December 20 Evening Edition

ABC7
— PRESIDENT OBAMA BANS ARCTIC DRILLING IN WAY TRUMP CAN’T REVERSE – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/obama-bans-arctic-drilling-in-way-trump-cant-reverse/1665639/
— NEW LAWS 2017: ILLINOIS LAWS THAT TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-laws-2017-illinois-laws-that-take-effect-january-1/1665227/

 

NBC5
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois Loses More Residents Than Any State in 2016  The state lost 37,508 residents in 2016, bringing Illinois’ population to 12,801,539 people. This marks the third straight year the state’s population has dipped. – Tom Schuba
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-loses-residents-2016-407669025.html
— Calumet City Residents to Vote on $15 Minimum Wage for All Workers  The city is now the first in Illinois to allow residents to vote in a referendum on the minimum wage – Tom Schuba  (DIERSEN: What is next?  $25/hour for jobs that require a high school diploma?  $35/hour for jobs that require a bachelor’s degree?  $45/hour for jobs that require a master’s degree?  $55/hour for jobs that require a professional certification?  $65/hour for jobs that require a professional license?)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/calumet-city-vote-15-dollar-minimum-wage-407638215.html
— Illinois GOP Ad Ties Chris Kennedy to Madigan  “Chris Kennedy comes from a legendary American family with a history of public service, but instead of following in their footsteps, Chris Kennedy chose to serve corrupt politicians like Mike Madigan,” Illinois GOP spokesman Steven Yaffe said. – Tom Schuba  (DIERSEN: If you sought a government office or a political office, who would your critics/opponents tie you to?)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Illinois-GOP-Ad-Ties-Chris-Kennedy-to-Madigan-407648595.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “With Trump spokesman, lots more questions than answers.”
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Illinois-GOP-Ad-Ties-Chris-Kennedy-to-Madigan-407648595.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois’ new, former comptrollers have battle of words – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/224704124-story

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Firing Speaker Madigan: Legislators, oust him now or doom Illinois to 2 more years of dysfunction – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-oust-speaker-michael-madigan-illinois-edit-1221-jm-20161220-story.html
— City Council must allow public comment, judge rules – Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-city-council-open-meetings-met-1221-20161220-story.html
— Clinton, Trump and the end of hope? – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-michelle-obama-oprah-kass-1221-20161220-column.html
— New Year’s resolutions for Madigan, Rauner – Eric Zorn  (DIERSEN: What are your demographics?  What new year’s resolutions does Zorn have for those who share you demographics?  From what I see, Zorn would want you to STOP DOING BAD THINGS if you are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-resolutions-madigan-rauner-zorn-perspec-1223-md-20161220-column.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The promises Trump’s voters need him to keep.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-economy-jobs-wages-20161220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Exelon competitors behind ‘grassroots’ BEST group – Dan Mihalopoulos
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mihalopoulos-exelon-competitors-behind-grassroots-best-group/
— Nuns get holiday reprieve from nearby strip club; lawsuit goes on – Andy Grimm
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/nuns-get-holiday-reprieve-from-nearby-strip-club-lawsuit-goes-on/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois lost people in the last year: Census Bureau – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161220/BLOGS02/161229993/illinois-lost-people-in-the-last-year-census-bureau

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Will the GOP be the pro-Putin party? – E.J. Dionne
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20161220/ej-dionne-will-gop-be-pro-putin-party

 

POSITIVELY NAPERVILLE
— PUBLIC WELCOMED TO COMMENT AT JAN. 10 HEARING ON ELECTION COMMISSION PROPOSAL
http://www.positivelynaperville.com/2016/12/20/public-welcomed-comment-jan-10-hearing-election-commission-proposal/68517

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS’ CORPORATE HANDOUT PROGRAM HALTED TEMPORARILY  The expiration of the state’s EDGE program – which has given large companies more than $1 billion in tax credits the last 15 years – is good news for taxpayers and should encourage lawmakers to pass real reforms. – Joe Kaiser
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-corporate-handout-program-halted-temporarily/

 

PUBLIUS FORUM
— Facebook Set to Use Left-wing Snopes, PolitiFact, and FactCheck.Org to Quash Conservative News Sites – Warner Todd Huston  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want to quash all conservative websites except those conservative websites that they manipulate/dominate.)
http://www.publiusforum.com/2016/12/20/facebook-set-use-left-wing-snopes-politifact-factcheck-org-quash-conservative-news-sites/

 

