Tag: IRS

ABC7
— Chicago violence: 51 shot, 10 fatally in Labor Day weekend shootings Child killed, 3 others injured in South Shore shooting
https://abc7chicago.com/51-shot-10-fatally-in-chicago-weekend-shootings/6413594/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-9/8/2020

CBS2
— Naked With ‘Spit Hoods’ On, Rochester Protesters Decry Daniel Prude’s Death
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/09/08/naked-with-spit-hoods-on-rochester-protesters-decry-daniel-prudes-death/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Mark Batinick, Illinois House 97th District Republican nominee profile His top priorities include lowering property taxes, ending political corruption and installing traffic signals at dangerous intersections in the district.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/7/21370351/mark-batinick-illinois-house-rep-97th-district-republican-nominee-2020-election
— Christopher Kasperski, Illinois Senate 31st District Republican nominee profile His top priorities include addressing high property taxes, state spending and corruption.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/7/21424892/christopher-kasperski-illinois-senate-31st-district-republican-nominee-candidate-2020-election
— Don Walter, Illinois House 83rd District Republican nominee profile His top priorities include expanding small businesses, freezing property taxes and offering “school choice.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/7/21370882/don-walter-illinois-house-rep-83rd-district-republican-nominee-candidate-2020-election
— Ron Doweidt, Illinois House 85th District Republican nominee profile His top priorities include education, property tax relief and the state’s finances.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/7/21398835/ron-doweidt-illinois-house-rep-85th-district-republican-nominee-candidate-2020-election

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— House Democrats say they’ll investigate Louis DeJoy over possible campaign finance violations – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-usps-louis-dejoy-congress-investigation-20200908-6uht27xgnvgctebamkx4o2os7e-story.html

— How Trump’s billion-dollar campaign lost its cash advantage – SHANE GOLDMACHER AND MAGGIE HABERMAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-2020/ct-nw-nyt-trump-campaign-cash-20200907-y4w4msh6abhg3mbvbfwulntdca-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: 17 referendum questions on the November ballot in DuPage – Katlyn Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200907/17-referendum-questions-on-the-november-ballot-in-dupage
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Suburban colleges report huge enrollment declines among Latino, Black and adult learners – Madhu Krishnamurthy
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200908/suburban-colleges-report-huge-enrollment-declines-among-latino-black-and-adult-learners
— HARDCOPY EDITORIAL TITLE: Labor Day is over; the time for voters to focus (on all races) has arrived (DIERSEN: I have been a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999. I anxiously await campaign literature from all the Republican candidates on the ballot for my precinct. I want to distribute that literature ASAP to all the homes in my precinct that have one or more Republican or Independent voter.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200907/editorial-the-dawn-of-election-2020

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Here’s the evidence—in case you needed it—that downtown’s been seriously damaged Recent events have shaped the perception, fairly or unfairly, that downtown is no longer a safe place to live or work, and it’s time for everyone—public officials, civic leaders and business execs—to come to terms with that fact. – EDITORIAL
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/heres-evidence-case-you-needed-it-downtowns-been-seriously-damaged

WBEZ
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: A Chicago Group Uses Billboards To Highlight That Abortion Is Covered By Medicaid In Illinois – Natalie Moore (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats urge women to have abortions.)
https://www.wbez.org/stories/a-chicago-group-uses-billboards-to-highlight-that-abortion-is-covered-by-medicaid-in-illinois/d304b606-2966-402a-aa70-882944525264

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois’ Major Parties Focus on Messaging – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want the Republican Party a) to officially dump its traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks and b) to officially get rid of voters, organizations, companies, and governments that support the aforesaid planks.)
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=310273#.X1dehId_OM8

MILWAUKEE INDEPENDENT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “A THREAT TO WHITE TRUTH: HOW THE 1619 PROJECT REIGNITED AMERICA’S RACIAL RECKONING.”
https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/featured/threat-white-truth-1619-project-reignited-americas-racial-reckoning/

FOX MILWAUKEE
— Study: 52% of young adults forced to move back in with parents amid COVID-19 – Catherine Park
https://www.fox6now.com/news/study-52-of-young-adults-forced-to-move-back-in-with-parents-amid-covid-19

