February 16 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Endorsement: For the Republicans, Bruce Rauner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-rauner-republican-governor-endorsement-0218-story.html
(FROM THE ENDORSEMENT: We see the appeal of Rauner’s primary opponent, state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton. She is disciplined. She is fierce. And she is angry. Rauner’s signature on the bills that infuriated conservatives drew her into this race. Critics describe one bill as a sanctuary state act. Another makes it easier for transgender people to change the gender designation on their birth certificates. And a third bill, which Rauner had said he would veto, expanded taxpayer funding for abortions. Unfortunately, Ives’ cumulative rhetoric on social issues — describing gay relationships as “disordered” and unleashing an attack ad that ridiculed people who are different from her — has been mocking, mean-spirited and often inaccurate. There is a way to be a compassionate conservative. And there is her way.)
— Another Legionnaires’ case at veterans home plagued by deadly water problems – Bill Lukitsch
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-legionnaires-20180216-story.html
— Madigan ally ousted after harassment complaint accused of violating protective order in different case – Ray Long
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-quinn-harassment-arrest-20180215-story.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Must love dogs? Canine-friendly environments test our limits – Virginia Postrel (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who do not own dogs.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-pets-work-employers-support-animals-0216-20180215-story.html
— The White House’s promised Spanish website? Nada de nada – AP (DIERSEN: If China was sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally like Mexico is doing, if China was keeping many millions of its citizens in America like Mexico is doing, if China was sending mountains of illegal drugs into America like Mexico is doing, anti-Americans would demand that the White House have a Mandarin website.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us–white-house-spanish-20180210-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Top black politicians who back Pritzker condemn ‘racist’ Chicago Reader cover – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/top-black-politicians-condemn-racist-chicago-reader-cover/
— Lawyer: Madigan ally looked for ‘dirt’ on woman who accused aide of harassment – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/lawyer-madigan-ally-looked-for-dirt-on-woman-who-accused-aide-of-harassment/

 

NBC5
— Woman Who Accused Ex-Madigan Aide of Harassment Says She’s Being Targeted in Retaliation – Mary Ann Ahern (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors were proud of the retaliation that they took against me. Because I became an active member in a class action lawsuit in 1988 that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, they threw me off audits of IRS, gave me unfair performance expectations, gave me unfair performance appraisals, always ranked me in the lower half of my coworkers for their pay-for-performance system, and forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. They sent a clear message to everyone a) that GAO gives preference to its employees who are minority, female, and/or young and b) that GAO gets rid of its non-veteran White male employees who do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. By their actions in Diersen v. GAO, U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald, U.S. District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, and Judge Amy St. Eve all made it clear to everyone that they side with my Democrat GAO superiors, that is, that they favor reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/alaina-hampton-mike-madigan-kevin-quinn-harassment-474243493.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Study: Cook County assessments shift wealth from poor to rich – Bob Susnjara (DIERSEN: Who wants you to pay more real estate tax and why? Since 1972, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always wanted me to pay more real estate tax. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, that I have always been privileged, that the federal government grossly overpaid me, that my retirement benefits are much too generous, and that I have always been undeservedly filthy rich. They stress a) that my parents sent me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod, b) that I bought many new cars and two collector cars, c) that I avoided the draft, d) that I bought a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, e) that my wife and I bought 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978 and we had 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton in 1984, f) that I spent lots of money for tuition and review courses to earn a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, and two professional certifications, g) that my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, and h) that my wife and saved lots of money for our retirement.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180215/study-cook-county-assessments-shift-wealth-from-poor-to-rich
— Illinois schools say pension shift would be financial burden – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180215/news/302159893

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— IRS increases Caterpillar tax penalty to $2.3 billion – Matt Buedel
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20180215/irs-increases-caterpillar-tax-penalty-to-23-billion

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Superintendents worried about Rauner’s pension shift proposal – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180216/superintendents-worried-about-rauners-pension-shift-proposal

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Rauner meets a simulation manikin and touts his education plan during visit – Leslie Renken
http://www.pjstar.com/entertainmentlife/20180215/rauner-meets-simulation-manikin-and-touts-his-education-plan-during-visit

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Quinn promotes AG credentials at ISU – Derek Beigh (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, many of whom have few or no credentials, treat me like I have no credentials. They treat me like I have no college degrees, even though I have four. They treat me like I have no professional certifications, even though I have six. They treat me like I do not have a professional license, even though I have one. They treat me like I have no government work experience, even though I worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325 and I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. They treat me like I have no political experience, even though I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, and I was a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2003.)
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/quinn-promotes-ag-credentials-at-isu/article_e0f5ff32-bbbc-55dc-a279-6195d1f861a2.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Quinn, 69, of Chicago hopes to fill that job, continuing a political career that includes five years as governor, six years as lieutenant governor and four years as state treasurer. He last ran in 2014, when he, the incumbent, lost the governor’s mansion to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.)

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Illinois lawmakers: Mental health is key issue in mass shootings – EDITH BRADY-LUNNY
http://herald-review.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-lawmakers-mental-health-is-key-issue-in-mass-shootings/article_8f6cd833-4f83-5742-bf62-d723c56813e1.html

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Rauner Budget Doesn’t Use ‘Pixie Dust,’ But It’s Fanciful Nonetheless – CHARLES N. WHEELER III
http://nprillinois.org/post/rauner-budget-doesn-t-use-pixie-dust-it-s-fanciful-nonetheless#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Candidates for governor address seniors’ concerns – Megan Swett (DIERSEN: My aunt is spending $239 a day out of her life savings to live in an assisted living facility.)
http://illinoistimes.com/article-19704-candidates-for-governor-address-seniors%E2%80%99-concerns.html

 

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Northwestern professor (Michael Scudder), alumnus (Amy St. Eve) nominated to circuit court presiding over Illinois – Alan Perez
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/02/15/campus/northwestern-professor-alumnus-nominated-circuit-court-presiding-illinois/

 

REGIONAL NEWS
— Muslim activists ramp up monthly protests at Palos Township board meetings – Anthony Caciopo
http://www.theregionalnews.com/index.php/newsx/159-local-news/top-news-story/35928-activists-ramp-up-monthly-protests-at-township-board-meetings

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Wayne Township GOP chairman Jerry Marchese says straw poll shows Ives is what the state needs – Glenn Minnis
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511345617-wayne-township-gop-chairman-says-straw-poll-shows-ives-is-what-the-state-needs

 

BREITBART
— White House: Democrats’ ‘Open Border Fringe’ Blocks Immigration Reform – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/02/15/white-house-democrats-open-border-fringe-blocks-immigration-reform/
— Cruz: Trump’s Immigration Pillars ‘Dramatically to the Left of Where Barack Obama Was’ – IAN HANCHETT
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/02/15/cruz-trumps-immigration-pillars-dramatically-left-barack-obama/

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Fox News Poll: More Republicans feeling the jitters – Dana Blanton
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2018/

 

TOWNHALL
— Trump’s Deficit-ridden Budget Plan Is Filled With Wasteful Spending – Donald Lambro
https://townhall.com/columnists/donaldlambro/2018/02/16/trumps-deficitridden-budget-plan-is-filled-with-wasteful-spending-n2449808

 

ROLL CALL
— Rep. Rodney Davis Recalls Lessons From His Staffer Days Illinois Republican was longtime projects director for Rep. John Shimkus – Alex Gangitano (DIERSEN: I should write a book about what I learned working for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325. I should write a book about what I learned working for IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880.)
http://www.rollcall.com/news/hoh/rep-rodney-davis-learned

 

POLITICO
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON EDUCATION IN AMERICA TIGHTENS: U.S. averages a school shooting every 2.5 days in 2018 – JAKE SHERMAN
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2018/02/15/school-shootings-2018-average-248207

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Tech Luminary Peter Thiel Parts Ways With Silicon Valley Billionaire investor frustrated with what he sees as intolerance of conservatism in tech industry; has discussed resigning from Facebook – Douglas MacMillan, Keach Hagey and Deepa Seetharaman (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, businesses paint themselves as being anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-luminary-peter-thiel-parts-ways-with-silicon-valley-1518696120
— Peter Thiel’s Warning to the Valley Hostility to half of America isn’t good business—or politics. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, businesses paint themselves as being anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/peter-thiels-warning-to-the-valley-1518740558
— Tax Reform and IRS Resistance Getting it through Congress was the easy part. Now come the regulations. – Kimberley A. Strassel
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-and-irs-resistance-1518739818
— Did My Mom Have ‘White Privilege’? She arrived from Italy in 1911 and then at age 14 went to work in a Chicago factory sewing ladies’ coats. – Angela Rocco DeCarlo (DIERSEN: Did your mother have White privilege? My outstanding mother was born in 1924 and raised on a farm in Grant Park. She never attended high school. She married my outstanding father in 1945. They lived in an apartment above my grandfather’s hardware store in Crete 1945-1954 and then in a home that my grandfather had built in Crete in 1926. She stayed home and raised my brother and I. After her husband, my father, died suddenly in 1969, she earned a GED and got job in a dental office in Crete and worked there until she retired.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/did-my-mom-have-white-privilege-1518739479

 

USA TODAY
— Repeal gun-free zones – Erich Pratt
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/02/15/repeal-gun-free-zones-erich-pratt-editorials-debates/110464412/

 

NEW YORKER
— Donald Trump, a Playboy Model, and a System for Concealing Infidelity One woman’s account of clandestine meetings, financial transactions, and legal pacts designed to hide an extramarital affair. – Ronan Farrow (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have ever had an extramarital affair, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trump-a-playboy-model-and-a-system-for-concealing-infidelity-national-enquirer-karen-mcdougal

February 15 Morning Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS

— Illinois Governor candidate Jeanne Ives spoke at an outstanding Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) meeting Wednesday evening, February 14, 2018, at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall. Ives received a standing ovation. In addition, MTRCC held outstanding candidate forums for DuPage County Board District 6 (Wiley and Zay) and for Illinois House District 46 (Kinzler & Orozco) and for judicial candidates (MacKay & Wilson). Bob Grogan announced his candidacy for 6th Congressional District Illinois Republican Party State Central Committeeman. Marty Keller announced that he would be resigning as Milton Township Trustee effective February 28, 2018 and taking over CERT responsibilities for the township. Attendees included Almiron, Bibbiano, Breen, Byrne, Carlson, Caruso, Chinchilla, Cooper, Crane, Dangelo, Eckhoff, Elliott, Falbo, Fitzpatrick, Grant, Hinchy, Hinds, Holder, Keller, LeVan, Lewis, Lofgren, Lollino, McGowen, Mendrick, Minor, Moffett, Molitor, Muehlfelt, A. & B. Murphy, Nathwani, Prater, Rash, Ruscitti, Ryan, Shaw, Slinger, Tatro, Thomas, Wehling, Whelan, and C & J. Zaruba. – Dave Diersen

https://gopillinois.com

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Bill Clinton is now nowhere man as #MeToo is made ready for 2018 – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-bill-clinton-metoo-kass-0215-story.html
— Aurora officials have concerns with governor’s pension proposal – Sarah Freishtat
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-rauner-reaction-st-0215-20180214-story.html
— Senators say they are close to a bipartisan immigration plan, but Trump warns against it – Lisa Mascaro and Brian Bennett
http://www.chicagotribune.com/la-na-pol-senate-immigration-20180214-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who anti-men promote those who are anti-men.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glencoe/news/ct-gln-womens-march-anniversary-tl-0215-20180214-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote the anti-Trump Duckworth. What insulting name would/does Duckworth call me? I sought and obtained student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. Of course, she would/does hint/imply/argue/shout that were it not for fear of being drafted, I never would have had the motivation to a) take college preparatory classes in high school, b) graduate in the upper 20% of my high school class, c) get an ACT score of 24, d) get accepted by UIC in 1966 and by NIU in 1969, or e) graduate from NIU in 1970. Of course, she would/does hint/imply/argue/shout that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment in 1970 was fraudulent.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-donald-trump-tammy-duckworth-20180215-story.html
— Pritzker on Madigan’s handling of sexual harassment complaint: ‘It shouldn’t take that long’ (DIERSEN: To discredit me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my partial day per diem requests in 1974 and postponed resolution of my grievance as long as they could. They hinted/implied that my partial day per diem requests were fraudulent. However, GAO upheld an arbitrator’s ruling in my favor in 1977. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/463866. To further discredit me, Money Magazine and my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions in 1978. However, I took IRS to Tax Court and won a split decision.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-pritzker-madigan-sexual-harassment-complaint-story.html
— Can the world agree upon a ‘common memory’ of the Holocaust? – Mona Sue Weissmark (DIERSEN: Many, if not most of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are anti-German-American. What if from the beginning I had pretended to be Swedish-American? While all my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany to northeast Illinois during the 1840s and 1850s, according to DNA Ancestry at http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI. My uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII. My father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-holocaust-auschwitz-dachau-buchenwald-jewish-memory-0215-20180214-story.html
— EPA chief says he flies first class due to security concerns – AP (DIERSEN: As anti-Trumps get more and more and more aggressive, nasty, threatening, etc., should members of the following groups stop using public transportation: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/sns-bc-us–epa-pruitt-travel-20180214-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Students: Shooting suspect harassed peers, bragged about gun – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/students-shooting-suspect-harassed-peers-bragged-about-gun/
— Pritzker takes a while to say Madigan took too long to fire aide – Tina Sfondeles (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes remain 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.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kept out: How banks block people of color from homeownership – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had not been White, a) I would not have been able to get a mortgage in 1972 when I was 24 years old to buy a new town home in University Park, to buy a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building in 1974, or to buy a one bedroom in that building in 1976 and b) my wife and I would not have been able to get a mortgage to buy 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978 or to have 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton in 1984.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180215/business/302159997/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— A new way to survey the public when people won’t answer the phone anymore – HOWARD WOLINSKY (DIERSEN: Any survey of me should correctly conclude that a) I support all the planks in the Republican Party and Illinois Republican Party platforms including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks and b) that I oppose the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminution of the First and Second Amendment rights, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, race and gender based preference giving, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, class warfare, etc.)

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180215/ISSUE01/180219987

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner’s budget leans on local schools, state workers – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180214/rauners-budget-leans-on-local-schools-state-workers
— Rauner’s budget gets cool reception from lawmakers, opponents – Brenden Moore
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180214/rauners-budget-gets-cool-reception-from-lawmakers-opponents
— Is Rauner’s budget balanced? Legislative leaders disagree – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180214/is-rauners-budget-balanced-legislative-leaders-disagree
— Horses, tractors and racetracks. House candidate’s videos have them all – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180214/schoenburg-horses-tractors-and-racetracks-house-candidates-videos-have-them-all

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Illinois Family Action endorses Marter, GOP challenger for Kinzinger’s House seat
http://www.saukvalley.com/2018/02/13/family-group-endorses-marter-gop-challenger-for-kinzingers-house-seat/ajt8p4q/

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Group seeks $65,000 to replace roof on historic McKee House – ERIC SCHELKOPF
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/02/13/group-seeks-65-000-to-replace-roof-on-historic-mckee-house/aiig0qs/

 

WNNS
— Ives: Rauner Budget Is ‘Unbalanced & Phony’
http://www.wnns.com/2018/02/14/ives-rauner-budget-is-unbalanced-phony/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who anti-men promote those who are anti-men.
http://nprillinois.org/post/women-rising-push-gender-parity-state-government#stream/0

 

CHICAGO READER
— J.B. Pritzker talks race politics Why should millennials vote for him? Legalized weed. – Mark Konkol
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/jb-pritzker-interview-african-american-wiretap/Content?oid=41090514

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— McSweeney Working to Defeat Rauner-Madigan Teacher Pension Shift to Local Property Taxpayers
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/15/mcsweeney-working-to-defeat-rauner-madigan-teacher-pensi on-shift-to-local-property-taxpayers/
— Past Highway Commissioner Bob Miller Son-in-Law Andrew Rosencrans Received Over $24,000 in “Miscellaneous” Income from Algonquin Township Road District Since 2013
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/15/bob-miller-son-in-law-andrew-rosencrans-received-over-24000-in-miscellaneous-income-from-algonquin-township-road-district-since-2013/
— Melissa Victor Makes Issue Out of Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Andrew Gasser Legal and Computer Forensic Audit Bills
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/15/melissa-victor-makes-issue-out-of-gasser-legal-and-computer-forensic-audit-bills/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Morrison says GOP endorsements need to be transparent, sees Ives as better for Illinois – Chandra Lye
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511344644-morrison-says-gop-endorsements-need-to-be-transparent-sees-ives-as-better-for-illinois

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— 17-year-old Aurora precinct committeeman has had a rough introduction to politics – Karen Kidd
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511344648-17-year-old-aurora-precinct-committeeman-has-had-a-rough-introduction-to-politics

 

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Rauner’s pension proposal meets backlash Time for negotiations, Manar says – Megan Swett
http://illinoistimes.com/article-19702-rauners-pension-proposal-meets-backlash.html

