April 27 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New poll shows rising support for mail-in voting due to coronavirus concerns, but Trump’s opposition resonating with GOP voters – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-coronavirus-mail-in-voting-poll-20200427-6ljbysuwvvcwtoklw7qzxuwwnu-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— South Side LGBTQ pride festival moves online amid COVID-19 concerns The city’s South Side-based LGBTQ pride festival, which launched last year, will now be held online in a two-month-long campaign promoting the 2020 Census. – Jake Wittich
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/26/21237700/south-side-lgbtq-pride-festival-moves-online-amid-covid-19-concerns
— How do we thank ‘essential workers?’ Vote for a graduated Illinois income tax on Nov. 3 The coronavirus pandemic vividly reveals the unfairness of a flat income tax, in which every dollar is taxed at the same rate no matter how rich or poor you are. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/26/21225563/illinois-state-budget-finances-fair-tax-progressive-graduated-pandemic-coronavirus-editorial

DAILY HERALD
— Duckworth honored to ‘be in mix’ for vice presidential nominee – Marni Pyke (DIERSEN: Duckworh has demonized, denigrated, and condemned Trump for avoiding the draft. How will Duckworth differentiate Biden’s avoiding the draft? Since 1966 when I was 18 years old, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me for avoiding the draft. I was 1-A for draft notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease . I got student deferments 1966-1970 while I attended UIC and NIU and a financial hardship deferment 1970-1971. While I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, my Democrat superiors, Democrat supervisors, Democrat coworkers, and Democrat subordinates always stressed to my many superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were veterans that I avoided the draft. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that because I avoided the draft, I got a tremendous unfair advantage over them. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that because I avoided the draft, I was able to earn 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; job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48; and a job-related professional license when I was 32; b) get promoted when I was 23, 24, 25, and 38; c) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, etc.; d) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35; e) get married when I was 29; f) etc.) 
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200427/duckworth-honored-to-be-in-mix-for-vice-presidential-nominee

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— How fast will the Chicago economy recover? Bank forecasts provide a clue. The projections lenders are delivering to Wall Street now offer a window into current thinking about how bad the COVID-induced recession will be. – STEVE DANIELS
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/finance-banking/how-fast-will-chicago-economy-recover-bank-forecasts-provide-clue

WGN RADIO
— Impact of the coronavirus on local city and town revenues. Rick Pearson speaks with Brad Cole.
https://wgnradio.com/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson/impact-of-the-coronavirus-on-local-city-and-town-revenues/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Coronavirus pandemic identifies fault lines that must be addressed – Jim Nowlan
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20200426/coronavirus-pandemic-identifies-fault-lines-that-must-be-addressed

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— With the loss of coffeehouse lattes and school lunches, dairy farmers face tough choices. Corn and soybeans are also hurting in an economy battered by coronavirus. – PATRICK O’CONNELL
https://www.pantagraph.com/business/agriculture/with-the-loss-of-coffeehouse-lattes-and-school-lunches-dairy-farmers-face-tough-choices-corn/article_17a293b8-9a8b-5bbd-ac0d-e63d1521842e.html

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Protesters in Crest Hill object to stay-at-home order – BOB OKON
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/04/25/out-on-the-streets/am7gj2l/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Pritzker: Police can charge violators of stay at home order – Jakob Emerson
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/pritzker-police-can-charge-violators-of-stay-at-home-order

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Amid an uncertain election cycle, organizers move campaigning online – Isabelle Sarraf
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/04/26/city/amid-an-uncertain-election-cycle-organizers-move-campaigning-online/

