August 18 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Group of teens attacking, robbing people in Loop, Chicago police say – Alexis McAdams
https://abc7chicago.com/group-of-teens-attacking-robbing-people-in-loop-cpd-/10957980/
— Taliban violently disperse rare protest in eastern Afghanistan; 1 killed, 6 wounded. Many Afghans remain deeply skeptical of the Taliban’s promises. – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/taliban-violently-disperse-rare-protest;-1-killed-6-wounded/10958904/

CBS2
— Rideshare Driver’s Video Shows Woman Being Brutally Beaten, In One Of Many Attacks Involving Groups Of Teens Downtown Lately – Suzanne Le Mignot
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/08/17/downtown-chicago-woman-attacked-video/

WGN9
— New Poll: Concern over violence rising, Chicago residents unhappy with Lightfoot, Foxx – Tahman Bradley, Jordan Muck
https://wgntv.com/news/new-poll-chicago-residents-concerns-over-violent-crime-growing/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases – Stefano Esposito
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/8/17/22629353/26th-street-mexican-independence-day-parade-canceled-covid-19-cases-rising-chicago-coronavirus

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: DuPagePads looks to buy, convert Downers Grove hotel to house homeless – Katlyn Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210818/dupagepads-looks-to-buy-convert-downers-grove-hotel-to-house-homeless
— Fight for fair election maps may be delayed but remains alive – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20210818/editorial-fight-for-fair-election-maps-may-be-delayed-but-remains-alive

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— State of Illinois in a state of discord and resentment – Jim Dey
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-state-of-illinois-in-a-state-of-discord-and-resentment/article_77082dc5-ebdf-59ac-99d5-b7a2429ba73a.html

JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES COURIER
— Governor candidate, businessman Gary Rabine makes campaign stop in Mattoon – Rob Stroud
https://jg-tc.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/watch-now-governor-candidate-businessman-gary-rabine-makes-campaign-stop-in-mattoon/article_a9b1562b-982e-5603-b174-279d9212c65c.html

MDJ ONLINE
— Illinois Republicans expect to get drawn out of Congressional maps – Greg Bishop
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/illinois-republicans-expect-to-get-drawn-out-of-congressional-maps/article_7d0d0c7b-6342-5c7e-8697-ef6712c8a36b.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Biden threw Afghan withdrawal agreement ‘into the shredder,’ says Trump admin official – ELISSA SALAMY
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/biden-threw-afghan-withdrawal-agreement-into-the-shredder-says-trump-admin-official

JOHN KASS
— Biden’s Afghanistan Disaster
https://johnkassnews.com/bidens-afghanistan-disaster/

WIREPOINTS
— The fiscal insanity in Chicago continues. Despite $22.7 billion pension shortfall, Chicago Public Schools to add 2,000 employees – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/the-fiscal-insanity-in-chicago-continues-despite-22-7-billion-pension-shortfall-chicago-public-schools-to-add-2000-employees-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— ISBE – These People Are In Charge Of Our School Education System? – KIRK ALLEN & JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2021/08/isbe-these-people-are-in-charge-of-our-school-education-system/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM TO START ROUTE 66 TOUR SEPT 19 IN JOLIET
(COMMENT: I collected delinquent taxes for IRS in Joliet 1973-1974.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/08/rev-franklin-graham-to-start-route-66-tour-sept-19-in-joliet-.html
— WHY WE SHOULD CARE THAT YOUTUBE HAS SILENCED SEN. RAND PAUL
(COMMENT: I should write a book about why people who are religious, conservative, and/or Republican should care about efforts a) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to stop everyone from reading those newsletters.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/08/why-we-should-care-that-youtube-has-silenced-sen-rand-paul.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Taliban’s quest for Islamist purity brought torture, beheadings, oppression – Joseph Clark and S.A. Miller
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/17/talibans-quest-islamist-purity-brought-torture-beh/

FOX NEWS
— Black conservative group pens open letter urging schools to drop CRT, adopt 1776 Unites. The Woodson Center’s 1776 Unites initiative aims to teach history, civics, and the founding ideals through an objective lens. – Michael Ruiz
https://www.foxnews.com/us/black-conservatives-urging-schools-to-drop-crt-adopt-1776-unites
— Taliban promises to protect women’s rights… with a catch. Taliban pledges to honor women’s rights ‘within the limits of Islam.’ – Tyler O’Neil
https://www.foxnews.com/world/taliban-promises-protect-womens-rights-with-catch