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— New poll: Rauner more unpopular than Trump in Illinois
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-new-poll-rauner-more-unpopular-than-trump-in-illinois/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner airs tax cut TV ad
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/15/rauner-airs-tax-cut-tv-ad/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— CPAC BANS PRO-FAMILY GROUP FOR ‘TONE’ TOWARD ‘GAYS’ Conservative summit promotes traditional marriage, but insults ‘cross line’ – ART MOORE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you are banned.)
http://www.wnd.com/2018/02/cpac-bans-pro-family-group-for-tone-toward-gays/

 

GOPUSA
— Democrats, RINOs team up on DACA plan
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=39429

 

BREITBART
— MassResistance Pro-Family Group Banned at CPAC – DR. SUSAN BERRY (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you are banned.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/14/massresistance-pro-family-group-banned-at-cpac/
— Berkeley Votes to Become ‘Sanctuary City’ for Marijuana Crimes – Joel B. Pollak
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/02/14/berkeley-votes-become-sanctuary-city-marijuana-crimes/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump, a Week After Porter Resigned, Says He’s ‘Totally Opposed’ to Domestic Violence – Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Maggie Haberman and Michael D. Shear (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be domestic abuser who should be gotten rid of immediately: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/politics/john-kelly-rob-porter-security-clearances.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/opinion/porter-trump-domestic-violence.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/opinion/what-the-white-house-knew-about-rob-porter.html
— Trump Gets What He Wants in Immigration Debate: Quiet on the Right – Jeremy W. Peters
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/conservatives-immigration-trump.html
— New York Will Investigate Reports of Gay Men Denied Insurance – Donald G. McNeil Jr. (DIERSEN: To engage in LGBTQ activity, is to damage your health.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/health/insurance-discrimination-gay-prep.html
— American Fertility Is Falling Short of What Women Want Forecasts show many millennial women won’t fulfill their wishes on family size, and the biggest fertility declines are in Western states. – Lyman Stone (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned my wife and I the most for our a) giving up trying to have children, b) not adopting, and c) not becoming foster parents?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/upshot/american-fertility-is-falling-short-of-what-women-want.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats and RINOs a) encourage people to come to America illegally, b) encourage people to stay in America illegally, and c) encourage people to illegally bring people to America illegally. Democrats want immigrants because immigrants vote for Democrats and RINOs want immigrants because they work for less money and they are much more easy to exploit.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-daca-deadline-looms-young-immigrants-plan-for-the-unknown-1518604200
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot pushers push pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-the-peak-tv-era-ready-for-pot-channels-1518620049
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: According to this article, employers are jettisoning old requirements and seeking workers with transferrable skills. GAO audits IRS. To unethically, if not illegally, force me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors unethically, if not illegally, claimed that the skills I acquired working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, WERE NOT TRANSFERRABLE. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, a minority, or a female.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-fill-jobs-in-a-tight-labor-market-employers-may-need-to-get-creative-1518616800

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump’s 87 picks to be federal judges are 92% white with just one black and one Hispanic nominee – Richard Wolf
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/13/trumps-87-picks-federal-judges-92-white-just-one-black-and-one-hispanic-nominee/333088002/

 

REALTOR
— Standard vs. Itemized Deduction: Which One Should You Take? – Daniel Bortz (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, operatives and dupes who work for my critics/opponents a) take the standard deduction and b) demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who itemize their deductions.)
https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/standard-vs-itemized-deduction/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Workforce Plan Stresses Pay for Performance – Erich Wagner (DIERSEN: Have you worked under pay-for-performance (PFP)? I did during my last 8 years at GAO 1989-1997. Measuring job performance is extremely subjective. To meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, my Democrat used the subjectivity in their PFP system to get rid of their employees like me who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2018/02/workforce-plan-stresses-pay-performance-opm-nominee-advances-and-more/145993/

 

EDITOR & PUBLISHER
— Facebook Ad Targeting is Incredible—and Scary – Mark Glaser (DIERSEN: Facebook is a Democrat/Libertarian/Green website. What does Facebook know about you? Facebook knows that I a) I support all the planks in the Republican Party and Illinois Republican Party platforms including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks and b) that I oppose the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminution of the First and Second Amendment rights, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, race and gender based preference giving, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, class warfare, etc.)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/columns/shoptalk-facebook-ad-targeting-is-incredible-and-scary/

February 14 Morning Edition

CBS2
— State Budget, Politics To Collide In Springfield Wednesday – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/13/state-budget-politics-to-collide-in-springfield-wednesday/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lawmakers flock to new Obama plaque at Illinois Capitol – Bill Lukitsch (DIERSEN: As retirees in Illinois are ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being undeservedly filthy rich and even worse things, will politicians start taxing retirement income?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-barack-obama-illinois-house-20180214-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State lawmakers are lining up like tourists in the Illinois House to take selfies in front of a new plaque that commemorates former President Barack Obama’s 2016 speech to lawmakers in the Illinois House. The marker hangs behind the speaker’s podium, where Obama delivered his remarks. In his speech, the then-president called on lawmakers to set partisan differences aside and work toward ending the longest budget impasse in Illinois history. That stalemate ended last summer, when lawmakers voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto and raise income taxes. The Republican governor will give his budget address at noon Wednesday near the new commemorative hardware.)
— OUTSTANDING: Commission advises against pedal pubs, or bars on wheels, in downtown Naperville – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-pedal-pub-downtown-advisory-st-0214-20180212-story.html
— Mike Madigan flunks the #MeToo test – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, all men flunk the #MeToo test if they fail/refuse to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn all older White men as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-harassment-madigan-hampton-quinn-20180213-story.html
— GOP candidate’s parents contributed maximum — to his potential Democratic opponent – Alex Horton (DIERSEN: What motivates you to help elect a candidate? For me, it is their convincing me that if elected, a) they can and will defend and advance all the planks in the Republican Party platform and in the Illinois Republican Party platform, including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks and b) they would vote against/veto anything that promotes LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminution of First and Second Amendment rights, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, etc.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-gop-senate-candidate-donations-20180213-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Was the Speaker listening? Woman questions why Madigan took months to fire aide – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/woman-madigan-would-have-never-fired-alleged-harasser-without-her-going-public/
— ENDORSEMENT: Kelly Mazeski for Congress in 6th District Democratic Primary
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/endorsement-6th-congressional-district-democratic-primary-kelly-mazeski-2018-illinois/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Aurora approves city’s first gay pride parade – Marie Wilson (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that promote LGBTQ activity promote hatred of those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that do not promote LGBTQ activity. Soon, if not already, if you fail/refuse to get rid of those who do not promote LGBTQ activity, you will be stopped from getting an education, from getting a job, from etc.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180213/aurora-approves-citys-first-gay-pride-parade
— West Chicago High School teachers ready to strike Friday if no agreement – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180213/w-chicago-high-teachers-ready-to-strike-friday-if-no-agreement
— Jhingan dropped from 8th District GOP primary – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180213/jhingan-dropped-from-8th-district-gop-primary
— Find out how to address opioid issues in the workplace – Kim Mikus (DIERSEN: I have never used an illegal drug and I never will.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180208/find-out-how-to-address-opioid-issues-in-the-workplace
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Opioid issues in the workplace can include: drug-free workplace policy, understanding the law for prescription drug use at work, signs of impairment and abuse, safe handling, operating machinery and driving while using opioids and the impact on workers’ compensation.)
— Shaun White apologizes for calling sexual misconduct lawsuit ‘gossip’ – JAKE SEINERAP (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois have painted me as being a spammer, as being someone who spreads false rumors, and even worse things. Should I sue them?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180214/shaun-white-apologizes-for-calling-sexual-misconduct-lawsuit-gossip

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Madigan’s #MeToo moment: Is he history? – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180213/BLOGS02/180219960/-metoo-moment-for-illinois-house-speaker-michael-madigan
— Why shouldn’t Illinois Medicaid recipients work? – ROBERT KAESTNER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180213/OPINION/180219973/why-shouldnt-illinois-medicaid-recipients-work

 

ABC7
— Suburban police, professionals struggle with growing funeral violence – Chuck Goudie and Christine Tressel
http://abc7chicago.com/suburban-police-professionals-struggle-with-growing-funeral-violence/3073920/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Mayor, aldermen play blame game over budget – Crystal Thomas (DIERSEN: Who blames you and for what? I should write a book about those who have blamed me, my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and what I did 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. for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180213/mayor-aldermen-play-blame-game-over-budget

 

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Senate President offers advice to Rauner ahead of Wednesday’s budget address – Rachel Droze (DIERSEN: One could argue that Rauner is taking advice from those who want him to use the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) to get rid of those like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform, that is, he is taking advice from those who want to destroy the IRP. What do IRP State Central Committee candidates have to say about that?)
http://newschannel20.com/news/local/senate-president-offers-advice-to-rauner-ahead-of-wednesdays-budget-address

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Rauner Budget Counts On Tax Hike – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/rauner-budget-counts-tax-hike#stream/0

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Lawmakers outraged after Quincy Vets Home residents test positive for Legionnaires’ – Rachel Droze
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/lawmakers-outraged-after-quincy-vets-home-residents-test-positive-for-legionnaires

 

PLAINFIELD PATCH
— Murder Capitals: 2 Illinois Cities (Chicago and East St. Louis) On List An Illinois city was ranked the No. 1 “Murder Capital” in the nation. – Shannon Antinori
https://patch.com/illinois/plainfield/murder-capitals-2-illinois-cities-list

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Demand Rauner Show Up for a Second Debate (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be hosting candidate debates for a) Rauner v. Ives, b) Sanguinetti v. Morthland, c) Harold v. Grasso, d) Stella v. Vlakancic, e) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne, f) Kinzler v. Orozco, g) Zito v. Khouri, h) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, i) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Gavanes, j) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully, k) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, l) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, m) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, n) etc.)
https://ivesforillinois.com/demand-rauner-show-up-for-a-second-debate/

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— IL Republican Party Vs. IL Rauner Party
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/il-republican-party-vs-il-rauner-party
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two more residents of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy are sick with Legionnaires. Rauner is on top of this, right? All under control? Is Rauner going to make a call to President Trump for federal assistance or is he too busy boasting about not having a relationship with the White House? Is Rauner’s lack of leadership going to leave Illinois out of major federal infrastructure funding? Illinois State Representative for the 52nd District, Dave McSweeney joins Dan and Amy to discuss.)

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Call for Madigan to step down as speaker comes from both sides of aisle – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511344364-call-for-madigan-to-step-down-as-speaker-comes-from-both-sides-of-aisle

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Abolishing Office of McHenry Township Road Commissioner Set for November Ballot
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/13/abolishing-office-of-mchenry-township-road-commissioner-set-for-november-ballot/
— Five Applicants Vying For Open County Auditor Position (DIERSEN: See Section 3 of the application. I had to give similar financial information to my Democrat superiors each year while I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO 1980-1997. They used that financial information to demonize, denigrate, condemn me, and then my wife and I, as being undeservedly filthy rich. My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were moral relativists who believed that their end justified their means. They were disciples of Saul Alinsky. They promoted envy and class warfare. They stressed the money that I spent on new cars, tuition, real estate, collector cars, etc. They stressed the money that my wife and I had saved for our retirement. Those who had children painted themselves as being poor because of how tremendously expensive it is to raise children.)
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/12/five-applicants-vying-for-open-county-auditor-position/
— Looking at Miscellaneous Income Paid Algonquin Township Highway Department Employees Since 2012
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/02/13/looking-at-miscellaneous-income-paid-algonquin-township-highway-department-employees-since-2012/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Four leaders gather in governor’s office for first time in 14 months
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/14/four-leaders-gather-in-governors-office-for-first-time-in-14-months/
— Rauner reboots cost shifts, pension consideration, capital plan
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/14/rauner-reboots-cost-shifts-pension-consideration-capital-plan/
— Pritzker campaign takes preemptive shot at Rauner budget
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/14/pritzker-campaign-takes-preemptive-shot-at-rauner-budget/

 

GOPUSA
— Barack Obama’s portrait artist, painted black women beheading white women
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=39350

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— A NEW LOOK INTO POVERTY IN AMERICA – Star Parker (DIERSEN: To fight poverty, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a poor person in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a poor person in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted poor people in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a poor person in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a poor person in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/a-new-look-into-poverty-in-america/

 

BREITBART
— Trump Nominates 11th Wave of Federal Judges – KEN KLUKOWSKI (DIERSEN: In Diersen v. GAO, Peter Fitzgerald appointed both the district court judge, Amy J. St. Eve, and the attorney who represented GAO, Patrick Fitzgerald. All of the aforesaid made it very clear that they favored patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Eve granted Patrick Fitzgerald’s motion to deny me my 7th Amendment rights, that is, to deny me a jury trial. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes used that to hint/imply/argue/shout that Peter Fitzgerald, Eve, and Patrick Fitzgerald viewed me as being someone who was lazy, stupid, bad, and even worse things.)
http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/02/13/trump-nominates-11th-wave-of-federal-judges/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Amy St. Eve for the Seventh Circuit. A graduate of Cornell Law School, she is a former federal prosecutor and private litigator. St. Eve is currently a federal trial judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as well as an instructor at Northwestern University’s law school.)

 

CHRISTIAN POST
— The Worst Colleges for Free Speech in America (DIERSEN: DePaul gets a “Lifetime Censorship Award.” I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980.)
https://www.christianpost.com/voice/the-10-worst-colleges-for-free-speech.html

 

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are anti-men and/or anti-Trump promote Duckworth big time.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/duckworth-i-cant-technically-take-maternity-leave-407279

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly pot pushers use medical pot to push recreational pot. If you push pot, you push destruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/nyregion/marijuana-lawsuit-trump-sessions.html
— Fake News and Bots May Be Worrisome, but Their Political Power Is Overblown It’s very hard to change people’s minds, especially when so many are already committed partisans. – Brendan Nyhan (DIERSEN: What do you say to those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and in Illinois who claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican, but who a) focus on discouraging me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS together and sending them out and/or b) focus on discouraging everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/upshot/fake-news-and-bots-may-be-worrisome-but-their-political-power-is-overblown.html
— The F.B.I., Domestic Abuse and the White House: A Timeline of the Rob Porter Scandal The White House has shifted its story about how and when members of the administration learned about the domestic abuse allegations that forced a top aide to resign. – Michael D. Shear and Emily Cochrane
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/us/politics/rob-porter-fbi-white-house-timeline.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: White House Let Rob Porter Keep Job Even After Receiving Final F.B.I. Report – Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/us/politics/rob-porter-fbi-background-check.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— As foreign hackers plot next attack, Washington struggles to shore up vulnerable voting systems – EVAN HALPER and CHRIS MEGERIAN
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-elections-security-20180213-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Lawyer Says He Personally Paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 Campaign-finance experts said Michael Cohen’s payment, even if he footed the bill, likely violated election rules – Rebecca Ballhaus, Joe Palazzolo and Michael Rothfeld (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have ever done anything that subjects you to blackmail, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-says-he-personally-paid-stormy-daniels-1518585093
— The New Tax Law: State and Local Tax Deductions The tax overhaul caps the deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000 per return – Laura Saunders (DIERSEN: Government should encourage marriage and homeownership. The $10,000 SALT cap discourages marriage and home ownership. My wife and I have paid the marriage penalty big time since we got married in 1978. Further under the new Republican tax law, if there was no marriage penalty, instead of $10,000, the SALT cap would be $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-tax-law-state-and-local-tax-deductions-1518542356
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The new cap will also affect many married couples who file jointly more than it will affect singles, as the $10,000 limit is per return and not per person. Some Wall Street Journal readers have asked whether two spouses can each file separately for 2018 and claim two $10,000 deductions. The answer is no. Although married couples can file separate returns, in this case each spouse would get a $5,000 deduction for state and local taxes. To qualify for two $10,000 deductions, the couple would have to divorce.)
— Americans Want Big Government Responsible leaders should now inform the people how much that’s going to cost. – William A. Galston (DIERSEN: Members of Group A have always wanted big government and members of Group B pay more taxes. 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.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-want-big-government-1518564556
— U.S. Households Shoulder Record $13.15 Trillion Debt to End 2017 Strong confidence, rising wages bolster increase in borrowing for the 14th straight quarter – Eric Morath (DIERSEN: How much debt are you shouldering? My wife and I have been debt-free ever since we paid off our mortgage in the 1990s. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been furious about that.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-household-debt-up-193-billion-to-13-15-trillion-to-end-2017-1518537600

 

USA TODAY
— Users are moving on from Facebook ‘Toxic mess’ helping drive many from social network. Jessica Guynn
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20180214/281724090017441 (DIERSEN: Facebook is a Democrat website.)

 

CBS BOSTON
— The Worst Job In America – Jon Keller (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and in DuPage County have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that all the jobs that I had were very bad jobs that they never would have stooped to take. 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.)
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/02/14/john-kelly-chief-of-staff-jon-keller-wbz/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: What is the worst job in America? Septic tank emptier? Toxic waste cleanup specialist? Journalist? How about White House chief of staff, the ultra-stressed, short-term employee in charge of managing the day-to-day affairs of the most powerful person on Earth?)

