January 11 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘s***hole countries’? – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-why-allow-immigrants-from-s***hole-countries/2930875/
— Rauner and Pritzker spar in political attack ads before primary – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-and-pritzker-spar-in-political-attack-ads-before-primary/2930463

 

CBS2
— Gov. Rauner, J.B. Pritzker Run Attack Ads Against Each Other – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/11/governor-rauner-jb-pritzker-attack-ads/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘s***hole countries?’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/lawmakers-reach-immigration-compromise

 

WGN TV
— Trump criticized protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries, Washington Post reports
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/11/trump-criticized-protection-for-immigrations-from-shithole-countries-washington-post-reports/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois Democrats assail Trump immigration comments as ‘vile,’ ‘racist’ – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-donald-trump-illinois-lawmakers-20180111-story.html
— Rauner campaign stops airing TV ad that featured Missouri governor who admitted affair – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-eric-greitens-20180111-story.html
— Group of senators reach bipartisan deal on ‘Dreamers,’ but White House says no deal yet – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/immigration/ct-daca-dreamer-immigration-compromise-20180111-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Sources: Trump asked why U.S. should allow immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/report-trump-calls-haiti-el-salvador-african-nations-shithole-countries/
— Rauner campaign pulls ad featuring embattled Missouri governor – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-campaign-pulls-ad-featuring-embattled-missouri-governor/
— Prevailing wage is price city must pay for other reforms, mayoral aides say – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: What should the prevailing wage be for someone who a) worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, b) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, c) passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on his first attempt, d) became a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, and Forensic Accountant, and e) earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, an MBA from Loyola, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/prevailing-wage-is-price-city-must-pay-for-other-reforms-mayoral-aides-say/
— Missouri governor admits affair, denies taking nude photo for blackmail threat – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/missouri-gov-greitens-acknowledges-affair-denies-blackmail/
— Democrats’ shallow plan to signal #MeToo virtue – S. E. Cupp
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/cupp-democrats-shallow-plan-to-signal-metoo-virtue/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kennedy criticizes Pritzker tax breaks, says Rauner sabotaged state government – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180111/kennedy-criticizes-pritzker-tax-breaks-says-rauner-sabotaged-state-government
— College of DuPage’s legal bill to fight Breuder lawsuit: $527,600 and climbing – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180111/college-of-dupages-legal-bill-to-fight-breuder-lawsuit-527600-and-climbing

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Emanuel’s not a racist, but his policies are: Chris Kennedy – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180111/BLOGS02/180119964/emanuels-not-a-racist-but-his-policies-are-chris-kennedy

 

WTTW
— School Funding Formula in Limbo After Rauner Veto – Nick Blumberg
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/01/11/school-funding-formula-limbo-after-rauner-veto

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Algonquin Township officials in conflict over hire of 23-year-old deputy highway commissioner – ED KOMENDA (DIERSEN: IRS hired me when I was 22 years old as a GS-7 (currently $45,703/year) Revenue Officer. I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU the year before,  I had worked for Firestone Stores as a Retail Sales Manager for 7 months, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, and I had worked part-time for the Post Office for almost 3 years.  My first 6 months with IRS was classroom and on-the-job training.)
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/01/09/algonquin-township-officials-in-conflict-over-hire-of-23-year-old-deputy-highway-commissioner/a4av45g/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The political insider has agreements in place to earn $63,000 a year working full time as the chief of staff at Township Supervisor Charles Lutzow’s office, making $32 an hour – and another deal working part time as deputy highway commissioner at the Algonquin Township Highway Department, where he makes $33 an hour. That’s about $4 more an hour than the road district’s highest paid employee, Randy Voss, who has worked for the highway department for 44 years and makes $29.14 an hour. Provenzano’s roles in two offices have raised questions among township officials and road district employees who contend that his hiring was the product of patronage and cronyism. “I don’t feel somebody who is 22 or 23 years old should be getting all of this control,” Trustee Melissa Victor said. “I feel he was a patronage hire.” Provenzano is the son of former McHenry County Board member Nick Provenzano, who now works for U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, and the nephew of former Maine Township Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano. The fresh-faced Republican insider helped city of McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett win election as his campaign manager, and he even worked as a field director for Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign operations in McHenry County. Ryan Provenzano and his father helped Lutzow run his campaign for township supervisor. Lutzow denied that Ryan Provenzano was hired as a political favor.)

 

TIMES
— Illinois Capitol had its share of sexual misconduct missteps – AP
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/illinois-capitol-had-its-share-of-sexual-misconduct-missteps/article_3531cd19-55c8-5019-8604-22da069a26ac.html

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— New Sexual Misconduct Guidelines Still Leave Unanswered Questions – AP
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/new-sexual-misconduct-guidelines-still-leave-unanswered-quaestions#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— US diplomat visits Trump’s ancestral home in Germany
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/us-diplomat-visits-trumps-ancestral-home-in-germany/910484685
— US gives $2B to help homeless amid plans to cut housing aid – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/us-gives-2b-to-help-homeless-amid-plans-to-cut-housing-aid/910793931

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Darn, those glass houses: Illinois GOP knew about Rauner’s ties to Blagojevich
https://realgopillinois.com/2018/01/11/darn-glass-houses-illinois-gop-knew-rauners-ties-blagojevich/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— CHICAGO REPUBLICANS REJECT GOP GOVERNOR FOR RE-ELECTION; PICK CHALLENGER IVES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/chicago-republicans-rejects-endorsing-gop-governor-for-re-election-picks-challenger-ives.html
— THORNER/INGOLD: WILL MONEY-HUNGRY ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS IGNORE THE IMPACT OF LEGALIZING POT?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorneringold-will-money-hungry-illinois-legislators-ignore-the-impact-of-legalizing-pot.html
— NEW RAUNER AD FEATURES BLAGO AND PRITZKER ON FBI WIRETAP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/rauner-ad-features-blago-and-pritzker-on-fbi-wiretap.html
— WEYERMULLER: IVES’ FUNDRAISER FEATURES CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST MIKE GALLAGHER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/weyermuller-attending-jeannie-ives-for-governor-event-with-mike-gallagher.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Chicago GOP follows its leader and endorses Ives
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/chicago-gop-follows-its-leader-and-endorses-ives/
— “Rauner was treated like a conquering hero”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/rauner-was-treated-like-a-conquering-hero/
— Rauner overcorrects on Rivian
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/rauner-overcorrects-on-rivian/
— Dems pounce on Greitens development
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/dems-pounce-on-greitens-development/

 

GOPUSA
— America becoming country where white men won’t dominate
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36802

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— House Republicans Roll Out Immigration Bill Packed With Border Security and Immigration Reforms – Will Racke
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/11/house-republicans-roll-out-daca-bill-packed-with-border-security-and-immigration-reforms/

 

TOWNHALL
— Pelosi: These Tax Reform Bonuses Are ‘Insignificant’ – Cortney O’Brien
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2018/01/11/pelosi-these-tax-reform-bonuses-are-insignificant-n2433236

 

BREITBART
— Leaked Memo: DACA Amnesty Is ‘Critical Component of Democratic Party’s Future Electoral Success’ – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/11/leaked-memo-daca-amnesty-is-critical-component-of-democratic-partys-future-electoral-success/
— Democrats Expand ‘Dreamer’ Amnesty Plan to Include Millions of Parents – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/11/democrats-extend-dreamer-amnesty-plan-include-millions-parents/

 

BLAZE
— Democrats are planning to protest during Trump’s State of the Union address. Here’s why. – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/11/democrats-are-planning-to-protest-during-trumps-state-of-the-union-address-heres-why
— By 2040, Muslims are expected to become second-largest religious group in U.S.
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/11/by-2040-muslims-are-expected-to-become-second-largest-religious-group-in-u-s

 

POLITICO
— Missouri sex scandal burns Illinois governor – NATASHA KORECKI
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/11/eric-greitens-bruce-rauner-tv-ad-337027

 

CNN
— Trump decries immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ coming to US – Eli Watkins and Abby Phillip
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/immigrants-shithole-countries-trump/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Alarms Lawmakers With Disparaging Words for Haiti and Africa – Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/us/politics/trump-shithole-countries.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— NAACP, ACLU protest Trump remark about Africa – AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/the-latest-naacp-aclu-protest-trump-remark-about-africa/2018/01/11/2d5d7d8e-f73d-11e7-9af7-a50bc3300042_story.html
— Trump attacks protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries – Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries-in-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/11/bfc0725c-f711-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html
— VERY SAD: Former RNC chief Michael Steele to Oprah: ‘Call me!’ – Emily Heil
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/01/11/former-rnc-chief-michael-steele-to-oprah-call-me/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Trump complains about allowing immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries – Lisa Mascaro
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-congress-dreamers-20180111-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Immigration Talks Muddled Amid Trump’s Vulgar Comments Trump uses term ‘shithole’ to describe countries of some would-be immigrants, according to two people briefed on meeting – Laura Meckler and Siobhan Hughes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-look-to-sell-immigration-deal-to-a-skeptical-white-house-1515700909

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP RANTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS FROM ‘SHITHOLE’ AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WANTS MORE PEOPLE FROM ‘COUNTRIES LIKE NORWAY’: REPORT – CARLOS BALLESTEROS
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-immigrants-shithole-countries-daca-778928

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— HUD awards $109 million to Illinois homeless programs
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/HUD-awards-109-million-to-Illinois-homeless-programs/61586.html

 

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 630 Frazier Court, Wheaton – $719,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/1_fs/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4447889_zpid/

January 9 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Ill. lawmakers probe Legionnaires’ outbreak at Quincy veterans home – Jessica D’Onofrio
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/il-lawmakers-probe-legionnaires-outbreak-at-quincy-veterans-home/2917455/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois lawmakers to hear about veterans home with deadly water problems today – Kim Geiger (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame you for? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) 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 and b) blame me and my emails for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— Durbin, Duckworth file brief in sanctuary case – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— College Democrats form PAC – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended high school 1962-1966, the Post Office would not have offered me a job in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended UIC 1966-1968 or NIU 1969-1970, IRS would not have offered me a job in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended Loyola 1972-1976 or DePaul 1976-1980, GAO would not have offered me a job in 1980.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— Pot vote put off? (DIERSEN: Republicans oppose pot. Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs promote pot. If a candidate does not oppose pot, that is, if a candidate does not promise to vote against pot, that candidate should run as a Democrat, as a Libertarian, or as a Green, but NOT as a Republican.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A trio of state lawmakers pushing to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Illinois suggested 2018 might not be the year to ask for a vote. State Sen. Heather Steans told the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Monday that supporters hope to unveil a new version of their legalization legislation by early February. The Chicago Democrat said backers will assess how much support they have among lawmakers, but she noted that legalizing marijuana might be a vote some want to avoid in an election year. “We really suspect that it’s not this session we’ll take a vote, we’re really just going to have a new bill that we think is closer,” Steans said. She made the pitch alongside Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago and Republican Rep. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, saying the state should tax and regulate weed because many thousands of Illinoisans are already using it illegally.)
— Trump is right to bully America’s enemies – Gary Abernathy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-bully-trump-north-korea-tough-0109-20180108-story.html
— The future of pumping gas and other make-work jobs – Noah Smith (DIERSEN: I pumped gasoline in 1966 and 1970-1972.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-gaspump-oregon-make-work-jobs-0109-20180108-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner vows fairness in school funding veto, but lawmaker sees ‘absolute chaos’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-vows-fairness-in-school-funding-veto-but-lawmaker-sees-absolute-chaos/
— Aldermen, do your job and ask the hard questions – Madeleine Doubek (DIERSEN: Members of the following groups do not want me to ask any questions: 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://chicago.suntimes.com/news/doubek-alderman-do-your-job-and-ask-the-hard-questions/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps put citizens of foreign countries ahead of citizens of America.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-then-trump-came-for-the-salvadorans/

 

DAILY HERALD
— The importance of persistence in government consolidation – Editorial (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that punish me a) because they believe that I promote government consolidation or b) because they believe that I oppose government consolidation.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180109/editorial-the-importance-of-persistence-in-government-consolidation
— An anti-Trump says “The increasing signs that president isn’t up to the job.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180109/the-increasing-signs-that-president-isnt-up-to-the-job
— Few shelters from cold for intoxicated homeless in suburbs – Elena Ferrarin (DIERSEN: What do you say to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) who drink lots of booze, b) who want to drink lots of booze, and/or c) who encourage others to drink lots of booze?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180109/few-shelters-from-cold-for-intoxicated-homeless-in-suburbs

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Google eyes adding thousands of jobs in new Chicago office – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: What would discourage Google from offering you a job? The following would discourage Google from offering me a job: I am American, White, male, old (69), conservative, patriotic, Republican, Trump supporter, gun owner, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, 100% German American, my ancestors have been in America since the 1840s, former union member, federal retiree, married, childless, pet-less, and I have only owned American nameplate cars.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180109/BLOGS02/180109919
— Swedish cozies up to its heritage – KRISTEN SCHORSCH (DIERSEN: What if from the beginning I had pretended to be Swedish-American? While all my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany to northeast Illinois during the 1840s and 1850s, according to DNA Ancestry at http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI. My uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII. My father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180105/ISSUE01/180109946

 

WGN TV
— Response to Legionnaires at Quincy Veterans Home met with controversy – TAHMAN BRADLEY
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/08/response-to-legionnaires-at-quincy-veterans-home-met-with-controversy/
— ‘It’s a mess’: DACA negotiations hit a snag ahead of White House meeting – CNN
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/09/its-a-mess-daca-negotiations-hit-a-snag-ahead-of-white-house-meeting/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Politicians’ SALT-iness over tax law steeped in irony – Jim Dey (DIERSEN: Have you itemized your deductions or have you taken the standard deduction? Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, RINOs, renters, those who have little or no medical or dental expenses, those who pay little or no state income tax, those who give little or nothing to 501 (c)(3) organizations, those who pay little or nothing for job-related education, and/or others demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who itemize their deductions as being undeservedly filthy rich. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-09/jim-dey-politicians-salt-iness-over-tax-law-steeped-irony.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Whatever the number turns out to be, it’s the taxpayers, not the states where they live, who will pay. Taxpayers still will owe the same amount of money to state and local governments. But because of the limit on the SALT deduction, they will owe more money to the federal government. In other words, it’s a tax on the “millionaire and billionaires” so many populist politicians rail against. The greater their incomes, the more money the SALT-deduction limitation will cost them. Affected taxpayers have noted the new rules and acted accordingly. Many prepaid in 2017 the property taxes they would have paid in 2018 so they can get the full benefit of the SALT deduction before it’s limited. The savings could be significant. For a taxpayer in the 35 percent tax bracket, a fully deductible $20,000 local property-tax bill would generate $7,000 in federal tax savings. Now that higher-income taxpayer who pays $20,000 in property taxes and another $20,000 in state income taxes will see what would have been a $40,000 deduction, worth $14,000 in federal tax savings, limited to $10,000, worth $3,500 in federal tax savings. So why are the governors in high-tax states crying over the rich? Actually, they’re not. They’re crying for themselves because the new $10,000 SALT-deduction limitation will make it more difficult politically to raise taxes on upper-income families. Higher-income earners are already paying a disproportionate share of federal and state income taxes, and they won’t be happy if they’re asked to pay even more in state and local taxes on top of the higher federal taxes they’ll be required to pay.)