AMERICAN THINKER
— From Prophets to Loss: Woke Activism and America’s Jews – Ardie Geldman
(COMMENT: I should write a book about my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government who worked the hardest to turn my many Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were Jewish against me. They stressed that I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, that I was 100% German national origin, that I was conservative, that I was Republican, that I lived in Crete 1948-1972, and that I have lived in Wheaton since 1978. In my defense, I stressed that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans during WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans during WWII if he had not been 4-F. Virtually all my Democrat superiors in the federal government who took adverse actions against me were Jewish.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/08/from_prophets_to_loss_woke_activism_and_americas_jews.html

DAILY CALLER
— Hamas Congratulates The Taliban, Celebrates ‘Demise Of American Occupation’ – VARUN HUKERI
https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/17/hamas-gaza-congratulates-taliban-afghanistan/
— Stephen A. Smith Says Lots Of ‘Black Folks’ Would Never Get The Same Opportunities As Tim Tebow – DAVID HOOKSTEAD
(COMMENT: I should write a book about my Democrat IRS superiors who were most furious a) that IRS hired me in 1971 instead of a Black and b) that IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 instead of Blacks. I should write a book about my Democrat GAO superiors who were most furious a) that GAO hired me in 1980 instead of a Black, b) that GAO promoted me in 1986 instead of a Black, and c) that GAO did not get rid of me sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/18/stephen-a-smith-tim-tebow-released-jaguars-reaction-race/

DAILY SIGNAL
— 4 Keys to Understanding COVID-19 Surge at Border – Fred Lucas
https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/08/17/4-keys-to-understanding-covid-19-surge-at-border/

PJ MEDIA
— Biden Promised to Bring ‘Competence’ Back to Government. So Where Is It? – RICK MORAN
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2021/08/17/biden-promised-to-bring-competence-back-to-government-so-where-is-it-n1470270

FEDERALIST
— How To Stop People From Falsely Accusing You Of Racism. How could professional athletes be ‘bullied’ into publicly disrespecting their own country and its flag if they don’t want to? These people are adults, right? – Christopher Bedford
(COMMENT: For a White male Republican to be called a racist in America today is like being called a Jew in Germany during the 1930s, if not the 1940s. Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs hint/imply/argue/shout that White male Republicans are racists. How should White male Republicans respond?)
https://thefederalist.com/2021/08/18/how-to-stop-people-from-falsely-accusing-you-of-racism/

TOWNHALL
— The Fight Over Identity – Ben Shapiro
(COMMENT: Democrats do not want Americans to see themselves first as being Americans. Instead, Democrats want Americans who are a) minority to see themselves first as being minorities, b) female to see themselves first as being females, c) younger to see themselves first as being younger, d) LGBTQ to see themselves first as being LGBTQ, e) Democrat to see themselves first as being Democrat, f) Trump-haters to see themselves first as being Trump-haters, g) moderate/liberal to see themselves first as being moderate liberal, h) non-Christian to see themselves first as being non-Christian, i) non-Protestant to see themselves first as being non-Protestant, j) non-Italian American to see themselves first as being non-Italian American, k) non-German American to see themselves first as being non-German American, l) those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time to see themselves first as being those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, and m) those who have financial, health, and/or other problems to see themselves first as being those who have financial, health, and/or other problems.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2021/08/18/the-fight-over-identity-n2594324
(FROM THE ARTICLE: America has been wrecked on the shoals of identity. Identity politics has been characterized casually as a form of tribalism: Americans grouping themselves according to biological or sexual characteristics, in opposition to other groups associated by biological or sexual characteristics. And there is certainly truth to the idea that such tribalism has damaged America in extraordinary ways — that tribalism acts as the sort of factionalism the founding fathers feared, tearing Americans from each other and forcing them into polarized units competing against others in a battle over control. But there is another form of identity politics even more sinister than the sort of tribalism we see so openly today. That is a form of identity politics that focuses less on politics than on identity: the redefinition of identity itself.)
— Biden’s Dithering Doomed Afghanis – Betsy McCaughey
https://townhall.com/columnists/betsymccaughey/2021/08/18/bidens-dithering-doomed-afghanis-n2594305
— Progressives’ Last Stand in Afghanistan – John and Andy Schlafly
https://townhall.com/columnists/johnandandyschlafly/2021/08/18/progressives-last-stand-in-afghanistan-n2594313