NEWSMAX
— GAO Sting Exposes Obamacare Fraud a Second Time – Eric Mack
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/government-accountability-obamacare-health-insurance-fraud/2016/12/20/id/764913/

 

GOPUSA
— The families of three victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Fla., have sued three social media websites (Facebook, Twitter, and Google) for allegedly providing support to the Islamic State. – UPI
http://www.gopusa.com/families-of-pulse-nightclub-victims-sue-facebook-twitter/
— The Diversity Fraud – Thomas Sowell  (DIERSEN: Democrats promote Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion only because those who benefit from the aforesaid overwhelmingly vote for Democrats and are overwhelmingly anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.gopusa.com/the-diversity-fraud/
— Bill Clinton insists Comey, ‘angry white men’ made Hillary lose – Michael Haverluck  (DIERSEN: Who works the hardest to make you angry? I should write a book about those who have worked the hardest to make me angry.  So far, I have sued only a few of them.)
http://www.gopusa.com/bill-insists-comey-angry-white-men-made-hillary-lose/

 

FEDERALIST
— ‘Fake News’ Is The Legacy Media Shaking Down Facebook  The ‘fake news’ hysteria is an attempt to intimidate Facebook into setting up the ‘legacy media’ as gatekeepers and toll collectors for the digital media. – Robert Tracinski (DIERSEN: Operatives and dupes for my critics/opponents would love to be hired as “gatekeepers and toll collectors for the digital media.”  All the operatives and dupes for my critics/opponents “need money.”)
http://thefederalist.com/2016/12/19/fake-news-legacy-media-shaking-facebook/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— ‘Students of color’ conference at University of California reportedly dissolves into a fight over who is most oppressed – Thomas Lifson (DIERSEN: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that the longer that your ancestors have been in America, the more that you have benefited from their discrimination against minorities and against women.)
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/12/students_of_color_conference_at_university_of_california_reportedly_dissolves_into_a_fight_over_who_is_most_oppressed.html

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— The Student Debt Crisis Is Driving Elderly People Into Poverty  This isn’t how it’s supposed to work. – Zach Carter  (DIERSEN: What if I had taken out student loans to pay for the courses I took at IIT 1992-1997, at DePaul 1976-1980, at Loyola 1972-1976, at NIU 1969-1970, and/or at UIC 1966-1968 AND I HAD FAILED/REFUSED TO PAY THOSE LOANS BACK?)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/student-debt-elderly-poverty_us_58595c6be4b08debb78b2f2a

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “What’s Trump up to? Don’t ask his spokesman.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whats-trump-up-to-dont-ask-his-spokesman/2016/12/19/1e133264-c634-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html
— ISIS claims responsibility for Berlin attack, says driver was ‘soldier of the Islamic State’ – Anthony Faiola, Souad Mekhennet and Stephanie Kirchner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/truck-rams-into-berlin-christmas-market-in-deliberate-attack-killing-12/2016/12/20/2c73c5ec-c63b-11e6-acda-59924caa2450_story.html
— The disturbing trend of people losing Social Security benefits to student debt – Danielle Douglas-Gabriel  (DIERSEN: I went on Social Security in 2010 when I was 62 years old.  What if I had taken out student loans to pay for the courses that I took at IIT 1992-1997, at DePaul 1976-1980, at Loyola 1972-1976, at NIU 1969-1970, and/or at UIC 1966-1968 AND I HAD FAILED/REFUSED TO PAY THOSE LOANS BACK?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/12/20/the-disturbing-trend-of-people-losing-social-security-benefits-to-student-debt/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— For President-Elect Trump, Loyalty Comes Second  Many of Donald Trump’s picks to fill his administration suggest situational pragmatism is a guiding force on his path to the White House – MICHAEL C. BENDER  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents DEMAND BLIND LOYALITY and they have their operatives and their dupes DESTROY THOSE WHO ARE NOT BLINDLY LOYAL.  I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.  They include past and present activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-president-elect-trump-loyalty-comes-second-1482247614

 

BOSTON GLOBE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-White, anti-Republican, and/or anti-American do more and more and more to encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/20/miles-from-border-diplomat-offers-aid-mexicans-trump-era/JGzFHR3EiCFTR2BZNGNpAK/story.html

 

SEATTLE TIMES
— Gambling industry hopes bet on Trump will pay off – AP
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/gambling-industry-hopes-bet-on-trump-will-pay-off/

 

