April 19 Morning Edition

ABC7
— South Side meat packing plant employees call for investigation after 21 COVID-19 cases confirmed – Alexis McAdams
https://abc7chicago.com/health/covid-19-outbreak-at-chicago-meat-packing-plant-sparks-calls-for-investigation/6114075/
— Coronavirus crisis: UK researchers training dogs to sniff out COVID-19 virus in humans – CNN
https://abc7chicago.com/pets-animals/researchers-training-dogs-in-uk-to-sniff-out-covid-19-virus-in-humans/6114833/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Fox News is trying to kill its audience – Rex Huppke
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/rex-huppke/ct-coronavirus-fox-news-protests-michigan-hannity-pirro-huppke-20200417-u4w3bflsyrb37e2epp37kws6yi-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois cannot walk until it crawls in beating COVID-19, but on testing we’re still crawling We all know why we need to contain and reduce our risk to the COVID-19 virus. Now we details on how. – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/17/21225830/illinois-cannot-walk-until-it-crawls-in-beating-covid-19-but-on-testing-were-still-crawling

DAILY HERALD
— Some Illinois golf officials say it’s time to open courses – John Dietz
https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20200418/some-illinois-golf-officials-say-its-time-to-open-courses
— Lost insurance and need insulin? Makers offer it free or cheap – Linda A. Johnson (DIERSEN: My father fought type 1 diabetes from age 14. He died suddenly of heart failure in 1969 when I was 21 and he was 47. The high cost of insulin was one reason why he and his father had less money.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20200419/lost-insurance-and-need-insulin-makers-offer-it-free-or-cheap

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— That $174 million is only part of the bill – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: One could argue that efforts to stop coronavirus are bankrupting every government entity and every country in the world.)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200418/statehouse-insider-that-174-million-is-only-part-of-bill

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— Even group of Republicans won’t vote for Trump – Steve Miller, Nauvoo (DIERSEN: What do you say to Republican activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who talk and/or act like they are really anti-Trumps if not Trump-haters?) 
https://www.whig.com/20200419/even-group-of-republicans-wont-vote-for-trump
(FROM THE LETTER: So, I thought it would be interesting to share the contents of a recent Washington Post column written by members of the “Lincoln Project,” an organization of Republicans with a mission to defeat Trump in November. They say “The United States is beset with a president who was unprepared for the burden of the presidency and who has made plain his deficits in leadership, management, intelligence and morality.” They see the U.S. as “in a transcendent and transformative period” and conclude we “cannot afford another four years of chaos, duplicity and Trump’s reality distortion.” They have seen the damaging effect that “corruption and cultish amateurism” has done to this country and feel we need to heal and go in a new direction. This group supports Joe Biden for president, the first time any of them has ever supported a Democrat.)

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Oberweis offers Speaker Pelosi ice cream if she goes to Washington D.C. to help small businesses
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2020/04/19/oberweis-offers-speaker-pelosi-ice-cream-if-she-goes-to-washington-d-c-to-help-small-businesses/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Warns Of ‘Consequences’ If China Was ‘Knowingly Responsible’ For Outbreak – JUANA SUMMERS (DIERSEN: Democrats side with Communist China against America.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/trump-hold-briefing-coronavirus-developments#stream/0

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— IL-14: Geneva Swedish Days 2020 Cancelled due to Coronavirus Pandemic
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/18/il-14-geneva-swedish-days-2020-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic/ 
— IL-14: So What’s All the Chatter with House Nancy Speaker Pelosi and Ice Cream?
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/19/kingdom-man-called-home-arthur-evans-sr-august-12-1929-november-25-2019-copy/ 
— How Donald Trump Got His Bible
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/19/how-donald-trump-got-his-bible/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘Heartbroken’ Obama ‘eager’ to help Biden defeat Trump in election – Anthony Leonardi (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, defeating Trump and defeating all the other Republicans on November 3, 2020 ballots in America is the Democrat Party’s top priority. 
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/heartbroken-obama-eager-to-help-biden-defeat-trump-in-election

FOX NEWS
— Maine lawmaker organizes protest of governor’s coronavirus stay-at-home order – Robert Gearty
https://www.foxnews.com/us/maine-lawmaker-organizes-protest-of-governors-coronavirus-restrictions
— How complicit is the WHO in China’s coronavirus cover-up? – Hollie McKay
https://www.foxnews.com/world/how-complicit-is-who-china-coronavirus-cover-up
— Trump hails ‘positive signs’ in coronavirus fight, says US is ‘king of ventilators’ – Adam Shaw
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/president-trump-hails-positive-signs-coronavirus-fight