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Rauner Faces $9B Shortfall in Presenting Budget Plan Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner unveils his 2019 budget proposal to a General Assembly expecting to hear him explain how he’ll erase a $9 million deficit. – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2018-02-14/rauner-faces-9b-shortfall-in-presenting-budget-plan

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Pay for Performance is Needed – Howard Risher (DIERSEN: Have you worked under pay-for-performance (PFP)? I did during my last 8 years at GAO 1989-1997. Measuring job performance is extremely subjective. To meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, my Democrat used the subjectivity in their PFP system to get rid of their employees like me who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.govexec.com/excellence/management-matters/2018/02/pay-performance-needed/145934/

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps crow about their success in driving Trump’s approval rating down. Who takes the lead in driving approval ratings down in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, in Illinois, in TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, in Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, in Milton Township Republican Central Committee, in DuPage County Republican Central Committee, in Illinois Republican Party, in Illinois Center Right Coalition, in American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, in etc. who have taken the lead in driving approval ratings down.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/trump-is-even-less-popular-now-than-when-he-was-inaugurated.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Notably dramatic drops in net approval ratings occurred in Arizona (plus 20 to minus 3), Illinois (plus 9 to minus 21), Montana (plus 24 to even), New York (plus 8 to minus 18), and Ohio (plus 14 to minus 4).)

February 13 Morning Edition

CBS2
— 2 More Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Found At Veterans Home – Bernie Tafoya
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/13/legionnaires-disease-cases-veterans-home-quincy/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Cullerton throws budget shade at Rauner ahead of big speech
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-john-cullerton-budget-20180213-story.html
— Speaker Madigan cuts political worker loose over inappropriate advances to campaign worker – Ray Long
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-madigan-fires-veteran-aide-20180212-story.html
— Younger users flee their parents’ favorite social network, Facebook, at surprising pace – Ally Marotti (DIERSEN: Facebook is run by Democrats.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-younger-users-leaving-facebook-20180212-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— If you think Illinois needs help, now’s the time to bone up on March election – Madeleine Doubek (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails helps keep you up to date.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/if-you-think-illinois-needs-help-nows-the-time-to-bone-up-on-march-election/
— John Hancock losing its John Hancock, becoming 875 North Michigan Avenue (DIERSEN: I almost bought a studio condo in the Hancock in 1974, when I was 25 and a) IRS had promoted me to GS-12 (currently $81,071) Revenue Officer position in the Loop and b) I was taking graduate business courses at Loyola. But instead, I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/report-john-hancock-losing-its-john-hancock-becoming-875-n-michigan-ave/

 

DAILY HERALD
— What we need from governor is an honest budget – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180213/editorial-what-we-need-from-governor-is-an-honest-budget
— 1,282 suburban workers to lose their jobs by spring – Kim Mikus
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180213/1282-suburban-workers-to-lose-their-jobs-by-spring

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Will the Obama library really bring billions to Chicago? – LISA BERTAGNOLI (DIERSEN: From what I see, only 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 would visit the library.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180209/ISSUE01/180209877

 

WTTW
— Illinois Lawmakers Preview the Upcoming Budget Battle – Alexandra Silets
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/02/12/illinois-lawmakers-preview-upcoming-budget-battle

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 2 more at veterans home sickened by Legionnaires’
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180213/2-more-at-veterans-home-sickened-by-legionnaires
— Campaign worker: Removal of Madigan political staffer over inappropriate advances took too long – Ray Long
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180213/campaign-worker-removal-of-madigan-political-staffer-over-inappropriate-advances-took-too-long

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Tough medicine for a sick state – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-02-13/tough-medicine-sick-state.html
— Next on legislators’ not-to-do list: Restructuring higher ed – Jim Dey
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2018-02-13/jim-dey-next-legislators-not-do-list-restructuring-higher-ed.html
— Female faith leaders taking a stand against violence, hate, racism – Adalberto Toledo (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, “faith leaders” act as operatives or as dupes for the Democrat Party.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-13/female-faith-leaders-taking-stand-against-violence-hate-racism.html

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Who wants welcoming-city ordinances? ANSWER: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/public-makes-appeal-for-welcoming-city-ordinance/article_103e9ac9-b4d9-550e-9ceb-065b636287a1.html

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Plenty of reasons to vote early, or on March 20 (DIERSEN: Members of Group A want you to vote for candidates who will use government to get rid of members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-plenty-of-reasons-to-vote-early-or-on-march/article_1ca9179f-56f1-5076-a994-fc832fee1d52.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Revenue Estimate A Must – Greg Bishop
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=260127#.WoK5fcuKSM8
— McCann Previews Budget Address – Doug Jenkins
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=260151#.WoLJccuKSM8

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A coalition of state attorneys general encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally.
http://www.bnd.com/news/nation-world/national/article199742514.html

 

WJBD RADIO
— Republican Challenger to Governor Bruce Rauner Blasts Him for Straying from Republican Platform Jeannie Ives Says Rauner Is Unelectable in November
http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2018/02/12/republican-challenger-to-governor-bruce-rauner-blasts-him-for-straying-from-republican-platform-
— Republican Attorney General Candidate Keynote Speaker of Marion County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner Erika Howard Sets Five Goals If Elected in November
http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2018/02/12/republican-attorney-general-candidate-keynote-speaker-of-marion-county-republican-lincoln-day-dinner-

 

WVIK
— Even Without A Budget, Illinois Spends And Spends – BRIAN.MACKEY
http://wvik.org/post/even-without-budget-illinois-spends-and-spends#stream/0

 

BGA
— REVIEW THESE QUESTIONNAIRES, DEBATES, FACT CHECKS BEFORE YOU VOTE – Madeleine Doubek
https://www.bettergov.org/news/doubek-review-these-questionnaires-debates-fact-checks-before-you-vote

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— Rich Morthland On The Republican Gov Race
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/rich-morthland-on-the-republican-gov-race

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Family Research Council Action PAC endorses Ives for governor – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511332448-frc-action-pac-endorses-ives-for-governor

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— When Illinois home values fall, but property taxes don’t – Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/when-illinois-home-values-fall-but-property-taxes-dont/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Chicago Tribune Dumps on Ives – Laurie Higgins (DIERSEN: Who dumps on you? I should write a book about those who dump on me. They a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and/or 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. 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://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/02/chicago-tribune-dumps-on-ives/

 

FOX NEWS
— Thieves brag on social media as Chicago carjacking surge leads to highest number in a decade – Greg Norman (DIERSEN: In 1971, thieves stole my 1969 Dodge Charger SE while I was working in the IRS office in the Loop. In 1973, thieves stole my 1962 Chevy BelAir while I was working in the IRS office at 63rd and Halsted.)
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/12/thieves-brag-on-social-media-as-chicago-carjacking-surge-leads-to-highest-number-in-decade.html

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Amnesty, Border Security on Table as Senate Begins Immigration Debate – Rachel del Guidice
http://dailysignal.com/2018/02/12/amnesty-border-security-on-table-as-senate-begins-immigration-debate/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The problem with this proposal is that providing amnesty and citizenship to 1.8 million illegal aliens will simply act as a magnet to attract even more illegal aliens—just like the 1986 amnesty did,” von Spakovsky said, adding: “It also fails to make the E-Verify system mandatory for employers, which is a vital component of internal enforcement intended to dry up the jobs that attract so many illegal aliens to the country. We should not even be talking about amnesty until we have had a sustained period of increased border security and internal enforcement that stems the tide of illegal aliens entering the country and substantially reduces the number of illegal aliens already inside the country.”)

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Kinzinger not surprised by Freedom Caucus reaction to spending bill – Sally Persons
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/12/adam-kinzinger-unsurprised-freedom-caucus-reaction/

 

THE HILL
— Burned by the budget, right warns Ryan on immigration – MELANIE ZANONA
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/373538-burned-by-the-budget-right-warns-ryan-on-immigration

 

CBS NEWS
— Here are some of the surprising possible candidates for higher office – AP
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/here-are-some-of-the-surprising-possible-candidates-for-higher-office/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Erika Harold, former Miss America Harold, the 2003 Miss America, is running for statewide office to be Illinois attorney general. The Harvard law grad and Phi Beta Kappa is a practicing lawyer in Champaign, Illinois. The young Republican entered the Miss America pageant hoping she could win some money to pay for law school. As a teen, she promoted teenage abstinence, and later, she served as a GOP delegate to the 2004 Republican Convention and was also an enthusiastic supporter of President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives. This is not Harold’s first campaign — a couple of years back she also challenged incumbent Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, a Republican, for his seat in Congress, losing in the primary. This time, in her bid to be the Illinois attorney general, Harold has a better shot, having secured the support of the state’s Republicans. It also helps that the popular current state AG, Lisa Madigan, a Democrat, announced she will not run for re-election. Harold is not always in lock-step with her party, though. She declined to vote for Mr. Trump in 2016 (or for Hillary Clinton, for that matter), choosing instead to write in a candidate.)

 

REUTERS
— Upcoming state elections cast shadow over Illinois budget prospects – Karen Pierog
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-budget-election/upcoming-state-elections-cast-shadow-over-illinois-budget-prospects-idUSKBN1FW2BM

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: An Administration in Turmoil: ‘Vacancies on Top of Vacancies’ – Peter Baker (DIERSEN: Trump makes it clear that you must be blindly loyal to him. Further, many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/us/politics/trump-white-house-staff-turnover.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— GOP candidate for California governor John Cox starts 2018 with nearly $2 million in the bank
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-john-cox-1517446693-htmlstory.html

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial with a big color picture unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/07/not-bargaining-chip-border-dreamers-caught-middle-immigration-debate/313939002/

 

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS
— After killings, Pentagon added thousands of dishonorable discharge cases to FBI database – Sig Christenson (DIERSEN: Constructively, in 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors gave me a dishonorable discharge; they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old. Previously, they always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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 $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/After-killings-Pentagon-added-thousands-of-12608026.php

 

DESERET NEWS
— We are heirs to a wealth of freedom – Rick Larsen (DIERSEN: Should everyone be required to disclose what their parents’ income and net worth were in today’s dollars when they were raising you? To discredit me, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my parents were filthy rich when they were raising me. They stress that my parents sent me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900010082/op-ed-we-are-heirs-to-a-wealth-of-freedom.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Money magazine writer Chris Taylor reports, “70 percent of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and a stunning 90 percent by the third.” The trend is so ubiquitous that it has its own adage: “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.”)

 

NTEU
— President’s Budget Proposal Threatens Federal Employees and Undermines Civil Service (DIERSEN: I was a NTEU member 1971-1980 while I worked for IRS. 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.)
https://www.nteu.org/media-center/news-releases/2018/02/12/white-house-19-budget

 

PEOPLE
— Harvey Weinstein Issued Death Threats to Employees and Their Families, New Lawsuit Claims – MIKE MILLER (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who treat me like my critics/opponents have threatened them.)
http://people.com/movies/harvey-weinstein-issued-death-threats-to-employees-and-their-families-new-lawsuit-claims/

February 10 Morning Edition

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Ives beats Rauner in Wayne Township Republican Organization straw poll – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be conducting straw polls for a) Rauner/Sanguinetti v. Ives/Morthland, b) Harold v. Grasso, c) Diganvker v. Jhingan, d) Stella v. Vlakancic, e) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne, f) Kinzler v. Orozco, g) Zito v. Khouri, h) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, i) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Gavanes, j) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully, k) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, l) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, m) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, n) etc.)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511332446-ives-beats-rauner-in-wayne-township-republican-organization-straw-poll
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton} easily bested Gov. Bruce Rauner in a Republican primary straw poll vote conducted by the Wayne Township Republican Organization (WTRO), 88 percent to 12 percent. Ives also topped Rauner by a better than 3-to-1 margin (76 percent to 24 percent) on the question of “Who has the best chance of beating the democratic candidate.” The WTRO straw vote takes on added significance with some given how accurate it was in predicting the 2016 presidential race won by Donald Trump. “I have always felt the GOP committeemen in Wayne Township have the pulse of the voters,” organization chairman Jerry Marchese said in a press release. “We shall anxiously await the results of this poll and how it matches the outcome from the March 20th primary elections.” In the WTRO straw vote for sheriff, James Mendrick topped Frank Bibbiano, 69 percent to 31 percent; while Burt Minor topped Amy Grant in the race for state representative in the 42nd District, 85 percent to 15 percent; and Tonia Khouri squeaked by Nic Zito, 53 percent to 47 percent in the 49th District. Another poll of all the races is slated to take place on March 8, less than two weeks before voters formally go to the polls. “As always, we encourage everyone to get out to vote on Tuesday, March 20th, and vote for the candidate of their choice,” Marchese added in the press release. “Our committeeman will be stopping by or knocking on doors from now until Election Day to encourage voters to come out to vote.”)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Budget finally OK, Congress heads into big fight over immigration, Dreamers – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you do not glorify and praise citizens of foreign countries, Democrats and RINOs call you a White supremacist, a Nazi, a KKK member, a hater, a racist, a sexist, a bigot, and even worse things. Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because they work for less money.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-congress-budget-immigration-fight-20180209-story.html
— Transgender student appeals after judge denies unrestricted access to Palatine locker room – Angie Leventis Lourgos
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-transgender-locker-room-appeal-20180208-story.html
— Student says 1st Amendment rights violated when school ‘threatened’ him to be quiet during Cary mayor’s visit – Amanda Marrazzo (DIERSEN: Should I start filing lawsuits again? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being litigious, but I have not filed a lawsuit since 1998. Should I write a book about all the lawsuits and demands for arbitration that I have filed? In 1988, when I was 40 years old, I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged GAO with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-cary-grove-first-amendment-20180209-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Cary-Grove High School senior said his First Amendment rights were violated when Cary’s mayor came to his school for a question-and-answer session and the student was told not to interrupt, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court. Matthew Ahmann, 18, a self-described political journalist, has been outspoken against Mayor Mark Kownick in recent years through his politically driven Facebook account. In his lawsuit filed against the school board of Crystal Lake-based District 155, Ahmann said that on Sept. 26 he did as he was told by the school’s dean, James Kelly, after receiving a “threatening ultimatum” and kept quiet during the mayor’s visit to his advanced placement politics class. Ahmann, who also is seeking $50,000 in compensatory damages, said in the lawsuit that Kelly approached him after having a conversation with Kownick. Kelly told him not to “say or do anything” during Kownick’s visit “or negative consequences would follow.” According to the lawsuit, “Mayor Kownick and Dean Kelly, working in concert and prior to the mayor’s speech, conspired to stifle Matt’s continued political journalism by having Dean Kelly threaten and intimidate Matt.” Ahmann did however record the session on his cellphone and weeks later posted it on his politically charged Facebook page. He said the district in retaliation punished him by placing him on a one-day in-school suspension. Ahmann said in the lawsuit he wants this expunged from his record because having this “permanent academic record of suspension” hurts his future chances of being accepted into colleges and earning scholarships.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— As snow blankets Chicagoland, a third of Cook County jail guards called in sick – Andy Grimm (DIERSEN: While I worked for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969, I was frequently called in to work because my coworkers had called in sick.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-snow-blankets-chicagoland-a-third-of-cook-county-jail-guards-called-in-sick/

 

DAILY HERALD
— State appeals adding ‘pain’ as medical marijuana qualifier – AP (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180209/news/302099905/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois’ lousy credit rating: It’s contagious
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/bonds

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rauner makes re-election case as ‘proud Republican’ – RYAN VOYLES and TOM LISI (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. In Illinois, if you do not defend and advance the Illinois Republican Party platform, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office as a Republican.)
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/rauner-makes-re-election-case-as-proud-republican/article_f6871c3d-134f-5195-9225-0ca5551d816a.html

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Polls don’t bode well for Rauner – RICH MILLER
http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/miller-polls-don-t-bode-well-for-rauner/article_99984a5a-4ce7-5ae3-9d7e-214f4546a82d.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rauner pushes for term limits, end to Madigan’s reign – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-10/rauner-pushes-term-limits-end-madigans-reign-visit-n-g.html

 

WGEM
— Illinois looking into medical marijuana instead of opioids – Patrick Doss (DIERSEN: If you promote pot or opioids, you promote destruction.)
http://www.wgem.com/story/37472301/2018/02/Friday/illinois-looking-into-medical-marijuana-instead-of-opioids
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The bill passed through a senate committee with a 16-1 vote, with the lone opposition vote coming from Republican Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington, Illinois. His office said Friday that the reasoning behind that opposition vote was concerns from the Illinois Department of Health over being able to staff the additional people needed to streamline the process. If it becomes a law, it would allow people applying for the medical marijuana program in the first year, to do so without a physician’s certification, or the fingerprint background check.)

