CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Tourists dismayed that Lincoln home in Springfield closed by fed shutdown – AP (DIERSEN: Which federal funding action has dismayed you the most? For me, it was the gutting of GAO during the 1980s and 1990s. The Democrats who ran GAO used that gutting to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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.) https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/government-shutdown-lincoln-home-springfield-local-tourism/
BUSINESS 2 COMMUNITY
— Is Your Content Hated or Anticipated? – Kelly MicKey (DIERSEN: If you asked my critics/opponents, their operatives, and/or their dupes about the content of GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, what would they say?) https://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/is-your-content-hated-or-anticipated-02150825 (FROM THE ARTICLE: I’m going to ask you an embarrassing question. Is your content, that stuff you’re putting out there for potential clients, is it hated or is it anticipated? Which is it? Well, here’s a few ways to find out. Let’s start with “who is it about?” If you find, look at your content, if you find it’s mostly about you, about your firm, about what you do, about who had joined the firm, about the services you offer, eh, there’s a likelihood it’s not going to be anticipated as much. You’re trying to sell something and if it’s not helping the client, it’s probably more likely on the hated side. The second question to ask is “what’s the value I’m adding?” What is the value of this content. Again, if it’s only about you and your services, the only value is they learn a little bit about what you offer. But I don’t think most people are going to see that as “boy, that’s a great value.” Think, instead, of what can you instruct the person on, how can you educate them about something, how can you make them a better consumer of services or more knowledgeable about what issues that might impact that. If you’re doing those kinds of things, it’s more likely to be anticipated. The third question, and the third place to look is, “is it missed?” Do people express appreciation to you? “Wow, I follow your content- it’s really helpful!” Do they open emails regularly? Do they express that kind of appreciation? If you miss a time or they miss something, they’re asking you about it.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s Christmas Eve airing of grievances on Twitter portray an increasingly isolated leader.” Who isolates you? The following isolate me: a) those who 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) those who reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) those who focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) those who were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) those who are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-christmas-eve-tweets-20181224-story.html
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: According to the Chicago Federal Executive Board, there are about 41,500 federal employees in the Chicago area. That makes the federal government the largest employer in the Chicago area. What percent of those 41,500 vote for Republicans? There are about 70,000 federal annuitants in Illinois. What percent of those 70,000 vote for Republicans? https://www.chicagobusiness.com/data-lists/39780/2019-book-lists
TELEGRAPH HERALD
— Tourists dismayed that Lincoln home closed by federal shutdown – AP (DIERSEN: Which federal funding action has dismayed you the most? For me, it was the gutting of GAO during the 1980s and 1990s. The Democrats who ran GAO used that gutting to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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.telegraphherald.com/news/iowa-illinois-wisconsin/article_3d07d419-04fc-5e4f-8137-0d3a2438af5b.html
CANADA FREE PRESS
— What is Treason? – Chuck Lehmann (DIERSEN: It is treason to encourage people to come to America illegally. It is treason to encourage people to stay in America illegally. It is treason to encourage people to bring people to America illegally. It is treason to promote countries that send their citizens to America illegally. It is treason to promote countries that keep their citizens in America illegally. It is treason to promote countries that send illegal drugs into America illegally.) https://canadafreepress.com/article/what-is-treason
LAWYERS
— IBM Age Discrimination – Christian V. McOmber (DIERSEN: Who should “pay the price” of Affirmative Action (AA), Diversity, and Inclusion? The Democrats who run the federal government use AA, Diversity, and Inclusion a) to not hire, to not retain, to not promote, and to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are White, male, and/or non-veteran, and 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 and b) to hire, to retain, and to promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who are minority, female, and/or young. The Democrats who run the federal government use budget cuts to get rid of their employees who are Republican, and especially those who are White, male, and/or non-veteran, and 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.) https://blogs.lawyers.com/attorney/discrimination/ibm-age-discrimination-52401/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Identifying Age Discrimination The IBM lawsuit illustrates that fact that age discrimination is not only hard for employees to identify, but proving age discrimination to a court of law is a difficult task. Although it is not illegal for a company to seek employees with different skills, downsize their workforce, or cut costs, older workers often pay the price. For example, company cutbacks can include laying off higher paid workers or eliminating positions entirely. Unfortunately, older workers would naturally be on staff the longest, working in positions that may no longer be needed. Additionally, older workers are usually the most experienced, and are therefore the highest paid. Simply put, firing older workers is not always indicative of age discrimination.)
