Tag: Precinct

January 7 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— States exploring tax changes in response to federal overhaul – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–tax-overhaul-states-20180106-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In New Jersey and California, top Democratic officials want to let people make charitable contributions to the state instead of paying certain taxes. In Connecticut and New York, officials are exploring a switch from income taxes to new ones on payroll. A few governors have even called for tax cuts. The ideas are bubbling up as state lawmakers begin their 2018 sessions and assess the effects of the Republican tax overhaul that President Donald Trump signed into law last month. Lawmakers and governors in some states are grappling with how to protect their constituents. . . In high-tax states, officials have been focused on protecting taxpayers from the impact of a new $10,000 cap on deductions for paying state and local taxes. In California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, more than one-third of tax filers claim the state and local tax deduction on federal taxes; the average deduction in each state is over $15,000.)
— A look at prosecutors who will decide on marijuana crackdown – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–legalized-pot-prosecutors-glance-20180105-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Suburban libraries working to be more accommodating to the homeless – Sarah Freishtat
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-library-homeless-st-0105-20180105-story.html
— Trump cools to idea of reducing spending on welfare programs, seeing little chance of success – Josh Dawsey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-agenda-20180106-story.html
— Talk of bipartisanship in Republican-only meetings with Trump at Camp David – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-republicans-camp-david-20180106-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Families lost loved ones to Legionnaires’ but can collect only minimal damages – Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/state-law-caps-legionnaires-family-lawsuits-100000/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow over their success in getting “religious leaders” to serve as operatives or dupes for the Democrat Party.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/let-sacred-traditions-guide-our-fight-against-injustice-just-relations/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump washes his hands of insurgency against GOP incumbents – AP (DIERSEN: Have you ever been an insurgent, that is, have you ever ran against an incumbent Republican? I have not.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180107/news/301079975/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump says he’s done campaigning for insurgents challenging incumbent Republican members of Congress. Trump told reporters after meeting GOP House and Senate leaders at Camp David on Saturday that he’s planning a robust schedule of campaigning for the 2018 midterm elections and that includes involvement in the Republican primaries. He’ll campaign for incumbents, he said, and “anybody else that has my kind of thinking.” But after a stinging loss in Alabama, Trump said he’s done supporting challengers, declaring: “I don’t see that happening.” Trump had supported Roy Moore after he won the GOP primary. Moore’s defeat in the subsequent special election handed Democrats another seat in the Senate.)
— Trump’s furious response to tell-all book – Editorial (DIERSEN: When my attorney Walter T. Charlton filed Diersen v. GAO in 1998, GAO was not furious at all. Instead, GAO responded to the lawsuit like the lawsuit helped GAO hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. The lawsuit showed that GAO wastes the careers of and gets rid of its non-veteran White male employees who did 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.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180107/editorial-trumps-furious-response-to-tell-all-book

 

ABC7
— Local leaders (Luis Gutierrez and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia) push to protect DACA recipients as budget deadline looms – Michelle Gallardo
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/local-leaders-push-to-protect-daca-recipients-as-budget-deadline-looms/2874740/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— DACA battle heats up, Gutierrez responds to Trump
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/daca-battle-heats-up-gutierrez-responds-to-trump

 

WBEZ
— ‘It’s A Crime’: Illinois Cap On Legionnaires’ Payouts Lowest In U.S. – Dave McKinney, Tony Arnold
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/its-a-crime-illinois-cap-on-legionnaires-payouts-lowest-in-us/f3d332bc-4d1d-4150-9865-cdffc3046fe6

 

ROCK RIVER TIMES
— Illinois legislators react to possible DOJ move on marijuana prohibition – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://rockrivertimes.com/2018/01/07/illinois-legislators-react-to-possible-doj-move-on-marijuana-prohibition/

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DOJ Pot Follow Up – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=258032#.WlI146inGM8

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Few specifics are available on progressive tax amendment – Jim Dey (DIERSEN: What about retirement income? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are beyond furious that my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension and my Social Security are not subject to state income tax. In today’s dollars, since 1997, CSRS has paid me $1,050,246 and since 2010, Social Security has paid me $14,964.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/jim-dey-few-specifics-are-available-progressive-tax-amendment.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: He proposed levying a 6 percent tax rate on incomes of $1 million or more, a roughly 20 percent increase for that category of income earners. At the same time, he would levy a 1 percent tax rate on incomes between $2,500 and $24,999, a 2.25 percent rate on incomes from $25,000 to $44,999, a 3.75 percent rate on incomes from $45,000 to $149,999 and a 4.95 percent rate on incomes from $150,000 to $999,999. But there’s a problem with Daiber’s tax proposal — it’s a bait and switch. He gives the impression that most people will get a tax cut and only a few — “the millionaires and billionaires” — will get a tax increase. That won’t work because backers of a progressive income tax desperately want billions of dollars more in revenue. Under Daiber’s proposal, the state would generate less revenue than it receives under the current flat tax. The problem? Illinois doesn’t have enough people with annual incomes of $1 million and up. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue 2013 tax figures, about 32,000 individuals or families out of 6 million tax filers reported annual incomes between $1 million and $25 million. They paid $2.5 billion of the $16.9 billion in income tax revenue that year. Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute reports that in 2015, just 18 percent of taxpayers earned $100,000-plus. They paid 84 percent of all state income taxes.)
— Cunningham Township Assessor’s action sparks inquiry – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-01-07/assessors-action-sparks-inquiry.html
— Lots of work, few to do it at assessor’s office – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/tom-kacich-lots-work-few-do-it-assessors-office.html
— Kennedy alleges ‘gentrification plan’ – RICH MILLER
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2018-01-07/rich-millercapitol-fax-kennedy-alleges-gentrification-plan.html
— Gambling-parlor issue looming large in Champaign – Natalie Wickman (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who promotes video gambling? ANSWER: Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-07/gambling-parlor-issue-looming-large-champaign.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump washes his hands of insurgency against GOP incumbents – AP (DIERSEN: Have you ever been an insurgent, that is, have you ever ran against an incumbent Republican? I have not.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-washes-his-hands-of-insurgency-against-gop-incumbents/904940250
— Trump wishes for better libel laws after book slams him – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes erroneously believe that because I do not send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to make money, they are free to slander and libel me.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-wishes-for-better-libel-laws-after-book-slams-him/904961203

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— The liberal media have all the facts! Except when they don’t. – Jack Hellner
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/the_liberal_media_have_all_the_facts_except_when_they_dont.html

 

THE HILL
— Blue-state officials plot response to GOP tax law – NAOMI JAGODA (DIERSEN: If you pay lots of real estate tax and/or state income tax in Illinois, have the Republicans succeeded in motivating you to do more to get those who run Illinois, who run your county, who run your township/ward, who run your municipality, who run your school district, who run your park district, who run your etc. to curb their taxes and to curb their spending? What if the majority of the voters in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois want taxpayers like you to pay higher taxes?)
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/367696-blue-state-officials-plot-response-to-gop-tax-law
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Elected officials in high-tax Democratic-leaning states are looking at creative ways to prevent the new tax law from raising their residents’ bills. The new law, which passed in December with only Republican votes, caps the state and local tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000. GOP lawmakers said they hoped that would motivate high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California to curb their own taxes and spending. But politicians in blue states view the tax law as an attack on them, and are pushing back. “We sort of have two choices. One choice is to step back and let this happen to us. Or the other is to get into the arena and fight like heck,” New Jersey Gov.-elect Phil Murphy (D) said at a news conference Friday. “And this is New Jersey after all.” The tax law is just one of the ways Republicans have taken aim at Democratic-leaning cities and states in recent months.)

 

ABC NEWS
— Trump wishes for better libel laws after book slams him – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes erroneously believe that because I do not send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to make money, they are free to slander and libel me.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-wishes-libel-laws-book-slams-52189356

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In Clash Between California and Trump, It’s One America Versus Another – Tim Arango (DIERSEN: How soon will California leave America and join up with Mexico? Constructively, Mexico has declared war on America a) by its sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally, b) by its keeping many millions of its citizens in America illegally, and c) by its sending mountains of illegal drugs into America illegally.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/us/california-sanctuary-marijuana.html
— Elgin Man Who Sheltered Homeless People in His Basement Stops After City Order – Maya Salam
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/chicago-homeless-basement-weather.html
— Retirement Tips for the Age of Trump – Charles J. Sykes (DIERSEN: Since I retired in 1997 when I was 49 years, sadly, I have come to realize that far too many activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who claim to be Republican are not really Republican. They are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs. They a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and/or they are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/retirement-tips-trump-age.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Originally, my plan was to sit in a rocking chair, and after a few weeks to start rocking. But the election wrecked those plans, making retirement in the Era of Trump a complicated affair. I started thinking about that this past week, when Orrin Hatch, the seven-term Republican senator from Utah, announced that he wouldn’t run for re-election this year. He joins two Republican colleagues, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, in announcing retirement. Word is that Steve Bannon is also very likely to have a lot more free time on his hands soon, especially since the billionaire Mercer family has cut off his funding, one of the few things that has kept him relevant. So even though they didn’t ask, I’m going to offer some pointers.)
— Diabetes Shouldn’t Bankrupt You – Elisabeth Rosenthal (DIERSEN: My outstanding father fought type 1 diabetes from age 14. That diabetes led to heart failure and his sudden death in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/diabetes-shouldnt-bankrupt-you.html
— Why Even Tougher Regulations on Smoking Are Justified – Robert H. Frank (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, virtually all of my superiors and supervisors who worked the hardest against me were older White male Democrats who were big smokers and big drinkers.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/business/economy/why-even-tougher-regulations-on-smoking-are-justified.html
— Where Pot Entrepreneurs Go When the Banks Just Say No As the legal markets for marijuana spread, a small credit union is solving a big problem: what to do with all the cash. – ROBB MANDELBAUM (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes talk and/or act like a) they smoke pot, b) they want to smoke pot legally, and/or c) they want to make lots of money selling pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/magazine/where-pot-entrepreneurs-go-when-the-banks-just-say-no.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump, his aides keep up attack against White House tell-all; president dismisses it as a ‘Fake Book’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/01/07/trump-his-aides-keep-up-attack-against-white-house-tell-all-president-dismisses-it-as-a-fake-book/

 

