diabetes Shouldn’t Bankrupt You – Elisabeth Rosenthal (DIERSEN: My outstanding father fought type 1 diabetes from age 14. That diabetes led to heart failure and his sudden death in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/diabetes-shouldnt-bankrupt-you.html
— Why Even Tougher Regulations on Smoking Are Justified – Robert H. Frank (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, virtually all of my superiors and supervisors who worked the hardest against me were older White male Democrats who were big smokers and big drinkers.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/business/economy/why-even-tougher-regulations-on-smoking-are-justified.html
— Where Pot Entrepreneurs Go When the Banks Just Say No As the legal markets for marijuana spread, a small credit union is solving a big problem: what to do with all the cash. – ROBB MANDELBAUM (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes talk and/or act like a) they smoke pot, b) they want to smoke pot legally, and/or c) they want to make lots of money selling pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/magazine/where-pot-entrepreneurs-go-when-the-banks-just-say-no.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump, his aides keep up attack against White House tell-all; president dismisses it as a ‘Fake Book’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/01/07/trump-his-aides-keep-up-attack-against-white-house-tell-all-president-dismisses-it-as-a-fake-book/

 

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
— In 2018, resolve to end elitism – RUBEN NAVARRETTE JR. (DIERSEN: Those who work on the front line against me paint themselves as being operatives or dupes for elites.)
http://journalstar.com/opinion/columnists/ruben-navarrette-in-resolve-to-end-elitism/article_0d84184b-9192-5e92-8729-cc289a929a3d.html

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Republicans, Democrats Agree Trump’s In Charge (DIERSEN: Who is in charge in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/december_2017/republicans_democrats_agree_trump_s_in_charge

January 6 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump, in pushback against new book, says he is ‘a very stable genius’ – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-pushing-back-against-book-says-he-is-a-very-stable-genius/2872778/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Police: Vehicle pulled over in Riverside was ‘rolling drug store’
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/crime/police-vehicle-pulled-over-in-riverside-was-rolling-drug-store

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump boasts that he’s a ‘very stable genius’ amid questions over his mental fitness – David Nakamura
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-stable-genius-20180106-story.html
— Cold snap expected to tie record, won’t break it – Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-ties-cold-snap-record-but-wont-break-it-20180106-story.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner’s to-do list looks familiar – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180106/statehouse-insider-rauners-to-do-list-looks-familiar
— Harley in the garage? Rauner gets his skates; Salary changes; Odom out; Turning Point – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180106/bernard-schoenburg-harley-in-garage-rauner-gets-his-skates

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry County clerk candidate Janice Dalton files for bankruptcy same day she joined race – ED KOMENDA
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/01/05/mchenry-county-clerk-candidate-janice-dalton-files-for-bankruptcy-same-day-she-joined-race/ajov0fw/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Dalton’s Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy filing lists $10,000 in video gambling losses and $30,000 in money she withdrew in her husband’s name from his annuity fund. Her husband, Michael Dalton, listed those losses in a separate Chapter 7 bankruptcy he filed in October, reporting the $32,000 loss as “wife misappropriated annuity funds.” Janice Dalton would not comment on details about the withdrawal from her husband’s annuity fund. “That’s between my husband and I, and that’s personal,” she said.)

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Private school tax credits off to good start – Editorial (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
http://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20180106/our-view-private-school-tax-credits-off-to-good-start

 

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Illinois 15th District Congressional Democratic candidate forum to be held January 9 (DIERSEN: The first question for candidates participating in Republican candidate forums in Illinois should be: If elected, do you promise to defend and advance all the planks in the Republican Party and Illinois Republican Party platforms including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks? The second question should be: What have you done that shows that you oppose the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminution of Second Amendment rights, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination?)
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/114084/illinois-15th-district-congressional-candidate-forum-to-be-held

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Pot industry frets, then shrugs off Sessions’ new policy – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/pot-industry-frets-then-shrugs-off-sessions-new-policy/904228745
— The Latest: Trump sees possible deal on young immigrants (DIERSEN: If Dreamers were surveyed, if they were asked if they would vote for Trump if Trump gave them U.S. citizenship, what would they say?)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/the-latest-trump-says-hes-well-prepared-for-2018-agenda/904247541

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Evangelicals and Mormons Are Political Allies, But Theological Rivals – TOM GJELTEN
http://nprillinois.org/post/evangelicals-and-mormons-are-political-allies-theological-rivals#stream/0

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— House Democrat announces he will not attend State of the Union address – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/5/earl-blumenauer-oregon-democrat-not-attend-state/

 

BREITBART
— Tucker Carlson: Republican Party Is Gone, Over, Toast If It Makes Deal With Dems on DACA, Chain Migration – JEFF POOR
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/01/06/tucker-carlson-republican-party-gone-toast-makes-deal-dems-daca-chain-migration/

 

TOWNHALL
— ‘No Wall, No DACA’ – Trump Speaks from Camp David – Timothy Meads
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timothymeads/2018/01/06/trump-demands-full-border-wall-funding-and-security-in-daca-negotiations-n2430929

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illinois city (Harvey) runs out of other people’s money – Thomas Lifson
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/illinois_city_runs_out_of_other_peoples_money.html
— Just who are the ‘DREAMers’? – Thomas Lifson
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/just_emwhoem_are_the_dreamers.html
— For NeverTrumps, good news for America is bad news – David Zukerman
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/for_never_trumpers_good_news_for_america_is_bad_news.html
— Trump offers DREAMer amnesty now for 300 miles of border wall by 2027 – Ed Straker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/trump_offers_dreamer_amnesty_now_for_300_miles_of_border_wall_by_2027.html

 

NBC NEWS
— LGBTQ nonprofits fear ‘disastrous’ losses under new tax plan – Julie Moreau
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-nonprofits-fear-disastrous-losses-under-new-tax-plan-n835081

 

CNN
— Jobs everywhere! Except at stores – Chris Isidore
http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/05/news/economy/retail-job-losses/index.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The top 10 gubernatorial races of 2018 – Amber Phillips
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/06/the-top-10-gubernatorial-races-of-2018/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 4. Illinois (Republican defending): What happens when two billionaires clash? We’re about to find out. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) is running for reelection in the bluest states in the Midwest and has already given his own campaign $50 million. But that’s peanuts to fellow billionaire J.B. Pritzker, of one of the wealthiest families in the country, who has said if he wins the nomination (over a field that includes a member of the Kennedy family), he’ll spend whatever it takes to win the general election. The Illinois race is shaping up to be the most expensive nonpresidential race in American history, which both sides say make it extremely unpredictable.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Senate Republicans become Trump accomplices in manipulating the system.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/05/senate-republicans-become-trump-accomplices-in-manipulating-the-system/

 

USA TODAY
— Marijuana sellers undeterred by threat of federal prosecution – Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/01/05/marijuana-sellers-undeterred-threat-federal-prosecution/1008483001/

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
— Website scores churches on the transparency of their LGBTQ policies – David J. SegalJan
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/houston-belief/article/Website-scores-churches-on-the-transparency-of-12478780.php

 

SACRAMENTO BEE
— California had a TV ad that promoted drug use? It’s Reefer Madness! – ERIKA D. SMITH
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/erika-d-smith/article193302749.html

 

FORBES
— Marijuana Investors Aren’t Scared By Sessions’ Change In Pot Policy – Mona Zhang (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/monazhang/2018/01/06/marijuana-investors-arent-scared-by-sessions-change-in-pot-policy/#5cf2da0880fb

 

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Warns Democrats Again: No Mexican Border Wall, No DACA – Bill Allison, Margaret Talev, and Laura Litvan
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-06/trump-warns-democrats-there-won-t-be-daca-deal-if-no-border-wall

 

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Overwhelmingly, a) Democrats 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 b) Republicans are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/06/republicans-now-party-identity-politics-donald-trump

January 6 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Trump-Bannon feud lays bare new fissure in fractious GOP.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-bc-us–trump-bannon-20180104-story.html
— Transgender inmate seeks transfer to female prison after claims of abuse involving guards – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-transgender-inmate-transfer-20180105-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “In Trump’s first year, stocks soar for rich, but wages stay flat.” Democrats have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you own stocks, you are rich. In its 4-page article on me in its February 1978 issue, Money Magazine reported that I owned 40 shares of Commonwealth Edison stock worth $1,155. I had bought those shares because back then, there was no federal income tax on the first $100 of dividends.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-stocks-wages-workers-20180105-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chris Kennedy takes low road by spreading conspiracy theory – Mary Mitchell
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/mitchell-chris-kennedy-takes-low-road-by-spreading-conspiracy-theory/
— Guv’s grandstanding aside, veterans home in Quincy should be closed – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/illinois-veterans-home-quincy-bruce-rauner-editorial/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Mark Zuckerberg’s 2018 resolution: Fix Facebook – Lindsey Bever
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180106/mark-zuckerbergs-2018-resolution-fix-facebook
— Pope: Don’t be misled by making money and career your life – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180106/news/301069971/

 

ABC7
— Sen. Durbin visits veterans home during Legionnaires’ crisis – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/sen-durbin-visits-veterans-home-during-legionnaires-crisis/2867405/

 

NBC5
— Roskam, Rauner Races Named as Must Watch
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/web—deep-dish-roskam-rauner-races_Chicago-468186113.html

 

CBS2
— Ford CEO’s Speech Against Sex Harassment Rings False To Some – Dana Kozlov
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/05/ford-ceos-speech-against-sex-harassment-rings-false-to-some/