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— MADIGAN’s CRUSADE – SHIA KAPOS
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Illinois Democratic Party is on a crusade to grab as many seats as possible in the November election, which is just 56 days away — or less, if you’re voting by mail. Democratic and Republican sources say Dems could flip at least six House seats and, depending how much money House Speaker Michael Madigan throws at races, even more. There are a few reasons for a possible sweep. First, President Donald Trump is expected to hinder Republicans in suburban strongholds. Trump could lose by 10 to 15 points in some suburbs, which means Republicans in those districts would have to outperform the top of the ticket by that much — and that’s not likely without a lot of cash. The Illinois Republican Party doesn’t have the financial resources to compete with Democrats, who have amassed $3.7 million, according to the State Board of Elections website. That compares to Republicans who have close to $1.1 million in the bank. And Madigan, the Dems’ chief fundraiser, has an additional $14.8 million that he can spend on candidates — more than five times what Minority Leader Jim Durkin has. Democrats already have a majority in the House, holding 74 seats to the Republicans’ 44. So why push for more? With his position as House speaker coming up for a vote in January, Madigan officially needs 60 votes to be re-elected to the position, and it would be a show of force if he could get at least 70 votes. So it’s no wonder he’s making every effort to push Democrats over the line in November. Flipping more than six seats would be a reminder to Democrats that he’s critical to their party’s success. Republicans say Illinois voters dislike Madigan and it will show in the polls. “When voters are concerned about ethics and fiscal issues, we benefit,” said Jayme Odom, executive director of the House Republican Organization. “There’s no amount of money that can cover up the problems that the Democrats have with Mike Madigan in charge.” Mary Morrissey, executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party counters: “When Illinois Republicans refer to corruption, we assume they’re talking about their president and his daily affront to Americans, our constitution and the integrity of our democracy. When they mention the economy, we assume Illinois Republicans mean the growing economy Donald Trump inherited and tore apart with his disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic.” The six Illinois House seats expected to flip: Allen Skillicorn. . .Morrison. . .Wehrli. . .Mazzochi. . .Stephens. . .Grant. . .Democrats also think they can defeat Republican Reps. John Cabello, Steve Reick, Norine Hammond, and Dan Ugaste, though GOP insiders expect the races to hinge on whether their GOP-leaning districts back Trump this time around. And Republicans hope to flip the 116th District: Republican David Friess, an attorney, vs. the recently appointed Dem Rep. Nathan Reitz; 111th District: Republican Amy Elik vs. Democratic Rep. Monica Bristow (Republicans lost by 356 votes to Bristow two years ago); and the 112th District that has Republican Lisa Ciampoli challenging Democratic Rep. Katie Stuart.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2020/09/08/lightfoot-defends-1619-project-madigans-crusade-its-a-tax-war-490269

WIREPOINTS
— Overpromised benefits, not underfunding, have been the real cause of Illinois’ pension crisis – Wirepoints (DIERSEN: From the beginning of time, government employees and government retirees have been viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned. I was a government employee for almost 30 years and I have been a government retiree for almost 23 years. Because government employees and government retirees have been viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned, to hire and to retain employees, government employers have been forced to offer more generous pensions.)
https://wirepoints.org/overpromised-benefits-not-underfunding-have-been-the-real-cause-of-illinois-pension-crisis-wirepoints-press-release/

ZERO HEDGE
— Riots Have Hit 48 Of America’s 50 Largest US Cities – Tyler Durden (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Democrats riot in your municipality? What buildings will they burn down?)
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/riots-have-hit-48-americas-50-largest-us-cities-new-study-finds

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— PENSION APOCALYPSE? COVID-19 EXPOSES LONG-RUNNING FRAGILITY OF ILLINOIS PUBLIC PENSIONS – Adam Schuster
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/pension-apocalypse-covid-19-exposes-long-running-fragility-of-illinois-public-pensions/

CAPITOL FAX
— House investigative committee to hold first hearing this Thursday
https://capitolfax.com/2020/09/08/house-investigative-committee-to-hold-first-hearing-this-thursday/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump: Schumer, Pelosi don’t want a new stimulus deal – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/7/trump-schumer-pelosi-dont-want-new-stimulus-deal/
— Joe Biden: Watch how I run up ramps while Trump ‘stumbles down’ – David Sherfinski (DIERSEN: Since Thursday, I have hand-delivered almost 400 color flyers to homes and businesses on North Main Street in Wheaton, the homes in my precinct that have one or more Republican or Independent voters, and downtown Wheaton businesses. The flyers promote the September 20 DuPage County Republican Central Committee rally. Outstandingly, Alpha Graphics in downtown Wheaton donated the cost to print 500 of the color flyers.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/8/joe-biden-watch-how-i-run-ramps-while-donald-trump/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— ‘Not The Same Joe Biden’: White House Stenographer Says Former VP’s ‘Mental Acuity’ Has Deteriorated – Alana Goodman
https://freebeacon.com/2020-election/not-the-same-joe-biden-white-house-stenographer-says-former-vps-mental-acuity-has-deteriorated/
— Riots Likely Drove 2020’s Biggest Gun Sales Spike Seasonally adjusted sales hit unprecedented levels in June, analysis shows – Charles Fain Lehman and Stephen Gutowski
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/riots-likely-drove-2020s-biggest-gun-sales-spike/

