CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Conroy Advances Bill Consolidating DuPage County Election Commission – Community Contributor Deb Conroy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmhurst/community/chi-ugc-article-conroy-advances-bill-consolidating-dupage-cou-2018-04-13-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: One year later, no movement on consolidation of Naperville, Lisle township road districts – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-lisle-township-roads-st-0415-story.html
— New McHenry County DUI policy: Refuse breath test, cop will seek instant warrant for blood test – Robert McCoppin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-dui-no-refusal-20180412-story.html
— Robert De Niro’s Robert Mueller grills Ben Stiller’s Michael Cohen on ‘SNL’ – Joe Otterson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-snl-robert-deniro-ben-stiller-20180415-story.html
— Zuckerberg testimony reveals lawmaker confusion on Facebook – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-bc-us–facebook-privacy-scandal-congress-20180411-story.html
— Holocaust survivor Aaron Elster, who shared his story ‘to convince people to stop hating each other,’ dies at 86 – Howard Reich (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote hatred of those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-met-aaron-elster-obituary-0415-story.html
— Hipsters in Homewood? Suburbs try to lure millennial city dwellers by showing they’re cool too – Ted Gregory, Howard Ludwig (DIERSEN: What attracted you to where you live? For my wife and me, in 1978, it was a) Wheaton’s reputation for being religious, conservative, and Republican, b) Wheaton’s prosperity and safety, and c) Wheaton’s being on a commuter rail line.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-suburb-marketing-campaign-20180410-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: TRAGIC: Vaping a growing fad for teens who think it’s safe, officials tell Naperville commission – Diane Moca (DIERSEN: Tragically, if pot is legalized, most if not virtually all those teens who vape will smoke pot and destroy their brains.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-warning-vape-dangers-st-0413-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ‘SNL’: Robert De Niro plays Robert Mueller grilling Ben Stiller’s Michael Cohen – Darel Jevens
https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/snl-robert-de-niro-plays-robert-mueller-grilling-ben-stillers-michael-cohen/
DAILY HERALD
— How not to run out of money in retirement – LIZ WESTON (DIERSEN: From what I see, most if not virtually all of the operatives and the dupes who work for my critics/opponents have financial problems. Are my critics/opponents paying them at least $15/hour to demonize me, to denigrate me, and condemn me? Are they providing them with health insurance? What retirement benefits are they giving them?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180415/how-not-to-run-out-of-money-in-retirement
QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Arsenal Digest: Sannito joins ranks of Senior Executive Service (DIERSEN: If I had been a Democrat, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old. If I had been a Democrat, the Democrats who ran GAO would NOT have forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, given me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, failed/refused to promote me beyond GS-13, gotten rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, or forced me to take an $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. The Democrats who ran IRS would NOT have failed/refused to promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, gotten rid of my mentor in 1975, or disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. The Democrats who ran the Post Office would NOT have forced me resign in 1969 or disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
http://qconline.com/news/arsenal/arsenal-digest-sannito-joins-ranks-of-senior-executive-service/article_9a362fe0-032a-5a4f-ac16-6cd540108bd1.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The SES is a position classification in the civil service of the federal government, analogous to a general officer. It was created in 1979 when the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 went into effect. Initial career appointments to the SES are based on merit competition.)