 

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— Abortion on decline in DeKalb County, around Illinois Drop seen among most age groups, especially teens, since start of decade – ERIC R. OLSON
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2018/01/01/abortion-on-decline-in-dekalb-county-around-illinois/a7yohg/

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— In Chicago, a colorful race – Rich Miller
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/rich-miller-in-chicago-a-colorful-race/article_38a8f7b9-fa15-584f-92ff-9d9dce48570b.html

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Chamber Opposes Property Tax Freeze – Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/sponsored/articles/2018/01/05/13209882/index.xml

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Christian County officials need more help to fight drug abuse – Maximilian Kwiatkowski (DIERSEN: Who promotes drug abuse in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Who wants you to smoke pot instead of abusing opioids?)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180105/christian-co-officials-need-more-help-to-fight-drug-abuse

 

TIMES
— Marter v. Kinzinger: Congressman silent on debates – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/congressman-silent-on-debates/article_8b89b3c7-2d41-5da5-9975-ae5a9b86005c.html
— Debates: Citizens of the 16th Congressional District deserve better – Jaye DeBates
http://www.mywebtimes.com/opinion/columnists/debates-citizens-of-the-th-congressional-district-deserve-better/article_50a8d378-3395-5c6f-b558-35298333f072.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Suburban libraries training employees to help homeless – AP
http://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article193319809.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— DeBates: Forgery accusation ‘baseless’ Congressional hopefuls offer different stories – Brett Herrmann
http://www.newstrib.com/free/debates-forgery-accusation-baseless/article_eefcce54-f238-11e7-8f0a-5f7f1486d06a.html

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Candidate petitions challenged in 16th, 67th elections
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180105/candidate-petitions-challenged-in-16th-67th-elections

 

FREEPORT JOURNAL STANDARD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot pushers promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20180106/chuck-sweeny-sessions-is-repeating-nations-prohibition-mistake

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— State Lawmakers Ponder Sessions’ Pot Declaration – Greg Bishop
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=258025#.WlDkNIzR-M8
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Members of the following groups continues to push for Dreamers: 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.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257975#.WlDQcozR-M8

 

IROQUOIS COUNTY TIMES REPUBLIC
— Sanguinetti stops by IWMS – WENDY DAVIS
http://www.newsbug.info/iroquois_countys_times-republic/sanguinetti-stops-by-iwms/article_3c18e9e0-f2a5-11e7-8912-e7a326cc8e9a.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— African-American unemployment hit record low in December – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/africanamerican-unemployment-hit-record-low-in-december/904113601

 

WQAD
— Local dispensary manager predicts future Marijuana Revolution – CHRIS MINOR (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://wqad.com/2018/01/05/local-dispensary-manager-predicts-future-marijuana-revolution/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Goodbye To A Commission Established To Solve A Nonexistent Problem.”
http://nprillinois.org/post/goodbye-commission-established-solve-nonexistent-problem#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Will Rauner pass his first balanced budget?
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-will-rauner-pass-his-first-balanced-budget/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Med marijuana growers optimistic they will be unaffected following federal policy change – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/med-marijuana-growers-optimistic-they-will-be-unaffected-following-federal/article_23bbeb72-f22d-11e7-83de-ff8da2ca997c.html
— CEOs credit federal tax reform for influx of employee bonuses – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/ceos-credit-federal-tax-reform-for-influx-of-employee-bonuses/article_290d6c06-f195-11e7-a39a-1bd1bdc486ed.html

 

GOPUSA
— Desperate CNN shifts to mental illness in constant effort to bring Trump down (DIERSEN: Democrats have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you do not promote the Democrat Party platform, you are mentally ill.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36575

 

FOX NEWS INSIDER
— Tucker: If Republicans Betray Voters on Immigration, They’re Toast (DIERSEN: In Illinois, for far too long, far too many “Republican” elected officials and party leaders have betrayed Republican voters. Most commonly, they have failed/refused to defend/advance the traditional family, right to life, abortion, immigration, and illegal drugs planks in the Republican Party platform and Illinois Republican Party platform. Far too often they have promoted dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and even worse things.)
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/05/tucker-carlson-if-republican-party-betrays-voters-immigration-its-toast

 

BLAZE
— Here’s what Trump is demanding from the Democrats in exchange for ‘Dreamer’ amnesty – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/05/heres-what-trump-is-demanding-from-the-democrats-in-exchange-for-dreamer-amnesty
— Tucker Carlson says Trump should only cut a deal for amnesty with these conditions – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/05/tucker-carlson-says-trump-should-only-cut-a-deal-for-amnesty-with-these-conditions

 

TOWNHALL
— Steve Bannon is a Back-Stabbing Benedict Arnold – Jeff Crouere
https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffcrouere/2018/01/06/steve-bannon-is-a-backstabbing-benedict-arnold-n2430790

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— AP: Illinois’s biggest problem is pot – Jack Hellner
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/illinoiss_biggest_problem_is_pot.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: Taxes as Charity? New Jersey Towns Try to Elude G.O.P. Tax Law – Nick Corasaniti and Alan Rappeport (DIERSEN: What do all those units of government on your real estate tax bill have to say about this?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/nyregion/taxes-as-charity-new-jersey-towns-try-to-elude-gop-tax-law.html
— The U.S. Wanted to Discuss Iran. Russia Brought Up Black Lives Matter. – Michael Schwirtz
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/world/middleeast/un-iran-protests-debate.html
— Publicly, We Say #MeToo. Privately, We Have Misgivings. – Daphne Merkin (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout at women that women can destroy any man that they want to by charging that man with sexual harassment.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/opinion/golden-globes-metoo.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot pushers promote pot as the answer to opioid abuse.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/opinion/sessions-marijuana-crackdown.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers say “New Pot Policy by Trump Administration Draws Bipartisan Fire.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/us/politics/trump-marijuana-policy-bipartisan-fire.html
— Trump Defends His Mental Capacity, Calling Himself a ‘Genius’ – Michael Tackett
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/politics/trump-genius-mental-health.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump boasts that he’s ‘like, really smart’ and a ‘very stable genius’ amid questions over his mental fitness – David Nakamura
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/06/trump-boasts-that-hes-like-really-smart-and-a-very-stable-genius-amid-questions-over-his-mental-fitness/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Moderate Voters, Polarized Parties The author of ‘Unstable Majorities’ argues that if the electorate seems fickle, it’s because the politicians are too ideological. – James Taranto (DIERSEN: In Illinois, for far too long, far too many “Republican” elected officials and party leaders have betrayed Republican voters. Most commonly, they have failed/refused to defend/advance the traditional family, right to life, abortion, immigration, and illegal drugs planks in the Republican Party platform and Illinois Republican Party platform. Far too often they have promoted dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and even worse things.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderate-voters-polarized-parties-1515193066
— Jeff Sessions’s Marijuana Candor The AG is forcing legalizers to square federal and state law. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that they a) smoke pot, b) want to smoke pot legally, and/or c) want to make money selling pot.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeff-sessionss-marijuana-candor-1515197282
— China Emerges as Cadillac’s Top Market a Decade Sooner Than Expected Brand has tripled China sales over the last five years, appealing to young, luxury buyers – Mike Colias
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-emerges-as-cadillacs-top-market-a-decade-sooner-than-expected-1515183273
— Some Good Jobs News The black jobless rate falls to its lowest ever in the Labor statistics. – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-good-jobs-news-1515197365

 

NATION
— The GOP Tax Bill Was a Deliberate Attack on Blue States—And California Plans to Fight Back Here are some creative ways for blue states to resist the GOP power grab. – Sasha Abramsky
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-gop-tax-bill-was-a-deliberate-attack-on-blue-states-and-california-plans-to-fight-back/

 

NATIONAL
— Trump’s fire and fury reaction in trying to block an explosive new book is unprecedented It is unheard of for a US president to try to suppress a book he dislikes – but his coterie has been working overtime – Hussein Ibish
https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/trump-s-fire-and-fury-reaction-in-trying-to-block-an-explosive-new-book-is-unprecedented-1.693200

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— Michael Wolff’s Provocative Book About Trump Sold Out at One Store in 20 Minutes – ALIX LANGONE
http://time.com/money/5089578/michael-wolff-fire-and-fury-trump-sales/

 

REALTOR
— How Your Commute Time Should Affect Where You Buy a Home – Daniel Bortz (DIERSEN: Being able to walk to the Wheaton train station encouraged my wife and I to have 915 Cove Court build in Wheaton in 1984. Being able to walk to the College Avenue train station encouraged my wife and I to buy 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978. Being able to walk to work in the Loop and to classes at Loyola and DePaul encouraged me to buy condos in the Outer Drive East building in 1976 and 1974. Being able to drive to work in Harvey encouraged me to buy a new town home in University Park in 1972. But my commute time increased dramatically in 1973 when I was temporarily assigned to work in the Loop. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/463866)
https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/short-commute-time-affect-home-buying/

January 3 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump unloads on ex-strategist Steve Bannon: ‘He lost his mind’ – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-unloads-on-ex-strategist-steve-bannon-he-lost-his-mind/2856363/

 

NBC5
— Hastert Accuser Seeks to Reinstate Case – Phil Rogers
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/dennis-hastert-accuser-seeks-to-reinstate-case-467744683.html
— Doug Jones Becomes Only Democratic Senator With a Black Chief of Staff Dana Gresham served for eight years as assistant secretary for governmental affairs at the Department of Transportation during the Obama administration – Liz Lane
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Doug-Jones-Chief-of-Staff-Dana-Gresham-Senate-Democrats-467880803.html