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
— In 2018, resolve to end elitism – RUBEN NAVARRETTE JR. (DIERSEN: Those who work on the front line against me paint themselves as being operatives or dupes for elites.)
http://journalstar.com/opinion/columnists/ruben-navarrette-in-resolve-to-end-elitism/article_0d84184b-9192-5e92-8729-cc289a929a3d.html

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Republicans, Democrats Agree Trump’s In Charge (DIERSEN: Who is in charge in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/december_2017/republicans_democrats_agree_trump_s_in_charge

January 6 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Trump-Bannon feud lays bare new fissure in fractious GOP.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-bc-us–trump-bannon-20180104-story.html
— Transgender inmate seeks transfer to female prison after claims of abuse involving guards – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-transgender-inmate-transfer-20180105-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “In Trump’s first year, stocks soar for rich, but wages stay flat.” Democrats have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you own stocks, you are rich. In its 4-page article on me in its February 1978 issue, Money Magazine reported that I owned 40 shares of Commonwealth Edison stock worth $1,155. I had bought those shares because back then, there was no federal income tax on the first $100 of dividends.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-stocks-wages-workers-20180105-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chris Kennedy takes low road by spreading conspiracy theory – Mary Mitchell
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/mitchell-chris-kennedy-takes-low-road-by-spreading-conspiracy-theory/
— Guv’s grandstanding aside, veterans home in Quincy should be closed – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/illinois-veterans-home-quincy-bruce-rauner-editorial/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Mark Zuckerberg’s 2018 resolution: Fix Facebook – Lindsey Bever
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180106/mark-zuckerbergs-2018-resolution-fix-facebook
— Pope: Don’t be misled by making money and career your life – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180106/news/301069971/

 

ABC7
— Sen. Durbin visits veterans home during Legionnaires’ crisis – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/sen-durbin-visits-veterans-home-during-legionnaires-crisis/2867405/

 

NBC5
— Roskam, Rauner Races Named as Must Watch
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/web—deep-dish-roskam-rauner-races_Chicago-468186113.html

 

CBS2
— Ford CEO’s Speech Against Sex Harassment Rings False To Some – Dana Kozlov
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/05/ford-ceos-speech-against-sex-harassment-rings-false-to-some/

 

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— Abortion on decline in DeKalb County, around Illinois Drop seen among most age groups, especially teens, since start of decade – ERIC R. OLSON
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2018/01/01/abortion-on-decline-in-dekalb-county-around-illinois/a7yohg/

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— In Chicago, a colorful race – Rich Miller
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/rich-miller-in-chicago-a-colorful-race/article_38a8f7b9-fa15-584f-92ff-9d9dce48570b.html

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Chamber Opposes Property Tax Freeze – Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/sponsored/articles/2018/01/05/13209882/index.xml

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Christian County officials need more help to fight drug abuse – Maximilian Kwiatkowski (DIERSEN: Who promotes drug abuse in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Who wants you to smoke pot instead of abusing opioids?)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180105/christian-co-officials-need-more-help-to-fight-drug-abuse

 

TIMES
— Marter v. Kinzinger: Congressman silent on debates – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/congressman-silent-on-debates/article_8b89b3c7-2d41-5da5-9975-ae5a9b86005c.html
— Debates: Citizens of the 16th Congressional District deserve better – Jaye DeBates
http://www.mywebtimes.com/opinion/columnists/debates-citizens-of-the-th-congressional-district-deserve-better/article_50a8d378-3395-5c6f-b558-35298333f072.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Suburban libraries training employees to help homeless – AP
http://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article193319809.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— DeBates: Forgery accusation ‘baseless’ Congressional hopefuls offer different stories – Brett Herrmann
http://www.newstrib.com/free/debates-forgery-accusation-baseless/article_eefcce54-f238-11e7-8f0a-5f7f1486d06a.html

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Candidate petitions challenged in 16th, 67th elections
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180105/candidate-petitions-challenged-in-16th-67th-elections

 

FREEPORT JOURNAL STANDARD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot pushers promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20180106/chuck-sweeny-sessions-is-repeating-nations-prohibition-mistake

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— State Lawmakers Ponder Sessions’ Pot Declaration – Greg Bishop
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=258025#.WlDkNIzR-M8
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Members of the following groups continues to push for Dreamers: 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.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257975#.WlDQcozR-M8

 

IROQUOIS COUNTY TIMES REPUBLIC
— Sanguinetti stops by IWMS – WENDY DAVIS
http://www.newsbug.info/iroquois_countys_times-republic/sanguinetti-stops-by-iwms/article_3c18e9e0-f2a5-11e7-8912-e7a326cc8e9a.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— African-American unemployment hit record low in December – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/africanamerican-unemployment-hit-record-low-in-december/904113601

 

WQAD
— Local dispensary manager predicts future Marijuana Revolution – CHRIS MINOR (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://wqad.com/2018/01/05/local-dispensary-manager-predicts-future-marijuana-revolution/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Goodbye To A Commission Established To Solve A Nonexistent Problem.”
http://nprillinois.org/post/goodbye-commission-established-solve-nonexistent-problem#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Will Rauner pass his first balanced budget?
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-will-rauner-pass-his-first-balanced-budget/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Med marijuana growers optimistic they will be unaffected following federal policy change – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/med-marijuana-growers-optimistic-they-will-be-unaffected-following-federal/article_23bbeb72-f22d-11e7-83de-ff8da2ca997c.html
— CEOs credit federal tax reform for influx of employee bonuses – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/ceos-credit-federal-tax-reform-for-influx-of-employee-bonuses/article_290d6c06-f195-11e7-a39a-1bd1bdc486ed.html

 

GOPUSA
— Desperate CNN shifts to mental illness in constant effort to bring Trump down (DIERSEN: Democrats have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you do not promote the Democrat Party platform, you are mentally ill.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36575

 

FOX NEWS INSIDER
— Tucker: If Republicans Betray Voters on Immigration, They’re Toast (DIERSEN: In Illinois, for far too long, far too many “Republican” elected officials and party leaders have betrayed Republican voters. Most commonly, they have failed/refused to defend/advance the traditional family, right to life, abortion, immigration, and illegal drugs planks in the Republican Party platform and Illinois Republican Party platform. Far too often they have promoted dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and even worse things.)
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/05/tucker-carlson-if-republican-party-betrays-voters-immigration-its-toast

 

BLAZE
— Here’s what Trump is demanding from the Democrats in exchange for ‘Dreamer’ amnesty – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/05/heres-what-trump-is-demanding-from-the-democrats-in-exchange-for-dreamer-amnesty
— Tucker Carlson says Trump should only cut a deal for amnesty with these conditions – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/05/tucker-carlson-says-trump-should-only-cut-a-deal-for-amnesty-with-these-conditions

 

TOWNHALL
— Steve Bannon is a Back-Stabbing Benedict Arnold – Jeff Crouere
https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffcrouere/2018/01/06/steve-bannon-is-a-backstabbing-benedict-arnold-n2430790

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— AP: Illinois’s biggest problem is pot – Jack Hellner
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/illinoiss_biggest_problem_is_pot.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: Taxes as Charity? New Jersey Towns Try to Elude G.O.P. Tax Law – Nick Corasaniti and Alan Rappeport (DIERSEN: What do all those units of government on your real estate tax bill have to say about this?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/nyregion/taxes-as-charity-new-jersey-towns-try-to-elude-gop-tax-law.html
— The U.S. Wanted to Discuss Iran. Russia Brought Up Black Lives Matter. – Michael Schwirtz
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/world/middleeast/un-iran-protests-debate.html
— Publicly, We Say #MeToo. Privately, We Have Misgivings. – Daphne Merkin (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout at women that women can destroy any man that they want to by charging that man with sexual harassment.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/opinion/golden-globes-metoo.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot pushers promote pot as the answer to opioid abuse.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/opinion/sessions-marijuana-crackdown.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers say “New Pot Policy by Trump Administration Draws Bipartisan Fire.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/us/politics/trump-marijuana-policy-bipartisan-fire.html
— Trump Defends His Mental Capacity, Calling Himself a ‘Genius’ – Michael Tackett
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/politics/trump-genius-mental-health.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump boasts that he’s ‘like, really smart’ and a ‘very stable genius’ amid questions over his mental fitness – David Nakamura
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/06/trump-boasts-that-hes-like-really-smart-and-a-very-stable-genius-amid-questions-over-his-mental-fitness/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Moderate Voters, Polarized Parties The author of ‘Unstable Majorities’ argues that if the electorate seems fickle, it’s because the politicians are too ideological. – James Taranto (DIERSEN: In Illinois, for far too long, far too many “Republican” elected officials and party leaders have betrayed Republican voters. Most commonly, they have failed/refused to defend/advance the traditional family, right to life, abortion, immigration, and illegal drugs planks in the Republican Party platform and Illinois Republican Party platform. Far too often they have promoted dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and even worse things.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderate-voters-polarized-parties-1515193066
— Jeff Sessions’s Marijuana Candor The AG is forcing legalizers to square federal and state law. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that they a) smoke pot, b) want to smoke pot legally, and/or c) want to make money selling pot.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeff-sessionss-marijuana-candor-1515197282
— China Emerges as Cadillac’s Top Market a Decade Sooner Than Expected Brand has tripled China sales over the last five years, appealing to young, luxury buyers – Mike Colias
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-emerges-as-cadillacs-top-market-a-decade-sooner-than-expected-1515183273
— Some Good Jobs News The black jobless rate falls to its lowest ever in the Labor statistics. – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-good-jobs-news-1515197365

 

NATION
— The GOP Tax Bill Was a Deliberate Attack on Blue States—And California Plans to Fight Back Here are some creative ways for blue states to resist the GOP power grab. – Sasha Abramsky
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-gop-tax-bill-was-a-deliberate-attack-on-blue-states-and-california-plans-to-fight-back/

 

NATIONAL
— Trump’s fire and fury reaction in trying to block an explosive new book is unprecedented It is unheard of for a US president to try to suppress a book he dislikes – but his coterie has been working overtime – Hussein Ibish
https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/trump-s-fire-and-fury-reaction-in-trying-to-block-an-explosive-new-book-is-unprecedented-1.693200

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— Michael Wolff’s Provocative Book About Trump Sold Out at One Store in 20 Minutes – ALIX LANGONE
http://time.com/money/5089578/michael-wolff-fire-and-fury-trump-sales/

 