 

TIMES
— 128 signatures ‘not genuine’ on DeBates petitions – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/signatures-not-genuine-on-debates-petitions/article_a3a8cbe6-cf53-5e16-9e33-aece2b6243b7.html

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Illinois Dems running for Atty. General vow to fight Trump policies – AP
http://www.saukvalley.com/2018/01/09/illinois-dems-running-for-atty-general-vow-to-fight-trump-policies/anjgqtm/

 

WGLT
— Chuck Erickson Won’t Seek Re-Election As McLean County Republican Party Chairman – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/chuck-erickson-wont-seek-re-election-republican-party-chairman#stream/0

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois Higher Ed Enrollment Continues to Decline – DUSTY RHODES
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-higher-ed-enrollment-continues-decline#stream/0

 

POLITICO
— MAZESKI CASH HAUL – Natasha Korecki (DIERSEN: Of course, those who want Roskam to lose advise him a) to pander to those who 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) to dump those who 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.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/09/veterans-home-hearing-today-durkin-to-attend-rauners-school-funding-bill-veto-judge-orders-dorothy-brown-to-exit-stone-age-235598
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kelly Mazeski, among a cadre of Democrats running in the 6th district primary to compete against U.S. Rep. Republican Peter Roskam, expects to report raising $680,000 to date and more than $510,000 cash on hand, her campaign tells POLITICO. Mazeski has received the backing of EMILY’s List, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Cheri Bustos as well as the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association, Feminist Majority PAC, and two dozen environmental and community leaders.)

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Khouri receives endorsements from GOP state lawmakers – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511312215-khouri-receives-endorsements-from-gop-state-lawmakers

 

MCHENRY TIMES
— Dundee Township resident backing Ives, urges GOP to do same – Glenn Minnis
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511308536-dundee-township-resident-backing-ives-urges-gop-to-do-same

 

LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— Fremont Township GOP backing Ives’ governor bid – Glenn Minnis
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511308738-fremont-township-gop-backing-ives-governor-bid

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Candidates for governor linked to oil and gas companies – Raquel Martin
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/candidates-for-governor-linked-to-oil-and-gas-companies/907270004

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Not much happening in high-tax Illinois in reaction to federal tax reform – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: Have you itemized your deductions or have you taken the standard deduction? Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, RINOs, renters, those who have little or no medical or dental expenses, those who pay little or no state income tax, those who give little or nothing to 501 (c)(3) organizations, those who pay little or nothing for job-related education, and/or others demonize, denigrated, and condemn those who itemize their deductions as being undeservedly filthy rich. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/not-much-happening-in-high-tax-illinois-in-reaction-to/article_451cf994-f4af-11e7-92be-a723dde73e32.html

 

DAILY CALLER
— LEAKED MEMO: DREAMers Are ‘Critical’ To Dems ‘Future Electoral Success’ – Michael Bastasch (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at everyone, but especially at illegals, that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats want illegals to become citizens so that they can help Democrats get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/leaked-memo-dreamers-are-critical-to-dems-future-electoral-success/
— Trump Took The Field For The National Anthem — But This Special Moment Makes The Audience Roar – Benny Johnson
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/trump-took-the-field-for-the-national-anthem-but-this-special-moment-makes-the-audience-roar/

 

BREITBART
— President Trump Invites 23 Hill Leaders To Argue Amnesty on Tuesday – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at everyone, but especially at illegals, that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats want illegals to become citizens so that they can help Democrats get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/08/trump-invites-23-hill-leaders-to-argue-amnesty-at-the-white-house/

 

NEWSMAX
— Republicans Looking at Justice Department Officials’ Contacts With Reporters – Jeffrey Rodack (DIERSEN: What do you say to “Republican” activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Illinois a) who pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois, b) who refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists, c) who do not want Diersen to know about their events or other activities, d) who do not want Diersen to promote their events or other activities, e) who do not want Diersen to attend their events, and f) who do not want Diersen to report on their events or other activities?)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/republican-lawmakers-justice-department-fbi/2018/01/09/id/835959/

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— No Mr. President We Don’t ‘Hope’ To Work Out A Deal With Democrats – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/27150

 

LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES
— The Golden Rule – Tim Hetzner (DIERSEN: Do you retaliate against  your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes know that I do not. They talk and act like they reject the golden rule a) because they blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all their problems, b) because they demonize, denigrate, and condemn me and my emails, c) because they ascribe bad judgment and evil motive to everything that I do or do not do, d) because they do everything that they can to stop me from putting the emails together and sending them out, and e) because the do everything that they can to stop everyone from reading the emails. Previously, they ended my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster service, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership, GAO employment, etc.)
http://devotions.lccharities.org/2018/01/09/golden-rule-part-1/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers promote medical pot to promote recreational pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455249/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-medical-marijuana-medical-cannabis-cancer-patients

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Six-figure construction jobs are going unfilled – Brittany De Lea
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2018/01/05/six-figure-construction-jobs-are-going-unfilled.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump Overstates Size of Tax Cuts in Speech to Farmers.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-tax-cuts-farmers-speech.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “To Pay for Wall, Trump Would Cut Proven Border Security Measures.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-border-wall-funding-surveillance.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: At Chinese Border, No Visas Needed, No Beards Allowed – Andrew Higgins
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/world/asia/kazakhstan-china-border.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: He Sought Dirt, Then Spotlight Shone on Him – Matt Flegenheimer (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents have lots of skeletons in their closets and they do not want me or anyone else to shine light on those skeletons. Therefore, my critics/opponents focus on a) stopping me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS together and sending them out and b) stopping everyone from reading those emails.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/fusion-gps-glenn-simpson.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The White House struggles to silence talk of Trump’s mental fitness.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-white-house-struggles-to-silence-talk-of-trumps-mental-fitness/2018/01/08/2a7d4092-f493-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html
— Trump greeted by cheers, some boos and protests at college football’s biggest game – Sonam Vashi and Marwa Eltagouri
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/01/08/protesters-prepare-for-trumps-arrival-at-college-football-championship-game/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans say “Political agenda keeps Trump and Congress apart on a fix for immigrant Dreamers.”
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-congress-immigration-dreamers-20180109-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— GOP Tax Reformers Are Lousy Salesmen – Matt Salisbury
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-tax-reformers-are-lousy-salesmen-1515457871
— Make It Easier to Work Without a License – Alexander Acosta and Dennis Daugaard (DIERSEN: I became a licensed CPA in 1981 when I was 32 years old based on my a) having passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) having worked for GAO for more than a year, c) having worked for IRS for almost 9 years, d) having passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) having earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, f) having earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and g) having earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/make-it-easier-to-work-without-a-license-1515457813

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups do not want the census to ask about citizenship: 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.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/08/census-2020-no-citizenship-question-editorials-debates/1007921001/

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Democrats Ask GAO to Review New IRS Tax Guidelines – Reuters (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $96,403-$102,830. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. If my Democrat GAO superiors had not wasted my GAO career, had not wasted my knowledge of IRS, and had not forced me to take their early retirement offer in 1997 when I was 49 years old, I might still be working for GAO on audits of IRS.)
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-01-08/democrats-ask-watchdog-to-review-new-irs-tax-guidelines
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two U.S. Democratic politicians asked a government watchdog on Monday to scrutinize implementation of President Donald Trump’s tax law, warning that the administration could use new tax guidelines to create the appearance of a large middle-class tax cut ahead of the 2018 mid-term elections. In a letter to U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Richard Neal said they were concerned that the U.S. Treasury could be pressured to adopt tax withholding tables that take too little federal tax out of employee paychecks to make good on White House predictions of a middle-class windfall. Such a move would inflate after-tax pay this year but leave workers to pay sizeable tax bills in 2019 when they file their 2018 federal tax returns, the lawmakers said. Wyden and Neal, the top Democrats on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee and House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, asked that the watchdog Government Accountability Office review new Internal Revenue Service withholding tables to “assure Congress and the American public that there is no political influence.” Treasury, IRS and GAO officials had no immediate comment.)

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Pentagon IG Offers Details of Biggest Audit Ever – Charles S. Clark (DIERSEN: I worked on GAO’s audit of DOD’s fiscal year 1990 ammunition budget. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/NSIAD-90-23)
http://www.govexec.com/management/2018/01/pentagon-ig-offers-details-biggest-audit-ever/145045/

 

FED SMITH
— Happy 20th Anniversary Roth IRA! – Carol Schmidlin (DIERSEN: Of course, during the last 20 years, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been furious that my wife and I have always contributed the maximum to Roth IRAs.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/01/08/happy-20th-anniversary-roth-ira/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Investing in a Roth allows you to pay tax on the seed (the smaller, contribution amount) and reap the bounties of the harvest (the contributions plus earnings) tax free! Hoorays for the Roth IRA Earnings come out tax free as long as five years have passed since you opened your Roth IRA and you are 59½ or older. Contributions to a Roth IRA can be withdrawn anytime, for any reason, tax-free and penalty free. In contrast, all withdrawals from a traditional IRA are subject to income tax and generally subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty if taken before age 59½. There is no age limit on making contributions to Roth IRA’s, while one can no longer contribute to a traditional IRA upon reaching the year in which one turns age 70½. You can contribute the maximum to a Roth employer plan and the maximum to a Roth IRA, as long as you are under the income limits in the chart below. You are not required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a Roth IRA.
Contribution limits for 2018 are $5,500 ($6,500 age 50 or over), however there are income restrictions that may not permit you to contribute to a Roth IRA.)