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you are charged with anything bad, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be guilty: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German Americans, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://nprillinois.org/post/why-men-remain-high-power-positions-despite-claims-abuse#stream/0

 

WJBD RADIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you are charged with anything bad, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be guilty: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German Americans, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2018/02/09/white-house-speechwriter-resigns-after-domestic-abuse-allegations

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Releases New TV Spot To Honor the Life of Denny McCann: Repeal Sanctuary State
https://mailchi.mp/592bb3b94198/ives-releases-new-tv-spot-to-honor-the-life-of-denny-mccann-repeal-sanctuary-state

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly pot pushes use opioid problems to push pot.
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/dispensary-owner-medical-pot-for-pain-would-be-better-quality/article_089ee400-0d14-11e8-8f00-1f34e4a07e45.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Walgreens Restroom Kerfuffle – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/walgreens-restroom-kerfuffle-2/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— NEW IVES’ AD: “NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION …”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/new-ives-ad-now-that-ive-got-your-attention-.html


— BETWEEN A FARMER AND A DISABLED VETERAN, WHO DESERVES TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES MORE?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/between-a-farmer-and-a-disabled-veteran-who-deserves-taxpayer-subsidies-more.html

 

AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION
— BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Walgreens’ new policy welcomes men into women’s restrooms
https://www.afa.net/activism/action-alerts/2018/walgreens-new-policy-welcomes-men-into-womens-restrooms/

 

BREITBART
— Illinois Candidate for Gov. Jeanne Ives Releases Ad Aimed at Conservatives – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/09/illinois-candidate-for-governor-jeanne-ives-releases-ad-aimed-at-conservatives/
— Democrats, Business Sacrifice ‘Dreamers’ To Preserve Chain Migration – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because they work for less money.)
http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/02/09/democrats-sacrifice-dreamers-to-preserve-chain-migration-immigration-inflow/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Democrats Helped Create Neo-Nazi Arthur Jones – Rich Logis
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/democrats_helped_create_neonazi_arthur_jones.html

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Shame: 2018 Winter Olympics allows men claiming to be ‘women’ to compete against real women – DOROTHY CUMMINGS MCLEAN
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/shame-2018-winter-olympics-allows-men-claiming-to-be-women-to-compete-again

 

GOPUSA
— Bermuda repeals same-sex marriage
http://www.gopusa.com/bermuda-repeals-same-sex-marriage/

 

THE HILL
— Second White House aide resigns amid past abuse allegations – AVERY ANAPOL
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/373227-second-white-house-official-in-one-week-resigns-over-domestic-abuse

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Democrats Give Up Fighting For Dreamers. Again. – Cesar Vargas (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? Who fights for those who share your demographics?)
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-vargas-dreamers-democrats_us_5a7e2bebe4b08dfc9304249f

 

REUTERS
— U.S. budget deals grants $1.5 billion for opioid-addicted babies, families – Duff Wilson, John Shiffman
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-congress-opioids/u-s-budget-deals-grants-1-5-bln-for-opioid-addicted-babies-families-idUSL2N1PZ112

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Fox News Removes a Top Executive’s Column on Olympic Team Diversity – Michael M. Grynbaum (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot and even worse things if you do not promote diversity, that is, if you do not promote getting rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/business/media/fox-news-olympics-john-moody.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fox News on Friday removed an incendiary op-ed article by one of its top executives, after the piece drew criticism for mocking American Olympic officials who had emphasized the diversity of this year’s team of athletes. The column suggested, sarcastically, that the United States Olympic Committee adopt a new motto: “Darker, Gayer, Different.” The piece, published on Wednesday and written by John Moody, an executive vice president and executive editor of Fox News, caused an uproar on social media. Some of the network’s employees expressed dismay that Fox News had allowed the article to be published on its website. “John Moody’s column does not reflect the views or values of Fox News and has been removed,” the network said in a statement. Mr. Moody, a Time magazine alumnus who was one of the network’s earliest senior news managers, was close to Roger E. Ailes, Fox News’s former chairman. Mr. Moody’s role at Fox News has dwindled over the years; despite his lofty title, he has little formal oversight over the channel’s day-to-day coverage.)
— How Taxpayers Who Want Help Can Find a Reputable Preparer – Ann Carrns (DIERSEN: Do you prepare and file your own income tax returns? I have since 1964. I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO on audits of IRS 1986-1988. I itemized 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized since 1978. I won a split decision in Tax Court when my Democrat IRS superiors and Money Magazine disallowed my education deductions in 1978. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I have used Quicken and Turbotax since they became available. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and of federal taxes. What do you say to people who do not even know if they take the standard deduction or if they itemize who viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and of federal taxes?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/your-money/find-tax-return-preparers.html
— Select the Worst Trump Minion – Gail Collins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who serve as minions for my critics/opponents.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/opinion/worst-trump-minion.html
— The Great Republican Power Grab – Editorial (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about a) those who succeeded in 2015 in gerrymandering my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 in Wheaton and b) why they did it?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/opinion/republicans-gerrymandering-power.html
— For Republicans, the Tea Party Is Over – Carl Hulse
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/us/politics/republicans-budget.html
— Fight Over Cambodian Leader’s Facebook ‘Likes’ Reaches a U.S. Court – Julia Wallace (DIERSEN: Facebook is a Democrat website.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/world/asia/cambodia-facebook-hun-sen.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: The Era of Fiscal Austerity Is Over. Here’s What Big Deficits Mean for the Economy. It depends on whether you look at the short, medium or long term. – Neil Irwin
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/upshot/the-era-of-fiscal-austerity-is-over-heres-what-big-deficits-mean-for-the-economy.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump asks “Why might the White House have kept Rob Porter?” and says “Everyone else was incompetent.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-might-the-white-house-have-kept-rob-porter-everyone-else-was-incompetent/2018/02/09/f2ab30ac-0de2-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— There’s One Thing Worse Than Paying Bad Teachers Not to Work Bill de Blasio’s New York has started putting them back in the classroom, especially in poor areas. – Marcus A. Winter (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that I am so BAD that since 1997, my GAO superiors have had the Civil Service Retirement System pay me $1,058,890 ($4,322 X 245 months) in today’s dollars to not work.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-one-thing-worse-than-paying-bad-teachers-not-to-work-1518219111
— Free Speech Gets Expensive A university sent the College Republicans a $17,000 security bill. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/free-speech-gets-expensive-1518221133
— College Republicans Avoid Security Fees for Campus Event University of Washington blocked from charging college GOP group security fees – Michelle Hackman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-group-avoids-school-fees-1518217236
— Will China Impose a New World Order? When Pax Britannica gave way to Pax Americana, the transition was peaceful. A repeat is unlikely, says the author of ‘Safe Passage.’ – Tunku Varadarajan (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who have no problem with China running the world? Those who promote China want to get rid of me.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-china-impose-a-new-world-order-1518219178
— The Enlightenment Is Working Don’t listen to the gloom-sayers. The world has improved by every measure of human flourishing over the past two centuries, and the progress continues – Steven Pinker (DIERSEN: Has America been good to you? Are you doing better than your parents? Neither of my outstanding parents attended college. My mother never attended high school. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. I earned three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license. My father did not buy a new car until he was 45, and it was a bottom of the line 2-door Chevy. I bought my first new car in 1966 when I was 17. My daily driver is a 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS that I bought from my aunt in 2010. Other cars that I own are: 1972 Chevy Corvette*, 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX*, 2005 Chevy Corvette*, 2013 Dodge Charger R/T Max*, and 2016 Ford Mustang*. Previously, I bought a 1958 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy Impala SS, 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint*, 1968 Oldsmobile 442*, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, 1969 Dodge Charger SE*, 1974 Dodge Dart*, 1978 Chevy Chevette*, 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale*, 1990 Ford Thunderbird LX*, 1993 Ford Thunderbird*, and 1997 Chevy Cavalier*. (* = bought new))
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enlightenment-is-working-1518191343
— In Collective Identities, We Both Lose and Find Ourselves Races, nations and even generations are thought of as having personalities, talents—even destinies. – Crispin Sartwell (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township, in your county, and in Illinois takes the lead in demonizing, denigrating, and condemning members of the following groups as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, and even worse things: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-collective-identities-we-bothe-lose-and-find-ourselves-1518216561
— Despite U.S. Push, Most NATO Allies Fail to Fulfill Military-Spending Goals Even as European military outlays rise, the majority of allies won’t meet 2%-of-GDP benchmark, officials say – Julian E. Barnes (DIERSEN: As everyone knows, were it not for America’s military might, virtually every country in the world invade and would attempt to conquer the countries around them.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/despite-u-s-push-most-nato-allies-fail-to-fulfill-military-spending-goals-1518200382

 

KIPLINGER
— Tax Planning for Newlyweds Will getting married cut your tax bill or will you fall victim to the marriage tax penalty? (DIERSEN: My wife and I have paid the marriage penalty big time since we got married in 1978. Under the new Republican tax law, if there was no marriage penalty, instead of $10,000, the SALT cap would be $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T055-C000-S001-marriage-and-taxes.html

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says: Dumbed-Down Security Briefings Still Too Difficult for Trump to Read.” My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails contain links to too many articles from too many sources.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/dumbed-down-security-briefings-still-too-difficult-for-trump.html

 

RAW STORY
— Conservative group enriches its leaders with questionable dealings as its political influence grows – Pro Publica
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/conservative-group-enriches-leaders-questionable-dealings-political-influence-grows/

 

NEXT GENERATION STRATEGIES
— The only way Illinois Policy Institute survives is if it purges itself of Tillman, Proft and Hughes. Will be interesting to see as this unfolds what exactly Proft and Hughes did to justify the nearly $300,000 in consulting fees. – Pat Brady
https://twitter.com/pat_brady/status/962017458969182208

February 9 Morning Edition

CBS2
— Rauner ‘Very Troubled’ With Llinois Policy Institute’s Reported Questionable Dealings – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/09/governor-rauner-llinois-policy-institutes-report-investigation-financial/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— President Trump signs sweeping $400 billion budget deal, government to reopen – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-budget-deal-government-shutdown-20180208-story.html
— Civic Federation calls for taxing retirement income, maybe closing universities to balance state budget – Monique Garcia (DIERSEN: The more that retirement income would be taxed, the more retired people would leave Illinois. All retired people in Illinois are members of one or more of the following groups: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-civic-federation-illinois-budget-20180209-story.html
— Top Trump aides knew of abuse allegations against Rob Porter for months – Josh Dawsey and Beth Reinhard
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-white-house-aide-domestic-abuse-20180208-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Illinois GOP Congressmen note the lack of “civic-minded citizens” coming forward to run for the 3rd Congressional District office. Running for a congressional seat is a tremendously difficult undertaking, far more difficult than running for an Illinois Senate seat, an Illinois House seat, a county seat, etc. Rauner owns the Illinois Republican Party lock, stock, and barrel. Because of that, few run for seats as Republicans in Illinois unless Rauner asks them to run and he gives them lots of money.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-civic-federation-illinois-budget-20180209-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Duckworth and Schneider blast Trump’s military parade. I should write a book about those who since 1978 have worked the hardest a) to discourage Republican participation in Wheaton Independence Day parades, b) to discourage Republican sponsorship of the parades, and c) to discourage people from watching the parades.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-civic-federation-illinois-budget-20180209-story.html
— With U.S. competition hurting its marijuana business, Mexico warms a little to legalization – Kate Linthicum (DIERSEN: Mexico’s sending many mountains of illegal drugs into America illegally is an act of war as well as its sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally and its keeping many millions of its citizens in America illegally.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/voiceit/world-views/ct-hoy-with-u-s-competition-hurting-its-marijuana-business-mexico-warms-a-little-to-legalization-20180208-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For decades, marijuana flowed in one direction across the U.S.-Mexico border: north. These days, drug enforcement agents regularly seize specialty strains of retail-quality cannabis grown in the United States being smuggled south. Widespread legalization in the U.S. is killing Mexico’s marijuana business, and cartel leaders know it. They are increasingly abandoning the crop that was once was their bread and butter and looking elsewhere for profits, producing and exporting drugs including heroin and fentanyl and banking on extortion schemes and fuel theft. So when Mexico’s tourism secretary boldly declared his hopes that Mexico will legalize marijuana for recreational use in an effort to reduce growing violence across the nation, some balked at the notion that marijuana was driving the bloodshed.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Sun-Times wins Report for America grant to hire neighborhood reporter (DIERSEN: When will the mainstream media hire a reporter to cover Wheaton?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/sun-times-wins-report-for-america-grant-to-hire-neighborhood-reporter/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Kennedy tries to walk moderate line in Illinois Democratic governor fight – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180208/BLOGS02/180209905/chris-kennedy-tries-to-walk-moderate-line-in-illinois-democratic

 

DAILY HERALD
— 10th District rivals exchange barbs over political pasts – Russell Lissau (DIERSEN: If you ran for an office, what would your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame you for? They would blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all the defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000, and especially the defeats that Jim Ryan sufffered in 2002, Judy Baar Topinka in 2006, and Bill Brady suffered in 2010.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180209/10th-district-rivals-exchange-barbs-over-political-pasts

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Pritzker regrets; Ives doesn’t – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-02-09/pritzker-regrets-ives-doesnt.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: SJ-R maligns Ives for political gain
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180208/thumbs-down-to-candidates-who-malign-others-for-political-gain
— Thumbs Down: To candidates who malign others for political gain – Editorial (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois, who maligns others? I should write a book about those in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County. and in Illinois who malign those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180208/thumbs-down-to-candidates-who-malign-others-for-political-gain
— Civic Federation recommends taxing services, retirement to stabilize state – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: If this is done, how many millions will leave Illinois? Those who will leave will be those who are retired, 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.sj-r.com/news/20180209/civic-federation-recommends-taxing-services-retirement-to-stabilize-state
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ahead of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address next week, the Civic Federation is again calling for taxing some retirement income and extending the state sales tax to some services as part of its proposal to stabilize state finances. The Civic Federation, which is a watchdog over state finances, said the budget passed last summer to end the two-year budget impasse meant the state “was no longer careening toward unprecedented financial disaster.” “However, our elected officials again relied on shaky financial practices for short-term relief, such as counting on dubious one-time revenues and repeatedly kicking the pension can down the road,” said Federation president Laurence Msall in a statement. “Such actions only make achieving sound financial footing more difficult.” The Civic Federation compiled a list of 11 steps it believes the state should follow to reestablish the state’s financial health. Number one on the list is limiting annual spending growth to 2.1 percent for the next five years at a minimum. The group recommended other cost control measures like cutting the interest rate the state pays on overdue bills, consolidating government units and creating a commission to explore consolidating governance of state universities. Other recommendations will be more difficult, Msall acknowledged. The organization said the state should impose the income tax on the same retirement income that is taxed at the federal level. For example, there is a federal income tax on 401(k) distributions, but Illinois does not tax them. Imposing that tax has been a third rail in Illinois politics. Also, the report calls for a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot “to clarify the pension protection clause.” That clause prevents lawmakers from enacting cuts to pensions of current public employees. The report recommends extending the sales tax to 14 services that are also taxed in Wisconsin, such as landscaping and internet services. The federation also is calling for a new capital construction bill that would be financed by an increase in the gasoline tax. Rauner will deliver his budget speech on Wednesday.)
— Fox News’ Pirro, Rauner fire up Republicans at annual dinner – Maximilian Kwiatkowski (DIERSEN: How successful have the chairmen of the Illinois Republican Party, your Republican county party organization, and your Republican township/ward party organization been in recruiting speakers that draw draw large crowds and fire them up? While I served as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) demonized, denigrated, and condemned the speakers that I recruited, b) hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had recruited better speakers, far more would have attended TAPROOT monthly meetings, picnics, and Christmas parties, and c) hinted/implied/argured/shouted that my failure to recruit better speakers was enough to viciously dump me as the TAPROOT chairman. After my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes succeeded in viciously dumping me, they recruited Dan Proft to speak at a TAPROOT meeting.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180208/fox-news-pirro-rauner-fire-up-republicans-at-annual-dinner
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Leading Republican figures doubled down on their attacks on Democrats Thursday as they rallied the Sangamon County branch of the party during its 114th Lincoln Day Dinner in Springfield. More than 900 party members, leaders and politicians showed up for the event at the Bank of Springfield Center to hear special guest Jeanine Pirro, host of Fox News’ “Justice with Judge Jeanine” program, and Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner said the main goal for Republicans this year is to defeat longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, calling him a machine politician who was destroying the state. “It is a cancer that is eating us from the inside, sucking our vitality, sucking our quality of life to enrich himself and his friends inside government,” Rauner said. The governor focused on themes he has mentioned throughout his campaign: restoring economic success in Illinois and lowering taxation. He made a specific promise to fight a Democratic proposal for a progressive income tax, which would tax residents based upon their income level. “It ain’t progressive. It’s a destructive income tax hike that they want to put on the people of Illinois,” he said. “I will block that and make sure that our income taxes stay flat and low and actually down lower from where they are today and bring ’em back down to 3 percent over the next two years.” Pirro, meanwhile, focused on national issues. She praised the first year of President Donald Trump as a major improvement over Barack Obama and the rule of the Democratic Party, which she said was corrupt. She compared Trump to a maverick politician for doing things outside of norm for politicians. “He said things that weren’t politically correct, and he said things that weren’t considered acceptable,” she said. “But the forgotten men and women of this country heard him. And here we are one year later, with a resounding economy, with ISIS crushed in the Middle East, with unemployment at a 40-year low.” While acknowledging the stock market had taken downturn recently, she said Trump’s presidency has been a success thus far. Pirro said, however, there were still issues for the country to confront, specifically the FBI. She claimed the nation’s top law enforcement agency may have been politically biased and tried to ensure Trump’s 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, became president. She said the situation “absolutely scares the hell out me.” She said the picture started to become clear with former FBI director James Comey not indicting Clinton over managing classified documents on a private email server. She said she believes Comey wanted Clinton to become president and was hiding information from her and may also have been covering for Obama. “It’s time for James Comey to be the target of an active criminal investigation,” she said. She then cited the Russian uranium deal, made under Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, as another case that should be investigated, claiming a number of Washington politicians were working together to defend each other. According to Pirro, Robert Mueller, who is investigating allegations of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election, is among them. She claimed Mueller was out for revenge over not becoming FBI director when Comey was removed last year and instead collaborated with Republican Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to investigate Trump. “Rosenstein needed Mueller to be there. Comey needed Mueller to be there, because they were all involved in a case that involves the sale of the uranium,” she said. She likened the whole investigation to an attempt to overthrow the government and highlighted it as a reason for Republicans to make sure they vote in 2018. “The 2018s are gonna be tough. They’re gonna be real tough,” she said. “You better get ready for this. I don’t care if you walk house to house, use social media, tweet, text, email, get the millennials involved, go to the old age homes. Whatever you gotta do you gotta get out there.” Rauner said he was confident that 2018 would be successful. “All of us worked hard last year. 2016 — even though President Trump, unfortunately, lost Illinois by over 16 points — we in Illinois picked up six seats in the General Assembly for the Republicans in 2016,” he said. “And you watch, this year, this is our year. We are going to take it to the Madigan machine of corruption and cronyism. We are going to run a great slate of candidates this November, and we are going to win nine (House) seats and knock Mike Madigan out as speaker of the House.”)