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— China Might Try to Take Taiwan Not since the interwar period has the American military position in the Pacific been weaker—and the Chinese know it. – Brandon J. Weichert (DIERSEN: If Communist China takes Taiwan, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes will side with China.)
https://amgreatness.com/2020/04/18/china-might-try-to-take-taiwan/

BREITBART
— Franklin Graham: Democrats Exploit Coronavirus to ‘Defeat Donald Trump in the Election’ – THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/04/18/franklin-graham-democrats-exploit-coronavirus-defeat-donald-trump-election/

TOWNHALL
— Never Let A Good Crisis Go To Waste – Derek Hunter
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2020/04/19/never-let-a-good-crisis-go-to-waste-n2567181
— Jeff Sessions Doesn’t Have Trump’s Support, But His Immigration Moratorium Should – Gavin Wax (DIERSEN: Whose support do you not have and why? I should write a book about those whose support I do not have. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who hold leadership positions in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate. I would focus on those who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, your problems, my problems, and everyone’s problems.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/gavinwax/2020/04/19/jeff-sessions-doesnt-have-trumps-support-but-his-immigration-moratorium-should-n2567174

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Tucker Carlson: Blame America Or China? China Is Waging a Coronavirus Distraction Campaign – Ian Schwartz (DIERSEN: Democrats side with Communist China against America.)
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/04/18/tucker_carlson_blame_america_or_china_china_is_waging_a_coronavirus_distraction_campaign.html

EPOCH TIMES
— Why America’s Youth Have Such a Distorted View of America – FRED J. ECKERT
https://www.theepochtimes.com/why-americas-youth-have-such-a-distorted-view-of-america_3309073.html

THE HILL
— Progressives look for concession from Biden with running mate – TAL AXELROD (DIERSEN: Of course, progressives want Biden’s running mate to be 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 anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) 
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/493307-progressives-look-for-concession-from-biden-with-running-mate-pick
— Why China will likely avoid liability in spread of coronavirus pandemic – JONATHAN TURLEY (DIERSEN: Democrats side with Communist China against America.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/493467-why-china-will-likely-avoid-liability-in-spread-of-coronavirus-pandemic
— Foreign powers test U.S. defenses amid coronavirus pandemic – ELLEN MITCHELL (DIERSEN: Trump-haters side with foreign countries and with their citizens against America and against its citizens.)
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/493490-foreign-powers-test-us-defenses-amid-coronavirus-pandemic

HUFFINGTON POST
— Lawmakers Demand To Know Where Business Stimulus Funds Are Going The Trump administration so far is stonewalling on even the most basic information. – Mary Papenfuss
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/business-stimulus-funds-basic-details-senators_n_5e9b9914c5b664cb6c43e702

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs blame not just Trump for coronavirus, but a) all the Republican candidates on November 3, 2020 ballots in America, b) all Republican elected and appointed officials, c) all Republican Party leaders, and d) all Republican Precinct Committeemen/Captains.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/18/trump-coronavirus-who-bill-gates-fauci-193379
— Blackburn accuses Facebook of enabling WHO misinformation – ALEXANDRA S. LEVINE (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operative, and their dupes want everyone to look at their pictures on Facebook and read their postings on Facebook instead of reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2020/04/17/blackburn-accuses-facebook-of-enabling-who-misinformation-786945

MSNBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Trump again takes credit for coronavirus successes while shifting blame for his failures.”
https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/trump-again-takes-credit-for-coronavirus-successes-while-shifting-blame-for-his-failures-82249285611