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/

December 31 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 8 New Year’s wishes for Chicago and Illinois – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/8-new-year-wishes-chicago-illinois-2018-editorial/
— Here’s what we fought for in 2017 – Editorial (DIERSEN: What did you fight for in 2017? With my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, I fought for the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township resolution against video gambling. I especially fought for the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. I especially fought against the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, further erosion of the First and Second Amendments, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, political affiliation discrimination, patronage, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/2017-trump-rauner-schools-chicago-police-golf-course-park-district-republican-tax-bill/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— After dispute over epitaph, tombstone at Catholic cemetery reads: ‘She supported priest sexual abuse victims’ – Angie Leventis Lourgos
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-catholic-grave-marker-20171221-story.html
— Senators’ Russia trip scuttled because of ‘black list’ – AP (DIERSEN: Who has you on their black list? I should write a book about those who have me on their black lists. They do not want me a) to know about their events or their other activities, b) to promote their events or their other activities, c) attend their events, or d) report on their events or other activities. They blame me for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000. They pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–senate-russia-20171230-story.html
— More adults are living together than ever, analysis shows. Here’s why. – Darcel Rockett (DIERSEN: I had saved enough and I was earning enough a) in 1972 when I was 24 years old to buy a new town home in University Park, b) in 1974 to buy a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago, and c) in 1976 to buy a one bedroom condo in that building. My father died suddenly in 1969. I lived with my mother and brother in Crete 1970-1972 to help support them.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/ct-re-roommates-rental-prices-20171219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Republicans promote booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-sports-betting-new-jersey-supreme-court-nfl-1231-20171229-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Couple leaves words ‘priest rapist’ off Wheaton cemetery tombstone – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171230/couple-leaves-words-priest-rapist-off-wheaton-cemetery-tombstone
— Nurture skepticism, not cynicism, to combat ‘fake news’ – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, virtually everything that the mainstream media puts out is designed to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and/or the Green Party platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171231/editorial-nurture-skepticism-not-cynicism-to-combate-fake-news
— ‘I hope I can quit working in a few years’: A preview of the US without pensions – Peter Whoriskey (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who are not getting a pension or are not in line to get a pension promote hatred against those who are getting a pension or are in line to get a pension. Soon, if not already, those who are getting a pension or are in line to get a pension will join/form organizations to protect what they have earned. One such organization is the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association at http://www.narfe.org. Those who promote hatred against me should acknowledge that if my Democrat GAO superiors had been stopped from forcing me to take their early retirement “offer in 1997 when I was 49 years old, and if I was still working for GAO, in today’s dollars, I would have paid into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) $174,340 ($717 X 243 months) instead of CSRS paying me $1,029,834 ($4,238 X 243 months).)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171231/i-hope-i-can-quit-working-in-a-few-years-a-preview-of-the-us-without-pensions

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump defends frequent Twitter use as way to ‘fight a very dishonest and unfair press’ – Alex Pappas
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/30/trump-defends-frequent-twitter-use-as-way-to-fight-very-dishonest-and-unfair-press.html

 

NBC5
— Efforts Grow to Help Students Evaluate What They See Online – Ryan J. Foley (DIERSEN: What helps you evaluate what you see online? I have been putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out since 2000. I have served as an arbitrator for the Financial Services Regulatory Authority since 1998. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $94,610-$122,991. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Licensed CPA in 1981, Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and CPA in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970. According to my critics/opponents, a) they and only they determine what is fact or fiction and b) what they put out is fact and everything else is fiction.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Spread-of-Fake-News-Prompts-Media-Literacy-Efforts-in-Schools-467328253.html

 

BREITBART
— Rep. Dave Brat: 2018 DACA Amnesty Fight ‘Will Determine the Nature of Our Country’ — ‘If We Fail on This, Just Picture Europe’ – ROBERT KRAYCHIK (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want America to look like foreign countries because anti-Trumps are 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.breitbart.com/radio/2017/12/30/rep-dave-brat-2018-daca-amnesty-fight-will-determine-the-nature-of-our-country-if-we-fail-on-this-just-picture-europe/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Congress must prioritize four repairs for the immigration system before contemplating any DACA-style amnesty negotiation, said Brat: 1. Ending chain migration and the visa lottery; 2. Mandating employer use of E-Verify; 3. Construction of a southern border wall; and 4. Interior enforcement of immigration law. The four aforementioned “permanent fixes” must precede any DACA negotiation regarding amnesty for illegal immigrants, said Brat: “It shouldn’t be about trusting or hoping, the permanent part has to come first, you see in that place and then you negotiate later.”)

 

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps are furious that candidates who 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 get more votes.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/31/trump-white-working-class-history-216200

 

NBC NEWS
— Forget resolutions: 3 more productive ways to look back at 2017 Looking back at the past year with a different lens may set you up for more success in the new year. – Brianna Steinhilber (DIERSEN: Of course, my resolutions for 2018 include sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails each and every morning and each and every evening.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/forget-resolutions-3-more-productive-ways-look-back-2017-ncna833651

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Year the News Accelerated to Trump Speed – Matt Flegenheimer (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. To deal with that concerning government and political news and commentary of interest to Illinois Republicans, you can rely on GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They come out each and every morning and each and every evening.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/us/politics/trump-news-overload.html
— The Patriarchs Are Falling. The Patriarchy Is Stronger Than Ever. – Susan Faludi (DIERSEN: Ever-increasing, anti-Republicans shout at women that Republicans are the cause of all the problems that women have had, are having, and will have, and especially Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/opinion/sunday/patriarchy-feminism-metoo.html
— Want to Be Happy? Think Like an Old Person – JOHN LELAND (DIERSEN: I do not think like an old person.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/nyregion/want-to-be-happy-think-like-an-old-person.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— The GOP tax plan creates one of the largest new loopholes in decades – Editorial (DIERSEN: What deductions do your critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout are loopholes? My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the following deductions are loopholes: mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and job-related education. I should write a book about my critics/opponents a) who have never owned real estate, b) who pay little or no state income tax, c) who have had little or no medical or dental expenses, d) who give little or no money to 501(c)(3) organizations, and/or e) who have never spent any money for job-related education.)
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-batchelder-kamin-tax-deduction-pass-through-income-20171231-story.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— A New Year’s resolution for the media: Do not let Republicans get away with saying ‘reforms’ when they mean ‘cuts’ – Jared Bernstein (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, to justify cutting GAO’s budget, Democrats and RINOs shouted that the agency needed “reforms.” “Reforms” is code for getting rid of employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/12/29/a-new-years-resolution-for-the-media-do-not-let-republicans-get-away-with-saying-reforms-when-they-mean-cuts/
— Scandal has overwhelmed the IRS – Editorial (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of IRS on? I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step-1-3 levels, currently, $94,610-$100,917. I have filed federal income tax returns since 1964 and itemized returns since 1972. I took IRS to Tax Court and won a split decision on my education deductions. Nevertheless my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes continue to viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/scandal-has-overwhelmed-the-irs/2017/12/29/9b80e022-e431-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html
— In search of a word that won’t offend ‘old’ people – Laura L. Carstensen (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always a) promoted age discrimination and b) hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you are a non-veteran White male federal employee, you are stupid, lazy, and even worse things if you do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-search-of-a-word-that-wont-offend-old-people/2017/12/29/76640346-b808-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.344fb1d4f788
— I grow pot in California for a living. I’m worried about legalization. – Chiah Rodriques
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-small-marijuana-farmers-like-me-be-wiped-out-when-pot-goes-legal-in-california/2017/12/29/b54cd99c-ec25-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Divide Between America’s Prosperous Cities and Struggling Small Towns—in 20 Charts – Paul Overberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-divide-between-americas-prosperous-cities-and-struggling-small-townsin-20-charts-1514543401

 

BALTIMORE SUN
— Toying with the idea of trading up? 3 steps homebuyers should take before doing anything else – Ellen James Martin (DIERSEN: What discouraged you from trading up? For my wife and I, it was my Democrat GAO superiors forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, their always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, their not promoting me beyond GS-13, their getting rid of my mentor in 1987, and their keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO.)
http://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=a61a6d95-05f6-4a95-b106-77df9b30b08e

 

PALM BEACH POST
— CHICAGO TRIBUNE HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Extra house on your hands? – Ellen James Martin (DIERSEN: Because I could not sell it for a fair price, I rented out 774-5 Sunset Court in University Park 1976-1984.)
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/classifieds/real-estate/what-should-remarried-couples-with-extra-house/U9qKLFjsIvE7CQkQW74jrJ/

 

MESSENGER INQUIRER
— How do my finances compare with my peers’? – Brianna McGurran
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/business/how-do-my-finances-compare-with-my-peers/article_4da1b7a5-1d2b-5e41-b68d-ddfe2a556f96.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If you’re under 35, here’s how your peers are really doing, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances: The median income for families with a head of household under 35 was $40,500 in 2016. Nearly half of families under 35 had credit card balances, with median debt of $1,400 per family. About 42 percent of families under 35 had retirement accounts, and their median value was $12,300. Lastly, about 45 percent of families with a head of household under 35 had education debt. The median amount was $18,500 per family, but the amount varies widely by income level and highest degree attained. . .Do you have an emergency fund of at least $500? It should eventually include three to six months of basic expenses. Are you paying down high-interest debt, like credit cards and personal loans? That should come before attacking lower-interest debt like student loans. Do you spend less than you earn? A budget based on the 50/30/20 rule can help: You’ll spend no more than 50 percent of after-tax income on necessities, no more than 30 percent on wants and at least 20 percent on savings and debt repayment. Do you follow the 28/36 rule? Lenders use this to qualify you for a mortgage, but Amis suggests it’s also a helpful way to assess cash flow even if you’re years from buying a home. Housing costs should be less than 28 percent of your pretax income. With other debt payments, like credit card, car or student loan bills, the total should come under 36 percent of pretax income. Do you save for retirement? Socking away 10 to 15 percent of your pretax income is the goal. These guidelines are aspirational. But your progress toward them is a better measure of whether your money is working for you than surveys or Instagram. In the end, your financial well-being boils down to whether you can meet your basic needs today, plan for a better tomorrow and enjoy life as you go.)

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— 4 Reasons Your Social Security Benefit May Be Worth Less Than You Think – Christy Bieber
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/12/30/4-reasons-your-social-security-benefit-may-be-wort.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 2. Social Security benefits aren’t keeping pace with rising costs of living Retirees receiving Social Security benefits get periodic cost of living adjustments (COLAs). COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Unfortunately, many believe this is the wrong index to tie benefit increases to because it does not accurately reflect seniors’ spending patterns. Seniors often devote more of their income to medical costs than the general population. Unfortunately, in 33 out of the past 35 years, healthcare costs have risen at faster rates than Social Security COLA increases. Food and housing cost increases are also outpacing COLA for retirees on Social Security. If Social Security benefits don’t rise as much as the costs of products and services used by seniors, the latter have less purchasing power. Even if income appears to go up because you receive a small raise, benefits will actually be worth less in real terms. And, unfortunately, there’s not even a guarantee you’ll get a raise — even on paper. Since 2010, COLAs have averaged just 1.35% per year. In three of the past 10 years, seniors didn’t get a raise at all, and in 2016, the COLA was just 0.3%.)

 

CNBC
— 4 lifestyle changes to make you more productive in 2018 – Marguerite Ward
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/29/4-lifestyle-changes-to-make-you-more-productive-in-2018.html

 

SALON
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps use Moore to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn Trump and his supporters.
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/30/evangelical-christianity-is-facing-a-political-crisis_partner/

December 30 Evening Edition

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Armed robbers target passengers as they get off trains across Chicago
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/crime/armed-robbers-target-passengers-as-they-get-off-trains-across-chicago

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ex-mayor Henry Vicenik says Rep. Jim Durkin got involved in Broadview brouhaha – Dan Mihalopoulos
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mihalopoulos-ex-mayor-says-rep-jim-durkin-broadview-strip-club/
— Governor’s veto of senior care program jeopardizes services – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/governors-veto-of-senior-care-program-jeopardizes-services/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Man’s Country, Chicago’s oldest gay bathhouse, closing after 44 years – Bill Daley
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-mans-country-bathhouse-closing-1230-story.html
— Mike Pence’s Colorado neighbors greet him with ‘Make America Gay Again’ banner – Kristine Phillips (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will those who promote LGBTQ activity brag that they can viciously destroy any individual, any organization, any company, any government, and any country that does not promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-mike-pence-neighbors-20171230-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Spread of fake news prompts literacy efforts in schools – AP (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, a) they and only they determine what is fact or fiction and b) what they put out is fact and everything else is fiction. What helps you determine fact from fiction? I have been putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out since 2000. I have served as an arbitrator for the Financial Services Regulatory Authority since 1998. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $94,610-$122,991. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Licensed CPA in 1981, Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and CPA in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171230/news/312309905/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Alarmed by the proliferation of false content online, state lawmakers around the country are pushing schools to put more emphasis on teaching students how to tell fact from fiction. Lawmakers in several states have introduced or passed bills calling on public school systems to do more to teach media literacy skills that they say are critical to democracy. The effort has been bipartisan but has received little attention despite successful legislation in Washington state, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Mexico.)
— Why your New Year’s resolution should be to spend more money – Suzanne Woolley (DIERSEN: What discourages you from spending more? For me, it is knowing that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my ending salary was today’s dollars.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171230/why-your-new-years-resolution-should-be-to-spend-more-money
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “When we speak about spending resolutions, we usually speak about how to encourage people to spend less,” said Meir Statman, a behavioral finance professor at Santa Clara University. “This is right for most young people. But with many older people, the problem is too little spending because of a reluctance to dip into capital.”)