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Women’s March leadership engulfed in racial and religious feuding – James Varney (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 when I was 31 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 when I was 22 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 when I was 18 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. If I was 31, 22, or 18 today, none of aforesaid would hire me.) https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/24/womens-march-leadership-engulfed-racial-and-religi/
— Help wanted: More employers are looking for people than people are looking for jobs – James Varney https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/job-openings-exceed-unemployment-data-labor-depart/
DAILY HERALD
— Want to cut your tax bill? Keep reading and call your CPA – Laura Davison https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20181223/want-to-cut-your-tax-bill-keep-reading-and-call-your-cpa (FROM THE ARTICLE: SALT deductions One of the most bitterly opposed parts of Trump’s tax law was the $10,000 cap on so-called SALT deductions, for state and local taxes. Some tax accountants have helped clients in high-tax states set up special trusts that can help to get around the limit. Here’s how it works: clients transfer their homes into limited liability companies, and then transfer the interests in the LLCs into non-grantor trusts, and each trust takes the maximum $10,000 deduction. So if you have a $50,000 property tax bill, you can set up five separate trusts, with each taking the $10,000 deduction. The strategy has some drawbacks — setting up the trusts can be costly and the homeowner would need to put enough income-generating assets into the trust to balance out the $10,000 deduction. The IRS could also move to block the strategy. But for top-earners living in high-tax states, the savings could well justify the costs and the hassle, accountants say.)
NEWSMAX
— CNBC Poll: Startling 38 Percent of Wealthy GOP Won’t Vote Trump – Eric Mack (DIERSEN: What percent of the “wealthy GOP” is anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?) https://www.newsmax.com/us/wealthy-republicans-re-election/2018/12/23/id/895617/
NEWS BUSTERS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, those who are members of Group A say that members of Group B are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. 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 for a long time and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/brad-wilmouth/2018/12/24/rick-tyler-wall-supporters-dont-want-people-who-are-not-white
NEW YORK TIMES
— Peddled on the Streets of Los Angeles: Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, and Fake Social Security Cards – Miriam Jordan https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/us/undocumented-immigrants-los-angeles.html
— The Steady Bedlam of the Trump White House Making sense of the never-ending turnover in the administration. – Michael Tomasky https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/opinion/trump-mattis-turnover.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: If Your Boss Is Unhappy and You Know It – Rob Walker (DIERSEN: Some of my superiors and supervisors in the federal government were unhappy that they had to waste the careers of and get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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.) https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/business/unhappy-boss.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Facebook’s Lonely Conservative Takes on a Power Position Joel Kaplan has emerged as the social-media site’s protector against allegations of political bias – Deepa Seetharaman https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebooks-lonely-conservative-takes-on-a-power-position-11545570000
— What Amazon Isn’t Telling Investors About Its Revenue New accounting rule says companies should report more details about revenue, but many don’t: ‘There will have to be more of an outcry’ – Michael Rapoport https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-amazon-isnt-telling-investors-about-its-revenue-11545480000
— Shutdown Shows Little Initial Impact Due to the weekend and federal holidays, the closing of government agencies and services won’t be fully felt until Wednesday – Kate Davidson and Andrew Duehren (DIERSEN: Are/were you an essential employee? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being someone who never was an essential employee.) https://www.wsj.com/articles/shutdowns-initial-impact-likely-to-be-minor-11545455237
DAILY HERALD
— Pritzker should set goal of making tollway more patronage-proof – Editorial (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote patronage and reject the decision in Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html). My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me like I was part of a plot to stop them from hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. They knew that my wife had helped elect Jim Thompson. They were fully aware of the arguments that Thompson and Jim Edgar made in Rutan that government employers should be allowed to engage in political affiliation discrimination.) https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181220/editorial-pritzker-should-set-goal-of-making-tollway-more-patronage-proof (FROM THE EDITORIAL: Today, we share our ideas for true tollway reform: Reduce political hiring. Patronage hiring is permitted in too many jobs, which are called “Rutan-exempt” in Illinois legal shorthand. That allowed the tollway to flood the agency with highly-paid top Republican insiders. More of these jobs needs to be designated as patronage free so they go to the most qualified, not the most connected.