December 13 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chuck, Nancy, Donald and ‘The Wall’ – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-trump-pelosi-schumer-kass-20181212-story.html
— Emanuel’s pension prescription: Amend the Illinois Constitution – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-emanuel-pension-constitution-amend-unions-illinois-chicago-20181212-story.html
— Who paid for ‘Crooked Joe’ election flyers? Judge orders release of names behind McHenry candidate smear campaign – Amanda Marrazzo
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-election-mudslinging-lawsuit-mchenry-clerk-20181211-story.html
— Calling all mayors: Join Emanuel’s pension push – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-rahm-pension-chicago-constitution-20181212-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Here’s what he proposes: Amend the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause that in effect says the retirement benefits in force on an employee’s first day of work can’t be changed for the rest of his or her life. Scale back the too-generous 3 percent compounded cost-of-living adjustments that most retirees receive. “The fact is, a 3 percent annual compounded COLA in an era of very low nonexistent inflation is not progressive and not sustainable,” Emanuel said. He also lobbied for a constitutional amendment switching the state from a flat income tax to a graduated one that would hit wealthier taxpayers. “Coming at this challenge from both sides, revenue and reform, is the clearest path out of this challenge and the fairest,” he said. Emanuel also suggested borrowing in the short term to shore up the funds, reintroducing what’s known as a “consideration” model to give public employees more retirement savings choices, and bringing a casino to Chicago.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— After years of penny-pinching, let’s fully refuel our transit system – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/illinois-gas-tax-rta-cta-metra-roads-bridges-transportation-funding/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps blame Trump for everything that is bad, including bad water.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/clean-water-act-epa-protections-pesticides-algae-blooms-pollution-trump-illinois/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Madigan’s office says Wheeling improperly restricted comments but didn’t violate law – Chacour Koop
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181212/madigans-office-says-wheeling-improperly-restricted-comments-but-didnt-violate-law
— Why do we still have pension double dipping? – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181212/editorial-why-do-we-still-have-pension-double-dipping

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Central Illinois congressmen don’t want shutdown – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20181212/bernard-schoenburg-central-illinois-congressmen-dont-want-shutdown

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— More promises than cash for pensions – Scott Reeder
https://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20181212/my-view-more-promises-than-cash-for-pensions

 

DECATUR DAILY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are anti-Second Amendment hint/imply/argue/shout that those who are pro-Second Amendment are racists.
https://www.decaturdaily.com/opinion/editorials/not-everyone-equal-under-nd-amendment/article_1f54e2ad-030c-579e-82e1-fbf9764f6fda.html

 

WQAD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://wqad.com/2018/12/13/cannabis-industry-expert-2018-big-2019-could-bigger-for-marijuana/

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Pension liabilities causing state fiscal crisis – SCOTT REEDER
https://qconline.com/opinion/columnists/pension-liabilities-causing-state-fiscal-crisis/article_9bab7064-19b4-50cc-bd51-275f8a7623e4.html

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Why Illinois Won’t ‘Ban The Box’ On College Applications – LEE V. GAINES (DIERSEN: Your past predicts your future. All my critics/opponents a) promote political affiliation discrimination, promote reverse discrimination, promote age discrimination, and promote retaliation and they all are fully aware that I have complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation big time.)
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/why-illinois-won-t-ban-box-college-applications#stream/0

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Note to employers: You do not embrace “diversity” if you don’t have age diversity (DIERSEN: Prospective federal employees should be advised that if you are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran, the federal government will waste your career and get rid of you if you do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotions.)
http://www.chicagonow.com/windy-city-legal-geek/2018/12/note-to-employers-you-do-not-embrace-diversity-if-you-dont-have-age-diversity/

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers want minorities and women to push pot.
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2019/Will-Illinois-Help-Fix-the-Weed-Industrys-Diversity-Problem/

 

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois has $73 billion in retiree health insurance debts, nobody talks about it, but it’s there, and it’s scary.
https://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-has-73-billion-in-retiree-health-insurance-debts-nobody-talks-about-it-but-its-there-and-its-scary-ted-on-illinois-rising/

 

GOPUSA
— CNN claims climate change motivated Central American caravan
http://www.gopusa.com/cnn-claims-climate-change-motivated-central-american-caravan/

 

