December 20 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PHOTO: Rauner lays out how second term will be different, blames Emanuel for first-term failures – Rick Pearson and Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-emanuel-sacks-madigan-20171219-story.html
— Rauner on messaging woes: ‘Very, very difficult’ to explain complex issues to 12.5 million people (DIERSEN: It would be great if Rauner would read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. Reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails helps you keep up to date with Illinois government and political news and commentary that is put out by television stations, newspapers, radio stations, political organizations, activists, etc. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails go out each and every morning and each and every evening; their format allows for quick reading, they contain no advertising, and they are free.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-messaging-20171220-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Strategist Christopher Robling touted volunteer work for College of DuPage while chairwoman secretly paid his son’s tuition to Georgetown – Stacy St. Clair and Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/cod/ct-met-college-of-dupage-consultant-20171204-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: When former College of DuPage board Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton ordered the school to hire her political strategist as a special assistant to the president, she and the strategist repeatedly described him as a volunteer and promised he would donate his salary to charity. But here’s what they didn’t disclose: He was getting money all along. Newly filed court documents show Hamilton was secretly paying the college tuition of strategist Christopher Robling’s son while Robling was employed at the state’s largest community college — payment that experts say may run counter to the state’s ethics and election laws. The private payment became public as part of Hamilton’s divorce case in DuPage County, where she and her estranged husband, John, have been battling over a $45 million estate for more than a year, according to court records. The divorce case explains Hamilton’s departure from the college’s board of trustees for “personal reasons” just months after she became its chairwoman, and it also contains allegations she used marital assets to, among other things, help pay for Robling’s son to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The exact amount wasn’t included in the court documents, but sources say she paid Georgetown about $20,000 between June 2015 and November 2015. During that six-month period Robling served as special assistant to then-college President Joseph Collins, earning and then donating roughly the same amount that Hamilton paid to Georgetown. This wasn’t an unusual arrangement for the Hamiltons, their divorce case shows. The couple paid one year of American University tuition for John Hamilton’s assistant’s daughter, according to records. Robling, who owns a strategic communications firm and serves as a political commentator on local television and radio, acknowledged the money paid to Georgetown during a recent deposition. “I am an alum of Georgetown and he happens to attend Georgetown and I’m very proud of that,” Robling said in the deposition. In portions of the deposition filed as part of the divorce case, Robling declined to say whether he paid taxes on the tuition paid to Georgetown or whether it was considered a gift. Though John Hamilton refers to Robling as his wife’s “paramour” in court filings, Robling declined to answer questions about his personal relationship with Kathy Hamilton during his deposition. Attorney Aldo Botti, who represents both Kathy Hamilton and Robling in the divorce proceedings, says the allegation is false and meant to embarrass Kathy Hamilton. Both Hamilton and Robling declined interview requests through Botti. “She’s a woman of integrity who’s going through a very difficult divorce and who is seeking her fair share of the marital estate,” Botti said. “She’s been through a lot.” One day after the Tribune asked Botti about Hamilton’s tuition arrangement with Robling, Hamilton petitioned the court to seal her divorce file. DuPage County Judge Neal Cerne refused the request, siding with the Tribune after it intervened and asked that the case remain open for public viewing. The divorce proceeding is scheduled to go to trial Wednesday. Before Robling worked for COD, Hamilton personally paid him $2,500 a month between August 2014 and June 2015 for crisis management and to protect her political image, according to Robling’s deposition.)
— The risk of speaking up – Alexandra Olson (DIERSEN: If I had never spoken out against political affiliation discrimination, against reverse discrimination, or against age discrimination, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old in 1988 notwithstanding the fact that I am Republican, White, male, and non-veteran.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20171220/281865823832319

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov. Rauner wages war with … WBEZ? – Tina Sfondeles (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are put together from a Republican perspective. That is why Democrats and Democrats, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs do not like them.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-rauner-wages-war-on-wbez/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday accused Chicago public radio station WBEZ of discontinuing an “Ask the Governor” segment with him because “it’s really more of a Democrat station” — a charge the station is adamantly denying. The remarks were made during a Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting. Columnist Eric Zorn tweeted that the governor complained to the board that WBEZ discontinued the segment for political reasons. “Some of the powers that be didn’t want me goin’ on there, it’s really more of a Democrat station,” the governor said, per Zorn’s tweet. That accusation didn’t gel well for the public radio station, which offers extensive local and national political coverage. “WBEZ and Governor Rauner’s team agreed that the ‘Ask the Governor’ segment would have a limited run and end by Labor Day, as it would not be fair to gubernatorial candidates of all parties to allow the governor an hour of airtime each month during the election campaign,” Goli Sheikholeslami, WBEZ’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “WBEZ is committed to providing voters with fair coverage of all candidates, and we look forward to having Governor Rauner join us for our upcoming GOP primary candidate forum in 2018.”)
— Chicago area households may likely lose under GOP tax plan – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-chicago-area-households-may-likely-lose-under-gop-tax-plan/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Former DuPage sheriff’s supervisor being investigated in wake of firing – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/former-dupage-sheriffs-supervisor-being-investigated-in-wake-of-firing
— GOP tax bill would usher in a bleak future – Fareed Zakaria
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171220/gop-tax-bill-would-usher-in-a-bleak-future
— Vernon Township harassment probe shows need for outsider’s credibility – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/editorial-township-harassment-probe-shows-need-for-outsiders-credibility

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— ‘Implicit racial bias’ training is coming to your school, for better or worse – MARK GLENNON
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171220/OPINION/171229999
— GOP House hopeful Shah admits to taking improper tax breaks – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/BLOGS02/171219867/gop-house-hopeful-shah-got-tax-breaks-for-two-homes-at-the-same-time

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner administration to appeal AFSCME step pay ruling – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Have you gotten step increases? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been beyond furious that I got step increases and COLAs while I worked for the federal government. They have also always been beyond furious a) that the Post Office hired me in 1966 and let me work there for almost 3 years, b) that IRS hired me in 1971 and let me work there for almost 9 years, c) that IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974, d) that GAO hired me in 1980 and let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) that GAO promoted me in 1986.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171219/rauner-administration-to-appeal-afscme-step-pay-ruling

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Request period open for voting by mail in Illinois Primary – Carol Vorel
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-20/request-period-open-voting-mail-illinois-primary.html

 

MADISON RECORD
— Local governments challenged by underfunded pension plans; Ives calls for amending constitution – Ann Maher
https://madisonrecord.com/stories/511301780-local-governments-challenged-by-underfunded-pension-plans-candidate-for-governor-calls-for-amending-constitution

 

JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL COURIER
— Ives makes campaign stop – Greg Olson
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117249/ives-makes-campaign-stop

 

FOX NEWS ILLINOIS
— Representative Jeanne Ives hosts meet and greet in Jacksonville
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/representative-jeanne-ives-hosts-meet-and-greet-in-jacksonville

 

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Ives Wants State Pension Changes – BRIAN MACKEY
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/gubernatorial-challenger-wants-state-pension-changes

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— 3 Trump Judicial Nominees Withdraw, Raising Some Questions About Vetting – NINA TOTENBERG (DIERSEN: Who vettes Republican candidates in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Are they a) the officers of your township/ward Republican party organization, b) the officers of your Republican county party organization, c) your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, d) the IRP offices, and/or e) those who have the most religious, government, political, and/or financial clout? Because Rauner dominates everything that is Republican in Illinois, one could paint Rauner as being responsible for vetting all Republican candidates in Illinois.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/three-trump-judicial-nominees-withdraw-raising-some-questions-about-vetting#stream/0

 

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Representative Jeanne Ives hosts meet and greet in Jacksonville
http://newschannel20.com/news/local/representative-jeanne-ives-hosts-meet-and-greet-in-jacksonville-12-20-2017

 

WJBC
— Congressional candidate’s views shaped by his religious faith, sees tax bill as morally ‘awful’ – Howard Packowitz
http://www.wjbc.com/2017/12/20/congressional-candidates-views-shaped-by-his-religious-faith-sees-tax-bill-as-morally-awful/

 

OAK LAWN PATCH
— Dist. 218 Knew Employee Was An Alleged ‘Peeping Tom:’ LAWSUIT New lawsuit claims Dist. 218 had received earlier complaints about an employee being an alleged locker room peeper before his 2015 arrest. – Lorraine Swanson
https://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/dist-218-knew-employee-was-alleged-peeping-tom-lawsuit

 

CHICAGO REPORTER
— Thousands of black students leave Chicago for other segregated districts – Kalyn Belsha (DIERSEN: Democrats run Illinois and they especially Cook County and Chicago. Democrats used to promote integration, but now they promote segregation.)
http://chicagoreporter.com/black-cps-student-migration/#new_tab

 

INJUSTICE WATCH
— Rauner appointee to Illinois board accused of racial slurs, ethics violations – Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang
http://www.injusticewatch.org/news/2017/rauner-prisoner-review-board-ethics-racial-slur/

 

WIREPOINTS
— Chicago’s Pension And Debt Load Worse Than Puerto Rico’s, And A New Moody’s Report Zaps Chicago – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/chicagos-pension-and-debt-load-worse-than-puerto-ricos-and-a-new-moodys-report-zaps-chicago-wirepoints-original/
— Squeezed out, fed up: Property tax hikes from Wilmette to Danville threaten Illinois’ tax base – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/squeezed-out-fed-up-more-property-tax-hikes-from-wilmette-to-danville-means-illinois-risks-losing-its-tax-base-wirepoints-original/

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Rauner loses big in Palatine straw poll – W.J. Kennedy (DIERSEN: In your township/ward and county, which candidates would win straw polls in the following races: a) Rauner/Sanguinetti v. Ives/Morthland and b) Harold v. Grasso? In DuPage County, which candidates would win straw polls in the following races: a) Diganvker v. Jhingan, b) Stella v. Vlakancic, c) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne v. Augustynowicz, d) Kinzler v. Orozco, e) Zito v. Khouri, f) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, g) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Fichtner v. Gavanes, h) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully v. Broline, i) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, j) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, k) Russo v. MacKay, l) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, m) etc.?)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511301118-rauner-loses-big-in-palatine-straw-poll

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Wheaton Chamber of Commerce to honor members’ efforts at Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon – C. M. Schmidlkofer (DIERSEN: What do those who dominate your Chamber of Commerce think of you? Sadly, those who dominate the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce have an extremely low opinion a) of me, b) of my conservatism, c) of my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, d) of my opposition to video gambling, and e) of what I do each year to promote Wheaton’s Independence Day parades. They blame me for their problems. They blame me for your problems. They blame me for my problems. They blame me for everyone’s problems. They blame me for the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce’s problems. They blame me for Wheaton’s problems. In 2011, they abolished the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee to get rid of me, the committee’s senior member.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511301116-wheaton-chamber-of-commerce-to-honor-members-efforts-at-volunteer-appreciation-luncheon

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Rauner’s “betrayal” could be costing him endorsements from Illinois congressmen – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511299891-rauner-s-betrayal-could-be-costing-him-endorsements-from-illinois-congressmen

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— STATE LAWMAKER PLANS TO INTRODUCE TOWNSHIP CONSOLIDATION BILL State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, is working on the framework for a bill that would dramatically improve taxpayers’ ability to eliminate township governments, of which Illinois has about 1,400. – Joe Kaiser
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/state-lawmaker-plans-to-introduce-township-consolidation-bill/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Views differ on importance of Cook County’s non-binding pot legalization question – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/views-differ-on-importance-of-cook-county-s-non-binding/article_f830ea08-e439-11e7-b113-6336b50453ca.html

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Illinois Prisoner Review Board Member – Use of racial slur found in member records – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/illinois-prisoner-review-board-member-use-of-racial-slur-found-in-member-records/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF THE IRS (DIERSEN: IRS does what politicians tell it to do. If you do not like what IRS does, you should be mad at the politicians who tell IRS what to do. Did you vote for politicians who told IRS to do things that you do not like?)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/the-unbearable-weight-of-the-irs.html
— HOLLYWOOD WANTS YOUR MONEY…AND YOUR MIND
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/hollywood-wants-your-moneyand-your-mind.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner: “We had the possibility of a transformation for the state with the crisis that we had”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/rauner-we-had-the-possibility-of-a-transformation-for-the-state-with-the-crisis-that-we-had/
— Rauner now says his second term will be successful because the courts will let him bypass Madigan
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/rauner-now-says-his-second-term-will-be-successful-because-the-courts-will-let-him-bypass-madigan/

 

FOX NEWS
— Half of Americans Think Their Taxes Will Go Up Under GOP Plan, Poll Shows
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/12/19/half-americans-think-their-taxes-will-go-under-gop-plan-poll-says

 

DAILY CALLER
— It’s Time For Jeff Sessions To Bring Hate Crime Charges Against Chicago’s Facebook Live Torture Suspects – William J. Kelly
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/19/its-time-for-jeff-sessions-to-bring-hate-crime-charges-against-chicagos-facebook-live-torture-suspects/

 

WESTERN FREE PRESS
— Immigration: E-Verify A Must For American Workers – JOHN WALKER
http://westernfreepress.com/2017/12/19/immigration-e-verify-a-must-for-american-workers/


LIFE SITE NEWS
— Dear Cosmopolitan: Your evil sexual advice is literally destroying countless women
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/dear-cosmopolitan-your-evil-sexual-advice-is-literally-destroying-countless

 