REALTOR
— How Your Commute Time Should Affect Where You Buy a Home – Daniel Bortz (DIERSEN: Being able to walk to the Wheaton train station encouraged my wife and I to have 915 Cove Court build in Wheaton in 1984. Being able to walk to the College Avenue train station encouraged my wife and I to buy 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978. Being able to walk to work in the Loop and to classes at Loyola and DePaul encouraged me to buy condos in the Outer Drive East building in 1976 and 1974. Being able to drive to work in Harvey encouraged me to buy a new town home in University Park in 1972. But my commute time increased dramatically in 1973 when I was temporarily assigned to work in the Loop. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/463866)
https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/short-commute-time-affect-home-buying/

January 1 Evening Edition

ABC7
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California pot shops ring in 2018, ring up first legal sales – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/california-pot-shops-ring-in-2018-ring-up-first-legal-sales/2848154/

 

NBC5
— Hastert Case Returns to Court Tuesday – Phil Rogers (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.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Hastert-Case-Returns-to-Court-Tuesday-467535533.html
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois – Sara Burnett
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/2018-Brings-Governors-Race-Other-Big-Contests-in-Illinois-467558543.html

 

CBS2
— Trump Rings In New Year At Mar A Lago Before the clock struck midnight, the President spoke with the press about his expectations for 2018. CBS 2’s Diane King Hall reports.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-wbbmtv/3785563-trump-rings-in-new-year-at-mar-a-lago/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: A ‘monumental moment’ for fully legal marijuana in California – Patrick McGreevy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-california-legal-marijuana-20180101-story.html
— Keeping stoners from driving cars – John O’Halloran, DeKalb
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-keep-pot-heads-off-road-legalize-marijuana-20171228-story.html
(FROM THE LETTER: As a commercial driver, I don’t want to share the road with pot heads. But I do support legalization of marijuana in Illinois. The state legislature should pass a law that says a citizen who chooses to purchase marijuana may be issued a special drug-use license, but will first have to surrender their driver’s license. You can use drugs. Or you can drive. But you can’t do both safely.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How to make regular folks’ $50 donations count in elections – Editorial (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about “Republican” candidates who hint/imply/argue/shout that unless I give them lots of money, a) they do not want me to know about their fundraisers, b) they do not want me to promote their fundraisers, c) they do not want me to attend their fundraisers, and d) they do not want me to report on their fundraisers? They hint/imply/argue/shout that I fraudulently claim to be a member of the news media to get information to intentionally/unintentionally use to harm them. They blame me for their problems. They blame me for your problems. They blame me for my problems. They blame me for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-how-to-make-average-voters-50-donation-count/
— Remember, rekindle the spirit of Emancipation Proclamation – Jesse Jackson (DIERSEN: When did your ancestors immigrate to America? What do you say to those who hint/imply/argue/shout that if you are an old White male Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, a) the more that you have benefited from their discrimination against minorities and against women and b) the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/jackson-remember-rekindle-the-spirit-of-emancipation-proclamation/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Armed with new data, officials target ‘drug-dealing’ doctors – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180101/news/301019948/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois The new year will be one of big decisions in Illinois. – SARA BURNETT
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/2018-brings-governors-race-other-big-contests-in-illinois
(FROM THE ARTICLE: All statewide offices will be on the ballot on Nov. 8, but no contest will be as fevered — or costly — as the governor’s race. Democratic candidates including billionaire J.B. Pritzker, wealthy businessman Chris Kennedy and state Sen. Daniel Biss are seeking their party’s nomination in the March 20 primary, when Rauner also faces a GOP primary challenge from conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives. Already, the candidates are raising and spending money at a pace that could make this the most expensive governor’s race in U.S. history. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s unexpected announcement that she won’t seek a fifth term created a crowded Democratic primary for that office. Some congressional races also will be closely watched. Several Democrats are vying for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, who’s retiring. And Republican Congressman Peter Roskam will try to hold his seat representing suburban Chicago, a district Democrats are eyeing as one of the party’s best chances to gain a seat in the U.S. House after voters there supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016.)
— Police seize $5 million in pot at Morgan Co. truck stop (DIERSEN: If the Democrats legalize pot for recreational use in Illinois, what percent of those in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois will become stoners, that is, what percent will become wards of the state?)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/police-seize-5-million-in-pot-at-morgan-co-truck-stop

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin In California
http://nprillinois.org/post/legal-recreational-marijuana-sales-begin-california#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot Seen as another milestone of mainstreaming weed – THERESA WALDROP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/californians-line-up-to-legally-buy-recreational-pot/895012072

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Help make your Government accountable in 2018! – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/01/help-make-your-government-accountable-in-2018/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— INCUMBENTS FACE PRIMARY CHALLENGES IN ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/incumbents-face-primary-challenges-in-illinois-congressional-districts.html
— THORNER & INGOLD: DAY OF RECKONING FOR GOP TAX BILL NAYSAYERS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-ingold-day-of-reckoning-for-gop-tax-bill-naysayers.html
— PETITION SIGNATURE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO 16TH CD GOP CANDIDATE WITHDRAWING
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/marter-investigation-into-petition-signatures-leads-to-16th-cd-candidate-withdrawing.html
— CHICAGO 2017 MURDERS AVERAGED 2 A DAY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/chicago-2017-murders-averaged-2-a-day.html
— DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE MAKES ILLINOIS FIRST IN BANNING LIVE ELEPHANT SHOWS (DIERSEN: The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party. In 2007, I had the honor of raising $2,000 from DuPage Republicans on short notice to sponsor an elephant that walked behind Congressman Peter Roskam in Wheaton’s Independence Day parade. Outstandingly, Roger Claar contributed $500 of that $2,000. SEE: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/07/photos-from-the.html)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/democrat-controlled-legislature-makes-illinois-first-in-banning-live-elephant-shows.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Blue States Look to Blunt Tax Law by Legal Challenges – Jeff Rodack (DIERSEN: Did you prepay your real estate taxes? Will the Democrats try to get all those who prepaid their real estate taxes to join in a class action lawsuit against the Republicans? What percent of those who prepaid their real estate taxes are Democrats and what percent are Republicans?)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/blue-states-california-new-york-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/2018/01/01/id/834551/

 

GOPUSA
— Obama worried about rollback of his so-called ‘legacy’ (DIERSEN: Obama condemned my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8 as being a clunker. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Allowance_Rebate_System Will Trump pardon my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8? It gets 24 MPG on the highway.)
http://www.gopusa.com/obama-worried-about-rollback-of-his-so-called-legacy/
— Bloody Chicago: It took 2 hours to record city’s first homicide of 2018
http://www.gopusa.com/bloody-chicago-it-took-2-hours-to-record-citys-first-homicide-of-2018/
— Chain migration concerns grow as millions enter US with legal status
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36066
— Fighting for religious liberty proving costly for average Americans (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups force individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries to promote LGBTQ activity: 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.gopusa.com/?p=36153

 

FOX NEWS
— Hillary Clinton backer paid $500G to fund women accusing Trump of sexual misconduct before Election Day, report says – Robert Gearty
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/31/hillary-clinton-backer-paid-500g-to-fund-women-accusing-trump-sexual-misconduct-before-election-day-report-says.html

 

BREITBART
— California Ushers in 2018 with Ammunition Control – AWR HAWKINS
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/01/01/california-ushers-2018-ammunition-control/
— Weak 17: A Frozen Wasteland of Empty Seats on the Final Week of the NFL Year – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/12/31/weak-17-frozen-wasteland-empty-seats-final-week-nfl-year/

 

BLAZE
— Republicans and Democrats open 2018 by arguing over how much to grow the size of government – Leon Wolf
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/01/republicans-and-democrats-open-2018-by-arguing-over-how-much-to-grow-the-size-of-government

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Really Is Draining The Swamp – ROBERT DONACHIE (DIERSEN: One could say that Trump supporters promote hatred of past, present, and future federal employees. How should past, present, and future federal employees react to that?)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/trump-really-is-draining-the-swamp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The federal workforce grew sizably under both former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, ballooning from roughly 1.8 million employees in 2000 to 2.14 million at the height of Obama’s presidency. Trump’s administration is moving at a historically slow pace in filling political positions at federal agencies, whether it be part of his “draining the swamp” promise or a slow movement on the part of the Senate is unclear. The Senate has only confirmed 240 of the over 600 political appointments that are supposed to help carry out the administration’s agenda.)

 

THE HILL
— Most key federal agencies have cut staff under Trump: report – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use budget cuts to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did 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://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366925-most-key-federal-agencies-have-cut-staff-under-trump-report

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Winners and losers from 2017, the year in politics – Aaron Blake (DIERSEN: One could argue that those who have itemized their deductions are losers, and especially those who pay lots of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, state income taxes, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/01/winners-and-losers-from-2017-the-year-in-politics/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Congress’s Gift to Blue-State Taxpayers Limiting the SALT deduction will enforce fiscal discipline. – Alfredo Ortiz (DIERSEN: Those who dominate Illinois talk and/or act like they want to drive out of Illinois those who itemize their deductions. Most commonly, those who itemize their deductions spend lots of money on mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/congresss-gift-to-blue-state-taxpayers-1514823290
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The great American migration out of high-tax states like New York and Illinois may be about to accelerate. The tax reform enacted last month caps the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, at $10,000. This means millions of people will finally feel the full tax burden imposed by state and local politicians. When the SALT shield shrinks, so may people’s willingness to put up with these high taxes. Such states already are losing population, and new Census Bureau data—released the same day tax reform passed the House and Senate—shows the continued migration. Of the seven states that grew the fastest between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, four (Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas) have no income tax, and the other three (Idaho, Utah and Arizona) have low taxes. On the flip side, high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Rhode Island either lost residents or stagnated. Pennsylvania quietly became the fifth-most-populous state in the nation, displacing Illinois. When people move, they take their money with them. The five high-tax states listed above have lost more than $200 billion of combined adjusted gross income since 1992, according to the website HowMoneyWalks.com, which aggregates IRS data. In contrast, Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas gained roughly the same amount. If politicians in high-tax states want to prevent this migration from becoming a stampede, they will have to deliver fiscal discipline.)
— What New Tax Law? Caterpillar Fights to Protect Its Swiss-Made Profits American manufacturing icon pays little on parts sales outside U.S., so the IRS wants $2 billion – Andrew Tangel and Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-new-tax-law-caterpillar-fights-to-protect-its-swiss-made-profits-1514834745
— California Poses Problem for GOP as 2018 Dawns Party policies ranging from taxes to immigration cast a shadow over midterm prospects – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-poses-problem-for-gop-as-2018-dawns-1514819328
— In Cities With Low Unemployment, Wages Finally Start to Get Bigger Ending an economic riddle, pay is moving higher and could point to improved incomes nationally in 2018 – Shayndi Raice and Eric Morath (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents want cheap labor.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-cities-with-low-unemployment-wages-finally-start-to-get-bigger-1514808001