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Better Government Association: Demand government we deserve, use FOIA law – Jose Sanchez
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20171230/better-government-association-demand-government-we-deserve-use-foia-law
— Resolve to be an engaged citizen in 2018 – Editorial (DIERSEN: Who does not want you to be an engaged citizen? Those who do not want me to be an engaged citizen 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 are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20171230/editorial-resolve-to-be-engaged-citizen-in-2018

 

TIMES
— Republican congressional candidate Jaye DeBates, whose petitions to get on the ballot were challenged by an opponent, withdrew his candidacy Friday. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/congress-hopeful-leaves-race/article_d59a9308-4626-5935-9d66-9c8ae79cb939.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— Congressional candidate Jaye DeBates has withdrawn his candidacy from the March primary ballot. – Brett Herrmann
http://www.newstrib.com/free/pc-republican-coming-off-of-ballot/article_65cadc30-ecab-11e7-b48c-f3687e0741d9.html

 

  1. LOUIS TODAY
    — DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they are also 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.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/national/ruben-navarrette-it-s-no-surprise-when-racists-claim-the/article_7c44b735-bf8c-50c9-bc7f-6c504284e013.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— How the Left Became So Intolerant – Kim Holmes
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/how-the-left-became-so-intolerant/

 

GOPUSA
— AS Democrats say black female voters key to victory in South (DIERSEN: Democrats focus on turning everyone against Republicans, but Democrats especially focus on turning Black females against Republicans.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36079

 

BREITBART
— Anchor Baby Population in U.S. Exceeds One Year of American Births – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/anchor-baby-population-in-u-s-exceeds-one-year-of-american-births/

 

BLAZE
— Media critics say BuzzFeed list of things ‘white people’ ruin is racist, bigoted – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/30/media-critics-say-buzzfeed-list-of-things-white-people-ruin-is-racist-bigoted

 

THE HILL
— Republicans face an uphill climb in 2018 if they fail on immigration and ObamaCare – RACHEL BOVARD
http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/366854-republicans-face-an-uphill-climb-in-2018-if-they-fail-on-immigration-and

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Polls show Americans distrust the media. But talk to them, and it’s a very different story. – Margaret Sullivan (DIERSEN: You can trust the mainstream media a) to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and the Green Party platform and b) to demonize, denigrate, and condemn the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/polls-show-americans-distrust-the-media-but-talk-to-them-and-its-a-very-different-story/2017/12/27/ed9bbabe-ce3b-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html
— How the Trump era is changing the federal bureaucracy – Lisa Rein and Andrew Ba Tran (DIERSEN: All during the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, the agency shrank. It was almost always under hiring and/or promotion freezes. Further, it was always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of the agency’s employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-trump-era-is-changing-the-federal-bureaucracy/2017/12/30/8d5149c6-daa7-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html

 

DAILY COMMERCIAL
— Affordability driving the 2018 housing projection – Don Magruder (DIERSEN: Limiting the deductibility of real estate taxes harms affordability.)
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20171230/around-house-affordability-driving-2018-housing-projection

 

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— Why Education Matters to Your Health – Karin Fischer
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Education-Matters-to-Your/242123

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump Is Still Happily Mixing Government Affairs With His Private Businesses – Benjamin Hart
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/trump-still-mixing-government-affairs-with-private-business.html

 

ALTERNET
— How the GOP Tax Cut Will Also Shrink Your Paycheck When Republicans cut taxes, wages go down or stay flat for working people. – Thom Hartmann
https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-gop-tax-cut-will-also-shrink-your-paycheck

December 28 Morning Edition

WASHINGTON POST
— IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan (DIERSEN: Will the Republicans amend the tax bill so that real estate taxes due in 2018 that were not assessed in 2017 but were prepaid in 2017 can be deducted in 2017?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/tax-bill-spawns-new-holiday-ritual-waiting-in-line-to-pay-taxes/2017/12/27/1e7ea59a-eb12-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: However, the IRS said Wednesday that filers could only avoid the cap by paying property taxes that have been assessed in 2017. Many local governments, including most Washington-area jurisdictions, have not completed assessments for upcoming years. Critics said the last-minute confusion underscored the haste with which Republicans passed their tax bill, completed in record time for such a far-reaching piece of legislation. “This is not the way to do legislation that will massively impact the entire economy. It sets off a flurry of action from people trying to save money, and they act as rash as the legislators who pushed this thing through,” said Philip Hackney, a tax expert at Louisiana State University. That confusion was echoed among thousands of taxpayers in the Washington region and elsewhere — some following the advice of their accountants — who interrupted their holiday activities to line up in subfreezing temperatures at tax offices.)
— Can you save a lot of money by prepaying your property taxes? Key questions and answers. – Zachary A. Goldfarb
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/27/essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes/
— Most Americans do not support making cuts to programs for people with low incomes – Eugene Scott (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, more and more and more people have low incomes. What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? 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.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/12/27/most-americans-do-not-support-making-cuts-to-programs-for-people-with-low-incomes/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Prepaying Your Property Tax? I.R.S. Cautions It Might Not Pay Off – Ben Casselman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/prepaying-your-property-taxes-irs-cautions-it-might-not-pay-off.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In a Complex Tax Bill, Let the Hunt for Loopholes Begin – Natalie Kitroeff (DIERSEN: What deductions do your critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout are loopholes? My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the following deductions are loopholes: mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and job-related education.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/economy/tax-loopholes.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— IRS Says 2018 Property Taxes Have to Be Assessed to Qualify for Deduction Agency says taxes on real estate that haven’t been assessed before 2018 won’t be deductible on 2017 returns – Joseph De Avila
https://www.wsj.com/articles/irs-2018-property-taxes-have-to-be-assessed-to-qualify-for-prepayment-1514417581

 

FORBES
— When You Shouldn’t Prepay Your 2018 Property Taxes – Kate Ashford
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2017/12/28/property-taxes/#5e95fa6d5513
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If you don’t have a bill yet for 2018, it’s not officially deductible. “The IRS ruled that you cannot pay and deduct in 2017 unless assessed,” says Scott Bishop, a financial planner with STA Wealth Management in Houston. If, for instance, your locality assessed property taxes earlier in the year and you generally pay in installments, you can pay the full balance in 2017 and deduct it. But if property taxes haven’t been assessed yet, you’re out of luck. “That seems to be the bigger issue now,” says Howard Hook, a financial planner and CPA in Princeton, NJ. “If you’re not assessed for 2018, you can’t make the payments.”)

 

NBC5
— How to Prepay Property Taxes in Chicago Suburbs
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/How-to-Prepay-Property-Taxes-in-Chicago-Suburbs-466954723.html

 

ABC7
— Homeowners rush to pre-pay property taxes after GOP tax bill – Eric Horng
http://abc7chicago.com/finance/homeowners-rush-to-pre-pay-property-taxes-after-gop-tax-bill/2832246/

 

DAILY HERALD
— IRS: Many who prepay taxes may still face caps – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/irs-many-who-prepay-taxes-may-still-face-caps
— 6 essential questions and answers about prepaying your property taxes – Zachary A. Goldfarb
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171228/6-essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes
— Charity gets a jolt from tax law _ but due to drop next year – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/business/312289970/
— How 6th District Democrats would change Republican tax law – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/how-6th-district-democrats-would-change-republican-tax-law
— Activists seek injunction against Illinois abortion law – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/news/312289983/
— Group wants photos of every service member killed in Vietnam War – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/group-wants-photos-of-every-service-member-killed-in-vietnam-war
— Trump’s unjust insults to undermine Washington Post – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the MSM (main stream media) makes it clear that it exists a) to defend and advance the Democrat, Libertarian, and Green party platforms and b) to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries 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.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171228/editorial-trumps-unjust-insults-to-undermine-washington-post
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: State requires new sexual harassment policies for all local governments – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/state-requires-new-sexual-harassment-policies-for-all-local-governments

 

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Illinois Homeowners Rush To Pay Taxes Before GOP Plan Kicks In Friday is your last day to prepay taxes ahead of the new GOP plan, which caps tax deductions at $10,000. – Shannon Antinori
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/illinois-homeowners-rush-pay-taxes-gop-plan-kicks

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Roy Moore files lawsuit to block Alabama Senate result – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-roy-moore-lawsuit-alabama-senate-20171227-story.html
— Husband blames owner of two dogs who killed wife on Christmas Eve in Kentucky – Kristine Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-kentucky-dog-attack-20171227-story.html
— Will #metoo movement speed up the number of women in leadership — or slow it down? – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the anti-Trumps, if a woman accuses a man of something, that man is presumed to be guilty, and especially if that man is a Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if his ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-metoo-movement-female-leadership-20171227-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Anti-gambling crusader Kathy Gilroy who shut down raffles wins $25,000 in gaming parlor sweepstakes – Robert McCoppin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-anti-gambling-crusader-wins-sweepstakes-20171227-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kathy Gilroy has crusaded against gambling in Illinois for decades, speaking out against casinos, illegal raffles and the recent wave of video poker cafes. As one of the most visible gaming opponents in the state, she has warned that the vice erodes society’s values and work ethic, takes money from poor people and can lead to addiction, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. Just this year, she blew the whistle on a $1.6 million Queen of Hearts raffle put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in rural Morris, forcing it to shut down hours before the planned drawing, until the raffle was properly licensed. So even she concedes it may seem ironic that she recently won $25,000 by playing a sweepstakes game at a gambling cafe in her hometown of Villa Park. “I called a pastor friend, and said, ‘Oh my God, should I send it back? What do I do? Do I donate it?’” she said. “He said, ‘Don’t feel guilty. You just got paid for all your volunteer work against gambling.’ It’s God showing his grace on me.” Despite her longtime anti-gambling activism, it turns out Gilroy has a history of playing and winning sweepstakes. She said she’s landed prizes including electronics and trips to the Bahamas and California. She once won a big-screen TV from a mechanic, but asked instead for $1,000 in service. A week later, her transmission went out, and she quickly got her money’s worth. She’ll even play the video poker machines at gambling cafes if she is given a free promo card. The distinction Gilroy makes is that she was not spending her own money to gamble. She enters sweepstakes because, by state law, they must be made available free of charge. And — unlike the VFW game that was not licensed, as required by law — she says the sweepstakes she plays are perfectly legal. Still, Morris VFW Commander Jerry Zeborowski was perplexed to hear that Gilroy had won a sweepstakes. “It’s ironic that someone who’s anti-gambling would enter something like that,” he said. “That’s a little hypocrisy there, don’t you think?” Gilroy, 68, who works selling supplemental health insurance for people on Medicare, shrugs off the negative comments she’s gotten over the years, such as when she succeeded in halting a raffle to raise money for needy college students because it was unlicensed and not put on by a nonprofit, as required by law. But she admitted she did have to think twice about this situation. She worried that her winnings were proceeds from money that people lost gambling, but decided that it comes out of the profits of the parent company, Laredo Hospitality Ventures. Gilroy said she was raised on a farm near Lost Nation, Iowa, in a family that never had much money. She worked her way through school, and traveled to fairs and trade shows around the country, selling everything from books to blenders. Decades ago, she used to gamble at racetracks, she said. But her attitude towards gambling started to change when she won $700, only to lose it back swiftly to the track. She took part in an anti-gambling seminar by the Rev. Tom Grey, leader of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, formed in 1994. She began speaking out against any effort to expand gambling, including most recently with video poker cafes, which have grown to offer more than 24,000 machines statewide. Last year, as one example, she asked the Lincolnwood Village Board to reject a request to lift its ban on video gambling. At issue was a proposal by Laredo Hospitality to open a Stella’s Cafe — the same Des Plaines company and gambling parlor chain through which Gilroy ended up winning her drawing. As Gilroy tells it, she heard about the sweepstakes after signing up for the gambling cafes’ emails. After every fifth visit to a cafe, she got a scratch-off card, which occasionally won her a $5 card to play the machines or entries for the grand prize, a new Ford Mustang convertible. Finalists were drawn from each of Laredo’s 52 locations in Illinois, and Gilroy was one of them. Winners had to be present, so she attended the grand prize drawing at a restaurant in Rosemont on Dec. 16. She drew No. 7, and when her number was pulled from a fishbowl, she was amazed to hear that she had won. She opted for $25,000 in cash instead of a car, and has already bought some stocks with the money. To get the winnings, Gilroy had to sign an agreement to let Laredo take her photo and use it as they wish — so she might end up promoting the very industry she fights. Laredo officials didn’t return calls for comment, and didn’t allow the Tribune to take Gilroy’s picture inside the Stella’s in Villa Park, so they may not be eager to use her as their poster child. Years ago, just before she quit betting on the ponies, Gilroy said, she looked around and was struck by the smoke and the broken-down players at the track. “I said, ‘What am I doing?’ This is so stupid,’” she recalled. “It dawned on me, this is not the lifestyle I want. I don’t want to even associate with these people.” Still, after all these years, after shutting down numerous illegal raffles and raising awareness statewide that raffles need to be locally licensed, Gilroy said she takes advantage of sweepstakes whenever she can. “It’s the gambling I oppose,” she said, “not the sweepstakes.”)

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— WMAY using stories of network linked to Illinois Policy Institute – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Virtually every story in the MSM (main stream media) is linked to the Democrat Party, to the Libertarian Party, and/or to the Green Party.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171227/bernard-schoenburg-wmay-using-stories-of-network-linked-to-illinois-policy-institute

 

TIMES
— More pay for public defenders? – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/more-pay-for-public-defenders/article_c53f4fb4-9c10-537d-a0d5-193545880ec7.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— You owe $52K for state employee pensions, and the bill is overdue
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article190917849.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat: GOP rep. calling for ‘purge’ needs a history lesson Call reminiscent of McCarthyism during Cold War – JASON SQUITIERI (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors always acted like Democrat politicians had called for a purge of all federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to purge the aforesaid employees. While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, every time a new manager took over the office, they were given a list of the office’s employees who they were supposed to purge. Of course, I was always on those lists.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/democrat-gop-rep-calling-for-purge-needs-a-history-lesson/889700747

 

LCBC RADIO
— TRAGIC: Gamblers in Biggest Illinois Valley Cities Lost Nearly $20 Million in Last 12 Months
http://www.lcbcradio.com/wlpo/gamblers-in-biggest-illinois-valley-cities-lost-nearly-million-in/article_f971ea5c-ebd2-11e7-abf8-1f467db27161.html

 

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois Comptroller: Moving Debt From One Credit Card To Another Is ‘A Win Win Win’ – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-comptroller-moving-debt-from-one-credit-card-to-another-is-a-win-win-win-wirepoints-original/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Kinzler blames Illinois’ exodus on ‘dysfunctional system’ – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511303230-kinzler-blames-illinois-exodus-on-dysfunctional-system

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Top-down change needed to reverse Illinois exodus, Don Moore says – Glenn Minnis
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511305596-top-down-change-needed-to-reverse-illinois-exodus-moore-says

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Coalition Letter Urges Trump Administration to Resist Courts on “Transgenders” in Military – John Biver
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/coalition-letter-urges-trump-administration-resist-courts-transgenders-military/

 

GOPUSA
— Food, showers, tents: Are the homeless helped or enabled?
http://www.gopusa.com/food-showers-tents-are-the-homeless-helped-or-enabled/

 

REDSTATE
— Americans Fled Blue States In The Hundreds Of Thousands Due To High Taxes, Leaving Fewer To Pay The Democrats’ Tab – Brandon Morse
https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2017/12/27/americans-fled-blue-states-hundreds-thousands-due-high-taxes-high-crime-rates/

 

NEWSMAX
— A Guide to the 2018 Midterm Elections – Scott Rasmussen
https://www.newsmax.com/scottrasmussen/democrats-races-gop-seats/2017/12/27/id/834000/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are, however, a few races to give a sense of how good a night the Democrats are likely to have. The first is Illinois-6, currently held by Republican Peter Roskam. This suburban district was carried by Hillary Clinton. Not only that, special elections this year have shown that the GOP is struggling to hang on to suburban voters. If Roskam is still competitive come November, the GOP might hold their losses to a dozen seats or so.)

