August 26 Morning Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I urge all Wheaton residents who oppose the sale of recreational pot to speak during the public comment period at all Wheaton meetings against the sale of recreational pot in Wheaton. The next Wheaton meeting starts at 7:00 PM, today, Monday, August 26. I urge all DuPage County residents who oppose the sale of recreational pot to speak during the public comment period at all DuPage County meetings against the sale of recreational pot in the unincorporated areas of DuPage County. The next DuPage County meeting starts at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, August 27. At previous Wheaton City Council meetings, Bob Cherry, B. J. Slinger, Tim Whelan, and I have called for Wheaton to ban the sale of recreational pot in Wheaton. At previous DuPage County Board meetings, Dick Furstenau and I have called for DuPage County to ban the sale of recreational pot in the unincorporated areas of DuPage County. Neither Cherry, Furstenau, Slinger, Whelan, nor I are lobbyists. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee runs ad to boost Republican Jeanne Ives The spot is a likely ploy to help Illinois Democrat Rep. Sean Casten. Ives’ GOP primary rival Evelyn Sanguinetti told the Sun-Times the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is “resorting to primary meddling to ensure” Casten “gets the opponent he can defeat.” – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2019/8/25/20832679/dccc-runs-ad-boost-republican-jeanne-ives-ploy-help-rep-sean-casten
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The DCCC ad, to run on Facebook, Instagram and other digital platforms in the 6th District, is headlined, “Jeanne Ives backs Trump 100 percent of the time, noting “Ives is as far-right as they come and stands with President Trump 100 percent” on opposing gun reform, abortion and LGBTQ rights. Both Ives and Sanguinetti support Trump’s reelection. Rauner tried to keep his distance from Trump during much of his time as governor. Trump remains popular with Republicans. Kathleen Murphy, an Ives spokesman, told the Sun-Times, that the DCCC is “sorely miscalculating what this race is going to be, then. Nothing we’ve seen indicates that Jeanne would be easier to beat than Evelyn Sanguinetti. That would be a serious miscalculation on their part.” Sanguinetti told the Sun-Times in an email, “It’s no surprise the Democrats know I am the only candidate that can beat Casten next November and are resorting to primary meddling to ensure he gets the opponent he can defeat.” The DCCC ad is taking a cue from the Democratic Governors Association playbook. Before the March 2018 Illinois primary, the DGA ran an ad highlighting Ives’ conservative credentials in an attempt to defeat Rauner, who won with 51 percent of the vote.)
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Walsh kicks off long-shot GOP primary bid: ‘It’s a referendum on Trump’ Walsh told the Sun-Times, “We’re going to be very aggressive. We’ll be in New Hampshire and Iowa. We’re going to be on TV as much as we can spreading this message.’’ – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: Republican-haters will use everything that Walsh says against Trump to defeat Republicans.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2019/8/25/20832584/joe-walsh-kicks-off-long-shot-gop-primary-bid-its-a-referendum-on-trump
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois approves nonbinary state ID documents – Jake Wittich
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/8/25/20832644/pritzker-approves-non-binary-state-id-cards-drivers-licenses
— Your weed dealer will be OK even after marijuana becomes legal; here’s why Cost and convenience and will help keep the black market thriving, experts and dealers say. – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2019/8/26/20808628/recreational-marijuana-legalized-dealers-black-market

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Niles proposes plan to allow marijuana sales – JENNIFER JOHNSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/niles/ct-nhs-cannabis-meeting-tl-0829-20190826-onox63kevzgb5nymkuuxmtxwba-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: 6 months ago, they were part of the largest field of mayoral candidates in Chicago history. Here’s what the former City Hall hopefuls are doing now. – Gregory Pratt (DIERSEN: Last week, they were part of a field of 10 candidates to be selected to fill Wheaton’s West District City Council vacancy. Last week, Wheaton’s City Council notified 7 of them, including me, that we are not one of the 3 finalists. Wheaton’s West District voters should be told who those 3 finalists are the Daily Herald should publish lots of information about those 3 finalists. Wheaton’s West District voters should have a right to a) determine which of those 3 finalists they want Wheaton’s City Council to select and b) encourage Wheaton’s City Council to select that finalist.) 
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-mayors-race-competitors-six-months-later-20190826-4vfcdtw6yzhehja2jmmjkzu3oe-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage children to engage in LGBTQ activity.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/8/19/20807282/illinois-lgbtq-inclusive-curriculum-law-schools
— Stop spending public money at Peotone until airlines and shippers get on board – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-peotone-airport-amazon-ecommerce-20190826-kidilb6bsvbtljvb3ojouv4rh4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: Posh pot boutiques? ‘Budtenders’? Illinois police worry what’s down the road – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190826/posh-pot-boutiques-budtenders-illinois-police-worry-whats-down-the-road