 

WGN TV
— Chris Kennedy accuses Emanuel of plan to force out black Chicagoans – TAHMAN BRADLEY
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/03/chris-kennedy-accuses-emanuel-of-plan-to-force-out-black-chicagoans/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Kennedy accuses Emanuel of ‘strategic gentrification plan’ to force blacks out of Chicago – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: One could argue that Emanuel wants to force more than just Blacks out of Chicago. Emanuel talks and acts like he wants to force out of Chicago individuals, organizations, and companies that 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/local/politics/ct-met-chris-kennedy-rahm-emanuel-black-voters-20180103-story.html
— Trump slams Bannon: ‘When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind’ – Alex Wayne, Jennifer Jacobs
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-steve-bannon-book-treasonous-20180103-story.html
— Bonus or no, don’t get your hopes up for a raise – Rebecca Greenfield (DIERSEN: What raises have you gotten? My salary increased every year that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 because of COLAs, step increases, and/or promotions except 1980 when I took a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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 32.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-employee-raises-20180103-story.html
— Will County plans to demolish old courthouse – Susan DeMar Lafferty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-will-demo-courthouse-st-0103-20180102-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-pot-legalization-illinois-robert-reed-1418-story.html
— 2017 was bad, but 2018 could be much worse – Steve Chapman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-trump-war-recession-20180103-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump doesn’t have some master plan. He’s just angry and impulsive.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-tweets-angry-impulsive-20180103-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kennedy contends Rahm behind plan to push blacks out of city – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/chris-kennedy-accuses-rahm-emanuel-pushing-people-color-out-chicago/
— Army vet’s fight to avoid deportation lands in federal appeals court – Ashlee Rezin
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/army-vets-fight-to-avoid-deportation-lands-in-federal-appeals-court/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Her son served two tours in Afghanistan, but now faces deportation for a drug conviction. . .He had spent seven years behind bars for delivering cocaine. His family and supporters blame the error in judgement on head injuries and PTSD resulting from his time in the military that went untreated until Perez Jr. finally received medical attention behind bars.)
— Trump sinks to a new low in 2018, and the world shudders – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/trump-north-korea-nuclear-button-sinks-to-a-new-low-in-2018-and-the-world-shudders/
— Garry McCarthy inches closer to challenging Rahm Emanuel – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/garry-mccarthy-inches-closer-to-challenging-rahm-emanuel/
— Sessions sends Illinois four more federal prosecutors to focus on violent crime – Matthew Hendrickson
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sessions-sends-illinois-four-more-federal-prosecutors-to-focus-on-violent-crime/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump: Bannon ‘lost his mind’ after leaving White House – Bloombrerg
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180103/trump-bannon-lost-his-mind-after-leaving-white-house
— College of DuPage helps students navigate toward success – Ann Rondeau
http://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20180103/college-of-dupage-helps-students-navigate-toward-success

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Taxpayers give $36M to scholarships on 1st day of new credit – AP (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180103/taxpayers-give-36m-to-scholarships-on-1st-day-of-new-credit

 

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Right wing targets Medicare, Social Security – Bill Knight (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are furious that I have gotten Medicare since 2013 and Social Security since 2010. Medicare costs me $1,308 a year. My $2,064/year Social Security is dramatically reduced because I get a Civil Service Retirement System pension.)
http://www.galesburg.com/opinion/20180103/bill-knight-right-wing-targets-medicare-social-security

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Police seek suspects in string of gambling machine burglaries; company offers reward – DANA RIECK
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article192782539.html

 

WGLT
— Davis Defends Trump’s ‘Strong Stance’ in North Korea Nuclear Button Tweet – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/davis-defends-trumps-strong-stance-north-korea-nuclear-button-tweet#stream/0

 

WNNS
— Rauner Vows to Roll Back “Madigan Tax Hike”
http://www.wnns.com/2018/01/03/rauner-vows-to-roll-back-madigan-tax-hike/

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Responds To California Becoming A Sanctuary State
http://mailchi.mp/f246a4c57a0b/ives-responds-to-california-becoming-a-sanctuary-state?e=985ad8c00b

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Balich sees high taxes as fueling exodus from ‘broke state’ – Angela Underwood
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511306950-balich-sees-high-taxes-as-fueling-exodus-from-broke-state

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives pledges to repeal “extreme and dangerous” Trust Act
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/ives-pledges-to-repeal-extreme-and-dangerous-trust-act/
— Mayor Emanuel, CPD Supt. Johnson respond *** Kennedy claims a “strategic gentrification plan” is deliberately forcing people of color to leave Chicago
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/kennedy-claims-a-strategic-gentrification-plan-is-deliberately-forcing-people-of-color-to-leave-chicago/
— Rauner makes some budget promises
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/rauner-makes-some-budget-promises/
— Rauner foundation donates $100K to Cairo Port project, but lots more needed
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/rauner-foundation-donates-100k-to-cairo-port-project-but-lots-more-needed/
— Pressed on anti-violence specifics, Kennedy says banning legislators from property tax appeals work is his top issue
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/pressed-on-anti-violence-specifics-kennedy-says-banning-legislators-from-property-tax-appeals-work-is-his-top-issue/

 

BLAZE
— Pennsylvania State Police urge gun owners to give up firearms to get medical marijuana – Sarah Taylor (DIERSEN: Further, to buy pot, you should be required to give up your driver’s license.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/03/pennsylvania-state-police-urge-gun-owners-to-give-up-firearms-to-get-medical-marijuana

 

HOT AIR
— “Morale Has Never Been Lower”: Federal Gov’t Employment Declines In First Trump Year – ED MORRISSEY (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, a) virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats and b) whenever Republican politicians did something harmful to federal employees, they took their anger out on me.)
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/01/02/morale-never-lower-federal-govt-employment-declines-first-trump-year/

 

FOX NEWS INSIDER
— ‘Essentially Un-American’: Varney Calls Out Bloated Salaries of Federal Gov’t Employees – Stuart Varney (DIERSEN: Varney should acknowledge that many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid. I doubt that Varney or anyone who agrees with him would ever stoop to take a job with the federal government.)
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/03/stuart-varney-report-federal-employee-pay-reveals-essentially-un-american-bureaucracy

 

GOPUSA
— Felons welcome! Fake road signs mock California’s new status as ‘sanctuary state’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36358
— Hillary donors paid $700K in hunt for Trump accusers
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36301
— Trump to announce awards for worst ‘fake news’ journalism (DIERSEN: It would be great if my critics/opponents would a) get together, b) review each of the almost 290,400 articles that I have included links to in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails since 2004, c) identify all those articles that they disapprove of and explain in detail why they disapprove of each of them, d) identify all my comments in those emails that they disapprove of and explain in detail why they disapprove of each of them, and e) provide me with the aforesaid information in writing so that I could respond to it. In addition, it would be great if my critics/opponents would provide me with a written list of all those who are on their blacklists so that I could respond to that.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36361
— Renters Win in Tax Law; Dems Lie About It (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36307
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Renters came out winners under the new tax law. For over a century, the federal tax code catered to homeowners and treated renters like second-class citizens. Homeowners have been able to deduct interest on their mortgages and home equity loans, as well as property taxes. Meanwhile, everyone, including renters, footed the bill for these deductions by paying higher rates. The new tax law at last begins leveling the playing field between renters and homeowners. Millions of New Yorkers and Californians reap the benefits, because these states have among the lowest rates of homeownership in the nation, and renting is common. So ignore the hyperventilating from Democratic politicians that tax reform is a gift to the rich. New York Senator Chuck Schumer condemns the new tax law as “a gut shot to the middle class” while “rewarding the wealthiest among us.” Just the opposite is true. Tax reform benefits renters living in urban areas — a key Democratic constituency. Democrats are usually eager to slap taxes on millionaires. But today, they’re defending deductions that benefit only the wealthiest homeowners in the country’s most expensive East and West Coast enclaves. Places like Westchester County, New York, and Marin County, California. Under the new tax law, everyone — renters and homeowners alike — will have their tax rates cut and their standard deduction almost doubled. Most will end up paying less tax. To cover the cost of these cuts, the law caps the mortgage deduction for buyers of the priciest real estate. Few homebuyers will even notice it, because they’re not borrowing $750,000 or more. Last year, only 4 percent of homebuyers borrowed that much, and only about 100,000 buyers will take out such huge mortgages in 2018. It’s true that the cap will likely hit the wallets of the bicoastal elite. Some 64 percent of buyers in Manhattan’s rarefied real estate market took out a mortgage that big, and 58 percent of San Francisco buyers did. But the tax change certainly won’t hurt middle class first-time homebuyers. On average, they buy homes with a median price of $182,500. In the past, the tax code encouraged wealthy homeowners to buy even bigger homes and borrow more. Great for the wealthy and the banks. No much help for the average Joe. Homeownership isn’t any higher than in the late 1960s — with only 64 percent of households owning their own home. For minorities, the goal is even farther out of reach, with only 46 percent of black families and Hispanic families owning their home. So disregard the partisan claim that lowering the cap on the mortgage interest deduction is going to hurt the middle class. The other major deduction for homeowners has been property taxes. The new law puts a $10,000 lid on deducting all state and local taxes combined, whether income, sales, or property taxes. Homeowners in most of the nation don’t have much to worry about. Hardest hit are a few tony counties with multimillion dollar homes like Westchester County, New York, where the average property tax tab is a whopping $15,000. For that, the streets should be paved with gold. But only one-fifth of New York property owners pay over $10,000 and about 30 percent of New Jersey homeowners do. Schumer rants against the new tax law, claiming it hurts “middle-class and working families.” Baloney. Tax reform makes the tax code more progressive, not less. It imposes added costs on the wealthiest homeowners to fund across-the-board tax breaks for all filers. Including renters. Homeowners still have the option of taking deductions for most mortgage interest and property taxes, but almost all will crunch the numbers and find it pays to take the nearly doubled standard deduction instead. Only 5 percent of filers are expected to itemize. California’s Jerry Brown calls the tax law “evil in the extreme.” That’s demagoguery. Most taxpayers will end up with more money in their wallets. Betsy McCaughey is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research and a former lieutenant governor of New York State.)