 

BLAZE
— Ron Paul: The economic boom under Trump is ‘an illusion’ that will come crashing down – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/27/ron-paul-the-economic-boom-under-trump-is-an-illusion-that-will-come-crashing-down

 

INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY
— The ‘Swamp’ Trump Is Trying To Drain Isn’t Really A Swamp — It’s An Ocean (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/the-swamp-trump-is-trying-to-drain-isnt-really-a-swamp-its-an-ocean/

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— ‘Mapping The Swamp’ Report Shows It’s Even Bigger, Costlier Than You Think Paying federal workforce costs taxpayers $1.1M per minute, according to a pro-transparency group, Open The Books – Mark Tapscott (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/mapping-the-swamp-report-shows-its-even-bigger-costlier-than-you-think/?preview_id=873085

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Roy Moore Files Suit to Block Certification of Alabama Senate Election Result Defeated GOP candidate’s attorney said in complaint he believed there were irregularities during the election and a new one should be held – AP
https://www.wsj.com/articles/roy-moore-files-suit-to-block-certification-of-alabama-senate-election-result-1514453058
— The Tax Law Makes CPAs Interesting (for Now) Accountants face long hours, anxious clients, but ‘it’s never been a better time to be a CPA’ – Michael Rapoport (DIERSEN: In 1979, when I was 30 years old, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. In 1981, I became a licensed CPA.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tax-law-makes-cpas-interesting-for-now-1514457000
— Employee Mentorship Program Gets a Reboot – Rachel Feintzeig (DIERSEN: What happened to your mentors? My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who hired me in 1980, who got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/employee-mentorship-program-gets-a-reboot-1514376000

 

USA TODAY
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Republicans accuse American Bar Association of bias – Richard Wolf (DIERSEN: What percent of ABA members are Democrats?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/26/lawyers-group-fuels-republicans-ire-over-its-negative-reviews-trump-judicial-picks/974095001/
— Hot housing market could cool in 2018 – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/28/hot-housing-market-could-cool-2018/971539001/

 

FED SMITH
— Compensation for Federal Workforce Costs the Government $1 Million Per Minute
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/28/compensation-federal-workforce-costs-government-1-million-per-minute/

 

ATLANTIC
— Employers Are Looking for Job Candidates in the Wrong Places – LOLADE FADULU (DIERSEN: Did you meet legal requirements when you were hired? I did. I had a job-related master’s degree (MBA Loyola 1976), a job-related professional certification (CPA 1979), almost 9 years of job-related work experience (the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $79,563-$90,173), and I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul when GAO hired me at the GS-9 Step 10 level (currently $71,326) in 1980. I had a job-related bachelor’s degree (management NIU 1970) and I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when IRS hired me at the GS-7 Step 1 level (currently $54,864) in 1971. I had a high school diploma and I had passed an employment examination when the Post Office hired me at the GS-4 Step 1 level (currently $15.56/hour) level in 1966.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/12/employers-are-looking-for-job-candidates-in-the-wrong-places/549080/

December 27 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Change in property tax deduction affects thousands in Naperville – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: From what I see, under “tax reform,” the less federal income tax that you have paid because you itemized your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay in the future. Those who promote envy and class warfare have always shouted at those who take the standard deduction (typically, those who are younger, who are not married, who rent, who do not pay much state income tax, who do not have high medical and dental expenses, who do not pay for job-related education, and/or who do not give much money to 501(c)(3) organizations) that those who itemize their deductions (typically, those who are older, who are married, who are homeowners, who pay more state income tax, who have high medical and dental expenses, who pay for job-related education, and/or who give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations) are undeservedly rich and should pay much more federal income tax.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-property-tax-overhaul-st-1227-20171226-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Thousands of Naperville homeowners pay more than $10,000 a year in property taxes and will be impacted by limits to deductions in a new federal income tax plan set to kick in after Jan. 1. In Lisle Township, 3,221 City of Naperville property owners — or about 21.5 percent of city residents in Lisle Township — paid at least $10,000 in property taxes based on last year’s assessed values. In Naperville Township, 2,447 property owners in the City of Naperville paid at least $10,000 in property taxes. The new tax plan includes a $10,000 cap on the amount taxpayers can deduct in property tax and local and state income tax while nearly doubling standard deductions of $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples who file jointly. This means many people who have historically itemized to deduct things like property taxes or mortgage interest will get more by claiming the standard deduction. But those who pay their property taxes ahead of time can use the uncapped deduction one more time, local financial experts said.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: False news is everywhere Sorting fake from fact is ‘new basic skill’ required in our era – Editorial (DIERSEN: Of course, according to my critics/opponents, all news is false/fake except for the news that they publish. My critics/opponents not only do not want me to include links to articles written by those on their blacklists, they “punish” me for including links to articles written by those on their blacklists. Should I write an article about those who “punish” me because I refuse to carry out their blacklist orders?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171227/editorial-without-diligent-readers-fake-news-spreads-like-wildfire
— O’Hare western access is road to opportunity – John Carpenter
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171227/ohare-western-access-is-road-to-opportunity
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Why the legal age to buy tobacco isn’t going up to 21 everywhere – Russell Lissau (DIERSEN: Many if not most of my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government who worked the hardest against me were big smokers and big drinkers. They vehemently disapproved of my conservatism.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/why-the-legal-age-to-buy-tobacco-isnt-going-up-to-21-everywhere

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— When meetings are secret, reporters lose. So does the public. – KRISTEN SCHORSCH (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents do not want me to know about their events or their other activities, do not want me to promote their events or their other activities, do not want me to attend their events, and do not want me to report on their events or their other activities. They refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois. 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.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171227/OPINION/171229969#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-morning10&utm_campaign=ccb-morning10-20171227

 

TIMES
— Through supporters, candidate James Marter, of Oswego, has filed objections to the petitions of opponent Jaye DeBates, of Putnam County’s McNabb. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/campaign-accused-of-petition-forgeries/article_8bbe2ca7-6eca-5092-a687-a6d64e207416.html
— A complaint over Democratic congressional candidate Neill Mohammad’s residency has been withdrawn. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/voter-pulls-complaint-against-candidate/article_075d0a1a-0944-5603-99fc-e5c558ad2e5a.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— What Illinois needs from lawmakers in 2018 – Orphe Divounguy
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171226/orphe-divounguy-what-illinois-needs-from-lawmakers-in-2018

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Obama warns of divisive social media use Obama conducts BBC interview with Prince Harry – LAURA SMITH-SPARK (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What do divisive people do? ANSWER: They turn members of Group A against members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/obama-warns-of-divisive-social-media-use/889130378

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Political Analysts Foresee Aggressive Democratic Challengers in 2018 – MARK SCHULTZ
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/political-analysts-foresee-aggressive-democratic-challengers-2018#stream/0

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— The Tax Law’s New Way Of Measuring Inflation Could Take A Toll On Taxpayers – JIM ZARROLI
http://nprillinois.org/post/tax-bills-new-way-measuring-inflation-could-take-toll-taxpayers#stream/0

 

WSIL TV
— How tax reform could impact Illinoisans – Andrew Feather (DIERSEN: From what I see, under “tax reform,” the less federal income tax that you have paid because you itemized your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay in the future. Those who promote envy and class warfare have always shouted at those who take the standard deduction (typically, those who are younger, who are not married, who rent, who do not pay much state income tax, who do not have high medical and dental expenses, who do not pay for job-related education, and/or who do not give much money to 501(c)(3) organizations) that those who itemize their deductions (typically, those who are older, who are married, who are homeowners, who pay more state income tax, who have high medical and dental expenses, who pay for job-related education, and/or who give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations) are undeservedly rich and should pay much more federal income tax.)
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37143321/how-tax-reform-could-impact-illinoisans

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— “Things You Don’t Hear About Gender Dysphoria” – Laurie Higgins and David Smith
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/podcast/things-you-dont-hear-about-gender-dysphoria-spotlight-074/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Planned Parenthood Losing Some Big Donors – Charlie Butts
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/planned-parenthood-losing-big-donors/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— TRUMP AND THE GOP’S MASSIVE TAX VICTORY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/trump-and-the-gops-massive-tax-victory.html
— ENDING NET NEUTRALITY WILL SAVE THE INTERNET, NOT DESTROY IT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/ending-net-neutrality-will-save-the-internet-not-destroy-it.html

 

GOPUSA
— Muslim refugees spur rife anti-Semitism in Europe
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35966

 

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— THE OBAMA YEARS: A LEGACY OF SCANDAL AND DECEPTION Joe Biden’s bizarre disconnect regarding his scandal-ridden former boss. – Ari Lieberman
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/268842/obama-years-legacy-scandal-and-deception-ari-lieberman

 

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
— VIDEO: Massive Federal Spending on Government Salaries – Adam Andrzejewski (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXlM3iRodc
— The movement to impeach Trump is just beginning – Michael Goodwin
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/12/26/michael-goodwin-movement-to-impeach-trump-is-just-beginning.html

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— Washington’s Wealthiest Bureaucrats Will Get Even Richer in 2018 Federal locality pay system rewards already-affluent government workers living in the nation’s capital region – Mark Tapscott (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/washingtons-wealthiest-bureaucrats-will-get-even-richer-in-2018/

 

TOWNHALL
— Educational Rot – Walter E. Williams (DIERSEN: In 1979, my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. Very few of them had taken the examination and even fewer of them had passed it on their first attempt. In 1981, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt. Very few of them had taken the examination and even fewer of them had passed it on their first attempt.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2017/12/27/educational-rot-n2426293
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There’s another educational issue that’s neither flattering nor comfortable to confront. That’s the low academic quality of so many teachers. It’s an issue that must be confronted and dealt with if we’re to improve the quality of education. Most states require prospective teachers to pass a certification test. How about a sample of some of the test questions.)
— Federal Employees Will Be Getting a Raise in 2018 – Leah Barkoukis (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2017/12/27/federal-workers-salaries-n2427348

 

OPEN THE BOOKS
— Mapping The Swamp, A Study of the Administrative State
https://www.openthebooks.com/openthebooks_oversight_report_-_mapping_the_swamp_a_study_of_the_administrative_state/
https://www.openthebooks.com/map/?Map=5874&MapType=Pin

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— GOP lawmaker: Federal agencies need to be ‘purged’ of ‘deep state’ bias – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/26/francis-rooney-says-some-federal-agencies-need-be-/
— Republicans care about voter fraud; Democrats want to come out ahead, says study – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/26/republicans-care-about-voter-fraud-democrats-want-/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Nearly 450,000 People Fled These Three Deep Blue States (New York, Illinois, and California) In 2017 – Will Racke
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/nearly-450000-people-fled-these-three-deep-blue-states-in-2017/

 

DAILY WIRE
— ONE-THIRD Of U.S. Homicide Spike Coming From 5 Chicago Neighborhoods Murders in the U.S. rose as a whole last year, thanks in large part to a Windy City crime wave. – JARED SICHEL
https://www.dailywire.com/news/25092/one-third-us-homicide-spike-coming-just-few-jared-sichel#

 

BREITBART
— Entire Palm Springs City Council Is Now Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer (LGBTQ) – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/26/entire-palm-springs-city-council-now-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-andor-queer-lgbtq/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— To the Chicago Police, Any Black Kid Is in a Gang – Tamar Manasseh
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/opinion/chicago-police-black-kids-gangs.html
— Incomes Grew After Past Tax Cuts, but Guess Whose – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: One could argue that if you do not qualify yourself for better paying jobs, you should not expect your income to grow. What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? 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.nytimes.com/2017/12/26/business/economy/tax-cuts-incomes.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— White nationalists built a memorial for the white woman fatally shot by a Minneapolis policeman – Marwa Eltagouri
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/12/26/white-nationalists-built-a-memorial-for-the-white-woman-fatally-shot-by-a-somali-cop/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Homeowners Rush to Prepay 2018 Property-Tax Bills Filers line up at municipal offices before the GOP law kicks in; ‘It’s been insane here’ – David Harrison and Jennifer Levitz
https://www.wsj.com/articles/homeowners-rush-to-prepay-2018-property-tax-bills-1514335989
— Both Parties Are Deft at Ignoring Deficit Each party pretends to care about rising federal deficits and accumulating national debt only when that suits its interests – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/both-parties-are-deft-at-ignoring-deficit-1514212971
— Murder in America: What Makes Cities More Dangerous Neighborhoods where killings have gone up share deepening poverty, lots of vacant properties and police pullbacks following officers’ shootings of young black men – Max Rust, Scott Calvert in Baltimore and Shibani Mahtani in Chicago
https://www.wsj.com/articles/murder-in-america-what-makes-cities-more-dangerous-1514293200
— Anti-Trumps say “Haitians Should Stay” because “These longstanding residents are valuable assets to the U.S.” According to anti-Trumps, members of the following groups are deplorable and should be gotten rid of: 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.wsj.com/articles/why-the-haitians-should-stay-1514331750