WIREPOINTS
— COVID-19 pushes nation’s weakest public pension plans closer to the brink: A 50-state survey – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/covid-19-pushes-nations-weakest-public-pension-plans-closer-to-the-brink-a-50-state-survey-wirepoints-special-report/
— Pritzker Now Stonewalling Critical Antibody Testing – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/pritzker-now-stonewalling-critical-antibody-testing-wirepoints/
— ‘Contract’ is no excuse for upcoming pay raise for Illinois unionized state workers – Quicktake (DIERSEN: Who wants who to sacrifice more to beat coronavirus? Will Democrats come up with a “Coronavirus Income/Wealth Redistribution” form for all of us to fill out? Will that form call for all of us to provide the following: income, expenses, assets, debts, income gained/lost because of coronavirus, expenses decreased/increased because of coronavirus, asset values increased/lost because of coronavirus, debts decreased/increased because of coronavirus, etc. Will the form determine how much money each of us who have been harmed less by coronavirus should give to each of those who have been harmed more by coronavirus?) 
https://wirepoints.org/contract-is-no-excuse-for-upcoming-pay-raise-for-unionized-state-workers-quicktake/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Wilcox Hosting Webinar Monday
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/26/wilcox-hosting-webinar-monday/ 
— Looking at Governor’s 30-Day Emergency Orders – The Lawsuit
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/26/looking-at-governors-30-day-emergency-orders-first-the-lawsuit/ 
— IL-14: Lauren Underwood at Her Worst
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/26/il-14-lauren-underwood-at-her-worst/ 
— Tobin Criticizes Pritzker
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/26/145082/ 
— Looking at Governor’s 30-Day Emergency Orders – Attorney’s Analysis
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/25/looking-at-govenors-30-day-emergency-orders-attorneys-analysis/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— This American Life of Sexual Perversity – Laurie Higgins 
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/this-american-life-of-sexual-perversity/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS STATE REP: LET THE PEOPLE GO!
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/illinois-state-rep-let-the-people-go.html
— GLENNON: PRITZKER NOW STONEWALLING CRITICAL ANTIBODY TESTING
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/glennon-pritzker-now-stonewalling-critical-antibody-testing.html
— SOME BEGIN TO QUESTION QUALIFICATIONS OF PRITZKER ADVISOR – DIRECTOR OF IDPH
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/some-begin-to-question-pritzker-advisor-director-of-idph.html
— 28 MILLION MAIL-IN BALLOTS WENT MISSING IN LAST FOUR ELECTIONS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/28-million-mail-in-ballots-went-missing-in-last-four-elections.html
— MUSLIM CALL TO PRAYER TO BE BLASTED OVER MAJOR MIDWEST CITY FIVE TIMES A DAY
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/muslim-call-to-prayer-to-be-blasted-over-major-midwest-city-five-times-a-day.html
— CARES ACT HURTS SMALL BUSINESSES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/cares-act-hurts-small-businesses.html
— PENNSYLVANIA FORCED TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF DEATHS FROM CORONAVIRUS DEATH COUNT AFTER CORONERS RAISE RED FLAGS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/04/pennsylvania-forced-to-remove-hundreds-of-deaths-from-coronavirus-death-count-after-coroners-raise-r.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— U.S. facing Great Depression-era unemployment rate, W.H. economic adviser says Business leaders see no rebound in sight with one-sixth of U.S. workforce jobless – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/26/kevin-hassett-white-house-economic-adviser-us-faci/
— Joe Biden urged to resist far-left demands from Justice Democrats – Seth McLaughlin (DIERSEN: To defeat Trump, Biden will promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) 
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/26/joe-biden-urged-resist-justice-democrats-far-left-/
— SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 FLASHBACK: Biden’s draft deferments equal Cheney’s during Vietnam War – AP
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/01/bidens-draft-deferments-equal-cheneys-during-vietn/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— MAY 31, 2019 FLASHBACK: Democratic attacks on Trump and Vietnam open door to scrutiny of Biden avoiding draft – Emily Larsen
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/democratic-attacks-on-trump-and-vietnam-open-door-to-scrutiny-of-biden-avoiding-draft

FOX NEWS
— Coronavirus and the era of big government – Chad Pergram
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coronavirus-big-government-era-pergram
— New Yorker journalist Hendrik Hertzberg asks about ‘military coup’ against Trump, claims he was sarcastic – Frank Miles
https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-yorker-journalist-hendrik-hertzberg-military-coup-trump

GOPUSA
— What Would Our Ancestors Think Of Us?
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=88083

AMERICAN THINKER
— The Coronavirus Is China’s Fault – Elise Cooper
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/04/the_coronavirus_is_chinas_fault.html

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Incompetence Smear The First Amendment gives everyone the right to call any president any name in the book, including “incompetent.” But just because someone says it, doesn’t make it true. – Scott Douglas Gerber
https://amgreatness.com/2020/04/26/the-incompetence-smear/
— We Can Make China Pay For The Coronavirus Republicans have the perfect opportunity to get out in front on this issue and show they care more about punishing our national enemies than petty partisanship. – Paul Bradford
https://amgreatness.com/2020/04/26/we-can-make-china-pay-for-the-coronavirus/

BREITBART
— Murder, Burglary Soars in New York City During Coronavirus Lockdown – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/26/murder-burglary-soars-new-york-city-during-coronavirus-lockdown/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Polygamy Advocates Lay Groundwork for Civil Rights Revolution – John Murawski 
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/26/polygamy-advocates-lay-groundwork-for-civil-rights-revolution/
— China Is Working Overtime to Suppress Research About Coronavirus Origin – Jarrett Stepman
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/26/china-is-working-overtime-to-suppress-research-about-coronavirus-origin/