COLLEGE FIX
— Effort to restrict critical race theory in Nebraska universities fails – JENNIFER KABBANY
https://www.thecollegefix.com/effort-to-restrict-critical-race-theory-in-nebraska-universities-fails/
— In the face of cancel culture, Princeton professor offers course on Lincoln’s legacy – RACHELLE HERNANDEZ
https://www.thecollegefix.com/in-the-face-of-cancel-culture-princeton-professor-offers-course-on-lincolns-legacy/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Critical Race Theory Versus Our National Survival – GEORGE LEEF
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/critical-race-theory-versus-our-national-survival/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Departing Border Patrol chief says terror suspects crossing into U.S. ‘at a level we’ve never seen before’ – Jon Dougherty
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/08/17/departing-border-patrol-chief-says-terror-suspects-crossing-into-u-s-at-a-level-weve-never-seen-before-1120278/
— ‘Kinder, gentler Taliban’ start new image by executing a woman in street for not wearing burqa – Tom Tillison
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/08/18/kinder-gentler-taliban-start-new-image-by-executing-a-woman-in-street-for-not-wearing-burqa-1120404/

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Arkansas AG: “Instituting Practices Based On Critical Race Theory” In Education Violates Anti-Discrimination Laws. “Any effort to take account of race in a way that differently accords benefits or opportunities or creates a hostile environment in an educational institution is almost certainly unlawful” – William A. Jacobson
(COMMENT: My superiors in the federal government were always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians a) to give benefits and opportunities to their employees who were Democrat, and especially to those who were minority, female, and/or younger and b) to create a hostile environment for their employees who were Republican, and especially those who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/08/arkansas-ag-instituting-practices-based-on-critical-race-theory-in-education-violates-anti-discrimination-laws/
— Taliban Draw Up Kill Lists and Demand Girls as War Booty To “Marry” Fighters. Taliban commander: “All girls over the age of 15 and widows younger than 40 should be married to the insurgent fighters.” – Vijeta Uniyal
https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/08/taliban-draw-up-kill-lists-and-demand-girls-as-war-booty-to-marry-fighters/

EPOCH TIMES
— Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier: How Critical Race Theory Is Undermining the Military
https://www.theepochtimes.com/lt-col-matthew-lohmeier-how-critical-race-theory-is-undermining-the-military_3952911.html
— Space Force Officer, Punished After Denouncing Marxism, to Leave Military. – Zachary Stieber and Jan Jekielek
https://www.theepochtimes.com/exclusive-space-force-officer-punished-after-denouncing-marxism-to-leave-military_3953154.html
— Alabama Board of Education Bans Teaching Critical Race Theory – Matthew Vadum
https://www.theepochtimes.com/alabama-board-of-education-bans-teaching-critical-race-theory_3953208.html
— Red Cross Pamphlet Facilitates Illegal Immigration, Says Expert. A Spanish-language flyer by the Red Cross provides detailed routes to the US southern border, shelter locations, and instructions on how to jump off a moving train safely. – Charlotte Cuthbertson
https://www.theepochtimes.com/red-cross-pamphlet-facilitates-illegal-immigration-says-expert_3952927.html

FREE BEACON
— SATIRE: What the Taliban Can Teach the United States About Inclusive Government. Muslims, people of color, and formerly incarcerated individuals are heavily represented in militant group’s leadership.
https://freebeacon.com/satire/taliban-inclusive-government/