CNN
— A fractured GOP unified to pass a landmark tax plan: Here’s how it came together – Phil Mattingly and Lauren Fox
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/20/politics/republican-tax-bill-behind-the-scenes/index.html
— GOP borrows ‘Obamacare’ playbook to defend tax bill: You’ll like it once you see it – Stephen Collinson
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/20/politics/republicans-tax-reform-democrats-obamacare/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH THREE BIG COLOR PICTURES: How Tough Is It to Change a Culture of Harassment? Ask Women at Ford Decades after the company tried to tackle sexual misconduct at two Chicago plants, continued abuse raises questions about the possibility of change.  – SUSAN CHIRA and CATRIN EINHORN
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/ford-chicago-sexual-harassment.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— With this tax bill, the GOP has finally killed family-friendly conservatism – Jonathan Coppage
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/12/20/with-this-tax-bill-the-gop-has-finally-killed-family-friendly-conservatism/
— Federal agency reports show ‘continuum of harm’ from workplace sexual misconduct – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: I saw no sexual misconduct while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. What I did see was that my Democrat superiors and supervisors always gave preference to their employees who were Democrat, and especially to their employees who were female, minority, and/or younger, that is, I saw that they discriminated against their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/20/federal-agency-reports-show-continuum-of-harm-from-workplace-sexual-misconduct/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— What the Tax Bill Does to Homeowners The Republican tax-code overhaul would reduce or eliminate some of the benefits of homeownership that Americans have come to expect. – Christina Rexrode (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership. I have been a homeowner since I was 24 years old in 1972, and my wife and I have been homeowners since we got married in 1978. Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-tax-bill-does-to-homeowners-1513737287
— Tax Reform Means Your Paycheck Will Grow – Paul Ryan (DIERSEN: What do growing paychecks mean for you? Growing paychecks mean nothing for me because the last time I got a paycheck was in 1997 when I was 49 years old. My $50,856/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my $122,991 GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-means-your-paycheck-will-grow-1513728131
— Republican Tax Bill Has Grown More Unpopular, Poll Shows Overall, 41% of Americans in the survey said the tax plan was a bad idea, up from 35% in October. – Janet Hook
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-tax-bill-has-grown-more-unpopular-poll-shows-1513720886
— Sexual-Harassment Training Gets a Revamp – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Employees who take such training will be even more 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.wsj.com/articles/sexual-harassment-training-gets-a-revamp-1513696545

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— Why You’ll Need More Retirement Savings Than You Think (and What to Do About it) If retirement savings will be your main source of retirement income, you’ll need to have way more than the typical saver manages. – Wendy Connick (DIERSEN: Where you live in retirement is extremely important. If you live in DuPage County, the cost of living is very high.)
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/12/20/why-youll-need-more-retirement-savings-than-you-th.aspx

December 19 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— GOP on verge of huge tax overhaul — with one hiccup Stephen Ohlemacher and Marcy Gordon
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-bill-20171219-story.html
— Illinois Republicans, Democrats in Congress stick with their parties on tax vote – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-congress-taxes-20171219-story.html
— Tax plan a windfall for companies, but will anything trickle down to the rank and file? – Robert Reed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-tax-plan-wages-jobs-robert-reed-1220-story.html
— When people wouldn’t believe two dogs killed their owner, the sheriff described the horror – Kristine Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-dogs-maul-owner-virginia-20171219-story.html
— Suicide expert says rampant stress not a new problem for Naperville students – Suzanne Baker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-suicide-expert-st-1220-20171219-story.html
— The toughest job in state government – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-dcfs-walker-rauner-abuse-20171219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you promote pot in Illinois, you promote the destruction of Illinois.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-marijuana-legalization-st-1220-20171219-story.html
— Why doesn’t Trump get credit for revving up the economy? – Ed Rogers
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-economy-trump-gross-domestic-product-ed-rogers-1220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How Illinois lawmakers voted on House tax bill. But there is a snag. – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/how-illinois-lawmakers-and-others-voted-on-house-tax-bill/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Aurora Election Commission could be on chopping block in March vote – Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/aurora-election-commission-could-be-on-chopping-block-in-march-vote

 

ABC7
— Senate expected to pass massive tax reform bill after hiccup – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/senate-expected-to-pass-massive-tax-reform-bill-after-hiccup/2799415/
— Mauled by dogs: Sheriff offers gruesome details about death of woman killed by her own pets – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/mauled-by-dogs-sheriff-offers-gruesome-details-about-death-of-woman-killed-by-her-own-pets/2799855/

 

NBC5
— House Needs to Vote Again on $1.5T GOP Tax Bill Democrats called the bill a giveaway to corporations and the wealthy – Stephen Ohlemacher and Marcy Gordon
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/GOP-Roll-Trillion-Final-Tax-Bill-House-Senate-465150303.html

 

CBS2
— Palatine Township Board Delays Vote On Hiring Parliamentarian – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/19/palatine-township-parliamentarian/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GOP on the verge of huge tax overhaul — with one hiccup – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/congress-tax-vote

 

WLS AM
— Ives out with a rescue plan for state’s pension problem – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/19/ives-out-with-a-rescue-plan-for-states-pension-problem/
— Chicago area Congressmen on WLS to debate tax bill – John Dempsey
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/19/chicago-area-congressmen-on-wls-to-debate-tax-bill/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner says nobody will buy plant that state helped sell – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171219/schoenburg-rauner-says-nobody-will-buy-plant-that-state-helped-sell

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Teen arrested trying bring pot into Peoria County courthouse – Phil Luciano
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171218/teen-arrested-trying-bring-pot-into-peoria-county-courthouse

 

TIMES
— High school journalists should not be censored – Liza Buhr
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/youth/buhr-high-school-journalists-should-not-be-censored/article_89269742-8887-51ee-a00d-7ef52119ebec.html

 

WSIL TV
— Political expert weighs in on “Rauner’s Top 10 Accomplishments” – Roni LeForge
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37104258/political-expert-weighs-in-on-rauners-top-10-accomplishments

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey sees flight from Illinois as another Rauner failure – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511300724-bailey-sees-flight-from-illinois-as-another-rauner-failure

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Straub notes Durkin role in aiding taxpayer flight from state – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511301030-straub-notes-durkin-role-in-aiding-taxpayer-flight-from-state

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Shades of Rauner’s nursing home scandal in Quincy veterans death case
https://realgopillinois.com/2017/12/18/shades-rauners-nursing-scandal-quincy-veterans-home-case/

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Ives for Governor “Meet and Greet” – Coles County – December 20, 2017 – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/ives-for-governor-meet-and-greet-coles-county-december-20-2017/
— John Clough, Illinois Prisoner Review Board Member Electioneering with State Vehicle – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/john-clough-illinois-prisoner-review-board-member-electioneering-with-state-vehicle/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner claims WBEZ canceled monthly show for political reasons
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-claims-wbez-canceled-monthly-show-for-political-reasons/
— ILGOP weighs in against Straub *** Oppo dump!
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/oppo-dump-10/
— Ives proposes pension changes
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/ives-proposes-pension-changes/
— Rauner touts his top 10 accomplishments
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-touts-his-top-10-accomplishments/
— The most negative campaign ever
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/the-most-negative-campaign-ever/
— Rauner talks up contributions to pro-life candidates while campaign highlights Dems’ worst moments of 2017
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-talks-up-contributions-to-pro-life-candidates-while-campaign-highlights-dems-worst-moments-of-2017/

 

CNS NEWS
— Rep. Roskam: ‘Low Expectations’ on Tax Plan Will Work in Republicans’ Favor – Susan Jones
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/rep-roskam-low-expectations-tax-plan-will-work-republicans-favor

 

LIFE NEWS
— Illinois Gov Bruce Rauner: Pro-Life People Should Vote for Me Even Though I Forced Them to Fund Abortions – MICAIAH BILGER
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/12/19/illinois-gov-bruce-rauner-pro-life-people-should-vote-for-me-even-though-i-forced-them-to-fund-abortions/

 

GOPUSA
— University of Virginia stonewalls conservative club for restricting membership to conservatives (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but a) who do lots of anti-conservative and/or anti-Republican things and/or b) focus on destroying those who are conservative and/or Republican. They really are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs. Most commonly, they reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. Most commonly, they promote LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, age discrimination, political affiliation discrimination, and patronage.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35538

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump cheers on a stock market he once called a ‘big, fat, ugly bubble’ – Michael Scherer and Jenna Johnson
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cheers-on-a-stock-market-he-once-called-a-big-fat-ugly-bubble/2017/12/19/811cce82-e4de-11e7-833f-155031558ff4_story.html

 

NEW REPUBLIC
— The Democrats’ Risky Pursuit of Suburban Republicans The strategy threatens to alienate the party’s base in the age of Trump. – JEET HEER
https://newrepublic.com/article/146345/democrats-risky-pursuit-suburban-republicans

December 15 Evening Edition

ABC7
— President Trump on violent crime in US: ‘What the hell is going on in Chicago?’ – Jesse Kirsch
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-on-violent-crime-in-us-what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-chicago/2784892/

 

NBC5
— Trump: ‘What the Hell is Going On in Chicago?’ – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/president-trump-again-bemoans-chicago-gun-violence-in-fbi-speech-464455663.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Why Gov. Rauner probably still won’t be ‘in charge’ next year – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/miller-why-gov-rauner-probably-still-wont-be-in-charge-next-year/
— Rahm’s trust a bust? Fails to raise a dime but has cost taxpayers $5M – Tim Novak
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/rahm-emanuel-infrastructure-trust-a-bust-fails-to-raise-a-dime-in-5-years-but-has-cost-chicago-taxpayers-over-5-million-dollars-the-watchdogs/
— Here’s what’s in final tax bill Republicans plan to send to Trump
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/heres-whats-in-final-tax-bill-republicans-plan-to-send-to-trump/
— We need a broader conversation on sex, workplace issues – Mary Mitchell (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you are a male, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being a sexual harasser and even worse things: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mitchell-we-need-a-broader-conversation-on-sex-workplace-issues/
— Will ‘Me Too’ or general GOP awfulness be the Democratic banner in 2018? – Caitlin Huey-Burns
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/will-me-too-or-general-gop-awfulness-be-the-democratic-banner-in-2018/
— Close veterans home where Legionnaires’ outbreaks persist – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/legionnaires-disease-quincy-illinois-veterans-home/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump singles out Chicago violence again — but underestimates the problem – William Lee
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-trump-chicago-shootings-chicago-inc-20171215-story.html
— GOP tax bill slashes rates for corporations and wealthy with smaller benefits for middle class – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republicans-tax-bill-20171215-story.html
— No tears from African-Americans after Omarosa booted from White House – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-omarosa-trump-dahleen-glanton-20171215-story.html
— State rep’s daughter, boyfriend given probation for attack on primary rival – Megan Crepeau
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-state-rep-daughter-guilty-misdemeanor-20171215-story.html
— Trump judicial nominee fumbles through painfully awkward confirmation hearing gone viral – Derek Hawkins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about what I learned about the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when I pursued Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange and Diersen v. GAO in federal court.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-judicial-nominee-matthew-petersen-20171215-story.html
— GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives says U46 too big, needs to be reduced – Rafael Guerrero
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-ives-u46-downsizing-st-1217-20171215-story.html
— Some brush off politics unless it affects their daily lives – Ted Slowik
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-why-it-matters-st-1217-20171215-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— 3 weeks into new budget, Kane County sheriff coming up short – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171215/3-weeks-into-new-budget-kane-county-sheriff-coming-up-short
— German government says it backs ‘open and free internet’ – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not want an “open and free” internet. They only want an internet that they can manipulate if not dominate. They do not want anyone to first learn of anything by reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They do not want me to know about their events and other activities. They do not want me to promote their events and other activities. They do not want me to attend their events. They do not want me to report on their events or activities. They want me to carry out their blacklist orders. They are furious that I circulate nominating petitions in my precinct for all the candidates instead just for candidates they approve of. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. They claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but ever-increasingly they talk and act like they are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171215/news/312159952/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago lawyers: not a diverse lot – CLAIRE BUSHEY
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171215/NEWS04/171219914/chicago-lawyers-not-a-diverse-lot

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Durbin Fears ‘Mistakes’ In Rushed Republican Tax Bill – RYAN DENHAM (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/durbin-fears-mistakes-rushed-republican-tax-bill#stream/0

 

WGAL
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Second-grader brings marijuana to school, shares with a friend (DIERSEN: Who is leading the fight against pot in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.wgal.com/article/second-grader-brings-marijuana-to-school-shares-with-a-friend/14440593

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Illinois GOP release states Pritzker ‘continues to lie to Illinoisans’ – Robert Hadley
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511281883-illinois-gop-release-states-pritzker-continues-to-lie-to-illinoisans

 

KANE COUNTY REPORTER
— Oberweis says he’s ‘extremely disappointed’ Rauner signed sanctuary state bill – Karen Kidd
https://kanecountyreporter.com/stories/511286741-oberweis-says-he-s-extremely-disappointed-rauner-signed-sanctuary-state-bill

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Leader Durkin Had Role in Strip Club vs. Broadview Fight – Lgistheme Reports
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511298864-leader-durkin-had-role-in-strip-club-vs-broadview-fight

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Don Moore, Republican candidate in the 108th House District, is uneasy about Durkin-Madigan relationship – Carrie Bradon
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511296463-moore-is-uneasy-about-durkin-madigan-relationship

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Citizens of Illinois pay attention: 36 Counties- 55 illegal assessors! – KIRK ALLEN (DIERSEN: Did you meet legal requirements when you were hired? I did. I had both a job-related master’s degree and a job-related professional certification when GAO hired me at the GS-9 level in 1980. I had a job-related bachelor’s degree and I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when IRS hired me at the GS-7 level 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 level in 1966.)
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/citizens-of-illinois-pay-attention-36-counties-55-illegal-assessors/

 

ILLINOIS HOMPAGE
— Duckworth responsible for legionnaires issue? – Raquel Martin
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/capitol-news/duckworth-responsible-for-legionnaires-issue/881873477