TIME GAZETTE
— Bill Clinton Says Donald Trump Won Because He Understands ‘Angry White Men’  (DIERSEN: What do you say to White men who demonize, denigrate, and condemn White men to curry favor with those who are anti-White and/or anti-men?)
http://timegazette.com/2016/12/bill-clinton-says-donald-trump-won-because-he-understands/

 

DANBURY NEWS TIMES
— Young immigrants to host ‘protection gathering’ in Danbury ahead of Trump’s inauguration – Julia Perkins  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who voted for Trump and especially those who are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Young-immigrants-to-host-protection-10809006.php

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Don’t See Need for More Legal Immigrants Even with Border Control  (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because immigrants vote for Democrats.  RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/december_2016/most_don_t_see_need_for_more_legal_immigrants_even_with_border_control
— Are Safe Spaces, Trigger Warnings Hurting College Graduates?  (DIERSEN: It seems like ever-increasingly, colleges focus on turning students against those who are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for long time.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/education/are_safe_spaces_trigger_warnings_hurting_college_graduates

 

NEXT GOV
— TRUMP DOESN’T NEED SILICON VALLEY TO ELIMINATE GOVERNMENT WASTE – Frank Konkel  (DIERSEN: Yes, but virtually all GAO employees are Democrats and GAO’s top priority is hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats and especially Democrats who are minority, female, and/or younger.)
http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2016/12/trump-doesnt-need-turn-silicon-valley-eliminate-government-waste/134023/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President-elect Donald Trump met with a powerful group of Silicon Valley tech executives last week to discuss ways to root out government waste. He would do better to confer with the Government Accountability Office, the independent, nonpartisan federal agency that supports Congress to meet its constitutional responsibilities, and improves performance and ensures accountability on behalf of all Americans. Amid the turmoil of presidential transition, with more than 4,000 political appointees to be named and additional professional turnover difficult to quantify, GAO is a rock. Only one of its 3,000-plus employees, U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, is appointed, and his 15-year term runs through 2025. What’s more, GAO wants to help the incoming president-elect, as Dodaro explained last week at an event hosted by Nextgov. “Under the Presidential Transition Act, GAO has a special responsibility—we’re referred to as a resource that incoming administrations are encouraged to talk to, to find out about their management challenges, risk and responsibilities,” Dodaro said. “So we take that responsibility very seriously, and we don’t wait until people to come us.”  After the election, GAO unveiled its Transition App, for example, allowing users to view a range of serious issues organized by topic and agency. New personnel within an agency can use it to get up to speed about waste, fraud, abuse and other issues plaguing their new workplace. The app boils nearly 6,000 open recommendations from GAO to roughly 10 priority recommendations per agency. “The app was created specifically to help the incoming administration and Congress understand the issues across government,” Dodaro said. The app also directs users to more information, including links to a management agenda concerning issues like finance and cybersecurity, and GAO’s most important product, the High Risk List. The 2015 iteration of the list included IT acquisition and veteran health care among several dozen of the riskiest, problematic federal programs. That GAO has already identified opportunities to improve technology—an issue Trump presumably addressed with the Silicon Valley tech execs—and veteran health care—which Trump during the campaign trail often criticized the current administration of executing so poorly on—ought to catch the attention of Trump’s transition team. Dodaro, speaking last week, said GAO will deliver its next high-risk list in February, following Trump’s inauguration. GAO will also release a report on technology, encompassing feedback from a forum Dodaro hosted on IT that included tech executives, members of Congress and other experts. IT is actually a momentum area for GAO, with the executive branch implementing 23 percent more of approximately 800 recommendations the watchdog made in 2016 compared to 2015. In data center consolidation alone, GAO has identified upward of $8 billion in savings across agencies, or almost 10 percent of the federal IT budget. And that’s only a drop in the bucket compared GAO’s overall work. In fiscal 2015, it identified $136.7 billion in improper payments made by programs like Medicaid. In fiscal 2016, GAO found $63.4 billion in financial benefits to taxpayers, rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, returning $112 to taxpayers for every $1 spent on the agency. GAO also identified a tidy 1,234 ways to make government more efficient. If Trump is serious about rooting out government waste, he should spend an afternoon with GAO, rather than a room full of Silicon Valley tech executives. Or, as one columnist for Government Executive suggested recently, Trump could trade Twitter for GAO’s transition app.)

 

DAILY MAIL
— Alec Baldwin reveals his pay for critically acclaimed impersonation of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live – Paul Chavez
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4053756/Alec-Baldwin-reveals-pay-critically-acclaimed-impersonation-Donald-Trump-Saturday-Night-Live.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.