FOX NEWS
— Georgia senator whose event was disrupted by Black Lives Matter says she’s holding rioters, DAs accountable ‘The most important thing is that we have law and order in this country’ – Caleb Parke
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/georgia-senator-kelly-loeffler-black-lives-matter

GOPUSA
— Newspaper Predicts Catastrophic Violence If Biden Loses (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats threaten to destroy everything if Republican candidates are elected. Ever-increasingly Democrat candidates make it clear that if elected, they will use government to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are law enforcement, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Italian American, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.gopusa.com/
— Kamala Talks To Jacob Blake And Tells Him She’s Proud Of Him (DIERSEN: Who are your critics/opponents proud of? My critics/opponents are proud of those a) who glorify and praise them, b) who pander to them, c) who serve as their operatives or dupes, and d) who give them money. I should write a book about my critics/opponents and who they are proud of.)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=94620

BREITBART
— ‘Football Is Officially Dead’: Eric Trump Rips the NFL After Cowboys ‘Green Light’ Anthem Protests – DYLAN GWINN
https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2020/09/07/football-is-officially-dead-eric-trump-rips-the-nfl-after-cowboys-green-light-anthem-protests/

BLAZE
— Michigan GOP headquarters vandalized with profanity-laced anti-cop hate messages “Republicans will not be intimidated” – CARLOS GARCIA
https://www.theblaze.com/news/michigan-gop-hq-vandalized-blm

DAILY WIRE
— Candace Owens Dismantles The ‘Big Lie’ Of Systemic Racism, Says ‘White Guilt’ Is Allowing People To ‘Act Like Toddlers’ – Tim Pearce
https://www.dailywire.com/news/candace-owens-dismantles-the-big-lieof-systemic-racism-says-white-guilt-is-allowing-people-to-act-like-toddlers
— ‘A Serious Situation’: Chief Justice John Roberts Will Decide 2020 Election, Dick Morris Predicts – Jon Brown
https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-serious-situation-chief-justice-john-roberts-will-decide-2020-election-dick-morris-predicts

TOWNHALL
— Right for Me but Not for Thee – Robert Knight
https://townhall.com/columnists/robertknight/2020/09/08/right-for-me-but-not-for-thee-n2575769

PJ MEDIA
— Here’s Where Rioters Learn Their Hate: Watch ‘Trainer’ Say ‘All’ White People Are ‘Racists,’ ‘Not Human’ – VICTORIA TAFT
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2020/09/07/heres-where-rioters-learn-their-hate-watch-trainer-say-all-white-people-are-racists-not-human-n902810

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— The Revolution Is Upon Us – Mike Gonzalez
https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/the-revolution-upon-us

PATRIOT POST
— Another Day, Another Smear Job The Atlantic’s latest story about Trump is a disgrace by journalistic standards. – Douglas Andrews
https://patriotpost.us/articles/73266-another-day-another-smear-job-2020-09-07

TPM
— Trump Ends Labor Day Presser With Complaint About ‘Cancel Culture’
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/live-blog/trump-holds-labor-day-presser-at-wh-at-1-pm-et

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of Trump.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/515421-biden-ad-urges-fresh-start-stop-focusing-on-a-president-who-thinks-its-all

POLITICO
— Purity test: Democrats clash over Biden diversity goals The debate over whether corporate insiders should be in the mix for Cabinet positions is shaping up to be a major point of tension within the party – ZACHARY WARMBRODT
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/07/biden-diversity-purity-test-409245

