December 15 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Mendoza Calls Preckwinkle a ‘Bully’ Over Petition Challenges – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/susana-mendoza-toni-preckwinkle-spar-over-petition-challenges-502822572.html

 

CBS2
— GOP Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Signs Legislation Limiting Powers Of Incoming Democrats – AP
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/14/gop-wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-signs-legislation-limiting-powers-of-incoming-democrats/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Papadopoulos, fresh out of prison, announces run for Congress – Mitchell Armentrout (DIERSEN: Where is the nearest “little Republican enclave” to where you live?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/george-papadopoulos-congress-california-russia/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: He told the British newspaper that since he and wife Simona Mangiante have moved to Los Angeles, “I just have to find a little Republican enclave somewhere in this part of the country and run there.” He also claimed political donors have already been in touch with him about his Orange County bid. Under the law, Papdopoulos’ felony conviction doesn’t preclude him from running for federal office.)
— Put the health of kids before revenues when it comes to legalizing pot – Jerald McNair, Homewood
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/marijuana-legalization-schools-taxes-mexico-wall/
— Latinos gain clout in new Congress – AP (DIERSEN: How much clout do those who share your demographics have in a) the world, b) America, c) Illinois, d) your county, e) your township/ward, and f) your municipality?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/their-numbers-growing-latinos-gain-clout-new-congress/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/pot-topics-rahm-emanuel-pensions-congress-marijuana-cannabis-legalize-hemp/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Wisconsin Gov. Walker signs bill reducing office’s power, slashing early voting ahead of Dems taking over – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-wisconsin-republican-governor-powers-20181214-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow about their success in getting religious people to serve as their operatives and as their dupes.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-immigration-posada-chicago-20181214-story.html
— City’s restaurant boom, tough immigration policies create kitchen labor crunch: ‘There’s just not enough people’ – Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz (DIERSEN: I washed dishes part-time for the minimum wage 1964-1966 while was in high school. If there had been as many illegals back then as there are now, an illegal would have had that job. With money that I earned/saved from that job, I bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-restaurant-hiring-challenges-20181213-story.html
— Planning to give 23andMe or AncestryDNA kits this Christmas? Read this first. – Lisa Schencker (DIERSEN: What if I had claimed Swedish ancestry? What is your national origin? During the 1840s and 1850s, all my ancestors immigrated to northeast Illinois from what is now Germany. Of course, needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. In my defense, I stress that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans during 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. Further, according to http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. What if I had claimed Swedish ancestry?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-genetic-tests-for-christmas-1216-story.html

 

HERALD REVIEW
— Hybrid-electric car fee an idea worth considering – Editorial
https://herald-review.com/opinion/editorial/our-view-hybrid-electric-car-fee-an-idea-worth-considering/article_d845a4d7-3b8d-5c4e-8206-f36e253d3d66.html

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Illinois does it our way – Rich Miller
https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/miller-illinois-does-it-our-way/article_5860f889-af19-5025-8fe0-7152664c0db3.html

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— If court won’t change, change the court – Jim Nowlan
https://www.daily-journal.com/opinion/columnists/jim-nowlan-if-court-won-t-change-change-the-court/article_c0072e20-fe3d-11e8-9c63-17b2294065fa.html

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Elmhurst moves toward increase in tax levy Possible 1.3 percent hike based on library board decision – MARY STROKA
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/12/06/elmhurst-moves-toward-increase-in-tax-levy/ahayqit/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— In Trying To Replace Himself On Ballot, Critics (Ives and Barickman) Say Rauner ‘Cheated Republicans’ – BRIAN MACKEY
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/trying-replace-himself-ballot-critics-say-rauner-cheated-republicans#stream/0

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— 10 people could have records expunged thanks to Gov. Rauner (DIERSEN: What do you want expunged from your record? I want the following to be expunged from my employment record: 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. 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. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/10-people-could-have-records-expunged-thanks-to-gov-rauner

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Jan Shaw urges taxpayers to voice opinions on new Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 school – Kyla Asbury
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511646183-constituent-urges-taxpayers-to-voice-opinions-on-new-school

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Left-Wing Mayor Wants to Trade Addictions for Revenue – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/12/left-wing-mayor-wants-to-trade-addictions-for-revenue/
— New School Resource Officer Data Shows Increase in Teen Marijuana Use in Illinois – Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
https://illinoisfamily.org/marijuana-2/new-school-resource-officer-data-shows-increase-in-teen-marijuana-use-in-illinois/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— For the Love of Marriage – Jonathan Lewis
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/for-the-love-of-marriage/
— GOP Fails Pro-Life Voters by Refusing to Defund Planned Parenthood – Carly Hoilman
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/12/gop-fails-pro-life-voters-by-refusing-to-defund-planned-parenthood/