FOX NEWS
— Immigration truths the Democrats deny – Laura Ingraham
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/laura-ingraham-immigration-truths-the-democrats-deny
— ‘It Works’: Israeli Mayor Says Border Wall With Egypt Eliminated Illegal Immigration in 2 Years
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/12/former-israeli-mayor-david-rubin-says-border-wall-egypt-eliminated-illegal-immigration-2
— Democrats say border walls are immoral, don’t work. What about Israel? – Tucker Carlson
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-democrats-say-border-walls-are-immoral-dont-work-what-about-israel

 

BREITBART
— Abortion ‘Haven’ Illinois Attracting Thousands of Women from Other States – Dr. Susan Berry
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/12/abortion-haven-illinois-attracting-thousands-of-women-from-other-states/
— Over 95% DACA Applications, Renewals for Illegal Aliens Approved Under Trump – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/12/over-95-daca-applications-renewals-for-illegal-aliens-approved-under-trump/

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— The Breakdown of Family and Religion Explains France’s Social Unrest – Star Parker
https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/12/12/the-breakdown-of-family-and-religion-explains-frances-social-unrest/

 

LIFEZETTE
— Pelosi, Schumer ‘Used to’ Care About ‘Poorest Citizens’ Before Prioritizing Illegal Immigrants As ‘The Ingraham Angle’ explains, Dem leaders ‘seem more like the Grinch making promises to’ the undocumented – Kathryn Blackhurst
https://www.lifezette.com/2018/12/pelosi-and-schumer-used-to-care-about-our-poorest-citizens-before-prioritizing-illegal-immigrants/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Hate-Soaked Liberals Go Hunting for Rudolph the Reindeer – Doris O’Brien
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/hatesoaked_liberals_go_hunting_for_rudolph_the_reindeer.html
— The Women’s March’s poisonous mix of anti-Jewish toxic femininity – Ethel C. Fenig
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/the_womens_marchs_poisonous_mix_of_antijewish_toxic_femininity.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Bill O’Reilly to Newsmax TV: Asylum Situation Is a ‘Scam’ – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/platinum/asylum-migrant-caravan-illegal-immigration-immigration-law/2018/12/12/id/894247/

 

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Don’t Let Them Succeed in Their Pursuit to Destroy Donald Trump
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/12/dont-let-them-succeed-in-their-pursuit-to-destroy-donald-trump/

 

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— President Trump Treats Foreign Governments Like Obama Used To Treat US Citizens – Dave King
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/president-trump-treats-foreign-governments-like-obama-used-to-treat-us-citizens/

 

EPOCH TIMES
— US Border Crisis: 100,000 Illegal Immigrants in 60 Days Smuggling groups exploit loopholes in US immigration laws amid congressional inaction – CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us-border-crisis-100000-illegal-immigrants-in-60-days_2737307.html

 

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump shock leaves Republicans anxious over 2019.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/421133-gop-anxiety-grows-after-seeing-negotiating-tactics-from-trump

 

REUTERS
— Number of journalists jailed for doing job near record high
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-global-rights-journalists/number-of-journalists-jailed-for-doing-job-near-record-high-report-idUKKBN1OC0CY

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Congress May Have Fallen for Facebook’s Data Trap, but You Don’t Have To It always has, and it probably always will. – Michal Kosinski (DIERSEN: What data does Facebook have about you that it can sell to your critics/opponents to use against you? Facebook knows that I am Trump supporter, Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, old (born in 1948), non-poor, gun owner, 100% German American, draft avoider, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, union member for almost 12 years, federal employee for almost 30 years, federal retiree for more than 21 years, married, childless, pet-less, American nameplate car owner, Crete is my hometown, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old, I have filed lawsuits, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/opinion/facebook-data-privacy-advertising.html


— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters crow about their success in getting women to hate Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/opinion/gop-women-republican-stefanik.html
— State Courts Become Battleground Over Trump’s Sanctuary Cities Policy – Christina Goldbaum
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/nyregion/sanctuary-cities-state-courts.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump made competence a dirty word. Now he has to settle for second-rate talent. Actively bad-mouthing expertise is how you get the current White House quagmire. – Tom Nichols (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. Needless-to-say, seeing how GAO wasted my knowledge of IRS, IRS employees are discouraged from transferring from IRS to GAO.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/12/trump-made-competence-dirty-word-now-he-has-settle-second-rate-talent/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: From what I see, ever-increasingly, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you are demonized, denigrated, condemned, and gotten rid of.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/13/farewell-hatch-calls-religious-conservatives-find-common-ground-with-lgbt-community/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Six steps to surviving a job in the Trump administration.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/six-steps-to-surviving-a-job-in-the-trump-administration/2018/12/12/a29d20ac-fe50-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: According to Democrats, California voters want massive welfare, dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and even worse things.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-ppic-immigration-republicans-20181213-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— MARCH 3, 2017 FLASHBACK: Drilling for More Revenue, States Hit Gasoline  Gasoline taxes should be used exclusively for roads, bridges and mass transit. – Kirk Dillard, Chair, Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago
https://www.wsj.com/articles/drilling-for-more-revenue-states-hit-gasoline-1488576509
— Many States See Strong Revenue Economic growth, tax-law changes help brighten short-term fiscal outlook, report finds – Jon Kamp (DIERSEN: What about Illinois?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/many-states-see-strong-revenue-11544697001
— Boy Scouts of America Considers Bankruptcy Filing Amid Sex-Abuse Lawsuits Nonprofit has hired law firm Sidley Austin for assistance in a possible chapter 11 bankruptcy filing – Katy Stech Ferek
https://www.wsj.com/articles/boy-scouts-of-america-considers-bankruptcy-filing-amid-sex-abuse-lawsuits-11544649657
— Banks Get Kinder, Gentler Treatment Under Trump Regulators are asking examiners to adopt less aggressive tone when flagging risky practices – Lalita Clozel (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO on audits of federal financial industry regulators for almost 9 years, the last 8 years of which at the GS-13 Step 3-10 levels, currently $106,044-$125,325/year.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/banks-get-kinder-gentler-treatment-under-trump-11544638267
— After #MeToo, Those Who Report Harassment Still Risk Retaliation More employees are coming forward with sexual harassment complaints, but new data show negative consequences persist – Lauren Weber (DIERSEN: While I was a federal employee, I complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. I suffered the following retaliation: a) my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980; b) my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974; and c) my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. All my superiors in the federal government who took the aforesaid adverse actions against me disapproved of, if not despised, if not hated one or more of my demographics: draft avoider, Republican, conservative, Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), White, male, old (born in 1948), gun owner, 100% German American, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, new car owner since 1966, bachelor degree holder since 1970, Corvette owner since 1971, real estate owner since 1972, MBA since 1976, married since 1978, CPA since 1979, etc.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-metoo-those-who-report-harassment-still-risk-retaliation-11544643939
— The Secret Way Seniors Can Keep Deducting Gifts to Charity   Americans age 70½ or older can donate IRA assets, lowering their taxable income – Laura Saunders (DIERSEN: I will be 70 1/2 at the end of March 2019. I will not be donating any of my IRA assets next year because my wife and my wife’s expenses are exceeding our income. We will use my Required Minimum Distribution to help balance our budget.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-way-seniors-can-keep-deducting-gifts-to-charity-1544178618
— Check Your Progressive Privilege Conservative women have been left out and stigmatized too long. – Carrie Lukas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/check-your-progressive-privilege-11544656791
— Nauert Gives Hope to Journalists They insist she’s not qualified because she’s worked in their profession. That’s far too modest. – Dovid Efune
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nauert-gives-hope-to-journalists-11544656742

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Saline County Clerk Dies Just Days After Taking Office – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2018-12-12/saline-county-clerk-dies-just-days-after-taking-office

 

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters demonize, denigrate, and condemn Evangelicals.
https://www.newsweek.com/2018/12/21/evangelicals-republicans-trump-millenials-1255745.html

 

FEDERAL TIMES & FED SMITH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: My superiors in the federal government hinted/implied/argued/shouted that their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, and/or non-German American wanted the federal government to get rid of its employees who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German-American. They used Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to not hire and to get rid of employees who are Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German-American.
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2018/12/12/federal-bosses-are-you-listening/
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/12/12/agency-one-best-places-work/

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— 152 LGBTQ Elected Officials Call on 116th Congress to Act on Four Key Initiatives (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you are demonized, denigrated, condemned, and gotten rid of.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/152-LGBTQ-Elected-Officials-Call-on-116th-Congress-to-Act-on-Four-Key-Initiatives-/64979.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.