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— The ‘Dreamers’ Have No Right to Demand Anything – Peter Parisi
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/03/why-dreamers-have-no-right-to-demand-anything/

 

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Not-So-Beautiful Dreamers: The Reality Behind the Media Airbrushing – Hans A. von Spakovsky
http://www.heritage.org/immigration/commentary/not-so-beautiful-dreamers-the-reality-behind-the-media-airbrushing

 

THE HILL
— Labor Department eyes drug test rule for unemployment pay – LYDIA WHEELER
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/367154-labor-department-eyes-drug-test-rule-for-unemployment-pay
— In the long run, low-wage workers lose out in ‘Fight for $15’ – JACK SALMON
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/367111-in-the-long-run-low-wage-workers-lose-out-in-fight-for-15

 

POLITICO
— Trump disbands voter fraud commission
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/03/trump-disbands-voter-fraud-commission-322621

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Cuomo says New York will sue over GOP tax law – Jeff Stein (DIERSEN: Will all those across America who prepaid their real estate taxes have the opportunity to be parties in class action lawsuits?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/01/03/cuomo-says-new-york-will-sue-over-gop-tax-law/?utm_term=.83aff040f025
(FROM THE ARTICLES: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that New York state will sue the federal government over the new Republican tax law, but legal experts are skeptical the lawsuit will hold up in court. Cuomo said New York will challenge a provision of the law that limits how much Americans can deduct from their federal taxes for payments made to state and local governments. Many of the people most affected by that provision live in states run by Democrats, which tend to have higher state and local tax rates. Cuomo, widely seen as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, said the provision is “violative of states’ rights and the principle of equal protection.”)
— Trump portrayed as uninformed, unprepared and lacking focus in unflattering new book – John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-portrayed-as-uninformed-unprepared-and-lacking-focus-in-unflattering-new-book/2018/01/03/f63895f8-f0bd-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html
— Trump abolishes controversial commission studying voter fraud – John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-abolishes-controversial-commission-studying-voter-fraud/2018/01/03/665b1878-f0e2-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Why Steve Bannon’s revolt may only wind up strengthening establishment Republicans – NOAH ROTHMAN
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/bannon-revolt-wind-strengthening-establishment-article-1.3735860

 

FED WEEK
— Mileage Rates Increase Slightly (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes remain furious that the Post Office paid me millage when I a) used my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint to deliver mail during 1966 and 1967, b) used my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 to deliver mail in 1968, and used my 1969 Dodge Charger SE to deliver mail in 1969. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes remain furious that IRS paid me mileage when I used my 1962 Chevy BelAir to collect delinquent taxes 1971-1978.)
http://www.fedweek.com/federal-managers-daily-report/mileage-rates-increase-slightly/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: GSA has announced the calendar year 2018 mileage reimbursement rates for federal employees using personal vehicles while on official business and as authorized by the agency. The new rates are: for the use of a privately owned automobile, 54.5 cents per mile if no government-owned vehicle is available and 18 cents per mile if one is available; for a motorcycle, 51.5 cents per mile; for a privately owned airplane, $1.21 per mile. The so-called “POV” rate, the most closely watched, mirrors a recent increase by the IRS in a comparable rate used for certain tax deduction purposes. The GSA typically mirrors the IRS regarding that rate in setting the federal employee rate, although it is not required to.)

January 3 Morning Adition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— A look at who’s raised the most in race to replace Lisa Madigan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the Republican side, former congressional candidate Erika Harold raised about $116,000 in the last three months. Harold, who has the backing of much of the state’s Republican establishment, has collected nearly $250,000 so far. DuPage County Board member Gary Grasso raised about $90,000. Some caveats: The numbers reported so far only reflect donations of $1,000 or more, and some donations made in the waning days of December might not have shown up yet.)
— Ives gets Fremont Township GOP backing – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html
— Does speaking Spanish make one Latino? – Anne Vasquez (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will members of the following groups succeed in stopping you from getting an education, from getting a job, from etc. unless you speak, read, and write Spanish: 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.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-spanish-language-latino-cultural-identity-0103-20180102-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s misguided ideas about Chicago crime.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-trump-murder-rate-jeff-sessions-0103-20180102-story.html
— Universities face #MeToo movement over sexual harassment – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–sexual-misconduct-universities-20171228-story.html
— Victim behind Dennis Hastert downfall seeks protective order in lawsuit – Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-dennis-hastert-lawsuit-protective-order-20180101-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville Township officials want responsibility for highway department – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-township-road-merger-st-0103recovered-tue-jan–2-110643-201-20180102-story.html
— Trump to have medical exam in January, release results – Justin Sink
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180103/281706910065438
— Advocates debate helping homeless – Amy Taxin and Geoff Mulvihill
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180103/281736974836510

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Animal Care and Control Chief orders pit bull that bit her euthanized – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/animal-care-and-control-shelter/
— Man suing Dennis Hastert wants to keep some details secret – Jon Seidel
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/man-suing-ex-house-speaker-dennis-hastert-wants-some-details-secret/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Who gets the interest from the property taxes you paid early? – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180103/who-gets-the-interest-from-the-property-taxes-you-paid-early

 

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Stopping the Illinois population’s downward spiral State is now 6th largest in the nation, dropping behind Pennsylvania – Kelley Bowles (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, those who are being driven out of Illinois are members of the following groups: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Soon, if not already, virtually everyone left in Illinois will be members of the following groups: 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.ourquadcities.com/news/4-the-record/stopping-the-illinois-populations-downward-spiral/897305431

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Another load of laws from Legislature – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-01-03/another-load-laws-legislature.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Davis Verbally Pokes at Bernie Sanders (DIERSEN: What if all those who prepaid their real estate taxes were surveyed about the recently passed tax reform plan?)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257837
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville says he continues to get positive feedback about the recently passed tax reform plan as he travels along the 13th Congressional District. Davis recently blasted one of the high profile opponents of the reform plan while touting its benefits. (AUDIO CLIP) Davis says Illinoisans will see the benefits of the tax plan in less than a month.)

 

SOUTHERN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps glorify and praise those who come to America illegally, who stay in America illegally, and who bring others to America illegally.
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/the-undocumented-immigrant-next-door-he-came-to-america-to/article_3fbbb0c3-31f6-5331-9307-54f6fa10dc47.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump: My ‘nuclear button’ is bigger than Kim’s
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/the-latest-trump-says-his-nuclear-button-is-bigger/897688798

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Rock Island County Republicans support Ives
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511306020-rock-island-county-republicans-support-ives

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Scathing Fox News report caps “rough first term” for Rauner
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-scathing-fox-news-report-caps-rough-first-term-for-rauner/

 

GOPUSA
— Where is the feminist support for the oppressed women in Iran?
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36323

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— OPTIMISM ABOUT TRUMP IN 2018 – Star Parker
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/optimism-about-trump-in-2018/
— DANGERS OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL – Walter E. Williams
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/dangers-of-government-control/

 

TOWNHALL
— An Unfond Farewell to Un-statesman Orrin Hatch – Michelle Malkin
https://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2018/01/03/an-unfond-farewell-to-unstatesman-orrin-hatch-n2429306
— GOP President and Congress Still Funding Planned Parenthood – Terry Jeffrey
https://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2018/01/03/gop-president-and-congress-still-funding-planned-parenthood-n2429315

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Government watchdog group could be the key to ‘draining the swamp’ (DIERSEN: What about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid? What percent of federal employees are a) Democrat, b) minority, c) female, and d) non-veteran?)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2018/01/02/government-watchdog-group-could-be-key-to-draining-swamp.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Throughout Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, he promised to “drain the swamp” and to end political corruption in Washington. An organization called OpenTheBooks.com could be the key to making President Trump’s promise a reality. The government watchdog organization discloses the amount of spending at every level of government across the U.S. Recently, the website released a 40-page report called “Mapping the Swamp” that reveals all publicly disclosed federal salaries and bonuses of government employees for the 2016 fiscal year. OpenTheBooks.com CEO Adam Andrzejewski said Tuesday that his organization could help provide President Trump with data supporting his claims of government corruption. “One thing that drives taxpayers crazy is the $1.5 billion worth of bonuses that are given out each year. So all of these agency heads and the president leading on this can bring forth civil service reform this year-we’ve got the data to back it all up,” he told FOX Business’ David Asman on “After the Bell.” According to the “Mapping the Swamp” report, 29,852 federal employees make over $190,823 a year, which out earned each of the 50 state governors.)