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Another state mandate – Editorial
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorial-another-state-mandate/article_f0fe6a55-6362-56da-836a-3c3485170dd4.html

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
— Local communities should rethink marijuana sales – John Babush, Big Rock
https://www.kcchronicle.com/2019/08/25/local-communities-should-rethink-marijuana-sales/a5asavg/

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— We don’t elect dictators in DeKalb – Scott Campbell, DeKalb (DIERSEN: Who do you serve at the pleasure of? I serve as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor at the pleasure GOPUSA owner Bobby Eberle (http://www.gopusa.com/bobby-eberle/). I serve as the DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 Republican Precinct Committeeman at the pleasure of those who cast Republican primary ballots in the precinct. Previously, I served as a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, and Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Executive Committee member at the pleasure of the members of the aforesaid organizations.)
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/08/08/letter-we-dont-elect-dictators-in-dekalb/afy9i3f/
(FROM THE LETTER: DeKalb’s City Council, mayor and city manager all serve at the pleasure of the voters of DeKalb. They do not have the right to overrule the will of the people. Politicians and appointed officials believe they know instinctively what that will is. Usually, they’re right. But from time to time, a matter is so contentious or difficult to parse that it is put to the people directly, via a referendum. It’s the most direct form of democracy we have. The results are a perfect reflection of the will of the voters. For a public servant to override that explicit will is, literally, anti-democratic. It’s governing by fiat. It’s authoritarian. It’s wrong.)

SOUTHERN
— FROM THE ARTICLE: We need to enact legislation strengthening the economic interest disclosures for legislators, stop allowing lawmakers to leave the General Assembly and immediately become a registered lobbyist and require politicians to make a choice between personal profit and public service. (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://thesouthern.com/opinion/columnists/column-blaine-wilhour-political-corruption-in-illinois-is-costing-taxpayers/article_b98594a0-bb5f-5373-aee9-33bffa13e489.html

ILLINOIS TIMES
— FROM THE ARTICLE: Hickey noted in the report that Loncar did not cooperate with the investigation, and Lang, who is now a registered lobbyist at the Statehouse, denied the allegations against him, calling them “absurd.” (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://illinoistimes.com/article-21533-report-%25E2%2580%2598bullying%25E2%2580%2599-rife-in-house-speaker%25E2%2580%2599s-office.html

WSPY
— OUTSTANDING: Village of Diamond Says No To Recreational Marijuana – Brandon Grossi
http://www.wspynews.com/news/wcsjnews/village-of-diamond-says-no-to-recreational-marijuana/article_3e57278e-fd7d-5847-baa6-0ee3910c6124.html

WREX
— How much pot in that brownie? Chocolate can throw off tests – AP
https://wrex.com/category/2019/08/26/how-much-pot-in-that-brownie-chocolate-can-throw-off-tests/

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Why DeKalb’s City Clerk Position Is In Question – SARAH JESMER 
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/post/why-dekalbs-city-clerk-position-question

COURTHOUSE NEWS
— Dirty Tricks Don’t Change Illinois Election Result – LORRAINE BAILEY
https://www.courthousenews.com/dirty-tricks-dont-change-illinois-election-result/

WIRE POINTS
— States Government’s Malfeasance Passes New Milestone As An Illinois City (Harvey) Fails To Deliver Essential Services – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/states-governments-malfeasance-passes-new-milestone-as-an-illinois-city-fails-to-deliver-essential-services/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS IS MORE DEPENDENT ON FOOD STAMPS THAN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORING STATE – Tivas Gupta
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-is-more-dependent-on-food-stamps-than-any-other-neighboring-state/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IT IS ARITHMETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FUND THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA BY TAXING THE RICH
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/08/it-is-arithmetically-impossible-to-fund-the-progressive-agenda-by-taxing-the-rich.html