MCCLATCHY DC
— What is The 1619 Project? Trump threatens funding for schools if they use it – BAILEY ALDRIDGE (DIERSEN: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters use the 1619 Project to promote hatred against Trump.)
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article245544290.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/learning/lesson-of-the-day-how-black-lives-matter-reached-every-corner-of-america.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/world/europe/germany-trump-far-right.html
— With Washington Deadlocked on Aid, States Face Dire Fiscal Crises Local officials are slashing funding for everything from education and health care to orchestra subsidies. – Mary Williams Walsh
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/business/state-budgets-coronavirus-aid.html
— The Tax Cut for the Rich That Democrats Love Why are party leaders fighting to get rid of one surprisingly progressive element of the 2017 tax bill? – Richard V. Reeves and Christopher Pulliam (DIERSEN: Trump should increase the $10,000 SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly. What do you say to those who demonize, denigrate, and condemn married people who a) both have income and b) pay more than $10,000 a year in real estate tax and state income tax as being disgusting, selfish, and filthy rich people who should pay more federal income tax?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/opinion/salt-tax-deduction-cut.html

WASHINGTON POST
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN THE DAILY HERALD: Burnout, splinter factions and deleted posts: Unpaid online moderators struggle to manage divided communities From the pandemic to systemic racism and volatile politics, the real world is seeping into online communities and making them harder to moderate. – Heather Kelly (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes demonize, denigrate, and condemn a) the decisions that I make to include or to not include links to articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS and on www.gopillinois.com and b) my comments on those articles. To my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes I say come out of your closets and a) publish a website, b) post your demonizations, denigrations, and condemnations of me on your website, and c) send links to your demonizations, denigrations, and condemnations of me to diersen@aol.com for publication in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and on www.gopillinois.com .)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/25/volunteer-moderators-2020/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/07/trump-thinks-hell-be-better-off-things-get-worse/

NEW YORK POST
— Fostering massive social disorder is no way to protest – Editorial
https://nypost.com/2020/09/07/fostering-massive-social-disorder-is-no-way-to-protest/
— Black Lives Matter protesters harass Pittsburgh diners – Aaron Feis
https://nypost.com/2020/09/07/black-lives-matter-protesters-harass-pittsburgh-diners/
— Trump blames violence in Rochester, NYC on ‘radical left’ Democrats – Mark Moore
https://nypost.com/2020/09/07/trump-blames-violence-in-rochester-nyc-on-radical-left-democrats/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Will Courts Pick the Next President? If the election is close, the fallout could make Bush v. Gore look like an ice-cream social. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-courts-pick-the-next-president-11599518640
— Face It, Facebook Is the Picture of Politics Despite its best efforts to the contrary, Facebook is now a political app and the majority of its users are ‘here for it’ – Laura Forman (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who promote Facebook? Facebook is vehemently anti-conservative, anti-Republican, and anti-Trump. Facebook discourages everyone a) from sending and reading emails and b) from publishing and maintaining websites.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/face-it-facebook-is-the-picture-of-politics-11599219180
— Rising Education Levels Provide Diminishing Economic Boost – Josh Mitchell (DIERSEN: If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1970, a) Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970, b) Oldsmobile would not have offered me a job in 1971, and c) IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate business courses during 1972, 1973, and 1974, IRS might not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I a) had not earned an MBA in 1976, b) had not been taking graduate accounting courses during 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980, and c) had not passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, GAO would not have hired me in 1980. If I a) had not earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, b) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and c) became a licensed CPA in 1981, GAO would not have promoted me in 1986. If I a) had not become a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997 and b) earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997, GAO would have succeeded in forcing me to take its early retirement offer earlier than it did.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rising-education-levels-provide-diminishing-economic-boost-11599400800

BLOOMBERG
— Wells Fargo, Delta Join a Nascent Push Into Racial Hiring Quotas Some of the country’s biggest companies have set targets to make up for a lack of Black workers. – Marin Wolf and Kim Bhasin (DIERSEN: I should write a book about race, gender, and age quotas, goals, and targets that Democrat politicians gave my superiors in the federal government. To meet those quotas, goals, and targets, they got rid of their employees who were Republican, White, and/or non-veteran, who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-01/can-quotas-fix-diversity-these-major-companies-hope-so

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING, OUTRAGEOUS: American Airlines shows support for Black staff, passengers with Black Lives Matter pins – Hannah Yasharoff
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/09/07/black-lives-matter-american-delta-show-support-custom-blm-pins/5739331002/