 

THE HILL
— Trump ICE pick: Politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes – BRANDON CONRADIS
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/367167-trump-ice-pick-politicians-who-run-sanctuary-cities-should-be-charged

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Iranian Authorities Block Access to Social Media Tools – Sheera Frenkel (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents want to block? My critics/opponents want to block everyone a) from getting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) from visiting www.gopillinois.com.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/technology/iran-protests-social-media.html
— Critics Say Questions About Citizenship Could Wreck Chances for an Accurate Census – Michael Wines (DIERSEN: How many illegals are there in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and America?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/us/census-citizenship-status-immigrants.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrats Outline Demands as Threat of Shutdown Looms – Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Thomas Kaplan (DIERSEN: What have the Democrats, Libertarians, and Greens in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois demanded? From what I see, they have demanded that Republican township, ward, and county organizations and the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) a) GET RID OF those like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) and other planks in the Republican Party platform and the IRP platform; b) GET RID OF those like me who support the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling; c) GET RID OF those like me who do not promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid; and d) GET RID OF those like me who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/us/politics/senate-democrats-government-shutdown-immigration.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— CHICAGO TRIBUNE FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: President boasts of ‘my’ arsenal – Tracy Wilkinson
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-fg-trump-korea-20180102-story.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Why do so many Republicans hate college? – Catherine Rampell (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, colleges focus on cranking out “good little Democrats.”)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-do-so-many-republicans-hate-college/2017/12/28/db55f5f6-ec16-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Should Business Be ‘Grateful’? In fact, we should all be grateful when tax reform leads to better incentives. – Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. (DIERSEN: Those who prepaid their real estate taxes are not grateful.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/should-business-be-grateful-1514940942
— ‘White-Informed Civility’ Is the Latest Target in the Campus Wars The rules of collegiate debate are also coming under attack as racist and patriarchal. – Steve Salerno
https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-informed-civility-is-the-latest-target-in-the-campus-wars-1514938758
— Looking for a Few Good Men A society that won’t let boys be boys will pay a price in the end. – Angela Rocco DeCarlo
https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-for-a-few-good-men-1514941459
— Even If Your New Job Is a Bad Fit, Don’t Quit How to evaluate whether the challenges can be overcome or it’s really a toxic workplace – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Have you worked in toxic workplaces? Soon after I took a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars (a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5, currently $91,880, to GS-9 Step 10, currently $72,677) to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, I learned how toxic its Chicago office was for those who shared my demographics. Nevertheless, I counted on the GAO manager who had arranged for my transfer a) to protect me from political affiliation discrimination, from reverse discrimination, and from age discrimination, b) to get me assigned to audits of IRS, c) to get me promoted to GS-11 Step 10 (currently $87,933), to GS-12 Step 5 (currently $91,880), to GS-13 Step 1 (currently $96,403), etc. However, ever-increasingly, the Democrats who ran the office did everything that they could to get rid of him. Nevertheless, in 1986, he succeeded a) in getting me assigned to audits of IRS and b) in promoting me to GS-13 Step 1 (currently $96,403). However, the Democrats succeeded a) in getting rid of him in 1987, b) in throwing me off audits of IRS in 1989, c) in keeping me off audits of IRS for the rest of my GAO career, d) in giving me unfair performance expectations and unfair performance appraisals, e) in always ranking me the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and f) in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-if-your-brand-new-job-is-a-bad-fit-dont-quit-1514906394
— Iranians Turn to Telegram App Amid Protests People have used the messaging tool to share information and videos – Sam Schechner and Stu Woo (DIERSEN: In Illinois, what tools should Republicans make better use of to protest a) Democrats and Democrat plants, b) Libertarians and Libertarian plants, c) Greens and Green plants, and d) RINOs?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/iranians-turn-to-telegram-app-amid-protests-1514919114

THE WEEK
— Why are Illinois Democrats banking on a billionaire in 2018? – David Faris
http://theweek.com/articles/742925/why-are-illinois-democrats-banking-billionaire-2018

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California’s New Pot Law May Popularize Weed Weddings, Budtenders, Canna-bus Rides and Pot ‘Church’ – VICTORIA TAFT
https://ijr.com/the-declaration/2018/01/1042948-californias-new-pot-law-will-popularize-weed-weddings-bud-tenders-canna-bus-rides-pot-church/

 

VANITY FAIR
— WILL 2018 BE THE YEAR THE INTERNET KILLS OLD MEDIA? Experts share their fears—and their hopes—for another year of reckoning with the digital apocalypse. – JAMES WARREN
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/will-2018-be-the-year-the-internet-kills-old-media

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— America’s Next Retirement Crisis Could Be That Baby Boomers Are Living Too Long – ELANA HOLODNY (DIERSEN: What is your life expectancy?)
http://time.com/money/5072402/americas-next-retirement-crisis-could-be-that-baby-boomers-are-living-too-long/

 

FED WEEK
— New Year’s Resolutions for your Career – Nancy Segal (DIERSEN: What would have helped you move up your career ladder? The federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 if I had been a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, I would have focused on helping my superiors meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, that is, I would have helped them get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. If I had been a Democrat, I would not have complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation. If I had been a Democrat, I would not have become an active member in a class action lawsuit in 1988 when I was 40 years old that charged the federal government with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
https://ask.fedweek.com/career-resolutions-made-2018/

January 2 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Conservative groups file appeal in taxpayer-funded abortion challenge – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-lawsuit-20180102-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Catholic Thomas More Society filed a notice of appeal Tuesday on behalf of conservative groups and legislators. They’re seeking an emergency injunction to keep the law from taking effect. State Rep. Peter Breen, a Lombard Republican who’s special counsel for the society, says lawmakers passed the measure too late in 2017 for it to take effect Jan. 1 and didn’t appropriate funding. Breen says there’s still time to block the law from being implemented since processing requests for procedure reimbursements takes months.)
— Giving up booze for Dry January? Here’s some advice from the experts – Fritz Hahn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-dry-january-tips-20180102-story.html
— Michele Bachmann mulls run for Al Franken’s Senate seat – Sarah Pulliam Bailey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-michele-bachmann-al-franken-senate-20180102-story.html
— State Senator Michael Connelly to speak at Republican monthly meeting Saturday, January 6th
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/community/chi-ugc-article-state-senator-connelly-to-speak-at-republican-2018-01-02-story.html
— Trump takes hard line on ‘dreamers,’ but remains interested in a deal – Robert Costa, David Nakamura and Ashley Parker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-immigration-daca-20180102-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Cronin: Merging two county offices (county clerk’s office with the DuPage Election Commission) a top issue – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/cronin-merging-two-county-offices-a-top-issue
— State Sen. Michael Connelly meeting with Palatine Republicans Saturday, Jan. 6
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/state-sen-connelly-meeting-with-palatine-republicans

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Cook County property tax prepayments reach $750 million. How high will they go? – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180102/BLOGS02/180109991/cook-county-property-tax-prepayments-reach-750-million-how-high-will

 

WTTW
— Conservative Lawmakers Back Effort to Block Publicly Funded Abortions – Nick Blumberg
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/01/02/conservative-lawmakers-back-effort-block-publicly-funded-abortions

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Conservative groups appeal in public-pay abortion challenge – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180102/conservative-groups-appeal-in-public-pay-abortion-challenge

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— Mail carriers walk to stay warm ‘when it’s this extreme’ – Jack Cullen (DIERSEN: I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969.)
http://qctimes.com/news/local/mail-carriers-walk-to-stay-warm-when-it-s-this/article_65185e78-06a8-57df-80df-e0b88540be02.html

 

WJBC
— Illinois ACLU: Trust Act not a substitute for Bloomington ‘welcoming city’ ordinance – Howard Packowitz (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, ACLU makes it clear that it is 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 for a long time.)
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/01/02/illinois-aclu-trust-act-not-a-substitute-for-bloomington-welcoming-city-ordinance/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— U.S. calls on Iran to unblock social media sites amid protests – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/us-calls-on-iran-to-unblock-social-media-sites-amid-protests/897164460

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Fremont Township Republicans Unanimously Endorse Ives for Governor
http://mailchi.mp/36f517dd81d2/fremont-township-republican-organization-unanimously-endorses-ives-for-governor
— Ives On Fox News Channel Report on Deaths in Quincy Veterans Home
http://mailchi.mp/f3d3f5bc2eff/ives-on-fox-news-channel-report-on-deaths-in-illinois-veterans-home

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— 2017 IN REVIEW: Bruce Rauner and his money grabbers ruin Illinois
https://realgopillinois.com/2018/01/02/2017-rauner-gop-ruin-illinois/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Researcher: Government shares some blame in opioid crisis – Benjamin Yount
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/researcher-government-shares-some-blame-in-opioid-crisis/article_c1173f46-ecc1-11e7-820a-0735050da85d.html

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— LAND OF LEAVING: MOVING COMPANIES RANK ILLINOIS NO. 1 FOR OUTBOUND VANS – Brendan Bakala
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/land-of-leaving-moving-companies-rank-illinois-no-1-for-outbound-vans/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— FIRST GOP TOWNSHIP ORG ENDORSES IVES OVER GOVERNOR RAUNER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/first-gop-township-org-endorses-ives-over-governor-rauner.html