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— GOP Gubernatorial Primary 2018: Competent Uniter v. Incompetent Divider – John Biver
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/gop-gubernatorial-primary-2018-competent-uniter-v-incompetent-divider/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER: PARTY DIVISIONS SPARK AT REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S EVENT IN LAKE COUNTY (DIERSEN: Are you a Republican Precinct Committeeman? What policy does your Republican township and/or county party organization have on committeemen supporting candidates in contested Republican primaries? Officially, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) does not endorse candidates, committeemen are free to support whichever candidates that they want to support, but committeemen are required to support the candidates who win the primaries. However, sadly, if not tragically, that is not how it works in real life. Those who have dominated MTRCC at least since 2000 have lots of religious, government, political, and financial clout in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and in DuPage County. They do everything that they can to destroy committeemen who support candidates who they do not like. I should write a book about their efforts to destroy me since 2000. They blame me for all losses that Republican candidates have suffered in general elections in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois since 2000.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/thorner-party-divisions-spark-at-republican-womens-event-in-lake-county.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner complains it’s “hard to overcome” the “biased” Illinois media
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/15/rauner-complains-its-hard-to-overcome-the-biased-illinois-media/
— Reader comments closed until Tuesday (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning since 2004 and each and every evening too since 2015. Those emails have included links to more than 289,200 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/15/reader-comments-closed-until-tuesday-25/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— Way down deep, Dems want folks hooked on gov’t largess – Steve Jordahl
https://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2017/12/15/way-down-deep-dems-want-folks-hooked-on-govt-largess

 

DAILY CALLER
— Google Is Using Its Immense Power To Censor Content That Doesn’t Fit Its Political Goals. Everyone In America Should Be Concerned About That – Neil Patel
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/15/google-is-using-its-immense-power-to-censor-content-that-doesnt-fit-its-political-goals/
— America’s Longest-Serving Bomber (B-52) Sets New Record For Most Smart Bombs Dropped On An Enemy – RYAN PICKRELL
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/15/americas-longest-serving-bomber-sets-new-record-for-most-smart-bombs-dropped-on-an-enemy/

 

GOPUSA
— Black women seek rewards from Democrats after Alabama race
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35324
— Democrat lawmaker: Women’s clothing an ‘invitation’ for harassment
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35223
— Prominent lawyer sought donor cash for two Trump accusers (DIERSEN: If you accuse Trump of sexual harassment, anti-Trumps will give you lots of money.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35361
— Kirstjen Nielsen, new DHS chief, says agents cause ‘fear’ in illegals (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government focused on causing “fear” in their employees like me who were Republican, and especially those like me who were White, male, older, and non-veteran. They used Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees like me who were Republican, and especially those like me who were White, male, older, and non-veteran.)
http://www.gopusa.com/kirstjen-nielsen-new-dhs-chief-says-agents-cause-fear-in-illegals/

 

BREITBART
— CBO Report: DACA Amnesty Would Cost American Taxpayers $26 Billion – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/15/cbo-report-daca-amnesty-would-cost-american-taxpayers-26-billion/
— CNN: Four GOP Senators Negotiate Amnesty With Democrats – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/economics/2017/12/15/cnn-four-gop-senators-negotiate-amnesty-democrats/
— Exodus: Jews Flee Paris Suburbs over Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism – SIMON KENT
http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/12/15/exodus-french-jews-forced-islamists-anti-semitism-rises-across-europe/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Why Al Franken should not resign – Robin Wolf
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/why_al_franken_should_not_resign.html

 

FEDERALIST
— Why Criminalizing Sexual Harassment Fosters Witch Hunts Sexual harassment digests a degenerate thug like Harvey Weinstein with a college student who makes an awkward pass or a well-intentioned boss who compliments a dress. – Maureen Mullarkey
http://thefederalist.com/2017/12/15/criminalizing-sexual-harassment-fosters-witch-hunts/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Too Many Americans Are Going to College – Too Many Americans Are Going to College – Kyle Smith
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454680/bryan-caplans-case-against-education-persuasive&arubalp=8e2c40a0-eb99-4df9-ad36-82ce3139f3

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Cultural Divide Deepens in First Year of Trump Presidency – George Rasley (DIERSEN: What percent of those in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois 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.conservativehq.com/node/27033
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A pair of recent polls assessing patriotism attitudes in the American population reveal that, as the first year of the Trump presidency ends, there are two competing definitions of patriotism and distinct divergence in the underlying priorities of Americans operating in our country. The vast differences that were found between how those who self-identified as Liberal or Conservative rated the meaning of traditional components of patriotism, such as “Freedom of Speech,” the “National Anthem,” and the “American flag,” suggest that there is a deepening division in the American understanding of patriotism in terms of its symbols and freedoms. Most Americans surveyed reflected this same concern – only 13% of the adults surveyed believe the citizens of the United States are becoming more patriotic; 50% believe their fellow citizens are becoming less so. Only 22% of Americans surveyed said they strongly agree they would feel safe wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. The findings suggest that we are more divided than ever – and neither the Left nor the Right are content to cede patriotism to the other. We see that general terms, such as “freedom of speech,” which in the past may have been associated with patriotism are murkier in meaning than before; those who want to communicate about American patriotism should know their audiences have quite different ideas about what that means. While results suggest political affiliation can predict how patriotism is defined, 85% of liberals consider themselves to be patriotic in some sense, compared to 97% of conservatives and 83% of moderates. Drilling down into the differences in the perceived patriotism of brands according to political party affiliation, Conservatives said the NRA is “very patriotic” – the highest ranked of the choices by them, Moderates deemed it is the U.S. Supreme Court, and Liberals chose the Democrat Party. Planned Parenthood was one percentage point behind the Democrat Party in Liberals’ estimation of “very patriotic” brands. Likewise, overall, the National Rifle Association was considered “very patriotic” by a plurality, 33%; the same percent said the National Football League’s Colin Kaepernick was most strongly understood to be “not at all” patriotic.)

 

POLITICO
— Democratic lawmaker: Women’s clothing an ‘invitation’ to harassment ‘I saw a member yesterday with her cleavage so deep it was down to the floor,’ Rep. Marcy Kaptur tells fellow Democrats at a private meeting. – HEATHER CAYGLE
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/13/marcy-kaptur-womens-clothing-sexual-harassment-294974

 

CNN
— Want to fix sexual harassment? Don’t hire jerks – Robert Sutton (DIERSEN: According to those who are anti-men, all men are jerks, and those men who are members of the following groups are especially jerks: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/15/opinions/sexual-harassment-dont-hire-jerks-sutton-opinion/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Has Support for Moore Stained Evangelicals? Some Are Worried – Laurie Goodstein (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes do everything that they can to turn religious people against me. They stress a) that I am not a member of any church, b) that I do not attend church services, c) that I do not give money to a church, d) that I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, and e) that I oppose the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charities, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot and other vices, race and gender based preference giving, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/us/alabama-evangelical-christians-moore.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “It grieves me,” said Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, a prominent evangelical school in Illinois. “I don’t want ‘evangelical’ to mean people who supported candidates with significant and credible accusations against them. If evangelical means that, it has serious ramifications for the work of Christians and churches.” . . . People have had the impulse to jettison the evangelical label before, according to Mr. Stetzer of Wheaton College. It came up after the televangelist scandals involving Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart in the 1980s. But the idea received new attention and momentum soon after Mr. Trump was elected.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Rubio’s last stand highlights tax bill’s corporate skew – Tory Newmyer (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-finance-202/2017/12/15/the-finance-202-rubio-s-last-stand-highlights-tax-bill-s-corporate-skew/5a33032830fb0469e883fbd3/
— Trump judicial nominee fumbles basic questions about the law – Derek Hawkins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about what I learned about the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when I pursued Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange and Diersen v. GAO in federal court.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/15/trump-judicial-nominee-fumbles-basic-questions-about-the-law/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For five painfully awkward minutes, Petersen, a member of the Federal Election Commission and a lawyer with no trial experience, fumbled with Kennedy’s questions, visibly uncomfortable as the lawmaker pressed him about how things work in a federal courtroom. “Hoo-boy,” Whitehouse wrote in a widely circulated tweet of the exchange, seizing on the moment for maximum political effect. In Wednesday’s hearing, Kennedy started by asking Petersen and the four other nominees who appeared with him: “Have any of you not tried a case to verdict in a courtroom?” Petersen alone raised his hand. Kennedy, a first-term Republican who has challenged some of Trump’s previous judicial nominations, bore down. Had Petersen ever handled jury trial? “I have not,” the nominee responded. Civil? No. Criminal? No. Bench trial? No. State or federal court? No. How many depositions had he taken — fewer than five? “Probably somewhere in that range,” Petersen said. Had he ever argued a motion in state court? Federal court? No on both counts. Kennedy then asked the last time Petersen had read the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — the standards that govern civil cases in U.S. District Court, where Petersen is hoping to get a lifetime appointment.)
— Racial divides have been holding American workers back for more than a century – Calvin Schermerhorn (DIERSEN: Schermerhorn should write about what GAO did during the 1980s and 1990s 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 GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/15/racial-divides-have-been-holding-american-workers-back-for-more-than-a-century/

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
— GOP lawmakers race to pass tax bill without regard to details, fallout – Editorial (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Breaking-the-bank-12432073.php

 

NEWSWEEK
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: MARIJUANA-INFUSED WINE IS COMING TO LEGAL WEED STATES – JANICE WILLIAMS
http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-legal-states-wine-california-747711

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— OPM Tells Agencies to Stop Working Collaboratively with Unions – Erich Wagner
http://www.govexec.com/management/2017/12/opm-tells-agencies-stop-working-collaboratively-unions/144617/?oref=top-story

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Despite having 7 ways to recruit, retain mission critical talent, agencies rarely use them – Nicole Ogrysko (DIERSEN: In 1980, I had almost 9 years of “mission critical talent.” GAO audits IRS. In 1980, I had worked for IRS’s Collection Division 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. But instead of offering me a promotion to GS-13 to transfer from IRS to GAO, GAO forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut to transfer. During the 1980s and 1990s, GAO’s Chicago office almost always led audits of IRS’s Collection Division. While GAO did assign me to audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division 1986-1988, all during the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, it never assigned me to an audit of IRS’s Collection Division. In my opinion, GAO’s refusal to assign me to audits of IRS’s Collection Division is almost criminal if not criminal.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/your-job/2017/12/agencies-have-7-different-ways-to-recruit-and-retain-mission-critical-talent-but-they-rarely-use-them/

December 14 Evening Edition

NBC5
— Community Groups File Suit Against Assessor’s Office Over Allegations of Racial Bias – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/community-groups-file-suit-against-assessors-office-over-allegations-of-racial-bias-464185233.html
— Lisa Madigan Joins Group of Officials Opposing Net Neutrality Rollback – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/madigan-joins-group-of-officials-opposing-net-neutrality-rollback-464222233.html

 

CBS2
— Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin Suggests U.N. Send Troops To Fight ‘Quiet Genocide’ Of Gun Violence In Chicago
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/14/richard-boykin-united-nations-gun-violence/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, ILLEGAL, AND EVEN WORSE THINGS: Emanuel on Thursday unveiled an example of the municipal ID card he wants to offer to people in this country illegally and others as part of his stand against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies – John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-municipal-id-launch-20171214-story.html
— Lawsuit targets Berrios over biased residential assessments in Cook County – Jason Grotto and Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cook-county-assessor-berrios-sued-met-20171214-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “How the 2018 election could end the nightmare of Trump.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-2018-election-nightmare20171214-story.html
— Survey finds 42 percent of women report discrimination at work – Jena McGregor
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sexual-harassment-survey-20171214-story.html
— Evanston District 202 board takes a swipe at transparency – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-evanston-school-board-foia-20171214-story.html
— House to vote on spending bill that Senate won’t pass, rekindling shutdown showdown – Mike Debonis and Ed O’Keefe
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-spending-bill-government-shutdown-20171214-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— What’s in GOP tax accord: Big cuts for business, wealthy – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/whats-in-gop-tax-accord-big-cuts-for-business-wealthy
— Vernon Twp. board: Assessor shouldn’t be investigating harassment claims – Doug T. Graham
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/vernon-twp-board-assessor-shouldnt-be-investigating-harassment-claims
— AUGUST 11, 2005 FLASHBACK: Milton Twp. Assessor, Accuser Reach Settlement – James Fuller (DIERSEN: Have you been charged with sexual harassment? Because I refused to take sides in Carol Scholl v. Jim Gumm, those who continue to side with Scholl a) continue to demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me and b) continue to hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-135085189.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The woman who once accused Milton Township Assessor Jim Gumm of sexually harassing her agreed to settle a lawsuit Wednesday that could have made her liable for up to $1 million in damages. The settlement all but ends a legal battle that began with former township employee Carol Scholl accusing Gumm of sexual harassment. The township eventually settled that claim. Gumm then fired Scholl, and she filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for improper dismissal. Gumm soon filed his own lawsuit against several township officials and employees, including Scholl, claiming a clandestine effort to smear his name and have him booted from office.)