 

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Not only those who are anti-White oppose Trump, but those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, 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 also oppose Trump.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/navarrette/article/It-s-no-surprise-when-racists-claim-the-name-12456353.php

 

USA TODAY
— Self-control proves key to financial health, wealth – Peter Dunn (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attribute your “financial health, wealth” to? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attribute my “financial health, wealth” to a) my being born with a silver spoon in my mouth, b) my having always been privileged, c) my being grossly overpaid by the federal government, d) my avoiding the draft, e) my getting married, f) my wife and I giving up trying to have children, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents, g) my federal pension and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies being much too generous, and h) my not giving lots of money to churches like they do.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20171227/281827169137916

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Motivated by mission – Jessie Bur (DIERSEN: The importance of GAO’s mission was a major reason why I agreed to take an $18,847/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. The importance of GAO’s mission helped me endure my Democrat GAO superiors’ tremendous efforts to waste my career and to get rid of me. They always gave me unrealistic performance expectations and unfair performance appraisals. They assigned me to work for, to work with, or to supervise all the office’s disabled and problematic employees. They kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO. In 1987, they got rid of the manager who had hired me, who had gotten me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who had promoted me to GS-13 in 1986. They did not promote me beyond GS-13. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes. They forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/hr/2017/12/26/motivated-by-mission/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to Donald Kettl, professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, where baby boomers often sought out federal service for the stability it provided, millennials are more concerned with making a difference in the work that they do. “Most don’t imagine that they will work in the same job for five or 10 years, let alone for their entire careers,” said Kettl. “That means traditional benefit programs — like pensions — matter relatively little. Having jobs where they feel valued and can make an impact matters much more. That puts far more focus on employee engagement, development opportunities and networking than was the case in the past.” The federal government is one of few sectors that still offers pension benefits to its employees, and retirement benefits have recently been a sticking point in congressional budget negotiations. “From a personal perspective, a lot of federal jobs are pretty high scope, and they’re very, very responsible positions,” said Wynn. “And while it’s hard to have a public-sector equivalent, I think that one of the things that the government should do reasonably is make sure that when you’re giving up a portion of pay […] offering them security and some retirement benefits and health care will give them a better employee. We want the best and brightest, and if we can’t compete on salary then we ought to compete on giving them a more stable life.” However, according to Kettl, this focus on pensions and benefits may be a moot point for new employees entering federal service. He questioned how much risk the government was taking on if it assumed that millennials would adapt to current policy, rather than policy adapting to them. “And it’s a case where the emerging battle over changing employee pensions, something that the Republicans are pushing and Democrats are fiercely opposing, might be a case of fighting the last war,” said Kettl. “The big, important and often overlooked question is how best to get the next generation of government employees into the workforce — how the environment will have to change to do so — and the new contributions that the new generation of workers will make.”)

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— 2017: Local LGBT news highlights – Matt Simonette (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, everyone will be barred from getting an education, from getting a job, from etc. unless they promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/2017-Local-LGBT-news-highlights/61477.html

December 13 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DuPage Election Commission merger question OK’d for spring ballot – Gary Gibula (DIERSEN: What has disappointed you the most about the DuPage County Election Commission (DCEC). For me, it has been DCEC’s a) failure/refusal to do more to remove deadwood from the voting rolls and b) failure/refusal to deal directly with elected precinct committeemen concerning proposed changes to their polling place and to their precinct lines.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-dupage-board-election-commission-st-1213-20171212-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Question about legalizing marijuana could go on Cook County ballots – Hal Dardick (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-marijuana-20171213-story.html
— Illinoisans want Trump sexual misconduct investigation – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-marijuana-20171213-story.html
— Illinois’ home health care industry rife with fraud, tainted by unscrupulous physicians – Michael J. Berens
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-home-health-main-met-20171212-story.html
— Making way for transgender troops – Editorial (DIERSEN: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, they made way for young Democrat minorities and for young Democrat females by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of Republicans, and especially to get rid of Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-transgender-20171211-story.html
— A cooking fire at a homeless encampment sparked a wildfire last week that destroyed six homes in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said Tuesday, while the fifth-largest wildfire in California history burning northwest of the city kept expanding and kept thousands out of their homes. – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-california-wildfires-20171212-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who 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 march in Naperville.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-community-unity-march-st-1213-20171212-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE AND GRAPHIC: Why four small Lake County suburbs spent thousands at the Illinois Municipal League conference in Chicago – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171213/why-four-tiny-suburbs-spent-thousands-at-chicago-conference
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you vote against the Second Amendment, those who will never vote for a Republican love you.
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171213/editorial-roskam-gets-gun-vote-right-hultgren-doesnt
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Adjunct faculty, Elmhurst College at odds over union vote – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171212/adjunct-faculty-elmhurst-college-at-odds-over-union-vote

 

WTTW
— List of Top 200 Pension Earners Shows Potential for Big Payouts – Paris Schutz
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/12/list-top-200-pension-earners-shows-potential-big-payouts

 

WBEZ
— Protesters Disrupt Meeting, Call For Palos Trustee To Quit Over ‘Racist’ Comments – Linda Lutton
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/protesters-disrupt-meeting-call-for-palos-trustee-to-quit-over-racist-comments/18461cd8-0df1-403c-9024-e06b85f91b97

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Time to get rid of township government – Editorial
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/08/our-view-time-to-get-rid-of-township-government/a38rxj9/

 

DEKALB DAILY JOURNAL
— Kendall GOP chief James Marter to challenge Kinzinger in 16th District No requirement for residency in congressional district, only in state – TONY SCOTT (DIERSEN: How long have you lived in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct. I have lived in Illinois since 1948, in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978, and in my precinct since 1984.)
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/12/11/kendall-gop-chief-to-challenge-kinzinger-in-16th-district/a9e321v/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Government for the insiders – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-13/government-the-insiders.html

 

WSIL TV
— Candidates set for March Primaries – Andrew Feather
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37053669/candidates-set-for-march-primaries

 

WTAX
— “Top integrity” demanded, says guv (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not demand integrity. They demand blind loyalty. They do everything that they can to punish and destroy those individuals, those organizations, those companies, those governments, and those countries that they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
http://wtax.com/news/101101-top-integrity-demanded-says-guv/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— USA Today bashes Trump as ‘not fit to clean the toilets’ in Obama’s presidential library Editorial board reacts to Trump’s Gillibrand tweet – CHRIS CILLIZZA
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/usa-today-trump-as-not-fit-to-clean-the-toilets-in-obamas-presidential-library/880252842

 

SOUTHERN
— HUD’s new Midwest director Joseph Galvan was forced out as chairman of Illinois’ housing finance agency – MOLLY PARKER
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/acha/hud-s-new-midwest-director-was-forced-out-as-chairman/article_06c340dc-a3f9-528a-83b6-f0615b732d3f.html

 

RIPON ADVANCE
— Republicans oppose tax provision hitting graduate students (DIERSEN: What about proposed tax provisions that hit homeowners, hit people who have high medical and dental expenses, and hit those who pay for job-related graduate courses?)
https://riponadvance.com/featured/republicans-oppose-tax-provision-hitting-graduate-students/

 

DUPAGE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
— Results of Lottery Drawing for Simultaneous Filing 2018 General Primary Election

http://www.dupageco.org/Election/Election_Commission_News/2017/56460/

WIRE POINTS
— Fitch Ratings: Illinois debt burden highest in nation – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/fitch-ratings-illinois-debt-burden-highest-in-nation-wirepoints-original/
— Major attention to Illinois emigration data from Wall Street Journal but nothing in Illinois press. What gives? – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/major-attention-to-irs-data-from-wall-street-journal-but-nothing-in-illinois-press-what-gives-quicktake/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Ives running mate says Rauner sold state ‘a bill of goods’ – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511285544-ives-running-mate-says-rauner-sold-state-a-bill-of-goods

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives slams Rauner during appearance on southern Illinois radio show – Caitlin Nordahl (DIERSEN: Who slams you and why? I should write a book about those who slam me and why they do it.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511286619-ives-slams-rauner-during-appearance-on-southern-illinois-radio-show
— Illinois lost 86,000 people, $4.75 billion to other states in 2015-16, Illinois Policy Institute says – Caitlin Nordahl
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511286611-illinois-lost-86-000-people-4-75-billion-to-other-states-in-2015-16-illinois-policy-institute-says

 

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— Occupational Licensing Craziness (DIERSEN: I became a licensed CPA in 1981. I had worked for GAO for more than a year, I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and I had worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,653-$90,173.)
http://www.icontact-archive.com/maf-9-s7_-akggRj2BorjvoB8XVQ7Odf?w=4

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Rauner on Murashko: ‘A gentleman resigned’ Video shows state employee on Rauner campaign turf – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/rauner-on-murashko-a-gentleman-resigned/880350773

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— AG says Illinois taxpayers to begin paying for elective abortions Jan. 1 – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/ag-says-illinois-taxpayers-to-begin-paying-for-elective-abortions/article_9824953e-df88-11e7-934e-bbe2af49a82c.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ethics complaint filed against Murashko, Deputy Governor Childress probed
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/report-ethics-complaint-filed-against-murashko-deputy-governor-childress-probed/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you seek a government office or a political office, sooner or later, your critics/opponents will draw attention big time to assessed valuation reductions that you sought/obtained. There is a lot in the public record about my success during the 1980s and 1990s in getting a small reduction of the assessed valuation of my home at 915 Cove Court in Wheaton.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/apples-and-organges/

 

GOPUSA
— Sex Vigilantes Trash Due Process
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35084

 

FOX NEWS

— Washington Post reporters barred from Roy Moore election night party – Nicole Darrah
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/washington-post-reporters-barred-from-roy-moore-election-night-party.html

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— Rep. Peter King (R-NY) Says Steve Bannon Doesn’t Belong in Politics: ‘He Looks Like a Disheveled Drunk’ – JOSH BILLINSON
http://ijr.com/the-response/2017/12/1033978-gop-rep-says-steve-bannon-doesnt-belong-in-politics-he-looks-like-a-disheveled-drunk/

 

CNS NEWS
— Trump Congratulates Democrat Doug Jones on ‘Hard-Fought Victory’; Says He Knew Moore Couldn’t Win – Susan Jones
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/trump-congratulates-democrat-doug-jones-hard-fought-victory

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illinois residents still fleeing state in record numbers – Rick Moran
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/illinois_residents_still_fleeing_state_in_record_numbers.html
— Leftists: Establishing a Religion – Tom Trinko
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/leftists__establishing_a_religion.html

 

NET RIGHT DAILY
— Are Americans losing faith in the U.S. justice system? – Printus LeBlanc (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more likely that you will lose in court: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time. The more of the aforesaid that you are, the more likely that summary judgment will be granted against you. The more of the aforesaid that you are, the worst that your “jury appeal” is.)
http://netrightdaily.com/2017/12/americans-losing-faith-u-s-justice-system/

 

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW
— The media today: The loss of net neutrality threatens local journalism – Mathew Ingram
https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/net-neutrality-local-news.php

 

THE HILL
— Jones wins Alabama Senate seat for Dems – BEN KAMISAR AND LISA HAGEN
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/364547-jones-wins-alabama-senate-seat-for-dems

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Four Reasons Why The Republican Tax Bill is a Disaster for Latinos – Hector E. Sanchez Barba
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/four-reasons-why-the-republican-tax-bill-is-a-disaster_us_5a311d58e4b0b73dde46a8ce

 

POLITICO
— Alabama earthquake: Democrat Jones wins Republican Roy Moore is defeated in a huge blow for President Donald Trump and his former strategist Steve Bannon. – DANIEL STRAUSS
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/12/alabama-election-results-2017-293309

 

CNN
— Alabama election: Doug Jones scores stunning win, but Moore won’t concede – Eric Bradner
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/12/politics/alabama-senate-election-mainbar/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: ‘Fake News,’ Trump’s Obsession, Is Now a Cudgel for Strongmen – Steven Erlanger (DIERSEN: Who are the strongmen in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about past and present strongmen, their operatives, and their dupes in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/world/europe/trump-fake-news-dictators.html
— Tax Plan’s Biggest Cuts Could Be in Living Standards – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: What has cut your living standards? For me, since 1997 when I was 49 years old, it has been my Democrat GAO superiors’ success in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.” My pension is only 41% of my ending salary in today’s dollars. Previously, they always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. Before that, my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. Before that, my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/business/economy/tax-plan-standard-of-living.html
— Once a Long Shot, Democrat Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Race – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/us/politics/alabama-senate-race-winner.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, female anti-Trumps viciously demonize men, viciously denigrate men, and viciously condemn men. Ever-increasingly, female anti-Trumps make it clear that they want to get rid of men once and for all.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/upshot/sexual-harassment-workplace-prevention-effective.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Doug Jones declared victor in Alabama race for Senate; Roy Moore may seek recount – Sean Sullivan, David Weigel and Michael Scherer
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/voters-head-to-the-polls-in-contentious-senate-race-in-alabama/2017/12/11/26e36b56-deb7-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html
— Alabama presented the demographic nightmare that’s been looming for the Republican Party – Philip Bump (DIERSEN: Those who want Republicans to lose want Republicans to pander to those who 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.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/12/12/alabama-presented-the-demographic-nightmare-thats-been-looming-for-the-republican-party/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois Drives People Away The taxpayer migration continues from the Land of Ever Higher Taxes. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinois-drives-people-away-1513125224
— Democrat Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Seat, AP Calls Upset victory in Alabama shrinks GOP Senate majority – Janet Hook and Joshua Jamerson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-look-beyond-alabama-senate-race-1513124366
— When It’s Illegal to Ask, ‘How Much Do You Make?’ – Gerald Skoning (DIERSEN: If you are/were a government employee, your salary is public record. From the beginning of time, government employees have been viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned as being overpaid by those who would never seek or take a government job because they view the salaries as being too low. In my defense, 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.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-its-illegal-to-ask-how-much-do-you-make-1513124971

