Tag: certified

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT LEANING SOURCES

WGN9
— Migrants arriving in Chicago face uncertainty as communication with border cities deteriorates – Angelica Sanchez, Judy Wang (COMMENT: University Park today, your municipality tomorrow. I used the University Park Metra station 1977-1978 and I used the Richton Park, Matteson, and 211th Street stations 1971-1977. I bought a new town home in University Park in 1972, lived in it full-time 1972-1974, then part-time 1974-1976, and then rented it out 1976-1984. The HUD-promised monorail between where it was built and the University Park Metra station was never built.)
https://wgntv.com/news/migrants-arriving-in-chicago-face-uncertainty-as-communication-with-border-cities-deteriorates/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Less than 24 hours after being cleared from the Chicago police 12th District, migrants were seen outside the district again on Saturday. WGN-TV learned that bus companies are going out of their way to avoid a new city ordinance by dropping migrants off outside city limits. Over two dozen migrants lined the windows of the Chicago police 12th district on Saturday evening, wrapped in blankets as they tried to stay dry from the rain. WGN-TV spoke with Juevencio Zerpa, who said some migrants were being turned away from shelters and had nowhere to sleep. Chicago’s latest census report showed that there were no migrants waiting for placement inside any police districts. The CPD 12th district was the last station cleared of asylum seekers on Friday night, but they returned less than 24 hours later. It all comes as the City of Chicago works to enforce stricter penalties regarding the handling of the migrant crisis. Under a new ordinance, bus companies dropping off new arrivals now have to go to a designated landing zone with a permit. Buses that don’t follow the ordinance could be towed or impounded. City officials confirmed that bus companies are now trying to avoid fines and penalties by dropping off migrants outside city limits. Going as far as purchasing bus and train tickets for them so they can get into the city on their own. Migrants waiting outside the 12th district on Saturday evening eventually boarded a bus that offered them shelter during the cold and rain. City officials say there is no longer any communication from border cities to coordinate the incoming buses. According to the city, a group of new arrivals was dropped off by a bus from Texas at the University Park Metra stop on Saturday night. The city said the new arrivals made their way downtown where some were picked up by authorities and taken to a shelter and others were taken to a nearby police district where they would be able to wait on a bus being used as a warming station. WGN-TV reached out to Chicago police about the migrants seeking shelter. CPD referred WGN to the Office of Emergency Management for comment and has not yet heard back.)

ABC7
— At least 18 shot, 1 fatally, across city in Chicago violence so far this weekend
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-shootings-shooting-violence-police/14195248/
— Off-duty Chicago police officer carjacked in Chatham
https://abc7chicago.com/off-duty-officer-chicago-police-carjacking-chatham/14196320/
— Car plows into parked vehicle in President Biden’s motorcade outside Delaware campaign headquarters – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/president-joe-biden-motorcade-crash-delaware/14196193/
— Migrant boy, 5, dies after becoming sick at Pilsen shelter, Chicago police say – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-migrant-crisis-migrants-immigration-pilsen/14197317/

NBC5
— All migrants staying at Chicago police stations have been relocated, city says. As of 8 a.m. on Saturday, 15,028 asylum-seekers were staying in 27 shelters across the city.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/all-migrants-staying-at-chicago-police-stations-have-been-relocated-city-says/3305393/
— Anticipate/expect that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will ever-increasingly use Trump’s being German American and Protestant against him.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/biden-campaign-says-trumps-repeated-anti-immigration-comments-parroted-adolf-hitler/3305344/
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/trump-invokes-nazi-era-blood-rhetoric-against-immigrants-as-senate-works-on-border-deal/3305534/