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Rubio a ‘no’ on tax bill unless he gets child tax credit Floor vote on bill possible next week – LAUREN FOX (DIERSEN: They all should be a big ‘no’ unless all itemized deductions and the personal exemption are kept.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/rubio-a-no-on-tax-bill-unless-he-gets-child-tax-credit/881230438

 

WGLT
— Durbin Fears ‘Mistakes’ In Rushed Republican Tax Bill – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/durbin-fears-mistakes-rushed-republican-tax-bill#stream/0

 

WIFR
— Governor candidate William Kelly speaks out on his decision to run as Independent
http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Governor-candidate-William-Kelly-speaks-out-on-his-decision-to-run-as-Independent-464236053.html

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Character counts in Alabama, but still not in Chicago and Illinois – Dennis Byrne
http://www.chicagonow.com/dennis-byrnes-barbershop/2017/12/character-counts-in-alabama-but-still-not-in-chicago-and-illinois/

 

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— Ives Leads the Charge on Property Tax Reform – Steve Balich
http://willcountynews.com/2017/12/14/ives-leads-the-charge-on-property-tax-reform/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— McSweeney joins Ives in calling for investigation into resignation of Rauner’s top lawyer – Caitlin Nordahl
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511297090-mcsweeney-joins-ives-in-calling-for-investigation-into-resignation-of-rauner-s-top-lawyer

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— After financial crash, Illinois property taxes rise despite drop in home value – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: High property taxes depress home values.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/after-financial-crash-illinois-property-taxes-rise-despite-drop-in/article_6a626bc6-e04b-11e7-ab49-9ff680d1fb77.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker apologizes for language he used to describe American Muslims Council in 1998
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/14/pritzker-apologizes-for-language-he-used-to-describe-american-muslims-council-in-1998/

 

GOPUSA
— Loyola Muslims bemoan Catholic university’s Christmas bias, unequal ‘public festivity’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35279
— Time to Understand: Accusations Are Not Convictions
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35152

 

BREITBART
— Poll: Majority of Americans Continue to Believe Amnesty Encourages More Illegal Immigration – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/14/poll-majority-of-americans-continue-to-believe-amnesty-encourages-more-illegal-immigration/

 

PATRIOT POST
— The Government’s Gender Hiring Gap Politicians who hypocritically criticize the private sector for gender gaps should first examine their own staffs. – Caroline Camden Lewis (DIERSEN: Lewis should write an article about what GAO did during the 1980s and 1990s a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat women and young Democrat minorities and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of GAO 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://patriotpost.us/articles/52940

 

POLITICO
— The FCC repealed its Obama-era net neutrality rules on Thursday, a step critics warn will upend the internet by allowing cable companies to control where their customers can go online. – MARGARET HARDING MCGILL
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/14/fcc-votes-to-repeal-net-neutrality-rules-295500

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— F.C.C. Repeals Net Neutrality Rules Internet providers will have more power over the web, allowing them to favor certain sites. – Cecilia Kang
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/technology/net-neutrality-repeal-vote.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The FCC just voted to repeal its net neutrality rules, in a sweeping act of deregulation FCC repeals net neutrality rules, allowing Internet providers to speed up, slow down or block service for apps and websites – Brian Fung
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/12/14/the-fcc-is-expected-to-repeal-its-net-neutrality-rules-today-in-a-sweeping-act-of-deregulation/

 

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
— Fear compromises health, well-being of immigrant families, survey finds – Anna Gorman (DIERSEN: Who has wanted you to be fearful? While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors always wanted me to fear that they would take stronger adverse actions against me. Were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986. Adverse actions that my Democrat GAO superiors took against me included forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, not promoting me beyond GS-13, keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forcing me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. Adverse actions that my Democrat IRS superiors took against me included not promoting me beyond GS-12, disallowing my education deductions in 1978, and disallowing my partial day per diem claims in 1974. Adverse actions that my Democrat Post Office superiors took against me included forcing me resign in 1969 and disallowing my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/13/570027/

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Most Call for Trump’s Resignation If Sex Allegations Are True.”
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/december_2017/most_call_for_trump_s_resignation_if_sex_allegations_are_true

December 12 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Biss Wins Straw Poll of Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates – Mary Ann Ahern (DIERSEN: Which candidates would win straw polls in the following races: a) Rauner/Sanguinetti and Ives/Morthland, b) Harold and Grasso, c) Diganvker and Jhingan, d) Stella and Vlakancic, e) Minor, Grant, Byrne, and Augustynowicz, f) Kinzler and Orozco, g) Zito and Khouri, h) Mendrick and Bibbiano, i) Tornatore, DeMichele, Fichtner, and Gavanes, j) Hart, Abbott, Tully, and Broline, k) McGowen, Almiron, Eckhoff, Zaruba, Tatro, and Chinchilla, l) Wiley, Zay, and McQuade, m) Russo and MacKay, p) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, q) etc.?)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Biss-Wins-Straw-Poll-of-Democratic-Gubernatorial-Candidates-463535663.html

 

CBS2
— Woman, 77, Mauled To Death By Dog In Alsip
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/11/woman-77-mauled-to-death-by-dog-in-alsip/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— 3 Trump accusers speak out, call for congressional probe – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/3-trump-accusers-speak-out-call-for-congressional-probe

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that if you are a Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, a) the more that you have benefited from their discrimination against minorities and against women and b) the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/jackson-alabama-is-choosing-between-its-past-and-its-future/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Monday was the deadline to object to candidates’ petition signatures they need to get on the March primary ballot. Among the challenged candidates: Democratic attorney general hopefuls state Rep. Scott Drury and Renato Mariotti, and Republican AG candidate Gary Grasso. The State Board of Elections listed 147 such objections, and that number doesn’t even count the many county-level challenges.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-forrest-claypool-20171212-story.html
— Rauner calls Claypool situation ‘very, very tragic’
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-forrest-claypool-20171212-story.html
— Chicago police union official blasts $31 million wrongful conviction settlement as part of ‘cottage industry’ – John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-police-englewood-four-settlement-20171211-story.html
— Black Americans cross jobs milestone, though victory is tenuous – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Federal employment is a “zero sum game.” What would your superiors say that they did help Blacks? My Democrat GAO superiors would stress that they 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. My Democrat IRS superiors would stress that they did not promote me beyond GS-12, that they disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and that they disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors would stress that they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. My aforesaid Democrat superiors would stress that the aforesaid adverse actions that they took against me directly benefited their employees who were Black.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-tns-bc-jobs-blacks-20171207-story.html
— Can the #MeToo movement free black men of the sexual predator stereotype? – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-glanton-metoo-black-men-20171211-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: Pentagon to allow transgender people to enlist in military – AP (DIERSEN: In 1966, when I was 18 years old, I was 1-A for the draft notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease).)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171211/news/312119901/
— Admin says big revenue from GOP tax plan; analysts less rosy – AP (DIERSEN: If itemized deductions are limited or cut, the housing market will crash and then the economy will crash.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171212/news/312129975/

 

WTTW
— How Stress and Anxiety Are Hurting Children – Alexandra Silets (DIERSEN: How much stress were you under when you were young? When you were in high school, were you “college material?” While I attended Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966, I took college preparatory courses notwithstanding the fact that many, if not most, if not virtually everyone at the time viewed me as NOT being “college material.” Neither of my parents had attended college. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. I spent my junior and senior years and the summer in between washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresges in Chicago Heights. I just barely made into the top 20% of my class, my ACT score was only 24, I was draft bait, my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease).)
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/11/how-stress-and-anxiety-are-hurting-children

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Westerfield, Hicks, Senor among candidates hit with petition objections – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Of the candidates who want to be on March 20, 2018 Republican primary ballots in your precinct, which ones have been hit with petition objections? The contested races in my precinct are a) Rauner/Sanguinetti and Ives/Morthland, b) Harold and Grasso, c) Minor, Grant, Byrne, and Augustynowicz, d) Mendrick and Bibbiano, e) McGowen, Almiron, Eckhoff, Zaruba, Tatro, and Chinchilla, and f) Russo and MacKay.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171211/westerfield-hicks-senor-among-candidates-hit-with-petition-objections

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Champaign/Urbana News Gazette promotes Pritzker. To promote Pritzker is to promote pot. To promote pot is to promote destruction.
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-12/pritzker-run-keeps-picking-steam.html

 

TIMES
— James Marter, through a supporter, filed an objection to the petitions of another candidate, Jaye DeBates. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/gop-hopeful-s-petition-challenged/article_d18ffc81-43c4-5216-a935-b5e38f01b279.html

 

CHICAGO MAROON
— UC Dems Condemn College Republicans for Staying Silent on Roy Moore – University of Chicago Democrats (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of Group A call for everyone to condemn 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 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.)
https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2017/12/12/uc-dems-condemn-college-republicans-staying-silent/

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— EMANUEL on COLBERT – Natasha Korecki (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Emanuel officially banish individuals, organizations, and companies from Chicago 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, like Hitler banished Jews from Germany?)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2017/12/12/politico-illinois-playbook-emanuels-alabama-worries-rauner-berrios-want-to-fire-each-other-229989
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s comeback tour took a swing through the Late Night world as he sat down with host Stephen Colbert to trash Trump, talk Chicago as a sanctuary city and promote his podcast. Emanuel talked about declaring Chicago a “Trump-free zone.” “Our motto: A city he’ll never sleep in,” Emanuel said. “We don’t want him.” Colbert asks how he can do that when there’s a Trump hotel. Emanuel plowed ahead, listing ways he’s combated Trump policies through legal challenges and policy initiatives, including on the environment. When Colbert pressed Emanuel on the legality of immigration policies, the mayor dipped into his oft-told tale about the grandson of an immigrant becoming the mayor of Chicago. “That doesn’t necessarily answer my question,” Colbert challenged. “How does it not violate federal law?” Emanuel then said it wasn’t the job of Chicago police to enforce immigration policies.)

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— “Rauner Is The Fringe Candidate” (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. If you run as a Republican, the more planks in the Republican Party platform that you reject, the more of a fringe candidate that you are. You definitely are a fringe candidate if you reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, gambling, Second Amendment, or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.)
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/rauner-is-the-fringe-candidate

 

WIRE POINTS
— When will Springfield accept the blame for the pension crisis? – Ted Dabrowski
http://www.wirepoints.com/dabrowski-when-will-springfield-accept-the-blame-for-the-pension-crisis-opinion-chicago-tribune/

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— 53rd District candidate Katie Miller says immigration legislation wrong for Illinois – Angela Underwood
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511287106-53rd-district-candidate-says-immigration-legislation-wrong-for-illinois

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Nybo wants health care providers kept in the loop on state’s new Medicare program – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511287105-nybo-wants-health-care-providers-kept-in-the-loop-on-state-s-new-medicare-program
— Conroy opponent Jay Kinzler disagrees with law establishing sanctuary state – Chandra Lye
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511289193-conroy-opponent-disagrees-with-law-establishing-sanctuary-state

 

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— GOP Rep. McSweeney: “The ‘Fringe Candidate’ Is Bruce Rauner. He Stands For Nothing.” – Steve Balich
http://willcountynews.com/2017/12/12/gop-rep-mcsweeney-the-fringe-candidate-is-bruce-rauner-he-stands-for-nothing/

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Don Moore says making Illinois a sanctuary state is ‘pandering to the left’ – Carrie Bradon
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511292443-moore-says-making-illinois-a-sanctuary-state-is-pandering-to-the-left

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois lawmakers allowed to pick which harassment cases their own ethics watchdog pursues – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/illinois-lawmakers-allowed-to-pick-which-harassment-cases-their-own/article_82da2cc0-dec0-11e7-b3f0-bf2bcb4a1c51.html
— As release of 2017 numbers approaches, will Illinois continue to lead the nation in population decline? – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: Obviously, Democrats want Republican individuals, organizations, and companies to leave Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, and my precinct, and especially those that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/as-release-of-numbers-approaches-will-illinois-continue-to-lead/article_98c3eb90-dc57-11e7-8309-bba5270b5f2f.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner releases new digital ad “Nightmare for Illinois”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/12/rauner-releases-new-digital-ad-nightmare-for-illinois/
— Dodge says Rauner is doing what he can “to put Illinois on the right track”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/12/dodge-says-rauner-is-doing-what-he-can-to-put-illinois-on-the-right-track/
— Biss crows about straw poll result
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/12/biss-crows-about-straw-poll-result/
— Rauner piles on Claypool
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/12/rauner-piles-on-claypool/

 

GOPUSA
— With three weeks left in year, Chicago exceeds 630 homicides
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=34983
— Women realizing harassment accusations could backfire in workplaces
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=34952

 

DAILY CALLER
— GOP Tax Bill Will Cause Dem States To Face Reality – Robert Donachie (DIERSEN: The GOP tax bill will make those who have itemized their deductions pay more federal income taxes. Those who have itemized their deductions are typically homeowners, those who have high medical and dental expenses, and/or those who give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/11/gop-tax-bill-will-cause-dem-states-to-face-reality/
— Sarah Sanders Gets Into It With CNN Over Fake News Question: ‘I’m Not Finished!’ – Benny Johnson (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, a) the only news that is not fake new is the news that they put out and b) GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are full of fake news because they contain links to articles written those who they do not like. My critics/opponents a) refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They do not want me to know about their events and other activities. They do not want me to promote their events and other activities. They do not want me to attend their events. They do not want me to report on their events. They paint themselves as being anti-Diersen.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/11/sarah-sanders-gets-into-it-with-cnn-over-fake-news-question-im-not-finished/

 

REUTERS
— Trump’s push to cut federal jobs has modest impact, mostly in defense – Jason Lange (DIERSEN: Democrats have always run GAO. During the 1980s and 1990s, Republican push to cut GAO jobs had a tremendously negative impact on GAO employees like me who were Republican, White, male, older, and non-veteran. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980, I was already “old,” I was 31 years old.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-federal-employment/trumps-push-to-cut-federal-jobs-has-modest-impact-mostly-in-defense-idUSKBN1E61DK

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Escalates His Criticism of the News Media, Fueling National Debate – Peter Baker and Sydney Ember (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who since 2000 have demonstrated the most hatred against me because of what I do for you as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor. They blame me for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the losses that Republican candidates have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/us/politics/trump-news-media-new-york-times.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Trump has escalated his fiery attacks on the news media, seizing on a recent string of mistaken reports to bolster his case that he is being persecuted by a left-leaning establishment out to bring him down and fueling a national debate over truth, accountability and a free press. In a series of broadsides reflecting his own profound grievances while also resonating with his populist conservative base, Mr. Trump castigated ABC News for a “horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report,” declared that CNN’s slogan should be “THE LEAST TRUSTED NAME IN NEWS” and insisted that a Washington Post reporter “should be fired.” While every president has groused about his coverage, Mr. Trump has proved to be the most vocal and visceral news media critic in the Oval Office in at least a generation. In recent days, news outlets have provided him ammunition with reporting errors. But the barrage has deepened concern among media executives about what they see as a concerted campaign to discredit independent journalism. The tension erupted Monday in the White House briefing room when Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the president’s press secretary, engaged in a testy exchange with reporters. She said bias in news reports has gotten “out of control” and “should be taken seriously,” dismissing journalists who attributed recent errors to honest mistakes that were corrected.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps shout that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. What did Hitler say that Jews in Germany were during the 1930s and 1940s?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/opinion/white-supremacy-caucus.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE IN THE DAILY HERALD: #MeToo spotlight increasingly pointed at past Trump conduct – Jonathan Lemire
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/metoo-spotlight-increasingly-pointed-at-past-trump-conduct/2017/12/11/edb625de-ded5-11e7-b2e9-8c636f076c76_story.html

 