DAILY CALLER
— Conservatives Want To Know Why Twitter Is Targeting Right-Wing Misinfo While Giving China, WHO A Pass – CHRIS WHITE
https://dailycaller.com/2020/04/26/twitter-censorship-coronavirus-china-world-health-organization/

TOWNHALL
— What to Do About China And Its American Lackeys – Kurt Schlichter
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2020/04/27/what-to-do-about-china-and-its-american-lackeys-n2567611

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Take Tribal Politics Out of Shutdown Debate and Think About the Guy at the Food Pantry – John Kass (DIERSEN: Who wants who to sacrifice more to beat coronavirus? Will Democrats come up with a “Coronavirus Income/Wealth Redistribution” form for all of us to fill out? Will that form call for all of us to provide the following: income, expenses, assets, debts, income gained/lost because of coronavirus, expenses decreased/increased because of coronavirus, asset values increased/lost because of coronavirus, debts decreased/increased because of coronavirus, etc. Will the form determine how much money each of us who have been harmed less by coronavirus should give to each of those who have been harmed more by coronavirus?) 
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/04/23/take_tribal_politics_out_of_shutdown_debate_and_think_about_the_guy_at_the_food_pantry_143024.html

INSIDE SOURCES
— JUNE 9, 2019 FLASHBACK: Joe Biden’s Draft Record Looks a Lot Like Donald Trump’s. Do Democrats Care? – Michael Graham
https://www.insidesources.com/joe-bidens-draft-record-looks-a-lot-like-donald-trumps-do-democrats-care/

THE HILL
— What the ‘Grievance Studies affair’ says about academia’s social justice warriors – ROBERT MARANTO (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs blame all problems on individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, heterosexual, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs in Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, etc.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/490366-what-the-grievance-studies-affair-says-about-academias-social-justice

REUTERS
— U.S. economy faces historic shock, with 16% joblessness possible, Trump adviser says – Tim Ahmann (DIERSEN: To defeat Trump, Trump-haters want to drive up joblessness.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-economy/us-economy-faces-historic-shock-with-16-joblessness-possible-trump-adviser-idUSKCN2280J1

CNN
— Coronavirus cases in the United States are nearing 1 million – Madeline Holcombe
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html
— JANUARY 21, 2018 FLASHBACK: Duckworth to Trump: I won’t be lectured by draft dodger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5iRvUK5A0U
— JUNE 6, 2019 FLASHBACK: Duckworth: Yes, I’m calling the President a coward
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/06/06/tammy-duckworth-trump-vietnam-war-comments-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn

NBC NEWS
— Trump’s coronavirus response is questioned daily. But Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx aren’t infallible. Even scientists make mistakes, and figuring out how and why can help us better understand this pandemic and our response to it. – Ying Ma
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-coronavirus-response-questioned-daily-dr-fauci-dr-birx-ncna1192266

NBC NEW YORK
— Trump’s Focus on His Base Complicates Path to Reelection – Jill Colvin and Jonathan Lemire (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Organization act like they are taking the advice of Democrat plant, Libertarian plant, Green plant, and RINO political consultants who advise them a) to dump voters who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and b) to pander to voters 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 anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) 
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/decision-2020/trumps-focus-on-his-base-complicates-path-to-reelection/2390829/

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Nervous Republicans See Trump Sinking, and Taking Senate With Him. The election is still six months away, but a rash of ominous new polls and the president’s erratic briefings have the G.O.P. worried about a Democratic takeover.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/25/us/politics/trump-election-briefings.html
— As States Push to Reopen, Business Leaders Say Not So Fast “Shutting down was hard, but opening up is going to be harder,” one C.E.O. said of balancing public health and a damaged economy. – David Gelles, Kate Kelly and David Yaffe-Bellany
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/business/coronavirus-states-businesses-reopen.html
— This Florida Student Was Accepted at All 8 Ivy League Schools Craig McFarland, the valedictorian of his high school in Jacksonville, Fla., received acceptance letters from 17 colleges and universities in all. – Johnny Diaz (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress McFarland and that I only just barely made it into the top 20% of my high school class, that my ACT score was only 24, and that I spent my junior and senior years and the summer in between washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresges in Chicago Heights.) 
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/us/craig-mcfarland-ivy-league-accepted.html

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Coronavirus unemployment will be comparable to the Great Depression, says Trump economic adviser – Lauren Theisen (DIERSEN: To defeat Trump, Trump-haters want to drive up unemployment.)
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-unemployment-will-be-comparable-to-the-great-depression-20200427-v2khwzfkive3xidia2igslehpq-story.html