CBS2
— Chicago Weekend Shootings: 1 dead, 19 hurt – JERAMIE BIZZLE, TODD FEURER
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-weekend-shootings-dec-15-to-18/
— Boy, 5, dies after falling ill at Chicago migrant shelter in Pilsen – TODD FEURER
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/migrant-child-death-pilsen-shelter-halsted/
— Democrat leaders crow about their success in getting religious leaders to promote illegal immigration.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/archdiocese-hosts-toy-and-coat-giveaway-for-migrants/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— As city readies clean-up of West Loop homeless encampment, residents and nearby workers hope more resources are offered. A stretch near Clinton and Lake streets that the local alderperson calls ‘a magnet for narcotics and violent crime’ will be cleared. But the welfare of the street dwellers is of concern to people in the area. – Emmanuel Camarillo (COMMENT: I used the Ogilvie Transportation Center very often 1978-1997 and the Union Station often 1992-1997.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2023/12/17/24005588/west-loop-homeless-encampment-resources-cleared-ald-conway-migrants-crime
— A failure to increase funding for mass transit will widen racial equity gap in Cook County. The affordability and availability of transit is a racial justice issue for metropolitan Chicago. – Kirk Dillard, Chairman, RTA (COMMENT: Very few of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have ever used mass transit. I used mass transit to get to/from my job in the Loop and a) Crete in 1971, b) then University Park in 1973 and 1974, and c) then Wheaton 1978-1997. I also used mass transit to get to/from graduate evening a) business courses at Loyola in 1973 and 1974, b) accounting courses at DePaul 1978-1980, c) internal auditing courses at Roosevelt 1980-1981, and d) finance at IIT 1992-1997.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/17/24001387/transit-equity-jobs-freedom-speech-universities-deposit-law-landlords-letters
— I met my wife in 1977 at a Fourth Presbyterian ( https://www.fourthchurch.org/ ) singles event. She is Catholic and I am Missouri Synod Lutheran. I was working for IRS in the Loop and she was working for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions in the Loop. Previously, she had worked for the FBI. Recently, she had helped elect Big Jim Thompson Governor.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/17/23979730/speed-dating-tips-advice-column-ismael-perez-someone-in-chicago

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Cook County court clerk getting boost in reelection bid from her government employees – A.D. Quig
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/elections/ct-iris-martinez-court-clerk-employees-donating-20231217-p7j6dr3adreqnhe2frcbvn42lm-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Illinois is the only state with age-based tests and seniors are not happy – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/20231218/transportation/no-fence-sitters-on-senior-road-exams/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois weighs political reform with ranked choice voting – Judith Crown
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-voting-and-democracy/voting-reform-efforts-illinois-aim-bolster-democracy
— Democrats ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/cannabis/floundering-weed-stocks-test-wall-streets-faith-2024-rebound

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Champaign County GOP chief sees hope among gloom – TOM KACICH
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/tom-kacich-champaign-county-gop-chief-sees-hope-among-gloom/article_9dce660e-e6c4-5c99-acc7-4d19bdb6eb02.html

WCIA
— Trump notes he was indicted more times than the ‘great’ Al Capone – Sarah Fortinsky
https://www.wcia.com/news/national/trump-notes-he-was-indicted-more-times-than-the-great-al-capone/

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2023/12/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-204/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT LEANING SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— In the name of equity, Chicago looks to close schools with top-performing black, Hispanic students – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/in-the-name-of-equity-chicago-looks-to-close-schools-with-top-performing-black-hispanic-students-wirepoints/

SOUTHLAND JOURNAL
— Illinoisans Have Days to Register Banned Firearms Based on Emergency Rules – Greg Bishop
https://thesouthlandjournal.com/illinoisans-have-days-to-register-banned-firearms-based-on-emergency-rules/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Study finds Illinois near bottom of all states for residents’ social mobility – Kevin Bessler (COMMENT: What do you attribute your successes in life? For me, it was my outstanding parents who sent me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_6f757e2e-9b97-11ee-9340-0b6806f0aec5.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Archbridge defines “social mobility” as the opportunity to better oneself and those around them in hope of living the American Dream. To rank each state, Archbridge measured a series of indicators based on the four key pillars of entrepreneurship and growth; institutions and rule of law; education and skills development; and social capital.)