USA TODAY
— America’s growing income inequality The chairman of the world’s biggest hedge fund is worried about the growing wealth gap in America. – John Maxfield (DIERSEN: What would your superiors say that they did to fight income inequality? My Democrat GAO superiors would stress that they 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. My Democrat IRS superiors would stress that they did not promote me beyond GS-12, that they disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and that they disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors would stress that they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. My aforesaid Democrat superiors would stress that the aforesaid adverse actions that they took against me directly benefited their employees who were poor, and especially their poor employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/12/a-foolish-take-americas-growing-income-inequality/108303078/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— White House Opposes Push by Trump Accusers for Sexual-Misconduct Probe President faced more than a dozen allegations of sexual-misconduct during campaign, which he has denied – Rebecca Ballhaus
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-accusers-ask-congress-to-probe-sexual-misconduct-allegations-1513016298
— How the Richest Got That Way – Gregory Clark (DIERSEN: Where did your wealth come from? My wealth came from a) money that I earned by doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964; washing dishes 1964-1966; cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966; delivering mail 1966-1969; working on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumping gasoline 1971-1972; collecting delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and auditing federal agencies 1980-1997 and b) my Civil Service Retirement System pension since 1997 and Social Security since 2010.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-how-the-richest-got-that-way-1513036026

 

ZERO HEDGE
— “I Feel Tremendous Guilt”: Former Facebook Exec Says Company Is “Ripping Apart The Social Fabric Of Society” – Tyler Durden
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-12-11/i-feel-tremendous-guilt-former-facebook-exec-says-company-ripping-apart-social-fabri

December 11 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Governor Rauner calls for Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios to resign – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-calls-for-cook-county-assessor-to-resign/2768602/

 

NBC5
— Rauner Calls on Berrios to Resign as Cook County Assessor
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/rauner-joe-berrios-resign-cook-county-assessor-463384673.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Congressional hopeful Ramirez-Rosa blasts ‘corporate Democrats’ – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-ramirez-rosa-congress-20171211-story.html
— Why 50-year-olds should be eligible for Medicare – Faye Flam
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-medicare-1211-story.html
— Cake case is about gay intolerance — but isn’t the same as racial intolerance – Dahleen Glanton (DIERSEN: Under the anti-Trumps, ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries do not tolerate 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.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-gay-wedding-cake-dahleen-glanton-20171208-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial unethically made to look like a news article, Associated Press uses Alabama Senator Richard Shelby to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Moore.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-roy-moore-alabama-election-20171210-story.html
— ‘Evil’ tax cuts? Nope, it’s blue-state panic – Heather Wilhelm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-wilhelm-1211-story.html
— 401(k) on cusp of 40 – Sandra Block
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20171211/281861528846469

 

DAILY HERALD
— How an eleventh-hour border shift kept the suburbs in Illinois – Mick Zawislak (DIERSEN: All my ancestors immigrated to northeast Illinois from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s. They would have immigrated to Wisconsin if Illinois had been a slave state.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171210/how-an-eleventh-hour-border-shift-kept-the-suburbs-in-illinois-
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pope’s move provided the groundwork for Chicago to become Illinois’ economic juggernaut and literally turned state politics upside-down as the area grew. But it also had the national implication of ensuring Illinois would be a free state at a time of percolating political unrest over slavery.)
— Price hikes push health insurance shoppers into hard choices – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171210/news/312109954/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial unethically made to look like a news article, Associated Press uses Alabama Senator Richard Shelby to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Moore.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171211/news/312119936/

— DuPage center becoming driving force behind Mexican cultural programs – Robert Sanchez (DIERSEN: Do you fight against assimilation? Those who fight against assimilation have always fought against me.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171211/dupage-center-becoming-driving-force-behind-mexican-cultural-programs

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Where harassment hits hardest – CLAIRE BUSHEY
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171208/ISSUE01/171209878

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Durbin urges ACA signup as deadline nears – Jason Nevel (DIERSEN: How much do you pay for health, dental, and vision insurance? My critics/opponents stress a) that my wife and I pay only $5,763/year for $23,051/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance and b) that the federal government pays $17,288/year because I am a federal retiree. 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.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171210/durbin-urges-aca-signup-as-deadline-nears

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers push pot. If you push pot, you push destruction.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171210/word-on-street-state-sen-jason-barickman-pragmatic-on-recreational-pot

 

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Pritzker brings pro-union message to Galesburg – Talbot Fisher (DIERSEN: What is your attitude toward unions and past, present, and future union members? I was a union member for almost 12 years 1966-1969 and 1971-1980. GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1997, I might still be a GAO employee.)
http://www.galesburg.com/news/20171210/pritzker-brings-pro-union-message-to-galesburg

 

BELOIT DAILY NEWS
— WILL MISCONDUCT SCANDALS MAKE MEN WARY OF WOMEN AT WORK? – AP
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/article/20171211/AP/312119990

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Senators call for Trump’s resignation over sexual assault allegations Booker, Merkley cite Franken’s resignation – AILEEN GRAEF
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/senators-call-for-trumps-resignation-over-sexual-assault-allegations/878988317

 

POLITIFACT ILLINOIS
— No, JB Pritzker did not release more tax information than Bruce Rauner – Matt Dietrich
http://www.politifact.com/illinois/statements/2017/dec/11/jb-pritzker/no-jb-pritzker-did-not-release-more-tax-informatio/

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Welcome to Murashko Memo Monday. – Natasha Korecki
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2017/12/11/murashko-memo-reveals-questionable-timeline-first-look-report-warns-rauners-mco-plan-could-destabilize-medicaid-229799
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Capitol Fax’s Friday release had Rauner’s primary opponent state Rep. Jeanne Ives applying pressure: “I am calling on Governor Rauner to answer a simple question: Was Dennis Murashko fired because he told Bruce Rauner that the Governor couldn’t use public resources for political work?”)

 

WIRE POINTS
— Mandatory ‘Implicit Bias’ Training For Illinois Teachers Quietly Became Illinois Law – Mark Glennon (DIERSEN: Of course, this training will make students more anti-Trump, more anti-Protestant, more anti-conservative, more anti-patriotic, more anti-Republican, more anti-American, more anti-White, more anti-male, more anti-older people, more anti-rich people, more anti-gun owners, more anti-German Americans, and/or more anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.wirepoints.com/mandatory-implicit-bias-training-for-illinois-teachers-quietly-became-illinois-law-wirepoints-original/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But the obvious question is whether this will become another self-defeating chapter of identity politics — champions of “equity” inflaming the racial divisions they claim to oppose. Specifically, will the training be done by the likes of the National Seed Project, PEG (the Pacific Education Group) and their supporters? They’re already training teachers in many Illinois schools. For some background on the divisiveness and catastrophic failure they can bring, see the City Journal article on their work in St. Paul. Some of the controversy they brought to one Illinois district is discussed in an Evanston Roundtable article. Another article discusses use of federal Title 1 money, which is for helping students in poor districts, to send four school board members to a PEG conference in Baltimore “to engage in deepened conversations about the systematic racism and its impact on opportunity and achievement for all students. Becoming conscious of inadvertent bias may seem to have obvious value, but you need to ask further whether it results in discriminatory behavior. That is, do most of us overcome any implicit bias we have by conscious, egalitarian efforts? The Chronicle of Higher Education discussed that question earlier this year:)

 

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Poor outcomes Spreading white poverty and failing schools – James Krohe Jr.
http://illinoistimes.com/article-19432-poor-outcomes.html

 

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
— Fake news: a symptom of the post-truth era – Elizabeth Lynch and Mitch Combs (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, the only news that is not fake is news that they put out. They want to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and stop everyone from reading those emails. But failing that, they “punish” me a) for my not getting their permission before including links to articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) for my not getting their permission before I include my comments in the emails. To “punish” me, they keep diersen@aol.com off their press advisory and press release lists. They do not want me to a) know about their events or other activities, b) promote their events or other activities, c) attend their events, or d) report on their events or other activities. These “punishers” glorify and praise, pander to, give news scoops to, and/or give money to Rich Miller and the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois.)
https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2017/12/fake-news-symptom-post-truth-era/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER: IVES DRUMBEAT BEGINS TO RESOUND AMONG IL CONSERVATIVES (DIERSEN: The Ives campaign hosted an outstanding kickoff party at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall Sunday afternoon, December 10, 2017. Tom Morrison and Chris Cleveland spoke very highly of her. The 250+ attendees included Denise Cattoni, Lori Carlson, Sal Falbo, Richard Furstenau, Amy Grant, Heidi Holan, Babette Holder, Bob Krzyzewski, Chris Lauzen, Chris LeVan, Paula McGowen, Gary Muehlfelt, Thommen Poozhikunnel, Jan Shaw, and Herb Wehling.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/ives-drumbeat-begins-to-resound-among-il-conservatives.html
— ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO BE TRAINED IN DETECTING RACIAL BIAS (DIERSEN: Of course, this training will make students more anti-Trump, more anti-Protestant, more anti-conservative, more anti-patriotic, more anti-Republican, more anti-American, more anti-White, more anti-male, more anti-older people, more anti-rich people, more anti-gun owners, more anti-German Americans, and/or more anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/illinois-public-school-personnel-to-be-trained-in-detecting-racial-bias.html
— LOYOLA CHICAGO STUDENTS QUESTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S EMPHASIS ON CHRISTMAS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/loyola-chicago-students-question-catholic-schools-emphasis-on-christmas.html
— CONGRESS CONSIDERS “CONSCIENCE PROTECTION ACT” WITH ILLINOIS NURSE’S SUPPORT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/right-of-conscience-.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Berrios campaign responds by calling on Rauner to resign***Rauner, Democrats lash out at Berrios
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/11/rauner-democrats-lash-out-at-berrios/
— Rauner hammered over “I am not in charge” claim
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/11/rauner-hammered-over-i-am-not-in-charge-claim/
— Pritzker tax claim rated “False”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/11/pritzker-tax-claim-rated-false/

 

GOPUSA
— The NFL loves leftist causes a lot more than it loves its fans (DIERSEN: Obviously, the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) loves its major donors a lot more than it loves Illinois Republicans. Ever-increasingly, those major donors, and therefore the IRP, make it clear that they want the IRP to dump those in Illinois who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, and many other planks in the Republican Party platform and the IRP platform.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=34904
— Will Alabama voters nullify the biased media?
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=34907

 

BREITBART
— Durbin Drops Amnesty-or-Shutdown Threat, Pushes Amnesty-WIth-Cameras Plan – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/10/durbin-pushes-amnesty-with-cameras-plan-gang-of-eight-group/

 

BLAZE
— NFL stadium tickets plummet to unimaginable prices — see just how bad the protest damage is – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/10/nfl-stadium-tickets-plummet-to-unimaginable-levels-see-just-how-bad-the-protest-damage-is
— College Republicans kicked out of on-campus coffee shop for wearing ‘MAGA’ hats – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/10/video-college-republicans-kicked-out-of-on-campus-coffee-shop-for-wearing-maga-hats

 

DAILY CALLER
— On Friday, Republican Iowa Rep. Steve King, Congress’ foremost immigration hawk, tweeted out, “Diversity is not our strength. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, ‘Mixing cultures will not lead to a higher quality of life but a lower one.’” – SCOTT GREER (DIERSEN: To promote diversity is 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 Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/10/diversity-must-not-be-questioned/

 

POLITICUS USA
— Kaepernick’s Protest for….Workplace Democracy? – Tim Libretti (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. Were it not for federal Civil Service protections, those Democrats would not hire, retain, or promote any Republicans. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal Civil Service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986. The Democrats who run the Post Office, IRS, and GAO hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the jobs.)
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/10/kaepernicks-protest-for-workplace-democracy.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Leave the Johnson Amendment Alone – Ellen P. Aprill (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, “religious leaders” act as operatives or as dupes for the Democrat Party, the Libertarian Party, and/or the Green Party. Ever-increasingly, they promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/10/opinion/johnson-amendment-campaigns.html
— Trump Wants Washington Post Reporter Fired Over Misleading Tweet – Zach Johnk (DIERSEN: Who wants you to be fired? The following want me to be fired as a GOPUSA Illinois Editor and as a Republican Precinct Committeeman and they succeeded in getting me fired as a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.: those who 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/10/us/politics/trump-dave-weigel.html
— Net Neutrality’s Holes in Europe May Offer Peek at Future in U.S. – Liz Alderman and Amie Tsang
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/10/business/net-neutrality-europe-fcc.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— ‘Very, very scary’: 8.8 million Americans face big tax hike if Republicans scrap the medical deduction – Heather Long (DIERSEN: What were your medical and dental expenses last year? If the medical and dental deduction is not kept, a) my 87-year-old aunt who has Alzheimer’s will have to pay a lot more federal income tax; her medical and dental expenses last year were $78,213 and b) the Diersens will have to pay a lot more federal income tax; our medical and dental expenses last year were $21,433.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/10/very-very-scary-8-8-million-americans-face-big-tax-hike-if-republicans-scrap-the-medical-deduction/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Even for the Very Rich, More Money Brings Happiness But a study also shows that happiness depends on where the wealth comes from. Those who earned their wealth reported significantly greater happiness than those who primarily inherited or married into it, according to the authors’ study. – Grant E. Donnelly and Michael Norton (DIERSEN: Where did your wealth come from? My wealth came a) from money that I earned when I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997; b) my Civil Service Retirement System pension since 1997, and c) Social Security since 2010. My wife’s wealth comes from money that she has earned working since 1966.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-for-the-very-rich-more-money-brings-happiness-1512662638
— More Local Programs Help Students Pay for College The ‘free-college’ idea may be on the back burner on the national level, but states and cities are boosting efforts – Jillian Berman (DIERSEN: Where did the money come from to pay for your undergraduate expenses? For me, to pay for my expenses at UIC 1966-1968 and at NIU 1969-1970, it was money that earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964; washing dishes 1964-1966; cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966; delivering mail 1966-1969; and working on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970. Money that I earned doing the aforesaid jobs also enabled me to buy a 1958 Chevy BelAir in 1964, a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966, a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1997, and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-local-programs-help-students-pay-for-college-1512961680
— Why Most New Retirees Need Time to Grieve Even people who are prepared for life after work inevitably suffer withdrawal pains – Glenn Ruffenach (DIERSEN: I have suffered withdrawal pains since 1997, and I will continue to suffer withdrawal pains the rest of my life. When my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old, a) I had just completed the requirements for a job-related master’s degree, b) I had worked for GAO for almost 18 years, c) I had earned job-related professional certifications in 1997, 1996, 1994, 1990, 1981, and 1979; d) I had earned a job-related professional license in 1981; e) I had earned job-related master’s degrees in 1980 and 1976; f) I had worked for an agency that GAO audits for almost 9 years; and g) I had earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-most-new-retirees-need-time-to-grieve-1512748465
— The Secret to Getting Workers to Save More for Retirement   If we make it easy for people to do the right thing, more of them will reach their goals. The retirement-saving autopilots developed by Shlomo Benartzi and Richard Thaler were designed to help individuals overcome a lack of willpower and inertia when it comes to saving. – Shlomo Benartzi and Richard H. Thaler (DIERSEN: My wife and I have saved a lot of money for our retirement. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that we were able to do that a) because I was born with silver spoon in our mouth and I have always been privileged, b) because I avoided the draft, c) because the federal government grossly overpaid me, d) because I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since 1978, e) because my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, f) because my Civil Service Retirement System pension and federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies are much too generous, and g) because I do not give lots of money to a church life they do.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-to-getting-workers-to-save-more-for-retirement-1512961920
— The First Women in Tech Didn’t Leave—Men Pushed Them Out In computing’s early years, when it was considered women’s work, all six programmers of America’s first digital computer, Eniac, were women – Christopher Mims (DIERSEN: Women who worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, for IRS 1971-1980, and for GAO 1980-1997 were not pushed out. To meet Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, they were given preferential treatment.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-first-women-in-tech-didnt-leavemen-pushed-them-out-1512907200