NEW YORK TIMES
— It’s the End of the World Economy as We Know It Experts suggest there will be “a rethink of how much any country wants to be reliant on any other country.” – Neil Irwin (DIERSEN: America-haters want America to be dependent on foreign countries and on their citizens.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/upshot/world-economy-restructuring-coronavirus.html
— Conservatives Fuel Protests Against Coronavirus Lockdowns – Manny Fernandez (DIERSEN: What percent of these “conservatives” are really Libertarians?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/us/texas-protests-stay-at-home.html
— For Charlie Kirk, Conservative Activist, the Virus Is a Cudgel – Matthew Rosenberg and Katie Rogers
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/us/politics/charlie-kirk-conservatives-coronavirus.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats side with Communist China against America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/us/politics/trump-china-virus.html
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/04/18/world/asia/18reuters-health-coronavirus-trump-china.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: The Coronavirus in America: The Year Ahead There will be no quick return to our previous lives, according to nearly two dozen experts. But there is hope for managing the scourge now and in the long term. – Donald G. McNeil Jr.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/health/coronavirus-america-future.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters us coronavirus to promote hatred against Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/opinion/america-inequality-coronavirus.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-racism-african-americans.html
— ‘I AM THE PORTRAIT OF DOWNWARD MOBILITY’ Today’s 40-year-olds on the lives they’ve led, and now this. – Lora Kelley
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/17/opinion/inequality-economy-1980.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It used to be a given that each American generation would do better than the last. Fully 92 percent of the Americans who reached their 30th birthday in 1970 earned more than their parents had earned at the same age, even after adjusting for inflation. But beginning in the 1970s, the economic ladder gradually became harder to climb, and fewer Americans were able to surpass their parents. In the cohort of Americans who turned 30 in 2010, only half earned more than their parents at the same age, according to research by a team of economists led by Raj Chetty, a Harvard professor. The American dream had become a coin flip. That group of Americans, born in 1980, missed out on the post-World War II economic boom that lifted their elders to prosperity. While the economy grew during their childhoods, the gains were distributed much less evenly, as the federal government backed away from policies aimed at minimizing inequality. The winners won bigger, but more people were left behind. The year this group turned 21, the stock market collapsed and the economy fell into recession. In 2008, there was a bigger recession. Now they’re turning 40 and life hasn’t gotten any easier. A decade of sluggish growth has ended in an economic collapse already more severe than the last. They have more debt, less predictable employment, and less reliable access to health care.)
— What Do You Owe Your Neighbor? The Pandemic Might Change Your Answer – Alexander W. Cappelen, Ranveig Falch, Erik O. Sorensen, Bertil Tungodden and Gus Wezerek (DIERSEN: According to Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, Republicans owe everything to those who are Democrat, Libertarian, Green, and/or RINO, and especially to 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/16/opinion/coronavirus-inequality-solidarity-poll.html
— ‘All of It Is Happening All at Once’: When Congress Works From Home. With the Capitol shuttered for the foreseeable future, senators and representatives are struggling, with the rest of the country, to adapt to virtual working. – Nicholas Fandos and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/us/politics/coronavirus-congress-remote-work.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater says “Stop saying ‘we’re all in this together.’ You have money. It’s not the same. Lower-income Americans easily can fall through the cracks — even without a pandemic.” Do you have money? Why do you have money? I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned me the most for my having money. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I undeservedly have money because I am White, male, healthy, Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, Republican, 100% German American, draft avoider, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, federal employee for almost 30 years, federal retiree for more than 22 years, married since 1978, we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, etc. 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/18/coronavirus-retail-jobs-inequality/
— We’ve never backed a Democrat for president. But Trump must be defeated. – George T. Conway III, Reed Galen, Steve Schmidt, John Weaver and Rick Wilson (DIERSEN: What do you say to Republican activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who talk and/or act like they are really anti-Trumps if not Trump-haters?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/15/weve-never-backed-democrat-president-trump-must-be-defeated/

NEW YORK POST
— Why coronavirus will not cost Trump reelection: Goodwin – Michael Goodwin
https://nypost.com/2020/04/18/why-coronavirus-will-not-cost-trump-reelection-goodwin/
— America’s junk food diet makes us even more vulnerable to coronavirus – Mary Kay (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who do things that increase their vulnerability to coronavirus?) 
https://nypost.com/2020/04/18/americas-junk-food-diet-makes-us-more-vulnerable-to-coronavirus/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Coronavirus survivors face the stigma and discrimination – PAIGE ST. JOHN, MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-18/fear-and-stigma-around-coronavirus-deliver-harm-and-control

COLUMBUS DISPATCH
— Coronavirus: Racial divide on infections, deaths becomes even starker as more data emerge – AP (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans created coronavirus and spread coronavirus to get rid of minorities?)
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200419/coronavirus–racial-divide-on-infections-deaths-becomes-even-starker-as-more-data-emerge

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN
— We must organize the black masses to fight for fair treatment – Malik Ahmed (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans created coronavirus and spread coronavirus to get rid of Blacks?)
http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/we-must-organize-the-black-masses-to-fight-for-fair-treatment/article_93dec13c-8186-11ea-bd29-3375fcf0ed07.html

PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE
— Study finds link between air pollution and COVID-19 fatalities – DON HOPEY
http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/04/19/COVID-19-fatalities-linked-air-pollution-coronavirus-Harvard-study-PM25-particulate-allegheny-county/stories/202004140148

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— New York City’s Coronavirus Deaths Match Demographics in Other Hot Spots The elderly, men and some racial minorities among the disease’s most vulnerable victims – Shan Li
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-citys-coronavirus-deaths-match-demographics-in-other-hot-spots-11587214800
— Coronavirus Trackers Try Out AI Tools as Eyes Turn to Reopening A lack of testing has spurred efforts to tap other data sources, ranging from medical records to real-time temperature readings – Daniela Hernandez
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-trackers-try-out-ai-tools-as-eyes-turn-to-reopening-11587294000