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Reader comments closed until January 7th (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.) https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/reader-comments-closed-until-january-7th/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Richard Porter was the fourth person Gov. Bruce Rauner approached to run for governor. The Chicago attorney who also serves as an Illinois RNC National Committeeman told POLITICO it wasn’t so gauche as to be an outright ask. “I would have described it as more of an aside in a strategy conversation focused more on how he could win (rather) than an offer,” Porter said of their telephone call. Rauner also approached state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, Cubs owner Todd Ricketts and then-GOP attorney general candidate Erika Harold. Rauner “was in to win,” Porter said. “He was never a quitter. To the contrary. He was always focused on finding the best path to winning. And if that meant he should fall on his sword, then he was willing to do that — and give millions of his money away to boot. I think Rauner’s comments on this have been misunderstood.” Porter’s referring to political watchers who say Rauner’s courting of others was a desperate act by a candidate who thought he’d lose. But Porter says Rauner just wanted to be assured of a win. – Shia Kapos https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406
— PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook will not publish from Dec. 24 to Jan 1. It will be back in your inbox Jan. 2. (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.) https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— AG: Catholic Church withheld names of more than 500 Illinois priests accused of abuse – Brenden Moore https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181219/ag-catholic-church-withheld-names-of-more-than-500-illinois-priests-accused-of-abuse
— Short-term senator gets committee leadership pay – Bernard Schoenburg https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20181219/bernard-schoenburg-short-term-senator-gets-committee-leadership-pay (FROM THE ARTICLE: A Republican state senator appointed to the legislature to fill a 45-day gap is getting not only his base pay, but $1,270 extra to be minority spokesperson on a committee that hasn’t met since months before he took office and has no meetings planned. Sen. YADAV “NICK” NATHWANI of Glen Ellyn was sworn in Nov. 26 after being appointed to the vacancy left with the resignation of former Sen. CHRIS NYBO, R-Elmhurst, who lost the Nov. 6 election to Democrat SUZY GLOWIAK of Western Springs in the 24th Senate District. In addition to filling out Nybo’s term, Nathwani is listed as minority spokesman of the Senate’s financial institutions committee. That committee hasn’t met since May 23. Nathwani will be out of office when Glowiak is sworn in on Jan. 9. Base pay for legislators is $67,836 annually, and committee chairs and minority spokespeople get an extra $10,327 annually. For his 45 days, Nathwani will thus get about $8,360 in base pay and about $1,270 in pay for his committee position. I asked JASON GERWIG, spokesman for Senate GOP Leader BILL BRADY, R-Bloomington, if it was right for Brady to name Nathwani to the leadership post for such a short stint in the Senate and when the committee is apparently not meeting. “Unfortunately, we don’t control the scheduling process of when committees meet,” Gerwig responded. “Maybe if we get a fair map that’ll change someday.” Gerwig noted that Nathwani served the last three days of the veto session and will be there for session on Jan. 7 and 8, before the swearing in on Jan. 9 of the new General Assembly. A message left for at Nathwani’s Senate office went unanswered. He is chief financial officer of Professional Paving & Concrete Co. in Glen Ellyn, a Milton Township trustee and vice-chair of the Milton Township GOP. Nathwani came on my radar due to a something published on the Chicago Tribune website headlined: “From the community: New Senator seeks input from residents.” The author of the piece, which quotes Nathwani encouraging constituents to “reach out to me during this time to discuss the state and local issues important to them,” was listed only as “Community Contributor tbryers.” That would be TIM BRYERS of Elmhurst, who is on the Senate GOP communications staff. He said he is a community contributor to the Tribune, and said in this case, he posted a news release. He said other communications people, as well as representatives of local community groups, use that and similar sites to get out community information. The Trib website says that community contributors are registered users of TribLocal.com and Chicagotribune.com who have photos, articles, announcements and local events to share. The site is not for advertisers. Bryers also said that with many newspapers having fewer reporters than in the past, such openings for outside digital content allows information to get to the public. The Tribune used to have two reporters based in Springfield and there was one in recent years, but since MONIQUE GARCIA left in August to join a public affairs firm, nobody from the Trib is based in the capital city. MARISA KOLLIAS, spokeswoman for the Tribune, had no comment on the status of the Springfield opening, but did say the Tribune “is committed to state government coverage.” As to having a news release from a state staffer published on the Trib website as community news, Kollias had no comment.)
JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES COURIER
— How to Properly Use Internships to Find Employees – Daniel B. Kline (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 Step 1 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.) https://jg-tc.com/business/investment/personal-finance/how-to-properly-use-internships-to-find-employees/article_bfd5f85b-d90a-5388-9b5a-59eff7f7c2a1.html
CAPITOL FAX
— The 2018 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best elected statewide official goes to Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/question-of-the-day-golden-horseshoe-awards-78/ (FROM THE ARTICLE: Although her office doesn’t have any specific duties outside of being 2nd in line and doing what the governor wants, Sanguinetti and her staff have done a lot on the issue of local government consolidation, reducing LLC fees (she took the lead on that before Rauner), rural education and healthcare, and aggressively working to fight against and recommend the best policies that help those suffering from opioids. She may not get most attention due to the position or administration, but the Lt. Gov has done good work she can be proud of during her 4 years of service. Sanguinetti only received one nomination, but it was so strong that it convinced me.)
— Richard Porter was fourth person Rauner asked to run in his place https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/richard-porter-was-fourth-person-rauner-asked-to-run-in-his-place/
— AG Madigan finds 500 additional allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/ag-madigan-finds-500-additional-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-by-catholic-priests-and-clergy/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As a matter of fact, immigration is making our country poorer—save for those who profit from cheap labor—for one simple reason: we are absorbing masses of poor people who remain concentrated in lower-skilled, low-paying jobs. Many of those poor, whether they arrive illegally or by chain migration, happen to be minorities, and in particular Latinos. Latinos experience the third-highest rate of poverty behind blacks and Native Americans—but as the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, they constitute a greater number of poor than blacks and Native Americans combined (10.8 million, 9 million, 700,000, respectively), according to the Center for American Progress. So, yes, immigration is bringing in disproportionate numbers of poor people and making America poorer.)
BREITBART
— Gutless President in Wall-Less Country – Ann Coulter https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/coulter-gutless-president-in-wall-less-country/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Paul Ryan promotes open borders, that is, Paul Ryan promotes the end of America. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-immigration-rules-should-offer-jobs-to-anyone/ (FROM THE ARTICLE: Retiring Paul Ryan today lamented his failure to deliver a global supply of migrant labor to businesses and investors — regardless of ordinary Americans’ desire for decent wages. Ryan’s failure was ensured by Donald Trump’s 2016 election — and so Trump’s “Hire American” policy is now allowing Americans’ wages to rise amid a shortage of blue-collar workers and protests by business leaders. Ryan’s lament came as his final efforts to outsource more Americans jobs to foreign workers were discarded in the confused negotiations over Congress’s failure to pass a 2019 budget for the Department of Homeland Security. That defeat for Ryan was missed by media coverage over funding for the border wall.)
POLITICO
— Ryan’s legacy can’t escape Trump The retiring House speaker touted a series of accomplishments in his farewell address, but Trump will loom over his tenure. – RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-legacy-trump-congress-1070782 (FROM THE ARTICLE: Indeed, when Trump won the presidential election, the hard-line Freedom Caucus stood at the ready to push Ryan out of office for jabbing Trump on the campaign trail. The only reason Trump kept him around was because Vice President Mike Pence and other pro-Ryan Republicans argued in favor of having a true legislative tactician and wonk shepherding his priorities through a convoluted Congress. Had Ryan forcefully criticized Trump during his presidency, the leader of the party might have come after him, Ryan’s allies say. “That’s the toughest job in American politics,” said former Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), an Illinois Republican who lost in the midterm election.)