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Nowak’s Misspelling of “Republican” on County Board Petition Makes San Francisco Chronicle, Fox and Others
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/16/nowaks-misspelling-of-republican-on-county-board-makes-san-francisco-chronicle/
— Illinois Mask Alert
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/16/mask-alert/
— Hampshire Park District Asks for Honking 20% Property Tax Hike
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/16/hampshire-park-district-asks-for-honking-20-property-tax-hike/
— A Blast from the Past, Comparing Town Hall Meetings of Joe Walsh and Bill Foster
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/16/a-blast-from-the-past/
— Rashid Puts More Pressure on Foster
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/15/rashid-puts-more-pressure-on-foster/
— Pressure Continues on Foster to Call for a Ceasefire in the Israeli-Hama War
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/15/pressure-continues-on-foster-to-call-for-a-ceasefire-in-the-israeli-hama-war/
— Demonstrators Take to Street to Pressure Bill Foster to Come Out for a Ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas War
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/18/demonstrators-take-to-street-to-pressure-bill-foster-to-come-out-for-a-cease-fire-in-the-israeli-hamas-war/
— Eric Hendricks v. Robert “Bob” Nowak County Electoral Board Hearing Preview
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/18/brdpreview/
— Prairie Grove Grade School District Announces 23% More in Property Taxes Next Year
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/18/prairie-grove-grade-school-district-announces-23-more-in-property-taxes-next-year/
— Flashback – Townships, the Surplus Government
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/18/message-of-the-day-flashback/
— UPDATEDx2: If Donald Trump Really Dominating Not Only Republican Primary Field, but Also President Biden in the Polls, Why is Trump Considering Nikki Haley for VP?
https://mchenrycountyblog.com/2023/12/17/moneymandate/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT LEANING SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Secret’ negotiations with Dems on border prompts GOP senators to demand ‘transparent process’ – Ramsey Touchberry
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/dec/17/gop-senators-demand-open-and-transparent-process-b/
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/dec/17/tony-gonzales-texas-gop-lawmaker-calls-immigrants-/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Republican-controlled states ramp up efforts to ban DEI at public universities – Jeremiah Poff
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/republican-controlled-states-ban-dei-public-universities

NEW YORK POST
— Black Americans’ growing solidarity with plight of Palestinians in Gaza – AP
https://nypost.com/2023/12/17/news/black-americans-see-their-struggles-reflected-in-palestine/
— Biden migrants proposal proves US border crisis could end tomorrow – Editorial
https://nypost.com/2023/12/17/opinion/biden-migrants-move-proves-us-border-crisis-could-end-now/
— US Customs to suspend railway operations at international crossings into Texas starting Monday – Greg Wehner
https://nypost.com/2023/12/18/news/us-customs-to-suspend-railway-operations-at-international-crossings-into-texas-starting-monday/

AMERICAN THINKER
— The mainstream media willingly hides Biden’s destruction of America – Jack Hellner
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/12/the_mainstream_media_willingly_hides_bidens_destruction_of_america.html
— The Republican Party’s Paper Elephants – J.B. Shurk
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/12/the_republican_partys_paper_elephants.html

AMERICAN WIRE
— ‘He’s not stopping’: Gov. Abbott’s bussing of migrants has ‘divided Democrats’ – Melissa Fine
https://americanwirenews.com/hes-not-stopping-gov-abbotts-bussing-of-migrants-has-divided-democrats/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Sen. Graham ‘You’re talking about Trump’s language as you … allow the country to be invaded’ – Melissa Fine (COMMENT: Anticipate/expect that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will ever-increasingly use Trump’s being German American and Protestant against him.)
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/12/17/sen-graham-on-mtp-youre-talking-about-trumps-language-as-you-allow-the-country-to-be-invaded-1420647/
— Anticipate/expect that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will ever-increasingly use Trump’s being German American and Protestant against him.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/12/17/trump-evokes-more-hitler-talk-when-he-says-illegal-immigration-poisoning-the-blood-of-our-country-1420566/
— Harvard didn’t invite white folks and Jews to ‘affinity’ celebrations, scrubs the evidence from website – Chris Donaldson
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/12/18/harvard-didnt-invite-white-folks-and-jews-to-affinity-celebrations-scrubs-the-evidence-from-website-1420753/

BREITBART
— At Least 20 Shot During Weekend in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago – AWR HAWKINS
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2023/12/18/at-least-20-shot-during-weekend-in-mayor-brandon-johnsons-chicago/
— Republican Senators Stiff-arm Democratic Rush for Border Deal – NEIL MUNRO
https://www.breitbart.com/2024-election/2023/12/18/republican-senators-block-democratic-rush-for-border-deal/

COLLEGE FIX
— Chicago mayor does 180, wants to ditch high-achieving schools in name of ‘equity’ (COMMENT: Were you a high achiever when you were young? I was not. My ACT score was only 24 and I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. They hint/imply/argue/shout that because of that, instead of me, minorities, females, and veterans should have been a) accepted by UIC in 1966, NIU in 1969, Loyola in 1972, DePaul in 1976, and IIT in 1992 and b) hired by the Post Office in 1966, Firestone Stores in 1970, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980. In my defense, I stress that I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and that I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981.)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/chicago-mayor-does-180-wants-to-ditch-high-achieving-schools-in-name-of-equity/