 

USA TODAY
— Trump rings in new year at glitzy Mar-a-Lago party, predicts ‘fantastic 2018’ – AP
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/01/trump-rings-new-year-glitzy-mar-lago-party-predicts-fantastic-2018/994015001/
— Retirement planning: Here’s how much money you should have saved at every age – Kathleen Elkins (DIERSEN: How much had you saved for your retirement when you were 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65. I was 65 in 2013. In today’s dollars, my salary in 1997 when I was 49 years old was $122,991. Eight times $122,991 is $983,928.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/retirement/2018/01/01/retirement-planning-heres-how-much-money-you-should-have-saved-every-age/990172001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In your 20s: Aim to save 25% of your overall gross pay, Greene tells CNBC. “That 25% is the combination of 401(k) withholdings, matching funds from your employer and any cash savings that you have,” she notes. “It can also include debt repayment. “Just make sure your lifestyle expenses don’t exceed 75% of your gross income.” By age 30: Have the equivalent of your annual salary saved, Greene says. If you earn $50,000 a year, aim to have $50,000 in savings when you hit 30. Again, this includes any retirement account contributions, matching funds from your company, cash savings, or money you have invested elsewhere, in index funds or robo-advisers. By age 35: Have twice your annual salary saved. By age 40: Have three times your annual salary saved. By age 45: Have four times your annual salary saved. By age 50: Have five times your annual salary saved. By age 55: Have six times your annual salary saved. By age 60: Have seven times your annual salary saved. By age 65: Have eight times your annual salary saved.)

 

OAKLAND PRESS
— Financial advisor suggests couples try to live like a retired person before retiring – Debra Kaszubski (DIERSEN: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of my ending salary in today’s dollars.)
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyle/20171226/financial-advisor-suggests-couples-try-to-live-like-a-retired-person-before-retiring

January 1 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Police: 650 murdered in Chicago in 2017, down 15 percent from previous year – Jessica D’Onofrio
http://abc7chicago.com/police-650-murdered-in-chicago-in-2017/2846873/
— Police: 1 dead, 23 wounded in New Year’s weekend shootings across Chicago
http://abc7chicago.com/police-1-dead-23-wounded-in-new-years-weekend-shootings-across-chicago/2847078/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON AMERICA TIGHTENS: 1 in 10 youths has been homeless over the past year, survey finds – Moriah Balingit
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-homeless-youths-survey-20171231-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Transportation experts’ predictions for 2018 in Chicago, suburbs – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171231/transportation-experts-predictions-for-2018-in-chicago-suburbs

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Priorities for 2018 include improving fiscal, economic conditions in Illinois – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171231/our-view-priorities-for-2018-include-improving-fiscal-economic-conditions-in-illinois

 

PEKIN TIMES
— State Rep. Mike Unes bucks governor and wins, for now – Chris Kaergard and Nick Vlahos
http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20171231/word-on-street-state-rep-mike-unes-bucks-governor-and-wins-for-now

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump welcomes new year with a lavish party at private club – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/trump-welcomes-new-year-with-a-lavish-party-at-private-club/894300665

 

BLAZE
— Federal judge: School districts can’t force football players to stand for the national anthem – Leon Wolf
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/31/federal-judge-school-districts-cant-force-football-players-to-stand-for-the-national-anthem

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— TRUMP LAYS DOWN IMMIGRATION CHALLENGE TO DEMS Demands wall, end to chain migration in exchange for DACA
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/trump-lays-down-immigration-challenge-to-dems/

 

THE HILL
— GOP establishment using Trump for its own ends – JUAN WILLIAMS
http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/366933-juan-williams-gop-establishment-using-trump-for-its-own-ends
— U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.): ‘We’re not talking about taking away benefits from those who deserve those benefits’ – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: What federal “benefits” do you get? Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes paint my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies, and my Social Security as being “benefits” that I do not “deserve.” In my defense, I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years and I paid Social Security taxes for 10 years. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/366919-republican-were-not-talking-about-taking-away-benefits-from-those-who-deserve
— With Franken’s fall, the ‘Trump effect’ could turn Minnesota red — if Republicans embrace him – JOHN GILMORE (DIERSEN: What if the Democrats got Duckworth and/or Durbin to resign? Illinois “Establishment Republicans” got U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald to not seek a second term in 2004. That directly resulted in a) Obama being elected U.S. Senator in 2004, b) Obama being elected U.S. President in 2008, and c) Obama being reelected U.S. President in 2012. “Establishment Republicans” are really Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/366897-with-frankens-fall-the-trump-effect-could-turn-minnesota-red-if-republicans

 

NBC NEWS
— Millennials don’t like Trump. Here’s how they say he could win them over. – ALI VITALI (DIERSEN: To win over millennials, anti-Trumps want Trump a) to punish those who itemize their deductions and b) to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/millennials-don-t-trump-here-s-how-they-say-he-n832961

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law – Ben Casselman (DIERSEN: What do you say to Republicans who give ammunition to Democrats? Of course, Democrats will do everything that they can to turn those who itemize their deductions against Republicans. Democrats will focus on turning those who pay high real estate taxes against Republicans. But wait, Democrats promote high real estate taxes.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/business/high-tax-states-law.html
— How Do You Vote? 50 Million Google Images Give a Clue – Steve Lohr (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/technology/google-images-voters.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Stanford car project generated a host of intriguing connections, not so much startling revelations. In the most recent paper, and one published earlier in the year by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, these were among the predictive correlations: The system was able to accurately predict income, race, education and voting patterns at the ZIP code and precinct level in cities across the country. Car attributes (including miles-per-gallon ratings) found that the greenest city in America is Burlington, Vt., while Casper, Wyo., has the largest per-capita carbon footprint. Chicago is the city with the highest level of income segregation, with large clusters of expensive and cheap cars in different neighborhoods; Jacksonville, Fla., is the least segregated by income. New York is the city with the most expensive cars. El Paso has the highest percentage of Hummers. San Francisco has the highest percentage of foreign cars.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Killers love those who want to end the death penalty.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/opinion/capital-punishment-death-penalty.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims – Kenneth P. Vogel (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America, how much money are anti-Trumps offering women to charge Trump supports with sexual harassment? Ever-increasingly, under the anti-Trumps, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be a sexual harasser: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/politics/sexual-harassment-politics-partisanship.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California Inc.: Recreational pot coming soon to a shop near you – David Lazarus
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-calinc-01012018-story.html
— Remember, much of what Trump does can be undone – Scott Lemieux (DIERSEN: To get elected, Democrats will promise to remove all restrictions on itemized deductions? Democrats will stress that itemized deductions help low and middle income taxpayers far more than they help upper income taxpayers. Will the Democrats stress how itemizing deductions helped Dave Diersen 1972-1977 and helped him and his wife since they got married in 1978?)
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-lemieux-trump-endurance-20180101-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Mike Pence Amasses a War Chest for the Midterm Elections Some strategists say vice president can campaign successfully in places where GOP candidates might be wary of sharing a stage with Trump – Peter Nicholas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-pence-likely-to-assist-republicans-in-midterm-elections-1514543402

 

USA TODAY
— Republican tax law is not a win. Take it from me, the backlash is coming. You can’t sell something people don’t like. I would know; I had a front-row seat for the Obamacare-fueled GOP wave in 2010. The parallels are striking. – Shripal Shah
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/28/republican-tax-law-not-win-2018-backlash-coming-shripal-shah-column/982307001/

 

NATIONAL MEMO
— 6 Big Victories For Feminism In 2017, Despite Donald Trump And Other Toxic Men – Liz Posner (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trump women talk and act like they not only want to get rid of heterosexual men, ever-increasingly they talk and act like they want to turn all women into lesbians.)
https://www.nationalmemo.com/6-big-victories-feminism-2017-despite-donald-trump-toxic-men/

December 31 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Massive, maligned Medicaid managed care expansion to start – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/medicaid-illinois-managed-care-expansion/
— Without an independent judiciary, we are all at risk – Robert P. Cummins, former chairman, Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, it acted like it was run by Democrats. If GAO had been “independent,” it would not have a) forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, c) not promote me beyond GS-13, d) gotten rid of my mentor in 1987, e) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and e) forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/letters-without-an-independent-judiciary-we-are-all-at-risk/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “As 2017 ends, Republicans struggle to counter a Democratic wave.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republicans-democratic-wave-20171231-story.html
— 2 protesters in Iran killed as social media apps blocked – AP (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted to block my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-iran-protests-deaths-20171230-story.html
— Supreme Court to take up Ohio’s purges of inactive voters – AP (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-ohio-inactive-voters-supreme-court-20171231-story.html
— New year means fare hikes, new and ongoing roadwork – Mary Wisniewski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/wisniewski/ct-met-new-year-transportation-getting-around-20171231-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Supreme Court to take up Ohio’s purges of inactive voters – AP (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171231/news/312319962/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Make a resolution to be an engaged citizen in 2018 – Editorial (DIERSEN: Those who want to become a more engaged citizen should read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171230/our-view-make-resolution-to-be-engaged-citizen-in-2018
— Tools to becoming a more engaged citizen (DIERSEN: Those who want to become a more engaged citizen should read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171230/tools-to-becoming-more-engaged-citizen

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
–DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Anticipation high as California rolls out retail pot sales – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/anticipation-high-as-california-rolls-out-retail-pot-sales/893318829
— Iran restricts social media and issues stern warning to protesters Protests continue as gas and food prices rise – MARILIA BROCCHETTO AND DAKIN ANDONE (DIERSEN: Who wants to restrict you and what you do? I should write a book about those who want to restrict me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/world-news/report-two-killed-during-protests-in-iran/893131609

 

CHRISTIAN POST
— Powerful: Race and Gender Analysis of the 100 Largest Churches in America Insights about America’s megachurches. – Jonathan Merritt
https://www.christianpost.com/voice/powerful-race-and-gender-analysis-of-the-100-largest-churches-in-america.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: None of America’s 100 largest churches are LGBTQ-affirming. . . 93 percent of America’s 100 largest churches are led by a white pastor. . .Only 1 of America’s 100 largest churches has a female pastor)