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Bill proposes $1B to help cover Illinois prison expenses – AP
http://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/bill-proposes-b-to-help-cover-illinois-prison-expenses/article_ddfe2146-2bbf-5c91-a8d6-1f81f226fce1.html

 

JOURNAL & TOPICS
— Campaign Cash Proxy War Breaks Out In House Race Proft Groups Back Miller; Durkin, House GOP Back Corrigan – Tom Robb
https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/campaign-cash-proxy-war-breaks-out-in-house-race/

 

WCSJ NEWS
— Rauner Budget Chief: Governor Will Deal With Nine Billion Deficit
http://www.wcsjnews.com/news/local/rauner-budget-chief-governor-will-deal-with-nine-billion-deficit/article_fd76cd82-0d8a-11e8-9fb5-27d2842aa896.html

 

WJBC
— Illinois Republican congressmen distance themselves from GOP Holocaust denier candidate – Howard Packowitz (DIERSEN: Saying that someone is distancing themselves from someone hints/implies/argues/shouts that they initially supported that someone. Republicans never supported Arthur Jones.)
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/02/08/illinois-republican-congressmen-distance-themselves-from-gop-holocaust-denier-candidate/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/special-reportthe-possibility-of-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/961394232

 

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois politicians: stop guilting taxpayers – Wirepoints Original – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-politicians-stop-guilting-taxpayers-wirepoints-original/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Pritzker under fire for new FBI wiretapped Blagojevich talks – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: What are you “under fire” for? I am under fire from Democrats and Democrat plants, from Libertarians and Libertarian plants, from Greens and Green plants, and from RINOs for my supporting the Illinois Republican Party platform, and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/pritzker-under-fire-for-new-fbi-wiretapped-blagojevich-talks/article_ebc1b9dc-0c48-11e8-ba46-e71ffdf0bdad.html

 

BREITBART
— Jeanne Ives Is the Real Deal in Illinois – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/09/blue-state-blues-jeanne-ives-real-deal-illinois/

 

BLAZE
— Effective immediately: House bans sexual relationships between lawmakers and their staffers – Jana J. Pruet
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/02/06/effective-immediately-house-bans-sexual-relationships-between-lawmakers-and-their-staffers

 

NEW YORK
— We All Have a Stake in the Stock Market, Right? Guess Again – Patricia Cohen
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/business/economy/stocks-economy.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Take a deep breath and relax. The riotous market swings that have whipped up frothy peaks of anxiety over the last week — bringing the major indexes down more than 10 percent from their high — have virtually no impact on the income or wealth of most families. The reason: They own little or no stock. A whopping 84 percent of all stocks owned by Americans belong to the wealthiest 10 percent of households. And that includes everyone’s stakes in pension plans, 401(k)’s and individual retirement accounts, as well as trust funds, mutual funds and college savings programs like 529 plans. “For the vast majority of Americans, fluctuations in the stock market have relatively little effect on their wealth, or well-being, for that matter,” said Edward N. Wolff, an economist at New York University who recently published new research on the topic. Both Republicans and Democrats have promoted the idea that a rising stock market broadly lifts Americans’ fortunes. When there was a parade of market rallies, President Trump asked, “How’s your 401(k) doing?”)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Dozens at White House lack permanent security clearances – Josh Dawsey, Matt Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dozens-at-white-house-lack-permanent-security-clearances/2018/02/08/50e3cfd6-0d15-11e8-8890-372e2047c935_story.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Journalists are fleeing for their lives in Mexico. There are few havens – Kate Linthicum
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-journalists-20180205-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Forget the 4% Rule: Rethinking Common Retirement Beliefs Three retirement-savings rules come into question as stocks and bonds get more expensive and retirements last longer – Anne Tergesen (DIERSEN: 10 times my 1997 GAO salary in today’s dollars is $1,253,250.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/forget-the-4-rule-rethinking-common-retirement-beliefs-1518172201
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The 4% rule Conventional wisdom says you can withdraw 4% from your savings in the first year of retirement and give yourself an annual raise over the next 30 years to keep pace with inflation without a significant risk of going broke. For someone with a $1 million portfolio, the formula produces an initial income of $40,000 and—assuming inflation of 2.5%—an increase to $41,000 in year two. But in recent years, the rule’s safety has been questioned. While 4% would have worked over every 30-year retirement from 1926 on for an investor with 60% in large-company stocks and 40% in intermediate-term U.S. bonds, it failed in almost half of the simulations researchers recently ran using forecasts of future, rather than past, returns. As a result, “3% is the new safe withdrawal rate,” says Wade Pfau, a professor at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pa., who ran the numbers with Mr. Blanchett and Michael Finke, also of the American College. . .Finding your ‘number’ This rule calls for amassing a specific dollar amount, such as 10 times your current salary, before retiring. But that can be dangerous, Mr. Blanchett says.)
— Brazil’s Largest Newspaper to Cease Posting on Facebook Move follows the social-media company’s decision to overhaul its news feed – Paul Kiernan
https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazils-largest-newspaper-to-cease-posting-on-facebook-1518110504
— A War on the Rich Won’t Help the Poor – David R. Henderson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-war-on-the-rich-wont-help-the-poor-1518134282

 

USA TODAY
— As Paul Ryan turns to Democrats for votes, conservatives fume over budget deal – Eliza Collins
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/08/paul-ryan-turns-democrats-votes-conservatives-fume-over-budget-deal/320248002/
— Drugs, alcohol and suicides contribute to alarming drop in U.S. life expectancy – Doyle Rice
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2018/02/07/drugs-alcohol-and-suicides-contribute-alarming-drop-u-s-life-expectancy/316271002/
— ‘Hire the best and fire the worst’: Trump proposes biggest civil service change in 40 years – Gregory Korte (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/09/hire-best-and-fire-worst-trump-proposes-biggest-civil-service-change-40-years/315981002/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Trump foreshadowed the proposal in a line in his State of the Union address last week: “Tonight, I call on Congress to empower every Cabinet Secretary with the authority to reward good workers and to remove federal employees who undermine the public trust or fail the American people,” he said. Trump is using the VA Accountability Act, which gave the Secretary of Veterans Affairs greater authority to fire and discipline workers, as a model. The White House says that law has resulted in the dismissal of 1,470 employees, the suspension of 443, demotions for 83 others last year. “While to some people those are code wards, they’re very clear to us,” said American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox, who represents about 700,000 workers for the federal government and District of Columbia. “Basically it wipes out due process rights for employees.” Another pillar of the proposal would reduce automatic pay increases and instead use that money for a performance bonus pool. Under the current system, federal employees get a review every one to three years. Employees whose performance is “fully successful” — as 99.7% are — get a within-grade “step” increase in addition to annual cost-of-living increases. Trump’s plan would stretch out the amount of time it takes to go from step 1 to step 10 from 18 years to 27 years, saving $10 billion over the next decade, officials said. That money would then go to high-performing employees either as merit raises or one-time bonuses. Federal employee unions fear the pay-per-performance plan would be used to reward loyalists and discriminate against women and minorities. “He seems to be interested in political revenge by firing people,” Cox said. “The government is not a family business that you get to be in total control of.” Some of Trump’s proposals can be done administratively, and others would take congressional action. Trump’s efforts to wrangle the bureaucracy fulfill a key campaign promise of the businessman president, who pledged a hiring freeze to shrink the cost of government and reduce regulation.)

 

SALON
— CNN let that Nazi GOP candidate spew his hate on live TV Both the state and national Republican Parties have denounced Arthur Jones. Yet CNN gave him a platform – Rachel Leah (DIERSEN: Of course, CNN is using Arthur Jones to harm Trump, to harm the Republican Party, to harm the Illinois Republican Party, and to harm all Republicans. CNN is an arm of the Democrat Party.)
https://www.salon.com/2018/02/08/cnn-let-that-nazi-gop-candidate-spew-his-hate-on-live-tv/

February 5 Morning Edition

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Receives $2 million from Uihlein in Governor’s Race
https://mailchi.mp/bac28c167b9f/ives-receives-2m-from-uihlein-in-governors-race
(FROM THE STATEMENT: The Ives for Illinois campaign is pleased to announce it has received a $2 million donation from businessman Dick Uihlein. These funds will support and ensure that Jeanne Ives is able to introduce herself to the GOP primary electorate and present a clear choice for those voters between the crony bailouts and extreme Left social policy agenda of Gov. Rauner’s and the conservative reform policy record and vision of Ives. Ives has now raised more than $3.5 million in the few short weeks of her insurgent campaign against Gov. Rauner. “Mr. Uihlein’s commitment to a conservative reform policy revolution is humbling as is the commitment of every donor and volunteer to our campaign,” said Ives. “People doing what they can with what they have is how we win this race for the people who play by the rules and do their part to make Illinois a great place to live, work and raise a family. A state government aligned with their interests is long overdue in Illinois.”)

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— BRZOSKA: IN RESPONSE TO RAUNER ATTACKS ON IVES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/brzoska-in-response-to-rauner-attacks-on-ives.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton will start the week with a speech to the City Club of Chicago, just about 12 hours after announcing late Sunday that her campaign received a $2 million contribution from Lake Forest businessman Richard Uihlein. Last week ended in controversy for Ives, after she released a TV ad critics deemed as “racist,” “sexist” and “homophobic.” Criticism from top Republicans continued over the weekend, and her City Club speech puts her in position to face crowd and reporter questions while the controversy is fresh.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-chicago-musicians-20180205-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Hultgrens promote two Democrats who want to run against Hultgren.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-chicago-musicians-20180205-story.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Nation’s deeply divided views on Trump mirrored in rural Henry Co. – Ted Gregory
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-trump-presidency-henry-county-politics-20180204-story.html
— 12 workplace sins (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and got rid of me because I was guilty of these 12 sins plus more, and NOT because I was a non-veteran White male conservative Republican who opposed political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180205/281917363527619
— Encore act How to find meaningful work in second half of life – Sandra Block (DIERSEN: After they succeeded in wasting my career and forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, my Democrat GAO superiors focused on assuring that I would never get a job that would be appropriate for someone with my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license. SEE: Diersen v. GAO at http://1ya26p3n0oxk2c6c8827msel-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180205/281887298756547
— Give yourself a boost Steps to aid retirement savings. – Elliot Raphaelson (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have been the most furious that my wife and I could and did save a lot for our retirement.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180205/281874413854659
— Hapless in Democratland “Can’t stand church and family? Neither can we! Vote for the Democrats in 2018! – Heather Wilhelm (DIERSEN: To vote for Democrats is to shout that you 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-wilhelm-democratland-heather-hapless-trmp-democrat-0205-story.html
— Poor People’s Campaign aims for nationwide mobilization (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always blamed me for the problems that poor people have. They have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a poor person in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a poor person in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted poor people in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a poor person in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a poor person in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor person could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180205/281676845359043

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— An anti-Trump says “Chicago’s young African-Americans don’t count in Trump’s jobs boast.”
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20180205/281702615162641
— What it means to be American – Maudlyne Ihejirika (DIERSEN: According to members of Group A, to be an American is to be a member 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, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/condoleezza-rice-cubs-joe-maddon-american-creed-race-relations-documentary/

 

ABC7
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rauner promoters say “Jeanne Ives returns campaign donation made by neo-Nazi.”
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/jeanne-ives-returns-campaign-donation-made-by-neo-nazi/3034389/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, members of Group A blame members of Group B for all the problems that minorities have. 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 American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about members of Group A in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in DuPage County, and in Illinois and their growing success in getting rid of members of Group B.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180204/ecc-talk-to-focus-on-minorities-in-prison-pipeline
— The fiasco on pre-paying property taxes – Roman E. Strzala
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180205/the-fiasco-on-pre-paying-property-taxes

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— University of Chicago stakes its claim as the anti-Berkeley – LYNNE MAREK
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180202/ISSUE01/180209960

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Someone who is both anti-Rauner and anti-Ives says “Ives needs many more Facebook views.”
http://qctimes.com/opinion/columnists/miller-ives-needs-many-more-facebook-views/article_5d70b3e3-f3ad-523a-8ee2-e18591585300.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— At least half of Springfield aldermen oppose raising sales tax – Crystal Thomas
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180204/at-least-half-of-springfield-aldermen-oppose-raising-sales-tax

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Remembering Reagan: “He’s a person I will always cherish” Former aide talks about his time with the president at Dixon dinner – RACHEL RODGERS
http://www.saukvalley.com/2018/02/04/remembering-reagan-hes-a-person-i-will-always-cherish/aqcecuh/

 

WJBD RADIO
— Trump revisits national anthem controversy before Super Bowl
http://www.wjbdradio.com/national-sports/2018/02/04/trump-revisits-national-anthem-controversy-before-super-bowl

 

NORTHERN STAR
— Gubernatorial candidate Ives calls out Rauner – Michael Urbanec
http://northernstar.info/news/gubernatorial-candidate-ives-calls-out-rauner/article_24e90556-0a11-11e8-a81e-ef1b5069dd12.html

 

DEPAULIA
— VERY SAD: Biss at DePaul Democratic candidate for governor holds town hall – Benjamin Conboy
http://depauliaonline.com/32283/news/biss-at-depaul/

 

CHICAGO READER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rauner promoters say “Gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives’s ad offends both sides of the aisle.”
https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2018/02/05/gubernatorial-candidate-jeanne-ivess-ad-offends-both-sides-of-the-aisle-and-other-chicago-news

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Is Cutting Legal Immigration Putting “America First”? – WHET MOSER (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because they want cheap labor.)
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/February-2018/Is-Cutting-Legal-Immigration-Putting-America-First/

 

PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE
— 40,000 IL College Students Eligible for SNAP (DIERSEN: What income did you have while you earned your bachelor’s degree? I worked for the Park Forest Post Office part-time while I attended UIC 1966-1968 and NIU in 1969. In today’s dollars, my salary increased from $15.85/hour to $16.91/hour. In addition, I worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970. My outstanding parents provided me with room and board while I attended UIC, weekends during my first semester at NIU, and the summer of 1969. In 1967, I sold my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint and bought a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442. In 1968, I sold my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and bought a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I graduated debt-free from NIU in August of 1970.)
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2018-02-05/livable-wages-working-families/40-000-il-students-eligible-for-snap/a61294-1

 

WHEATON PATCH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Wheaton Patch promotes anti-conservatives Daniel Biss and Tim Schneider.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/hateful-ives-campaign-ad-ignites-anger-both-sides

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Illinois state GOP official John McGlasson slams Schneider, Rauner for pushing party attack of Ives – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511329002-illinois-state-gop-offical-slams-schneider-rauner-for-pushing-party-attack-of-ives

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ICE agents see ‘gaping holes’ in Trump’s immigration plan – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/4/ice-agents-slam-donald-trumps-immigration-plan/

 

BARBWIRE
— WHAT EQUALITY ILLINOIS IS SAYING ABOUT JEANNE IVES’ CAMPAIGN AD – Laurie Higgins
https://barbwire.com/2018/02/04/jeanne-ives-campaign-ad/

 

BREITBART
— GOP Tries, Fails to Stop Antisemite from Running Unopposed in Primary – JOEL B. POLLAK (DIERSEN: Specifically, what did the Illinois Republican Party do during 2017 to stop Jones from running unopposed?)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/04/i-hate-illinois-nazis-gop-tries-fails-stop-antisemite-running-unopposed-primary/

 