— KEY DEMOCRATS RIPPED FOR STICKING WITH COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR JOE BERRIOS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/key-democrats-ripped-for-sticking-with-cook-county-assessor-joe-berrios.html
— EARLY VOTING STARTS FEBRUARY 21 IN ILLINOIS PRIMARY CONTESTS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/early-voting-starts-february-21-in-illinois-primary-contests.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives suggests Rauner to blame for veterans’ home deaths – Stephen Dinan
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/02/ives-suggests-rauner-to-blame-for-veterans-home-deaths/
— Illinois pulls EDGE credit for spiraling company after investors (including Pritzker) are subpoenaed
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/02/illinois-pulls-edge-credit-for-spiraling-company-after-investors-including-pritzker-are-subpoenaed/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats plan MLK holiday ‘teach-ins’ to rally against Trump – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/2/dems-plan-mlk-holiday-teach-ins-against-trump/

 

CNS NEWS
— Planned Parenthood: We Did 321,384 Abortions; Got $543.7 Million in Tax Dollars – Terence P. Jeffrey
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/planned-parenthood-we-did-321384-abortions-got-5437-million-tax

 

FOX NEWS
— ‘How MUCH is that federal salary?’ Now you (and all taxpayers) can help drain the swamp – Adam Andrzejewski (DIERSEN: Those who have represented me in Washington have acted like my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have shouted at them a) that the federal government has always overpaid me, b) that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is too generous, and c) that my federal health, dental, and vision subsidies are too generous. Of course, they protested a) when the Post Office hired me in 1966 and let me work there for almost 3 years, b) when IRS hired me in 1971 and let me work there for almost 9 years, c) when IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974, d) when GAO hired me in 1980 and let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) when GAO promoted me in 1986. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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 32.)
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/02/how-much-is-that-federal-salary-now-and-all-taxpayers-can-help-drain-swamp.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It’s past time to take on the governing elite and reform federal civil service compensation and you should feel that way too. The source of the problem is often not the employees themselves, who are spread across the country, but politicians in Washington who refuse to set priorities and make hard choices. You may feel like trying to put some reformist heat on them after checking out what’s happening in your own area. What will you find in your own backyard? Whatever it is, let Washington know. Call it entitlement reform for bureaucrats and the politicians who fund them.)

 

THE HILL
— Legally, slashing federal payrolls won’t save us any money – SAM WICE
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/367048-legally-slashing-federal-payrolls-wont-save-us-any-money

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— GOP’s Bachmann mulling bid for Franken’s Senate seat
https://wtop.com/congress/2018/01/gops-bachmann-mulling-bid-for-frankens-senate-seat/

 

CNN
— Liberal media pushes Democrats’ tax propaganda
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36155

 

NEW YORK POST
— New York and co. are paying the price for being Deep Blue – John Podhoretz
https://nypost.com/2018/01/02/new-york-and-co-are-paying-the-price-for-being-deep-blue/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But what we do know is this: Had there been a single Republican senator in any of the high-tax states in America — a senator in New York or New Jersey or Illinois or California or Oregon or Minnesota or Hawaii — the elimination of the SALT deduction would likely not have been included in the final tax-reform bill.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump takes hard line on ‘dreamers,’ but remains interested in a deal – Robert Costa, David Nakamura and Ashley Parker
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-takes-hard-line-on-dreamers-but-remains-interested-in-a-deal/2018/01/02/45a47e20-efdf-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP SAYS HISPANICS WILL START ‘FALLING IN LOVE’ WITH HIM AND REPUBLICANS OVER DACA – MARIA PEREZ (DIERSEN: Will Trump say that all those who prepaid their real estate taxes will start falling in love with him over the Republican tax bill?)
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-says-hispanics-will-start-falling-love-him-and-republicans-over-daca-768263

January 2 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California rolls its own recreational pot sales out for 2018 – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-bc-us–california-marijuana-open-for-business-20180102-story.html
— Stories to watch in Chicago and Illinois politics in 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-chicago-politics-look-ahead-2018-20171221-story.html
— Paying for pricey continuing care – Patricia Mertz Esswein and Eileen Ambrose (DIERSEN: My 87-year-old aunt is paying $239 a day to live in an assisted living facility. That is $1,673 a week, $7,403 a month, $87,235 a year, and $872,350 a decade.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/kiplinger/tca-paying-for-pricey-continuing-care-20171227-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California rolls its own recreational pot sales out for 2018 – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180102/news/301029979/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote Democrats.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/democrats-vying-to-oppose-roskam-give-views-on-health-care

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The next step in tax reform is tax repair – NOAH SMITH (DIERSEN: Hopefully, the Republicans will remove the $10,000 limit on real estate and state income tax deductions.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171229/OPINION/171229916
— Downtown growth leads Chicago to highest job peak in decades – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: I worked in downtown Chicago in 1971 and then 1973-1997. I lived in downtown Chicago weekdays 1974-1976 and then full-time 1976-1978. I took courses in downtown Chicago 1966-1968, 1971-1983, and 1992-1997.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180102/BLOGS02/180109998

 

WBEZ
— Illinois Tax Credits For Private Schools Expected To Be Claimed In Days – Linda Lutton (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/illinois-tax-credits-for-private-schools-expected-to-be-claimed-in-days/b329d4c6-0fc0-4e37-8d2d-099f8467553a

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want more money to register Democrats to vote.
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257784

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Illinois taxpayers expected to snap up credits for scholarships – Pam Adams (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171231/illinois-taxpayers-expected-to-snap-up-credits-for-scholarships

 

WAND
— Medicaid overhaul adds clients, bumps up cost
http://www.wandtv.com/story/37171533/medicaid-overhaul-adds-clients-bumps-up-cost

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— RAUNER TO SPEAK — The Lincoln Forum, which launched late last year as something of a foil to the City Club of Chicago, has booked Gov. Bruce Rauner as its first speaker of 2018. The event is at 5:30 p.m. January 22 in the Chicago Athletic Association’s historic Madison Ballroom, 12 S. Michigan Ave. Unless we’re mistaken, Rauner hasn’t spoken at the City Club, though Illinois First Lady Diana Rauner has. The Lincoln Forum was started in part by longtime Rauner ally Pat Brady. More details here: www.LincolnForum.org (DIERSEN: Of course, Pat Brady and all my other critics/opponents are overjoyed that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois is dead.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/02/sizing-up-governor-candidates-fundraising-234247
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Natasha Korecki says “Happy New Year, Illinois! Great to be back after completely unplugging for two weeks.” Your GOPUSA Illinois Editor has never been completely unplugged, does not want to be completely unplugged, and will never be completely unplugging. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails go out each and every morning and each and every evening.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/02/sizing-up-governor-candidates-fundraising-234247

 

DAILY CALLER
— Never Trumpers Check Their White Privilege – Scott Greer (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned: 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://dailycaller.com/2018/01/01/never-trumpers-check-their-white-privilege/

 

FREE BEACON
— Trump Admin Throws Weight Behind Union Challenge Brief argues that government unions are inherently political – Bill McMorris (DIERSEN: GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1997, I might still be a GAO employee.)
http://freebeacon.com/issues/trump-admin-throws-weight-behind-union-challenge/

 

PUBLIUS FORUM
— Donald Trump Has Trimmed Thousands of Government Workers, But So Far it is Tens of Thousands Too Few – Warner Todd Huston (DIERSEN: Do you want all federal employees to be Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans? Jobs should not be trimmed at all agencies, for example, jobs should not be trimmed at GAO. Democrats run the federal government. When they trim jobs, they get rid of employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. Soon, all federal employees will be Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans.)
http://www.publiusforum.com/2018/01/01/donald-trump-trimmed-thousands-government-workers-far-tens-thousands/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Researcher: Government shares some blame in opioid crisis – Benjamin Yount
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/researcher-government-shares-some-blame-in-opioid-crisis/article_c1173f46-ecc1-11e7-820a-0735050da85d.html

 

CBN NEWS
— 5 Tips For Making Financial Resolutions For The New Year
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2018/january/5-tips-for-making-financial-resolutions-for-the-new-year

 

THE HILL
— Financial New Year’s resolutions that will pay off – JOHN PELLETIER
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366820-financial-new-years-resolutions-that-will-pay-off

 

CBS NEWS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Recreational marijuana sales begin in California
https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/recreational-marijuana-sales-begin-in-california/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Recreational Pot Is Officially Legal in California – Thomas Fuller
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/us/legal-pot-california.html
— The Retreat to Tribalism – David Brooks (DIERSEN: Democrats used to promote integration, but now they promote segregation.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/opinion/the-retreat-to-tribalism.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR GRAPHIC: Caterpillar Clashes With IRS – Andrew Tangel and Michael Rapoport
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2018/01/02/caterpillar-clashes-with-irs-wsj-2.html

 

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot sales now legal in California – Colin Atagi
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/01/legal-california-pot/994263001/

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Paying yourself first pays off – Mike Causey
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2018/01/paying-yourself-first-pays-off/

 

FINANCIAL EXPRESS
— Top 10 New Year resolutions for 2018 that will put your financial house in order – Sanjeev Sinha
http://www.financialexpress.com/money/top-10-new-year-resolutions-for-2018-that-will-put-your-financial-house-in-order/997103/

 

REALTOR
— What Is ‘House Poor’? What It Means, and Whether You’re at Risk – Daniel Bortz
https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/what-is-house-poor/

 

MILLENNIUM POST
— INDIA: Driving out underemployment – Nantoo Banerjee (DIERSEN: Are/were you underemployed? While I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, I became increasingly underemployed. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and 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 32. If I had been a Democrat, minority, or female, the federal government would not have underemployed me.)
http://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/driving-out-underemployment-277638