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump: Dem Elections In 2018 Would ‘Totally Kill’ Wealth Created In 2017 – Saagar Enjeti
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/trump-dem-elections-in-2018-would-totally-kill-wealth-created-in-2017/
— California Prosecutes Man For Posting Anti-Muslim Messages On Facebook – Anders Hagstrom
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/30/california-prosecutes-man-for-posting-anti-muslim-messages-on-facebook/
— People Freak Out After Oregon Strikes Law Banning Self-Service Gas Stations – Chris White (DIERSEN: I pumped gasoline in 1966 and 1970-1972.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/people-freak-out-after-oregon-strikes-law-banning-self-service-gas-stations/

 

NEWSMAX
— Trump: Voting Dem in ’18 ‘Will Totally Kill the Great Wealth Created’
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/donald-trump-tweets-electing-dems/2017/12/31/id/834451/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: If the federal government is the “most generous employers ever,” why do so few apply to be federal employees? ANSWER: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/report-federal-worker-minimum-wage-is-100000-85-weeks-off/article/2644553

 

THE HILL
— Tax bill is the rising tide that will lift all Americans’ boats – JAMES P. PINKERTON
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366880-tax-bill-is-the-rising-tide-that-will-lift-all-americans-boats
— Election integrity commission has been ‘bogged down in litigation’ – BRETT SAMUELS (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/366934-kobach-election-integrity-commission-has-been-bogged-down-in-litigation

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The Dow nears 25,000, the ‘death tax’ lives and other 2017 surprises – Allan Sloan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-dow-nears-25000-the-death-tax-still-lives-and-other-2017-surprises/2017/12/31/1caa2766-ea69-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html
— Working out the new tax law’s implications could be painful – Robert Engelman, Takoma Park
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/working-out-the-new-tax-laws-implications-could-be-painful/2017/12/31/d864746a-ecb3-11e7-956e-baea358f9725_story.html

 

FORBES
— TRAGIC: Half Of U.S. Kids 3 And Under Await Congress On Children’s Health Funding 49% or 7.7 million children ages 3 and younger relied on CHIP or Medicaid insurance for poor Americans in 2015 – Bruce Japsen
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2017/12/31/half-of-u-s-kids-3-and-under-await-congress-on-childrens-health-funding/#2ea2e75274b0

December 29 Evening Edition

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump says no protection for Dreamers without wall – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dont-miss/trump-says-no-protection-for-dreamers-without-wall

 

ABC7
— Trump: East Coast could use some ‘good old Global Warming’ this weekend – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-east-could-use-some-global-warming-this-weekend/2837581/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “At expense of other nations, Trump follows through to put America first.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/america-first-trump-michael-barone/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Reversing the Illinois exodus – Editorial (DIERSEN: The more that members of Group A are elected in Illinois, the faster that members of Group B will leave Illinois. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-population-20171222-story.html
— Trump says no protection for ‘Dreamers’ without wall – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-daca-20171229-story.html
— Carjackings skyrocket in Chicago in 2017 — to highest level in at least 10 years – Jeremy Gorner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-carjackings-2017-story.html
— Not much to ‘like’ if Facebook job ads ignore older workers – Robert Reed (DIERSEN: How old are you? What is your position on age discrimination? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote age discrimination. They demonize, denigrate, and condemn as being lazy, stupid, and even worse things non-veteran White male federal employees who do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-age-discrimination-facebook-ads-robert-reed-1226-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Older job seekers, who often have a tough time finding employment, now face another painful reality: Social media isn’t their work buddy. Dozens of companies are recruiting workers with ads on Facebook that use “age-based” microtargeting — a system designed to connect clients to millennial job prospects. But this hyper-focused approach has a dark side: It can prevent older job hunters from getting equal access to career opportunities posted online, and that smacks of age discrimination. Facebook and their corporate clients should wise up and dump this ham-handed strategy before it spirals out of control. Aside from being potentially ageist, unfair and legally suspect, it reduces a company’s employment possibilities by ignoring qualified, older job candidates.)
— Emanuel’s average income is $365,000 per year, 6 years of mayor’s tax returns show – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-tax-returns-20171229-story.html
— Lawmakers behaving badly? Let’s see the names. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-congress-sex-harassment-settlements-20171229-story.html
— Vernon Township supervisor to propose anti-nepotism policy, debate legal fees – Rick Kambic
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/news/ct-vhr-vernon-township-legal-fees-tl-0104-story.html
— Lake County spent $4.9 million on uncompleted e-filing system, records show – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-efiling-st-1230-20171215-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— The tax bill has turned America’s accountants into ‘rock stars’ – Ben Terris
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171229/the-tax-bill-has-turned-americas-accountants-into-rock-stars

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— Illinois counties receive historic number of tax prepayments – Matt Dutton
http://www.whig.com/20171229/illinois-counties-receive-historic-number-of-tax-prepayments#

 

BOLINGBROOK PATCH
— Rachel Tuszynski Admits To Hate Crime Against Mayor Roger Claar The Bolingbrook mayor was a big campaign supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president in 2016. – John Ferak
https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/rachel-tuszynski-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-vs-mayor-claar

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Wilcox Summarizes First Day of Reinert Petition Challenge
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/29/wilcox-summarizes-first-day-of-reinert-petition-challenge/

 

EAST CENTRAL REPORTER
— Brickman’s marijuana stance not shared by fellow Republicans
https://eastcentralreporter.com/stories/511306796-brickman-s-marijuana-stance-not-shared-by-fellow-republicans

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— WATCH: CNN Worries Tax Bill Will Help GOP, Hints At Conspiracy Theory – Ryan Saavedra
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/watch-cnn-worries-tax-bill-will-help-gop-hints-at-conspiracy-theory/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY REVIEW
— REP. BREEN REACTS TO CIRCUIT COURT RULING ON TAXPAYER FUNDED ABORTIONS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/rep-breen-reacts-to-circuit-court-ruling-on-taxpayer-funded-abortions.html
— ILLINOIS’ ANDRZEJEWSKI MAPS THE SWAMP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/illinois-andrzejewski-maps-the-swamp.html
— NATIONAL NEWS FOCUSES ON NATION’S “WORST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR” IN ILLINOIS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/national-news-focuses-on-nations-worst-republican-governor-in-illinois.html
— GLENNON: BEST CHICAGO NEWS IN 2017? HISTORIC LOW TEEN BIRTHS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/glennon-best-chicago-news-in-2017-historic-low-teen-births.html

 

FOX NEWS
— Chicago’s Emanuel reaps benefits of opposing Trump — as city problems fester – Lukas Mikelionis (DIERSEN: What benefits have the anti-Trumps reaped in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/29/chicagos-emanuel-reaps-benefits-opposing-trump-as-city-problems-fester.html
— Things college professors called ‘racist’ in 2017 – Caleb Parke
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/29/things-college-professors-called-racist-in-2017.html

 

THE HILL
— A secure retirement may be in jeopardy for millions of Americans – CHARLES JESZECK AND FRANK TODISCO
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366783-a-secure-retirement-may-be-in-jeopardy-for-millions-of-americans

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Illinois governor announces staff changes
http://www.sfgate.com/news/education/article/Illinois-governor-announces-staff-changes-12462676.php

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump: Give Me a Border Wall or I’ll Deport the Dreamers – Eric Levitz
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/trump-give-me-a-border-wall-or-ill-deport-the-dreamers.html

 

FORBES
— The Administrative State — Size, Scope And Resistance Of The Swamp – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2017/12/29/the-administrative-state-its-size-scope-and-resistance/#572a153933b5

December 21 Morning Edition

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives says Democrats are all running on pot, taxes and spending
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/21/ives-says-democrats-are-all-running-on-pot-taxes-and-spending/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ives insisted that she could win a general election with her fiscally and socially conservative agenda. “Yes, I can absolutely win the general election,” she said. “Look, the Democrats have destroyed the state and the people know that. And what are all the Democratic candidates selling you? Recreational marijuana, higher taxes, more spending. “Is anybody buying that shtick? Anybody? No, and that’s the entire agenda of those folks.”)

 

CBS2
— Governor Rauner Shares Thoughts On Republican Tax Plan – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/21/governor-rauner-republican-tax-plan/

 