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Poll: GOP tax bill favors wealthy Most say overhaul won’t help them or economy – Susan Page (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who itemize their deductions are demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being wealthy tax dodgers and even worse things. Those who itemize their deductions pay lots of a) mortgage interest, b) real estate taxes, c) state income taxes, d) medical and dental expenses, e) 501(c)(3) contributions, and/or f) tuition and books for job-related graduate courses.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/10/poll-most-americans-doubt-gop-bill-cut-their-taxes-boost-economy/938355001/
— Tax cuts the GOP will regret – Editorial
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/10/tax-cuts-gop-regret-editorials-debates/920808001/
— GOP tax bill is good for middle-class Americans – F.H. Buckley
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/10/gop-tax-bill-good-middle-class-editorials-debates/108491346/
— Who are the 3 women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct in Megyn Kelly interview? – Mary Bowerman (DIERSEN: I predict that soon, if not already, Kelly’s top priority will be get Trump to resign.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/11/who-3-women-who-accused-trump-sexual-misconduct-megyn-kelly-interview/940125001/

 

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says: “ROY MOORE ELECTION VICTORY COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR TRUMP, REPUBLICANS IN 2018.”
http://www.newsweek.com/if-roy-moore-wins-alabama-senate-election-spell-disaster-republican-trump-743235

 

BLOOMBERG
— GOP’s Taxing Question: Will Middle-Class Folks Notice Their Cut? Americans didn’t notice similar measure in 2009, poll showed Republicans seek ‘more middle-income tax relief,’ Roskam says – Sahil Kapur (DIERSEN: From what I see, the less federal income tax that you have paid because you have itemized your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay in now.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-11/gop-s-taxing-question-will-middle-class-folks-notice-their-cut

 

SOCIALIST WORKER
— Tax the rich, not the sick SocialistWorker.org rounds up reports from demonstrations that brought protesters into the streets and onto the campuses to protest the Republican tax heist. (DIERSEN: What were your medical and dental expenses last year? If the medical and dental deduction is not kept, a) my 87-year-old aunt who has Alzheimer’s will have to pay a lot more federal income tax; her medical and dental expenses last year were $78,213 and b) the Diersens will have to pay a lot more federal income tax; our medical and dental expenses last year were $21,433.)
https://socialistworker.org/2017/12/11/tax-the-rich-not-the-sick

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— One-in-Three Republicans Say GOP Should Block Roy Moore If Elected (DIERSEN: What percent of those who say that they are Republicans are really Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, etc.?)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2017/one_in_three_republicans_say_gop_should_block_roy_moore_if_elected
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Voters Less Concerned That Providing Citizenship Path Will Lead to More Illegal Immigration.”
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/immigration_update_dec11

December 10 Evening Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— The Ives campaign hosted an outstanding kickoff party at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall Sunday afternoon, December 10, 2017. Tom Morrison and Chris Cleveland spoke very highly of her. The 250+ attendees included Denise Cattoni, Lori Carlson, Sal Falbo, Richard Furstenau, Amy Grant, Heidi Holan, Babette Holder, Bob Krzyzewski, Chris Lauzen, Chris LeVan, Paula McGowen, Gary Muehlfelt, Thommen Poozhikunnel, Jan Shaw, and Herb Wehling. – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Haley: Trump’s accusers of sex misconduct should be heard – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, that more that people accept accusations against you as being true: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/haley-trumps-accusers-of-sex-misconduct-should-be-heard/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Roy Moore calls sexual-assault allegations ‘ritual defamation’ – David Weigel (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, that more that people accept accusations against you as being true: 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/nationworld/politics/ct-roy-moore-sex-assault-allegations-20171210-story.html
— Despite recent wins, Democrats remain divided about what they stand for – Ed O’Keefe and David Weigel (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, 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.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-democrats-divided-20171210-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Naperville walk values diversity, community, acceptance (DIERSEN: As more and more and more people in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in my precinct are the following, I feel less and less and less accepted: 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.dailyherald.com/news/20171210/naperville-walk-values-diversity-community-acceptance

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois’ legislative conflicts law could be better, official says – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171210/illinois-legislative-conflicts-law-could-be-better-official-says

 

GATEWAY PUNDIT
— New Poll Finds 92% of Democrats Uninformed, Ignorant and Easily Played – Jim Hoft (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want everyone to be “uninformed, ignorant, and easily played.”)
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/12/new-poll-finds-92-democrats-uninformed-ignorant-easily-played/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Media Rattled After Trump Calls Out Washington Post Reporter On Twitter – Peter Hasson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/09/media-rattled-after-trump-calls-out-washington-post-reporter-on-twitter/

 

BREITBART
— Durbin: Franken Leaving Should ‘Establish a National Standard’ For Roy Moore – PAM KEY
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2017/12/10/dem-sen-durbin-franken-leaving-establish-national-standard-roy-moore/

 

THE HILL
— GAO factoids purporting retirement crisis are highly misleading – ANDREW G. BIGGS
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/363998-gao-factoids-purporting-retirement-crisis-highly-misleading

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— An Abomination. A Monster. That’s Me? – Frank Bruni (DIERSEN: The more of the following that you are, the more that anti-Trumps demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/opinion/sunday/villifying-white-men.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It used to be that when someone called me an abomination, I was in the presence of a homophobe. But a recent opinion column in Texas State University’s main newspaper damned me for a different reason. I’m abominable because I’m white. The column wasn’t aimed at me personally but at my kind, and the Hispanic student who wrote it began by saying that “of all the white people” he had ever encountered, there were a dozen or so who rose to the level of “decent.” The allowance that 12 of us passed muster was perhaps the most generous passage in a screed that had an unambiguous message for white people, be they “good-hearted liberals” or “right-wing extremists.” “I hate you,” he wrote, “because you shouldn’t exist. You are both the dominant apparatus on the planet and the void in which all other cultures, upon meeting you, die.” The headline: “Your DNA Is an Abomination.”)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— As tax plan gained steam, GOP lost focus on the middle class – Damian Paletta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/as-tax-plan-gained-steam-gop-lost-focus-on-the-middle-class/2017/12/09/27ed2d76-db69-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Haunted by Hastert’s ghost: A fallen speaker’s lessons for the GOP – Editorial (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have ever done anything that subjects you to blackmail, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/haunted-hastert-ghost-fallen-speaker-lessons-article-1.3686659

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate LGBT issues – Matt Simonette
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Democratic-gubernatorial-candidates-debate-LGBT-issues/61321.html

December 10 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democratic candidates for governor gather for women’s forum – Rachel Hinton (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be hosting candidate forums for a) Rauner and Ives, b) Sanguinetti and Morthland, c) Harold and Grasso, d) Diganvker and Jhingan, e) Stella and Vlakancic, f) Minor, Grant, Byrne, and Augustynowicz, g) Kinzler and Orozco, h) Mazzochi and Arendt, i) Zito and Khouri, j) Mendrick and Bibbiano, k) Tornatore, DeMichele, Fichtner, and Gavanes, l) Hart, Abbott, Tully, and Broline, m) McGowen, Almiron, Eckhoff, Zaruba, Tatro, and Chinchilla, n) Wiley, Zay, and McQuade, o) Russo and MacKay, p) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, q) etc.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/democratic-candidates-for-governor-gather-for-womens-forum/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: There’s no escaping politics – Ted Slowik (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes will tell you that you can escape politics and live happily ever after if you do not read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. What do you say to those who a) crow that they do not read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) discourage everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-everything-political-st-1210-20171208-story.html
— Economy is creating millionaires at an astonishing pace. But what’s it doing for everyone else? – Christopher Ingraham (DIERSEN: How much money have you saved for your retirement? If you have not saved at least $1 million dollars, or are on track to have at least $1 million saved by the time you retire, you are in big financial trouble.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-economy-millioniares-20171208-story.html
— ‘Crisis mode’: As boomers age, a shortage of caregivers – Robert Channick (DIERSEN: How much have you saved for your retirement? My 87-year-old aunt is paying $230 a day, or $1,610 a week, or $6,900 a month, or $83,950 a year, or $839,500 a decade out of her life savings to live in an assisted living facility.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-caregivers-demand-aging-20171116-story.html
— GOP tax plan diverges wildly from Trump’s promises to the middle class – Damian Paletta (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who wants to make those who itemize their deductions to pay more federal income tax? ANSWER: Those who rent rather than own. Those who pay little or no state income tax. Those who do not have major medical and/or dental expenses. Those who do not pay for job-related graduate courses. Those who give little or nothing to 501(c)(3) organizations. Overwhelmingly, the aforesaid are Democrats and/or people with major financial problems who will never vote for a Republican.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-plan-trump-middle-class-20171209-story.html
— ‘SNL’ cold open: Kids wonder if Al Franken, Roy Moore and Trump are on Santa’s naughty list – Amy B Wang
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-snl-james-franco-20171210-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— There’s a lot that’s right about Illinois – Editorial (DIERSEN: Members of Group B can celebrate that members of Group A have not yet succeeded in driving them out of Illinois. 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.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171209/editorial-theres-a-lot-thats-right-about-illinois
— NOVEMBER 17, 2017 FLASHBACK: Haymarket could open residential drug treatment center in Wheaton – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171103/haymarket-could-open-residential-drug-treatment-center-in-wheaton

 

ABC7
— Chicago police finalizing expansion of body camera program to every patrol officer (DIERSEN: As things get worse, soon, if not already, members of Group B should wear body cameras to better document threats of violence and/or violence against them by members of Group A. 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://abc7chicago.com/cpd-finalizing-expansion-of-body-camera-program-to-every-patrol-officer/2764478/

 

NBC5
— ‘Cards Against Humanity’ Cuts Checks as Part of Latest Promotion – James Neveau (DIERSEN: The more of the following that you are, the more that Cards Against Humanity wants to get rid of you: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cards-against-humanity-redistributes-money-with-latest-promotion-463103443.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Save the date for governor’s race primary debates – Angie Muhs (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be hosting debates between a) Rauner and Ives, b) Sanguinetti and Morthland, c) Harold and Grasso, d) Diganvker and Jhingan, e) Stella and Vlakancic, f) Minor, Grant, Byrne, and Augustynowicz, g) Kinzler and Orozco, h) Mazzochi and Arendt, i) Zito and Khouri, j) Mendrick and Bibbiano, k) Tornatore, DeMichele, Fichtner, and Gavanes, l) Hart, Abbott, Tully, and Broline, m) McGowen, Almiron, Eckhoff, Zaruba, Tatro, and Chinchilla, n) Wiley, Zay, and McQuade, o) Russo and MacKay, p) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, q) etc.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171209/angie-muhs-save-date-for-governors-race-primary-debates
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Our three organizations also have invited the two Republican candidates — incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner and state Rep. Jeanne Ives — to debate the night before, on Feb. 20, also at UIS. Ives has accepted our invitation, and we certainly hope that the governor will do the same.)
— Governor, focus on what you can do – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171209/our-view-governor-focus-on-what-you-can-do
— Houlihan tells Biss to not give GOP ammunition – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171209/bernard-schoenburg-houlihan-tells-biss-to-not-give-gop-ammunition

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Division of power No single person has been, is now or ever will be in charge of the state of Illinois, and it’s a darn good thing. – Editorial (DIERSEN: One could argue that Rauner is in charge of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), and therefore, he is in charge of a) the IRP National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, b) the IRP officers and staff, c) the IRP State Central Committee members, d) the IRP County Chairman’s Association, e) the IRP county party officers, f) the IRP township/ward party officers, and g) your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain. How strongly do the aforesaid talk and act like Rauner is in charge of them, that is, that Rauner tells them what to think, do, say, etc.?)
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-10/division-power.html
— Jim Durkin hires top pro Mike Zolnierowicz to fend off opponent Mickey Straub- RICH MILLER
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2017-12-10/capitol-fax-gops-durkin-hires-top-pro-fend-opponent.html

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Time for candidates, voters to refocus the debate – Editorial (DIERSEN: QUESTIONS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES: Do you support the following planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and the Republican Party platform, and if so, what would you do if elected to defend and advance those planks: traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving)? Do you oppose promotion of the following, and if so, what would you do to stop promotion of the following: LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot and other vices, abolition of the Second Amendment, race and gender based preference giving, age discrimination, patronage, and political affiliation discrimination?)
http://qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-time-for-candidates-voters-to-refocus-the-debate/article_bf4aaf33-9a75-5de1-b56a-4f9bb7162b47.html