— THE VERY LIBERAL IN AMERICA ARE DIFFERENT
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/08/the-very-liberal-in-america-are-different.html
— MACKINAC CENTER SUES THE STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN FOR FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/08/mackinac-center-sues-the-state-bar-of-michigan-for-first-amendment-violation.html

AMERICAN THINKER
— Likely to become a public charge – Yale M. Zussman (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs encourage everyone to drink booze, gamble, and smoke pot. Those who do the aforesaid are far more likely to become public charges.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/08/likely_to_become_a_public_charge.html

BREITBART
— Hypocrisy: New York Times Alleges Conspiracy After Backing Boycotts of Conservative Media – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2019/08/26/hypocrisy-new-york-times-alleges-conspiracy-after-backing-boycotts-of-conservative-media/

DAILY CALLER
— Journalists Outraged Over Being Held To Their Own Standards – DEREK HUNTER
https://dailycaller.com/2019/08/26/journalists-outraged-over-being-held-to-their-own-standards/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The New York Times is very upset that conservatives are searching social media posts of liberal journalists and digging up past racist/sexist/anti-Semitic/embarrassing things their employees have said. In essence, liberals do not want to be treated the way they’ve treated every conservative, both public and private citizens, for the last decade.)

TOWNHALL
— It’s The Media, Stupid – Paul Curry
https://townhall.com/columnists/paulcurry/2019/08/26/its-the-media-stupid-n2552164

NEWS BUSTERS
— MSNBC Lets Merkley Claim Trump in ‘War on Children’ – Brad Wilmouth
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/brad-wilmouth/2019/08/25/msnbc-lets-merkley-claim-trump-war-children

COMMUNITIES DIGITAL NEWS
— NYT and Democrat Bolsheviks echo Farrakhan: White people are devils – Rick Johnson 
https://www.commdiginews.com/politics-2/nyt-and-democrat-bolsheviks-echo-farrakhans-white-people-are-devils-122224/

ROLL CALL
— Trump’s nicknames ranked, as he locks in on 2020 foes and foils ‘His rabid base loves it all,’ Monmouth professor says. Another expert calls them ‘hard to escape’ – John T. Bennett
https://www.rollcall.com/news/ranking-trump-nicknames-foes

THE HILL
— The real story behind Trump’s attack on me – JUAN WILLIAMS
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/458707-juan-williams-the-real-story-behind-trumps-attack-on-me
— Trump takes time out of G-7 meeting to lash out at media – CHRIS MILLS RODRIGO 
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/458771-trump-lashes-out-at-media-coverage-of-g7-meeting

YAHOO NEWS
— ‘Ready to stomp on it’: Documents reveal staggering power of tech giant lobbying – Max Zahn (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/facebook-google-amazon-apple-state-lobbying-170525755.html

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— When they go low? Dems navigating nasty race against Trump – STEVE PEOPLES 
http://www.startribune.com/when-they-go-low-dems-navigating-nasty-race-against-trump/558267252/
— Non-emergency phone lines cut after Harvey didn’t pay bills
https://www.apnews.com/ee1a238027084d9eb1d47cbf5ce3a92b

NEW YORK TIMES
— A Lobbyist Gave $900,000 in Donations. Whose Money Is It? A lobbyist for a powerful hospital group has been New York’s most reliable donor, raising questions of whether his employer directs the contributions. – J. David Goodman (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/nyregion/new-york-lobbying.html
— Joe Arpaio Says He Will Run Again for Maricopa County Sheriff – Mihir Zaveri
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/25/us/joe-arpaio-sheriff.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— While he was illegally lobbying, former L.A. official was also getting paid by City Hall – DAVID ZAHNISER, EMILY ALPERT (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-20/ethics-fine-planning-director-illegal-lobbying-los-angeles

MIAMI HERALD
— State Senate resolves complaint against NRA’s top lobbyist in Florida – JIM TURNER (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article234333622.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: After correcting four years of compensation reports for one of the entities she represents, Florida’s top gun lobbyist, Marion Hammer, has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Florida Senate. Sen. Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, had filed the complaint against Hammer, accusing her of violating Senate lobbying rules for failing to report her compensation for more than a decade.)