WASHINGTON POST
— How to save the jobs of GM workers Opponents of General Motors’ immoral moves need a strategy that reflects the company’s history – Jason Weixelbaum (DIERSEN: In 1970, I lost my part-time job working for Chrysler in Belvidere when Chrysler suspended production there.) https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/outlook/2018/12/19/how-save-jobs-gm-workers/
USA JOBS
— GAO Intern announcement: Chicago (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.) https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/518365800
DAILY HERALD
— How tech workers are fueling a new employee activism movement – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors hinted/implied/argued/shouted that their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran wanted them to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.) https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20181215/how-tech-workers-are-fueling-a-new-employee-activism-movement
DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Morrison, Ives urge rebuilding GOP after Rauner confesses election apathy – Robert Hadley https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511682716-morrison-ives-urge-rebuilding-gop-after-rauner-confesses-election-apathy (FROM THE ARTICLE: The next step for the Illinois GOP should be to call for a leadership overhaul at the top, both Morrison and Ives suggested. “Sean Morrison holds a very important position as state central committeeman, so it’s within his power to put in new leadership at the head of IL GOP, and that’s what needs to be done,” Ives said in a telephone interview with the Prairie State Wire. On his web page, Morrison said the governor’s “betrayal and deception” were grounds for a shakeup, and he pledged to call a meeting of the GOP’s central committee to begin “rebuilding the party.”)
CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— Did Paul Ryan Propose Raising The Retirement Age To 70? – Brad Sylvester https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/did-paul-ryan-propose-raising-the-retirement-age-to-70/ (FROM THE ARTICLE: Ryan announced earlier this year that he will be retiring from Congress once his term is complete. He will receive an annual pension of about $85,000, according to Business Insider. Republican Bryan Steil was elected in November to fill Ryan’s seat in Wisconsin’s first congressional district for the 116th Congress. Ryan told CBS’s John Dickerson on “Face The Nation” that he plans to use his retirement to “hunt, fish, mountain climb and ski” with his family and hinted that he may remain active in political advocacy.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, society demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Whites, and especially Whites who are not successful. Are/were you successful? In the federal government, if you are White, you are NOT SUCCESSFUL unless you 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. Extremely few White federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/421509-the-myth-of-white-supremacy
WASHINGTON POST
— New report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation’s scale and sweep The report, a draft of which was obtained by The Washington Post, is the first to study the millions of posts provided by major technology firms to the Senate Intelligence Committee – Craig Timberg and Tony Romm (DIERSEN: If true, the Russian efforts failed miserably in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, and in my precinct.) https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/16/new-report-russian-disinformation-prepared-senate-shows-operations-scale-sweep/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— White House prepares for government shutdown as GOP lawmakers struggle for alternative – Erica Werner, Damian Paletta, Lisa Rein https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-spending-white-house-border-wall-20181215-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump has led a lot of organizations. Nearly all of them are now under investigation.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-oganization-investigations-20181215-story.html
— Sears gets Bankruptcy Court approval for up to $25.3 million in bonuses to top employees – Lauren Zumbach (DIERSEN: Working for GAO during the 1980s and 1990s was very similar to working for Sears today. Starting in 1989, to retain its employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or young, GAO used the extreme subjectivity in its pay-for-performance system to give bonuses to its employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or young.) https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-bonuses-bankruptcy-court-1215-story.html (FROM THE ARTICLE: Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, said it needs to able to offer the extra cash to encourage key employees to stick with the company as it attempts to restructure, according to court filings. . .“Under these circumstances, it would be understandable if many key employees are asking themselves whether they should be seeking other opportunities,” Sears said in a court filing last month. However, the retailer “cannot afford this uncertainty — however understandable it may be,” according to the filing. The company has already “suffered significant employee attrition” in the past month, including the departure of the chief operating officer of its Sears Home Services business and five other employees who would have been eligible for bonuses, Sears said in a separate court filing this week.)