DAILY CALLER
— America’s Border Crisis Will Continue To Fester While Taxpayers Foot The Bill For Social Safety Net – BETSY MCCAUGHEY
https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/17/betsy-mccaughey-americas-border-crisis-will-continue-to-fester-while-taxpayers-foot-the-bill-for-social-safety-net/
— The Polls For Joe Biden Might Even Be Worse Than You Think – MARY LOU MASTERS
https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/17/polls-joe-biden-donald-trump-worse-2024/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Phone Calls and Social Media Posts Drive Record High Illegal Immigration, Top Border Patrol Officials Report – Virginia Allen
https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/12/18/exclusive-phone-calls-and-social-media-posts-drive-record-high-illegal-immigration-top-border-patrol-officials-report/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The modern flow of information is driving illegal immigration, according to multiple Border Patrol sector chiefs. If released into the interior of the U.S., some illegal aliens allegedly share their success on social media, or call home and encourage family or friends to cross the border and join them in America, furthering a cycle of illegal border crossings. Illegal aliens cross into the “Del Rio Sector in large part because of the message that is transmitted among the migrant population,” Jason Owens told staff members of the House Homeland Security Committee during an interview in May and shared with The Daily Signal Thursday. Owens, who has since been promoted to Border Patrol chief, was serving as chief patrol agent of the Del Rio Sector at the time of the interview with House Homeland Security staff. “When you have folks that make the trip and they come across, they’re in communication with the folks that are back in their home country or their families who may also be thinking about making that journey,” Owens said. “And if they perceive it to be safer or more expedient, they give recommendations, and they do that by phone, they do that on social media outlets.” The Del Rio Sector in Texas is one of nine border sectors along America’s border with Mexico, and tends to be one of the higher trafficked areas of the border. In fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, Customs and Border Protection encountered 393,226 illegal aliens in the Del Rio Sector. “I believe that the migrants communicate the entirety of their experience to their friends and family back home, and that would include what their experience was with whatever processing pathway they were put into,” Owens said. The “processing pathways” Owens references include the Biden administration’s “lawful pathways,” which have allowed for the release of illegal aliens into the interior of the U.S. In October, the House Judiciary Committee released findings that at least 3.8 million illegal aliens either have been released into the nation’s interior or successfully evaded the Border Patrol to enter the country since President Joe Biden took office Jan. 20, 2021. Owens’ observations regarding the communication flow between migrants is not unique to the Del Rio Sector, according to comments made by other sector chiefs during a series of interviews with House Homeland Security staffers conducted between the beginning of May and end of September. When asked what factors draw migrants to cross the border into the U.S., Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez said, “It would be families that are already in the United States pulling their relatives, you know, encouraging their relatives to come out.” Other pull factors include “companies or organizations that are hiring these individuals in the United States that others have told them, ‘Hey, you can get a job here,’ type thing. I think it’s the feedback that people that are here already provide them to encourage them to come,” Chavez said. During an interview with Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez, a Homeland Security staffer asked whether illegal aliens would still come to the U.S. even after being informed that the journey was hard and long if they knew they would be released into the U.S. “Yes,” Martinez answered. “How else do they find out about information?” the staffer pressed. “It’s not just the cartel, right? Family that’s already come, do they call back?” “Yes,” the agent said. “And some people … wait in Mexico to see if the people they were with are successful before they cross?” “Yes,” he said. “Do you think that that has a large influence on whether a person decides to cross into the United States?” the Homeland Security staff member asked. “Yes,” Martinez responded. The widespread use of social media has also made it easy for migrants and “smuggling outfits” to use platforms like TikTok to share how and where to cross the border illegally, Yuma Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle said during his interview with representatives from the House Homeland Security Committee. TikTok videos show migrant’s “firsthand accounts of which trails to take, where the border wall ended, which gap to exploit, you know, where to stay, all of those things,” Caudle said. The information dissemination has changed the patterns of illegal immigration, according to El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Good and Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin. If an illegal alien is released from Customs and Border Protection, Good says, “then that person that was released will get on social media and say, ‘Hey, look at me, I’ve been released.’ And then that creates a draw specifically to that area,” he said. “So, if it happens in El Paso and they post that on social media, that will create a draw to El Paso, same for any other sector.” Modlin told Homeland Security Committee staff members that when he started his career, “immigration flows took months to change, and now it seemingly can change overnight because people are livestreaming themselves crossing the border. They’re sending it back to—their families are seeing it. People in the area they come from see it.” The Tucson Sector chief added that “there’s not the air of mystery to the border that there used to be, because people can leave their country and then, however long it takes them, a couple weeks to get here, and then they’re inside the United States, and then they’re in Kansas City, or they’re wherever their destination is, they’re there and they’re in communication with their families.” CBP encountered a record 2.4 million illegal aliens at the southern border in fiscal year 2023, and over 6.6 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the U.S. border with Mexico since the start of the Biden administration.)