January 1 Evening Edition

ABC7
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California pot shops ring in 2018, ring up first legal sales – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/california-pot-shops-ring-in-2018-ring-up-first-legal-sales/2848154/

 

NBC5
— Hastert Case Returns to Court Tuesday – Phil Rogers (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have ever done anything that subjects you to blackmail, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Hastert-Case-Returns-to-Court-Tuesday-467535533.html
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois – Sara Burnett
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/2018-Brings-Governors-Race-Other-Big-Contests-in-Illinois-467558543.html

 

CBS2
— Trump Rings In New Year At Mar A Lago Before the clock struck midnight, the President spoke with the press about his expectations for 2018. CBS 2’s Diane King Hall reports.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-wbbmtv/3785563-trump-rings-in-new-year-at-mar-a-lago/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: A ‘monumental moment’ for fully legal marijuana in California – Patrick McGreevy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-california-legal-marijuana-20180101-story.html
— Keeping stoners from driving cars – John O’Halloran, DeKalb
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-keep-pot-heads-off-road-legalize-marijuana-20171228-story.html
(FROM THE LETTER: As a commercial driver, I don’t want to share the road with pot heads. But I do support legalization of marijuana in Illinois. The state legislature should pass a law that says a citizen who chooses to purchase marijuana may be issued a special drug-use license, but will first have to surrender their driver’s license. You can use drugs. Or you can drive. But you can’t do both safely.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How to make regular folks’ $50 donations count in elections – Editorial (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about “Republican” candidates who hint/imply/argue/shout that unless I give them lots of money, a) they do not want me to know about their fundraisers, b) they do not want me to promote their fundraisers, c) they do not want me to attend their fundraisers, and d) they do not want me to report on their fundraisers? They hint/imply/argue/shout that I fraudulently claim to be a member of the news media to get information to intentionally/unintentionally use to harm them. They blame me for their problems. They blame me for your problems. They blame me for my problems. They blame me for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-how-to-make-average-voters-50-donation-count/
— Remember, rekindle the spirit of Emancipation Proclamation – Jesse Jackson (DIERSEN: When did your ancestors immigrate to America? What do you say to those who hint/imply/argue/shout that if you are an old White male Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, a) the more that you have benefited from their discrimination against minorities and against women and b) the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/jackson-remember-rekindle-the-spirit-of-emancipation-proclamation/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Armed with new data, officials target ‘drug-dealing’ doctors – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180101/news/301019948/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois The new year will be one of big decisions in Illinois. – SARA BURNETT
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/2018-brings-governors-race-other-big-contests-in-illinois
(FROM THE ARTICLE: All statewide offices will be on the ballot on Nov. 8, but no contest will be as fevered — or costly — as the governor’s race. Democratic candidates including billionaire J.B. Pritzker, wealthy businessman Chris Kennedy and state Sen. Daniel Biss are seeking their party’s nomination in the March 20 primary, when Rauner also faces a GOP primary challenge from conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives. Already, the candidates are raising and spending money at a pace that could make this the most expensive governor’s race in U.S. history. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s unexpected announcement that she won’t seek a fifth term created a crowded Democratic primary for that office. Some congressional races also will be closely watched. Several Democrats are vying for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, who’s retiring. And Republican Congressman Peter Roskam will try to hold his seat representing suburban Chicago, a district Democrats are eyeing as one of the party’s best chances to gain a seat in the U.S. House after voters there supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016.)
— Police seize $5 million in pot at Morgan Co. truck stop (DIERSEN: If the Democrats legalize pot for recreational use in Illinois, what percent of those in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois will become stoners, that is, what percent will become wards of the state?)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/police-seize-5-million-in-pot-at-morgan-co-truck-stop

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin In California
http://nprillinois.org/post/legal-recreational-marijuana-sales-begin-california#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot Seen as another milestone of mainstreaming weed – THERESA WALDROP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/californians-line-up-to-legally-buy-recreational-pot/895012072

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Help make your Government accountable in 2018! – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/01/help-make-your-government-accountable-in-2018/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— INCUMBENTS FACE PRIMARY CHALLENGES IN ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/incumbents-face-primary-challenges-in-illinois-congressional-districts.html
— THORNER & INGOLD: DAY OF RECKONING FOR GOP TAX BILL NAYSAYERS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-ingold-day-of-reckoning-for-gop-tax-bill-naysayers.html
— PETITION SIGNATURE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO 16TH CD GOP CANDIDATE WITHDRAWING
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/marter-investigation-into-petition-signatures-leads-to-16th-cd-candidate-withdrawing.html
— CHICAGO 2017 MURDERS AVERAGED 2 A DAY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/chicago-2017-murders-averaged-2-a-day.html
— DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE MAKES ILLINOIS FIRST IN BANNING LIVE ELEPHANT SHOWS (DIERSEN: The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party. In 2007, I had the honor of raising $2,000 from DuPage Republicans on short notice to sponsor an elephant that walked behind Congressman Peter Roskam in Wheaton’s Independence Day parade. Outstandingly, Roger Claar contributed $500 of that $2,000. SEE: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/07/photos-from-the.html)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/democrat-controlled-legislature-makes-illinois-first-in-banning-live-elephant-shows.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Blue States Look to Blunt Tax Law by Legal Challenges – Jeff Rodack (DIERSEN: Did you prepay your real estate taxes? Will the Democrats try to get all those who prepaid their real estate taxes to join in a class action lawsuit against the Republicans? What percent of those who prepaid their real estate taxes are Democrats and what percent are Republicans?)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/blue-states-california-new-york-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/2018/01/01/id/834551/

 

GOPUSA
— Obama worried about rollback of his so-called ‘legacy’ (DIERSEN: Obama condemned my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8 as being a clunker. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Allowance_Rebate_System Will Trump pardon my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8? It gets 24 MPG on the highway.)
http://www.gopusa.com/obama-worried-about-rollback-of-his-so-called-legacy/
— Bloody Chicago: It took 2 hours to record city’s first homicide of 2018
http://www.gopusa.com/bloody-chicago-it-took-2-hours-to-record-citys-first-homicide-of-2018/
— Chain migration concerns grow as millions enter US with legal status
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36066
— Fighting for religious liberty proving costly for average Americans (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups force individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries to promote LGBTQ activity: 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/?p=36153

 

FOX NEWS
— Hillary Clinton backer paid $500G to fund women accusing Trump of sexual misconduct before Election Day, report says – Robert Gearty
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/31/hillary-clinton-backer-paid-500g-to-fund-women-accusing-trump-sexual-misconduct-before-election-day-report-says.html

 

BREITBART
— California Ushers in 2018 with Ammunition Control – AWR HAWKINS
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/01/01/california-ushers-2018-ammunition-control/
— Weak 17: A Frozen Wasteland of Empty Seats on the Final Week of the NFL Year – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/12/31/weak-17-frozen-wasteland-empty-seats-final-week-nfl-year/

 

BLAZE
— Republicans and Democrats open 2018 by arguing over how much to grow the size of government – Leon Wolf
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/01/republicans-and-democrats-open-2018-by-arguing-over-how-much-to-grow-the-size-of-government

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Really Is Draining The Swamp – ROBERT DONACHIE (DIERSEN: One could say that Trump supporters promote hatred of past, present, and future federal employees. How should past, present, and future federal employees react to that?)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/trump-really-is-draining-the-swamp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The federal workforce grew sizably under both former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, ballooning from roughly 1.8 million employees in 2000 to 2.14 million at the height of Obama’s presidency. Trump’s administration is moving at a historically slow pace in filling political positions at federal agencies, whether it be part of his “draining the swamp” promise or a slow movement on the part of the Senate is unclear. The Senate has only confirmed 240 of the over 600 political appointments that are supposed to help carry out the administration’s agenda.)

 

THE HILL
— Most key federal agencies have cut staff under Trump: report – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use budget cuts to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366925-most-key-federal-agencies-have-cut-staff-under-trump-report

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Winners and losers from 2017, the year in politics – Aaron Blake (DIERSEN: One could argue that those who have itemized their deductions are losers, and especially those who pay lots of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, state income taxes, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/01/winners-and-losers-from-2017-the-year-in-politics/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Congress’s Gift to Blue-State Taxpayers Limiting the SALT deduction will enforce fiscal discipline. – Alfredo Ortiz (DIERSEN: Those who dominate Illinois talk and/or act like they want to drive out of Illinois those who itemize their deductions. Most commonly, those who itemize their deductions spend lots of money on mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/congresss-gift-to-blue-state-taxpayers-1514823290
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The great American migration out of high-tax states like New York and Illinois may be about to accelerate. The tax reform enacted last month caps the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, at $10,000. This means millions of people will finally feel the full tax burden imposed by state and local politicians. When the SALT shield shrinks, so may people’s willingness to put up with these high taxes. Such states already are losing population, and new Census Bureau data—released the same day tax reform passed the House and Senate—shows the continued migration. Of the seven states that grew the fastest between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, four (Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas) have no income tax, and the other three (Idaho, Utah and Arizona) have low taxes. On the flip side, high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Rhode Island either lost residents or stagnated. Pennsylvania quietly became the fifth-most-populous state in the nation, displacing Illinois. When people move, they take their money with them. The five high-tax states listed above have lost more than $200 billion of combined adjusted gross income since 1992, according to the website HowMoneyWalks.com, which aggregates IRS data. In contrast, Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas gained roughly the same amount. If politicians in high-tax states want to prevent this migration from becoming a stampede, they will have to deliver fiscal discipline.)
— What New Tax Law? Caterpillar Fights to Protect Its Swiss-Made Profits American manufacturing icon pays little on parts sales outside U.S., so the IRS wants $2 billion – Andrew Tangel and Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-new-tax-law-caterpillar-fights-to-protect-its-swiss-made-profits-1514834745
— California Poses Problem for GOP as 2018 Dawns Party policies ranging from taxes to immigration cast a shadow over midterm prospects – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-poses-problem-for-gop-as-2018-dawns-1514819328
— In Cities With Low Unemployment, Wages Finally Start to Get Bigger Ending an economic riddle, pay is moving higher and could point to improved incomes nationally in 2018 – Shayndi Raice and Eric Morath (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents want cheap labor.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-cities-with-low-unemployment-wages-finally-start-to-get-bigger-1514808001