 

RIVER CITIES’ READER
— Durkin Stepping Up His Primary Race – Rich Miller
https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/durkin-stepping-up-primary-race

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— FBI Increasingly Politicized Under Comey and Mueller – Bill Gertz (DIERSEN: The federal government has always been politicized and it getting worse. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, it hired, retained, and promoted fewer and fewer and fewer Republicans. Ever-increasingly, I was one of an extremely few Republicans, if not the only Republican, in the office that I worked in and the group that I was assigned to.)
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/fbi-increasingly-politicized-comey-mueller/
— Acosta: ‘When Journalists Are Attacked, Journalists Have to Resist’ – Charles Russell (DIERSEN: Who attacks you and why? I should write a book about activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who state that they are conservative and/or Republican and who attack me. If you attack me, you shout that you are not conservative or Republican.)
http://freebeacon.com/politics/acosta-journalists-attacked-journalists-resist/

 

THE HILL
— Democratic Rep. Don Beyer (Va.): Trump’s reported habits would ‘get most Americans fired from their jobs’ – JOSH DELK (DIERSEN: What do you do with your time? I spend 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out.)
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/364102-democrat-reported-trump-habits-would-get-most-americans-fired-from
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “According to his own aides Trump watches 4-8 hours of TV every day, regularly fails to show up for work by 9-930 even after urging from both of his Chiefs of Staff, and spends many days golfing,” Beyer tweeted, citing a new report from The New York Times. . .Trump regularly watches cable news and often references things being discussed on the programs when hitting back at political opponents on Twitter. Trump also regularly records his favorite cable news shows, including Fox News’s “Fox & Friends” on a recording device installed for him in the White House, the Times reported. Trump has previously denied reports of his TV habits, saying that he is often too busy “reading documents.” White House chief of staff John Kelly has also worked to strengthen Trump’s work habits, reducing the president’s free time and pushing Trump to arrive at work earlier, by 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., an effort previously undertaken by former chief of staff Reince Priebus, according to the Times. Beyer has ripped Trump in the past for golfing at one of his resorts during the Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as many U.S. citizens faced dire conditions including no electricity or clean water.)

 

REUTERS
— Trump attends civil rights museum opening; black leaders stay away – Jeff Mason (DIERSEN: It is always very interesting a) who organizes events, b) who attends those events, and c) how many attend those events. What do you say to “conservative” and “Republican” event organizers a) who do not want me to know about their events, b) who not want me to promote their events, c) who do not want me to attend their events, d) who bar me or evict me from their events, and e) who do not want me to report on their events? Most commonly, 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.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mississippi/trump-attends-civil-rights-museum-opening-black-leaders-stay-away-idUSKBN1E30P1

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Solid Sources to Help Sort Fact From Fiction – Justin Wolfers (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn any source that they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/business/economic-facts-political-fictions.html
— Trump, Rejecting Calls to Stay Away, Speaks at Civil Rights Museum – Michael D. Shear and Ellen Ann Fentress
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/us/politics/trump-mississippi-civil-rights-museum.html

 

BLOOMBERG
— How the Kremlin Tried to Pose as American News Sites on Twitter  Twitter has suspended dozens of accounts masquerading as U.S. news sources that had more than 500,000 followers. – Selina Wang (DIERSEN: I should write a book about Libertarian news websites that unethically pose/masquerade as being conservative and/or Republican. I should write a book about Democrat news websites that unethically pose/masquerade as being non-partisan.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/how-the-kremlin-tried-to-pose-as-american-news-sites-on-twitter

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “He does not deserve to be in Jackson.” Who does not want you to know about, to promote, to attend, and/or to report on their events? For me, it is those who 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 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.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/09/he-does-not-deserve-jackson-trumps-visit-civil-rights-museum-met-protests/937988001/
— 5 ways to cut the cost of your commute – William Cummings (DIERSEN: What did you do to cut the cost of your commute? When I got promoted to a job in the Loop in 1974, I bought a studio condo and then a one bedroom condo in 1976 in the Outer Drive East Building and walked to work and to job-related graduate business courses at Loyola 1974-1976 and job-related graduate accounting courses at DePaul 1976-1978. When my wife and I got married in 1978, we bought a home in walking distance of the College Avenue train station in Wheaton and we had a home build in walking distance of the Wheaton train station in 1984.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2017/12/04/5-ways-cut-cost-your-commute-transportation/556620001/

 

ARIZONA CENTRAL
— With reform pending in Congress, now is the time to look at your taxes – Russ Wiles (DIERSEN: According to this article, “Only about 30 percent of individual taxpayers itemize deductions.” My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you itemize your deductions, you are a tax dodger and you are undeservedly filthy rich. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I since 1978. We would NOT have itemized our deductions a) if we had rented instead of owned, b) if I had not taken job-related graduate courses, c) if we had given less money to 501(c)(3) organizations, and d) if we had not had major medical and dental expenses.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2017/12/10/tax-reform-pending-congress-time-look-your-taxes/921033001/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Taxpayers who wait until the ink is dry on the sweeping Republican tax-reform plan could leave some money on the table. While the vast majority of changes won’t take effect until January — assuming the legislation is signed into law — several tax-shaving actions still can be taken before then. The waning weeks of 2017 thus are shaping up as particularly important for year-end planning, as many people may not be able to take advantage of several key deductions come Jan. 1. Only about 30 percent of individual taxpayers itemize deductions, and that could drop to around 10 percent with the proposed changes. Even for people who continue to itemize, plenty of familiar deductions might no longer be available. As a rule, taxpayers often find it worthwhile to defer income into the next year, if they can, and to take as many deductions and credits as possible in the current year. “With tax reform, that strategy makes even more sense,” said Mark Luscombe, principal federal tax analyst at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. Most people can’t do much to delay salary income. But for those who can ask their employer to defer year-end bonuses or delay their own invoices for a personal business, that income likely will be taxed at somewhat reduced rates next year. “Most people in most brackets will get at least some benefits (from the proposed lower rates),” said Luscombe, referring to House and Senate bills that had been passed as of early December. Try moving deductions into 2017 On the deduction side, there are several year-end planning opportunities. People who itemize might want to focus on deductions that, as of early December, were slated to get cut entirely or scaled back. These include the proposed elimination of the federal deduction for state/local income taxes and a possible new $10,000 annual deduction cap on real estate taxes. Other itemized deductions likely will continue to be available, but only for people who itemize, such as the deduction for charity donations and that for mortgage interest, which could be scaled back a bit. Year-end planning opportunities thus might include prepaying a property-tax installment due early in 2018, making a premature estimated state-tax payment or writing an early mortgage check prior to Jan. 1. Also, the remaining weeks of 2017 could be a time to double-up on charity donations that might not deliver any tax benefits next year, depending on your circumstances. Donations can be made by credit card prior to Jan. 1 and applied for 2017, even if the bill isn’t paid for weeks or months later. For certain deductions that have thresholds to meet, it can be beneficial to bunch expenses and utilize them in alternate years. This is true of medical expenses, which are currently deductible only to the extent they exceed 10 percent of a person’s adjusted gross income. As of early December, the House bill would repeal this deduction, though the Senate version would retain it, allowing deductions above 7.5 percent of AGI temporarily before reverting to 10 percent in 2019. This creates an opportunity to utilize the medical-expense deduction, possibly by prepaying certain items during 2017, if you are near this year’s threshold. . .The Government Accountability Office, in a new report, estimates Americans pay 81.7 percent of the taxes owed on a voluntary and timely basis. The report looked at individual, corporate, estate, excise and employment taxes from 2008 to 2010. According to the report, which relies on Internal Revenue Service estimates, taxpayers collectively owed $2.5 trillion in taxes annually, of which $2.04 trillion was paid in a timely and voluntary manner. Another $52 billion was collected in late payments and enforcement actions, with the IRS estimating $406 billion never will be paid.)

December 9 Evening Edition

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— ‘I’m not in charge’: Illinois governor’s words may haunt bid – Sara Burnett
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/im-charge-illinois-governors-words-haunt-bid-51688655
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–illinois-governor-2018-rauner-20171209-story.html
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/im-not-in-charge-rauners-words-may-haunt-bid
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171209/not-in-charge-rauners-foes-pounce-on-his-remark
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171209/rauners-im-not-in-charge-may-haunt-bid
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2017/12/09/challengers-may-seek-to-use-gov-rauners-words-against-him/
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article188944374.html
http://www.startribune.com/i-m-not-in-charge-illinois-governor-s-words-may-haunt-bid/463016213/
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/business/article188944374.html
http://www.wral.com/-i-m-not-in-charge-illinois-governor-s-words-may-haunt-bid/17172612/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/im-not-in-charge-illinois-governors-words-may-haunt-bid/
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article188944374.html
http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/I-m-not-in-charge-Illinois-governor-s-words-12418368.php
http://945theanswer.com/news/politics/im-not-in-charge-illinois-governors-words-may-haunt-bid

 

NBC5
— Democratic Candidates for Illinois Governor Take Part in Women’s Forum – Carol Marin and Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-women-take-action-governor-candidates-forum-463027213.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democratic governor candidate Pritzker wins major teacher union endorsement – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-jb-pritzker-teacher-union-endorsement-20171209-story.html
— Trump visits Mississippi civil rights museum as protesters rally outside – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-mississippi-20171209-story.html
— Student Civics Club to host 6th Congressional District candidate forum – Peg Mannion
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/downers-grove/community/chi-ugc-article-student-civics-club-to-host-6th-congressional-2017-12-09-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Blue high-tax states fund red low-tax states – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171209/business/312099960/

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Rauner not a take charge kind of guy – Doug Finke
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171209/statehouse-insider-rauner-not-take-charge-kind-of-guy

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Video gaming tax not a bell-ringer – Lee Provost
http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/video-gaming-tax-not-a-bell-ringer/article_e90e339c-1e82-53e0-864d-5ddc35704188.html

 

COOK COUNTY RECORDER
— Cook Co. judge ends bid by Dotty’s, other ‘gaming cafes’ to challenge rules over video gambling take – Scott Holland
https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/511289200-cook-co-judge-ends-bid-by-dotty-s-other-gaming-cafes-to-challenge-rules-over-video-gambling-take

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— MADIGAN FIRM THE BIGGEST PLAYER IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX APPEALS – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/investigation-madigan-firm-the-biggest-player-in-commercial-property-tax-appeals/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— A Return to Virtue in the Wake of Scandal? – Eric Metaxas
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/return-virtue-wake-scandal/

 

GATEWAY PUNDIT
— Facebook Picks Sides in Alabama Senate Race=> Shuts Down Gateway Pundit and Breitbart Reports on Discredited Allred Accuser – Jim Hoft
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/12/facebook-picks-sides-alabama-senate-race-shuts-gateway-pundit-breitbart-reports-discredited-allred-accuser/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Reporter: Democrats ‘Were Peddling’ Salacious Trump Dossier Allegation To Journalists – Chuck Ross
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/09/reporter-democrats-were-peddling-salacious-trump-dossier-allegation-to-journalists/

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump, Mattis turn military loose on ISIS, leaving terror caliphate in tatters – Hollie McKay
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/12/08/trump-mattis-turn-military-loose-on-isis-leaving-terror-caliphate-in-tatters.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Trump Visits Civil Rights Museum Amid Protests (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote hatred of Whites.)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/us-trump-civil-rights-the-latest/2017/12/09/id/830825/

 

GOPUSA
— How Trump turned tide of illegal immigration in first year: Border crossing hits 45-year low
http://www.gopusa.com/how-trump-turned-tide-of-illegal-immigration-in-first-year-border-crossing-hits-45-year-low/
— Lesbian’s campaign based on anatomy
http://www.gopusa.com/lesbians-campaign-based-on-anatomy/
— Survey: Snowflakes too fragile to be labeled
http://www.gopusa.com/survey-snowflakes-too-fragile-to-be-labeled/

 

CNS NEWS
— Pelosi Says ‘God is With Us’ in Wanting Amnesty (DIERSEN: What do you say to politicians who hint/imply/argue/shout that Jesus is a liberal Democrat/Libertarian/Green who promotes dependency on government, dependency on charity, 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?)
https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/cnsnewscom-staff/pelosi-says-god-us-democrats-wanting-amnesty

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Tax Plans May Give Your Co-Worker a Better Deal Than You – Patricia Cohen
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/business/economy/tax-plans-may-give-your-co-worker-a-better-deal-than-you.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Nearly 9 in 10 black Americans think Trump respects people of color less than whites.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/12/09/nearly-9-in-10-black-americans-think-trump-respects-people-of-color-less-than-whites/

 

DES MOINES REGISTER
— Dems call on Reynolds to remove King from staff after ‘Diversity is not our strength’ tweet – Luke Nozicka
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/08/dems-ask-reynolds-remove-king-staff-diversity-not-our-strength/936999001/

 

HARRISON DAILY
— Giving veterans preference in hiring – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a veteran in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a veteran in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted veterans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a veteran in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a veteran in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job and my preferred corner office. They stress that I sought and obtained a) student draft deferments 1966-1970 and b) a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971.)
http://harrisondaily.com/opinion/editorial-giving-veterans-preference-in-hiring/article_2f3830ba-dc47-11e7-87a1-37ff376b43b1.html
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Finding work as a police officer or firefighter isn’t always easy. Openings in local departments can be scarce. Still, it’s an area where it helps to have served in the military, as many government hiring managers give preference when filling those jobs to veterans. Many do, but not all. The advantage is fading these days as more mayors and town managers look to bypass old rules for government hiring, including ones that demand preferential treatment for vets. It’s not a positive development. Not only are veterans often uniquely qualified for public safety jobs, our national government has put up hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of taxpayer dollars for their training and education. It’s a shame, and simply wasteful, not to leverage that resource. In Massachusetts, the process of filling jobs with the state and local governments have extended similar preferential treatment to those who’ve served, through the civil service system. Currently 145 of 351 cities and towns in the state subscribe to that system. The problem emerging is a trend away from civil service. Local governments are seeking and getting the state’s blessing to bypass the rules, which local officials claim constrain their hiring decisions. Diversity is among the top reasons cited by mayors and town managers seeking flexibility. Civil service rules hamstring urban departments, for instance, in efforts to land minority candidates, in part because veterans who march to the top of hiring lists aren’t always minorities. A report earlier this year by the Pew Research Center suggests the military is nearly as diverse as the rest of the country. Racial and ethnic minorities represent 40 percent of the 1.3 million members of the active-duty military — and about 44 percent of the broader population ages 18 to 44. African Americans are more represented in the military — about 17 percent of the active-duty service — than in the population as a whole. That’s not to say the applicant pool for local police and fire jobs is always diverse, but it does suggest that members of the military can give city and town halls options to diversity. What cannot be overlooked in that effort is a qualified labor pool ready to sign up for some of the most taxing, stressful jobs in government. Nor can we forget our obligation to those who have dutifully served this country.)