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Doug Jones’s Victory Shows Why Democrats Must Compete Everywhere.”
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/joness-victory-shows-why-democrats-must-compete-everywhere.html

 

SALON
— Never mind the sex scandals: Roy Moore is a son of the Confederacy Controversial Alabama U.S. Senate candidate has extensive ties to white nationalists and Christian supremacists – MATTHEW SHEFFIELD (DIERSEN: Have you or any of your ancestors ever lived in one of the Confederate states? Ever-increasingly, if you, or any of your ancestors have ever lived in one of the Confederate states, anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn you as being a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. I have lived in Illinois since 1948, in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978, and in my precinct since 1984. All my ancestors have lived in northeast Illinois since the 1840s and 1850s.)
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/12/never-mind-the-sex-scandals-roy-moore-is-a-son-of-the-confederacy/

 

BBC
— Who are the poor Americans? – Jay Shambaugh
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41930107

December 4 Morning Edition

JEANNE IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Jeanne Ives full campaign announcement speech
https://ivesforillinois.com/stories/511283545-read-jeanne-ives-full-campaign-announcement-speech

 

WGN TV
— GOP legislator Jeanne Ives making primary challenge against Gov. Rauner
http://wgntv.com/2017/12/04/gop-legislator-making-primary-challenge-against-gov-rauner/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rep. Ives officially launches campaign for governor – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171204/rep-ives-officially-launches-campaign-for-governor

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— IVES sets off GOP primary – Natasha Korecki
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2017/12/04/ives-sets-off-gop-primary-rauners-bye-centennial-228724
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It’s the final day to file petitions for office and we’re still keeping an eye on some top races. One thing we know now with certainty: We have a Republican gubernatorial primary. Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives announced her candidacy to a group of supporters on Sunday. Ives on Rauner: ‘we got an Ivy League gender studies professor.’ “I supported and helped get Bruce Rauner elected governor in 2014. I believed his argument that his personal wealth would free him to do right by Illinois and lead the revolt against the political ruling class. I was wrong. The tough-talking dude on a Harley with no social agenda turned out to an empty Carhartt jacket. We were promised a conservative reform governor. Instead we got an Ivy League gender studies professor. Benedict Rauner betrayed us at every turn.” Video of her announcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbtvysLHrww)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— GOP legislator Jeanne Ives making primary challenge against Gov. Rauner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-illinois-elections-20171204-story.html
— “Trump suggests investors sue ABC News after erroneous report” – Amy Wang (DIERSEN: Who wants you to be sued? According to my critics/opponents, GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are full of “errors” and even worse things, and therefore, all individuals, all organizations, all companies, all governments, and all countries should rudely punish me. They stress that to rudely punish me, they and other Democrat plant, Libertarian plant, Green plant, and RINO activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, and political consultants a) refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists and b) bar me from and throw me out of their events. They stress a) that the members of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois rudely punished me in 2012 by ending my chairmanship, b) that the members of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce rudely punished me in 2011 by ending my Government Affairs Committee membership, c) that the members of the Milton Township Republican Central Committee rudely punished me in 2010 and 2004 by ending my webmaster service, d) that the members of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) rudely punished me in 2007 by ending my Steering Committee membership, e) that the members of ICRC almost succeeded in rudely censuring me at the start of their 2006 Annual Convention in the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall, and f) that the members of the American Association of Political Consultants rudely punished me in 2004 by ending my Midwest Chapter board membership.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20171204/281672550271535
— We want sex harassment to stop, right? So why are we so mean to female bosses? – Heidi Stevens (DIERSEN: Who was the highest paid boss that you reported directly to? During my last 4 years at GAO 1993-1997, I reported directly to a GS-15 Step 10 (currently $161,900). 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).)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-life-stevens-friday-women-bosses-1201-story.html
— Trump takes to Twitter to criticize FBI, special prosecutor – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-twitter-fbi-special-prosecutor-20171204-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Donald Trump’s sticky web of liars.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-michael-flynn-donald-trump-dahleen-glanton-20171201-story.html
— Bus company serving University of Illinois criticized for ‘racist and bigoted’ ad – Dawn Rhodes
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-university-of-illinois-shuttle-bus-advertisement-20171203-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Baker in Colorado wants Supreme Court to allow him to discriminate – Brian C. Johnson (DIERSEN: To give preference to one group is to discriminate against another group. Democrats want all individuals, all organizations, all companies, all governments, and all countries to give preference to those that are liberal, Democrat, minority, female, younger, citizens of foreign counties, Muslim, and those who have less money than others. That is, Democrats want everyone to discriminate against conservatives, Republicans, Whites, males, older people, citizens of America, non-Muslims, and those who have more money than others.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/baker-colorado-discrimination-lgbtq-supreme-court/

 

DAILY HERALD
— U.S. charter schools put growing numbers in racial isolation – AP (DIERSEN: To support their hinting/implying/arguing/shouting that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, bigot, and even worse things, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that none of my classmates were minorities while I attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961, Hope Lutheran Grade School 1961-1962, and Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966. I am any of those terrible things, a) why did I ask IRS to assign me to its Harvey office in 1972 and b) why did I buy a new town home in University Park in 1972?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171203/news/312039980/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Alexander County Housing Authority: Official indifference – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-03/official-indifference.html

 

STATELINE
— Trump fully endorses Roy Moore Recent polls show close race – MAEGAN VAZQUEZ
http://www.mystateline.com/news/politics/trump-fully-endorses-roy-moore/874562274

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Running For Office? Time Running Out – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/running-office-time-running-out#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— JUDICIAL WATCH SANCTUARY POLICY LAWSUIT ALLOWED TO PROCEED TO DISCOVERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/judicial-watch-sanctuary-policy-lawsuit-allowed-to-proceed-to-discovery-in-san-francisco.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Koch & Rauner: You take the money, you take the branding
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/04/you-take-the-money-you-take-the-branding/

 

GOPUSA
— Sacrificing Their Own to Get Trump
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=34392

 

TOWNHALL
— The Mainstream Media Doesn’t Deserve Our Respect or Our Trust – Kurt Schlichter (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes throw me in with the “mainstream media.” Ever-increasingly, they hint/imply/argue/shout that I do not deserve any respect or trust. They stress that to rudely punish me, they and other Democrat plant, Libertarian plant, Green plant, and RINO activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, and political consultants a) refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists and b) bar me from and throw me out of their events. They stress a) that the members of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois rudely punished me in 2012 by ending my chairmanship, b) that the members of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce rudely punished me in 2011 by ending my Government Affairs Committee membership, c) that the members of the Milton Township Republican Central Committee rudely punished me in 2010 and 2004 by ending my webmaster service, d) that the members of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) rudely punished me in 2007 by ending my Steering Committee membership, e) that the members of ICRC almost succeeded in rudely censuring me at the start of their 2006 Annual Convention in the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall, and f) that the members of the American Association of Political Consultants rudely punished me in 2004 by ending my Midwest Chapter board membership.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2017/12/04/the-mainstream-media-doesnt-deserve-our-respect-or-our-trust-n2417565

 

DAILY CALLER
— US Tells The UN It Will Forge Its Own Path On Immigration – RYAN PICKRELL
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/03/us-tells-the-un-it-will-forge-its-own-path-on-immigration/

 

CNN
— Democrats eye major gains in depleted governors’ ranks in 2018 ‘awakening’ – Eric Bradner
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/04/politics/jay-inslee-democratic-governors-2018/index.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If 2017’s trends, with Virginia and New Jersey easily electing Democratic governors, hold up, 2018 represents a massive opening for the party to reverse some of its losses during former President Barack Obama’s tenure. The party’s top pick-up opportunities could come in states with term-limited or retiring Republican governors: New Mexico, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Maine. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is also a top target.)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: 50 Years Later, New Push to Magnify Plight of Poor – Laurie Goodstein (DIERSEN: What have you done for the poor? 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 poor person in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a poor person in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted poor people in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a poor person in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a poor person in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job and my preferred corner office. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been furious that I qualified myself for better paying jobs by earning 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.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/us/martin-luther-king-poor.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Mostly white male tech sector needs government help on diversity – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: The tech sector should consider hiring Charles Bowsher. During the 1980s and 1990s, Bowsher had great success in getting rid of GAO’s employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/04/tech-sector-needs-uncle-sams-help-on-diversity/
— Identity crisis: Alabama residents fear Moore will carry state stereotype to nation’s capital – Seth McLaughlin (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Illinois’ stereotype 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 longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/3/roy-moore-worries-alabama-residents-over-state-ste/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Like the Cubans Before Them, Venezuelan Exiles Are Transforming Florida Politics Both U.S. parties are hustling to recruit a flood of new voters in a crucial state for presidential elections – José de Córdoba and Arian Campo-Flores (DIERSEN: What do you say to immigrants who come to America to “transform” America into a country that gives preference to those who share their national origin?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/like-the-cubans-before-them-venezuelan-exiles-are-transforming-florida-politics-1512327743
— Guess Who’s Following Trump’s Twitter Lead A liberal newspaper’s (New York Times) editorial board sets aside journalism to engage in grass-roots lobbying. – Cori O’Connor
https://www.wsj.com/articles/guess-whos-following-trumps-twitter-lead-1512338033
— How Cash-Strapped Chicago Snagged a Triple-A Rating for Its New Bonds City uses methods similar to New York and Puerto Rico, tying debt to claim on sales-tax revenue – Gunjan Banerji
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-cash-strapped-chicago-snagged-a-triple-a-rating-for-its-new-bonds-1512320401
— The Expense-Account Racket Why not abolish the tax deduction for business entertainment? – Andy Kessler
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-expense-account-racket-1512338252
— The Retirement Part-Timer: Where to Start – Glenn Ruffenach (DIERSEN: How much less is or will be your retirement income than your ending salary? My $50,856 Civil Service Retirement System pension is $72,135 (59%) less than my $122,991 ending GAO salary in today’s dollars.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-retirement-part-timer-where-to-start-1512151822
— Safe Spaces Are an Answer to the Ever-More-Hostile Internet – Christopher Mims
https://www.wsj.com/articles/safe-spaces-are-an-answer-to-the-ever-more-hostile-internet-1512306001
— Tax Reform: What’s in It for You The Senate’s bill will help small businesses and families while promoting energy independence. – Mitch McConnell
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-whats-in-it-for-you-1512237146
— Review: Social Media, Weaponized False narratives are now reaching unprecedented numbers of people, stoking resentment, feeding conflict and aiding the enemies of the West. L. Gordon Crovitz reviews ‘War in 140 Characters’ by David Patrikarakos. – L. Gordon Crovitz (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, everything is a “false narrative” except for what they put out.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-social-media-weaponized-1512338334

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: VA knowingly hires doctors with past malpractice claims, discipline for poor care – Donovan Slack (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/03/usa-today-investigation-va-knowingly-hires-doctors-past-malpractice-claims-discipline-poor-care/909170001/
— Social Security: Is it really in danger of collapse? – Ken Fisher (DIERSEN: My Social Security is only $2,028/year. It is dramatically reduced because I get a Civil Service Retirement System pension. I paid into Social Security for 10 years while I washed dishes, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, pumped gasoline, delivered mail, worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard, and sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2017/12/03/social-security-really-danger-collapse/913874001/

 

NEWSWEEK
— FOX NEWS IS NOW ‘TRUMP NEWS NETWORK,’ SAYS FORMER ANCHOR – GREG PRICE (DIERSEN: I should write a book about Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, and RINOs in Illinois who a) glorify and praise and pander to Rich Miller and the rest of the Democrat press in Illinois and b) refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists.)
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-fox-news-network-anchor-724792
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The press is not supposed to be on the side of people in power ever. The press is supposed to be adversarial, the press is supposed to question, the press is not supposed to curry favor with authority.” He also pointed out some of the hypocrisy involved in favorable media coverage of former President Barack Obama, and how more conservative outlets now have seemingly justified such coverage of Trump. “A lot of people in the media kind of forgot that during the Obama administration. And that was pathetic. And now, for the media people who are kissing Trump’s butt…” Levy added, “The president should never like a media outlet, in the sense that he knows he’s always going to get favorable coverage. A president should respect that media outlets are doing their job, or at least respect they have an important job to do.”)