 

USA TODAY
— Trump rings in new year at glitzy Mar-a-Lago party, predicts ‘fantastic 2018’ – AP
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/01/trump-rings-new-year-glitzy-mar-lago-party-predicts-fantastic-2018/994015001/
— Retirement planning: Here’s how much money you should have saved at every age – Kathleen Elkins (DIERSEN: How much had you saved for your retirement when you were 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65. I was 65 in 2013. In today’s dollars, my salary in 1997 when I was 49 years old was $122,991. Eight times $122,991 is $983,928.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/retirement/2018/01/01/retirement-planning-heres-how-much-money-you-should-have-saved-every-age/990172001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In your 20s: Aim to save 25% of your overall gross pay, Greene tells CNBC. “That 25% is the combination of 401(k) withholdings, matching funds from your employer and any cash savings that you have,” she notes. “It can also include debt repayment. “Just make sure your lifestyle expenses don’t exceed 75% of your gross income.” By age 30: Have the equivalent of your annual salary saved, Greene says. If you earn $50,000 a year, aim to have $50,000 in savings when you hit 30. Again, this includes any retirement account contributions, matching funds from your company, cash savings, or money you have invested elsewhere, in index funds or robo-advisers. By age 35: Have twice your annual salary saved. By age 40: Have three times your annual salary saved. By age 45: Have four times your annual salary saved. By age 50: Have five times your annual salary saved. By age 55: Have six times your annual salary saved. By age 60: Have seven times your annual salary saved. By age 65: Have eight times your annual salary saved.)

 

OAKLAND PRESS
— Financial advisor suggests couples try to live like a retired person before retiring – Debra Kaszubski (DIERSEN: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of my ending salary in today’s dollars.)
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyle/20171226/financial-advisor-suggests-couples-try-to-live-like-a-retired-person-before-retiring

January 1 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Police: 650 murdered in Chicago in 2017, down 15 percent from previous year – Jessica D’Onofrio
http://abc7chicago.com/police-650-murdered-in-chicago-in-2017/2846873/
— Police: 1 dead, 23 wounded in New Year’s weekend shootings across Chicago
http://abc7chicago.com/police-1-dead-23-wounded-in-new-years-weekend-shootings-across-chicago/2847078/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON AMERICA TIGHTENS: 1 in 10 youths has been homeless over the past year, survey finds – Moriah Balingit
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-homeless-youths-survey-20171231-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Transportation experts’ predictions for 2018 in Chicago, suburbs – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171231/transportation-experts-predictions-for-2018-in-chicago-suburbs

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Priorities for 2018 include improving fiscal, economic conditions in Illinois – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171231/our-view-priorities-for-2018-include-improving-fiscal-economic-conditions-in-illinois

 

PEKIN TIMES
— State Rep. Mike Unes bucks governor and wins, for now – Chris Kaergard and Nick Vlahos
http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20171231/word-on-street-state-rep-mike-unes-bucks-governor-and-wins-for-now

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump welcomes new year with a lavish party at private club – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/trump-welcomes-new-year-with-a-lavish-party-at-private-club/894300665

 

BLAZE
— Federal judge: School districts can’t force football players to stand for the national anthem – Leon Wolf
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/31/federal-judge-school-districts-cant-force-football-players-to-stand-for-the-national-anthem

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— TRUMP LAYS DOWN IMMIGRATION CHALLENGE TO DEMS Demands wall, end to chain migration in exchange for DACA
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/trump-lays-down-immigration-challenge-to-dems/

 

THE HILL
— GOP establishment using Trump for its own ends – JUAN WILLIAMS
http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/366933-juan-williams-gop-establishment-using-trump-for-its-own-ends
— U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.): ‘We’re not talking about taking away benefits from those who deserve those benefits’ – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: What federal “benefits” do you get? Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes paint my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies, and my Social Security as being “benefits” that I do not “deserve.” In my defense, I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years and I paid Social Security taxes for 10 years. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and 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 32.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/366919-republican-were-not-talking-about-taking-away-benefits-from-those-who-deserve
— With Franken’s fall, the ‘Trump effect’ could turn Minnesota red — if Republicans embrace him – JOHN GILMORE (DIERSEN: What if the Democrats got Duckworth and/or Durbin to resign? Illinois “Establishment Republicans” got U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald to not seek a second term in 2004. That directly resulted in a) Obama being elected U.S. Senator in 2004, b) Obama being elected U.S. President in 2008, and c) Obama being reelected U.S. President in 2012. “Establishment Republicans” are really Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/366897-with-frankens-fall-the-trump-effect-could-turn-minnesota-red-if-republicans

 

NBC NEWS
— Millennials don’t like Trump. Here’s how they say he could win them over. – ALI VITALI (DIERSEN: To win over millennials, anti-Trumps want Trump a) to punish those who itemize their deductions and b) to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/millennials-don-t-trump-here-s-how-they-say-he-n832961

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law – Ben Casselman (DIERSEN: What do you say to Republicans who give ammunition to Democrats? Of course, Democrats will do everything that they can to turn those who itemize their deductions against Republicans. Democrats will focus on turning those who pay high real estate taxes against Republicans. But wait, Democrats promote high real estate taxes.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/business/high-tax-states-law.html
— How Do You Vote? 50 Million Google Images Give a Clue – Steve Lohr (DIERSEN: The cars that you own say more about you than anything that you can say about yourself. My daily diver is a 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS that I bought from my aunt in 2010. Other cars that I own are: 1972 Chevy Corvette, 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX, 2005 Chevy Corvette, 2013 Dodge Charger R/T Max, and 2016 Ford Mustang. Previously, I bought a 1958 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy Impala SS, 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, 1968 Oldsmobile 442, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, 1969 Dodge Charger SE, 1974 Dodge Dart, 1978 Chevy Chevette, 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, 1990 Ford Thunderbird LX, 1993 Ford Thunderbird, and 1997 Chevy Cavalier.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/technology/google-images-voters.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Stanford car project generated a host of intriguing connections, not so much startling revelations. In the most recent paper, and one published earlier in the year by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, these were among the predictive correlations: The system was able to accurately predict income, race, education and voting patterns at the ZIP code and precinct level in cities across the country. Car attributes (including miles-per-gallon ratings) found that the greenest city in America is Burlington, Vt., while Casper, Wyo., has the largest per-capita carbon footprint. Chicago is the city with the highest level of income segregation, with large clusters of expensive and cheap cars in different neighborhoods; Jacksonville, Fla., is the least segregated by income. New York is the city with the most expensive cars. El Paso has the highest percentage of Hummers. San Francisco has the highest percentage of foreign cars.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Killers love those who want to end the death penalty.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/opinion/capital-punishment-death-penalty.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims – Kenneth P. Vogel (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America, how much money are anti-Trumps offering women to charge Trump supports with sexual harassment? Ever-increasingly, under the anti-Trumps, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be a sexual harasser: 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/politics/sexual-harassment-politics-partisanship.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California Inc.: Recreational pot coming soon to a shop near you – David Lazarus
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-calinc-01012018-story.html
— Remember, much of what Trump does can be undone – Scott Lemieux (DIERSEN: To get elected, Democrats will promise to remove all restrictions on itemized deductions? Democrats will stress that itemized deductions help low and middle income taxpayers far more than they help upper income taxpayers. Will the Democrats stress how itemizing deductions helped Dave Diersen 1972-1977 and helped him and his wife since they got married in 1978?)
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-lemieux-trump-endurance-20180101-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Mike Pence Amasses a War Chest for the Midterm Elections Some strategists say vice president can campaign successfully in places where GOP candidates might be wary of sharing a stage with Trump – Peter Nicholas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-pence-likely-to-assist-republicans-in-midterm-elections-1514543402

 

USA TODAY
— Republican tax law is not a win. Take it from me, the backlash is coming. You can’t sell something people don’t like. I would know; I had a front-row seat for the Obamacare-fueled GOP wave in 2010. The parallels are striking. – Shripal Shah
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/28/republican-tax-law-not-win-2018-backlash-coming-shripal-shah-column/982307001/

 

NATIONAL MEMO
— 6 Big Victories For Feminism In 2017, Despite Donald Trump And Other Toxic Men – Liz Posner (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trump women talk and act like they not only want to get rid of heterosexual men, ever-increasingly they talk and act like they want to turn all women into lesbians.)
https://www.nationalmemo.com/6-big-victories-feminism-2017-despite-donald-trump-toxic-men/