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Want fairer elections? These six steps will get us there. – Andy Shaw
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180414/andy-shaw-want-fairer-elections-these-six-steps-will-get-us-there
— Second Amendment supporters gather at Capitol to speak out against gun control – Maximilian Kwiatkowski (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, in Illinois, if you reject or fail/refuse to enforce the Second Amendment plank in the Illinois Republican Party platform, you should not seek or hold any kind or government or political office as a Republican.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180414/second-amendment-supporters-gather-at-capitol-to-speak-out-against-gun-control
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180414/bernard-schoenburg-36-years-later-susan-catania-hopeful-about-era
— Gov. Rauner sets achievable budget goals – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180414/statehouse-insider-gov-rauner-sets-achievable-budget-goals
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Frerichs opponent Jim Dodge – Tom Kacich (DIERSEN: Are you a Republican activist, candidate, elected official, party leader, major donor, political consultant, etc. in Illinois? Have you sought and/or accepted Rauner’s money or his endorsement since he dumped the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform? Have you given money to activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, etc. who Rauner has given money to or endorsed since he dumped the aforesaid planks? If you have, then you too have dumped the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform, that is, then you too have duped the IRP’s base.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-04-15/tom-kacich-parkland-president-stumping-nursing-degree-bill.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Jim Dodge, the Orland Park village trustee who is the Republican candidate for state treasurer, reported $15,353 in his campaign fund on March 31. Dodge will oppose State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, a Champaign Democrat, in the November general election. At last count — Dec. 31, 2017 — Frerichs had more than $530,000 in his campaign fund. He’s reported another $258,000 in itemized contributions since. Dodge raised $35,207 in the first three months of 2018 and spent $27,822 during the period. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. So far, he has loaned his campaign almost $28,000. He hasn’t received any campaign support from the Illinois Republican Party or Gov. Bruce Rauner.)
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— AP FACT CHECK: Facebook’s reckoning, Trump’s agitation (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
http://www.pjstar.com/articles/20180414/ap-fact-check-facebooks-reckoning-trumps-agitation
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Mueller is a Republican and some others on his team owe their jobs largely to Republican presidents. Some have indeed given money to Democratic candidates over the years. Mueller could not have barred them from serving on that basis because regulations prohibit the consideration of political affiliation personnel actions involving career attorneys. Mueller reports to Rosenstein. . .But that doesn’t stop the data collection. Facebook also targets ads based on demographic information, such as your age and whether you have a child, as well as on what mobile device you use and even your political leanings — even if you’ve not explicitly shared any of that on Facebook.)
ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Inspector General Rights Bill Dies in Committee – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: Those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout not only do not like complaints filed against them, they destroy those who file complaints against them. Have you filed complaints? I have. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always done more than just side with those who I have filed complaints against; they have helped those who I have filed complaints against destroy me. I should write a book about all the complaints, grievances, lawsuits, etc. that I have filed including when they were filed, who they were filed against, who I filed the complaints with, what I complained about, who represented me, who issued a ruling, what their ruling was, reasons they gave for their ruling, appeals that I filed, etc.) http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=263495#.WtMe4IyKSM8
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A state representative says people complaining to inspectors general for Illinois state offices don’t have rights and that’s why her bill is so important, but the measure died in committee Friday. If someone feels wronged by a lawmaker, or by a state agency, or if an employee of a state operation feels they were harassed or discriminated against by a supervisor or fellow employee, they have the right to file a complaint with an inspector general who oversees their agency, or oversees lawmakers, to investigate. But State Rep. Jeanne Ives said that’s where their rights end. Ives filed House Bill 4840, a bill to give the complainants certain rights. “Right now, complainants have no rights,” Ives said. “They don’t even have the right to know that their complaint was in receipt. That’s why we need this legislation. We need it now.” The measure would have given complainants the right to get an explanation of the process, rules and procedures, to be notified the complaint was received, to be informed of decisions made and actions taken by the IG, to have an attorney, to get a summary, to make an impact statement, to attend a hearing and testify, to receive a report of the findings and recommendations, and to file a complaint with the IG for any alleged violation of the complainant’s rights that are laid out in the measure.)