WLS AM
— Rauner won’t move Vets from Quincy home – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/21/raunder-wont-move-vets-from-quincy-home/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Going down ‘fake news’ low road, Gov, is bad for democracy – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Main Stream Media (MSM) a) promotes news that it can spin to promote the Democrat, Libertarian, and/or Green party platforms and b) downplays if not censures news that shows the Republican Party platform is the way to go. Ever-increasingly, the MSM publishes editorials that are unethically made to look like news articles.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/rauner-wbez-trump-democracy-going-down-fake-news-journalism/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: On Tuesday, Rauner accused WBEZ, the public radio station, of dropping its monthly “Ask the Governor” feature, in which he took questions from callers, because WBEZ is “really more of a Democrat station.” That was factually untrue, and the governor owes the station an apology. . .The governor’s shot at WBEZ came five days after, on a Downstate radio show, he attacked the integrity of much of the local media as a whole. “What’s frustrating to me and many people around the state,” he said to Tom Miller of WJPF, “is how biased a lot of the media is around Chicago, around the state. Biased for the status quo.” If the governor believes that certain columnists, editorial pages, bloggers, radio commentators and the like have it in for him, by all means he should call them out. He’s taken a whack at this editorial page plenty of times. But most media companies operate from two separate silos — one for commentary, the other for news. One silo serves up opinion. The second serves up an honest effort to report the true facts of current events in a fair manner. Inevitably, the personal values of editors and reporters play a role, beginning with the choices they make about which stories to pursue. News shops are run by human beings. But to broadly brand the news coverage of much of the mainstream media as biased and untrustworthy, just as a general rule, is to undermine the role of an institution — a free press — that is essential to a democracy. It is dangerous.)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The Top 10 Illinois political stories of 2017
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-politics-top-10-stories-2017-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. Republicans break with Rauner as Madigan leads major income tax hike, ends budget impasse. . .2. Lisa Madigan won’t run again, sets off crowded race to succeed her. . .3. J.B. Pritzker enters governor race, quickly consolidates support, sets Democratic self-funding record with $42.2 million. . . 4. State school funding formula revised for first time in decades. . . 5. Pritkzer sought political office from Rod Blagojevich, 2008 FBI wiretaps show. . . 6. Rauner flip-flops on abortion bill, angers conservative Republicans. . . 7. Exodus from the Capitol. . . 8. Rauner gets a primary challenger in Ives. . . 9. Rauner’s summertime right turn, staff struggles. . . 10. Illinois’ richest man Ken Griffin gives $20 million to Rauner campaign.)
— Roskam a no-show at White House – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-politics-top-10-stories-2017-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam skipped Wednesday’s White House celebration with President Donald Trump after passage of the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul he has touted. The Wheaton Republican “was invited but he’s in meetings on the Hill so was unable to make it,” spokeswoman Veronica Vera said in an email. Several of his GOP colleagues stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump outside the White House as the president enthused: “It’s always a lot of fun when you win.” Roskam is on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, chairs its Tax Policy Subcommittee and helped shape and sell the bill. Urging passage of the measure on Tuesday, he said his constituents were longing for tax relief. “After months of work developing a tax code that prioritizes middle-income families and small businesses, Congress has sent a bill to the President’s desk that I am pleased to say accomplishes that goal,” Roskam said in a statement. Seven Democrats have signed up for the primary race to take on the six-term Republican in the northwest suburban 6th Congressional District. One rival, Sean Casten of Downers Grove, in a statement Wednesday said: “Republicans in the House and Senate put corporations and the wealthiest Americans first, while again turning their backs on middle-class families.”)
— ‘Feminism’ is the word of the year. Should we be celebrating? – Nicole Brodeur (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps encourage women to hate Trump supporters, and especially Trump supporters who are Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-feminism-word-of-year-1221-20171220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Where are America’s well-informed citizens? – Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want you to be a well-informed citizen? ANSWER: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. They want you to know what they want you know, no more and no less.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/letters-where-are-americas-well-informed-citizens/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Suburbs contribute to Illinois’ population decline – Diane Dungey and Tim Broderick (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, by their words and/or by their actions, Democrats make it clear that they want you to leave Illinois if you are a member of any 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. Who takes the lead in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois in driving out of Illinois members of the aforesaid groups?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171220/suburbs-contribute-to-illinois-population-decline
— Paying twice for conference asks too much of taxpayers – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171220/editorial-paying-twice-for-conference-asks-too-much-of-taxpayers

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The rush is on—to pay taxes before cap kicks in – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171221/NEWS02/171229977

 

WBEZ
— ‘Beginning Of An Epidemic’: Email Shows State Waited 6 Days To Publicize Legionnaires’ Outbreak – Dave McKinney
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/email-shows-state-waited-6-days-to-publicize-legionnaires-outbreak/474d8281-7c0b-41f7-9baf-0ccebea3a100

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rep. Ives: GOP should kick Rauner to the curb – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-21/rep-ives-gop-should-kick-rauner-the-curb.html

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry County joining other officials to sue opioid drugmakers
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/20/mchenry-county-joining-other-officials-to-sue-opioid-drugmakers/ae92cxu/

 

TIMES
— Candidate Jaye DeBates spreads false claim – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/candidate-spreads-false-claim/article_3a33258c-e365-54a2-807b-d3be2fa4dd8a.html

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Illinois strikes a blow against doctor-shopping – Editorial
http://qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-illinois-strikes-a-blow-against-doctor-shopping/article_8da669bf-9b8a-5eea-ab36-d55adf62dcfa.html

 

PAXTON RECORD
— Senator Barickman’s stance on recreational pot spurs debate
http://www.paxtonrecord.net/news/politics-and-government/2017-12-20/senator%E2%80%99s-stance-recreational-pot-spurs-debate.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Ford County Republican Central Committee met last Saturday and erupted when the legalization of marijuana came up for discussion. Noting that state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, put out a memo earlier in the week in support of legislation to legalize recreational marijuana, many comments and questions arose among precinct committeemen and the public. Many voiced their objection to Barickman’s position, stating that marijuana is an addictive gateway drug that will lead to using other illicit drugs. Since its use for medical purposes, many factions have been pushing for legalizing the drug for recreational use. That caused one participant to ask what such use would do to DUI violations, or the use by teens. “How accessible will it become for younger people?” the person said. Already, there is no significant penalty for possession or use of small amounts of marijuana in Illinois. And the court system has not worked well in preventing use. Barickman postulated that its legalization would raise money for the state.)

 

WREX
— Illinois lawmakers weigh in on state’s declining population – Taylor Utzig
http://www.wrex.com/story/37114834/2017/12/Wednesday/illinois-lawmakers-weigh-in-on-states-declining-population

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump’s Tax Win: The Political Risks – ARI SHAPIRO
http://nprillinois.org/post/trumps-tax-win-political-risks#stream/0

 

CHICAGO READER
— Police misconduct exacts a heavy toll on Chicago Cops’ bad behavior corrodes trust in law enforcement and costs taxpayers millions in legal settlements. – Maya Dukmasova
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/police-misconduct-worst/Content?oid=37060248

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— WHAT’S DRAGGING DOWN ILLINOIS’ ECONOMY? – Orphe Divounguy (DIERSEN: Who in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois takes the lead in driving out of Illinois individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time? I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who take the lead in driving the aforesaid out of Illinois.)
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/whats-dragging-down-illinois-economy/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois elections board removes Democrat governor candidate who turned in zero signatures – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-elections-board-removes-governor-candidate-who-turned-in-zero/article_89cf45d8-e5dc-11e7-9fb9-af0bbc625a1b.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There’s also a citizen objection to Gary Grasso’s bid for the Republican attorney general slot.)
— Policy ideas promoted in Illinois’ governor’s race would only make things worse – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-policy-ideas-promoted-in-illinois-governor-s-race/article_e6a422a6-e587-11e7-8f91-afe3c20641f9.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats ‘betray’ illegal immigrant Dreamers – Stephen Dinan and Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/20/democrats-betray-illegal-immigrant-dreamers/
— Trump slams media for negative take on tax plan – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/21/donald-trump-slams-media-for-negative-take-on-tax-/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— THE ESTABLISHMENT FEARS ANNIHILATION — FOR GOOD REASON Erik Rush sees desperation in eyes of those hoping to destroy Trump
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/the-establishment-fears-annihilation-for-good-reason/

 

THE HILL
— VERY SAD: Top Hollywood stars call on Congress for DACA fix – JUDY KURTZ
http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/365828-top-hollywood-stars-call-on-congress-for-daca-fix

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— In Protests of Net Neutrality Repeal, Teenage Voices Stood Out – Cecilia Kang (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have made it very clear that they want to a) stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, b) stop everyone from reading the emails, and c) stop everyone from reading copies of the emails at www.gopillinois.com.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/technology/net-neutrality-repeal-teens.html
— FRONT PAGE: Facebook Job Ads Raise Concerns About Age Discrimination – Julia Angwin, Noam Scheiber and Ariana Tobin (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69. Do you promote age discrimination? All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes have always promoted age discrimination big time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/business/facebook-job-ads.html
— Facebook Ads That Let Employers Target Younger Workers Focus of U.S. Lawsuit – Reuters (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69. Do you promote age discrimination? All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes have always promoted age discrimination big time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/12/21/technology/21reuters-facebook-lawsuit-discrimination.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— VERY TROUBLING: GOP Tax Overhaul Makes Homeownership Less Appealing Prices in more expensive markets are forecast to be as much as 10% lower by mid-2019 than they otherwise would have been – Laura Kusisto (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-tax-overhaul-makes-homeownership-less-appealing-1513765800
— Overdose Deaths Drive Down U.S. Life Expectancy—Again Last year marked first back-to-back annual decline in life expectancy since early 1960s – Jeanne Whalen
https://www.wsj.com/articles/overdose-deaths-drive-down-u-s-life-expectancyagain-1513832460

 

USA TODAY
— Life expectancy is down for a second year. Drug overdoses are a big reason why. – Kim Painter
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/21/u-s-life-expectancy-drops-second-year-drug-deaths-spike-cdc/970283001/

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— AT&T Is Giving Employees a $1,000 Bonus to Celebrate the Tax Bill – SCOTT MORITZ
http://time.com/money/5074566/att-republican-tax-cuts-bonuses/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Oversight Democrat Asks White House to Release Plans for ‘Massive’ Agency Downsizing – Eric Katz (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use any kind of downsizing to get rid of a) any remaining employees who are Republican, and then b) employees who are White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2017/12/oversight-dems-ask-white-house-release-plans-massive-reductions-staffing/144719/

 

SSA
— Life Expectancy Calculator (DIERSEN: What is your life expectancy, that is, how many more years are you expected to live? For me, it is 16. But that may me optimistic because I have type 2 diabetes, I am overweight, and I do not get nearly enough exercise because I spend 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out.)
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/longevity.cgi

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— Three pro-LGBTQ equality laws to take effect in the new year (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, colleges will not accept you and employers will not hire you.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Three-pro-LGBTQ-equality-laws-to-take-effect-in-the-new-year/61443.html

December 19 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— What you need to know about Rauner’s ‘Top 10’ accomplishments list (DIERSEN: What will your top 10 accomplishments list for 2017 include? Mine will include putting together and sending out a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email each and every morning and each and every evening.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-top-10-20171219-story.html
— Twitter suspends white nationalists as it enforces new rules – AP (DIERSEN: How soon will Twitter suspend 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/business/sns-bc-us–twitter-abuse-enforcement-20171218-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Jump into the fight, Illinois, to keep the internet free and open to all Americans – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not want the internet or any other form of communication to be “free and open to all Americans.” My critics/opponents are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. They want to manipulate/dominate all forms of communication including GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-jump-into-the-fight-illinois-to-keep-the-internet-free/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: With deduction changes, should you pay next property taxes now? – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171218/with-deduction-changes-should-you-pay-next-property-taxes-now
— We’re intrigued by Ives’ unit district proposal – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/editorial-were-intrigued-by-ives-unit-district-proposal
— ‘Simplified’ tax reform has plenty to offer ‘regulatory parasites’ – Catherine Rampell
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/simplified-tax-reform-has-plenty-to-offer-regulatory-parasites
— St. Charles wants to require massage employees to report sexual misconduct – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/st-charles-wants-to-require-massage-employees-to-report-sexual-misconduct