BLAZE
— Americans nationwide are boycotting the Super Bowl to stand with military, law enforcement – Chris Enloe
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/02/04/americans-nationwide-are-boycotting-the-super-bowl-to-stand-with-military-law-enforcement

 

POLITICO
— Why Trump’s tax plan may spur more divorces Looming end of alimony write-off has divorce lawyers telling clients to act fast – BRIAN FALER (DIERSEN: If there was no marriage penalty, instead of $10,000, the SALT cap would be $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/04/tax-plan-divorce-alimony-marriage-389074

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— An Actual Nazi Is About To Get The Republican Nomination For An Illinois Congressional Seat The Holocaust denier has no primary opponents. – Ed Mazza (DIERSEN: What responsibility do political organizations have to encourage members of their party to run in primaries? In Illinois, because Rauner and his supporters run the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), those who are not willing to do Rauner’s bidding are discouraged from running. Rauner rejects the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and many other planks in the IRP platform.)
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/arthur-jones-republican-nomination_us_5a77d3f6e4b0905433b5bd84

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Rauner promoters say “Thank you for letting me use the girls’ bathroom ad draws fire.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/05/thank-you-for-letting-me-use-the-girls-bathroom-ill-campaign-ad-draws-fire/
— Opponents of gerrymandering keep winning, but it might not affect 2018 – Robert Barnes (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote the use of gerrymandering to harm a) those who they disapprove of, b) those who they cannot manipulate or dominate, c) those who refuse to serve as their operatives or dupes, and/or d) those who refuse to give them money. I should write a book about those who disapprove of Ives and disapprove of me who gerrymandered our adjoining precincts in 2015.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/opponents-of-gerrymandering-keep-winning-but-it-might-not-affect-2018/2018/02/04/83e5785c-078f-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans say “Our older, less fertile America needs immigration to stay competitive.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/02/02/older-less-fertile-america-needs-immigration-stay-competitive-jennifer-sciubba-column/1082523001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans say “DACA deal dud: Trump’s extreme ‘dreamers’ plan makes no sense for America.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/29/trumps-extreme-dreamers-plan-nativist-unamerican-bad-economy-raul-reyes-column/1073441001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans crow that “Evangelicals may be driving Republican stance to embrace DREAMers.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/03/evangelicals-pushing-republicans-shift-stance-embrace-dreamers/1067038001/
— Is ‘chain migration’ a racist term? No, it’s just you, Democrats. – Jonah Goldberg
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/31/chain-migration-racist-term-no-its-just-you-democrats-jonah-goldberg-column/1079100001/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois’s Magic Pension Trick Close your eyes, issue 27-year bonds and watch liabilities disappear. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinoiss-magic-pension-trick-1517776081
— Are American 5-year-olds falling behind the rest of the world? A new test from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development aims to find out, in order to better gauge what methods of early childhood education work best. – Leslie Brody (DIERSEN: What “unfair advantages” have you had in life? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that my father made enough money a) that my mother could stay home and raise me and b) that he could send me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-test-to-compare-u-s-kindergarteners-with-the-rest-of-the-world-1517826600
— The Surprising Good News About Demographics and the Stock Market Millennials could step in for the boomers in the stock market, defying the conventional wisdom—and boosting equities – Mark Hulbert (DIERSEN: Because my wife and I have always been conservative investors, a) we have always put more of our savings into fixed income than into equities and b) consequently, we have less money today.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-surprising-good-news-about-demographics-and-the-stock-market-1517800441
— Don’t Avoid Women, Mentor Them Worried by #MeToo? Here’s how to become part of the solution. – Rachel Thomas and Stacy Brown-Philpot (DIERSEN: What happened to your mentors? In 1975, my Democrat IRS superiors got rid of my mentor who had promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. In 1987, my Democrat GAO superiors got rid of my mentor who had hired me in 1980, got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-avoid-women-mentor-them-1517776842

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Disgusting anti-conservatives who support Rauner try to link Ives with Jones.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/illinois-holocaust-denier-to-win-gop-nomination-for-congress.html

(FROM THE ARTICLE: To make matters worse, the Illinois Republican Party is dealing with another bigotry-related scandal. Over the weekend, state Representative Jeanne Ives, who’s launched a primary challenge against Governor Bruce Rauner, released an ad in which actors playing a transgender woman, a pro-choice activist, an “illegal immigrant criminal,” and other right-wing bogeyman thank Rauner for advancing their interests (for example, a woman wearing a pink pussy hat thanks him for making Illinois families “pay for my abortions.”) The state GOP denounced the ad, saying “There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity.” Unfortunately for Illinois Republicans, a passionate anti-Semite was able to find a place on their ballot.)

February 4 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Illinois GOP chairman calls for Ives to take controversial ad off the air – Michelle Gallardo (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs want Rauner and his supporters to do more to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn Republicans as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, sexual harassers, bigots, and even worse things. One could ask which Rauner supporters are leading his administration’s efforts to drive out of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) those who support the traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks in the IRP platform.)
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/ill-gop-chairman-calls-for-ives-to-take-controversial-ad-off-the-air/3030306/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Appearing at Saturday’s gala for Equality Illinois, Gov. Rauner did not directly address the ad, but his presence and a $25,000 donation to the state’s LGBTQ civil rights organization did the talking. “Diana and I believe that fairness is in the DNA of the State of Illinois. The proof of that is in your work,” said Gov. Rauner at the gala. The governor was just one of nearly 100 elected officials at the event, which has become a veritable who’s who of Illinois politics. “LGBTQ equality is not a partisan issue. What we hope to hear from our speakers and our leaders is ‘We stand with you. Your full equality is consistent with the values of Illinois. We won’t go back,'” said Brian Johnson with Equality Illinois. Ives campaign stands by the ad, insisting that the commercial represents and quote, “a fair and accurate representation” of Rauner’s policy choices. It remains to be seen, whether pressure from the state’s republican leaders will change their minds. For now, a 30-second and 60 second version of the ad continues to run.)

 

WGN TV
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats and RINOs want Rauner and his supporters to do more to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn Republicans as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, sexual harassers, bigots, and even worse things. One could ask which Rauner supporters are leading his administration’s efforts to drive out of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) those who support the traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks in the IRP platform.
http://wgntv.com/2018/02/03/political-ad-at-center-of-controversy/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Governor Rauner speaking tonight at the Equality Illinois Gala, did not address it publicly. Some have labeled it transphobic , sexist and racist. The chair of the Illinois Republican Party called on Ives to take the ad down and apologize immediately. All of this comes as Gov. Rauner made his first appearance ever at the annual Equality Illinois Gala. Rauner and his wife donated 25-thousand dollars to be platinum sponsors. The organization supports Civil rights work for the LGBTQ community. Mayor Emanuel and several Democratic candidates for governor were among the politicians packing the Hilton’s grand ballroom. Governor Rauner did not stop to answer questions from reporters and he was heckled a bit during very brief remarks. A spokesperson for the Ives campaign says Ives is traveling downstate today, and She is not pulling the ad, because she is not intimidated by Gov. Rauner and what she called his paid party mouthpieces.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF IVES: Suburban backers stand by Ives after controversial ad – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180203/suburban-backers-stand-by-ives-after-controversial-ad
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Suburban Republicans backing primary challenger Jeanne Ives in her bid to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner are defending the Wheaton lawmaker who faces intense criticism for a television ad that state party leaders and Rauner allies have denounced as racist and homophobic. Lawmakers on Saturday stood by their endorsements of Ives amid the backlash over the statewide ad that began airing this weekend, but suggested the spot would provide campaign fodder for her opponents who cast Ives as a divisive social conservative and a longshot in the March primary. . .State Rep. Barb Wheeler, a Crystal Lake Republican, called the ad cringe-worthy and ridiculous. She said Ives still has her vote, but urged her messages to stick to what Wheeler considers her political strengths as a fiscal policy wonk. “I have been in the General Assembly with her since 2013. And if I believed in my heart of hearts that she was a racist or a hater, I wouldn’t have supported her in the first place,” Wheeler said. “She is right on the issues. I don’t always agree with the way she messages.” Wheeling Township Republican Committeeman Ruth O’Connell argued the ad appeals to Ives’ conservative base. “It is going to create talk, and the ad will bring the attention to the voters, and I think a lot of them care about the issues she covered in the ad,” she said. . .The Ives’ campaign dismissed Schneider’s statement, calling the Illinois GOP an arm of Rauner’s campaign because the organization is almost entirely funded by Rauner, a wealthy former private equity investor. “Rauner betrayed Illinois conservatives. He and his paid-for mouthpieces don’t like his betrayals being illustrated and his radical left-wing social agenda being exposed,” campaign spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy said. Rauner signed a bill last year making it easier for transgender people to change the gender listed on their birth certificates. He has not signed a bill on restroom access for transgender individuals. The release of the ad comes as Rauner and Ives battle for endorsements in the suburbs. The Cook County Republican Central Committee votes on Monday on who to back in the gubernatorial race. . .State Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican, said the ad was “jarring,” but meant to “stimulate conversation.” “That’s what campaigns are about,” said Morrison, an Ives supporter. “It’s discussing candidates. It’s discussing issues, and I think this ad will spark some discussions on specific bills cited in the ad.”)
— 10th District GOP hopefuls differ on term limits – Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180203/10th-district-gop-hopefuls-differ-on-term-limits
— Debate over drug rehab plan heads to Wheaton city council – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180203/debate-over-drug-rehab-plan-heads-to-wheaton-city-council

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Fact check: Does the GOP memo show the FBI spied on the Trump campaign? – Glenn Kessler (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, anyone who gets paid to be a fact checker should be required to disclose their qualifications. No one pays me, that is, I have enough money that I do not have to ask anyone for money. Nevertheless, while I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, I increasingly worked as a referencer, that is, as a fact checker. That work required assuring the accuracy and support for each and every word, number, table, graph, chart, conclusion, opinion, and recommendation in GAO reports. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. My other fact checking qualifications include becoming a Forensic Accountant in 1997, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and a CPA in 1979.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/factcheck/ct-fact-check-gop-memo-20180203-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Who should pay the price of Affirmative Action (AA), Diversity, and Inclusion? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the more of following that you are, the more that you should pay the price of AA, Diversity, and Inclusion: citizen of America, White, male, older, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, rich, gun owner, draft avoider, German American, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/schmich/ct-met-black-history-mary-schmich-20180202-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: The tea costs $60, but the weed is free: Cannabis capitalists exploit loopholes by ‘gifting’ the drug – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-free-marijuana-loopholes-20180201-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN THE NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville park director’s pay is $50K more than Fox Valley, others – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents viciously demonize, denigrate, and condemn federal employees and retirees as being grossly over-compensated. My ending GAO salary in today’s dollars was $125,325. My Civil Service Retirement System pension is $51,864. 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/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-mcgury-park-district-salary-st-0202-20180202-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A recently approved 3 percent raise for Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury locks him in as the highest paid park director in the area with a base salary of $207,618. McGury, hired to lead the park district in 2008, is also set to collect $5,634.28 a month in pension payments from the 21 years he spent with the Naperville Police Department, according to the Naperville Police Pension Fund board. In addition to his base salary, McGury was also approved for $10,000 in deferred compensation and $7,200 in auto allowance for 2018. The parks director has been receiving the car allowance and deferred compensation in those amounts since 2015.)
— New van to provide mobile veterinary services in DuPage County – Gary Gibula (DIERSEN: Of course, this will encourage low income people a) to move to DuPage County, b) to stay in DuPage County, and c) buy more pets. One reason why I can afford to spend 10+ hours each and every day and thousands of dollars each and every year to put GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and send them out free of charge and without any advertising is that neither my wife nor I have never had a pet.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-dupage-mobile-spay-neuter-vehicle-st-0126-20180202-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DuPage County officials are thrilled that their animal care and control department soon will make use of a new mobile spay and neutering van. The 26-foot conversion vehicle will be outfitted with a number of features to allow veterinary services to be provided at remote locations, similar to a bookmobile or bloodmobile. “This is going to be a game-changer that allows us to save more animals and better serve the community,” said Dr. Barbara Hanek, administrator veterinarian. With ongoing concerns about pet overpopulation, a mobile spay and neuter vehicle can serve low-income residents who may not have the ability to drive to the animal care facility at the county campus in Wheaton. “Also, our spay and neuter program is free of charge for DuPage residents who qualify,” said Kristie Lecaros, humane initiatives and special projects manager. Valued at $250,000, the van is made possible by a donation from the Brooks McCormick Jr. Trust for Animal Rights Law and Policy, which will be honored at the Feb. 27 county board meeting. “We’re an open admission shelter in the county,” said Brian Krajewski, chairman of the board’s animal care and control committee. “That means we take in every animal and try to find them a home. But we also do education, and this new van will help us to get out to many events, highlight animal rescues, and help us do some medical procedures like feral fixes, where we spay and neuter, microchip and vaccinate for rabies.” Free spay and neutering is available for all pets in DuPage County households where the owner has an Illinois LINK card that indicates low-income assistance. Officials said the van will be delivered in May. One side of it opens to reveal cages that may contain pets available for immediate adoption. Inside, the van will have two surgical tables, countertop work space and veterinary pharmacy supplies. “It’s also going to have a dental unit and an x-ray machine,” Hanek said. “We don’t even have an x-ray machine here at the main building. That’s a $50,000 piece of equipment right there.” The donation of $300,000 and a statement were facilitated by volunteer Amanda Yancey. “The Brooks McCormick Jr. Trust for Animal Rights Law and Policy is a progressive think-tank for national animal welfare,” the donor wrote. “… Amanda has seen the improvements at DuPage County Animal Care & Control. To further the momentum, the exciting possibility of a specialty veterinary vehicle is seen as revolutionary for the animals of DuPage and beyond.” Hanek said veterinary medicine at shelters has shifted from a philosophy of addressing overpopulation with euthanasia “to now using more proactive measures like targeted spaying and neutering. That’s what this new van will help us do.” Hanek met with Kane County animal control officials who demonstrated the use of geo-coding to map locations throughout the county prone to feral and stray animals. “From that data, we can then determine the most effective areas where we can target our spay and neuter van,” Hanek said. “We want to be more proactive to provide our services in the areas where they’re needed.” A veterinary surgeon has been designated for the van, which will travel to a remote location at least once a week, officials said. “We should be able to do up to 30 spays and neuters per day,” Hanek said. “It all depends on the amount of time, whether it’s neutering a male cat versus spaying a large dog.” All pets under treatment are implanted with a microchip to identify the animal and the owner. Walk-ins may obtain microchips for their pets for $30. The goal is for police departments to be able to scan a chip and return the animal to its owner. “We also are very indebted to other rescue groups that have helped us in the past,” Hanek said. “With the new vehicle, we now can come out and do procedures for them. The whole idea is to fill a void for pet owners who can’t afford veterinary care and to lessen the burden on the animal shelter system.” DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin is an animal enthusiast who has two dogs, two cats and a horse, all spayed and neutered. “I think this is a great idea,” he said. “You’ve got to take the services to the neighborhoods, which is a much more effective way to get to the overpopulation of feral cats and other animals, particularly low-income areas. I encourage all the residents to participate and start looking out for the van.”)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Man poses as Water Division employee in Wheaton burglary – Taylor Hartz
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/man-poses-as-water-division-employee-in-wheaton-robbery/

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— 3 Life Changes That Will Impact Your Taxes – Maurie Backman (DIERSEN: If there was no marriage penalty, instead of $10,000, the SALT cap would be $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
http://qctimes.com/business/investment/markets-and-stocks/life-changes-that-will-impact-your-taxes/article_6bd0d449-3a57-593e-b70d-8a54208ef0a3.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Like it or not, taxes are a part of life, so it stands to reason that when things change in your life, your taxes might follow suit. Here are three significant milestones that could end up impacting your taxes — ideally for the better. 1. Getting married  Getting married can have a huge effect on your taxes because once you tie the knot, you’re eligible to shift your status to married filing jointly. This not only changes your standard deduction, but determines the marginal tax bracket you ultimately fall into.)

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Ives short on cash, but full of fight – RICH MILLER
http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/miller-ives-short-on-cash-but-full-of-fight/article_297e65d2-25e1-51e2-803b-4fca51857b9c.html

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— All signs are positive – if you’re wealthy – DON WOOTEN (DIERSEN: If you are not struggling, that is, if you are wealthy, what do your critics/opponents attribute that to?)
http://qconline.com/opinion/columnists/all-signs-are-positive—if-you-re-wealthy/article_82b5117f-1845-5283-8117-044c2272f25f.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I meet folks who are struggling to keep themselves afloat by working two or three part-time jobs (no wonder unemployment figures are low). Some who can no longer afford health insurance, thanks to repeal of Obama’s individual mandate. People who haven’t the means to care for their elderly, sick relatives. Others whose poverty has made Dollar General stores the fastest-growing retail chain in America. The growing number of those without a home; women forced to choose between caring for their children or working several jobs to feed them.)