RIVER CITY READER
— The Final Major Test of Rauner’s First Term – Rich Miller
https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/rauners-final-major-test
ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Beth Whisman, unqualified to serve as Commissioner of Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority – John Kraft
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/04/beth-whisman-unqualified-to-serve-as-commissioner-of-bloomington-normal-airport-authority/
BREITBART
— ‘Our Border Is Not Secure,’ Says Arizona Governor – BOB PRICE
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2018/04/14/border-not-secure-says-arizona-governor/
WORLD NET DAILY
— THE UGLY HISTORY OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX Bill Federer recounts unintended consequences spiraling out of control
http://www.wnd.com/2018/04/the-ugly-history-of-federal-income-tax/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Reince Priebus: GOP will revert to old ways after Trump – Paul Bedard (DIERSEN: The Illinois Republican Party’s (IRP) base is conservative and it supports the IRP’s platform including its traditional family, right to life, immigration, and Second Amendment planks. Who represents the IRP’s base in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? It should be your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain, the officers of your Republican township/ward party organization, the officers of your Republican county party organization, your representative on the IRP State Central Committee, and the IRP officers. Outrageously, tragically, unacceptably, far too often, far too many of the aforesaid not only fail/refuse to defend/advance the aforesaid planks, they focus on getting rid of those like me who support the aforesaid planks. Far too often, far too many of the aforesaid talk and/or act like they are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/reince-priebus-gop-will-revert-to-old-ways-after-trump-little-lasting-impact
(FROM THE ARTICLE: While hugely popular with his base, President Trump is a “unique” politician who is unlikely to have a lasting impact on the Republican Party, according to former GOP Chairman and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. “I think his is a unique brand. I think post-Trump, the party basically returns to its traditional role and a traditional platform,” said Priebus during a chat last week with students at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. “He’s very unique, he owns it and he does it and he does get away with a lot,” he added.)
— How Paul Ryan lost the GOP to Donald Trump – David M. Drucker
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/how-paul-ryan-lost-the-gop-to-donald-trump
FOX NEWS
— Justice Dept. wants ‘sanctuary’ areas to prove they comply with laws – Amy Lieu (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you reject or fail/refuse to enforce America’s immigration laws, you should not seek or hold any kind or government or political office as a Republican.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/15/justice-dept-wants-sanctuary-areas-to-prove-comply-with-laws.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “When cities and states enact policies that thwart the federal government’s ability to enforce federal immigration law, they choose to place the protection of criminal aliens over the safety of their communities.”)
— Kentucky lawmakers condemn Gov. Bevin’s ‘guarantee’ remarks about sex assault of children – Dom Calicchio (DIERSEN: Did your father make enough money that your mother could stay home and raise you? My father did. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. They have always painted my parents as being undeservedly filthy rich. In my outstanding father’s defense, he fought type 1 diabetes from age 14, he was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma, he never attended college, he worked in the office of a nasty chemical plant, he almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills, he did not buy a new car until he was 45 and it was a bottom of the line 2-door Chevy, and he died suddenly of heart failure in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21. In my outstanding mother’s defense, she was raised on a farm and she never attended high school.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/15/kentucky-lawmakers-condemn-gov-bevins-guarantee-remarks-about-sex-assault-children.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them,” the governor told reporters outside the Capitol. “I guarantee you somewhere today a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were home alone because a single parent didn’t have any money to take care of them. I’m offended by the idea that people so cavalierly and so flippantly disregarded what’s truly best for children.”)
THE HILL
— Trump order targets wide swath of public assistance programs – NATHANIEL WEIXEL
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/383106-trump-order-targets-wide-swathe-of-public-assistance-programs
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Immigration fight gets lonely for some in GOP.”