 

WGN TV
— Twitter suspends white nationalists as it enforces new rules on ‘hateful’ content (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want everything that they cannot manipulate/dominate to be shut down.)
http://wgntv.com/2017/12/18/twitter-suspends-white-nationalists-as-it-enforces-new-rules-on-hateful-content/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Tobacco mogul stokes Raoul’s bid for Illinois AG – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/BLOGS02/171219876

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois lawmakers fear low Medicaid-provider rates could doom plan – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171218/illinois-lawmakers-fear-low-medicaid-provider-rates-could-doom-plan

 

ALTON RECORD
— Illinois Republicans Ready To Pass Tax Reform – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257096#.Wjj1c4zR-M8

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Public opposition to tax bill grows as vote approaches 55% now oppose GOP tax bill – JENNIFER AGIESTA
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/public-opposition-to-tax-bill-grows-as-vote-approaches/883480025
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two-thirds see the bill as doing more to benefit the wealthy than the middle class (66%, vs. 27% who say it’ll do more to benefit the middle class) and almost four in 10 (37%) say that if the bill becomes law, their own family will be worse off. That’s grown five points since early November. Just 21% say they’ll be better off if the bill becomes law. President Donald Trump, the bill’s salesperson-in-chief, lands at an overall 35% approval rating in this poll, his worst mark yet in CNN polling by one point. Trump’s approval ratings continue to be the lowest for any modern president at this point in his presidency. As of December of their first year in office, all first-time elected presidents back to Eisenhower have approval ratings of 49% or higher except for Trump. More than six in 10 (63%) see the tax bill as leaving the President and his family better off. Just 5% think it harms the Trump clan. And disapproval of the President’s handling of taxes has risen six points in the last month, to 57%. Almost three-quarters, 73%, say the President should release his tax returns for public review, about the same share that said so as his inauguration approached in January.)

 

OSWEGO PATCH
— Oswego GOP County Leader Takes On Kinzinger Oswego Republican James Marter is running in the primaries against a three-term incumbent from the 16th congressional district. – Caitlin Ketel
https://patch.com/illinois/oswego/oswego-gop-county-leader-takes-kinzinger

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Ives says Illinois taxpayer flight a result of Rauner’s broken promises – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: Who wants those who share your demographics to leave your precinct, your municipality, your township/ward, your county, and Illinois? I should write a book about “leaders” who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and in Illinois who want those who share my demographics to leave. These “leaders” 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/or 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. If they do not want you to leave, it means that they are manipulating you or dominating you.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511298809-ives-says-illinois-taxpayer-flight-a-result-of-rauner-s-broken-promises

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— GOP lawmakers heading to court to block bill that funds abortions – Caitlin Nordahl
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511296455-gop-lawmakers-heading-to-court-to-block-bill-that-funds-abortions

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Rauner echoes Trump complaining about “fake news”
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-rauner-echoes-trump-complaining-about-fake-news/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Women in America: Once Protected and Honored, Now Objectified – Tami Jackson
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/women-america-protected-honored-now-objectified/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Senate Republicans deny buying votes for tax bill – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/18/senate-republicans-deny-buying-votes-for-tax-bill/

 

BREITBART
— Trump: ‘We Cannot Secure Our Nation If We Do Not Secure Our Borders’ – PAM KEY
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2017/12/18/trump-cannot-secure-nation-not-secure-borders/
— Illegal Aliens Arrested in Push for Christmas Amnesty – PENNY STARR
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/18/illegal-aliens-continue-push-amnesty-spending-bill-despite-cost-americans/

 

BLAZE
— Facebook admitted the site is bad for your mental health. Here’s what they recommend. – Aaron Colen (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) want you to know only what they want you to know and b) have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails is bad for your health.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/18/facebook-admitted-the-site-is-bad-for-your-mental-health-heres-what-they-recommend

 

POLITICO
— Tax bill whacks liberal big cities ‘This is the screw-New Jersey bill,’ the mayor of Piscataway said. – AARON LORENZO
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/cities-republican-tax-bill-304123

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Have You Ever Felt Sorry for the I.R.S.? Now Might Be the Time – Patricia Cohen (DIERSEN: How much do you know about IRS? I know a lot about IRS because I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173 and I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $94,610-$100,917. However, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always viciously demonized, denigrated, condemned, and wasted my knowledge of IRS. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/business/irs-tax-bill.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: After years of upbraiding and even threatening to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, Republicans must now depend on the agency to carry out their signature legislative accomplishment: a comprehensive revision of the tax code. The task is monumental. While processing tens of millions of tax returns for 2017 under the current rules, the I.R.S. would also have to figure out how to interpret and explain a new system and put it into practice. “Beware,” said John A. Koskinen, who retired last month as I.R.S. commissioner. “If the budget keeps being cut and the agency keeps being given more things to do, the I.R.S. is simply not going to work.” Either the information technology will fail, forcing the filing and refund systems to collapse, he warned, or enforcement and audits will become so scarce that fewer people will be inclined to pay the taxes they owe. The House and Senate were expected to vote on the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul as soon as Tuesday. Vice President Mike Pence planned to preside over the vote and, if needed, break a tie and pass the bill.)
— Tax Cuts Benefit the Ultra Rich, but Not the Merely Rich – Andrew Ross Sorkin
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/business/dealbook/tax-bill-wealthy.html
— Republican Tax Cuts Would Lift Some Industries More Than Others – Jim Tankersley and Ben Casselman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/politics/republican-tax-cuts-industries-.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Evanston, Illinois: Teacher Segregation ‘Staff that identifies as individuals of color will meet in Room 226.’
https://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-teacher-segregation-1513538452
— The Google-Facebook Duopoly Threatens Diversity of Thought A political website pulled an article after Google’s AdSense team threatened to withdraw advertising. – Mark Epstein (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes. Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that I have enough time and money that I do not have to ask any individual, any organization, any company, any government, or any country to give me money to put out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-google-facebook-duopoly-threatens-diversity-of-thought-1513642519
— Middle Class to Get 23% of Tax Cuts for Individuals Under GOP Bill Benefits mostly peter out after a decade, joint committee on taxation finds – Siobhan Hughes and Shayndi Raice
https://www.wsj.com/articles/middle-class-to-get-23-of-tax-cuts-for-individuals-under-gop-bill-1513644268
— Higher Education Bill Could Heat Up Competition for Adult Students Focus on shorter programs, competency-based offerings is seen providing more options for older students – Melissa Korn and Douglas Belkin (DIERSEN: I was 23 when I started taking graduate business courses at Loyola. I was 27 when I started taking graduate accounting courses at DePaul. I was 43 when I started taking graduate finance courses at IIT. Because I took only one course at a time, it took me 4 years to graduate from Loyola, 4 years to graduate from DePaul, and 5 years to graduate from IIT.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/higher-education-bill-could-heat-up-competition-foradultstudents-1513598400

 

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Asks ‘How’s Your 401(k)?’ But Most Voters Don’t Have One New campaign slogan celebrates growth of stock market Only 45 percent of private-sector workers have 401(k) plans – Toluse Olorunnipa (DIERSEN: To be able to save for your retirement, you have to qualify yourself for better paying jobs. What have you done to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-19/trump-asks-how-s-your-401-k-but-most-voters-don-t-have-one
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump is trying out a new campaign slogan: “How’s your 401(k) doing?” The answer for more than half of Americans is that they don’t have one. Trump has tested out the line this month at a fundraiser, a campaign rally and in a White House meeting, predicting that the rising U.S. stock market will help him win re-election. But only about 45 percent of private-sector workers participate in any employer-sponsored retirement plan, and the lower-income workers in Trump’s political base are the least likely to hold money in such an account, according to the Government Accountability Office. Trump mentions the stock market almost daily in tweets or public remarks, taking direct credit for record highs by the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other indexes. But only about 14 percent of U.S. families directly own stocks, an asset class dominated by the country’s top earners, according to the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the president has also rolled back efforts to expand retirement savings options to more middle-class and low-income workers. For a president propelled into office in no small part by resentment that a broad swath of the country has been left behind while an entrenched establishment prospers, continual references to the stock market and 401(k) accounts risk alienating his supporters, said Austan Goolsbee, a former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama. How America’s Inequality Machine Is Firing the Dow Into Orbit “As a political slogan, ‘how is your 401(k) doing?’ suggests he’s most interested in the one-third of people who have a 401(k),” said Goolsbee, who teaches economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. “The more you highlight how great that group of financial winners is doing, you at least run the risk of angering and irritating the very people who revolted against what they perceived as the financial and political elites in the first place.” White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said Trump’s statements reflect “a strong economy” that is “good news for everyone.” “For the Americans that don’t have the opportunity to invest in a 401(k) plan or who choose not to, the Trump agenda of lower taxes, higher wages, and better jobs allows them to save more on their own, and potentially have a better chance of finding a job in the future that provides those benefits,” Walters added in an emailed statement. . .‘Privileged Few’ “And, by the way, how are your 401(k)s doing?” Trump said during a Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida, where median household income is about $46,000. “ Not too bad, right?” The line was met with light applause. “I’m not sure he understands that only a fraction of the population has 401(k)s,” said Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “So he just may not realize that he’s speaking to the privileged few.” Only a third of people contribute anything to their retirement accounts, according to a Census study released this year. Among workers in the bottom half of the income scale, less than 25 percent participate in a retirement program, according to the GAO.)

 

USA TODAY
— Minimum wage hikes: 18 states, 20 cities to lift pay floors Jan. 1 – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/19/minimum-wage-hikes-18-states-20-cities-lift-pay-floors-jan-1/961213001/

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— 6 things agencies did to improve employee engagement this year – Nicole Ogrysko (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What demonstrates employee engagement? ANSWER: Earning job-related college degrees, professional certifications, and professional licenses. I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. 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. However, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the undergraduate and graduate courses that I took a) were not job-related, b) did not help me carry out my job duties, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and d) were a distraction. To keep their jobs and to get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/workforce/2017/12/6-things-agencies-did-to-improve-employee-engagement-this-year/

December 16 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Gunfire hits Niles North as students leave basketball game
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-niles-north-gunfire-hits-school-20171216-story.html
– Omarosa’s departure highlights lack of White House diversity – AP (DIERSEN: How much pressure is/was your employer under to meet Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets? All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government, my superiors were under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-bc-us–white-house-diversity-20171215-story.html

 

CBS2
— Organizers Gearing Up For Women’s March Next Month – Nancy Harty (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote hatred of not only Trump and his supporters, but hated of all men.)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/16/organizers-gearing-up-for-womens-march-next-month/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— PAMELLA GRONEMEYER, a pathologist from Glen Carbon, is running against incumbent JAYNE MAZZOTTI of Taylorville as 13th Congressional District state central committeewoman. – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Who wants to represent the Republican voters in your congressional district on the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee?)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171216/schoenburg-bernie-backing-gronemeyer-vs-clinton-delegate-mazzotti-for-dem-post
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican precinct committeemen will meet after their March primary to name one member from each congressional district to the Republican State Central Committee. Then each elected member appoints a deputy member of the opposite sex. Current members are FRED FLORETH of Springfield in the 13th, and MIKE BIGGER of Wyoming, in Stark County, in the 18th.)