 

SPECTRUM NEWS
— CUOMO BLASTING SALT DEDUCTION REMOVAL – Nick Reisman
http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/politics/2017/12/09/cuomo-blasting-salt-deduction-removal

 

BLOOMBERG
— What Happens When the Government Uses Facebook as a Weapon?
It’s social media in the age of “patriotic trolling” in the Philippines, where the government is waging a campaign to destroy a critic—with a little help from Facebook itself. – Lauren Etter (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, beyond tragically, activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. a) talk and act like they believe that Facebook is the Internet and b) abandon websites and abandon emails. Those who run Facebook do not want Republican candidates to win elections.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodrigo-duterte-turned-facebook-into-a-weapon-with-a-little-help-from-facebook

 

YAHOO FINANCE
— The Average 55-Plus Worker Doesn’t Have Enough Retirement Savings to Live On — Do You? – Wendy Connick
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/average-55-plus-worker-doesn-121900603.html

 

CHEAT SHEET
— Trump Tax Plan: 8 New Changes That Almost Everyone Hates – Barri Segal
https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/trump-tax-plan-new-changes-that-almost-everyone-hates.html/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: 2. Mortgage interest rate deduction — reduced . . . 3. Itemized deductions — gone The new tax plan limits itemized deductions, which might increase your federal taxes, according to Business Insider. Because approximately 70% of U.S. filers claim the deduction, this could affect a lot of people. You might think those who itemize typically make a lot of money, but 86.8% of taxpayers who itemize have adjusted gross incomes below $200,000.)

December 9 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Angry worshipers lash out against Trump across Muslim world – AP (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want America to dump Israel and to dump Jewish people.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-trump-jerusalem-fallout-20171208-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Large crowds of worshippers across the Muslim world staged anti-U.S. marches Friday, some stomping on posters of Donald Trump or burning American flags in the largest outpouring of anger yet at the U.S. president’s recognition of bitterly contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In the holy city itself, prayers at Islam’s third-holiest site dispersed largely without incident, but Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops in several dozen West Bank hotspots and on the border with the Gaza Strip.)
— How the GOP tax cut could take money away from most Americans – Heather Long
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-cut-analysis-20171208-story.html
— Wages remain mostly stagnant despite unemployment hitting new lows – Danielle Paquette
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-wages-stagnant-low-unemployment-20171208-story.html
— Supreme Court will review case alleging partisan gerrymanding from Maryland – Robert Barnes
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-supreme-court-gerrymanding-case-20171208-story.html
— DISGUSTING: Veterinarians seek permission to research pot meds for pets – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–marijuana-pet-medicine-20171207-story.html
— Rep. John Lewis: Trump is an ‘insult’ to civil rights event – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps encourage minorities to hate Whites.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us–trump-mississippi-20171207-story.html
— Analysts miffed by lack of pay hikes for workers as unemployment rate continues to dip – Danielle Paquette (DIERSEN: What pay hikes have you gotten? Since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that my pay increased every year that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 because of step increases, COLAs, and/or promotions except 1980 when I took an $18,847 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-wages-stagnant-low-unemployment-20171208-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump says country ‘cannot afford’ Roy Moore loss in Alabama – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-says-country-cannot-afford-roy-moore-loss-in-alabama/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kane County Republicans pick Ken Shepro as new leader – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171207/kane-county-republicans-pick-ken-shepro-as-new-leader

 

ABC7
— Call to clean up ‘hellish viaducts’ disrupts homeless community – Ravi Baichwal
http://abc7chicago.com/society/call-to-clean-up-hellish-viaducts-disrupts-homeless-community/2758043/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— We must break stigmas about careers in skilled trades – Nick Stafford (DIERSEN: What about breaking the stigma of being a lawn mower, newspaper boy, dish washer, golf shoe cleaner, slag chipper, gasoline pumper, mailman, automobile assembly line worker, security guard, tire, automotive services, and major appliance salesman, tax collector, and auditor? I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. Because the aforesaid jobs are so strongly stigmatized, it was extremely difficult for my superiors to get younger people, minorities, females, and veterans to take them.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171208/guest-view-we-must-break-stigmas-about-careers-in-skilled-trades

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— UI releases statement pledging free speech for all – Julie Wurth (DIERSEN: Yes, but if you say anything positive about members of Group B, members of Group A will kill you figuratively if not literally. 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.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-09/ui-releases-statement-pledging-free-speech-all.html

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— Iowa 4th District Republican Rep. Steve King: ‘Mixing cultures’ leads to lower quality life – Bret Hayworth (DIERSEN: Those who promote Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion have always worked very hard against me a) because I have always supported the equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) plank in the Republican Party platform and b) because I have always opposed age discrimination.)
http://qctimes.com/news/iowa/king-mixing-cultures-leads-to-lower-quality-life/article_a4956af6-3dea-50cd-b596-27eb7693afbd.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Iowa 4th District Rep. Steve King on Friday twice declared that diversity is not an American strength and endorsed a European leader’s view that “mixing cultures” leads to a lower quality of life. In a tweet, King linked to a Voice of Europe story that quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban as saying, ‘Mixing cultures will not lead to a higher quality of life but a lower one.'” King, a conservative Republican and leading critic of U.S. immigration policies, followed with a second tweet, “Assimilation has become a dirty word to the multiculturalist Left. Assimilation, not diversity, is our American strength.” The social media posts were King’s latest take on the cultural shifts happening in Europe and how they intersect with U.S. culture. The Kiron Republican has long contended that immigrant groups are best served by blending in strongly, or assimilating, into American culture. It was a topic he raised again in March, during the time after he tweeted about culture again.)

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Spread the swamp? Trump administration wants to move government offices out of Washington – Evan Halper (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, people hate past, present, and future federal employees. How strongly do you hate past, present, and future federal employees?)
http://qconline.com/news/nation/spread-the-swamp-trump-administration-wants-to-move-government-offices/article_f3d75dda-5484-57f8-ad92-3ec085af66e2.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Amid the talk of draining swamps, restoring political might to blue-collar America and turning off the spigot of taxpayer cash that showers Washington, a familiar battle cry is ricocheting through this city: Move the bureaucrats out. It has the ring of a Trumpian fantasy. Dislodge arms of the federal government from Washington and reattach them in faraway places, spreading the wealth generated by these well-paid agency workforces and forcing senior bureaucrats to face the people they affect. But the idea has established populist roots that spread across party lines, and they are reemerging at this unique political moment.)

 

SAUK VALLEY
— How politicians use religion to promote goals – Scott Reeder (DIERSEN: What do you say to politicians who hint/imply/argue/shout that Jesus is a liberal Democrat/Libertarian/Green who promotes dependency on government, dependency on charity, 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?)
http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/12/05/how-politicians-use-religion-to-promote-goals/azid7yo/

 

WJBD RADIO
— White House lacks ‘top political operative’ ahead of 2018 elections – ABC Radio (DIERSEN: Who are the top political operatives in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Who do they promote? Who do they destroy?)
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2017/12/08/lewandowski-white-house-lacks-top-political-operative-ahead-of-2018-elections

 

BREITBART
— Starlets Smile for Amnesty in Elite’s Stealth Campaign for Cheap Labor – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes want cheap labor.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/08/nyt-starlets-smile-for-amnesty-elite-stealth-campaign-cheap-labor/

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— NFL Tickets Fall to an Incredible $4 Apiece – CALEB HULL
http://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/12/1031591-nfl-tickets-fall-incredible-4-piece/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Scoundrel Theory of American Politics The idea that a candidate’s character doesn’t matter is pervasive and pernicious. – Greg Weiner (DIERSEN: How much do you know about the character of the Republicans who represent you and/or who want to represent you in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? I know a tremendous amount about the character of Republicans who represent me and/or who want to represent me in Wheaton, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. I should write a book about them. How they, their operatives, and their dupes treat me is extremely revealing.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/opinion/roy-moore-scoundrel-theory-politics.html
— Under New Tax Plan, the Cost of Aging Could Rise – Ron Lieber (DIERSEN: Last year, my aunt had $78,213 in medical and dental expenses, and $74,050 of that was deductible. Last year, my wife and I had $21,433 in medical and dental expenses, and $13,859 of that was deductible.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/your-money/tax-plan-medical-deduction.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In the coming days, a small group of Republicans will meet in Washington to try to settle a simple question: Should their revised tax bill eliminate a deduction for medical expenses and take away thousands of dollars each year from many people who are sick and, often, old? The two competing tax bills that will form the basis of an attempt at compromise over the coming weeks, one from the House of Representatives and one from the Senate, answer the question differently. The Senate bill would keep a deduction for medical expenses intact. The House bill would kill it off entirely. The more money that people had to spend this year, the more they would lose next year if the House prevails and the deduction disappears.)
— Tax Changes Are Coming Next Year, but You Can Plan for Them Now – Paul Sullivan
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/your-money/tax-overhaul-wealth.html
— Liberal Activists to Democrats: Protect Young Immigrants or Shut Down Government – Yamiche Alcindor and Thomas Kaplan (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes want cheap labor.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/us/politics/government-shutdown-immigration-daca.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Liberals promote liberalism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/opinion/facts-have-a-well-known-liberal-bias.html
— How Some States Are Helping First-Time Home Buyers – Ann Carrns (DIERSEN: What helped you buy your first home? The following helped me buy my first home, a new town home in University Park in September of 1972 when I was 24 years old: a) my working for IRS since June of 1971 and earning $54,864/year in today’s dollars, b) my having 49 months of federal seniority (15 IRS and 34 Post Office), c) my working part-time for the Firestone Store in Chicago Heights, d) my not having any debts, e) my owning a 1972 Corvette and a 1962 Chevy BelAir, f) my having earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in August of 1970, g) my taking graduate business courses at Loyola, and h) my not being draft bait.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/your-money/first-time-home-buyers.html
— For Female Lobbyists, Harassment Often Accompanies Access – Trip Gabriel and Julie Bosman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/us/lobbyists-sexual-harassment.html
— Lost in Translation? Pope Ponders an Update to Lord’s Prayer – Elisabetta Povoledo, Laurie Goodstein and Alan Cowell (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes focus on leading people into temptation. They promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, 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 Amendment, and even worse things. They crow that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/world/europe/pope-francis-lords-prayer-translation-temptation.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It has been a question of theological debate and liturgical interpretation for years, and now Pope Francis has joined the discussion: Does the Lord’s Prayer, Christendom’s resonant petition to the Almighty, need an update? In a new television interview, Pope Francis said the common rendering of one line in the prayer — “lead us not into temptation” — was “not a good translation” from ancient texts. “Do not let us fall into temptation,” he suggested, might be better because God does not lead people into temptation; Satan does. “A father doesn’t do that,” the pope said. “He helps you get up right away. What induces into temptation is Satan.” In essence, the pope said, the prayer, from the Book of Matthew, is asking God, “When Satan leads us into temptation, You please, give me a hand.”)

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— 2018 Ford Mustang: Best sports car buy in town? – Charles Fleming
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ford-mustang-review-20171209-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Ready to Retire? Here’s a Pre-Flight Checklist Three questions to help you determine if you’re on the right track – Anne Tergesen (DIERSEN: Have you saved enough to retire? Using this formula, I need at least $1,137,725 to retire. 80% of my $122,991 ending salary in today’s dollars is $98,393. Subtract my $50,856 pension and my $2,028 Social Security and you get $45,509. Dividing $45,509 by 4% is $1,137,725 and by 3% is $1,516,967.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ready-to-retire-heres-a-pre-flight-checklist-1512745200

(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. Have I saved enough? With some simple math, it’s possible to assess retirement readiness without resorting to online calculators that produce “dramatically different results,” says Wade Pfau, a professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The first step is to go to the Social Security website to get an estimate of how much income you will receive. This tells you what your monthly payout is likely to be if you claim benefits at 62, 70 and full retirement age, which is 66 for those born between 1943 and 1954. (The benefit will be lower if you claim before full retirement age and higher if you claim after.) Also, ask current and past employers for an estimate of any pension you are eligible to receive. If you suspect you may have left a pension behind at a previous employer that’s defunct or changed its name, free help is available from sources including the Labor Department and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Then figure out your retirement spending needs, including taxes and premiums for Medicare Parts B and D, which cover doctor visits and prescription drugs, respectively. If you aren’t sure what you might spend, use the 80% rule. It assumes that retirees can get by on about 80% of what they earned while working because they no longer need to commute or save for retirement and frequently wind up in a lower tax bracket. Using the rule, a couple with a $100,000 annual income would need a retirement income of $80,000. The next step is to deduct from that $80,000 your expected Social Security and pension benefits, plus guaranteed income from any annuities you have. If you are entitled to $35,000 a year in Social Security but nothing from a pension or annuity, for example, you would need savings to supply the remaining $45,000. Mr. Pfau suggests dividing that $45,000 by 4%, which represents the 4% “safe” inflation-adjusted withdrawal rate that historically has ensured U.S. retirees a high probability of never running out of money. The result, $1.125 million, is the amount you will need. (With stocks at records and bond yields low, Mr. Pfau says it may be safer to use a 3% withdrawal rate.)