DESERET NEWS
— Understanding ‘pink slime journalism’ and what it reveals about conservatives and liberals Websites featuring local news could be efforts to sway elections, media analysts say. But one publisher says he’s filling a void left by the closure of community newspapers – Jennifer Graham (DIERSEN: www.gopusaillinois.com does not masquerade.)
https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/9/7/21409053/understanding-pink-slime-journalism-and-what-it-reveals-about-conservatives-and-liberals
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Six in 10 Americans who are Republican, or lean that way, believe that news organizations make mistakes to deliberately mislead people, according to a new report from Pew Research Center. The number is even higher among supporters of President Donald Trump, who repeatedly berates the mainstream news media for dispensing what he calls “fake news.” That could make conservatives the group most susceptible to an emerging phenomenon that has been dubbed “pink-slime journalism,” websites that masquerade as local news, but may exist to promote a partisan agenda and gather data on users, according to an investigation by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. The term “pink-slime journalism,” believed to have been coined in 2012 by journalist Ryan Smith, suggests something more sinister than “yellow journalism,” which describes news coverage that is overly sensational or tawdry and which dates to the 19th century. Pink-slime journalism, however, is thoroughly modern, enabled by computer-generated articles and accounts compiled by people who may not live in the United States.)

DAILY GAZETTE
— OUTSTANDING: Trump supporters rally on Saratoga Lake More than 100 boats in flotilla – Stan Hudy
https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/09/07/trump-supporters-rally-on-saratoga-lake

NEWSWEEK
— DISGUSTING, OUTRAGEOUS: American Airlines Faces Boycott Calls Over ‘Black Lives Matter’ Uniform Pin – SEREN MORRIS
https://www.newsweek.com/american-airlines-faces-boycott-calls-over-black-lives-matter-uniform-pin-1530092
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: U.S. Schools Have Openly Taught the 1619 Project for Months – CHANTAL DA SILVA
https://www.newsweek.com/u-s-schools-have-openly-taught-1619-project-months-1530138

ATLANTIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of Trump.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/trump-vigor/615973/

AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION
— Why “27 Years and Out” Should Be Retired – TED CRAIG (DIERSEN: The Democrats who run the federal government use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, reorganizations, budget cuts, up-or-out, subjectivity in job assignments, subjectivity in performance appraisal, etc. to get rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they have not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
http://www.afsa.org/why-27-years-and-out-should-be-retired
(FROM THE ARTICLE: This September I will retire from the U.S. Foreign Service. Not for lack of energy and commitment, as I sit squarely in my mid-50s and am in good health. Nor for lack of capability, if my last employee evaluation report in a senior overseas leadership position is to be credited. And not for any constraints on my readiness to serve. Along with scores of other capable colleagues every year, I am moving on because of the Service’s long-standing requirement that we retire after 27 years unless selected to the Senior Foreign Service. It is the deal we signed up for, so those of us who don’t cross the threshold must accept the outcome. Whether this deal still makes sense for the Foreign Service is another question. The 27-year threshold is the relic of an age of one-career couples and unsuited to the professional constraints faced today by single parents, dual-career partners, or just about anyone with a substantial life challenge. It is draining away experienced and skilled officers at a time of unprecedented challenge to our interests and ideals overseas, and it may play a role in limiting diversity in our senior ranks. The 27-year “Time in Service” (TIS) limit in the Foreign Service mirrors the U.S. military, where officers have that number of years to make flag rank—the one-star ranks of brigadier general for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, and rear admiral for the Navy—or face mandatory retirement. And some of the justifications for the system are similar for both the military and the diplomatic corps. First, the limitation ensures “pass-through” in the ranks, opening opportunities for the next generation of officers to move through the system as longer-serving officers are retired. Like most bureaucracies, we have a pyramid-shaped organization at the State Department. We need more mid-level diplomats than we do ambassadors and deputy assistant secretaries. There is not room for everyone to be selected for the Senior Foreign Service, and using upward progression as an incentive for superior performance is beneficial. A second argument for the TIS limit, unspoken in polite company, is that it rids the system of underperforming bureaucratic deadwood. This argument is less convincing. Like the military, the Foreign Service uses up-or-out all along the way, thinning the ranks at each step in promotion; anyone making our Service’s most senior “pre-flag” rank (FS-1, the protocol equivalent of a colonel) has been pushed forward by at least three promotion boards and should be a strong officer. While we still occasionally see underperformers marking time at the FS-1 rank, the reality is that most of those pushed out of the Service are still capable of strong contributions and valuable mentoring. Many will have been recommended for elevation to the Senior Foreign Service by the annual selection panels, falling short because of limited allotted slots for new senior officers.)

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 807 Crest Street, Wheaton – $160,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4447681_zpid/