— ‘Saturday Night Live’: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Alec Baldwin return for ‘It’s A Wonderful Trump’ – Danielle Turchiano https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-snl-it-s-a-wonderful-trump-20181216-story.html
BELLVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— In a year Republicans did well in Southern Illinois, why does the St. Clair County GOP struggle? – JOSEPH BUSTOS https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article222944235.html (FROM THE ARTICLE: Brennan said, however, she got “zero” help from the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee in her unsuccessful run for the county board. . .However, some Republicans point to issues within the local party itself as to why the GOP couldn’t gain ground in the county. Sources with ties to the party said most of the local efforts went toward pushing for the re-election efforts of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and Gov. Bruce Rauner, which left little to no resources to help with the local races. Ed Cockrell is among the local Republican County Board candidates to say the local party didn’t help local candidates, such as with raising money or sending out mailers. . .Duane Henson, a Republican who ran for county clerk, and has served as a precinct committeeman, said some worked harder than him, and he worked harder than other candidates, but candidates who ran countywide all did about the same. “At the end of the day, we were all a couple thousand votes of each other,” said Henson, who chose to self fund his campaign. Henson wouldn’t comment on the leadership of the party. He did say he also has heard the suggestion of putting efforts into smaller races to develop candidates. “You focus on the smaller races and if you could get into some of the school boards and so forth and make some effective changes there, then you could get your message out and work your way up, (but) that takes several election cycles,” Henson said. Henson said there was brainstorming sessions among the candidates during the campaign and the party organized participation in parades leading up to the election. “Could we be better organized? Sure. I think there’s always room for improvement.” Party leaders however, are looking to see what can be done better the next go-around. “I know they’re doing a lot of analysis, some people who are a little higher up in party that me, have been discussing … what’s our path moving forward, what can we do different, what have we done wrong? You do that after anything,” Henson said.)
ATLANTIC
— America Needs to Restore Dignity of Work – Marco Rubio (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on wage earners. I was a lowly wage earner 1964-1997. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.) https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/help-working-class-voters-us-must-value-work/578032/
MOTLEY FOOL
— 2 in 5 Americans Spend More Money in Retirement Than Expected In doing so, they risk running out of savings down the line. – Maurie Backman https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/12/15/2-in-5-americans-spend-more-money-in-retirement-th.aspx (FROM THE ARTICLE: We’re often told to expect our expenses to go down in retirement, and generally speaking, retirees do spend less than their nonretired counterparts. While the average working American over 40 spends $2,993 a month on discretionary expenses, the average retiree spends just $2,008, according to data from Global Atlantic Financial Group. That said, nearly two out of five retirees are spending more money during their golden years than expected, so they risk prematurely depleting their nest eggs and struggling to keep up with expenses in the future. If you’d rather not land in a similar boat once it’s your turn to retire, the solution is simple: Understand what sort of lifestyle your savings will buy you in the future, and save more before retiring if it isn’t enough.)
DAILY HERALD
— Residents leaving Illinois will not be charged a fee – Bob Oswald (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they want individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time TO LEAVE ILLINOIS.) https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181215/facts-matter-residents-leaving-illinois-will-not-be-charged-a-fee-
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump floats fictions about the border.” https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181215/news/312159960/
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— OUTSTANDING: Medical officials oppose effort to legalize recreational use of marijuana – Dean Olsen https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181215/medical-officials-oppose-effort-to-legalize-recreational-use-of-marijuana
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: While he was governor, Rauner took anti-religious, anti-conservative, and anti-Republican actions, but those in Illinois who are anti-religious, anti-conservative, and/or anti-Republican voted for Pritzker anyway. https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181215/local-business-notes-imas-baise-offers-views-on-states-business-climate-politics (FROM THE ARTICLE: “The Republican Party needs to reflect the values of center-right voters, who I believe are a majority of voters in this state, utilizing issues of fiscal conservatism, trying to solve our pension problem, working on issues like improving education and our property tax issues,” Baise said. ” … If we’re going to continue to have arguments over whether or not you’re pro-life or pro-choice, whether or not you’re pro-gay marriage or anti-gay marriage, the majority of voters are going to turn their back on you.” Baise characterized his approach as pragmatic, focused on totally on winning. While not getting into specifics, Baise said the party should run candidates who have the ability to win over the majority of voters in the state and allow for differences of opinion on certain issues, like abortion. “Unless you can be elected, you can’t govern,” Baise said. “You can stand up and stay I’m right about this issue, you can scream from your lungs. But if you’re a backbencher, if you’re in the minority, if you’re out of power, you can’t anything done. So it should be in the mold of someone who can get 50.1 percent of the vote.”)