DAILY WIRE
— Pentagon Warns Of Military’s Dropping Numbers Heading Into 2024 As U.S. Fields Smallest Fighting Force Since Before WWII – Zach Jewell
https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-warns-of-militarys-dropping-numbers-heading-into-2024-as-u-s-fields-smallest-fighting-force-since-before-wwii

FEDERALIST
— Chinese Hackers Target Critical U.S. Infrastructure – HELEN RALEIGH
https://thefederalist.com/2023/12/18/this-means-cyber-war-chinese-hackers-target-critical-u-s-infrastructure/

FOX BUSINESS
— ‘Too early to declare victory’ on inflation, Chicago Fed president says. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said that while the central bank has made good progress in taming inflation it’s still “too early to declare victory” – Eric Revell (COMMENT: Civil Service Retirement System and Social Security COLAs have helped my wife and I fight inflation, by dramatic Medicare cost increases are ending that.)
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/too-early-to-declare-victory-inflation-chicago-fed-president-says

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— We didn’t just warn about the pernicious and corrosive effects of CRT and DEI that now are exploding on campuses. We documented the threat more deeply than anyone else. With facts and data. – Kemberlee Kaye (COMMENT: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote CRT and DEI.)
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/12/i-wish-we-had-been-wrong/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Crenshaw to Introduce Bill Stripping Federal Funding from Universities That Require DEI Statements – ZACH KESSEL
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/exclusive-crenshaw-to-introduce-bill-stripping-federal-funding-from-universities-that-require-dei-statements/
— Half of Young Americans Say Israel Should Be ‘Ended and Given to Hamas’ – DAVID ZIMMERMANN (COMMENT: How much success have Democrats and RINOs had promoting hatred against those who share your demographics?)
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/half-of-young-americans-say-israel-should-be-ended-and-given-to-hamas-poll/

NEWSMAX
— CBS Poll: Haley Cuts Trump’s Lead in N.H. to 15 Points – Eric Mack
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nikki-haley-new-hampshire-primary/2023/12/17/id/1146262/
— GOP Helps Make Immigration Top-2 Issue – Eric Mack
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/poll-immigration-2024/2023/12/17/id/1146252/

PJ MEDIA
— Chicago Begins Impounding ‘Rogue’ Migrant Buses as a New Law Increases Penalties – RICK MORAN
https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2023/12/17/chicago-begins-impounding-rogue-migrant-buses-as-a-new-law-increases-penalties-n4924814

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Reince Priebus: Trump Supporters Are Looking For “More Blood,” An Even Bigger Middle Finger In 2024 Than In 2016 – Tim Hains (COMMENT: The more demographics that you share with Trump, the more that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred against you. Trump is conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, gun-owner, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2023/12/17/reince_priebus_trump_supporters_are_looking_for_more_blood_an_even_bigger_middle_finger_in_2020_than_in_2016.html

TOWNHALL
— Applying Equity to Reparations – Ed Brodow (COMMENT: What do your critics/opponents stress to argue that you should pay reparations? My critics/opponents stress a) that my ancestors have been in America since 1844, b) that they homesteaded a farm in southeast Crete Township in 1854, c) that none of them served in the Union army, and d) that they all were Protestant. My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the aforesaid enabled me to earn a) four college degrees, b) six professional certifications, and c) a professional license. In my defense, I stress a) that all of my ancestors have always lived in northeast Illinois, b) that neither my parents nor any of my ancestors attended college, c) that my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, d) that my mother never attended high school, and e) that I had buy my own cars and work my way through college.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/edbrodow/2023/12/18/applying-equity-to-reparations-n2632535