USA TODAY
— 840 sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive for COVID-19, Navy says
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/24/coronavirus-uss-theodore-roosevelt-sailors-test-covid-19-positive/3018331001/
— FROM THE ARTICLE: In 2018, (DUCKWORTH) made history as the first senator to give birth while in office. Duckworth has called Trump a “draft dodger” and slammed him for “using his privilege” to defer military service.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/15/2020-election-joe-biden-running-mate-not-picked-yet-but-speculation-swirls/2986892001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Coronavirus Means the Era of Big Government Is…Back History shows that national shocks—the Depression, World War II, the financial crisis—have a way of expanding the role of government in lasting ways. This one is looking like no exception. – Gerald F. Seib and John McCormick
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-means-the-era-of-big-government-isback-11587923184
— People Were Leaving New York City Before the Coronavirus. Now What? Exodus would shrink tax revenue, which would hurt vital services – Kate King
https://www.wsj.com/articles/people-were-leaving-new-york-city-before-the-coronavirus-now-what-11587916800
— Do Lockdowns Save Many Lives? In Most Places, the Data Say No The speed with which officials shuttered the economy appears not to be a factor in Covid deaths. – T.J. Rodger
https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-lockdowns-save-many-lives-is-most-places-the-data-say-no-11587930911
— IRS Recalling Thousands of Workers Congressmen criticize IRS for asking employees to bring their own masks – Richard Rubin
https://www.wsj.com/articles/irs-recalling-thousands-of-workers-11587918430
— If the First-Quarter GDP Report Looks Bad, the Second Quarter Will Be Worse Wednesday’s report will likely show the tip of the iceberg, because more of the economy has been offline in April due to coronavirus shutdowns – Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-the-first-quarter-gdp-report-looks-bad-the-second-quarter-will-be-worse-11587909612

FORBES
— Hertz Car Rental Suffers Massive Layoffs, Stock Drop From COVID-19 Pandemic – Michael Goldstein
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2020/04/24/covid-19-creates-massive-layoffs-stock-drop-for-hertz-car-rental/#6ea5aff8148c
— Shared Sacrifice Will Be Needed To Beat Coronavirus – Ken Burns (DIERSEN: Who wants who to sacrifice more to beat coronavirus? Will Democrats come up with a “Coronavirus Income/Wealth Redistribution” form for all of us to fill out? Will that form call for all of us to provide the following: income, expenses, assets, debts, income gained/lost because of coronavirus, expenses decreased/increased because of coronavirus, asset values increased/lost because of coronavirus, debts decreased/increased because of coronavirus, etc. Will the form determine how much money each of us who have been harmed less by coronavirus should give to each of those who have been harmed more by coronavirus?) 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/03/29/e-pluribus-unum-shared-sacrifice-will-be-needed-to-beat-coronavirus-says-documentarian-ken-burns/#745658d72701

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Trump calls for journalists who covered the Russia investigation to return their ‘Noble Prizes’ in Twitter rant before deleting it – James Pasley,
https://www.businessinsider.sg/trump-deletes-tweet-calling-for-journalists-to-return-noble-prizes-2020-4

PENSIONS & INVESTMENTS
— Illinois Teachers assets fall 9.3% in the quarter on negative returns – CHRISTINE WILLIAMSON
https://www.pionline.com/pension-funds/illinois-teachers-assets-fall-93-quarter-negative-returns

MARKEY WATCH
— Sinking U.S. economy hasn’t hit bottom yet – Jeffry Bartash
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sinking-us-economy-hasnt-hit-bottom-yet-2020-04-25

BANKRATE
— Top 10 U.S. housing markets that could be hardest hit by coronavirus – Jeff Ostrowski
https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/housing-markets-that-could-be-hardest-hit-by-coronavirus/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: McHenry County, Illinois: In this county northwest of Chicago, nearly 24 percent of homeowners were underwater at the end of 2019, and the foreclosure rate was 0.2 percent. Illinois has mostly missed the economic boom of the past decade, Teta notes. The state’s job growth has been tepid and home values have barely appreciated.)

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump to Sideline Fauci and Birx, Pivot to Economic Message in Press Briefings: Report – Matt Stieb
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/trump-to-sideline-fauci-and-birx-in-coming-weeks-report.html

AMERICAN PROSPECT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Republican-haters use COVID-19 to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans as being racists..
https://prospect.org/coronavirus/when-it-comes-to-covid-19-deaths-race-matters/

DAILY MAIL
— Bill Gates defends China’s coronavirus response: Billionaire says Beijing ‘did a lot of things right’ at the start of the pandemic and claims criticism of the Communist Party is a ‘distraction’ – ARIEL ZILBER
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8259591/Now-not-time-Bill-Gates-defends-China-coronavirus-response.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.