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Suggests China May Be ‘Knowingly Responsible’ for Virus – Mario Parker (DIERSEN: Democrats side with Communist China against America.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-18/trump-suggests-china-may-be-knowingly-responsible-for-virus

NPR
— Who’s Hit Hardest By COVID-19? Why Obesity, Stress And Race All Matter – Allison Aubrey
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/18/835563340/whos-hit-hardest-by-covid-19-why-obesity-stress-and-race-all-matter
— Supporters Of Digital Currency Say Pandemic Bolsters Case For A New Approach – MEREDITH ROATEN
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/19/837619834/supporters-of-digital-currency-say-pandemic-bolsters-case-for-a-new-approach

PBS
— Will antibody testing help get people back to work? (DIERSEN: Of course, if members of protected groups have lower antibodies, Trump-haters will blame that on Trump and those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Protected groups include: Trump-haters, illegals, non-citizens, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, RINOs, moderates, liberals, Blacks, Asians, females, LGBTQers, non-Protestants, non-German Americans, those who have criminal records, those who have less money than others, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, etc.)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/will-antibody-testing-help-get-people-back-to-work

NEWSWEEK
— MORE THAN 60,000 AMERICANS HAVE NOW RECOVERED FROM CORONAVIRUS – JENNI FINK
https://www.newsweek.com/more-60000-americans-have-now-recovered-coronavirus-1498635

NEW YORKER
— There Is No Panacea for the Coronavirus Economy – John Cassidy (DIERSEN: One could argue that the more that you speak one-on-one face-to-face with others, the more likely that you will get coronavirus. What has reduced your one-on-one face-to-face speaking with others? I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.)
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/there-is-no-panacea-for-the-coronavirus-economy

HR DIGEST
— Inside America’s Attitude about Age (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted age discrimination to get rid of those who are older than they are and/or to curry favor with those who promote age discrimination. I should write a book about them. They use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and up-or-out to promote age discrimination.)
https://www.thehrdigest.com/ok-boomer-inside-americas-attitude-about-age/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Anyone hitting forty in today’s work scenario is like hitting the wall– or use by date! You are no longer a correct fit in the work culture. Changing technology and a dismal job and economic scenario have forced many companies to tighten their budgetary belt. One of the steps taken is job cuts to make the company leaner meaner. With machine learning, AI, and apps taking over a myriad of jobs many job profiles have become redundant. It is the mid-segment executives that were handling the finance, accounting, sales, and administrative jobs that are finding themselves left out in the cold with applications software taking over their careers. This segment is mostly middle-aged and above, and companies are looking at this section as their pay scales now can no longer be justified. People in their mid-40s and later, who have hit the peak of their working career are suddenly faced with a very empty near future. A crucial point missed by the over-eager human resources is that these middle-aged people are rearing to take the company to the next level. They have passed the ‘learning process” and are ready to put everything into practice. Co-workers who have hit the mid-40s have had their career stalled. If the decision is based on performance or non-delivery of said work, one can accept the fact. Still, most times, the decision is based on the grey hair, and the belief that anyone over 50 is not capable of doing the task or “overqualified” is how they kindly put it. A colleague hitting 40, a star performer for most of his working life, was suddenly persona non grata. Why? Because he was upsetting the average age of the company, which was 28. It was subtle harassment at its best. Many of us have been a witness to workplaces that are glaring lessons in “how not to run a workplace.” The reason — people at the helm lack experience or are still finding their feet as workers, let alone leaders, as simple as that. Experience and age give perspective and patience, two things that the young lack in heaps. It is here that an older pair of shoulders comes in handy. So what is the case made out against the aging? The older generation is slower, not technologically savvy, and cannot think like the young. There is no denying the freshness of ideas that the young bring to the table, but most times, they lack the knowledge to translate that idea into a working one. A significant lacuna is the inability to see the larger picture or missing the forest for the trees. So much time is lost in the details that the actual work is lost somewhere in all the planning.)

DAILY MAIL
— President Trump’s Florida properties furlough 713 workers – including 153 at Mar-a-Lago – due to the coronavirus pandemic – LAUREN EDMONDS
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8232729/Trumps-Florida-properties-furlough-713-workers-coronavirus-pandemic.html
— Trump turns up the heat on ‘unreasonable’ governors who have ‘got carried away’ with lockdowns amid national protests from thousands demanding to be ‘liberated’ after president rips ‘rude’ and ‘nasty’ Democrats – KEITH GRIFFITH (DIERSEN: I should write a book about the most rude and nasty people in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout and who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. They talk and/or act like they want to destroy the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Illinois Republican Party. They talk and/or act like they are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs. They do everything that they can to destroy me and to destroy my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8233409/Trump-says-governors-gotten-carried-away-lockdown-orders.html

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.