 

GOPUSA
— Women’s March leaders blame bigotry for group’s issues
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=60982

 

MCCLATCHY DC
— Kinzinger, Yoder, Cubelo, Stefanik want ‘autopsy’ to determine reasons for heavy Republican losses in House – LINDSAY WISE (DIERSEN: Who wants an autopsy to determine reasons why Republican candidates lost in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct? From what I see, the main reason was Democrat success in a) promoting hatred of Trump and b) getting voters to punish Trump by voting for Democrats. But did Democrats have those successes?)
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article223126270.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The letter asks the next NRCC chairman, Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, to undertake “a thorough, transparent autopsy of NRCC operations to formally analyze what went wrong, what lessons were learned — including those learned from the successful efforts of our Democratic counterparts — and what will be done to better support the next generation of Republican congressional candidates.” The autopsy should include everything from decision making to data, fundraising and polling to messaging and voter targeting, the letter says.)

 

CNN
— Mattis writes letter of recommendation for Reince Priebus to join the Navy – Sophie Tatum (DIERSEN: What is your “field of experience?” Mine is auditing federal agencies. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970 when I was 21 years old, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981. I became a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and a Forensic Accountant in 1997.)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/politics/mattis-priebus-navy/index.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The process allows for career professionals to contribute their field’s experience, but in the capacity of serving in the US military, and those accepted will generally go to Newport, Rhode Island, for two weeks of training.)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— After Parkland, a New Surge in State Gun Control Laws – MAGGIE ASTOR and KARL RUSSELL
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/14/us/politics/gun-control-laws.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus selected to join Navy with backing from Mattis – Dan Lamothe (DIERSEN: What human resources training do you have? Human resources was my area of concentration for my bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970 and for my MBA from Loyola in 1976.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/former-trump-chief-of-staff-reince-priebus-selected-to-join-navy-with-backing-from-mattis/2018/12/14/b12c269e-ffb4-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Navy review board reviewed 42 candidates this month and “professionally recommended” Priebus and four others to join the service through a competitive direct-commission program for human resources officers, the memo said. Cmdr. Jereal Dorsey, a Navy spokesman, confirmed in a statement Friday evening that Priebus was recently selected and said that Priebus is “currently moving towards earning a commission as an ensign,” an entry-level officer. Anyone over the age of 42 needs a waiver to join as an officer and has to sign an agreement in which they acknowledge potential limitations on their career. . .Priebus was spotted at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland in July while considering joining the Navy Reserve and was open to doing legal work, human resources or intelligence, Politico reported at the time.)

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— GM Says 2,700 Workers Slated for Layoffs Can Transfer – Mike Colias (DIERSEN: Federal employees can apply to transfer between federal agencies. If their application is approved, they transfer with them their federal seniority, unused vacation days, and unused sick days. But those who transfer should expect to be despised if not hated by those who work for the agency that they transfer to. I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. I should write a book about my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years (almost 3 years with the Post Office and almost 9 years with IRS) of federal seniority, 30 unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days. They were beyond furious that I started earning 26 vacation days a year in 1984 and that I got full-time federal service credit while I worked for the Post Office even though I worked only part-time. They were overjoyed that my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer. GAO audits IRS. They viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned what I had learned a) by working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, b) by passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) by earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and d) by earning a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. They would not have done the aforesaid if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gm-says-2-700-workers-slated-for-layoffs-can-transfer-11544802691

 

NEWSWEEK
— Working-Class Hero: Does Sherrod Brown Have the Recipe to Beat Donald Trump in 2020? – NINA BURLEIGH
https://www.newsweek.com/2018/12/21/2020-elections-sherrod-brown-democrats-trump-1255743.html

(FROM THE ARTICLE: A lifelong champion of the pro-labor left who started out in Ohio’s legislature in the 1970s, Brown is a champion of workers and a proponent of stricter regulations on Wall Street. But, like Trump, he is critical of trade deals like NAFTA and supports some tariffs. He campaigned in Ohio on what he terms the “dignity of work,” a political philosophy and a wide-ranging set of pro-labor policies. He advertises that he wears suits made within 10 miles of his house in Cleveland and drives an American-made Jeep Cherokee.)

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.