WESTERN JOURNAL
— Despite Being More Divisive Than Ever, FBI Decides to Lean Into Woke Politics With Ludicrous LGBT Move – C. Douglas Golden
https://www.westernjournal.com/despite-divisive-ever-fbi-decides-lean-woke-politics-ludicrous-lgbt-move/
— Illegal Aliens Tossing $1 Million Per Month in ‘Free Food’ While Citizens Contend with Drastic Budget Cuts – Warner Todd Huston
https://www.westernjournal.com/illegal-aliens-tossing-1-million-per-month-free-food-citizens-contend-drastic-budget-cuts/

ZERO HEDGE
— Federal Judge Permanently Blocks Illinois Law Targeting Pro-Life Pregnancy Counseling – TYLER DURDEN
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/federal-judge-permanently-blocks-illinois-law-targeting-pro-life-pregnancy-counseling

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT LEANING SOURCES

CNN
— Democrats ever-increasingly use the Pope to promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/europe/pope-francis-same-sex-couples-blessing-intl/index.html

ABC NEWS
— Trump promises ‘largest deportation operation in American history’ if elected president
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-18/donald-trump-promises-largest-deportation-operation/103241936

NBC NEWS
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/75-anti-lgbtq-bills-become-law-2023-rcna124250

NBC NEWS & MSN
— Democrats use Henry Hyde to argue against impeaching Biden.
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/-people-are-looking-at-this-in-horror-clinton-impeachment-manager-says-in-1998-200410181919
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/people-are-looking-at-this-in-horror-clinton-impeachment-manager-says-in-1998/vi-AA1lDj0i

MSN
— Increasingly, people older than age 65 are working in the U.S., and they are working into older ages. – Vadim Ratnikov (COMMENT: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote age discrimination. I should write a book about them. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have taken the most/biggest adverse actions against me. I would focus on those who ended my service as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, a role that I had since 2005.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/9-places-where-the-most-people-are-still-working-after-age-65/ss-AA1lEyWA

NEW YORK TIMES & WASHINGTON POST & NEWSWEEK & CNN
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/briefing/immigration-debate.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/18/trump-immigrants-invasion-dehumanizing/
https://www.newsweek.com/president-biden-cant-cave-maga-immigration-agenda-opinion-1852892
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/17/politics/trump-nevada-republican-primary/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Democrats ever-increasingly use the Pope to promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/world/europe/pope-gay-lesbian-same-sex-blessing.html
— FRNIT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Why Democracy Hasn’t Settled the Abortion Question. Post-Roe voting might bring America to a new consensus — but only if the voters keep getting their say. – Kate Zernike
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/17/us/where-will-abortion-rights-land.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— One recent divisive week in Washington did manage to produce a cause on which 303 members of the House could agree: condemning the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, MIT and Harvard. – LZ GRANDERSON
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-18/university-protests-antisemitism-gaza-palestinian-israel