TAMPA BAY TIMES
— FROM THE ARTICLE: After correcting four years of compensation reports for one of the entities she represents, Florida’s top gun lobbyist Marion Hammer has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Florida Senate. (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/08/24/nras-marion-hammer-cleared-of-wrongdoing-by-florida-senate/

GAINSVILLE SUN
— State Senate resolves gun lobbyist complaint – Chris Baldwin (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190823/state-senate-resolves-gun-lobbyist-complaint

KNOXVILLE NEWS
— Knoxville mayoral candidates raise funds, spend big dollars in latest financial disclosure reports – Tyler Whetstone (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.)
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/21/knoxville-mayor-election-candidate-financial-disclosure/2030744001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Weaponization of History Ignorantly invoking slavery or the Holocaust is an affront to those who seriously study the past. – Wilfred M. McClay
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-weaponization-of-history-11566755226
— FROM THE ARTICLE: Michael Caputo, the western New York Republican political operative and radio host, has registered as a lobbyist for the government of Somalia. (DIERSEN: Constructively, DuPage County has publicly and falsely charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist.) 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/working-families-party-fights-to-keep-fusion-voting-11566774000

FORBES
— Facebook’s Move Against The Epoch Times Underscores Hate Speech Challenge – Jonathan Berr
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanberr/2019/08/25/facebooks-move-against-the-epoch-times-underscores-hate-speech-challenge/#532b4367214f
— 10 Books To Help You Foster A More Diverse And Inclusive Workplace – Janice Gassam (DIERSEN: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and up-or-out to not hire and to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2019/08/25/10-books-to-help-you-foster-a-more-diverse-and-inclusive-workplace/#76683e3d220c

GW HATCHET
— Meet the five candidates running to represent Ward 2 on the D.C. Council – Ilena Peng
https://www.gwhatchet.com/2019/08/25/meet-the-five-candidates-running-to-represent-ward-2-on-the-d-c-council/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Grossman, a former Barack Obama staffer, said he is focusing his campaign on reducing housing, college and childcare costs across the District. “I’m really focused on making sure that our residents can live and thrive here in the neighborhoods that they love, instead of feeling that they’re sort of stretching to make ends meet,” Grossman said. Grossman said he opposes current policies that allow councilmembers to hold jobs in addition to their positions on the Council and permit for-profit lobbying by current and former councilmembers to reduce potential conflicts of interest. “I’ve spent my whole career in public service and I know that working in government is a privilege,” he said. “It’s not a business opportunity.”)

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump’s Contradictions Dominate and Disrupt Another G-7.”
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/08/trumps-contradictions-dominate-and-disrupt-another-g-7.html
— In War on the Press, Trump Allies Weaponize Bad Posts – Matt Stieb
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/08/in-war-on-press-trump-allies-weaponize-bad-posts.html

CBC
— 6 Manitoba candidates disclose criminal convictions, with 2 days before the deadline 4 NDP candidates — including 2 sitting MLAs — and 2 Green candidates list convictions in mandatory disclosures
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-election-conviction-disclosure-1.5259175

(FROM THE ARTICLE: The offences range from impaired driving and assault to an illegal possession charge for alcohol dating back more than 50 years. Two candidates, Tom Lindsey and Wayne Chacun of the NDP, disclosed impaired driving convictions. Lindsey, currently the MLA for Flin Flon, wrote that his conviction was in 1977. Chacun, running in Riding Mountain, wrote his conviction was from 1987. He also reported a shoplifting conviction from 1986. NDP Assiniboia candidate Joseph McKellep also reported a conviction for assault causing bodily harm from 1998, as well as a failure to comply conviction in 2000. The party’s leader, Wab Kinew, disclosed convictions from 2004 for assault, failure to provide a breath sample and two breaches of court orders. The Fort Rouge MLA has received pardons for the offenses. “These were serious mistakes made years ago, for which they have all taken responsibility,” the NDP said in a statement. “Since then they have spent their careers — as a paramedic, a workplace health and safety officer, a youth restorative justice officer, and broadcaster, author, university administrator — working to make life better in their communities.” 23 candidates yet to disclose The statements of disclosure are required under a new law passed by the Progressive Conservative government, compelling candidates seeking provincial office to disclose convictions — not charges laid where no conviction was made — under Canada’s Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or the Income Tax Act, or any other law linked to “financial dishonesty.”)

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.