December 3 Morning Edition

NBC5
— What the New Tax Bill Means for Illinois Residents – Ash-Har Quraishi
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/what-the-gop-tax-bill-means-for-illinois-residents-461558943.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lean in, homebuyers: Survey says lenders loosening mortgage standards – Kenneth R. Harney (DIERSEN: What factors helped you get mortgages? For me, in 1972, 1974, and 1976, they included my having worked for IRS since 1971, my working part-time for Firestone Stores through the end of 1972, and my getting promoted to GS-9 (currently $54,864) in 1972, GS-11 (currently $66,379) in 1973, and GS-12 (currently $79,563) in 1974. For my wife and I, in 1978 and 1984, they include my wife having saved $20,000 for a down payment in 1978, her having worked for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions since 1970, and my having worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO since 1980.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/ct-re-1203-kenneth-harney-20171127-story.html
— McDonald’s U.S. president says downtown headquarters will create ‘different level of energy’ – Greg Trotter (DIERSEN: Beyond tragically, the city that McDonald’s is moving to is overwhelmingly 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/business/ct-biz-mcdonalds-usa-president-qa-20171110-story.html
— Michael Flynn grew up breaking the rules. It caught up to him as Trump’s national security advisor – Chris Megerian (DIERSEN: What “rules” have you broken? I have broken the following “rule:” Always find out who has the most religious, government, political, and/or financial clout and then glorify and praise them, pander to them, serve as their operative or dupe, and give them lots of money.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-la-michael-flynn-profile-20171201-story.html
— It’s time for the secrecy to end in Springfield’s highest-profile sex-harassment case – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-silverstein-rotheimer-harassment-1203-20171201-story.html
— Sheriff Tom Dart’s personnel board halts firings, suspensions amid legal questions – Steve Schmadeke (DIERSEN: It would have been great if more Republicans had come to my defense a) when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980; b) when my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974; and c) when my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. It would have been great if more Republicans had come to my defense when my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes ended a) my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship in 2012, b) my Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership in 2011, c) my Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster service in 2010 and 2004, d) my Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership in 2007, and d) my American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership in 2004. But my critics/opponents have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois and they have made it very clear that they will have their vicious operatives and their vicious dupes viciously destroy any individual, any organization, any company, and any government that might come to my defense.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-cook-county-sheriff-merit-board-20171127-story.html
— Will County economy has ‘amazing’ growth, official says – Susan DeMar Lafferty (DIERSEN: I lived in Will County 1948-1976 – in Crete 1948-1972 and in University Park 1972-1976. My ancestors on my father’s side have lived Crete since 1854. My brother continues to live in Crete in a home that my grandfather had built in 1926 on land that my great great grandfather bought in 1864.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-willcounty-economy-st-1203-20171201-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Fear and panic in Human Resources as sexual harassment allegations multiply – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: Human Resources was my area of concentration for my 1970 bachelor’s degree in management from NIU and for my 1976 MBA from Loyola.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171203/fear-and-panic-in-hr-as-sexual-harassment-allegations-multiply

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER & PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Taxes the key issue, Rauner says – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Who do your critics/opponents want to pay more taxes? My critics/opponents want members of the following groups to pay more taxes: homeowners, those who have major medical expenses, those who take job-related graduate courses, Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents are beyond furious that I have paid less federal income tax since 1972 because I have always itemized my deductions each year. I would have paid more federal income tax a) if I had not bought a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, b) if my wife and I had not bought a home in 1978 and had one built in 1984, c) if we had not had major medical expenses in recent years, and d) if I had not taken job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997. They are beyond furious that my Civil Service Retirement System pension and my Social Security are not subject to state income tax.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171202/statehouse-insider-taxes-key-issue-rauner-says
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171202/statehouse-insider-rauner-focused-on-taxes-in-upcoming-campaign

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Springfield diocese synod approves tithing – Steven Spearie (DIERSEN: How much money do you give to churches? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) glorify and praise themselves for being a member of a church, for attending church services, and for giving lots of money to a church and b) demonize, denigrate, and condemn me because I am not a member of any church, because I do not attend church services, and because I do not give money to a church. Some of the operatives and the dupes who have financial problems who work for my critics/opponents hint/imply that if they had not given so much money to churches, they would not have the financial problems that they now have.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171202/springfield-diocese-synod-approves-tithing-earlier-confirmation
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Give 10 percent The biblical concept of tithing comes from the Old Testament prophet Abraham and is a concept more familiar to Protestant denominations. The Springfield plan would follow one by the Wichita (Kansas) Diocese that asks Catholics to give 8 percent of their income to the parish and 2 percent to another charity, “according to their (financial) means,” said Paprocki.)

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— LaHood should apologize for tax vote – Dan Adler
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20171202/spotlight-lahood-should-apologize-for-tax-vote

 

HERALD & NEWS
— Rauner to speak at multi-Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Bolingbrook – ALEX ORTIZ (DIERSEN: What do those who dominate your Chamber of Commerce think of you? Those who dominate the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce a) abolished its Government Affairs Committee in 2011 to get rid of me, the committee’s senior member and b) blame for their problems, blame me for your problems, blame me for my problems, and blame me for everyone’s problems. They publicly insulted me at the end of their “State of the City” address last January. They vehemently oppose a) my opposition to promoting booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, b) my conservatism, c) my Republicanism, d) my having been baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, and e) the rest of my demographics. They treat me like I am a newcomer because I have lived in Wheaton only since 1978, I have never attended any schools in Wheaton, and I have never been a member of any church in Wheaton.)
http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/11/30/rauner-to-speak-at-multi-chamber-of-commerce-luncheon-in-bolingbrook/axtgwuy/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Bruce Rauner will be the special guest at a luncheon with multiple Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce, Romeoville Chamber of Commerce, Lemont Chamber of Commerce and Chamber 630 will be in attendance. Tickets for future members of one of the chambers in attendance are $45. Members can pay $35. The event has drawn some resistance as a “Protest Governor Ruiner” Facebook event was created by a group called Friends Who March, a grass-roots organization that came out of the Women’s March in January after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. “Our governor is making an appearance at a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon,” the event details read. “So we will be there to let him know his days are numbered. Bring your flannels and duct tape so you’re just like him.” The flannels and duct tape are a reference to a political advertisement Rauner made saying that the duct tape was the solution to the state’s problems that the “politicians that got us into this mess” have. No walk-ins will be allowed. For information or to register for the event, call the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce at 630-226-8420. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.)

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— How ‘partial news’ can become ‘fake news’ with a little inattention – Editorial
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article187376578.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Davis said he asked his female staffers what they thought should be addressed by the committee that manages the House as a workplace. They worried that fewer women would be hired as a result of the scandal. Davis brought that up during the hearing. He said it would be wrong, but that it worried his female staff and the committee should address those worries. Enter Twitter. The Huffington Post’s Washington Bureau Chief tweeted the following: “Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) says he’s worried congressional offices will hire fewer women to avoid issue of sexual harassment.” She then clarified: “For the record, Davis is not saying he will do this. He said he had female staffers who were concerned about this. That’s why he asked what to do about it.” But it was too late. The twitterverse already was exploding with charges of sexism, misogyny, discrimination and questions about Davis’s parentage. Davis said he walked out of the hearing past the major media reporters and no one asked him anything. It was hours later when he learned of the tweetferno, fanned by some of the candidates wanting to challenge him in November.)

 

DANVILLE COMMERCIAL NEWS
— Time for someone new – Todd Bruns, Charleston (DIERSEN: In 2012, my critics/opponents shouted that it was time for someone new to run TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois. According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, a) ANYONE could do a better job of running TAPROOT and b) I had caused all of TAPROOT’s problems. They dismissed/belittled/badmouthed the fact that since I had become TAPROOT’s chairman in 2005, I had assured a) that TAPROOT held a breakfast meeting the third Saturday of every month except August and December, b) that TAPROOT held a picnic each August, and c) that TAPROOT held a Christmas party each December.)
http://www.commercial-news.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/time-for-someone-new/article_95e439d3-d188-5ad7-bb60-f6204c8a1088.html
(FROM THE LETTER: John Shimkus has sold us out. I never thought I’d see the day a Republican would vote to raise taxes, but Shimkus voted for the GOP bill that eliminates many of the deductions that we in the middle class use — all to cut taxes for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. The GOP bill explodes our deficit by $2 trillion, and they plan to pay for that by cutting our Medicare and Social Security. Mr. Shimkus put his wealthy donors ahead of the interests of his voters here in east central Illinois. He’s been in Washington too long and has become corrupted by it. It’s time for someone new.)

 

WJBC
— Rauner: Brandt deal a ‘home run’ for local taxing bodies – Howard Packowitz (DIERSEN: If your local taxing bodies suddenly got a lot more tax revenue, what would they do with it?)
http://www.wjbc.com/2017/12/02/rauner-brandt-deal-a-home-run-for-local-taxing-bodies/

 

BREITBART
— ‘Antifa’ Gear No Longer Available on Walmart Website – AMANDA HOUSE
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/02/antifa-gear-no-longer-available-on-walmart-website/

 

BLAZE
— ABC News suspends Brian Ross for 4 weeks without pay for incorrect Mike Flynn story – Chris Enloe (DIERSEN: When my critics/opponents declare that I did something “incorrect” as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor, they cannot “punish” me by suspending me without pay. So they “punish” me a) by throwing me off their press advisory and press release lists and by throwing me out of their events. Previously, they “punished” me by having their operatives and their dupes end my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster service, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership, etc.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/02/breaking-abcs-brian-ross-will-be-suspended-for-4-weeks-without-pay-for-incorrect-mike-flynn-story

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Donald Trump’s Secret Admirers – Dan Truitt
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/donald_trumps_secret_admirers.html

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— If You Want to Disarm North Korea, Mr. President, Sanction China Kim Jong-un’s regime doesn’t have the material or expertise to make missiles: It relies on its neighbor to the north for both – Steve Mosher (DIERSEN: Who determines/determined who should be sanctioned in the groups that you are/were an member of? I should write a book about a) those who since 2000 have determined who should be sanctioned in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, etc.; b) those who they have officially/unofficially sanctioned; and c) the stated reasons and the real reasons for the sanctions. Those who dominate/dominated all the aforesaid organizations have sanctioned me for what I have done since 2000 as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/if-you-want-to-disarm-north-korea-mr-president-sanction-china/

 

NBC NEWS
— The resegregation of America The consequences of creeping racial resegregation constitute nothing less than a national crisis. – Christopher Petrella (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Whites shout at minorities that Whites are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Anti-Whites demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who are members of the following groups: 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. Anti-Whites vote for Democrats. Anti-Whites want minorities to segregate, to gain “power,” and to get rid of Whites.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/news/resegregation-america-ncna801446

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Why Trying New Things Is So Hard to Do – Sendhil Mullainathan (DIERSEN: What new things have you tried? For me, they include a) buying new cars when I was 17 in 1966, 19, 20, 23, etc.; b) accepting job offers from Firestone Stores in 1970 and from Oldsmobile and IRS in 1971; c) taking an $18,847 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980; d) earning master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997; e) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979; f) passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; g) buying real estate in 1972, 1974, and 1976; h) getting married in 1978; i) buying a home with my wife in 1978 and having one built in 1984; and j) succumbing to my Democrat GAO superiors by taking their early retirement “offer” in 1997.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/business/why-trying-new-things-is-so-hard.html
— The Cost of Devaluing Women – Sallie Krawcheck (DIERSEN: Who devalues you? My Democrat superiors in the federal government devalued me. My critics/opponents in the following devalue/devalued me: Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants. My critics/opponents devalue everyone and everything that they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/opinion/sunday/the-cost-of-devaluing-women.html
— Heroin in Soups and Lollipops: How Drug Cartels Evade Border Security – Ron Nixon
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/us/politics/drug-cartels-border-security-traffickers.html
— TRAGIC: How Ireland Moved to the Left: ‘The Demise of the Church’ – Liam Stack
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/world/europe/ireland-abortion-abuse-church.html
— How Far Will Sean Hannity Go? The Fox News host is willing to defend Trump at all costs — and is reaching more than 13 million people a day. – MATTHEW SHAER
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/magazine/how-far-will-sean-hannity-go.html

 

USA TODAY
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Dining in or out? Take a bite out of food costs – N’dea Yancey-Bragg (DIERSEN: I have always spent less money dining out than my peers, and far less since 1997 when my Democrat GAO superiors cut my income in today’s dollars by $72,135/year or $6,011/month or $1,387/week or $198/day.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2017/11/27/food-bill-how-save-money-groceries-dining-out/536108001/

 

CONSUMER REPORTS
— Senate Tax Plan Winners and Losers – Tobie Stanger
https://www.consumerreports.org/taxes/senate-tax-plan-winners-and-losers/

 

FORBES
— Winners And Losers Of The Senate Tax Bill – Tony Nitti
https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2017/12/02/winners-and-losers-of-the-senate-tax-bill/#1b02a70a254d

 

BLOOMBERG
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Truthfeed Spreads Pro-Trump Propaganda The website has connections to the president’s camp—and white supremacists.” (DIERSEN: According to my “conservative” and/or “Republican” critics/opponents, a) all the articles linked to in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are propaganda and b) the only true news and true commentary is that which they put out. Should I publish a list of my “conservative” and/or “Republican” critics/opponents? Most commonly, they reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform and in the Illinois Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they promote LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, race and gender based preference giving, age discrimination, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things. Most commonly, they hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. Should I sue them?)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-29/truthfeed-spreads-pro-trump-propaganda