USA TODAY
— Driving for work will pay more next year after IRS boosts 2024 mileage rate – Susan Tompor (COMMENT: The Park Forest Post Office paid milage to deliver mail with my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint 1966-1967, 1968 Oldsmobile 442 1967-1968, and 1969 Dodge Charger SE 1968-1969. IRS paid me mileage to collect delinquent taxes 1971-1978.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2023/12/14/irs-mileage-rate-2024-raised/71921209007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Florida GOP Chair Censured After Sexual Assault Allegation. Christian Ziegler to lose salary and duties. His wife, Bridget, a founder of Moms for Liberty, has faced calls to resign from school board. – Matt Barnum (COMMENT: I should sue all those who tried but failed to get the Illinois Center Right Coalition to censure me at its 2006 annual convention for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters.)
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/florida-gop-chair-censured-after-sexual-assaultallegation-27434347
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Christian Ziegler was accused in October of sexual assault involving a woman who said that she had been part of a three-way relationship with him and his wife, a well-known Florida Republican who supported the state’s law restricting discussion of sexual orientation in schools. “Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit for the office of Chairman,” read a motion that was unanimously passed by the Republican Party of Florida Executive Committee. “Ziegler has not been forthright and honest.” Ziegler wasn’t removed from office, but his authority as chairman was suspended and his salary was effectively eliminated, reduced to just $1. The party also called a special meeting for January in which the full state committee will consider removing Ziegler from his position. Ziegler hasn’t been charged with a crime and has previously denied the allegation. According to a search warrant originally obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, detectives spoke to Ziegler in November and he said that the encounter with the alleged victim had been consensual. Efforts to reach him Sunday afternoon weren’t successful. His lawyer previously told several media outlets, “We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed, and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated.” His wife, Bridget Ziegler, has also been caught up in the controversy, although there is no allegation of wrongdoing against her. She helped found the conservative parents’ rights group Moms for Liberty, and is a member of the Sarasota County School Board and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board.)
— The Tragedy of Rudy Giuliani. He’s the latest to be brought low for having peddled Trump’s false election claims. – Editorial (COMMENT: Trump and I share many demographics. Since 2015, my critics/opponents have accused Trump of making many false statements. Of course, because of that, ever-increasingly, since 2015, they have accused me of using my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to “peddle” those statements and have taken many big adverse actions against me. I should write a book about my critics/opponents. Better yet, I should sue them.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tragedy-of-rudy-giuliani-defamation-georgia-election-trump-2a1e838d
— Air Travel in 2023 Was a Nightmare. And Flying Isn’t Likely to Get Much Better in 2024. Millions of fliers returned, but many went nowhere fast – Scott McCartney. (COMMENT: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious 1978-1992 that I frequently a)accompanied my wife on her frequent business trips to luxury resorts and b) took vacations with her in connection with those trips.)
https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/flying-air-travel-2024-6cde5967
— Big Accounting Firms Layoff Partners – Mark Maurer and Alexander Saeedy (COMMENT: Accounting firms were never interested in me though a) I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 when I was 30 years old, b) earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, c) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, d) became a licensed CPA in 1981, e) worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $92,279-$104,583/year in today’s dollars, f) worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $109,732-$142,650/year in today’s dollars, and g) became a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997. If I had been a minority and/or a female, they would have been extremely interest in me.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-four-accounting-firms-overhired-now-theyre-starting-to-lay-off-partners-d0c6ee6b
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ey-is-laying-off-u-s-partners-amid-tough-economic-conditions-9efc4aa6

FORBES
— Biden Trails Trump In 7 Battleground States—Shedding Support Among Key Demographics
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/12/14/biden-trails-trump-in-7-battleground-states-shedding-support-among-key-demographics/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A new poll shows that Biden is struggling to reach key demographics, including Black voters and young people.)
— Democrats ask “Is Elon Musk Right About DEI?” and say “Exploring Popular Critiques Of DEI.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2023/12/18/is-elon-musk-right-about-dei-exploring-critiques-of-dei/?sh=3fe7903d7d74

ATLANTIC
— The Myth of the Unemployed College Grad. – Kevin Carey (COMMENT: What frustrated your search for a job when you earned your bachelor’s degree? When I earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU in 1970 when I was 21, my job search was frustrated by my being viewed as being draft bait. Potential employers did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment would be approved. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got – Retail Sales Manager for the Chicago Heights Firestone Store. But in early 1971, I accepted an job offer from Oldsmobile to serve as a liaison between its factories and dealers because my Firestone job did not really require a bachelor’s degree, because advancement seemed far too slow, and because my boss had me a) pumping gasoline, b) installing tires, batteries, etc., c) changing oil and filters, d) delivering major appliances, e) cleaning the store’s showroom, etc. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me for accepting that offer, I accepted an offer from IRS for a job that did require a bachelor’s degree in business. IRS offered me that job because I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/myth-unemployed-college-grad/676364/

DAILY MAIL
— Over 67K migrants are living in NYC shelters – more than triple the 2022 holiday season total – as Mayor Eric Adams calls Biden’s lax immigration policies ‘baffling.’ Adams has often clashed with the president, constantly begging Washington for money to solve a disaster that he claimed will ‘destroy my city.’ Adams says he would ship migrants from the border across the country and give them a three-year deadline to get themselves settled. – STEPHEN M. LEPORE
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12875473/Over-67K-migrants-living-NYC-shelters-triple-2022-holiday-season-total-Mayor-Eric-Adams-calls-Bidens-lax-immigration-policies-baffling.html
— U.S. enters 2024 with its smallest military in over 80 years as active-duty troop numbers sink to less than 1.3 million and all branches except Space Force MISS recruiting goals and Pentagon issue ‘national call of service’ to Gen Z. Active-duty numbers have not been so low since 1941. – NICK ALLEN
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12869575/pentagon-biden-army-navy-marines-space-force-military-recruit-gen-z.html