NEW YORK TIMES
— The School Culture Wars: ‘You Have Brought Division to Us’ From mask mandates to critical race theory and gender identity, educators are besieged. – Sarah Mervosh and Giulia Heyward
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/us/schools-mask-mandates-critical-race-theory.html
— For Afghan Women, Taliban Stir Fears of Return to a Repressive Past – Farnaz Fassihi and Dan Bilefsky
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/world/asia/afghanistan-women-taliban.html
— Afghanistan News: Reassurances From Taliban, but Fearful Afghans Look for the Exits
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/17/world/taliban-afghanistan-news
— The Taliban Are Back. Now Will They Restrain or Support Al Qaeda? – Steven Erlanger
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/world/asia/taliban-afghanistan-al-qaeda.html
— COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, woke people demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/opinion/woke-politically-correct.html
— Intelligence Warned of Afghan Military Collapse, Despite Biden’s Assurances – Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes and Adam Goldman
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/us/politics/afghanistan-biden-administration.html
— Taliban Meet Public Protest With Violence
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/18/world/taliban-afghanistan-news

NEW YORK POST
— Afghanistan was a ghastly display of how wokeness weakens America – Vivek Ramaswamy
https://nypost.com/2021/08/17/afghanistan-was-a-ghastly-display-of-how-wokeness-weakens-america/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Biden Wanted to Leave Afghanistan. He Knew the Risks. Generals and diplomats warned about a pullout, but the president told his team the U.S. was simply providing life support for the Kabul government while neglecting more pressing issues. – Ken Thomas and Vivian Salama
https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-wanted-to-leave-afghanistan-he-knew-the-risks-11629214842
— Meritocracy Is Worth Defending. And if America abandons it, countries that don’t will outcompete us. – Jason L. Riley
(COMMENT: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes reject meritocracy. They want preference to given to those who are minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, veteran, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-German American, in America illegally, and/or those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) who are RINOs want preference to be given to RINOs, b) who are Trump-haters want preference to be given to Trump-haters, and c) who are moderate want preference to be given to moderates.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/meritocracy-wooldridge-kendi-carlson-admissions-standardized-tests-affirmative-action-cuny-11629237426

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Americans rank George W. Bush as the president most responsible for the outcome of the Afghanistan war: Insider poll – Oma Seddiq and John Haltiwanger
https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-rank-bush-most-responsible-for-outcome-of-afghanistan-war-2021-8

GUARDIAN
— Illinois city’s (Evanston) reparations plan was heralded – but locals say it’s a cautionary tale – Kiran Misra
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/18/evanston-illinois-reparations-plan-cautionary-tale

WIKIPEDIA
— 2022 Illinois gubernatorial election (COMMENT: I should write a book about the last five Republican gubernatorial primary races in Illinois – Jim Ryan v. Patrick O’Malley v. Corrine Wood in 2002; Judy Baar Topinka v. Jim Oberweis v. Bill Brady v. Ron Gidwitz v. Andy Martin in 2006; Bill Brady v. Kirk Dillard v. Andy McKenna v. Jim Ryan v. Adam Andrzejewski v. Dan Proft v. Bob Schillerstrom in 2010; Bruce Rauner v. Kirk Dillard v. Bill Brady v. Dan Rutherford in 2014; and Bruce Rauner v. Jeanne Ives in 2018.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Illinois_gubernatorial_election

WIKIPEDIA
— 2022 Illinois United States Senate election (COMMENT: I should write a book about the following Republican United States Senate primary races: Jim Durkin v. Jim Oberweis v. John Cox in 2002; Jack Ryan v. Jim Oberweis v. Steve Rauschenberger v. Andrew McKenna v. Johnathan Wright v. John Borling v. v. Norm Hill v. Chirinjeev Kathuria in 2004; Steve Sauerburg v. Andy Martin v. Mike Psak in 2008; Mark Kirk v. Patrick Hughes v. Donald Lowery v. Kathleen Thomas v. Andy Martin v. John Arrington v. Patricia Beard in 2010; Jim Oberweis v. Doug Truax in 2014; Mark Kirk v. James Marter in 2016; and Mark Curran v. Peggy Hubbard v. Robert Marshall v. Tom Tarter v. Casey Chlebek v. Richard Meyers in 2020. On July 5, 2003, all five announced Republican U.S. Senate candidates (Cox, Kathuria, McKenna, Oberweis, and Ryan) attended a picnic that I organized in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, Jeanne Ives’ precinct to the east, and Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200+ attendees included Randy Hultgren.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois

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.