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Did we miss something? Isn’t the Illinois governor race decided? – Editorial
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article189867309.html

 

ROCK RIVER TIMES
— State-funded abortion, other new Illinois laws take effect Jan. 1
http://rockrivertimes.com/2017/12/16/state-funded-abortion-other-new-illinois-laws-take-effect-jan-1/

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— 56th District candidate Bernas says she’s running ‘to keep families in Illinois’ – Angela Underwood
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511298958-56th-district-candidate-bernas-says-she-s-running-to-keep-families-in-illinois
— Jillian Bernas: Sanctuary cities, states ‘give unwarranted protections’ to those who harm others – Angela Underwood
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511287109-bernas-sanctuary-cities-states-give-unwarranted-protections-to-those-who-harm-others

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Crawford County Petition Objections re: Precinct Committeemen – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/video-crawford-county-petition-objections-re-precinct-committeemen/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Homeowners Have Had It Good. Too Good, Says the Tax Bill. – Conor Dougherty (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/business/economy/tax-bill-housing.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Ben Carson says there’s no ‘lack of diversity’ at HUD – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/15/ben-carson-says-theres-no-lack-diversity-hud/

 

WASHINGTON POST
— How the oldest Senate ever is taking a toll on the business of Washington Eight octogenarians occupy powerful posts. Senate leaders have paused action at least three times this year to accommodate ailing colleagues. – Paul Kane
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/how-the-oldest-senate-ever-is-taking-a-toll-on-the-operations-of-washington/2017/12/16/349f27b8-e1b3-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— What GOP Tax Plan Means for Your Favorite Deductions The Republicans’ agreement on almost $1.5 trillion in cuts spares some tax breaks and eliminates others – Laura Saunders, Richard Rubin and Siobhan Hughes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-gop-tax-plan-means-for-your-favorite-deductions-1513453149

December 14 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Emanuel breaks silence on Berrios, calls for review of property tax assessments – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-joe-berrios-20171214-story.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Thank black women for Moore’s defeat in Alabama – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-alabama-black-women-dahleen-glanton-20171213-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ample tax cuts for business, wealthy in new GOP tax accord – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/tax-overhaul-wealthy-business-obamacare/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are members of Group A use Moore to demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who are members of Group B. Those who are 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 those who are 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://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/cupp-for-gop-stain-of-roy-moore-will-be-hard-to-wash-away/
— As ‘net neutrality’ vote nears, some brace for a long fight – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/net-neutrality-fcc-vote-internet-broadband-rules/

 

DAILY HERALD
— HARDCOPY EDITORIAL HEADLINE: Perspectives on professional development (DIERSEN: What have you done to develop yourself professionally? 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. However, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the undergraduate and graduate courses that I took a) were not job-related, b) did not help me carry out my job duties, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and d) were a distraction. To keep their jobs and to get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171213/editorial-dont-overlook-value-of-conferences-but-manage-the-costs
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, those who are anti-men paint all men as being sexual harassers.
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171214/womens-rage-unleashed

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— “Objection! (to nominating petitions), Pritzker endorsements
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171213/under-dome-podcast-objection-to-nominating-petitions-pritzker-endorsements
— Governor candidates want action on Legionnaire’s outbreak at veterans home
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171213/governor-candidates-want-action-on-legionnaires-outbreak-at-veterans-home

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— State Funded Abortion Law Soon To Take Effect – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=256844#.WjJfscvR-M8

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— John McCain to Trump: Lay off the ‘fake news’ claims Report: Increase in number of journalists jailed – JACKIE WATTLES (DIERSEN: Who wants you to be jailed? My critics/opponents want me to be jailed, and especially my critics/opponents who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and/or those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and/or those who disapprove of my demographics.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/john-mccain-to-trump-lay-off-the-fake-news-claims/880723380
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Trump is known for dismissing press coverage he doesn’t like as “fake news.” CPJ’s report was highly critical of Trump’s tactics. “President Donald Trump’s nationalistic rhetoric, fixation on Islamic extremism, and insistence on labeling critical media ‘fake news’ serves to reinforce the framework of accusations and legal charges that allow [some foreign] leaders to preside over the jailing of journalists,” it reads. The most common reasons journalists are put behind bars around the world include “anti-state charges” and “broad and vague terror laws,” according to the CPJ report.)

 

WAND
— A new law aims to stop “doctor shopping” for getting prescribed opioid – Dawn Sterling
http://www.wandtv.com/story/37063187/a-new-law-aims-to-stop-doctor-shopping-for-getting-prescribed-opioid

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Illinois Women Tell Their #Metoo Stories – MAUREEN FOERTSCH MCKINNEY (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who are anti-men paint all men as being sexual harassers.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/illinois-women-tell-their-metoo-stories#stream/0

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— Jim Durkin’s Intimidation Campaign
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/jim-durkins-intimidation-campaign

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— White House sides with Rauner in union fight
https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511296664-white-house-sides-with-rauner-in-union-fight

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— LUNCH WITH TRUMP — Two congressmen from Illinois joined President Donald Trump in the White House for lunch. According to the pool report: “Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Ways and Means Committee Member and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Energy and Commerce Committee.” Trump hosted the lunch to get a handle on progress for major tax legislation.” Roskam has been intimately involved in those efforts. – Natasha Korecki
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2017/12/14/cullerton-to-launch-hearings-over-veterans-home-deaths-rauner-defends-actions-on-quincy-gutierrez-backs-berrios-kaegi-puts-in-another-250k-230728

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Report calls Rauner’s management 7th worst in country
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-report-calls-rauners-management-7th-worst-in-country/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— In spite of tax hike, ratings agency eyes change that could junk Illinois – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/in-spite-of-tax-hike-ratings-agency-eyes-change-that/article_38190674-e02e-11e7-b766-57ea540652e7.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Politics of #HimToo The Democratic Party has taken a very clear stand on sexual misconduct, setting its sights on President Trump. – Thomas B. Edsall (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois is leading the effort to bring down Trump? How soon, if not already, will they say that if you do not hate Trump, you are a sexual harasser and even worse things?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/opinion/democratic-party-sexual-misconduct.html
— Donald Trump’s Gift to Women – Gail Collins (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois is leading the effort to bring down Trump? How soon, if not already, will they say that if you do not hate Trump, you are a sexual harasser and even worse things?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/opinion/donald-trump-women.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Our Harasser In Chief – Lindy West (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois is leading the effort to bring down Trump? How soon, if not already, will they say that if you do not hate Trump, you are a sexual harasser and even worse things?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/opinion/donald-trump-sexual-harassment.html
— Marijuana and Vaping Are More Popular Than Cigarettes Among Teenagers – Jan Hoffman (DIERSEN: If you promote cigarettes, vamping, booze, gambling, pot, and/or other vices, you promote destruction.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/health/teen-drug-smoking.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Alabama Loss Exposes Republican Fissures Amid a Democratic Surge.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/us/alabama-senate-republican-divisions-democrats.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Alabama Defeat Stokes Divisions Among Republicans Finger-pointing between GOP establishment and Steve Bannon reflects rising concern about party’s prospects in midterms – Janet Hook, Kristina Peterson and Michael C. Bender (DIERSEN: Those who want Republicans to lose use Moore to drive the following out of the Republican Party: those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/alabama-defeat-stokes-divisions-among-republicans-1513211264
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Bannons demonize, denigrate, and condemn Bannon.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/alabama-sends-a-message-1513139661
— Moore’s Law: Kooky Candidates Lose If Republicans want policy victories, they should stop throwing away Senate seats. – Karl Rove (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who say that those who they cannot manipulate/dominate are kook and even worse things.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/moores-law-kooky-candidates-lose-1513210820
— How Language in Job Listings Could Widen Silicon Valley’s Gender Divide – Yoree Koh (DIERSEN: To get more Democrats, younger people, minorities, and females to apply, employers could put in their job listings that they give preference to Democrats, to younger people, to minorities, and to females, that is, that they discriminate against Republicans, older people, Whites, and males.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-language-in-job-listings-could-widen-silicon-valleys-gender-divide-1513189821

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES OF OLD WHITE MEN: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are anti-old White men crow over their successes.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/13/usa-today-suffolk-poll-americans-rare-agreement-say-sexual-misconduct-must-stop/945483001/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: GOP tax cut gets sweeter for rich – Herj Jackson, Deirdre Shesgreen, and Eliza Collins
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/13/republicans-say-they-have-tax-cut-deal-but-democrats-want-stall-until-jones-arrives/947761001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Whites say “In Alabama, black voters rescued white voters from their worst impulses.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/13/alabama-back-voters-rescued-white-voters-their-worst-impulses-jones-moore-ellis-cose-column/947935001/

 

VANITY FAIR
— THE REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN IS A RECESSION WAITING TO HAPPEN Presidents have routinely preached the value of homeownership. Not Trump. With caps on the deductions for mortgage interest and on the deductibility of state and local taxes, the cost of owning a home will rise and the value of a home will fall. – WILLIAM D. COHAN
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/12/the-republican-tax-plan-is-a-recession-waiting-to-happen

 

SALON
— Alabama: Don’t forget the women who brought down Roy Moore, and changed history Roy Moore’s accusers represent a much larger political and cultural shift. They remind us that change is possible – Heather Digby Parton (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois is leading the effort to bring down Trump? How soon, if not already, will they say that if you do not hate Trump, you are a sexual harasser and even worse things?)
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/14/alabama-dont-forget-the-women-who-brought-down-roy-moore-and-changed-history/