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Rauner promotes business-friendliness during trip to local brewery – Jaymee Toler (DIERSEN: One could ask about employee-friendliness. Are/were you an employee? I was 1964-1997.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/rauner-promotes-business-friendliness-during-trip-to-local-brewery/951123966
— Abortion is a focus of early action in legislative sessions – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/abortion-is-a-focus-of-early-action-in-legislative-sessions/950976761

 

WJBD RADIO
— Illinois Governor Candidate Stands by Ad Blasted as ‘Racist’ – AP
http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2018/02/03/illinois-governor-candidate-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Focus on economic growth, control of pension crisis needed in Illinois, Batinick says – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Rauner and his supporters focus on driving out of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) those like me who are involved in politics to defend and advance the IRP platform. Ever-increasingly, Rauner and his supporters focus on driving out of the IRP those like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and the rest of the planks in the IRP platform.)
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511327637-focus-on-economic-growth-control-of-pension-crisis-needed-in-illinois-batinick-says

 

FOX NEWS
— Paul Ryan calls to ‘cleanse’ the FBI – Mike Emanuel (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who fear/believe that Rauner and his supporters want to cleanse the Illinois Republican Party of all its members who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform? What do Trump and Pence have to say about that?) |
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/30/paul-ryan-calls-to-cleanse-fbi-backs-surveillance-memo-release.html

 

DAILY CALLER
— Answer Facebook’s Attacks Against Freedom Of Speech — Complain, Sue, Compete – Alan Keyes (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the anti-conservative Facebook is succeeding in a) stopping people from visiting websites, b) stopping people and organizations from sending and reading emails, and c) stopping organizations, activists, candidates, elected officials, etc. from publishing and maintaining websites. Ever-increasingly, everyone talks and acts like anti-conservative Facebook is the internet.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/04/answer-facebooks-attacks-against-freedom-of-speech-complain-sue-compete/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Lately Facebook appears to be making particularly aggressive moves against freedom of speech by conservatives. Particularly targeted are those who express views that offer facts and reasoning which contradict the specious Constitutional jurisprudence that demands respect for various gender claims, and equal public regard for a variety of sexual practices. Yet these demands deny or disparage God-endowed unalienable rights, attributes of humanity (like the sexual distinction for purposes of procreation) that are necessarily antecedent to all human laws and constitutions. Moreover, as the term “unalienable” plainly requires, people retain such rights no matter what human laws or edicts purport to gainsay them. . .Such are the forces now at work at Facebook and other such social networking businesses, whose commerce is, or else includes, communication. They mean to suppress speech that challenges any prejudices not their own. But isn’t the United States still governed by its laws and Constitution? Aren’t businesses that accommodate public exchanges and conveyances still subject to the Civil Rights Act? Instead of just publicizing Facebook’s growing abuses, isn’t it long past time for the victims of its attacks on free speech to seek such justice as that law provides? . . . Two things are urgently needed: 1) An avalanche of formal complaints to appropriate Civil Rights Offices if the US Government, and attendant lawsuits against Facebook’s attacks on freedom of speech; and 2) promotion of a competitive alternative(s) to Facebook committed to respecting the logic and purpose of the U.S. Constitution’s enumeration of freedom of speech in the Bill of Rights, as well as the Ninth Amendment’s language prohibiting any construction of the enumeration of rights that denies or disparages rights retained by the people. These latter include, foremost of all, the God-endowed, unalienable rights whose surrender entails the loss of humanity itself.)
— There’s A Newfound Hatred Of Silicon Valley – Eric Lieberman
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/03/newfound-hatred-of-silicon-valley/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— On McCabe: Retirement w/ benefits? That’s justice? More needs to be done than just allowing disgraced federal officials to retire with full benefits. – Chad Groening (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who claim to be conservative and/or Republican are overjoyed that my Democrat superiors in the federal government disgraced me. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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 $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2018/01/31/on-mccabe-retirement-w-benefits-thats-justice

 

BLAZE
— State legislatures hit with flurry of Republican abortion bills – Teri Webster
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/02/03/state-legislatures-hit-with-flurry-of-republican-abortion-bills

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— IL Governor Rauner’s conservative challenger making waves – Rick Moran
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/02/il_governor_rauners_conservative_challenger_making_waves.html
— Riot erupts following Charles Kirk lecture at Colorado State University – Rick Moran
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/02/riot_erupts_following_charles_kirk_lecture_at_colorado_state_university.html

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— FBI unpopular among Republicans: Poll – Joel Gehrke
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fbi-unpopular-among-republicans-poll/article/2648039

 

COLLEGE FIX
— Professor: Former VP Dick Cheney not qualified to speak at Cornell – DAVE HUBER
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/41579/

 

THE HILL
— Ryan calls for a ‘cleanse’ of the FBI – BRETT SAMUELS (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who fear/believe that Rauner and his supporters want to cleanse the Illinois Republican Party of all its members who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform? What do Trump and Pence have to say about that?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/371429-ryan-calls-for-a-cleanse-of-the-fbi
— Polls swing toward GOP, easing fears of midterm disaster – ALEXANDER BOLTON
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/372101-gop-growing-optimistic-about-midterm-chances

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— A ‘Blue’ Florida? There Are No Quick Demographic Fixes for Democrats – Nate Cohn (DIERSEN: Because members of the following groups vote for Democrats, Democrats want to flood your precinct, your municipality, your township/ward, your county, Illinois, and America with them: 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/upshot/a-blue-florida-there-are-no-quick-demographic-fixes-for-democrats.html
— Who’s Able-Bodied Anyway? The 400-year history of how we talk about the deserving versus the undeserving poor. – Emily Badger and Margot Sanger-Katz (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, employers talk and act like they do not want hire, retain, or promote those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/upshot/medicaid-able-bodied-poor-politics.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fsunday

 

NEW YORK POST
— The GOP memo proves the ‘deep state’ is real – Michael Goodwin
https://nypost.com/2018/02/03/the-gop-memo-proves-the-deep-state-is-real/

 

USA TODAY
— Protestors chanting Nazi slogan storm crowd outside Charlie Kirk speech at Colorado State University – Nick Coltrain
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/03/protestors-chanting-nazi-slogan-storm-crowd-outside-charlie-kirk-speech-colorado-state-university/303489002/

 

ON TOP MAGAZINE
— RNC Backs Trump’s Ban On Transgender Troops – CARLOS SANTOSCOY
http://www.ontopmag.com/article/37309/RNC_Backs_Trumps_Ban_On_Transgender_Troops

February 3 Morning Edition

WLS AM
— Ives “Thank you, Bruce Rauner” TV ad causing uproar (DIERSEN: How will the following respond to this: Trump, Pence, your Republican U.S. Congressman, Rauner, Sanguinetti, your Republican Illinois Senator, your Republican Illinois Representative, your Republican county officials, your Republican township/ward officials, your Republican municipal officials, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) officers, IRP national committeeman and committeewoman, your representative on the IRP State Central Committee, your Republican county party officers, your Republican township/ward party officers, your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain, and Republican critics/opponents of the aforesaid?)
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/02/03/ives-thank-you-bruce-rauner-tv-ad-causing-uproar/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A just released TV ad from the Jeanne Ives for Governor campaign is causing an uproar. The commercial features actors thanking Governor Bruce Rauner for policies benefitting Chicago teachers, or women seeking taxpayer-funded abortions. It also features what appears to be a male actor playing a transgender female. Democratic candidates and advocacy groups are condemning the ad, which is running statewide this weekend, as “repulsive” and “appalling.” The Ives campaign responded by saying the ad “represents Governor Rauner’s chosen constituents based on the policy choices he made.”)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF IVES: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are anti-conservative, anti-White, anti-male, and/or anti-heterosexual and those who pander to the aforesaid say that Ives’ anti-Rauner ad is “racist, sexist, homophobic.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-jeanne-ives-bruce-rauner-transgender-ad-cps-20180202-story.html
— OUTSTANDING: Raise the tobacco-buying age to 21 – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-cigarette-illinois-21-legislature-20180131-story.html
— Lipinski challenger Newman gets backing from SEIU, EMILY’s List – John Byrne and Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-seiu-endorsement-congress-newman-lipinski-20180202-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Trump mainstream news media promotes anti-Trump groups.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/fed-by-anti-trump-fervor-progressive-activists-gear-up-for-2018-2020-elections/
— Roeper to resume writing reviews for Sun-Times after Twitter investigation – Mitchell Armentrout (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, I have never bought any GOPUSA ILLINOIS email followers and I never will. The only legitimate reason to read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails is to get information a) to defend and advance the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and b) to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance the aforesaid platforms and resolution.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/roeper-to-resume-writing-reviews-for-sun-times-after-twitter-investigation/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “On a number of occasions, in an effort to build my brand, I bought Twitter followers,” Roeper said. “I did this on my own, without the knowledge of the Chicago Sun-Times or any other media organization for which I have worked.” In six purchases between 2014 and 2016, Roeper spent about $650 of his own money to obtain roughly 50,000 followers. That was according to receipts he had kept to date, but “he did not rule out other potential purchases,” according to Sun-Times management. Roeper, who has been with the paper since 1982, said he was unaware the purchased accounts were fake, or that others’ identities had been compromised. He was described in the statement as “genuinely contrite.”)

 

DAILY HERALD
— Could higher sales tax prevent property tax increase in Naperville? – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180202/could-higher-sales-tax-prevent-property-tax-increase-in-naperville

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Controversial ad stirs up heated Illinois governor’s race
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/controversial-ad-stirs-up-heated-illinois-governors-race

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Republican says “After four State of the State speeches, it’s past time to deliver.”
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180202/ISSUE11/180209961/rauners-state-of-the-state-promises-ring-hollow
— There’s not much for Chicago in Trump’s infrastructure plan – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: One could say that Chicago takes the lead in demonizing, denigrating, and condemning Trump and his supporters as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, sexual harassers, bigots, and even worse things.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180202/ISSUE05/180209956/chicago-is-a-loser-in-trumps-infrastructure-plan

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Minnesota thrives, Rauner fails on jobs – Jeff Van Wychen (DIERSEN: Compared to Minnesota, far more 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. People who are the aforesaid drag everything down, including jobs.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180202/guest-view-minnesota-thrives-rauner-fails-on-jobs

 

STATELINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Which Republicans say that Ives is dividing the Illinois Republican Party? ANSWER: Those who reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like Ives who support those planks. Those who reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those Ives who support that resolution. Those who focus on destroying those like Ives who they cannot manipulate/dominate. And those who are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid.
http://www.mystateline.com/news/gubernatorial-candidate-dividing-republican-party-in-stateline/950382558

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Hold off on predictions – Rich Miller
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/columnists/rich-miller-hold-off-on-predictions/article_1de9379a-3316-5db0-9e4a-a5d2b877a317.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One of Ives’ new ads is a real doozy, featuring various people “thanking” Gov. Rauner for things like “paying for my abortions” and also has a man dressed as a woman saying: “Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girls’ bathroom.” As I write this, it’s unclear if that explosive ad will air, but if it does it will certainly get noticed. A week of Chicago broadcast TV ads costs about $660,000, and Illinois has a ton of other media markets from Rockford all the way down to the Kentucky border. The last public poll in this race showed that 68 percent of likely Republican primary voters had never even heard of Jeanne Ives. Gov. Rauner was leading Ives by 45 points in that survey and he is refusing to ever debate her again. So, it’s gonna take a lot more than a few thousand Facebook views, a day of positive earned media coverage and a million bucks to put Rep. Ives over the top. A lot more. Weirder stuff has most certainly happened in politics. But people should take a breath and see how this all plays out before making any sort of predictions.)
— It’s a rush: Local tax preparers begin busiest season – KEVIN BARLOW
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/it-s-a-rush-local-tax-preparers-begin-busiest-season/article_b8b40714-18d1-57b0-9140-64c90ab30151.html

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Dreamers on edge because of Washington, DC, immigration debates.” I was always “on edge” while I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years because I knew that my superiors were under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to get rid of those who share my demographics.)
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180202/dreamers-on-edge-because-of-washington-dc-immigration-debates

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— OUTSTANDING: Mayor Langfelder: No more new 3 a.m. liquor licenses – Crystal Thomas
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180202/mayor-langfelder-no-more-new-3-am-liquor-licenses
— Fact check: Gov. Rauner’s balanced budget claims – Brett Chase, Kiannah Sepeda-Miller, Better Government Association (DIERSEN: Are/were you a fact checker? While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, I increasingly worked as a referencer, that is, as a fact checker. That work required assuring the accuracy and support for each and every word, number, table, graph, chart, conclusion, opinion, and recommendation in GAO reports.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180202/fact-check-gov-rauners-balanced-budget-claims

 

FREEPORT JOURNAL STANDARD
— Republican candidates Jeanne Ives, Erika Harold visit Stephenson County – Derrick Mason
http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20180202/republican-candidates-jeanne-ives-erika-harold-visit-stephenson-county

 

EFFINGHAM DAILY NEWS
— 109th Illinois Representative District: Incumbent’s former supporter running against him – Keith Stewart
http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/news/local_news/incumbent-s-former-supporter-running-against-him/article_92b3ee5d-9e63-5aba-94a5-dbae27e4df80.html

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— When A Full-Time Job Isn’t Enough To Make It – EMILY SULLIVAN (DIERSEN: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/when-full-time-job-isnt-enough-make-it#stream/0

 

KWQC
— IL Governor Bruce Rauner tours Rock Island Catholic School (DIERSEN: What about abortion?)
http://www.kwqc.com/content/news/IL-Governor-Bruce-Rauner-tours-Rock-Island-School-472439293.html

 

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— Wehrli’s Bill Is Major Talking Point in 2018 State of the State
https://www.nctv17.com/news/local-representatives-bill-major-talking-point-in-2018-state-of-the-state/

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Rauner: Fringe Candidate. Big Government, Leftist Policy Record.
https://mailchi.mp/e9087b7fd34b/rauner-fringe-candidate-big-government-leftist-policy-record

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Rauner’s 55 percent disapproval rating spells difficulty for re-election bid – Robert Hadley (DIERSEN: Who disapproves of you? Those who disapprove of me 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511326694-rauner-s-55-percent-disapproval-rating-spells-difficulty-for-re-election-bid

 

KANE COUNTY REPORTER
— Voters need to research candidates, Ugaste says – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: How well does your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain know the candidates who will be on March 20, 2018 Republican primary ballots?)
https://kanecountyreporter.com/stories/511326501-voters-need-to-research-candidates-ugaste-says

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Dodge says a Rauner-Ives debate won’t make much difference – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511326446-dodge-says-a-rauner-ives-debate-won-t-make-much-difference

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Khouri campaign video focuses on supporting the community – Angela Underwood (DIERSEN: What community do you support and how do you support it? I support members of the Republican community in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois by putting together and sending them GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails every morning and every evening free of charge and without any advertising. Of course, anti-Republicans a) discourage me from putting the emails together and sending them out and b) discourage everyone from reading the emails.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511327616-khouri-campaign-video-focuses-on-supporting-the-community

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Straub says Rauner is wise to not debate Ives, he’d lose – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511325773-straub-says-rauner-is-wise-to-not-debate-ives-he-d-lose

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Leef taking Ives’ side in GOP primary – Glenn Minnis
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511325668-leef-taking-ives-side-in-gop-primary

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Voters missing out by Rauner balking at Ives debate, Kay says – Glenn Minnis
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511326509-voters-missing-out-by-rauner-balking-at-ives-debate-kay-says

 

RED STATE
— Axios Posts A Racist And Sexist Job Announcement (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, employers make it clear that they do not want to hire, retain, or promote those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.redstate.com/streiff/2018/01/27/axios-posts-racist-sexist-job-announcement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: This ad is notable for a couple of things. First, it is illegal. Second, it is a manager saying I don’t really care if you have skills, what I really want is people with the correct melanin, genitalia, and sexual dysfunction or deviance. And take a close look at that picture. Do you really think women or homosexuals are UNDER-represented? Now, apparently, lawyers have got involved and Axios has taken down the ad. But they can’t get rid of the problem. Now any white male who answers the ad knows that he’s only being considered to the extent necessary to avoid a lawsuit. And they’ve gone a long way towards creating what would be called a “hostile work environment” for normal, white male employees because they’ve just been told there are too many of them. Full disclosure: I don’t really object to companies being able to hire whoever the hell they wish and state it up front. It saves a lot of time and effort on the part of the company and job applicants. But that isn’t the law and if the law is to have any meaning whatsoever it must protect everyone, not just a chosen few. The fact that Axios feels so comfortable in advertising its racism and its sexism shows just how corrupting the drive to achieve “diversity,” whatever that is, has become.)