http://thehill.com/latino/383115-immigration-fight-gets-lonely-for-some-in-gop
NEW YORK TIMES
— Who Are Diamond and Silk? A Look at 2 Pro-Trump Social Media Stars – Liam Stack
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/14/us/politics/diamond-silk-facebook.html
— Blacks Still Face a Red Line on Housing – Editorial (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout at Blacks that a) because I got mortgages in 1972 in University Park, in 1974 in Chicago, and in 1976 in Chicago, Blacks did not get mortgages and b) because my wife and I got mortgages in 1978 in Wheaton and in 1984 in Wheaton, Blacks did not get mortgages.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/14/opinion/blacks-still-face-a-red-line-on-housing.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Republicans’ grand hypocrisy on partisan hiring – Jennifer Rubin (DIERSEN: For different reasons, each and every one of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always a) promoted patronage, b) promoted political affiliation discrimination, and c) promoted the spoils system.) SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoils_system)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/04/11/republicans-grand-hypocrisy-on-partisan-hiring/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: So here’s the question for Republicans: Should the FBI (or any government agency) or even any private employer be in the business of investigating employees’ political views and making employment decisions based upon which candidate or party they support? If that’s the rule, then we are going to need to sweep away a hundred years of civil service reform. “Our democracy depends on a well-functioning government and a well-functioning government depends upon a merit-based, nonpartisan career workforce,” explains Max Stier, head of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service. “It is useful to remember some history and recall that we had a president assassinated by a disgruntled spoils-system job seeker, which is what finally led to the professionalization of our government workforce over 100 years ago.” He adds, “This is particularly true for law enforcement.” Former director of the Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub concurs. “Federal managers are prohibited from considering party affiliation when making personnel decisions for career employees,” he tells me. “This safeguard dates back 135 years and is based on the ethical principle that most of the work of government should be carried out by officials who are loyal to the Constitution, the laws and the American people instead of partisan political patrons.” He continues, “Targeting career officials based on party affiliation would jeopardize the integrity of the government’s operations and, in a case like this, open us up to corrupt political influence on the law enforcement apparatus of the state.” He observes, “The depressing irony is that, in pressing their groundless claims of political bias in the investigation, these members of Congress are literally advocating for political bias by demanding the Justice Department ensure that the president is investigated only by ardent supporters — a view they definitely have not held for his political rival.” As Cruz managed to highlight, the notion that an employer would probe employees’ political beliefs is a noxious one. The GOP should knock off its — what’s the phrase? — political witch hunt designed to ensure that Democrats do not populate sensitive law enforcement roles.)
USA TODAY
— Why your tax return absolutely must be on time — even if you can’t pay on time – Christy Bieber (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071/year-$91,880/year. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $96,403/year-$102,830/year. What do you say to those who have wasted my knowledge of IRS? They include my GAO superiors, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and their staffs.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2018/04/15/why-your-tax-return-absolutely-must-be-on-time-even-if-you-cant-pay-on-time/33272089/
NEWSWEEK
— Bolton’s NSC Purge of Personnel Passes — Perhaps – John Gizzi
https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/john-bolton-tom-bossert-national-security-adviser-national-security-council/2018/04/10/id/853762/
BOSTON GLOBE
— Trump has freed 100,000 immigrants who were caught at the border
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/04/14/trump-has-freed-immigrants-who-were-caught-border/CmxeyMvJ6TOxAJR0DWmo9J/story.html
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Pence Didn’t Talk About Wall With Mexican Leader – AP (DIERSEN: How soon will Mexico officially declare war on America? Mexico has unofficially declared war on America by its illegally sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally, by its illegally keeping many millions of its citizens in America illegally, and by its illegally sending mountains of illegal drugs into America illegally.)
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2018-04-14/the-latest-pence-praises-perus-stand-on-venezuelan-crisis
FORBES
— Avoiding The 5 Greatest Threats To Your Retirement Security – Bob Carlson
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcarlson/2018/04/10/avoiding-the-5-greatest-threats-to-your-retirement-security/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The foundations are crumbling. . .Retirement could last a long time. . .Investment returns are likely to be disappointing. . .Inflation still will be a mighty foe. . .Your taxes aren’t likely to decline during retirement.)
THINK PROGRESS
— The RNC is pulling out all the stops to discredit Comey. It is not going well. They’re doing Trump’s bidding and embarrassing themselves in the process. – AARON RUPAR (DIERSEN: Who discredits you? I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who paint themselves as being directed to discredit me a) by those who dominate the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, City of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and b) by those Republicans who represent the voters in my precinct. They talk and act like they have been promised lots of money, a new home, a new car, a sweetheart job, a sweetheart contract, favorable legislation, and much more if they succeed in getting me to a) stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) resign as a Republican Precinct Committeeman.)
https://thinkprogress.org/rnc-tries-to-discredit-comey-and-fails-ffd8558596d8/
SALON
— What to do if you owe the IRS money The IRS is friendlier than you think – TAMEKA E. LESTER (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071/year-$91,880/year. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $96,403/year-$102,830/year. What do you say to those who have wasted my knowledge of IRS? They include my GAO superiors, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and their staffs.)
https://www.salon.com/2018/04/15/what-to-do-if-you-owe-the-irs-money_partner/