 

TOWNHALL
— Bogus Racist Claims Against Trump – Star Parker
https://townhall.com/columnists/starparker/2018/01/31/bogus-racist-claims-against-trump-n2441894

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Sadly, Another Black History Month – Lloyd Marcus
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/sadly_another_black_history_month.html

 

THE HILL
— CNN: Federal employee used taxpayer dollars for stay at Trump’s DC hotel – JOHN BOWDEN
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/372142-cnn-federal-employee-used-taxpayer-dollars-for-stay-at-trumps-dc

 

CNN
— Document shows GSA employees spending at the Trump Hotel in DC – Cristina Alesci and Curt Devine
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/03/politics/trump-hotel-gsa/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Why I Am Leaving the F.B.I. – Josh Campbell (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, IRS 1971-1980, and the Post Office 1966-1969 who worked the hardest to get rid of me. They put their Democrat partisan politics above everything.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/leaving-the-fbi.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One of the greatest honors of my life was walking across the stage at the F.B.I. Academy and receiving my special agent badge from the director at the time, Robert Mueller. After 21 weeks of intensive training, my class swore an oath and became federal agents entrusted with the solemn duty of protecting Americans and upholding the Constitution. After more than a decade of service, which included investigating terrorism, working to rescue kidnapping victims overseas and being special assistant to the director, I am reluctantly turning in my badge and leaving an organization I love. Why? So I can join the growing chorus of people who believe that the relentless attacks on the bureau undermine not just America’s premier law enforcement agency but also the nation’s security. My resignation is painful, but the alternative of remaining quiet while the bureau is tarnished for political gain is impossible. A small number of my current and retired colleagues have said that we should simply keep our heads down until the storm passes. I say this with the greatest respect: They are wrong. If those who know the agency best remain silent, it will be defined by those with partisan agendas. F.B.I. agents are dogged people who do not care about the direction of political winds. But to succeed in their work, they need public backing. Scorched-earth attacks from politicians with partisan goals now threaten that support, raising corrosive doubts about the integrity of the F.B.I. that could last for generations.)
— The Republican Tax Act Could Turn Texas Blue – Will Wilkinson (DIERSEN: How many married voters in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois pay more than $10,000 a year in real estate taxes and state income taxes? How many of them will get divorced to avoid the marriage penalty?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/opinion/sunday/republican-taxes-texas-blue.html
— Yes, You Can Find a Financial Planner Even if You’re Not Rich – Ron Lieber (DIERSEN: What qualifications do you have to be a financial planner? GAO audits the federal government. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, a) the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently, $96,403-$125,325, b) the last 9 years on audits of federal financial industry regulators, and c) the 3 years before that on audits of IRS. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor Examination on my first attempt in 1981. I became a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and a Forensic Accountant in 1997. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997. I served on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants 1983-1996.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/your-money/financial-planner.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: To get this far, they’ve sought out financial planners who could be content with a mere low-six-figure income. If 80 clients pay $150 a month, XY advisers can earn gross revenues of $144,000, though XY charges member financial planners $409 per month.)
— Trump’s Vision for Vocational Education Gets a Tepid Reception – Erica L. Green (DIERSEN: Were you considered to be 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). Further, my father had fought type 1 diabetes from age 14. I am sure that many thought that I would soon come down with type 1 diabetes too.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/us/politics/trump-vocational-education.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Polarization Is an Old American Story – Jason Willick (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have worked the hardest to polarize the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, GAO, etc. 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.wsj.com/articles/polarization-is-an-old-american-story-1517613751
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Passed Over, Airbnb Executive Moves On – Greg Bensinger, Maureen Farrell and Rolfe Winkler (DIERSEN: What can you say about those who were promoted over you? All those who the Democrats who ran the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and who had less education, less work experience, fewer professional certifications, and/or fewer professional licenses than I had.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-cfo-quit-after-hedidnt-get-strategy-role-and-some-investors-have-questions-1517603301
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Americans glorify and praise those who came to America illegally, who stay in America illegally, and who bring others to America illegally.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/it-was-a-shock-raised-in-the-u-s-deported-to-mexico-1517567402
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If they would be given the right to vote, what percent of felons would vote for Democrats?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-rules-against-floridas-felon-voting-rights-restoration-process-1517582131

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— Gov candidate Ives releases anti-trans ad – Matt Simonette (DIERSEN: To be a Democrat is to promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gov-candidate-Ives-releases-anti-trans-ad/61799.html

February 2 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— State Sen. Ira Silverstein four signatures up in back-and-forth ballot challenge – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/state-sen-ira-silverstein-four-signatures-up-in-back-and-forth-ballot-challenge/
— Finding impartial jurors could delay trial in Facebook video torture case – Andy Grimm
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/finding-impartial-jurors-could-delay-trial-in-facebook-video-torture-case/
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps use Christian Gomez Garcia to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn ICE.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/they-treat-people-like-theyre-animals-dreamer-released-after-ice-detains-him/
— Let’s quit brainwashing kids that it’s a college degree or nothing – David McGrath (DIERSEN: Do you have a college degree? If I had not been taking undergraduate business courses, the Democrats who ran the Post Office might not have offered me a job in 1966 and they might have gotten rid of me sooner than they did. If I had not had a 1970 bachelor’s degree in management from NIU, a) Firestone Stores would not have offered me a job in 1970 and b) Oldsmobile and the Democrats who ran IRS would not have offered me jobs in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate business courses, the Democrats who ran IRS might not have promoted me 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not had a 1976 MBA from Loyola and if I had not been taking graduate accounting courses at DePaul, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have offered me a job in 1980 and would not have promoted me in 1986. If I had not been taking graduate courses in financial markets and trading at IIT, my Democrat superiors who ran GAO might have succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1993 instead of 1997.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/lets-quit-brainwashing-kids-that-its-a-college-degree-or-nothing/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Day after togetherness pitch, Rauner says Madigan has ‘made corruption rampant’ – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-michael-madigan-20180202-story.html
— Fundraising in IL-10 – Katherine Skiba)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-michael-madigan-20180202-story.html
— U.S. CEOs seen earning 140 times more than the typical worker – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Trump is earning only $400,000/year, or only 3.2 times my $122,325/year GAO salary in today’s dollars. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout that GAO overpaid me. In my defense, a) I had worked for GAO for almost 18 years and I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years before that; b) I had six job-related professional certifications and a job-related professional license; and c) I had three job-related master’s degrees and a job-related bachelor’s degree.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ceo-worker-pay-disparity-20180201-story.html
— Will driverless cars mean the end of the road for the Chicago Auto Show? – Robert Channick (DIERSEN: What is your attitude toward cars? Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are anti-American nameplate cars, if not just plane anti-car. The cars that you own say more about you than anything that you can say about yourself. My daily diver is a 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS that I bought from my aunt in 2010. Other cars that I own are: 1972 Chevy Corvette, 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX, 2005 Chevy Corvette, 2013 Dodge Charger R/T Max, and 2016 Ford Mustang. Previously, I bought a 1958 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy Impala SS, 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, 1968 Oldsmobile 442, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, 1969 Dodge Charger SE, 1974 Dodge Dart, 1978 Chevy Chevette, 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, 1990 Ford Thunderbird LX, 1993 Ford Thunderbird, and 1997 Chevy Cavalier.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-chicago-auto-show-future-20180129-story.html
— Under Rauner, penalties sought against Illinois polluters have plummeted – Michael Hawthorne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-met-rauner-epa-enforcement-20180123-story.html
— Democrats’ behavior at the State of the Union was embarrassing – Dana Milbank
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-state-union-democrats-behavior-20180201-story.html
— Twitter posts prompt NIU officials to deny they monitor students’ social media accounts – Kate Thayer
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-niu-watchlist-20180130-story.html
— Organizers of proposed Aurora Pride Parade to meet with local clergy – Steve Lord (DIERSEN: How soon will those who promote LGBTQ activity in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, and in your municipality have enough religious, government, political, and financial clout to banish all individuals, all organizations, all companies, and all governments that do not promote LGBTQ activity?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-pride-st-0202-20180201-story.html
— High school students explore post-graduation alternatives at gap year fairs – Kathy Routliffe (DIERSEN: No gap year for White males who want to be federal employees because the federal government will get rid of you if you do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/winnetka/news/ct-wt-gap-year-fair-tl-0208-20180201-story.html
— Oregon’s top prosecutor holds marijuana summit to address ‘massive’ pot surplus – AP (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-oregon-marijuana-summit-20180202-story.html

 

CBS2
— Cook County Jail Prepares For Blitz Of ‘Sick Calls’ During Super Bowl (DIERSEN: While I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969, I was frequently called in to work because my coworkers had called in sick.)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/31/super-bowl-sick-calls/#.WnNa4qsQAtk.twitter

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Suburban police receive Narcan training for overdose victims (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will opioid sellers give Narcan to their customers to sell more opioid?)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/suburban-police-receive-narcan-training-for-overdose-victims

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kane County ends 2017 with $1.9M budget surplus – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180201/kane-county-ends-2017-with-19m-budget-surplus
— Assessor’s lawsuit is mockery of campaign finance fairness – Nathaniel Hamilton
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180202/assessors-lawsuit-is-mockery-of-campaign-finance-fairness
— Aurora Police: Man greeted cops while smoking marijuana cigarette – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180202/police-man-greeted-cops-while-smoking-marijuana-cigarette

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: To give preference to one group is to discriminate against another group. In 1971, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180201/ISSUE01/180139951
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A DISCRIMINATOR SAYS: “When I joined Ritchie three and a half years ago, there were no women on the executive team. I told the recruiters, “Don’t bring me any men. If you do, then you’ll be fired.” So they brought me eight great candidates, and I am now blessed with a fantastic CFO. And once I got her, it was easier to get others.?)
— Emanuel struts Chicago’s gay-friendly policies in HQ2 pitch – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: What percent of those in Chicago 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors?)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180202/BLOGS02/180209980

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers push pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180201/point-its-time-for-illinois-to-end-its-failed-prohibition-of-marijuana
— Private school scholarship website flooded, shut down – Jason Nevel (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod. But my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, and especially those who are anti-Protestant and/or who are anti-German American, have always used that against me.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180201/private-school-scholarship-website-flooded-shut-down
— Tax bill beginning to deliver bigger paychecks to workers – Sarah Skidmore Sell (DIERSEN: Are/were you a worker? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I was a lowly worker 1962-1997. 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.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180201/tax-bill-beginning-to-deliver-bigger-paychecks-to-workers

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Biss: Illinoisans want middle-class governor – Derek Beigh (DIERSEN: What class are/were you? I should write a book about those who paint themselves as being upper class who demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being lower class. I should write another book about those who paint themselves as being lower class who demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being upper class.)
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/biss-illinoisans-want-middle-class-governor/article_244dce4a-66d4-5db3-a783-5bea1105ff17.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— VERY SAD: March in support of ‘Dream Act’ planned Saturday in Champaign – Julie Wurth
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-01/march-support-dream-act-planned-saturday-champaign.html

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Rauner urges unity ahead of divisive election – AP
http://www.daily-journal.com/news/illinois/rauner-urges-unity-ahead-of-divisive-election/article_5119514e-11c3-5afa-82dc-da75ca781f38.html

 

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Cook County GOP Chairman Endorses Bruce Rauner for Re-election (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who blacklist me because I refuse to blacklist Rauner and his supporters? What do you say to those who blacklist me because I refuse to blacklist Ives and her supporters?)
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2018/02/02/cook-county-gop-chairman-endorses-bruce-rauner-re-election/

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Veteran Chicago Trader Creates Angel Fund for Women Entrepreneurs Women represent only 19 percent of angel investors in America. To combat that inequity, Carolyn Leonard is raising $1.92 million to help fund female-led companies. – SHIA KAPOS (DIERSEN: Because members of the following groups are ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being White euphemists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things, anyone who might create a fund for companies led by them would be viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/January-2018/Carolyn-Leonard-DyMynd-Angels-Fund/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Ignore Rauner: The State of the State is Bankrupt – John Biver
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/02/ignore-rauner-the-state-of-the-state-is-bankrupt/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump likens Pelosi’s ‘crumbs’ tax comments to Clinton’s ‘deplorables’ – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/1/donald-trump-likens-nancy-pelosis-crumbs-tax-comme/

 

FOX NEWS
— Durbin faces Harvard mob angry over lack of ‘Clean Dream Act’ – Lukas Mikelionis
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/02/durbin-faces-harvard-mob-angry-over-lack-clean-dream-act.html

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Taxpayers’ paycheck problems could lead to big bill from IRS, expert warns – Brittany De Lea
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2018/01/30/taxpayers-paycheck-problems-could-lead-to-big-bill-from-irs-expert-warns.html

 

THE HILL
— Federal workers on edge over Trump call for firing power – LYDIA WHEELER (DIERSEN: 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.)
http://thehill.com/regulation/371878-trumps-targeting-of-federal-workforce-puts-unions-on-edge

 

ROLL CALL
— Republicans Divided on Minimum Needed for Immigration Deal White House, conservatives pushing four pillars while others open to just two – Lindsey McPherson
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/republicans-divided-minimum-needed-immigration-deal

 

POLITICO
— Ryan renews welfare reform push But the House speaker is once again running into resistance from the Senate. – RACHAEL BADE and BURGESS EVERETT
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/01/welfare-reform-gop-paul-ryan-382591

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— An Indian ‘Chief’ Mascot Was Dropped. A Decade Later, He’s Still Lurking. The Cleveland Indians are retiring “Chief Wahoo,”
but the debate is far from over if other institutions, like the University of Illinois, are a guide. – MITCH SMITH
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/us/native-americans-sports-mascots-illinois.html
— Trump Sets Up a Grand Bargain on Immigration – George J. Borjas (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, immigrants are minorities and/or females. Democrats only want immigrants who will vote for Democrats. RINOs only want immigrants who will work for less money.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/trump-immigration-dreamers.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How Does the Boss’s Pay Compare to the Rank and File? Survey offers early glimpse of the CEO-worker pay ratios in different industries – Vanessa Fuhrmans and Theo Francis (DIERSEN: Trump is earning only $400,000/year, or only 3.2 times my $122,325/year GAO salary in today’s dollars. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout that GAO overpaid me. In my defense, a) I had worked for GAO for almost 18 years and I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years before that; b) I had six job-related professional certifications and a job-related professional license; and c) I had three job-related master’s degrees and a job-related bachelor’s degree.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-early-look-at-the-ceo-worker-pay-ratio-1517505343

 

BLOOMBERG
— Wall Street Is Taking On More Risk Again – Sridhar Natarajan, Sally Bakewell, and Kiel Porter
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-02/leverage-is-back-wall-street-s-taking-on-more-risk-in-trump-era

 

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Marijuana shops prep for Super Bowl sales blitz – Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/01/marijuana-pot-shops-prep-super-bowl-sales-blitz/1085109001/
— German police sue American woman for slander for calling them ‘Nazis’ – Deutsche Welle Publish (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout that Trump supporters are Nazis, White supremacists, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, sexual harassers, bigots, and even worse things. At what point should Trump supporters hit them with cease and desist letters? At what point should Trump supporters sue them for slander? If you are a Trump supporter, the more of the following that you are, the more forcefully that anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout that you are a Nazi, White supremacist, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, sexual harasser, bigot, and even worse things: Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/26/german-police-sue-american-woman-slander-calling-them-nazis/1068397001/

 

HARVARD CRIMSON
— Durbin Speech Met With Protest at Kennedy School Around 100 students from across the University spent Thursday evening marching up and down in front of the Kennedy School to protest Senator Durbin’s visit. – ALEXANDRA A. CHAIDEZ AND SIMONE C. CHU (DIERSEN: If you were me, how would deal with my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who viciously demonize, who viciously denigrate, and who viciously condemn my intelligence, my judgment, my motives, my abilities, my ethics, my accomplishments, my etc.? They hint/imply/argue/shout at everyone that no one should tell me anything because I will use whatever they tell me improperly in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. Those who my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have shouted at say to me “don’t quote me” and they require me to say “this is off-the-record” before they will tell me anything. Should I send my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes cease and desist letters and publish them in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails? Should I sue them for slander?)
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/2/2/durbin-visit-protests/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Maribel Nava ’20, one of the attendees, declined to reveal exactly what Durbin discussed with the group, noting the meeting was supposed to be off-the-record. Nonetheless, she said she thought the conversation was at least somewhat productive.)

 

FEDERAL SOUP
— NTEU: White House call to ease firing ‘a step backward’ (DIERSEN: I was a NTEU member 1971-1980 while I worked for IRS. 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.)
https://federalsoup.com/articles/2018/01/31/wh-call-to-ease-firing-a-step-backward.aspx

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Trump said, alluding to his administration’s proposals to make it easier for federal political appointees and managers to fire federal employees. Legislation has eased removals at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and President Trump has said he would like other departments to see similar changes. Among the first of the federal unions to respond at length, the National Treasury Employees Union criticized the language used in the speech. “It is unfortunate that the president chose to single out our world-class civil service tonight, leaving the impression that federal employees are not dedicated to public service, committed to the missions of their agencies and honorable Americans,” NTEU President Tony Reardon said in a statement. “At a time of no passed or enacted agency budgets, the nation artificially operating to avoid hitting the debt ceiling, no plan to provide relief from sequestration, four CRs to keep the government open, a shutdown last week, and less than nine days until a possible second shutdown,” he continued, “the American people need an administration and Congress that is accountable and performing for them, and not elected officials looking to pass the buck.” “Federal employees must retain existing protections that stop unfair and arbitrary management practices, along with political favoritism and retaliation,” Reardon said. “Our workforce is non-partisan and merit-based and any reduction in due process protections is a step backward for our country.”)